Category: News

Two die in mobile home fire

Two persons died in a mobile home fire on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 6020 Kansas Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, according to a Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department spokesman.

Firefighters were dispatched at 3 p.m. Tuesday to the location, where there was heavy smoke and fire, the spokesman stated.

Two victims, one male and one female, were found in different locations in the mobile home, according to the spokesman.

Firefighters forced entry and found the two victims, the spokesman stated. Both victims were found dead.

A deceased dog also was found in the mobile home, according to the spokesman.

The damage to the mobile home was extensive, the spokesman stated. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, according to the spokesman.

Open burning, stormwater fee on the UG agenda Thursday

Open burning and the stormwater utility fee are among several items on the agenda for the 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, Unified Government Commission meeting.

The UG Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

On the 7 p.m. agenda are a drone ordinance and changes to the open burning ordinance.

Also, there are amendments to the storm and surface water utility fee on the agenda.

In addition, there is an amendment to an ordinance on emission of odors, as well as an amendment to food establishment regulations and licensing.

The commission also is asked to approve a $5,000 contribution to the Mid-America Regional Council for a regional electrical vehicle strategic plan, and matching funds of $15,000 for a retroactive grant from MARC to encourage the use of electric vehicles in underserved communities.

A survey of land for the Leavenworth and Hutton Road intersection project also is on the agenda, as is a resolution for a survey of Bridge 311 over Barber Creek.

General obligation bonds or temporary notes for the Fairfax Trafficway improvements also are on the agenda.

Also on the agenda are plats for the Rock Island Bridge over the Kaw River and Hyink Addition No. 1 at 6702 and 6716 Berger Ave.

Also scheduled is an update on the UG Forward process.

A community input time also is scheduled for the Thursday meeting, with participants allowed up to two minutes to speak, with up to 45 minutes for the total time limit.

The meeting will be on Zoom at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81227370291?pwd=bjFTTklaYk52QlJpOFhpRXBuWDliUT09.
The passcode is 109138.

The UG Commission also is scheduled for a closed, executive session on labor at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, in the fifth floor conference room, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

For more information, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Clerks-Office/Agendas-Minutes.

Parent points out difficulty of finding textbooks

A parent was in tears on Tuesday night while telling the Kansas City, Kansas, school board that her daughter had no algebra book.

Angelynn Howell said her daughter was in Algebra 2 class without any books at all. The class was just using worksheets, she said. She said her daughter’s teacher did not have a teacher’s manual earlier this year, but she bought one and gave it to her.

She said she contacted a district administrator who was able to guide her through the process of finding an online text.

However, she said her daughter also has friends who do not have textbooks.

Howell, who spoke during the community comment section of the meeting, said she was concerned that students are falling through the cracks. She wants students to be successful, but she is concerned that if they don’t have books, there will be a gap in their learning and they will not be able to get into college.

The book situation was characterized as a communications problem by administrators.

Dr. Anna Stubblefield, superintendent, said the district is trying to close gaps in the system and let students and parents know that they can access textbooks digitally and check them out. These books have been available to students, according to administrators.

She said the district will be sending out a parents’ newsletter next week describing how students and parents may access the digital textbooks. They are working to put better systems in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again, she added.