Month: May 2020

Police notes

Suspect surrenders after brandishing gun

A suspect surrendered to officers after brandishing a gun and after a chase on May 5, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

A victim stated that a suspect pointed a gun at them around 5:19 p.m. May 5 in the 2600 block of State Avenue.

Officers later located the suspect driving a vehicle, according to the report. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the suspect fled and a chase began, the report stated.

The suspect surrendered to officers at a different location, according to the report.

Shooting into home reported

A shooting into an occupied residence was reported about 12:15 a.m. May 5 in the 4200 block of Lloyd Street, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The victims stated that a suspect shot at their residence while they were inside, the report stated. There were no injuries reported.

Shooting at home reported

A shooting at an occupied home was reported at 12:30 a.m. May 5 in the 2800 block of West 42nd Street, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Victims were inside their residence when the suspect shot at their home, according to the report. No injuries were reported.

Suspect with gun chases victim

A victim was approached by a suspect who pulled out a gun around 1:05 a.m. May 5 in the 400 block of North 18th Street, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The victim fled and the suspect chased after the victim, according to the report.

The suspect demanded the victim’s property, the report stated.

Today’s high in mid-60s, rain in Thursday’s forecast

A half-inch or more of rain is possible on Thursday and Thursday night in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)

Today’s high will be in the mid-60s, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service.

Isolated rain showers are possible Wednesday afternoon, and widespread showers and isolated storms are possible Thursday into Friday, the weather service said. The Wyandotte County forecast doesn’t specifically mention rain on Wednesday afternoon, but rain is expected in the region. There could be up to a half-inch or three-fourths of an inch of rain on Thursday and Thursday night in Wyandotte County.

Below normal temperatures are expected for the rest of the week, according to the weather service. On Friday night, temperatures will dip to 37 degrees, with temperatures getting close to freezing.

Today, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 64 and a light north northwest wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 43 and a north northwest wind of 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening, according to the weather service.

Thursday, there is a 70 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1 p.m., with a high near 62, the weather service said. A calm wind will become south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Thursday night, there is an 80 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m., with a low of 46, according to the weather service. A light and variable wind will become north 5 to 8 mph after midnight. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Friday, it will be mostly cloudy, changing to sunny, with a high near 58, the weather service said. A north wind of 10 to 14 mph will gust as high as 25 mph.

Friday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 37, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 64, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 63, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 42, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 60, the weather service said.

Monday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a low of 44, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with a high near 68, the weather service said.

KCKCC cage standout Byrd commits to Southwest Baptist

Cutting down the net after winning the 2019 NJCAA DII national championship was the highlight of Brodi Byrd’s two-year career at Kansas City Kansas Community College. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

“When we recruited Brodi Byrd to come to Kansas City Kansas Community College, her goal was to play NCAA Division II basketball; that was her personal dream,” remembered KCKCC head coach Joe McKinstry.

That goal is no longer a dream. It’s a reality. The 5-6 shooting guard from Truman High School in Independence has committed to continue her stellar basketball career at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri.

“She will play at and compete at a high level and be a very good player for Southwest Baptist,” McKinstry said. “She’s the best we’ve ever had coming into a gym with a good attitude and mind set and ready to work hard and get better.”

“We’re graduating two key guards who gave us 27 points a game so we’re looking for Brodi to step in and have an impact and play a leadership role,” Southwest Baptist head coach Kelsey Keizer said. “She can shoot and score, plays with a lot of energy, has speed and intensity and knows how to play at a high level. But the No. 1 thing is her competitiveness and desire to win.”

A member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, which includes Rockhurst and William Jewell from the Kansas City area, the Lady Bearcats finished 15-13 overall and 9-11 in the GLVC this past season, Keizer’s sixth as head coach.

Southwest Baptist’s recruitment of Byrd started in earnest after Lady Bearcats assistant coach Brittney Dukes saw Byrd in the Region VI semifinals at Labette.

“Brittney immediately said she was a player who could have great success playing for us,” Keizer said.

Byrd, however, has yet to visit the campus in Bolivar or meet Keizer face-to-face.

“I was supposed to go on a visit and then everything got shut down,” Byrd said. “So I had a virtual visit. They made a video of the campus and I now I talk weekly to a couple of players, one from St. Louis who I played against last year and another from Belton.”

“It’s been kind of wild; everything by phone and video,” Keizer said of the shutdown created by the coronavirus pandemic. “We can’t wait to give her a hug and high fives.”

Byrd had other offers including two colleges in Iowa and Christian colleges in Arkansas and Kentucky.

“Southwest Baptist is not too far from home so my family can come and see me play for two years,” she said. “And talking to the coaches and players, they seemed like a family which is what I was looking for.”

In her two years at KCKCC, the Lady Blue Devils finished 57-11 and won the NJCAA DII national championship her freshman season. Byrd started in 22 of 36 games in the 32-4 championship season, averaging 8.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Starting the last 14 games of the season, she was an integral part of the Blue Devils’ stretch drive, averaging 13.0 points in the final five games of the season, four of which were in the national tournament.

The only returning starter this season, Byrd averaged 10.3 points this season despite being a target of opposing defenses. She scored in double figures in 17 games with highs of 24, 23 and 21 points as the Blue Devils finished 25-7. She also shared the team lead in assists (2.4) and was second in rebounds (4.8) and steals (1.8). The daughter of John and Janice Byrd, she has two older sisters.