The Kansas City T-Bones announced that March 24 will be the date Wyandotte County residents can first purchase single-game tickets.

The general public can purchase tickets beginning March 26.

The T-Bones box office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark will open next week for the sale.  Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 10-5 and Saturday from 10-4. 

The early sale for Wyandotte County residents will only be available by visiting the box office or the T-Bones TeamStore in the Legends shopping center (M-Sat 10-9 and Sun 11-6).

Beginning on March 26, tickets can be purchased online at www.tbonesbaseball.com.

Winter will apparently make a triumphant return this weekend.

After a week filled with spring-like weather, Kansas City could receive up to five inches of snow tomorrow.

Rain and snow is possible tonight. A winter storm watch has been issue to counties just south of Wyandotte County.

Here is the four-day forecast

Today: A chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Light wind becoming north northwest between 10 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 1am. Low around 30. Blustery, with a north wind between 18 and 23 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: Snow, mainly before 1pm. High near 34. Breezy, with a north northeast wind between 20 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Blustery, with a north wind between 18 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 38. North wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 46.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Three record-setting Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball players have earned second team All-Jayhawk East Conference recognition for their play in 2009-10.

Sophomore Derick Denny and freshman Dennis Tinnon were named to the Jayhawk East men’s second team while freshman Alyssa Rushton was named to the women’s All-East unit.

A 6-4 sophomore guard from Green Bay, Wis., Denny finished his two-year career as the all-time leader in three-point goals (227) and three-point shooting percentage (.454) and second in free throw percentage (.844) and three-point goals in a single season (119).

The Jayhawk leader in three-point goals both as a freshman and sophomore, he also led the conference in three-point percentage and was ninth in scoring (16.2).

A 6-7 forward also from Green Bay, Tinnon led the Jayhawk Conference in field goal accuracy (.640) and finished third in rebounding (10.65). Averaging a double-double with 13.8 points and 10.65 rebounds, his 14 double-doubles are believed to be the most ever at KCKCC.

He also ranks second in rebounds for a single game (21), third in field goal percentage and sixth in rebounds for a single season.

A 5-10 guard from Rochester, Minn., Rushton led the Jayhawk Conference in free throw percentage (.850), was second in three-point percentage (.404) and tied for eighth in three-point field goals with 65.

The Lady Blue Devils leading scorer at 13.3, her .403 three-point percentage is second all-time and her .850 free throw percentage is second only to teammate Michelle Selbe (.902).

Satoria Bell of Labette was named the East’s Most Valuable Player with Johnson County’s Ben Conrad Coach of the Year and Taylor Bird Freshman of the Year. Bell was joined on the All-East first team by Sadie Webb, Independence; Kellindra Zackery, Labette; Bjonee Reaves, Neosho; Gianna Woods, Cowley; and Melissa Nelson, Johnson County.

Antione Lundy of Neosho was voted Most Valuable men’s player; Tommy DeSalme of Cowley Coach of the Year; and Tyrus McGee of Cowley, Freshman of the Year. Lundy and McGee were joined on the first team by Andra Bailey, Allen County; Jarmar Gulley, Highland; and David Luster, Johnson County.

A group of seventh graders at Coronado Middle School are making waves on the debate scene in Kansas City.

Debate students at Coronado Middle School are winning big this school year in various debate events held across the metro area.

In the City Championship earlier this month, two separate teams from Cornado Middle School advanced to the event held by Debate Kansas City, an organization that encourages students to take part in debate.

Along with the team success, individual students Aviance Battles and Angelica Strong earned individual honors.

Michelle Hogue, who's the debate coach at the school and a science teacher, said practice has been key.

"It's not a 'sit down and shut up' type of environment," she said. "We like to have fun and we practice what we do."

Students at Coronado and other schools across the metro area take part in city competitions in "policy debate" and "student congress." Among the issues the students debate include community schools and education.

"They have to research the issues," Hogue said. "They are so good. They just have this natural ability to perform well."

The Coronado students are among the youngest debaters in the city – most of their competition is exclusively eighth-graders.

But Battles and Strong apparently don't care about the age difference too much.

"When I first heard of debate, I had a different way of looking at it," she said. "Now I love doing it and giving speeches."

For Strong, debate has been a learning experience.

"I like that we keep up with current events," she said. "We've been learning more and more about the world. We practice a lot on the issues so we know what we're talking about."

For Debate KC Director Gabe Cook, hearing Battles, Strong and the other students at Coronado probably validates what he's trying to push at the school level.

The organization has grown from just a handful of schools to about 40 schools. At starting off with just two middle schools, Debate KC has expanded to 20 middle schools this year.

But Cook said the best benefit for students participating in debate is for the students themselves.

"Students who participate in debate are three times more likely to graduate from high school," Cook said, referring to a recent study on the issue. "It makes you more prepared for college and it helps with critical thinking."

A number of students on the team are on Debate KC's power rankings. Cook said the middle school team at Coronado was at the top of the power rankings at the time of these interviews.

Other schools in Kansas City, Kan., that take part in Debate KC include: Sumner Academy, Northwest Middle School, Eisenhower Middle School, F.L Schlagle Middle School, Rosedale Mildde School, Washington High School, Turner High School and Wyandotte High School.

A number of businesses at Village West will provide a helping hand to the American Red Cross this month.

A select number of businesses will donate a portion of their sales to the local chapter.

Businesses taking part include:

• Los Cabos: The Kansas City, Kan., Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business After Hours event on Wednesday, March 24 from 5-7 p.m.

• Culver's: All day on Thursday, March 25, the business will donate 10 percent of their sales to the American Red Cross. Culver's will also host a blood drive on Saturday, March 27.

• Palmer's Candies and Ice Cream: 10 percent of sales on March 30 will be donated to the American Red Cross.

• Mr. Goodcent's (in Bonner Springs): 10 percent of sales on March 30 will be donated

• Applebee's: 10 percent of "select sales" will be donated to the local Red Cross on April 1.

(From BIshop Ward High School)

The Bishop Ward High School Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner will be on March 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Bishop Ward, 708 N. 18th St.

This event will celebrate the accomplishments of five extraordinary individuals who in their own way represent the legacy and tradition of Bishop Ward.

Bob ’69 and Denise ’71 Beaman are the co-chairs of this elegant event. The evening begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Induction Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 per table of 8 guests.

You can make your reservations now for this special evening. Sponsorship levels also are available to honor our five distinguished inductees. 

To learn more about sponsorships or make a reservation, visit cyclonecountry.org or contact Amy Nelson in the Development Office at 913.371.6901 or at anelson@wardhigh.org. 

2010 Bishop Ward Hall of Fame Class

Monsignor Michael Mullen ’54, Alumnus of the Year

BeaMarie (Mejia) Mayer ’67, Don Denney ’70 Spirit of Bishop Ward Award

Dr. Andy Harding ’81, Athletic Achievement Award

Ed Dwight ’51, Fine Arts Distinguished Achievement Award

Donald E. Wolf, Father Raymond J. Davern Community Service Award

INDUCTEE BIOS

Mon. Michael Mullen, a 1954 alumnus, is receiving the Alumnus of the Year Award. Mon. Mullen is the pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church and is a member of the Bishop Ward Board of Trustees. He has served as a priest almost 48 years, serving as a pastor, seminary educator, and director of seminarians.

BeaMarie Mayer, a 1967 alumna, is receiving the Don Denney ’70 Spirit of Bishop Ward Award. Mayer is self employed as a human resources and finance consultant. She is a member of the Bishop Ward Board of Trustees. She has previously served on several local boards, including MANA of Kansas City, Cabot Westside Health Center and YWCA of Kansas City.

Dr. Andy Harding, a 1981 alumnus, is receiving the Athletic Achievement Award. He played Center for the K-State football team from 1981-1985 and was selected for the 1985 Academic All Big Eight. He is the owner of Chiropractic Healing Center.

Ed Dwight, a 1951 alumnus, is receiving the Fine Arts Distinguished Achievement Award. He is a nationally-renowned sculptor and most recently created a sculpture of the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Dwight was also the first African American astronaut and author of his autobiography, “Soaring on the Wings of a Dream.”

Don Wolf is receiving the Father Raymond J. Davern Community Service Award. He is the lead photographer of De Cloud Studios. Wolf is a supporter of St. Theresa’s Orphanage in Croatia and several Catholic schools and parishes in Wyandotte County.

A woman was robbed at gun-point last night on the 1300 Block of Central Avenue.

A thief used a handgun to rob the woman at around 7:30 p.m. last night. No one was seriously injured in the case. A witness was on the scene as well.

A case of aggravated assault and aggravated robbery were reported.

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From the Arizona Daily Star: Carmen Duarte is a native Tucsonan.  She graduated from St. John the Evangelist Elementary School, Pueblo High School and Pima Community College. 

She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism, with a minor in political science from the University of Arizona in 1980.  She began working for the Arizona Daily Star in January 1981 and has covered numerous beats, including immigration, crime, education, social services and federal courts.  Duarte also has done feature writing and traveled extensively in Mexico covering stories for the Star.

In 1994, the Arizona Press Club honored her with its Distinguished Service Award.
Writing “Mama’s Santos” was a year-long labor of love and familial devotion for reporter Carmen Duarte.  It began as a simple idea – to illustrate the personal side of Arizona’s cotton industry by approaching it from the viewpoint of Carmen’s mother, Leonarda “Nala” Bejarano Duarte, who had labored in the cotton fields for much of her 83 years in Arizona and New Mexico. 

When Carmen wrote that initial, short story for the Star’s annual listing of the area’s largest employers, the Star 200, it became clear to Carmen and to her editors that a larger story remained to be told. 

And so Carmen directed her reporting and writing skills to a subject that is unusual for a journalist – her own family.  The result was “Mama’s Santos: An Arizona Life,” which ran in 36 installments in the Arizona Daily Star.

It is a story of one woman’s courage, fortitude and faith.  It is the story of Carmen’s familia and, as many readers have written to tell us, it is the story of many families who came to this harsh corner of a country full of promise and rich in resources. 

It is a tale of the obstacles they met on the path to that promise, the natural ones of flood, fire and disease; the societal ones of discrimination, economic inequality, even revolution and war.  It is the story of “Nala,” who found in her mother’s tale a source of strength and a renewal of faith in the future.

Secundino Aria-Garcia and Sergio Mosqueda-Hernandez were sentenced today for their involvement in a drug trafficking ring that resulted in the sell of over $1 million in methamphetamine.

Both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Aria-Garcia also admitted to purchasing the drug in large quantities and later sold it to dealers in the Kansas City area.

Aria-Garcia was sentenced to 210 months in prison, while Mosqueda-Hernandez was senteced to 121 months. Both will serve the time in federal prison.

Additional defendants involved in the ring:

• Guadalupe Ruiz, sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.

• Robyn Woods, sentenced to 60 months.

• Marcicela Naranjo, sentenced to 70 months.

• Marisela Ruiz, sentenced to 108 months.

• Francisco Armondo Lopez-Montejano, sentenced to 70 months.

• Baltazar Quiroz, set for sentencing March 23, 2010.

• Betty Sue Marcos, set for sentencing March 30, 2010.

• Vincent Ray Marez, set for sentencing March 18, 2010.

• Baynard Jack Sitlington, set for sentencing 6, 2010.

• Hector Eduardo Garcia-Gallardo, set for sentencing May  4, 2010.

• Jesus Munoz, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Araceli Lozano-Miranda, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Carlos Dozal-Alvarez, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Javier Dozal, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Fabiola Uribe, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Steven Luttrell, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Hugo Chavez-Cadenas, set for sentencing April 13, 2010.

• Luis Lozano-Miranda, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Jose Jimenez-Alvarez, set for sentencing April 27, 2010.

• Francisco Javier Ruiz-Najera, set for sentencing April 13, 2010.

• Uriel Lopez-Montejano, set for sentencing April 13, 2010.

• Jorge Carrillo-Chavez, set for sentencing April 6, 2010.

• Kurtis Wall, set for sentencing April 6,2010. 

The M.E. Pearson 5th-grade Lego Robotics team presented their first place trophy to the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education on Tuesday, March 9.  

The team, made up of nine fifth grade students, competed against 68 other 5th-8th grade teams in this year’s First Lego League Tournament in Lee’s Summit, MO.  They placed first in the category of “Creative Presentation”. 

Team members are (L-R) Donny Randolf, Nestor Hernandez, Pedro Troncoso, Alonso Muneton, Elizabeth Santillan, Mariana Santos, Michel Arroyo.  Members of the team not pictured are Ariana Morales and Hector Flores. Their teacher is Britt Pumphrey.

Photo #1: Team photo - students are l-r as listed above.

Photo #2: Britt Pumphrey (correct spelling) addresses the board.

Photo #3: Nestor Hernandez shows Assistant Superintendent Dr. Cynthia
Lane the team's first place trophy.

The Kansas City T-Bones have signed rookie pitcher Steven Stewart to a contract for the 2010 season.

Stewart, 23, spent two seasons in the Washington Nationals organization. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2008.

During his career with the organization, he posted a 3.64 ERA, holding opponents to a .249 average.

“Steven is a right-hander that puts good sink on the baseball,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the T-Bones.  “He will add depth to the backend of our bullpen.”

Our local the American Red Cross, Wyandotte County Chapter came into being back in 1917, during World War I. In fact, nationally during a four year period, 1914 to 1918; the Red Cross grew from 107 local chapters to 3,864 chapters.

Throughout the years our local chapter has been there when we need them. They are there to teach, to respond to disasters, to organize blood drives, install smoke detectors and help keep military families in touch.

A big part of the Red Cross program is responding to disasters, local fires, floods, tornados, and more broad scale disasters like 911, Katrina, the west coast forest fires and international disasters like earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. When fire ignites in your neighborhood, a Red Cross volunteer is there to help the victims of that fire.

They help the victims find shelter and see that the they have the essentials like clothing, personal care items, needed medications and food.

In the aftermath of national disasters like major hurricanes or forest fires, our local Red Cross sends Disaster Actions Teams to help out overtaxed local efforts. The Red Cross is able to respond because of volunteers.

Disaster Action Teams (DAT) are every day people who say yes to the challenge of helping their neighbor. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to become a volunteer. DAT volunteers need to receive specialized training so that they are “prepared” when disaster does strike.

“Be Red Cross Ready” is the motto of the Red Cross. It takes volunteers to help make this happen. This readiness is accomplished through a variety of classes offered by staff and volunteers of the Red Cross.

Classes like basic first aid,  CPR, accident prevention, fire safety, babysitting, pet first aid, lifeguard training, basic infection control (a.k.a good hand washing) are offered to schools, groups, business, individuals throughout the community. Volunteer instructors do receive Red Cross training.

The Red Cross, like all non-profits relies on volunteers to help with day to day operations. The phone needs to be answered, paperwork needs to be done, papers need to be copied and filed, educational packets assembled to name just a few of the many tasks that are waiting for the right volunteer.

In the age of technology help with data entry is always welcomed. The Red Cross has vehicles that need to be readied to respond and need to be maintained, another task for right volunteer.

In addition, the Red Cross relies on volunteers to help with the fund raising efforts that support these vital programs. Fund raising events succeed because of volunteers.

The Heroes for the American Red Cross or the Ride for the Red are a few examples of annual events to help raise dollars for the important work of the Red Cross that are successful because of volunteers.

Lastly, the Red Cross relies on a dedicated group of volunteers to govern the organization, the board of directors. This group of volunteers meets regularly to help keep the organization on course.

The Board is composed of involved and concerns members of our community who believe that we all need to be “Red Cross Ready.”

If you want more information on any one of the many volunteer opportunities available through the American Red Cross, the Wyandotte County Chapter call Jason at 913-321-6314 or check out their web site at www.kck.redcross.org.

The Wyandotte County Parks Foundation and the Kansas City T-Bones have teamed up in an effort to build more accessible playgrounds for those with disabilities across Wyandotte County.

Eight proposed sites would receive the new playgrounds, which will be funded by pledges and donations including a $200,000 contribution from the T-Bones baseball team.

“For children with disabilities, an equally important consideration is that accessible equipment be integrated with non-accessible equipment,” said Gary Salva, the director of parks and recreation. “Not every piece of play equipment needs to be accessible, but when non-accessible swings are located alongside accessible ones, it promotes social interaction between children with and without disabilities.”

Playgrounds at City Park, Quindaro Park, Emerson Park, Shawnee West, Wyandotte County Lake (by shelters 3,5 and 7), Pierson Park, Eisenhower Park and Riverview Park.

The planning for the project began last year when the foundation's Board of Directors approved a project to make playgrounds within the county's park system more assessable for everyone in the community.

“Because Kansas City sports fans have so heartily embraced the T-Bones’ brand of affordable, family entertainment, we are thrilled to reinvest in Wyandotte County’s recreational infrastructure and its future,” T-Bones Co-Owner Adam Ehlert said.

The T-Bones have generated over $500,000 for the recreation department based on a partnership where the team contributes a portion of all ticket sales to the county.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Three record-setting Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball players have earned second team All-Jayhawk East Conference recognition for their play in 2009-10.

Sophomore Derick Denny and freshman Dennis Tinnon were named to the Jayhawk East men’s second team while freshman Alyssa Rushton was named to the women’s All-East unit.

A 6-4 sophomore guard from Green Bay, Wis., Denny finished his two-year career as the all-time leader in three-point goals (227) and three-point shooting percentage (.454) and second in free throw percentage (.844) and three-point goals in a single season (119).

The Jayhawk leader in three-point goals both as a freshman and sophomore, he also led the conference in three-point percentage and was ninth in scoring (16.2).

A 6-7 forward also from Green Bay, Tinnon led the Jayhawk Conference in field goal accuracy (.640) and finished third in rebounding (10.65).

Averaging a double-double with 13.8 points and 10.65 rebounds, his 14 double-doubles are believed to be the most ever at KCKCC. He also ranks second in rebounds for a single game (21), third in field goal percentage and sixth in rebounds for a single season.

A 5-10 guard from Rochester, Minn., Rushton led the Jayhawk Conference in free throw percentage (.850), was second in three-point percentage (.404) and tied for eighth in three-point field goals with 65.

The Lady Blue Devils leading scorer at 13.3, her .403 three-point percentage is second all-time and her .850 free throw percentage is second only to teammate Michelle Selbe (.902).

Satoria Bell of Labette was named the East’s Most Valuable Player with Johnson County’s Ben Conrad Coach of the Year and Taylor Bird Freshman of the Year. Bell was joined on the All-East first team by Sadie Webb, Independence; Kellindra Zackery, Labette; Bjonee Reaves, Neosho; Gianna Woods, Cowley; and Melissa Nelson, Johnson County.

Antione Lundy of Neosho was voted Most Valuable men’s player; Tommy DeSalme of Cowley Coach of the Year; and Tyrus McGee of Cowley, Freshman of the Year. Lundy and McGee were joined on the first team by Andra Bailey, Allen County; Jarmar Gulley, Highland; and David Luster, Johnson County.

NOTE: Marcus Newsom is a native of Kansas City, Kan.

In the end, Wartburg College head track and field coach Marcus Newsom figured it might come down to character.

'“I had a choice to make before we ran the 4x400… either tell the group where we were at in the team points race or trust their ability and let them go out and perform,” he said. “I knew they were capable of what they did.”

The quartet of seniors Jenny Kordick of Truro and Chelsey Jacobs of Allison and sophomores Nevada Morrison of Chicago, Ill., and Faith Burt of Cedar Falls helped hand the program its combined fourth indoor and outdoor women’s team national title since 2005 and the second consecutive indoor team title with an NCAA Division III season’s best time of 3:48.73.

The individual event title was one of two for the Orange and Black. Sophomore Skye Morrison of Chicago, Ill., opened the two-day meet with a title in the long jump.
Wartburg’s four-point margin of victory over UW-Oshkosh (33-29) was hard fought to the end.

The Knights did pick up 12 All-American awards between the 55 meter dash (Burt – third place finish), 55 meter hurdles (junior Brittany Thomas of Kansas City, Kansas – sixth place finish), Skye Morrison (long jump title and eighth in triple jump), the 4x400 and the distance medley relay team of seniors Jennifer and Amanda Kuiken of Fairfield, Nicole Calabrese of Spring Valley, Minn., and Jacobs with a sixth-place finish.

However, the Knights were kept out of possible honors in the 400 and 5000, while the Titans pieced together another strong run in the field events.

“National championships are never easy,” Newsom said. “We fought through some adversity, but as I have been saying all season ‘Next woman up’, and the kids stepped up did that.”

Senior men’s hurdler Russell Harris of LaGrange, Ill., added highlights for Wartburg as well. In his first indoor national berth, Harris placed sixth to gain All-American honors in the 55 meter hurdles.

“I am so proud of him,” Newsom said. “He hasn’t been here before, and he gets an All-American award. That is great to see him do that.”