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KCK Public Schools to hold College Fair Day Tuesday

More than 70 colleges, universities, historically black colleges and universities and military recruiters will participate in Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools’ College Fair Day.

The annual event will happen from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Legends Field, 1800 Village West Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas. The event is free to KCKPS students.

College Fair Day allows KCKPS juniors and high school seniors an opportunity to speak directly with college admission representatives and military recruiters about their future aspirations. The event will also enable students to set up interviews, collect literature and learn more about the various financial aid programs available.

The College Fair Day event makes it easier for students to connect with dozens of institutions and learn what best suits their educational needs in a no-pressure and fun environment, according to a district spokesman.

The District’s Diploma+ program coordinates the College Fair Day event. Diploma+ works to better prepare students for their college and post-high school careers.

Bridge replacement work begins on Turner Diagonal

A map showed project locations in orange for a bridge replacement project on the Turner Diagonal. (KDOT map)

Work at the K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway – Kaw Drive interchange began Monday, Oct. 3, in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Department of Transportation project includes replacement of the eastbound and westbound K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway bridges over Kaw Drive and the Union Pacific Railroad lines.

Work will take place daily, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lane closures are scheduled on eastbound and westbound K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway from approximately 65th Street to 59th Lane. Work is scheduled in multiple phases with traffic control placed first to prepare for bridge replacements.

Crossovers will be built to carry eastbound and westbound traffic head-to-head through the work zone. Bridge work will begin in March 2023.

Traffic changes:

Phase 1 (September – November 2022): lane and shoulder closures during work hours; single lane to be open at all times;

Phase 2 (March – November 2023): various ramp closures; single lane K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway traffic will cross over to travel head-to-head; eastbound Kaw Drive closure during bridge demolition;

Phase 3 (March – December 2024): various ramp closures; single lane K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway traffic will cross over to travel head-to-head; eastbound Kaw Drive closure during bridge demolition.

Traffic will be controlled using lane closures, barricades, portable message signs, arrow boards, signage and traffic cones.

Miles Excavating, of Basehor, is the contractor for the $22.7 million project, which is scheduled to be completed in December 2024.

Project work will shut down from November 2022 to March 2023 and from November 2023 to March 2024 for the winter seasons.

KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone, a spokesman stated. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas go to www.kandrive.org or call 5-1-1. Drive safely and always wear your seat belt, the spokesman stated.

Fire damages vacant building in downtown KCK

Kansas City, Kansas, firefighters fought a blaze at 615 Minnesota Ave. on Monday morning. (Photo from Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department)

A fire in a downtown Kansas City, Kansas, vacant building Monday morning resulted in heavy smoke visible throughout the area.

The two-alarm fire at 615 Minnesota Ave. was in a vacant building in the process of being remodeled, according to Scott Schaunaman, assistant chief of training and a spokesman for the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department.

Fire crews were dispatched to the fire at 5:18 a.m. Monday, and crews initially reported heavy smoke from three of the four sides of the two-story commercial building, the spokesman stated.

Fire crews removed a security door to obtain access to the inside, according to the spokesman. Crews made entry and reported no fire visible on the first floor.

Fire was visible on the second floor, but the ceiling started to collapse, and crews had to evacuate the structure, the spokesman stated. The offensive fire attack was switched to defensive mode as the second floor started to collapse, according to the spokesman.

Four aerial master streams and one pumper master stream, along with two ground monitors were used to extinguish the fire, the spokesman stated. Multiple handlines also were deployed.

Fire crews not only extinguished the fire, but also limited damage to the adjacent high-rise commercial building, according to the spokesman.

There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation, the spokesman stated.

The fire was in a building near the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library. According to a social media post, the library delayed opening until 10 a.m. today, and the library building is fine.