Month: January 2021

‘Enough Is Enough’ community forum planned tonight in KCK

An “Enough Is Enough” community forum will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in a virtual meeting.

The forum is sponsored by the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools Police Department and the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The school board is leading an effort to stop violence in the community. During the past year, more than 20 students have been lost, including 11 to gun violence.

The “Enough Is Enough” campaign has featured blue ribbons displayed throughout the community in the effort to end violence. A pledge drive is online at https://enough.kckps.org/.

A pledge drive has been started, so that individuals in the community can pledge to end violence.

Those interested in participating in the forum may sign up at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kf-mtpzIrHtyqyB9fvg7ZBYpi-pVpUFLp.

For more information on the “Enough Is Enough” campaign, visit https://kckps.org/enough-is-enough-a-new-initiative-from-kansas-city-kansas-public-schools/.

KCKCC’s Crist national volleyball player of week

Cassidy Crist (KCKCC photo)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Sophomore Cassidy Crist is the NJCAA Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week, an honor that came as no surprise to Kansas City Kansas Community College coach Mary Bruno-Ballou.

“Her statistics thus far are ridiculous,” Bruno-Ballou said. “For most players, 2 to 2½ kills a set is a good game. She’s averaging 5.2 kills a set. Our hitting average is about 2.00, hers is 3.66. And she’s second on our team in digs with 30. Being Player of the Week is a huge honor and accomplishment to her work ethic and mental toughness. We love having her in our program.”

Crist learned of her Player of the Week award at practice Wednesday.

“A total surprise. I didn’t even know what it was,” she said. Crist is also the Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week.

The Blue Devils are off to a 2-1 start this season, the lone loss coming at the hands of No. 14 ranked Lincoln Land in the opening triangular of the season. The highlight came Tuesday, a 3-0 upset at Cloud County, which entered the game ranked 21st nationally.

“That was a pretty fun win, especially since we didn’t have our starting middle and had others playing the position,” Crist said.

Bruno-Ballou said Crist’s ability as an outside hitter to track down out of the system or junk balls sets her apart from the average player.

“Outside hitters are the outlet,” she said. “They don’t get the perfect set but she’s turning out of system balls into kills. And as a six-rotation athlete, she does not come off the court.”

Idled for more than a year because of the COVID Pandemic, Crist rebounded quickly.

“It’s hard to not play in over a year and bounce back but she has that ability to find her passion and fully commit to it,” Bruno-Ballou said.

A 6-0 sophomore who played at DeSoto High School, Crist was targeted early after Bruno-Ballou saw her play on the club circuit.

“I loved her athleticism and the way she played for the true love of the game,” Bruno-Ballou said.

Although there were other options, the decision was easy for Crist.

“I was pretty focused all the way,” she said. “It’s a good school, I like the coaches a lot. They work us hard but it’s a lot of fun. And I live in Shawnee so I can live at home.”

Her recruitment came with total family support. Her mother, Lynn, aided in the recruiting process; her father, Mike, put together highlight videos. There are also two younger sisters, Ally and Lydia, a volleyball player at St. James Academy.

Crist, who is looking at childhood education as a possible career, is hopeful of continuing her volleyball at a four-year college but because of the pandemic, she has an option only current players have – an additional year at KCKCC, something she will consider.

UG Commission to discuss zoning items tonight

A virtual Unified Government Commission meeting is planned tonight, Jan. 28.

The UG Commission meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 will include many planning and zoning items, including some near the Legends, at the former Woodlands, and some at the Turner Diagonal area.

A UG special session is planned at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, on a COVID-19 and vaccination update, followed by a presentation on the safe and welcoming ordinance.

At the 7 p.m. meeting, the Legends 267 project proposes a zoning change from planned general business to planned high-rise apartment district for 267 apartments at 1879 Village West Parkway. A Master Plan Amendment also is proposed for this project.

The Turner Logistics Center at 615 N. 69th St. plans a change of zone from right of way area to planned general industrial district for warehousing, distribution and light manufacturing businesses. A Master Plan amendment also is planned for this project.

Also on the 7 p.m. agenda is a preliminary plan review for a business park and neighborhood retail center from Scannell Properties at 9700 Leavenworth Road, which is part of the redevelopment of The Woodlands.

An item that has generated community comment is a proposal to keep horses, sheep, cows and chickens at 3834 Bell Crossing Drive. The location is not far from the historic Quindaro Cemetery.

Another item on the agenda that had a lot of previous community comment was the Tower View Apartments at 5115 and 5125 Gibbs Road, on the agenda for a change of zone and a Master Plan amendment.

Besides several zoning items, also on the 7 p.m. agenda:

• A resolution to increase the ticket tax by $1.25 at Sporting KC events, for parking improvements and ground lease costs.

• A Brownfields Coalition grant and agreement.

• Industrial revenue bonds up to $20 million to finance a student housing project at KCKCC.

• Adopting a cash and investment policy for the UG.

Some of the other zoning items on the 7 p.m. agenda include:

• 3410 Metropolitan Ave., change of zone from single-family district to two-family district for an existing duplex.

• 12525 Leavenworth Road, change of zone from county agriculture district to city agriculture district.

• 1610 N. 51st St., renewal of special use permit for the temporary use of land to park a dump truck.

• 7640 Tauromee Ave., special use permit to keep three goats.

• 411 and 415 Stine Ave., special use permit to keep two goats.

• 4220 Leavenworth Road, special use permit for a drinking establishment with live entertainment, Lounge 42.

• 1124 Pawnee Ave., ordinance for special use permit for continuation of auto salvage yard.

• 1223 Meadowlark Lane, ordinance for special use permit for receiving invenetory at the dock, storage within the building interior and shipping.

• 7949 Splitlog Ave., ordinance authorizing special use permit for continuation of tractor-trailer truck parking at the American Motel.

• 13400 Donahoo Road, ordinance authorizing special use permit to operate a microbrewery.

• 13400 Donahoo Road, ordinance authorizing special use permit for an event space with live entertainment.

• 6600 Thorn Drive, ordinance rezoning property from single-family district to planned heavy industrial district.

Also on the agenda are several Land Bank actions.

Land Bank option applications:
New construction, RST, single-family homes
Five single-family homes at 1231 Armstrong, 1235 Armstrong, 1237 Armstrong, 1243 Armstrong, .
Combining lots for one home at 1246 Armstrong and 1244 Armstrong.

New construction, J Horton Holdings, residential, phase 1, three single-family homes, combining parcels for one home: 521 Oakland and 517 Oakland. Two single-family homes.
516 Oakland, phase 2, four townhome units, one duplex, combine paracels for duplex, 509 Oakland, 1420 N. 5th, 1416 N. 5th. Four towntown units.
1400 N. 5th, phase 3, four single-family homes; two single-family homes.
520 Everett, one single-family home.
514 Everett, one single-family home.
504 Everett.

New construction, Amy Strother, agricultural:
To develop an inner-city equestrian park, 3319 N. 44th Terrace, trails and lean-tos.
3334 N. 44th Terrace, trails and lean-tos.
4551 Sloan Ave., trails and lean-tos.
4600 Parkview Ave., home and horse stalls.

Land Bank property transfers:
Yard extension request:
805 N. 11th , current home, requesting neighboring Land Bank lot, 809 N. 11th.

For more information on the items and how to connect to the meeting, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Clerk/Agendas.aspx.