Month: October 2020

Academy Sports to donate 48 bikes and helmets to youth in honor of Jimmie Johnson’s final ride at Speedway

Jimmie Johnson has made a career of winning races and championships.

The driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports has compiled 83 career NASCAR Cup Series wins and seven Cup Series championships, tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. for the most titles in NASCAR history. Off the track, he has carved a niche in the world of physical fitness, having competed in several triathlons as well as the 2019 Boston Marathon.

This Sunday, Johnson will be making his final appearance at Kansas Speedway as a full-time Cup Series driver. In 28 career Cup Series starts at Kansas, Johnson has finished in the top-10 on 19 occasions. This includes victories in 2008, 2011 (October) and 2015 (May).

In honor of his immense contributions to NASCAR and his passion for cycling, Academy Sports + Outdoors will be donating 48 bikes and helmets to area youth, a group which will be comprised of pediatric patients at The University of Kansas Health System, the official health care provider of Kansas Speedway.

“Jimmie Johnson is the epitome of what a sports figure should be about,” said Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren, in a news release. “He has represented NASCAR with utmost class in everything he did on the track and away from it. Not only did he join two NASCAR legends in winning an astounding seven championships, but he also established a new benchmark for fitness in our sport. We appreciate the support from Academy Sports + Outdoors and The University of Kansas Health System to honor Jimmie in a unique way that will have a meaningful impact in the community.”

“I’m truly honored by this gift from Kansas Speedway,” Johnson said. “Over my career, I’ve enjoyed so much success on track and have personal ties to the community with the Herzog family. Cycling has become such a passion of mine so thanks to Academy for the bike donation – that will really make a difference. I’ve enjoyed cycling around the Speedway over the years and will miss racing there twice a year. I’m humbled by this gift and appreciative for the support.”

Johnson’s roots in NASCAR have a deep connection with the Kansas City Metropolitan area. From 1999-2001 – when Johnson was first starting off in the sport – he drove the No. 92 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Herzog Motorsports. The owner of that team was the late William Herzog and it was based out of St. Joseph, Missouri. Johnson competed in 69 races with the team before moving on to the Cup Series and Hendrick in 2002. He recorded one win with Herzog (at Chicago, 7/14/01) and posted a sixth-place finish in the first-ever Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway (9/29/01).

“This is an extremely generous donation, especially during these uncertain times,” said Dr. Stephen Lauer, pediatrics, at The University of Kansas Health System. “It will brighten the day for many of our pediatric patients and also provide them with the proper equipment these children need for necessary exercise. The efforts on the part of Jimmie Johnson, Kansas Speedway and Academy Sports + Outdoors is a terrific example of how teamwork can make a dream become reality.”

“We have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Kansas Speedway for many years, and it’s these types of philanthropic efforts that keep the partnership strong, added Charles Rozanski, vice president for orthopedics and sports medicine at The University of Kansas Health System.

Only the Sunday Sprint Cup Series race will have fans in attendance, and they will be limited numbers of fans.

The schedule for Kansas Speedway’s 2020 fall NASCAR weekend:


Friday, Oct. 16: ARCA Menards Series Speediatrics 150 presented by 7:30 p.m. (FS1 or FS2)
The NASCAR Foundation (150 miles)
Saturday, Oct. 17: NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series Clean Harbors 200 (200 miles) 3 p.m. (FOX)
Saturday, Oct. 17: NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 (300 miles) 6 p.m. (NBCSN)
Sunday, Oct. 18: NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 (400 miles) 1:30 p.m. (NBC)

  • Story from Kansas Speedway

COVID-19 test site to move to former Kmart store site at 78th and State

The Unified Government Health Department on Monday, Oct. 19, will move its COVID-19 testing site from the current location at 6th and Ann to the former Kmart store site at 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

Testing hours at the new facility will be the same as at the Ann Avenue facility: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. As at the Ann Avenue facility, testing is available for people who live or work in Wyandotte County, with or without symptoms or exposure to COVID-19.

“COVID testing remains a critical priority, with results helping guide how we best continue moving forward,” said Mayor David Alvey, in a news release. “Ensuring convenient, accessible testing for residents throughout our entire community is also important, which the Health Department’s new permanent testing facility along with neighborhood ‘pop-up’ testing sites will continue to provide. Moreover, with free COVID testing now available to anyone who lives or works in Wyandotte County regardless of symptoms or exposure, winter weather just around the corner, and seasonal flu shots being made available in coming weeks, the new expanded testing site facility and location is intended to provide for faster, safer, and more convenient options.”

COVID-19 testing at the Ann Avenue location will no longer be available, allowing the Health Department to resume services that had been temporarily cut back or put on hold due to the pandemic. Monthly pop-up COVID-19 testing sites will continue throughout Wyandotte County. To view a list of these sites, visit wycokck.org/COVID-19. These pop-up testing events are provided by the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force, in partnership with Vibrant Health and Swope Health.

“Transitioning our testing operations to the former Kmart location at 78th and State Avenue has several benefits,” said Juliann Van Liew, director of the Unified Government Public Health Department. “The new location provides us a space to effectively provide testing during the winter months. It can accommodate more traffic than our Ann Avenue site, regardless of whether people are arriving by car, public transit, or on foot. It also gives us space to provide flu shots for our community on a larger scale, and eventually to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine should one become available.”

“One of the most important reasons for us to move our testing site is to resume more of our usual services,” Van Liew said. “While we’ve been able to offer some services remotely, such as WIC and home visiting, unfortunately we’ve had to reduce or temporarily suspend some services in order to administer COVID-19 testing at our site. Holding the testing at another location frees up our space and allows us to increase our service hours for a number of our clinical services, such as STI testing and treatment, family planning, laboratory testing, and immunizations.”

The new testing location has multiple benefits, including:
• Centralized location within Wyandotte County
• Ability to accommodate greater testing demand and volume as needed
• Access to a warm, indoor location for testing during winter months, that also provides ample space for adequate social distancing between patients and staff
• Greater access for motorists, pedestrians, and those using public transportation
• The new location has a large, dedicated parking lot, meaning there will be separate access areas for people who are arriving by car versus pedestrians, meaning safer access to the facility for everyone.

Services such as STI testing and treatment, family planning, laboratory testing and immunizations will be available by appointment only. For appointments, call 913-573-8855. Some services will continue to be provided remotely, including WIC and Healthy Families Wyandotte home visiting.

Who can get tested?

COVID-19 testing is free to anyone who lives or works in Wyandotte County regardless of symptoms or exposure. If you do not have symptoms or have not been exposed to COVID-19, you can receive a free test at any time.

The UGPHD recommends that people come in for testing within 48 hours of their symptoms starting for the best results. Even if it has been longer than 48 hours, the UGPHD still strongly recommends that you get tested. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Wheezing
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rash
• Fatigue
• New loss of taste or smell

The Board of Public Utilities will provide the new testing location with water and electricity needs to support both increased free testing and free flu vaccine distribution.

“As our community continues to grapple with surges in COVID-19 cases, a persistent message has emerged from public health officials: it’s vital to get the flu vaccine this year,” said Bill Johnson, Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities general manager. “The flu vaccine is more important than ever this year in light of the pandemic. If we can prevent influenza and reduce severity of illness through vaccinations, it’s a strategy to alleviate stress on our health systems.”

Free flu shots coming soon

In the coming weeks, the UGPHD will begin offering free flu shots at the new testing facility for people who live or work in Wyandotte County.

Free flu vaccinations are supported by funding provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES Act. The UGPHD strongly encourages everyone to get a flu shot this year.

Both COVID-19 and the flu share some symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. In addition, both COVID-19 and the flu can cause severe illness in some people. Protecting yourself against the flu this year is especially important, as it helps Wyandotte County prevent health systems, such as hospitals, from being overwhelmed by both COVID-19 and flu patients who may be experiencing severe or life-threatening issues.

“Getting a flu shot isn’t just a good personal health decision, it’s also especially important this year as a way to combat the negative impact of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County,” said Dr. Allen Greiner, Health Department chief medical officer. “Flu vaccines won’t prevent COVID-19, but they will reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on our regional health care system. This will help conserve precious medical resources for the care of people with COVID-19. As a community, we need to do everything we can to ensure that local hospitals are not overwhelmed by patients this season.”

The Health Department will announce free flu vaccinations when they are available in the coming weeks.

Flu shots are not recommended for individuals who currently have a fever. People who are asymptomatic or who have symptoms other than fever will be eligible to get a flu shot.

To learn more about COVID-19 and the county’s response, visit wycokck.org/COVID-19 or call 3-1-1.

Today’s weather: Cold, windy, with elevated fire risk

A drop in the relative humidity plus increased winds means an increase of fire risk on Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)
There also is a risk of fire on Saturday, with increased wind gusts and decreased relative humidity. (National Weather Service graphic)

Temperatures of 37 degrees, with a little frost in places, greeted residents at 8 a.m. Friday.

The wind chill was at 33 degrees at 8 a.m. Today’s temperatures will rise to about 62 degrees, and there is elevated fire risk, according to the National Weather Service forecast. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph today.

On Saturday, temperatures will be in the mid-70s. But lows will drop to about 37 on Sunday night and Monday night, according to the weather service.

Today, humidity values will drop to 20 percent to 30 percent, with west winds of 5 to 11 mph, gusting as high as 23 mph, the weather service said.

Significant fire weather danger also is expected Saturday, when humidity values may drop to 25 percent to 35 percent with southwesterly winds at 20 to 25, gusting to 45 mph, according to the weather service.

On Sunday, there is a 20 percent chance of rain, the weather service said.

Today, it will be sunny with a high near 62 and a west wind of 5 to 11 mph, gusting as high as 23 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 49 and a south wind of 5 to 10 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph after midnight, with wind gusts up to 24 mph, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny with a high near 74, the weather service said. It will be breezy, with a south southwest wind of 20 to 25 mph, gusting as high as 45 mph.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 42 and a south southwest wind of 6 to 8 mph becoming north after midnight, according to the weather service.

Sunday, there is a 20 percent chance of rain, with a high near 51, the weather service said. A north northeast wind of 9 to 11 mph will gust as high as 20 mph.

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

Monday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 51, the weather service said.

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

Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 58.

For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov.