WycoWest.com

(Pictured with legendary Bishop Ward Cyclones head coach Dennis Hurla.)All photos by ALAN HOSKINS

News Release:The Armourdale Optimist will hold their annual “Respect for Law “ luncheon on Tuesday, June 15.The meeting will be held at the Armourdale Recreation Center, 730 Osage Ave. in KCK from 12-1 p.m.The Optimist club will honor 5 Wyandotte County Sheriff Deputies; that saved the life of a suicidal inmate.The honorees are: Sergeant Robert Rome, Deputy Jonathan Bond, Deputy Jeff Taylor, Deputy Roger Bilyeu and Deputy Shardale Brown (acting sergeant). Reservations are helpful. The home-cooked luncheon that includes drinks and desserts cost is $7. The proceeds go toward the many youth programs sponsored by the Armourdale Optimist Club. Call Kim...

By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD, The Lawrence Journal-World Gov. Sam Brownback said Thursday it may take a court to sort out Senate redistricting.Brownback said he'd like the Legislature to approve congressional and state House maps, and possibly leave the rest to the judicial system."I'd like to even see them pass the other maps and leave the Senate and State Board of Education, which is tied to the Senate map. If that's the one you can't get, then let's send it to court rather than all of them," Brownback said.The moderate and conservative factions of the Kansas Republican Party are locked in a...

By ALAN HOSKINS In 39 years as a nursing instructor at Kansas City Kansas Community College, Jean Ternus not only espoused her favorite saying, she lived by it.“Treat people as if they were who they ought to be and you help them to become who they are capable of being,” wrote famed philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.“If I can help someone else, it’s the ultimate,” says Jean, who will retire at the end of the Spring Semester.  “It’s the students that we serve and we can make a difference in their lives.  To me that is what this job is...

TBonesbaseball.com The second-largest opening day crowd in Kansas City T-Bones history saw the club begin its 10th season on Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.It was the New Jersey Jackals that celebrated, however, with a 17-7 win in front of 7,026 people.Former Major League Rookie of the Year and Kansas City Royals infielder Angel Berroa led the Jackals (1-0) with a perfect night at the plate.Berroa, the 2003 ROY, reached base all five times with a home run, a double, two singles and was hit by a pitch. Berroa scored three runs and drove in four.“It’s good to be...

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.comThe debate on the Wyandotte Plaza project on 78th and State Avenue led to some discussion about the lack of a grocery store in the northeast portion of Wyandotte County at Thursday night's Unified Government Board of Commissioners meeting.Residents voiced concern with the situation during a public hearing about the Wyandotte Plaza project.While three grocery stores have opened up in the past four years in Kansas City, Kan., none have been located in the northeast sector of Wyandotte County."I'm not jealous of what's going on out west," said Jacquelyn Anderson. "The inner-city just needs a grocery store....

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.comThe Unified Government Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to finalize a $28 million project with RED Development that would revitalize the Wyandotte Plaza at 78th and State Avenue.Some quick details:A 75,000 Price Chopper store will be included in the center. Though a specific date of it opening is not available, under the agreement between the UG and RED, the store must be open by 2014. A one percent Community Improvement District Tax will be placed on all goods inside the plaza. The UG will provide up to $13.8 million in public financing. RED Development will also participate...

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.comIn a divided 6-3 vote, the Unified Government Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to authorize $81 million worth of bonds to help the Board of Public Utilities purchase a 17 percent ownership interest in the Dogwood Energy Center.Located in Cass County, Missouri, the plant will be providing natural gas for the BPU, along with helping the utility meet regulations demanded by the Environmental Protection Agency.The plant has a nominal capacity of 650 Mw and under the agreement passed tonight, BPU will be able to acquire up to 17 percent of the available energy.BPU General Manager Don Gray...

At long last, I can share some police reports for you. Again, not every crime is listed - just those that are significant in terms of money value and physical violence. Thanks to those of you who showed some patience.

By ALAN HOSKINS A funny thing happened to Ruth Dreher on the way to a promising career in nursing. She fell in love – with English and Literature.Already in the nursing field as an LPN for 14 years, Dreher was in the process of applying for admission to the RN nursing program at Johnson County Community College when “I got sidetracked at the Writing Center.“I had taken Comp I at Fort Hays State University and was in the Comp II class and fell in love with Mrs. Erma Teichgarber and her teaching,” says Dreher. “It was probably the...

U.S. Department of Justice Antonio Wright, 24, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.The crimes is alleged to have occurred March 17, 2012, in Kansas City, Kan.If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and fine up to $250,000, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge.The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask...

By ALAN HOSKINS A record 19 students in Technical Education Center programs at Kansas City Kansas Community have won medals in the 2011-12 Skills USA Kansas competition.Seven students earned gold medals and will be competing in the national contest to be held at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo., in June. In addition, five TEC students won silver medals and seven earned bronze.“Finishing in the top three is an outstanding accomplishment,” Skills USA lead advisor Jake Carmack told the medalists. “The level of success KCKCC-TEC realized this year is a direct reflection of the excellence of our technical...