Month: March 2021

Forecast: Cooler today, rain Friday

Wyandotte County could receive more than 2 inches of rain through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)
A storm moved through Wyandotte County on Wednesday night, with lightning and rain.

Today’s weather will reach a high of 59, cooler than recent days, according to the National Weather Service.

A cold front has pushed through the area after last night’s rain. The cold front is expected to stay in the area into the first half of the weekend, with more rain expected in parts of the region, the weather service said.

In Wyandotte County, rain is in the forecast every day from Friday through Monday. Heavier rain is expected to fall south of the Missouri River, according to the weather service.

Some of the areas in the region are under a flood watch for Friday and Saturday, the weather service said.

Another round of showers and thunderstorms is possible on Sunday that could lead to additional flooding, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 59 and a north wind of 7 to 9 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 40 and a northeast wind of 5 to 8 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday, there is an 80 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon, with a high near 52, the weather service said. An east wind of 9 to 15 mph will gust as high as 29 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is an 80 percent chance of rain with a low of 45, according to the weather service. An east wind of 10 to 15 mph will gust as high as 26 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Saturday, there is a 90 percent chance of rain with a high near 55, the weather service said. An east southeast wind of 15 mph will gust as high as 23 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Saturday night, there is a 90 percent chance of rain with a low of 48, according to the weather service. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.

Sunday, there is a 90 percent chance of rain, with a high near 57, the weather service said.

Sunday night, there is a 70 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 41.

Monday, there is a 40 percent chance of rain, with a high near 51, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 33, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 49, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 33, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 48, the weather service said.

UG budget hearing planned Thursday night

A public hearing on the Unified Government budget is planned for the 7 p.m. UG Commission meeting Thursday, March 11.

It will be a Zoom meeting. The virtual budget hearing will be on priorities for the UG budget and community development program.

The UG Commission held a budget strategic planning meeting about a week ago, on March 4. The four-hour meeting may be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVYIalWx3JE.

Another public hearing at 7 p.m. March 11 is on issuing industrial revenue bonds for the Milhaus multifamily project, an apartment project at the former Schlitterbahn waterpark site near 94th and State Avenue. The proposal is to issue IRBs up to $45 million for the project. It is part of the Homefield project.

A third public hearing March 11 is on issuing industrial revenue bonds for the Legends 267 multifamily apartment project. The proposal is to issue bonds up to $54.8 million to finance the apartment project. It is near the parking garage at The Legends Outlets.

Also on the 7 p.m. agenda for the UG Commission meeting March 11:

• A resolution to extend the state of emergency through June 15 for the COVID-19 pandemic;

• A resolution for the UG to participate in a nationwide Stepping Up initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails;

• An amendment to the 18th Street Expressway Menards development agreement, with mostly minor changes;

• A resolution authorizing the UG to enter into a master equipment lease – purchase agreement with Banc of America Public Capital Corp.

• A budget revision to support costs of the Health Department’s county-wide COVID-19 pandemic vaccination effort.

• The addition of a planning and zoning agenda to the April 8 full commission meeting.

• Appointment of Erica M. Simpson to the Wyandotte County Library Board, nomination by Commissioner Mike Kane.

• Recognition of parks’ heroes.

• Proclamation of COVID heroes week.

• Approval of Land Bank option applications, a single family home at 2630 N. 102nd; and a garage at 1310 Troup.

• A yard extension at 923 Pacific Ave.

• Land Bank property transfers, administrative actions moving properties to the current owner and out of the Land Bank’s inventory, and many are BPU properties:

• 605 N. 110th St., communication tower; 10301 T Troup Ave., water tower; 6543 Riverview Ave., service center complex; 6617 Riverview, service center complex; 6632 R Riverview, service center complex; 6515 Riverview, service center complex; 6541 Riverview, service center complex; 5535 Parallel, water reservoir and pump station; 4139 Brenner Drive, water production; 4151 Nearman Drive, water production; 1415 N. 40th St., water tower; 2206 Vernon Ave., communication tower; 1817 N. 11th, substation; 375 S. 11th, part of parking lot; 300 Shawnee Ave, substation; 1734 S. 16th St., substation, transmission, Google hut; 1740 S. 16th, substation transmission; 2116 S. 11th Place, communication tower; and 1839 S. 10th St., transmission.

A UG Commission special session will be held at 5 p.m. March 11 by Zoom.

A COVID-19 vaccine update is on the 5 p.m. agenda. An executive, closed session will be held after the special session in the fifth floor meeting room at City Hall, according to the agenda.

The meetings are expected to be shown on UGTV, cable channel 2 on Spectrum and channel 141 on Google TV, as well as on Youtube.

To connect to the Zoom meeting, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81734748212?pwd=VHk3VDZIQnlxS1FKc2lvbmhlUjNyQT09.

The passcode is 684586.

To connect by telephone, dial toll free 877-853-5257 or toll free 888-475-4499.

The webinar ID is 817 3474 8212.

The UG also has a citizen and community stakeholder budget survey online at https://us.openforms.com/Form/c3b8e229-48f2-4327-b1a6-cdafd127f996.

Mullen wins golf invitational, KCKCC team finishes fourth

Blake Mullen (KCKCC photo)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Led by Blake Mullen, Kansas City Kansas Community College got the 2021 golf season off to an outstanding start.

A sophomore from Olathe East, Mullen won the Evangel University Spring Invitational championship as the Blue Devils finished a solid fourth in the 10-team tournament made up mainly of four-year colleges and universities.

Mullen trailed Central Methodist’s Matias Baccola by two shots and Evangel’s Jake Brown by one with an opening round 2-over par 73 but charged from behind on the final round with a par 71 (73-71-144) and one stroke in front of both Baccola and Brown for medalist honors. The tourney was played at Fremont Hills Country Club near Springfield, Missouri, Monday and Tuesday.

“Blake’s putting was sold and he played well enough that he probably could have finished 3 or 4 under par were it not for a couple of holes including an 8 and on a par 5,” KCKCC coach Gary Shrader said. “It was very windy and the course played tough, With Bermuda fairways the ball kept rolling off the side of the fairway.”

Three other Blue Devils golfers finished in the Top 20 led by Carson Towey, a freshman from Andover Central, who tied for seventh with rounds of 78-76-154. Cheney sophomore Dylan Freund tied for 17th with a 78-83-161 and freshman Colby Unruh of Overland Park tied for 20th at 86-80-166.

“It was a good learning experience for our two freshmen,” Shrader said. “We had to designate five players for scoring and our other three players played as individuals and as a coach I didn’t pick the best five. And two players were hurt that affected their scores, Keegan Ellington and Kellen Welsh.”

Jacob Hall of Tonganoxie tied for 24th (86-82-168), Mark Towey of Andover Central shared 29th (87-83-170) and Kellen Welsh of Olathe West was 50th (92-99-191) despite a recurring wrist injury. Ellington was unable to finish because of injury.

Host Evangel took the team title with a 36-hole total of 610 followed by Kirkwood Community College, 612; Central Methodist, 619; KCKCC, 632; Graceland, 671; College of the Ozarks, 678; Dordt College, 686; Westminster, 689; Evangel B, 701- and Crowley Ridge College, 718.

The Blue Devils return to action May 22-23 when they’ll compete in the Washburn Invitational in Topeka. It’s the only tournament Shrader will be limited to five players.