Category: Communities

Piper bridge project rescheduled for Monday

The Piper bridge repair project on U.S. 73 – K-7 over Piper Creek has been rescheduled for Monday, June 9.

The project was supposed to start June 5, but was delayed because of rain.

A Kansas Department of Transportation spokesman said that on Monday, northbound and southbound U.S. 73 – K-7 traffic will be shifted and placed side by side, one lane each direction, in the existing northbound U.S. 73 – K-7 lanes from Parallel Parkway to Donahoo Road.

The lane closures will start around 10 a.m. Monday, and continue through late September 2014.

Traffic will be directed via signs, cones and arrow boards through the project work zone. There will be a 55 mph posted speed limit through the project work zone throughout the project duration. Drivers should expect major delays during the daily peak time commutes and adjust their travel times accordingly, according to KDOT.

Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City metro area can be viewed online any time at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.

Operation Facelift


Douglass-Sumner Neighborhood Association held its annual Operation Facelift neighborhood clean-up day on April 27. About 40 student volunteers from Sumner Academy helped pick up trash in alleyways, streets and residential yards. Douglass-Sumner Neighborhood received funding from Livable Neighborhoods and Greater Kansas City LISC for the event. The residents helped by preparing the food for the event to feed the volunteers. Attending the event were a Kansas City, Kan., police officer; Beatrice Lee, a neighborhood leader; and Angela Eley, a former LISC staff member.

Douglass-Sumner Neighborhood Association held its annual Operation Facelift neighborhood clean-up day on April 27. About 40 student volunteers from Sumner Academy helped pick up trash in alleyways, streets and residential yards. Douglass-Sumner Neighborhood received funding from Livable Neighborhoods and Greater Kansas City LISC for the event. The residents helped by preparing the food for the event to feed the volunteers. Sumner Academy student volunteers gathered for this photo.

Two cases of measles reported in Johnson County

Johnson County and state health authorities confirmed Friday that there were two cases of measles in Johnson County, Kan.

Measles, a respiratory disease, is highly contagious and is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The signs and symptoms of measles typically begin one to two weeks after someone is exposed to an infected person.

“The best way to keep from getting the disease is by being vaccinated. Protect children by making sure they have the MMR vaccine when they are 12 to 15 months old, and again before they enter kindergarten,” said Dr. Robert Moser, KDHE secretary and state health officer.

With the creation of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, measles cases are rare in the United States; however, it still sickens approximately 20 million and kills 164,000 people worldwide each year.

Symptoms of measles include:
• Fever
• Blotchy rash on the skin, which spreads from the head to the trunk then to the lower extremities (Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Feeling run down, achy
• Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside
the mouth (Koplik’s spots)

Those who have a fever should stay home, except to see a health care provider. Call ahead to the health care provider so appropriate measures can be made to protect others, health officials said.

Those at high risk for severe illness and complications from measles include infants, children under 5, adults over 20 years old, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.