Category: News

Community learns of college plans for downtown campus, successful programs

Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The hope is that construction will begin next spring on the downtown campus of Kansas City Kansas Community College. It will be a $62 million project. The college will cooperate with Community America Credit Union, the Kansas City, Kansas, School District and Swope Health.

That was the message that Dr. Greg Mosier brought to about 90 community leaders who attended the President’s Annual Breakfast at the college Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Paul Jewell building at the college.

The year 2023 will mark the college’s centennial anniversary.

This capital fund-raising effort is the second in the college’s history. Voters approved a bond issue to build the main campus that opened in the early 1970s.

The college has been successful in private sector fund-raising with a $10 million grant from the Sunderland Foundation. The state of Kansas has awarded $12 million toward the construction.

The campus will be located in the 600 block of State Avenue. Course offerings will include high-wage technical education programs plus classes in General Educational Diploma and English as a Second Language.

A highlight of the breakfast was testimonials from two students who received scholarships. The students were Elizabeth Daniels and Madalynn McInness.

Dr. Mosier cited achievements including 15 awards student musicians received from Downbeat magazine and the college’s softball team that made it to a national tournament and was seeded ninth.

The extension course in welding at the Lansing Corrections Facility has been successful in training inmates to help assure that they will have a skill when released.

A major improvement to the main campus is a dormitory called Centennial Hall. It can house 258 students in a state-of-the-art building.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is a member of Business West.

Snow in forecast for tonight and Tuesday

Up to 3 inches of snow are possible Monday night and Tuesday morning in the region. (National Weather Service graphic)

The forecast from the National Weather Service calls for partly sunny skies today and a chance of rain, followed by rain and snow tonight, then more snow possible tonight and Tuesday.

The weather service advises drivers to slow down and use caution while traveling when it starts raining and snowing.

The latest road conditions for the state of Kansas will be available by calling 5-1-1, the weather service said.

A winter weather advisory will be in effect for almost the entire region, with about 1 to 3 inches of snow expected, according to the weather service.

Slippery road conditions are expected for the Tuesday morning commute, the weather service said.

Well below normal temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, according to the weather service.

A high risk for below normal temperatures is possible through Nov. 19. There is a moderate risk for much below normal temperatures continuing through Nov. 21, the weather service said. Also there is a slight risk for much below normal temperatures continuing through Nov. 23, according to the weather service.

Today, there is a 20 percent chance of rain after 2 p.m., with a high near 44, the weather service said. A south wind around 6 mph becomes light and variable in the afternoon.

Tonight, there is a 90 percent chance of rain before 7 p.m., then snow, possibly mixed with rain between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., then snow after 10 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 31 with a calm wind. From 1 to 3 inches of snow are possible.

Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of snow before 9 a.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 37 with a light north, northwest wind becoming 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds may gust as high as 21 mph.

Tuesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 22 and a west northwest wind of 6 to 8 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 32, the weather service said. A west northwest wind of 8 to 15 mph will gust as high as 24 mph.

Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 23, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 37, the weather service said.

Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 16, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 27, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 16, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 35, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 18, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 42, the weather service said.

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

Wyandotte Angels help cold and needy

The Wyandotte Angels distributed items for the cold and needy on Saturday morning at the Kansas National Guard Armory. (Photo from Wyandotte Angels)
The Wyandotte Angels gathered for a photo at the drive-through event Saturday. (Photo from Wyandotte Angels)

The Wyandotte Angels volunteers helped the cold and needy on a very cold day on Saturday at a drive-through event at the Kansas National Guard Armory, Kansas City, Kansas.

Donations were collected, then distributed through a drive-through event Saturday morning. There were many items such as hats, mittens, blankets and shoes for people.

Co-founders Jalynda and Martin Cervantes started the group during the COVID period, to have 20 friends volunteer to help two families per month, and the group exploded. Now it has 3,300 nationwide members serving thousands in Kansas City, Kansas.

For more information, see Wyandotte Angels on Facebook.