Six linemen from the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will compete against hundreds of other utility workers at the annual International Lineman’s Rodeo through Oct. 15 at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs.
An annual trade show and expo will be held in Overland Park, Kansas, in conjunction with the event.
The lineman’s rodeo features linemen competing in events based on traditional lineman tasks.
BPU will be represented by one team and three apprentice linemen. Matt Campion, Jake Janes, Trenton Overton, Josh Cook, Garrett Gilbert and Dawson Crouss will be competing against more than 900 linemen representing more than 200 teams from private and municipal utilities. Last year’s BPU team placed fourth in the municipality division.
The rodeo competition will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Ag Hall, near 126th and State. An awards banquet will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Overland Park Convention Center.
The International Lineman’s Rodeo was first held in 1984 and was created to maintain a focus on safety and safe work practices, and to recognize the technical craft skills of utility linemen.
For more information, see www.linemansrodeokc.com.
A red flag warning is in effect in Wyandotte County this afternoon. Outdoor burning is highly discouraged because of high fire danger. (National Weather Service graphic)Wind gusts today could reach up to 37 mph, while the relative humidity could fall to 23 percent. These conditions, with dry vegetation, create a high fire danger. (National Weather Service graphic)
Windy weather, with a high fire danger, is in today’s National Weather Service forecast.
Wyandotte County is under a red flag warning from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, according to the weather service.
Strong westerly winds, becoming northerly this evening, will gust up to 37 mph today, the weather service said.
Ongoing dry conditions and gusting winds will lead to very high fire danger this afternoon, according to the weather service. Open burning is not recommended, as any fires could spread quickly, the weather service said.
Cooler weather is expected next week, with temperatures ranging from the 40s to the 60s, according to the weather service.
Today, there will be increasing clouds, with a high near 74, the weather service said. A west southwest wind of 13 to 18 mph will increase to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon, with winds gusting as high as 37 mph.
Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 41, according to the weather service. A northwest wind of 9 to 14 mph will become light and variable after midnight. Winds may gust as high as 21 mph.
Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 68 and a calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be mostly cloudy, then becoming mostly clear, with a low of 47, according to the weather service. A calm wind will become northwest around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 65, the weather service said. A north northwest wind of 6 to 14 mph will gust as high as 23 mph.
Sunday night, it will be clear, with a low of 36, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 53, the weather service said.
Monday night, it will be clear, with a low of 28, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 48, the weather service said.
Tuesday night, it will be clear, with a low of 27, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 60, the weather service said.
Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 40, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be sunny, with a high near 68, the weather service said.
Rosedale residents who spoke at the Unified Government Commission meeting on Thursday night asked the UG to tear down the Rosedale Ridge apartments, which have experienced fires in the last two days.
Erin Stryka, executive director of the Rosedale Development Association, said this morning’s fire was the third time in six months that the apartment complex has had a fire. The fire this morning was at 2025 S. Mill St.
She said the apartment complex has deteriorated and “has become so dangerous that we cannot let the situation continue.”
Stryka said if it continues without anything being done, probably eventually someone would die in a fire.
Firefighters responded to a fire at the Rosedale Ridge complex on Wednesday, at a vacant building. Another building was on fire on Thursday morning.
Max Evans, who lives nearby, said residents have been investing in their properties in the area, but the neighborhood is starting to turn. Barbara Clark Evans said the Rosedale Ridge buildings were a hazard and an eyesore, and residents are asking to have them torn down.
Another Rosedale resident spoke and said he thinks the Rosedale Ridge vacant apartments are a magnet for crime, and if there is one day a death there, the owners should be held responsible.
The residents made their remarks during the community input portion of the UG Commission meeting on Thursday night.
The cause of the fires is undetermined and is under investigation, according to KCK Fire Department officials.
