Category: Communities

Red Cross blood drives scheduled in Wyandotte County

The American Red Cross has scheduled mobile blood drives in Wyandotte County.

Cabelas at 10300 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kansas, has several blood drives scheduled, including today, March 24 and March 31. The times of the Cabela blood drives are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on each of the days.

In addition Earp Distribution at 2730 S. 98th St., has scheduled a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 11.

The American Red Cross is urging individuals who are healthy to make an appointment to donate blood.

Donors, especially those with type O blooc, are needed to ensure blood and blood products are available for emergencies and everyday medical treatments, according to a spokesman.

A blood donation appointment may be scheduled by downloading the Red Cross blood donor app at www.redcrossblood.org/blood-donor-app.html, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

For donors who have had COVID-19 in the past, the Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The tests are helpful in identifying potential convalescent plasma donors.

Donors who feel ill or believe they could be ill with COVID-19 are asked to postpone their donations.

Donors are asked to schedule blood donations in advance and to wear masks while at the donor site.

Fundraiser planned March 26 for Grinter Place Friends

An arts and crafts workshop is planned from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 26, at the Grinter Barn, 1400 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The event, which raises funds for the Grinter Place Friends, has a $25 fee. The workshop will be limited to 16 persons who preregister. Face masks and social distancing will be required.

Participants will paint wooden blocks with team names on them that are arranged in a design that can be displayed on a shelf. On one side of the blocks will be the word “Royals” and on the other side, “Chiefs.”

According to Pat Spencer of the Grinter Place Friends, all the supplies will be furnished. The finished item is about 17 inches long, 6.5 inches tall and about 1.5 inches deep, she said. Angie Kaminski will lead this project.

Previously, the Grinter Place Friends held fundraiser events where porch boards were painted, some that said “Welcome,” Spencer said.

Wine from Rowe Ridge Winery will be available for purchase during the March 26 event. Also, Poppin KC will have snacks available, including non-kernel popcorn and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Spencer said the Grinter Place Friends are trying to keep going through fundraisers and through rentals of the Grinter Barn. They have held some wedding receptions and other events, including drive-through receptions in their parking lot, she said.

Preregistration to the March 26 event is required to angiekaminiski@yahoo.com or call 913-334-2500 for information.

Kansas Corporation Commission opens investigations into effects of weather emergency

The Kansas Corporation Commission this morning opened seven company specific investigations pertaining to the effects of the February weather emergency.

Kansas Gas Service and Atmos Energy, which serve natural gas customers in Wyandotte County, are included in the seven companies. Also included is Evergy, which serves some residents of Bonner Springs and Edwardsville.

The investigations will examine each utility’s proposals to minimize financial effects of the February weather emergency on its customers, according to a news release.

The high demand, along with generation facility issues due to cold weather, created supply shortages and extraordinarily high energy prices, according to the KCC An emergency order issued by the KCC on Feb. 15 ordered regulated utilities to defer those costs for review and to present a plan to minimize ratepayer impact over a reasonable time, the KCC stated.

The investigations will also address the cause of reduced natural gas supplies, high natural gas prices, supply and demand imbalances in the Southwest Power Pool Integrated Market, and what steps can be taken to make sure utilities are better prepared for future extreme weather events, according to the KCC.

The BPU is not included in the companies being investigated. The Kansas Corporation Commission does not have jurisdiction over the Board of Public Utilities, which serves electric customers in Kansas City, Kansas, because the BPU is a public utility with an elected board.

A report and recommendation filed by KCC staff on March 1 stated that company specific investigatory dockets would allow staff to tailor its investigation to match each utility’s unique circumstances.

Today’s order can be viewed at http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=8360b142-9f83-4d64-af94-06a09d85daf7.