Month: March 2021

Blue Devils sweep softball twin bill with pair of shutouts

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Kansas City Kansas Community College needed just 10 innings Saturday to sweep a a pair of shutouts from Central Nebraska 17-0 and 12-0.

The wins improved the Blue Devils’ record to 8-2 heading into the Crowder Bash in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Friday where they play Southeastern Iowa at 4 p.m. and Mineral Area at 6 p.m.

The lopsided wins enabled KCKCC coach Lana Ross to use her entire pitching staff. Breanna Droge allowed just one hit and struck out four in 3.1 innings of the opener before Samantha Reynolds finished up, retiring all five hitters she faced.

Nerida Elson pitched the first two innings of the second game, allowing two hits and striking out one. Bradi Basler pitched the third and fourth innings, allowing two hits with Regan Marsh working a hitless fifth.

Devin Purcell and Hannah Maurer each drove in five runs in the 17-0 opener, Purcell doubled and singled twice; Maurer doubled twice. Alyssa Seichepine also had a pair of hits in the 12-hitt attack.

Six Blue Devils had extra base hits in the 12-0 nightcap. Purcell homered, Alexis Rymer tripled and Savannah Maynard, Madison Pope, Alaina Howe and Basler each doubled while Georgia Faunt delivered a run-scoring pinch single

“We played well defensively behind good pitching,” KCKCC coach Lana Ross said. The Blue Devils had just one error in the two games. “We turned two double plays in the second game. It was a good day with every player contributing; very proud of the team coming out with a lot of energy and really doing a great job at the plate.”

Faith news


Some faith groups are holding online or video services. In Wyandotte County, those who are older than 60 or who have other medical conditions should continue being very cautious, according to the Wyandotte County health officials. Those who are sick should stay home, according to officials.

More details about Wyandotte County health guidelines for churches are at https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/COVID-19GuidelinesForChurches.pdf.

Some churches have been changing their services as a result of COVID-19 restrictions for the community. Residents are advised to visit the social media page of their church or faith organization, or to call them or email them, to see changes that have been made to regular schedules, or if there are video services planned on Sunday.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has information about churches, Masses, and reflections, at https://www.facebook.com/archkck.

Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King and Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic churches have resumed in-person Masses. For more information, visit the churches’ websites or Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579, https://www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck, and https://www.facebook.com/ourladyandsaintrose/. Sunday Mass is online at https://www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck.

Christ the King Catholic Church, 3024 N. 53rd, will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, March 8, at Davern Hall, in the church basement. Those interested in donating blood may visit https://savealifenow.org/ to make an appointment or get more information, or call 816-753-4040, or visit https://www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579. Also, Christ the King plans its first St. Joseph’s Table after Mass at 5 p.m. March 19. Desserts made by parishioners will be available for purchase. There is a signup form at https://www.ctkkcks.org/?fbclid=IwAR32ELwLvcfxJXukqn-5o0bT6ZzMNo0m1GyxaNYV-0iodR5AD6AtPOUdsR4.

Casa – Worship House Christian Church, 5217 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 11 a.m. Sunday. The church has an online service at www.facebook.com/casadealabanzaKCKS. Check with the church’s social media page for more information on services. For more information, visit Facebook @casadealabanzaKCKS.

The First Christian Church of Bonner Springs, 148 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs, will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, in the Fellowship Hall. Those interested in donating blood may visit https://savealifenow.org/ to make an appointment or get more information, or call 816-753-4040.

Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 15, at its Family Life Center. Those interested in donating blood may visit https://savealifenow.org/ to make an appointment or get more information, or call 816-753-4040.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services in person with social distancing at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 7. There will be a livestream service at https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/ and https://www.opendoorkc.com/.

Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic Church is holding a Lenten fish fry from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 12, at Davern Hall, 3024 N. 53rd. To be available are a dinner with one catfish fillet for $10 or two catfish fillets for $12. The dinner includes green beans, cole slaw and pound cake. Orders may be placed and prepaid by March 9 at ourladyandsaintrose.org/fishfry, or 913-321-1958.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, March 7. Services also will be livestreamed on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas, has a Mass online for Sunday, March 7, at https://www.facebook.com/StPatrickKCK. St. Patrick will have a drive-up fish dinner at 4:30 p.m. each Friday in Lent. Vehicles will enter on 94th Street, and then go to the parish center. Adult meals are $11, kids meals are $6, and a family meal is $30.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will hold its services at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 7, online at https://www.stpaulskck.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsKCK/. St. Paul’s will have an all-parish forum on Zoom after services March 7.

Sunset Hills Christian Church, 6347 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 7. For more information about this Sunday’s plans, visit the Facebook page of Pastor Mike Barnett, https://www.facebook.com/mike.barnett.528. Services are also provided through checkout of DVD or SD Card and can be sent by email upon request.

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., will have a livestreamed service Sunday, March 7, on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc/ or online on the website at www.wyandotteumc.com. The church is planning to resume in-person services at 11 a.m. March 21, with social distancing and masks.

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.
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Kansas’ two senators voted against coronavirus relief bill

The two Republican senators from Kansas, Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, voted against the latest coronavirus bill on Saturday.

The bill passed by a narrow 50-49 vote after an all-nighter in the U.S. Senate. It would provide $1.9 trillion for relief, and it includes $1,400 in relief payments to individuals. The Senate was in session for 27 hours straight before passage. Unemployment benefits were extended through September.

President Joe Biden supported the compromise version of the bill, and the White House sent out this statement: “The President supports the compromise agreement, and is grateful to all the Senators who worked so hard to reach this outcome. It extends supplemental unemployment benefit into September, and helps the vast majority of unemployment insurance recipients avoid unanticipated tax bills. Most importantly, this agreement allows us to move forward on the urgently needed American Rescue Plan, with $1,400 relief checks, funding we need to finish the vaccine rollout, open our schools, help those suffering from the pandemic, and more.”

In a statement, Sen. Moran explained why he voted against it, calling the relief package a “costly bill that has little to do with COVID-19.”

Sen. Moran’s statement: “Last month, I joined a group of 10 Republican senators in offering President Biden a targeted and far less expensive alternative to the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion budget plan. Unfortunately, Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi chose to ignore our work, which is supported by a majority of Americans, and ram through a costly bill that has little to do with COVID-19. This $1.9 trillion bill is filled with Democrat wish list items such as unnecessary infrastructure projects, state bailouts, climate change provisions and billions of dollars that won’t be spent for several years. Congress has already provided $4 trillion of COVID-19 relief through five bipartisan packages, and nearly $1 trillion have yet to be spent. That is why I introduced and supported efforts to stay focused on manufacturing and distributing the vaccines. It is the most important thing we can do to get healthy and our economy moving again.”

Sen. Marshall’s statement: “Having passed each of the previous COVID packages on a bipartisan basis, it is disappointing this $1.9 trillion bill has been a totally partisan process from the start. Forcing hardworking Kansans to pay for democrat pet projects and to bail out blue states who over reacted and totally shut down their economies and their schools is not fair and it’s not American,” Sen. Marshall said. “Without question we need to help those who truly need the help now but cheating Kansas of $400 million in state and local relief does the exact opposite. I remain focused on what will defeat this virus: getting shots in arms, getting people back to work, and getting kids back to school.”
Sen. Marshall stated that he supported Sen. Susan Collins’ amendment to the Democrat’s bill, which he said would have provided fair, direct, and targeted relief to Americans in need. Democrats defeated the alternative 48-51.