Category: News

Community calendar

The Wyandotte Daily News is interested in news of your community event in Wyandotte County. Send information to [email protected] and include your name and phone number.

Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast to meet March 15

The Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will meet March 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Minnesota, Kansas City, Kan.  It will be the 10th anniversary of the breakfast. Guest speaker will be Jean Schodorf, secretary of state candidate; and Sen. Pat Pettey, D-6th Dist., with a legislative report.  The breakfast buffet opens at 8:15 a.m. and the program begins at 9:15 a.m. The cost is $10, or $7 for students and those on limited incomes. The meeting is open to all Democrats. Reservations are requested, but not required to attend. To make a reservation, email [email protected] by Friday, March 14.

Opening day of fishing to be March 15

Opening day of fishing will be March 15 at Wyandotte County Lake, 91st and Leavenworth Road. Weather permitting, fishing season opens at 6 a.m. March 15. The lake is stocked with trout and other fish.

Spring break Nature Quest planned

The spring break Nature Quest will be from 10 a.m. to noon starting March 17 at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library, 4051 West Drive, Wyandotte County Lake Park, Kansas City, Kan.  Explore science and nature at the lake with a fun-filled week of specially designed activities for children ages 7-11. Class size is limited and registration is required one week in advance. Sign up for one day or every day. This program is free. Tentative schedule: Monday– Nature Art. Tuesday– Primitive Hunting (Archery and Atlatl). Wednesday– Wacky Wildlife. Thursday– Wildlife Signs. Friday– Team Challenges/Games.

Informational session planned March 17 on Affordable Care Act

Trained, certified healthcare navigators will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 17, 5 at Wyandot Center, 1301 N. 47th St., Kansas City, Kan., for a question and answer session on the Affordable Care Act. The event is open to the community and is sponsored by partners including Wyandot Center, the Wyandotte/Leavenworth Area Agency on Aging and the Kansas City Kansas Community College. This event will be educational-informational. Participants will have the opportunity to sign up for one-on-one support in using the online Healthcare Navigator Tool to enroll in health insurance. Reservations are not required for the March 17 event. Call 913-328-4624 for more information.

Women’s History Month program planned

A Women’s History Month program, “Tributes and Tea,” is planned from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 18 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan.  Come for special refreshments and a time to inspire and be inspired by talking about women who have made a difference in each life. To register, call 913-906-8990.

UG scheduled to meet March 20

The Unified Government Commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. March 20 at City Hall, lobby level, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan. An agenda for the meeting should be posted at www.wycokck.org.

Program to discuss how to recognize gambling problems

The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., will hold a program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 24 on how to recognize gambling problems. This presentation will address how and when to get help for a gambling problem. It is presented by Chiquita Miller of K-State Extension. To register, call 913-906-8990.

Program offered on ‘Letting Go of Life’s Disappointments’

“Letting Go of Life’s Disappointments” will be the topic of a program that meets on Tuesdays at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The group will meet at 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. beginning March 25. A group of participants will explore their feelings and journey toward acceptance of loss and grief and eventual healing. Journals will be provided for those who do not have one. Meetings will be on Tuesday, March 25, April 1 and April 8. To register, call 913-906-8990.

Community meeting planned on education March 27

“How Best to Access Success in Wyco,” a community meeting, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 27 at the Dr. Thomas Burke Technical Education Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College, 65th and State Avenue. A panel discussion will be sponsored by El Centro, KCKCC Advancement Council and MainStream Coalition on kindergarten through 16th year education in Wyandotte County and the effect of recent Kansas legislation. Partnerships in the Wyandotte education community that help students succeed will be discussed. There will be a voter registration booth. Guest speakers include Ed Marquez, director of admissions, Donnelly College; Superintendent Cynthia Lane, Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools; Joy Engel, assistant superintendent of the Turner Public Schools. The moderator is KCKCC President Doris Givens. To register for the program, visit www.mainstreamcoalition.org under “Upcoming Events.” Reservations are requested but not required.

CFI to sponsor recycling event

The Coalition for Independence will have a one-day recycled durable medical equipment extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28 at the CFI offices, 4911 State Ave. All current inventory will\  be available. The not-for-profit agency provides a low-cost alternative to purchasing new equipment for individuals. Items include walkers, manual and power wheelchairs, bath benches and grab bars. Donations of used equipment in good condition also are being accepted.

Program offered on diversifying markets for farmers markets

A program on “Diversifying Markets: Farmers Market,” Wholesale and Farm School, will be offered March 31 in Kansas City, Mo. The program has assistance from K-State Research and Extension. For more information, visit www.growinggrocers.org.

Financial literacy for seniors: Adapting and adjusting for retirement

A financial literacy program will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 3 at Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Attend this informative presentation about financial matters for seniors and retirement. Presented in partnership with Heartland Habitat for Humanity and Wells Fargo Bank. To register, call 913-906-8990.

ServSafe Course to be April 8

A ServSafe Course will be Tuesday, April 8, at K-State Research and Extension, Wyandotte County office, 1216 N. 79th St., Kansas City, Kan. This course is for everyone who handles any type of food service or group meals. Also, it is for those interested in food service employment. The cost is $10, which includes class materials and workbook. The deadline for registration is April 1 because of limited seating and workbooks. Contact Lori Wuellner at 913-299-9300 or email [email protected].

Program covers post-harvest handling

A program for gardeners and those who raise food on “Post-Harvest Handling” will take place on May 12 in Kansas City, Kan. The program is sponsored by K-State Research and Extension. For more information, visit www.growinggrocers.org.

African-American Art Festival planned Aug. 9

The MoKan African-American Art Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Quindaro Park, 35th and Sewell, Kansas City, Kan. Those attending the free event may bring a blanket, enjoy artwork, stilt walkers Gullah basket weathers, African drummers and dancers, food and vendors. For more information about having an art exhibit there or being a vendor, contact 913-788-7330.

Miller nominated for U.S. Marshal

Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller, former chief of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, has been nominated by President Obama for U.S. Marshal of Kansas.

The appointment is for four years. The nomination has been sent to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

Miller, who is from Kansas City, Kan., became Topeka police chief in 2006.

He served in the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department since 1972.

Miller has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Missouri and master’s degree from Wichita State University. He is a past president of the Kansas City Metro Chiefs and Sheriffs Association.

Proposed parole office site could change to Argentine area of KCK

by Mary Rupert

Local officials now are taking a look at putting a parole office in the Argentine area of Kansas City, Kan., on a former industrial site.

A community outcry was heard when the state Department of Corrections announced it would locate the parole office next to the Pandarama day care at 7th and State Avenue in the downtown area of Kansas City, Kan. Several persons opposed the idea of about 600 parolees a month, about 30 a day, visiting a parole office next door to a day care.

State Rep. Val Winn, D-34th Dist., who was instrumental in helping residents who opposed that location, said she had heard a new location is under consideration. The current location is on 18th Street at a medical office building not far from I-70, but the lease is not being renewed as higher-paying tenants are being sought.  In February, Rep. Winn led a legislative effort to block funding for any parole office within 1,000 feet of a child care facility.

Unified Government Commissioner Ann Murguia said the old Kansas City Structural Steel site near 21st and Metropolitan Avenue, being restored as a retail and office area, is under discussion for the parole office site.

Murguia said the UG would take this idea to the people of the UG’s 3rd District, through community meetings, and ask them if they think it is a good idea. If the people agree, then she is OK with it, she said. Her position will depend on whatever the people want, she added.

She was not originally seeking the parole office to move to that site, but she said that there has been some preliminary work on adding a public safety facility to the former Kansas City Structural Steel site.

Currently, a Walmart  Neighborhood Market is going in at the former Superfund site, which was a silver smelting site in the 1800s and a steel fabrication plant in the 1900s. The Walmart site is at the northwest part of this development site. Also near to the Walmart, on the east side of the development site, is a new Save-a-Lot grocery store that opened Dec. 5. The project was under the direction of the Argentine Betterment Corp.

For about a year, there have been plans to try to work a new police South Patrol building into the designs for this Argentine site, she said. During discussions about the public safety building, the preliminary facility costs were coming back a bit higher than what could be paid for through the project. Then, ways were looked at to cut some of the costs to it. Also under discussion was the possibility of moving the Unified Government’s emergency management office to this location.

When the idea about the parole office locating there came up, she said her first reaction was she was not interested in it. But with a mention of $2 million for a 10-year lease, with the parole office moving at the end of 10 years, she said she would take a look at it. Perhaps, at the end of the term of the parole office, the emergency management office could move there, she said, and so the lease to the parole office could pay for part of the costs of the emergency management office in the future.

“I said I would consider it, take it to the people of my district, and ask them what they think – is it a good idea?” she said. “If we can get over that hurdle, I am OK with it.”

She added that she has never voted against the public opinion in her district.

When it comes to nearby neighbors to the proposed parole office location, Murguia’s family members are one of the closest residents to the proposed site.

One of the first steps for this parole office site location will be a discussion planned at the UG’s Public Works and Safety Standing Committee meeting on the evening of March 24 in City Hall, 701 N. 7th St.

Murguia believes the UG should be involved in finding a place for the parole office.

“If we don’t pick a spot, they’re going to pick one for us,” she remarked. “There’s no better place than a government public safety facility.”