Month: August 2021

Heat advisory in effect this afternoon through Aug. 12

There is a chance of strong to severe storms in the region on Tuesday. (National Weather Service graphic)

A hot and humid week is ahead, with a heat advisory in effect from 1 p.m. Monday through 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The heat index could rise to 109 on Monday and 106 in Tuesday in Wyandotte County, the weather service said.

Low temperatures at night will be in the mid-to-upper 70s, according to the weather service.

Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors. Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances, the weather service said.

Those who spend time or work outdoors should take extra precautions. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening, the weather service said. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothes when possible.

To reduce risk in outdoor work, schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency and residents can call 911.

Strong to severe storms are possible after 1 p.m. Tuesday into Tuesday night, the weather service said. Storms could continue into Wednesday.

These storms have a potential of high winds, brief heavy rains and isolated hail, with a very low tornado threat, according to the weather service.

Despite smoke from western wildfires overspreading the region, the air quality index is good today, the weather service said. There is little to no risk for residents.

Today, it will be sunny with a high near 96 and heat index values as high as 109, the weather service said. There will be a south southwest wind of 8 to 10 mph.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear with a low of 79 and a south wind of 8 to 10 mph, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., with a high of 97, the weather service said. The heat index will be as high as 106. There will be a south southwest wind of 9 to 11 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Tuesday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 77, with a south southwest wind of 7 to 10 mph. according to the weather service. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Wednesday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, the weather service said. It will be mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97 and a south southwest wind of 11 mph, gusting as high as 18 mph.

Wednesday night, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 77, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97, the weather service said.

Thursday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a low of 72, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 90, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 66, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 87, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 67, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 88, the weather service said.

Turner Middle School students to attend classes in new building

Demolition of the old Turner Middle School took place this summer, with a new middle school built behind it.
When debris from demolition was cleared away, the new Turner Middle School could be seen from South 55th.
The former gymnasium and auditorium was saved and upgraded for the new Turner Middle School.

When school resumes this month, Turner Middle School students will be attending classes in a new building.

The old Turner Middle School at 1312 S. 55th St. was torn down this summer. Behind it is a newly built middle school.

The demolished building is the former Turner High School building, which was converted to a middle school in 2001, according to Lauren Aiello, Turner school district spokeswoman. The building was originally constructed in the 1950s. The new high school was completed in 2001 at 2211 S. 55th.

While most of the old building was torn down, the auditorium and gymnasium from the old building has been saved and will make the transition to the new middle school, after being upgraded.

“We’re excited to preserve some of the old building, along with having some of the new,” Aiello said.

The gym, she said, is particularly beautiful, and modern-day construction isn’t like that any more.

At the same time, the new building will have a lot of flexibility.

“The new building is just gorgeous,” Aiello said.

The new building will have a two-story open-space commons area that will serve as the cafeteria and a gathering space. There will be flexible learning space in this commons area.

Also, classroom and common space furniture will include flexible seating, opportunities to work together and have hands-on activities.

Some classrooms will have moveable walls, allowing classes to join together at times. They also will have a small group learning suite.

McCownGordon was the contractor on the project, and they also were the contractor for the high school building in 2001. Voters approved a $44 million bond issue in January 2019, with projects throughout the school district, according to Aiello.

Among the projects funded by the bond issue were the new middle school building, safety and security upgrades at all buildings, furnishings and painting at all buildings, better vehicle access for Turner Elementary, air conditioning at Turner Elementary, Midland Trail Elementary and Journey School of Choice, a new commercial kitchen at Turner High School for the culinary arts program, and district-wide heating, cooling, asphalt, concrete and roofing projects.

Aiello said an open house is planned for the new Turner Middle School from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, where community members and alumni can tour the new school facility. There also is a home football game that evening at the new District Activity Center, completed last year.

Demolition was taking place this summer on the old Turner Middle School.
More demolition photos from July at Turner Middle School. A lot of the debris now has been cleared away.
More demolition photos from July at Turner Middle School.
More demolition photos from July at Turner Middle School.

Sporting moves into first place after scoreless draw with Colorado

Sporting Kansas City (10-4-4, 34 points) moved into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference following a 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids (8-4-4, 28 points) on Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

Goalkeeper Tim Melia had three saves en route to his third shutout of the season, snapping Colorado’s streak of 32 straight MLS home matches with a goal.

Sporting’s first goalless draw in the regular season moves the club one point clear of second-place Seattle Sounders FC in the West and just three points behind the New England Revolution in the Supporters’ Shield race.

Navigating a congested run of seven matches in 22 days, Sporting Kansas City deployed a reshuffled starting XI headlined by an MLS debut for forward Grayson Barber and the first start of the season for fellow Clemson alum Amadou Dia.

Sporting KC Academy product Wilson Harris joined Harris in attack and center back Roberto Puncec earned his first appearance since May 9 as manager Peter Vermes changed his signature 4-3-3 formation with a 3-5-2 setup.

The visitors spent extended periods of the first half extinguishing Colorado pressure with Nicolas Isimat-Mirin serving as the backline anchor. He recovered and made a sliding block on Michael Barrios’ strike inside the penalty area in the sixth minute. Barrios almost opened the scoring near the half-hour mark, but his chip shot carried inches over the bar as Melia rushed off his line.

Barber and Harris asked questions of the Colorado defense in the 26th minute when the former cut the ball back to the latter, but the ensuing shot was blocked through traffic.

Shortly thereafter, Barber galloped forward on a counterattack and fired high from 22 yards.

At the opposite end, Colorado’s Mark-Anthony Kaye stretched to put a shot on frame that Melia collected confidently in the 37th minute.

After Sporting midfielder Remi Walter’s blistering 30-yard drive flashed narrowly wide, Melia bailed his team out with a stunning kick save on the cusp of intermission to deny Colorado captain Jack Price and keep the game scoreless.

Vermes’ men returned to their familiar 4-3-3 formation at the start of the second half as Luis Martins replaced Dia and Cam Duke entered for Puncec.

Another reinforcement came in the form of Mexican international striker Alan Pulido, who relieved Harris in the 59th minute. Sporting’s depth was flexed further two minutes later as Isimat-Mirin was forced to exit with an injury, prompting the introduction of Academy product Kaveh Rad.

Pulido went agonizingly close to firing Sporting ahead in the 66th minute, racing onto an excellent diagonal ball from Gadi Kinda and unleashing a side-footed effort that deflected off Colorado defender Lalas Abubakar and nestled a fraction wide into the side netting.

Sporting breathed a huge sigh of relief in the 73rd minute when Melia applied the slightest of touches on a close-range attempt from Colorado substitute Jonathan Lewis after the U.S. international had latched onto a teasing Cole Bassett cross.

Melia’s sublime performance was further punctuated in the 75th minute when he conjured a terrific reflex save to thwart former Sporting striker Diego Rubio, who had planted a strong header goalward off Price’s corner kick.

Sporting continued to defend resolutely and although Rubio was on the receiving end of another big chance in the 92nd minute, he was unable to steer his header on target after Bassett unfurled another probing delivery into the box.

With a hard-fought road result in the rearview mirror, Sporting will now switch gears in preparation for a highly anticipated Leagues Cup quarterfinal clash with LIGA MX powerhouse Club Leon on Tuesday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. showdown are available at SeatGeek.com and the match will air live nationally on ESPN2 and TUDN.

  • Story from Sporting KC