Month: April 2021

Police identify victim in Friday’s homicide on Birch

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department has identified the victim in Friday afternoon’s homicide in the 2200 block of Birch as Marlon A. Gatlin, 42, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri.

Officers were dispatched to the address at 2:32 p.m. on a shooting, according to a police spokesman.

When they arrived, they found Gatlin inside an apartment with apparent gunshot wounds, the spokesman stated. Gatlin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Before officers arrived, a suspect fled on foot. He was located a short time later and taken into custody, where he remains pending charges, according to the spokesman.

This incident remains under investigation by the Police Department’s Major Case Unit, according to the spokesman. Anyone with information is urged to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS, the spokesman stated.

Kansas City women’s soccer team one goal short in Challenge Cup match

Kansas City women’s soccer action from the Challenge Cup Friday in Portland, Oregon. (Photo from Kansas City NWSL)
Kansas City women’s soccer action from the Challenge Cup Friday in Portland, Oregon. (Photo from Kansas City NWSL)

In an emotional night that marked Kansas City’s return to the National Women’s Soccer League against the 2020 Fall Series Champion Portland Thorns FC, Kansas City fell just short of victory Friday.

Forward Amy Rodriguez scored the team’s first goal in the 60th minute. Unfortunately Portland had already tallied two scores from Raquel Rodriguez and Tyler Lussi.

Only 124 days since being announced as the newest team in the NWSL, Kansas City kicked off for the first time on Friday night.

Coach Huw Williams warned his team that the Thorns would be pressing early and he was proven right early in the game. In the 8th minute, Portland captain Meghan Klingenberg launched a cross from a free kick 30 yards from goal that found the head of Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez who put the home side up 1-0 early.

Kansas City saw themselves on the attack through many points of the first half. In the 21st minute Michele Vasconcelos capped off a three-minute flurry of action with a close-range shot that Portland goalkeeper Adrianna Franch was able to grab onto and keep KC off the board.

After giving up an early goal, Kansas City’s defense stood strong through the rest of the opening half. Center backs Kate Del Fava and Rachel Corsie were able to clean up just about any attack the Thorns threw at them.

The second half saw Kansas City once again on the defensive as Portland began to throw deep crosses into the penalty box. In the 58th minute Tyler Lussi was able to put the Thorns up 2-0.

Team captain Amy Rodriguez rallied her side following the goal and led her team towards the Portland defense immediately off the kickoff. After a ball bounced outside to Brittany Ratcliffe, she was able to send a pass into the penalty area where midfielder Victoria Pickett got just enough of a touch onto it that Rodriguez could find it and tap the ball over the outstretched hands of the Thorns goalkeeper for the first goal in team history.

There were several late dramatics as Kansas City tried for the equalizer. Two yellow cards and three red cards were issued in the 90th minute or later. First, Portland’s Simone Charley was shown her second yellow card of the match in the 90th minute for a reckless tackle. Then Kansas City’s Kristen Edmonds and Portland’s Morgan Weaver were shown straight red cards for their extra-curricular activities along the sidelines.

Kansas City now turns its sights to the Chicago, where it will travel to face the Chicago Red Stars at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 20. The team will make its debut at home against the Houston Dash at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 26. For season ticket information visit KCWoso.com.

Former Woodlands property on Planning Commission agenda tonight

The former Woodlands property at 97th and Leavenworth Road is on the City Planning Commission agenda for three items at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 12.

One of the items is a change of zone from planned limited business and planned general industrial to planned general industrial to remove the light manufacturing restriction from the previous approval.

A second item would remove commercial lots from the previous Woodlands Phase 2 plan in conjunction with the change of zone application, amending the southern drive for Phase 2.

A third item would be a final plan review to amend the southern drive for Woodlands Phase 2 in conjunction with the change of zone application and other changes.

The Woodlands property has been undergoing redevelopment from the previous horse and dog track into a warehouse facility. The developer is Scannell Properties.

Also on the agenda Monday night is a special use permit for an outdoor event space for Chateau Avalon at 701 Village West Parkway, in conjunction with a final plan review for parking.

Also on the April 12 CPC agenda:

• 2716 N. 119th St., renewal of special use permit for short-term AirBNB.

• 3801 Leavenworth Road, renewal and expansion of specialuse permit for a liquor store with packaged liquor sales.

• 935 N. 69th St., 6825 Orville Ave., final plat for five lots for the Turner Logistics Center.

• 935 N. 69th St. and 6825 Orville Ave., final plan for Turner Logistics Building 4.

• 8410 Gibbs Road, final plan review to remove the stipulation from previous approval against using transport trucks, Copart of Kansas.

• 4223 Gibbs Road, change of zone from single-family district to agriculture district for a community garden.

• 933 Quindaro Blvd., special use permit for a transitional-group home, Cabrin Mills.

• 3319 N. 59th St., special use permit for a storage container for storage of tools.

• 101 Central Ave., special use permit for a beer hall in a former foundry, Sheila A. Ohrenberg-Schwester Holdings LLC.

• 1000 N. 82nd St., special use permit for adults with learning disabilities training facility during the day and banquet facility in the evenings and weekends, Lexi McDaniel.

• 1010 Merriam Lane, special use permit for a used car dealership, previously denied August 2019.

• 6720 Kaw Drive, special use permit for live entertainment in conjunction with bar at 6720 ½ Kaw Drive, Josh and Allyson Brandon, Beautifully Bare LP, doing business as The Bar.

• 927 Kansas Ave., special use permit for auto sales, repair and body work, Riad Baghdadi/RB Architecture Eng. Const.

• 1879 Village West Parkway, vacation of electrical easement in conjunction with three other vacations of utility easements, Bob Becker, Legends 267 LLC.

Before the CPC meeting, the Board of Zoning Appeals will meet at 6 p.m. Monday.

Appeals being heard at the BOZA meeting are for an automotive repair and used car sales business at 927 Kansas Ave., and for the KC Farm School at 4223 Gibbs Road.

Unified Government meetings currently are not open in person to the public. The CPC meeting will be available on the internet on Zoom at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/95402491608?pwd=bTlJRzhpMFBXTmo2Rm9qaWd2Wk1Fdz09. The passcode is
721618.