Category: Turner Area

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Wildcats off and running in 2021 track season

Washington junior Markayla Bowens burst out of the blocks in the girls 4×100-meter relay. Washington won the event with a time of 58.12 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Washington High School held the Wyandotte Relays track meet on Friday afternoon. The event included athletes from Bishop Ward, Harmon, Turner, Schlagle, Sumner and Wyandotte high schools from Kansas City, Kansas, along with Northeast and Southeast high schools from Kansas City, Missouri.

In the boys’ team competition, Washington took the team trophy with 119 points, followed by Bishop Ward with 103 and Wyandotte with 80. Washington’s girls’ team took top honors also, with 74 points. Northeast took second place with 73 points, and Sumner took home third with 66.

Turner dominated the distance events, winning the boys 800, 1600 and 3200 meters and the girls 800 and 1600 meters.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, spectators were not allowed inside the stadium, but devoted fans lined the fences along Leavenworth Road and the school parking lot.

The meet kicked off the spring 2021 track season, which will culminate in the state championships in Wichita, May 27 to 29.

Washington freshman Kamea Robertson jumped in the long jump. Robertson finished in 6th with a jump of 13 feet, 6 inches. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner Academy junior JaNae McKelvy ran in the 300-meter hurdles. Mckelvy won the event with a time of 53.04 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Wyandotte senior Malike Calhoun jumped in the long jump. Calhoun finished 3rd in the event with a distance of 18 feet, 10 inches. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bishop Ward won the boys 4×100 relay with a time of 48.52 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Turner sophomore Arianna Ortiz crossed the finish line in the 800-meter run, trailed by teammate senior Cyra Chronister, who had won the 1600-meter run earlier. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Washington junior Jason Black ran the 100-meter dash. Black won the event with a time of 11.84 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Turner junior David Taylor crossed the finish line in the 800-meter run. Taylor won the event with a time of 2 min. 17.85 sec. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Schlagle’s Brandon Lopez crossed the finish line in heat 1 of the 400-meter dash. Lopez finished 2nd with a time of 57.70 sec. He was edged out by Washington’s Justin Rolland, who posted a time of 56.59 sec. in heat 2. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Ashley Robinson jumped in the long jump. Robinson finished 2nd with a jump of 14 feet, 4 inches. She was outjumped by 1 inch by Southeast’s Maizen Williams. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Wyandotte County high school seniors named Kansas Honor Scholars

More than 180 Wyandotte County high school seniors have been named Kansas Honors Scholars.

The program through the University of Kansas Alumni Association and KU Endowment marks its 50th anniversary this year. More than 3,600 high school seniors in Kansas were honored for academic excellence and achievement.

High school seniors in the top 10 percent of their class were honored from about 360 high schools.

Usually the program honors seniors at recognition ceremonies, but because of the pandemic, the scholars were honored in a virtual program this year. The program is at kualumni.org/khs. In addition, the association mailed distinctive Kansas Honor Scholar medallions, certificates and letters of recognition to all high schools for distribution to the students.

The program is made possible by KU Endowment, alumni donations and proceeds from the Alumni Association’s Jayhawk license plate program, and allows the University and the Alumni Association to create more scholarship opportunities for Kansas students.

In 2020, the association raised more than $7,000 for one-time Kansas Honor Scholar Scholarships, funded entirely by alumni donations. In addition, two students will receive the $1,000 renewable four-year Herbert Rucker Woodward Scholarship, given annually for more than two decades to Kansas Honor Scholars. Since 1985, more than 18,000 Kansas Honor Scholars have enrolled as freshmen at KU.

Named Kansas Honor Scholars from Wyandotte County:

From Bishop Ward High School: Rachel Cisneros, Alexa Hernandez, Aislinn Jorge, Lizbeth Martinez, Edgar Montoya, Stella Subasic, Nikila Taylor, and Richard Yamamoto.

From Bonner Springs High School: Poneak Alongkornvilai, Emily Ashford, Hannah Baric, Sofia Bowman, Keyana Cruse, Natalie Delgado, Jazmin Graham, Rebecca Graham, Izabelle Koenig, Darrah Lane, Kallie Millison, Maggie Myers, Laura Nobles, Dylan Palmberg, Sierra Pier, Hailey Robinson, Samson Selleck, Bruce Sherrow, Ian Tomasic, Seth Wacker and Sasha Welicky.

From Schlagle High School: Arely Aguilar-Dena, Giselle Alvarado-Ortega, Janiya Burns, Van Lian Cung, Baldemar Funes Hernandez, Giovanny Garcia Mireles, Debra Gunn, Victor Gutierrez-Alvarez, Skyla Her, Kenya Hernandez Lopez, Marae Jackson, Yoselin Juarez, Pamong Lee, Maleah McCluney, Plae Meh, Alondra Mejia Isidro, Briyanna Miller, Jayla Newson, Katherine Pedraza, Angel Pena-Hernandez, Jailyn Polk, Kenia Ramirez, Desiree Rice, Alexis Vielma and Paw Way.

From Harmon High School: Hawa Ali, Lizbeth Ambriz-Fernandez, Jervin Anavisca Rodriguez, Melissa Chavez, Leslie Chavez Hinojos, Danna Chavez Trejo, James Cook, Xochytl De Lara, Miguel Flores, Alex Fonseca Varela, Jessica Hawj, Jacob Ingram, Yanet Jimenez-Pantoja, Alicia Madrigal, Vanessa Morales, Kenly Nicolas-Estrada, Faith Packer, Ehkalu Paw, Deyra Ramos, Karla Ramos, Htay Reh, Fernanda Sanchez Gonzalez, Pamela Segoviano; Oscar Silva Valles, July Soe, Esmeralda Soria Galvan, Angel Temple, Brian Xolot and Kristal Zamudio De la Cruz.

From Kansas State School for the Blind: Rich Yamamoto.

From Piper High School: Blake Beashore, Noelle Collins, Alyson Droppelmann, Payton Fergus, Gabrielle Fisette, Gwen Gambrill, Alyssa Gray, Andrew Hart, Jill Haworth, Olivia Hilty, Samuel Nunez, Jennifer Obiesie, Cassidy Rubin, Alexis Saragusa and Evelyn Vazquez.

From Sumner Academy: Stephen Barratt, Sierra Bilyeu, Andrew Bristow, Farrel Camargo Juarez, Illse Cardenas, Marleny Ceron Larios, Andrew Curts, Ashley Diaz-Rocha, Jacqueline Fernandez, Kymora Freeman, Neymara Freeman, Areli Garcia-Lopez, Jafet Limas, Erin Lynch, Mikayla Mielkus, Perla Navarro-Ortiz, Kacy Pugh, Ashley Robinson, Suzanne Schmidt and Emelin Tapia.

From Turner High School: Ashlyn Bakersfield, Bridget Barcenas, BriAnne Blackmore, Cyra Chronister, Andrea Esquivel-Valencia, Rachael Everitt, Dylan Franklin, Karla Gutierrez-Duarte, Emilyanna Her, Jennifer Interiano, Anai Melendez, Kassandra Munoz, Lesly Romo, Patricia Salazar, Anastacia Santos, Yesenia Siguenza, Judith Silvestre, Telicia Soto, Kimberlee Xiong and Selena Yang.

From Washington High School: Layla Carr, Ardesia Carter, Brianna Castleberry, Elana Collins, Nu Eng, Julia Estrada, LaNita Gomez, Christopher Her, MiMi Htay, Chyler Hughes, Vidal Lopez, Sian Mang, Monica Medina Cabrera, Eh K’Pru Moo, Isadora Moua, M’ia Nance, Juan Olivas, Thawng Pum, Mana Thang, Za Thang, Edgar Valles-Acosta, Sarenity Xiong and Neramit Yangsansoen.

From Wyandotte High School: Deylon Burton, Lucero Cardenas Vargas, Evelyn Chela-Anaya, Carlos Cisneros, Andrei Colado, Melisa Delfin-Anzures, Jenifer Delgado Hernandez, Alondra Diaz-Delgado, Saul Franco Morales, Brayan Guzman-Bustillos, Paul Helton, Anissa Love, Laura Macias-Martinez, Vivian Maradiaga, Jose Marrufo, Dulce Martinez Luna, Edgar Mendez-Cano, Heidy Mera Paredes, Katerin Molina Peraza, Kelvin Montenegro Marroquin, Valeria Nunez-Contreras, Ximena Ordaz, Cecilia Pan Wai, Sydrionna Rolls, Saira Ruelas Violeta, Jonatan Ruiz-Meza, Anahi Salas, Luis Salazar-Machado, Jesus Salinas-Oseguera, Cynthia Vasquez and Itzel Yanez.

Rep. Coleman to receive informal letter of warning; complaint dismissed in House

The Kansas House Select Investigating Committee on Friday dismissed the complaint filed against Rep. Aaron Coleman, 37th District.

The committee stated that Rep. Coleman, who represents the Turner area of Kansas City, Kansas, will be given an informal letter of warning and an admonishment. He also will be given recommendations from the committee.

Rep. Coleman, a progressive who is not affiliated with a party, faced several questions from committee members.

He apologized during the hearing. He said that he apologized for what he said and also for the impact toward the persons to whom they were directed. He said that prior to becoming a legislator, he had not always lived up to his ideals of treating others with dignity and respect. He said that if his words and actions don’t match his ideals in the future, this committee could hold him accountable in the future.

A group of several Democratic women legislators, along with the House minority leader, had filed the complaint. They had urged Coleman to resign before the legislative session started over allegations involving alleged abuse toward women. More than one instance was mentioned at the hearing.

One committee member asked him about his past social media post using the word “hit” against the governor. Rep. Coleman said it was just metaphorical, and he apologized for his inappropriate word choice.

Since then, Rep. Coleman told the committee that he has acquired a team of persons who handle his social media for him. He said he has learned to write out his comments in advance, send it to someone he can trust and let them make the final decision of what needs to be said and whether it is appropriate for the context. He said he has requested a mentor in the Legislature.

Rep. Coleman, at age 20, is the youngest person ever elected a state representative in Kansas. Coleman upset long-time Rep. Stan Frownfelter, a Democrat, in a very close primary vote, then Coleman won easily against write-in candidates in the general election.

The committee went into a closed session for part of the hearing, then reconvened.

Rep. John Barker, R-Abilene, chairman of the committee, noted during the hearing that there wasn’t a past example of punishing a legislator for actions before he became a lawmaker. The allegations against Rep. Coleman happened before he was sworn in as a legislator.

Rep. Tom Sawyer, Democratic minority leader, stated in a news release after the hearing that there were more people who wanted to testify, but they were not allowed to testify.

“I am disappointed with the committee’s decision. Representative Coleman has shown time and time again that he has not learned from his mistakes,” Rep. Sawyer said in the statement. “His continued presence in the Statehouse will continue to threaten the safety of legislators and Capitol staff. This is, frankly, an insult to women and victims of abuse – that someone who has admitted to harassing, abusing and threatening their peers is allowed to serve in a position of power. I don’t believe this dismissal and issuing an informal letter of warning is enough, but I respect the committee’s decision and the due process here today.”

To view the committee hearings, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl_XE-5GSEw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKCWQ2vmErc.