Wyandotte County – Page 4753 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Vaughan named honorary chairman for United Way campaign

Joe H. Vaughan is returning to his roots in Wyandotte County this fall as the honorary chairman of the United Way of Wyandotte County’s 2014 campaign.

Vaughan grew up in Wyandotte County and is a graduate of the Kansas City, Kan., Public School System and Kansas City Kansas Community College.

“We are happy to have Mr. Vaughan as our honorary campaign chairman,” said Wendell Maddox, president-CEO of the United Way of Wyandotte County. “He has a great history of service to his community and will bring a unique skill set and perspective to our upcoming campaign.”

Graduating with a degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, Vaughan was a broadcast journalist in the Midwest until 1990 when he founded Joe Vaughan Associates, a publishing services company.

Since then he has published “coffee table” books for the 50th anniversaries of several Johnson County municipalities as well as monthly newsletters and other publishing services. For more than a decade he has been a guest lecturer for KCKCC’s Regional History class. Invested in the communities that surround him, Vaughan received numerous community services awards for the work he has done on multiple boards and associations.

Vaughan is excited about United Way of Wyandotte County’s annual campaign coming up this fall which has recently announced its 2014 campaign theme “Live Heroic.”

“It’s an honor to be on the United Way of Wyandotte County team,” Vaughan said. “With all of the funding cutbacks at the state and federal level, it is more important in 2014 that folks support the campaign. Lots of folks in Wyandotte County need the United Way now more than ever!”

United Way of Wyandotte County will kick off its Live Heroic annual campaign with its annual kick-off luncheon set for 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at the KCKCC Technology Center. United Way encourages the community to support the Wyandotte community by attending this luncheon or by donating to the Live Heroic campaign. Further information can be found at the United Way of Wyandotte County website, www.unitedway-wyco.org or by calling 913-371-3674.

16-year-old sentenced in connection with shooting death

Lamount A. Ford, 16, of Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced on July 3 in Wyandotte County District Court to serve almost 13 years in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Ford, who was prosecuted as an adult, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with the July 23, 2013, shooting death of Nola Pierce. The homicide was in the 1200 block of Everett Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

Assistant District Attorney Mollie Hill prosecuted the case for the state of Kansas.

Triple threat weather day ahead

Monday temperatures. National Weather Service graphic

High heat, storms and flash flooding are in the forecast for Monday from the National Weather Service.

Today’s temperatures will be a high near 94, with a heat index as high as 101, the weather service said.

The temperature at 10 a.m. was 81 degrees with a heat index of 84.

The weather service said hot and humid conditions along with an arriving cold front from the north will lead to severe thunderstorms early this evening.

The main concerns will be strong damaging winds with the greatest threat found in northeast Kansas and northern Missouri, the weather service said. Severe hail also is possible with any storms that develop later this evening and overnight.

The severe weather threat possibly may result in heavy rain and possible flash flooding overnight as the cold front slowly sinks south across the area.

As this occurs, strong winds in the lower atmosphere may pump ample amounts of low-level moisture north. The end result could be heavy rains with the possibility of flash flooding, according to the weather service.

A flash flood watch is in effect for Wyandotte County and surrounding areas from 7 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday, the weather service said.

For up-to-date weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

Severe storms possible. National Weather Service graphic