Category: News

State sets traps for emerald ash borer

The state of Kansas is setting some traps for the emerald ash borer.

The pest showed up in Wyandotte County in August 2012, then in Johnson County in 2013.

Now the state Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture will set 568 traps in other counties to see if the pest has arrived there.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture survey will monitor known emerald ash borer infestations and detect unknown beetle populations, according to a news release.

As a result of finding the pest here, KDA has implemented a permanent intrastate quarantine for certain firewood, nursery plants and mulch that is shipped in and out of Wyandotte and Johnson counties to prevent further spread of emerald ash borer in Kansas.

The quarantine applies to any corporation, company, society, association, partnership, governmental agency, and any individual or combination of individuals, according to KDA.

It prohibits movement of regulated items from the quarantined area, except under specific conditions established in the quarantine order.

Laurinda Ramonda, KDA state cooperative agriculture pest survey coordinator, said she hopes other infestations are not found in the state.

“These traps are an important monitoring tool,” she said. “In the event of infestation, early detection would help KDA limit the spread of emerald ash borer.” In the event of any infestation, it is recommended that professional exterminators such as Kansas City Pest Control deal with the issue, and Kansans are reminded to not attempt to find the pest themselves.

KDA will set up 80 traps in seven counties, including Barton, Bourbon, Douglas, Ellsworth, Leavenworth, Marion and Osage. The rest are being put up by USDA.

The purple, prism-shaped traps are coated with nontoxic glue. While they pose no risk to humans, pets or wildlife, the glue can be messy if touched. Kansans are encouraged to report downed traps to the Kansas Department of Agriculture at 785-862-2180.

Project Safe Celebrate aims to keep youth safe during prom and graduation season

This graphic illustration will be used on social media and posted in schools as part of Project Safe Celebrate announced today by Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman. The project encourages youth to celebrate prom and graduation safely. The project received some design funding assistance for several promotional illustrations from the Kansas Department of Transportation, and the project is a joint effort of several agencies.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office is partnering with various organizations in Project Safe Celebrate.

This project is a joint effort to encourage high school students to celebrate safely during the prom and graduation season. Proms start this weekend at some Wyandotte County high schools.

Unfortunately, risky behavior has become an integral part of some teenagers’ prom and graduation celebrations, according to local officials.

Each spring District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman prosecutes teens who commit crimes such as: minor in possession of alcohol, driving under the influence, open container violations, and criminal damage to property.

“Even worse, we know that the use of alcohol heightens the chance of sexual assault.  In fact, approximately half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim or both,” Gorman said.

“This is such an important season for our youth and we want them to know that we value them and we take these matters seriously,” Gorman said.  Gorman believes that educating and protecting the youth of Wyandotte County is a community effort. Here are just a few of the ways his office is uniting with other groups to reach as many people as they can, in as many different ways as they can:

– The District Attorney’s Office is increasing its presence on Facebook and Twitter and will link all high schools and partnering organizations together through #safecelebrate.

– The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department will perform “saturation patrols” on the prom nights of all Wyandotte County high schools.  Representatives from the District Attorney’s Office will ride with officers to assist law enforcement with any needs that may arise, and to hold “tweet-alongs” under the Twitter handle @WYCODAoffice.

– The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Police Department and the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department are teaming up to identify and seek out parties where drugs and alcohol may be present.

– Liquor and cereal malt beverage retailers across Wyandotte County will be especially mindful of attempts to purchase alcohol by teens or by others on their behalf and will refuse to sell to these people.

– Hotel managers have been informed of the prom dates for Wyandotte County high schools and will report all unsupervised prom activities to the police.

– The Kansas Department of Transportation has funded the creation of several posters to be displayed in Wyandotte County high schools.

Gorman has designated Candace Golubski as project manager for Project Safe Celebrate, as this is a large undertaking.

“We have a number of organizations involved in the project.  A lot of work has gone into coordinating all of the events and activities associated with Project Safe Celebrate,” Golubski said. “Our hope is that next year and the years to come, the project will continue to expand, possibly even into the surrounding counties.  We’ve got big ideas, and the more support we have, the more we can do for the students.”

For more information regarding Project Safe Celebrate, visit: www.facebook.com/projectsafecelebrate.

 

Kansas City, Kan., police reports

March 10

Burglary, criminal damage, 3100 block of Woodview Ridge, door, ring, laptop computer, $700 value.

Burglary, criminal damage, 3100 block of Woodview Ridge, television, door, $300- value.

Criminal damage, 3100 block of Woodview Ridge, door, $100 value.

Burglary, criminal damage, 200 block of South Mill, window, bills, 52 bracelets, $550 value.

Theft, 3200 block of West 42nd, currency, $500 value.

Theft, 4800 block of Locust, 1997 Toyota Corolla, $1,500 value.

Theft, 200 block of North 26th, 1994 Honda Accord, $1,000.

Theft, 700 block of Ohio, 2000 Chevy pickup, $4,500 value.

March 9

Burglary, criminal damage, 00 block of South 25th, window, $50 value.

Theft, 2800 block of South 47th, backpack, driver’s license, pills, $301 value.

Theft, Viewcrest Drive and Manorcrest Drive, vehicle, $2,000 value.

March 8

Criminal use of financial card, 2900 block of South 47th, cash, $700 value.

March 6

Criminal damage, 1500 block of North 85th Circle, back windshield, $2,100 value.