Month: July 2022

Preliminary federal funding announced for several projects in 3rd District

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., recently announced preliminary federal funding for several projects in the 3rd District.

The projects totaled $32 million of federal funding that were approved by the House Appropriation subcommittees and will be included in a larger appropriations package to be voted on in the House.

The projects were in Wyandotte County as well as Johnson County.

“My job is to listen to Kansans and advocate for their priorities in Washington,” Rep. Davids said in a news release. “The projects I submitted alongside our state and local officials passed detailed reviews and met significant standards for return on investment, and they will make crucial, immediate investments in our local law enforcement, infrastructure, and health care. I look forward to voting to send these funds home.”

The projects included a wastewater treatment plant project in Kansas City, Kansas, aimed at reducing rates paid by the public; and the purchase of an emergency electric back-up generator at the Nearman Water Treatment Plant in Kansas City, Kansas.

Three projects benefiting the University of Kansas Medical Center were added including the purchase of a state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanners. The Wyandotte County Health Department also would receive funding to increase staff bandwidth and available services.

The projects included:


• $2.6 million to the University of Kansas Medical Center for the purchase of a new MRI scanner allowing community members to participate in the latest research studies for years to come.

• $3 million to the University of Kansas Medical Center for the purchase of a CT scanner allowing researchers to obtain 3-D reconstructions of internal organs, a technology it currently lacks.

• $1 million to the University of Kansas Medical Center for equipment enhancements to expand and upgrade the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (KU ADRC), located in Fairway, Kansas.

• $3.7 million to the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities for the purchase of an emergency electric back-up generator at the Nearman Water Treatment Plant, the primary water treatment facility in the event of electrical service disruptions.

• $2 million to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, for a Kaw Point Wastewater Treatment Plant project aimed at reducing both long-term operation costs and rates paid by the public.

• $750,000 to the Wyandotte County Public Health Department for increased access to mental and behavioral health services and staff funding.

• $1 million to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, to address the aging infrastructure of parks in KCK.

• $4 million to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) help further incorporate battery electric buses into the already established RideKC network, which covers the urban and suburban regions of the bi-state Kansas City area. This is a joint request with Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Missouri).

• $300,000 to the Olathe Police Department for needed technology upgrades to their Mobile Command Post.

• $660,000 to the Olathe Fire Department Administration for the expansion of the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program to include a second team to provide additional care and resources.

• $5.4 million to the city of Overland Park for infrastructure upgrades to the College Boulevard Bridge in Overland Park, Kansas.

• $126,750 to the city of Shawnee for upgrades to the Fire Station Headquarters and Fire Station 73 to solar energy systems.

• $3 million to the city of Gardner for a wastewater infrastructure grant to support continued commercial expansion at New Century Business Park and Logistics Park Kansas City Intermodal, including more affordable housing in Johnson County for workforce.

• $4 million to the city of Overland Park, Kansas for the reconstruction of 167th Street from Switzer Road to Antioch Road including a new roundabout and new sidewalks on either side of the road.

• $750,000 to the city of Olathe to design (including permitting and mitigation) a new dam and spillway approximately 900 feet downstream of the current Cedar Lake Dam.

Excessive heat warning remains in effect today

An excessive heat warning is n effect for Wyandotte County and the surrounding area through 11 p.m. Thursday. (National Weather Service graphic)
The heat index will be in the mid-100s on Wednesday and Thursday, and in the lower 90s on Friday. (National Weather Service graphic)
Lows will be in the 70s for Thursday and Friday. (National Weather Service graphic)

An excessive heat warning is in effect through 11 p.m. Thursday, July 7, according to the National Weather Service.

The heat index may range from 103 to 109 through Thursday in the region, the weather service said.

In Wyandotte County, today’s high will be near 97 with a heat index as high as 107, according to the weather service.

Storms and rain are possible tonight, with a 20 percent chance of precipitation, the weather service said.

More hot weather is possible on Thursday, when the high may be near 94 with a heat index of 102, the weather service said.

More storms move in on Thursday and Friday, and the high on Friday will drop to 87, according to the weather service.

There will be two days of highs in the upper 80s before temperatures climb to 92 on Sunday, and Monday’s high temperature will be 95, the weather service said.

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

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

To reduce risk during 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, the weather service said. Heat stroke is an emergency and 911 can be called.

Today, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 a.m., the weather service said. It will be partly sunny and hot, with a high near 96 and a heat index as high as 107. A light and variable wind will become south southeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Tonight, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 77, according to the weather service. A southeast wind will be about 8 mph.

Thursday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., the weather service said. It will be partly sunny, with a high near 94 and a heat index as high as 102. A southeast wind of 7 to 9 mph will become south southwest in the afternoon.

Thursday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 74, according to the weather service. A southwest wind of 6 mph will become light and variable in the evening. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter-inch are possible.

Friday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 87 with a north wind of 5 to 7 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 72, 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 68, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 92, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 72, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 95, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 70, according to the weather service.

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

For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

Fairfax exhibit opens at Wyandotte County Museum

Photos from the history of the Fairfax Industrial District are on display at a new exhibit at the Wyandotte County Museum celebrating Fairfax’s 100th anniversary. (Photo from Wyandotte County Museum)
Photos from the history of the Fairfax Industrial District are on display at a new exhibit at the Wyandotte County Museum celebrating Fairfax’s 100th anniversary. (Photo from Wyandotte County Museum)
Photos from the history of the Fairfax Industrial District are on display at a new exhibit at the Wyandotte County Museum celebrating Fairfax’s 100th anniversary. (Photo from Wyandotte County Museum)

An exhibit on the history of the Fairfax industrial district opened today at the Wyandotte County Museum, Bonner Springs.

The exhibit will be open through Sept. 24, according to a museum spokesman.

The Fairfax Industrial District 100th Anniversary exhibit will show the progression of the district alongside personal memories, and will include familiar and untold stories of people, places and events in the district, the spokesman stated. The Fairfax district is in the northeast area of Kansas City, Kansas.

The exhibit will help visitors connect with a place where tens of thousands of residents have worked during the past 100 years, according to the spokesman. Many of the objects and stories on display were shared for this exhibit.

Visitors will see products made in Fairfax, together with items employees saved from their time in Fairfax. They can compare maps of the district, find out how long a company was in business, and look through employee newsletters and newspaper articles.

The spokesman said it is a great way for families to connect with their past and visitors are encouraged to share their memories connected to the district.

A version of the museum’s exhibit also will be highlighted at the Fairfax Festival on Oct. 6 as part of the larger centennial celebration brought together by the Fairfax Industrial Association.

The Fairfax Industrial District began more than 100 years ago with a vision for the future. In 1922, area property owners signed a petition to form the Fairfax Drainage Board. This move ultimately led to the area becoming one of the first planned industrial districts in the country. Through the 1920s the district became a hub for flight schools and airplane manufactures. It continued to expand with new industries despite the Great Depression. The district became a National Center of the Defense Industry during World War II, housing the North American Aviation of Kansas, B-25 plant and the Darby Corporation, which produced landing crafts, aerial bombs, and more. After the war new companies made the district their home. Since then, the Fairfax Industrial District has grown to house more than 130 companies and is still going strong.

The Wyandotte County Museum is located in Wyandotte County Park, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, Kansas. It is open to the public, free of charge, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Wyandotte County Museum is operated by the Unified Government, with support from the Wyandotte County Historical Society and Museum Inc., a 501c3 non-profit. The museum mission is to strive to identify, collect, preserve, interpret, and disseminate material and information pertaining to Wyandotte County history, in order to assist the public in understanding, appreciating and assisting in the preservation of the heritage of Wyandotte County.

For more information about this exhibit contact the Wyandotte County Museum at 913-573-5002 or visit www.wycokck.org/wycomuseum.

  • Story and photos from Wyandotte County Museum

To see an earlier story about the Fairfax district’s 100th anniversary, visit www.wyandottedaily.com/fairfax-district-celebrates-100th-anniversary/.