Month: October 2021

Halloween events planned in Wyandotte County

Several Halloween events are being planned for children in Wyandotte County.

Before you go, here are some safe Halloween tips, from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Get tested for COVID-19 before mixing with people outside of your immediate family; respect social distancing guidelines; and wear masks to keep young trick-or-treaters safe.

Residents are advised to avoid crowded indoor parties, and to trick-or-treat outdoors in small groups, according to KDHE. Those who feel sick should not participate in activities or attend celebrations. If you are unable to socially distance indoors and outdoors, wear a mask, KDHE recommends.

The indoor recreation center Halloween parties are not being held this year. Here are some Wyandotte County events – outdoor activities – we have heard about:

Wednesday, Oct. 27

South Branch Library


From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, South Branch Library parking lot, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Trunk or treat. Wear a mask. There will be social distancing. Kids are invited to wear costumes. Candy, crafts, games and a photo backdrop are planned. For more library programs, see www.kckpl.org/.

Friday, Oct. 29

KCKPD

The Community Policing Unit of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department is sponsoring a drive-through Trunk or Treat from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at 6601 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. Masks will be required, and there will be social distancing.

Turner Recreation Commission

The Turner Recreation Commission will sponsor the Spooktacular from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at Swartz Field, 5142 Swartz Road, Kansas City, Kansas. Children may wear costumes, walk around the track and trick-or-treat at each station. There will be hot dogs. Masks are recommended. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/TurnerRecreationCommission.

Saturday, Oct. 30

Casa – Worship House Christian Church


Casa – Worship House Christian Church, 5217 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will hold a trunk and treat outdoors from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. There will be giveaway goodies, toothbrushes, gently used clothes, hot dogs while supplies last. Also there will be COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 testing, with Heart to Heart assisting. Vaccines should be scheduled in advance. See details at www.facebook.com/casadealabanzaKCKS.

Bonner Springs Library


The 9th annual Boo Bash will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Bonner Springs Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs, Kansas. Almost all the activities, except the haunted house, will be outdoors. There will be stories on the back lawn, games, music, a craft to take home and a treat. Kids can wear costumes. For more information, see https://bonnerlibrary.org/.

KCKCC – TEC Center


Kansas City Kansas Community College is inviting the families of all staff, faculty and students as well as community members to KCKCC’s Kids Spooktacular Movie Night. There will be activities from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in the parking lot of the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center, 6565 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas. Activities include carnival rides, inflatables, tractor train, a bounce house and food trucks. The movie, “Trolls World Tour,” will start at 7:30 p.m. There will be three 26-foot movie screens, so everyone can enjoy the entertainment. The sound for the movie will play through the car radio. The Kids Spooktacular Movie Night is free and open to the public.

Rosedale Development Association


The Haunted Halloween Trail will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Mount Marty Park, Seminary Street and S. Hill Street, Kansas City, Kansas, It will be a family-friendly event. Walk the Rozarks Trail, costumes are encouraged and all ages are welcome. Participants should walk in groups.

The Legends Lawn

Halloween on the Lawn will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at The Legends Lawn, at the Legends Outlets at I-435 and I-70 in Kansas City, Kansas. Costumes are encouraged in this family-friendly event. There will be a movie screening of “Hocus Pocus,” along with face painting and a magic show.

Sunday, Oct. 31

Alcott Arts Center


Alcott Arts Center, 180 S. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, is holding a trunk or treat from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31. The event is outdoors only. The theme is “Scooby Doo.” Children are invited to wear a mask, socially distance and wear a costume. Alcott is accepting donations of candy and treats. Also, volunteers are needed. For more information, visit www.alcottartscenter.org/.

Kansas legislators to hold second round of redistricting town hall meetings in November

by Noah Taborda, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — Kansas lawmakers announced Tuesday they will hold a second round of town hall meetings to gather public input on the redistricting process, but they won’t attend the meetings in person.

The House and Senate Committees on Redistricting will hold four meetings late next month, organized by congressional district. Kansans may attend one of the various locations set up in cities across the state or join legislators online to provide testimony virtually.

All committee members will attend via the web.

Republican leaders scheduled 14 town halls in August to gather opinions about how political boundaries should be redrawn for 2022. The schedule was announced on a Friday night just nine days before the first of the meetings, most of which took place during the work day. Full U.S. Census data hadn’t been released yet.

Democrats, election advocates and speakers at the forums complained about the process and asked for a new round of town halls.

“It’s important to remember that redistricting is a multi-year process that starts with these town halls to get a gauge on what Kansans want,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, in an August statement. “Additional public input will be needed.”

All of the meetings in the second round will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Kansans can provide in-person testimony for the 2nd District on Nov. 22 in Atchison, Ottawa, Independence or on Native American reservations; the 1st District on Nov. 23 in Emporia, Great Bend, Liberal or McPherson; the 4th District on Nov. 29 in Newton or El Dorado; and the 3rd District on Nov. 30 in Bonner Springs or Stilwell.

Those wishing to testify must notify the Kansas Legislative Research Department at least 24 hours in advance. Kansans may also submit written testimony.

Sen. Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said she hoped there would be guidelines for the redistricting process in place before the next round to provide further clarity for the public on the goals of redistricting.

“I think we got a good direction from those original town halls, and several are wanting to know, what is the criteria that we’re looking for? What are we holding ourselves accountable to as we’re redrawing these maps?” Sykes said during a meeting of the Legislative Coordinating Council.

“Your feelings and hopes are duly noted,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, in response.

The value of having these town halls is diluted without guidelines in place, said Davis Hammett, CEO and president of Loud Light. He said it is currently unclear what Kansans should be testifying about.

“I’m very concerned and I think those questions need to be answered,” Hammet said. “Why should someone testify, right? That’s what needs to be clarified. Why haven’t these basic things been addressed yet?”

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/26/kansas-legislators-to-host-second-round-of-redistricting-town-hall-meetings-in-november/

Rain, storms in today’s forecast

Photo by Mary Rupert

From two to three inches of rain is possible in Wyandotte County through Thursday night. (National Weather Service graphic)

It was raining this morning in Wyandotte County, and residents should expect more rain continuing tonight through Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

One to three inches of rain are expected area-wide, the weather service said. No flash flooding or severe weather is expected at this time.

Minor river flooding is possible in some areas of the region, according to the weather service.

The high today will reach 61, and Thursday will be colder, with a high near 51, the weather service said. The low will be 48 tonight, and 45 on Thursday night.

Winds on Thursday will gust out of the north at 30 to 40 mph, according to the weather service.

Today, there will be and 80 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with a high near 61, the weather service said. A southeast wind of 9 to 13 mph will gust as high as 25 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Tonight, there is a 100 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with a low of 48, according to the weather service. An east wind of 7 to 13 mph will become north northeast after midnight, and winds could gust up to 21 mph. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain are possible.

Thursday, there is a 90 percent chance of showers, with a high near 51, the weather service said. A north wind of 15 to 18 mph will gust as high as 36 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Thursday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers before 1 a.m., with a low around 45, according to the weather service. A north northwest wind of 18 mph will gust as high as 31 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Friday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 56 and a north northwest wind of 14 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 28 mph, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 39, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 62, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be clear, with a low of 41, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 55, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 38, according to the weather service.


Monday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 50, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 36, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 49, the weather service said.