Month: May 2021

Red Cross offers T-shirts, contest for blood donors

Blood donors in selected American Red Cross blood drives this summer will receive T-shirts and will be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper.

James Van Der Beek, an actor, and his wife Kimberly have joined with the Red Cross to encourage healthy people to donate blood or platelets.

As the nation gets back to some of its former activities, a Red Cross spokesman stated that there is a concern about the effect on Red Cross blood donor turnout and the blood supply this summer.

In thanks for making the blood donations, those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in May will automatically be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five, powered by Suburban Propane, via their SuburbanCares initiative. The Red Cross is also thanking those who come to donate May 28-June 13 with a limited-edition T-shirt, while supplies last.

The Van Der Beeks said that blood donations have saved the lives of pregnant women needing transfusions.

Individuals of all blood types are urged to schedule an appointment now to give blood, and in most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility, a spokesman stated. Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high levels of antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood product collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.

The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.

The Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive antibody test and sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

Upcoming Red Cross blood drives in Kansas City, Kansas, include:

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 21, the New Bethel Church, 745 Walker Ave.
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 26, Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive.
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2, Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive.
• 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 2, Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive.

Wyandotte County Ethics Commission members sought

The Unified Government Ethics Commission is accepting written applications for ethics commissioners.

Ethics commissioners live in Wyandotte County and are appointed by the Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel. The panel includes Chief Judge Robert P. Burns, Wyandotte County District Court; Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark A. Dupree Sr.; and Thomas L. Wiss, legislative auditor for the UG.

Wyandotte County residents who are interested in serving on the UG Ethics Commission may submit a written application to the Office of the Legislative Auditor by 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 23. The written applications should be sent to Thomas L. Wiss, legislative auditor, Unified Government of Wyandotte County – Kansas City Kansas, 710 N. 7th St., Suite 140, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.

According to a UG spokesman, members of the Ethics Commission are unpaid and must be a Wyandotte County resident of good moral standing and reputation. Ethics Commission members would serve one 4-year term.

The spokesman stated the purpose of the Ethics Commission is to recommend ways to improve the UG’s Ethics Code, to review and report on any and all violations of the ethics code, to render advisory opinions on questions of ethics, conflicts of interest, and the applicability of the code of ethics, according to the spokesman. The Ethics Commission meets monthly.

All applicants are required to include a brief written statement as to why he or she desires to serve on the Ethics Commission and a brief written resume accompanied by a listing of public service work. The contents of all applications will be held in strict confidence by the Ad Hoc Panel, according to the spokesman.

Sporting loses to Houston, 1-0

Sporting Kansas City (2-2-1, 7 points) took a narrow 1-0 loss to rivals Houston Dynamo FC (2-1-2, 8 points) on Wednesday night at BBVA Stadium in Texas.

Despite outshooting Houston 15-4, including a 14-2 advantage in the second half, Sporting succumbed to a 56th-minute strike from Dynamo striker Maxi Urruti as the hosts emerged victorious in the first of three head-to-head meetings between the clubs this season.

Manager Peter Vermes’ side will have an opportunity to bounce back Sunday when they play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-2-1, 7 points) in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. A limited number of tickets for the match are available at SeatGeek.com while supplies last.

Fans can also catch the action live on Bally Sports Kansas City Plus, Bally Sports Midwest Plus, BallySports.com, the Bally Sports app, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.

Just 72 hours removed from a last-gasp 2-1 home win over Austin FC on Sunday, Sporting Kansas City deployed a reshuffled lineup as manager Peter Vermes made four changes to the starting eleven.

Defender Jaylin Lindsey, midfielder Gadi Kinda and forward Khiry Shelton stepped in for Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza and Daniel Salloi, while midfielder Ilie Sanchez dropped into central defense — replacing the injured Roberto Puncec — and Remi Walter reclaimed a starting role in the center of the park.

A pedestrian first half produced zero shots on target from either team, but Houston nearly landed the first punch after 11 minutes when defender Tim Parker rose to nod a Joe Corona corner kick inches wide of the frame. Sporting was forced into an early substitute nine minutes later as Salloi relieved captain Johnny Russell, who exited with a groin problem.

Sporting created a spark in the 22nd minute with a flowing attack that saw Ilie, Walter and Alan Pulido combine intricately before Kinda was played into a pocket of space on the left side of the box. He cut onto his right foot and unleashed a curling effort that sailed marginally wide of the far post. At the opposite end, Sporting center back Andreu Fontas did well to block a low drive by Urruti on the half-hour mark.

The game sprung to life in the second period and Sporting almost landed the first punch with 51 minutes on the clock. Salloi had a breakaway shot saved following an incisive pass from Kinda, but the visitors retained possession through Pulido and Shelton ultimately flashed a shot across the face of the goal that failed to test Houston keeper Marko Maric.

Houston cashed in on a Sporting turnover at midfield for the game’s lone goal just shy of the hour mark. Derrick Jones won possession and drove centrally before spreading the ball to Urruti, who settled the ball on the run and hammered high into the roof of the net for his second goal of the season.

Sporting responded positively after going behind, manufacturing a flurry of chances between the 59th and 68th minutes.

Kinda, who bagged the 90th-minute winner against Austin on Sunday, went close to scoring again but his header off a Luis Martins cross lacked the direction to beat Maric. Shortly thereafter, Kinda’s acrobatic overhead kick off Lindsey’s delivery sailed over the crossbar.

Shelton successfully opened the Houston defense in the 66th minute, embarking on a 50-yard solo run down the right sideline and crossing low to Salloi inside the box. The Sporting KC Academy product cleverly prodded the ball into the path of Pulido, whose blast to the near post was parried away by an outstretched Maric. Salloi was on the receiving end of a notable chance a moment later, but his attempt from 12 yards was deflected and trickled wide.

Houston broke once on the counterattack as Sporting committed numbers forward in search of a leveler, as forward Fafa Picault darted through on the breakaway only to see his chipped effort float off target.

Sporting KC Academy product and 21-year-old Wilson Harris made his MLS debut as an 81st-minute substitute for Pulido. The visitors had the lion’s share of possession in the final moments but were unable to find an elusive equalizer.

  • Story from Sporting KC