Month: January 2021

Nationwide lighting ceremony to honor COVID-19 victims on Tuesday afternoon

A nationwide lighting ceremony will honor COVID-19 victims at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19.


Gov. Laura Kelly has announced that Kansas will participate in this memorial to honor lives lost to COVID-19.

The Presidential Inauguration Committee is the host of the memorial, and cities and towns across America are invited to participate in the effort. In Washington, D.C., there will be lighting around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to honor lives lost to COVID-19.

In Kansas, all the Statehouse interior lights will be turned on Tuesday afternoon to honor COVID-19 victims.

“The past 10 months have been filled with tragedy and loss for so many Kansans – and I offer my deepest sympathies to those who have lost friends, family members, or loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “As we light the Kansas Statehouse, we will honor their memories and recommit ourselves to preventing further deaths by doing our part to slow the spread of the virus and ensure every Kansan is vaccinated.”

The widespread lighting event was initially planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee for President-elect Joe Biden. Tuesday evening, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will be lit to memorialize American lives lost to COVID-19.

The Inaugural Committee invites states and communities across the nation to participate by lighting up buildings and ringing church bells at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to participate in this national moment of unity and remembrance.

“I encourage all cities and counties in Kansas to join in and light up Courthouses, City Halls, or other buildings Tuesday evening,” Gov. Kelly said. “Let us all use this opportunity to unite as Kansans and as Americans and remember those we have lost.”

Police notes

Shooting reported in street near 47th and Parallel

A shooting was reported on Monday, Jan. 18, near 47th and Parallel, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Suspects in a dark-colored vehicle began shooting at victims, according to the report. Officers responded and found one shell casing in the street, the report stated.

The stolen vehicle was found a short time later in the area of 18th and Wood, according to the report.
After a short pursuit on foot, the passenger of the vehicle was taken into custody, the report stated.

Theft, assault reported

A theft and aggravated assault were reported on Monday, Jan. 18, in the 1900 block of North 77th, according to a social media report by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

As the suspect was moving out, the suspect took a handgun from the victim and placed it in a vehicle, the report stated.

Later, the victim and a second suspect got into a verbal argument, according to the report. The second suspect got the handgun from the vehicle and pointed it at the victim, the report stated.

Officers located both suspects at a different location and took them into custody, according to the report.

Cigarettes stolen

A suspect took cigarette cartons in a burglary on Monday, Jan. 18, near 12th and Central, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers responding to an alarm call at a business found the front door pried open, the report stated.

After reviewing the video, police observed the suspect enter the business, fill a trash bag with cigarette cartons, then leave, according to the report.

Firearm stolen from vehicle

A firearm was stolen from a vehicle on Monday, Jan. 18, near 46th and Speaker, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

A victim said unknown suspects broke into the vehicle, according to the report.

If healthy, Lady Blue Devils may be most talented yet

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

In 2019-2020, Joe McKinstry started Kansas City Kansas Community College women’s basketball season with just one returning starter – and still won 25 games.

So the fact he’ll have only one returning starter for the 2021 is no reason for gloom and doom. In fact, “I think this group is as talented as any we’ve had,” McKinstry said. Strong optimism coming off national championships in 2016 and 2019.

“Whether they come together and meld as a unit is another story,” he said. “We’re heavy on talent but light on experience and, like everyone else, we’re going to have to adapt to what COVID has presented us and not let youth and inexperience get in the way of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Tabbed to finish third in the Jayhawk Conference pre-season poll, play begins Wednesday, Jan. 20, at North Central Missouri and at Central Nebraska Saturday before the home opener against Park University JV Jan. 28

The Blue Devils will build around a quartet of veterans headed by 5-7 Aliyah Myers of Derby, who started 30 games last season. She’ll be joined by 6-0 forward Mercer Roberts of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; 5-6 guard Tiara Earnest of Detroit Mumford; and 5-6 Jada Mayberry of Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel. Combined, they had 10 starting roles a 25-7 season with all seven losses to ranked teams.

Myers finished third in scoring as a freshman, averaging 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists, and finished the season with a 25-point performance against Region VI champion Labette.

“She’s as good at driving to the basket and getting to the rim as any guard we’ve ever had,” McKinstry said. “And she can guard the 1 through 4 positions.”

Mercer was second in rebounding (4.5) while averaging 4.3 points; Earnest averaged 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists; and Mayberry 7.4 points and 3.0 rebounds.

“We are going to rely on Roberts for consistency at forward,” McKinstry said. “She’s a great rebounder who can contribute in a lot of ways. Earnest is lightning quick and very athletic. I’m excited for her experience to kick in and for her to feel more comfortable in the things we need from her. Mayberry is very strong and athletic. Very good as a ball defender, I look for her to increase her contributions on the offensive end.”

Additional experience will come from two transfers. Hannah Valentine, a 5-9 forward from Platte County, transferred from Barton County where she averaged 8.0 points on a team that reached the DI regional championship game while 5-6 De’Jaria Guillory of Park Hill South had significant playing minutes at Southwest Baptist. A third transfer, 5-9 guard Aysia Arrowood of Valley Center, was a redshirt freshman at Cowley County.

“Valentine is a very high IQ player who does a little bit of everything and we hope her experience playing for a championship can be a great influence,” McKinstry said. “Guillory is a super athletic guard who loves defense and that playing in a very tough NCAA DII conference will be a benefit. Arrowood is a big time shooter who we will rely on for constancy on the perimeter.”

A trio of freshmen will add depth to the backcourt – 5-6 Lacy Whitcomb of Shawnee Mission South; 5-8 Faith Putz of Urbandale, Iowa; and DeQuaria Guillory, a younger sister of De’Jaria but who attended Park Hill.

“Whitcomb is our only true point guard so the point guard position will be by committee,” McKinstry said. “She’s a very crafty player, enjoys getting teammates involved and is a tremendous shooter. Putz is an athletic guard whose ball-handling and athleticism makes her a threat from both guard positions, DeQuaria Guillory is a big, strong player who will used in a variety of ways including the point,”

The Blue Devils will have considerably more size than a year ago with the arrival of three freshmen – 6-0 Trinity McDow of Paola; 6-1 Ikia Elam of Pontiac, Michigan; and 6-1 Jewell Hart of Truman High School; and the return of 5-9 Kiara Brown of Schlagle High School.

“McDow had a great fall; a high IQ player who can help around the basket and step out and shoot from the perimeter,” McKinstry said. “With experience, Elam could be one of the best forwards in the league with her ability to block shots, rebound and a phenomenal motor. As a freshman at Truman, Hart was an all-stater but she’s had two torn ACL injuries. When healthy, she’s a very high impact player.”

Brown also has been battling a series of injuries and illness. A top defender and scorer at Schlagle, she originally was a 2017 signee.

“For all Kiara has gone through to put herself in position to be on the roster shows just how tough she is and a tremendous example for our other players,” McKinstry said.

A schedule trimmed from 30 games to 22 will preclude the Blue Devils another 25-win season.

“Much tougher schedule than last year,” McKinstry said. “Three games against DI teams vs. one last year; 18 games against NJCAA teams; and playing in the toughest conference in the country.”

The Jayhawk Conference had a streak of six years in a row of putting teams in the NJCAA DII Final Four, but it ended when the COVID pandemic forced cancellation of the 2020 national tournament.

“It looks like a three-horse race between Labette, Johnson County and us,” McKinstry said. “JCCC and us look about the same with returners; Labette has a real good returnee back.” Jayhawk coaches agree, voting Labette No. 1, JCCC No. 2 and KCKCC No. 3 in the annual pre-season poll.

Kansas City Kansas Community College

2021 Women’s Basketball Schedule

Wed., Jan 20 North Central Missouri, Away 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 23 Central Nebraska, Away 1 p.m.
Thur., Jan. 28 Park University JV, Home 6 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 29 William Penn JV, Away 5:30 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 1 Jefferson College, Away 5:30 p.m.
Tue., Feb 2 Graceland JV, Home 6 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 6 State Fair, Home 3 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 9 Metropolitan CC, Home 5:30 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 12 William Penn JV, Home 5:30 p.m.
Thur., Feb 18 Metropolitan CC, Away 5:30 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 23 North Central Missouri, Home 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 27 Johnson County,* Away 2 p.m.

Wed., March 3 Hesston College,* Home 5:30 p.m.
Sat., March 6 Highland,* Home 2 p.m.

Wed., March 10 Labette,* Away 5:30 p.m.
Sat., March 13 Fort Scott,* Away 2 p.m.

Wed., March 17 Johnson County,* Home 5:30 p.m.
Sat., March 20 Hesston College,* Away 2 p.m.

Mon., March 22 State Fair, Away 6 p.m.

Wed., March 24 Highland,* Away 5:30 p.m.
Sat., March 27 Labette,* Home 2 p.m.

Wed., March 31 Fort Scott,* Home 5:30 p.m.
*Jayhawk Conference game