Nine residents in Kansas City, Kan., evacuated out of their home on the 1400 Block of N. 13th Street today after a fire caused $35,000 in damage.

Kansas City, Kan., firefighters responded to the fire this afternoon shortly after 2 p.m. at 1421 N. 13th Street. The fire caused $25,000 in damage to property and about $10,000 of contents were lost.

Everyone evacuated from the home prior to the department's arrival and no one was injured.

"Fire crews on the scene within two minutes reported heavy smoke from the rear of structure," said Craig Duke, spokesperson for the department. "All occupants had self evacuated. Fire crews made an interior attack fire, was knocked down with in 20 minutes."

The Red Cross was called out for the nine residents, two of which were adults and seven were children. The Board of Public Utilities and Kansas City, Kan., Police were called for traffic control duties.

A reported car accident near 34th Street and Steele Road has caused at least one injury.

Emergency medical services are on the scene. No word the extent of the accident or injuries.

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While the Board of Public Utilities has received mostly bad news lately concerning finances and budgets during the economic crunch this year, they did receive some good news earlier this week.

According to a BPU study, there have been less water leaks from this point last year and more hydrants are in service.

Steve Green provided BPU board members an update at Wednesday's meeting.

"Main leaks are down nine percent," he said. "They are down 15 percent from the five year average."

Green also said only five current hydrants within BPU's service area in the county are out of service. BPU General Manager Don Gray said the number is far less than in previous years.

"In the past we've had dozens of hydrants down," he said. "We've come a long way in the area."

Because of the lack of problems and the wetter summer, overtime hours are down seven percent in the water department.

Jacobs is seeking qualified design/build firms interested in participating in Amtrak’s nationwide projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic-stimulus package. Capital grants have been awarded to construct, renovate, repair and/or upgrade properties for Amtrak and other railroad owners throughout the United States.

The Design/Builder will be responsible for completing the design requirements (typically at 30% or more) and self performing and/or subcontracting the work through construction close-out.

Projects include, but are not limited to, utility and right-of-way upgrades, station construction and restoration, security, fire and life safety enhancements, and station access and mobility improvements.

In support of small and minority-owned businesses, Jacobs and Amtrak will set individual goals for significant levels of small and disadvantaged business enterprise participation, and contract projects to create jobs that will further economic recovery and provide long-term benefits.

For specific project opportunities, please visit Amtrak’s web site at http://procurement.amtrak.com

Or Jacobs’ web site at http://www.jacobs.com/amtrak.aspx?id=6020.

Children at the Campus Child Care Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College learned about Native American musical instruments from Thomas Ed Smith of the Native American Heritage Center during their annual Thanksgiving dinner Thursday. Smith both explained and played five different instruments and gave the children insight into Native American culture. (KCKCC Photos by Alan Hoskins) 

Wichita resident Michael L. Halfman was sentenced today in a Kansas City, Kan., court to six months in prison followed by two years of supervised released today.

A pharmacy manager, Halfman previous pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count afterembezzled more than $335,000 from the business he operated.

He also had to pay over $21,000 in restitution and to cooperate with the Internal Revenue Service regarding any past or present tax liability. In 2006 he failed to report over $64,000 in income.

He admitted to embezzling the cash deductibles on the sale of pharmaceuticals and he used health care benefit program checks to cover up his act.

Halfman was the former chief operating officer at Gessler Drug Company.

The Board of Public Utilities will be closed for business next Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Customers could still receive emergency service during the two-day layoff.

For power emergencies, residents are asked to call (913) 573-9522. The water emergency number is (913) 573-9622 from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and (913) 573-9522 from midnight to 8 a.m., and during weekends and holidays.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department will join other area police agencies in participating in the Kansas Thanksgiving Traffic Enforcement Campaign next week.

From Monday, Nov. 23 to Sunday, Nov. 29, more officers will be present on the streets to enforce traffic laws.

Police will be targeting those who drive impaired and children, teens and adults who are not properly wearing their seat-belts.

"The failure to buckle up is also responsible for needless death and injuries," a KCKPD press release said. "Those who do not buckle up are about 12 times more likely to be killed and almost twice as likely to suffer injury as those who do buckle up."

Police will also aggressively enforced potential drivers who are under the influence.

The increased police presence will be funded through a grant provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

From ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils withstood an early 3-point assault by William Jewell’s JV and rolled to their seventh straight win 104-61 at the KCKCC Field House Thursday night.

Hitting four of their first five 3-point shots and six of their first nine attempts overall, the Cardinals raced to an early 22-17 lead. However, KCKCC ran off the next 15 points to take a 32-22 lead en route to a 39-32 halftime lead and then broke it open with 57.6 percent second half shooting.

KCKCC returns to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Penn Valley, an arch-rival ranked No. 3 in Division II.

Jonathan Wright led KCKCC with a career high 18 points including eight in the first five minutes while Melvin Gatson added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting along with a game high five assists. Derick Denny chipped in with 15 points including 3-of-4 three-pointers while Brett Jones and Monty Taylor scored 12 each Andre Metoyer 10.

Metoyer had a double double with 10 rebounds to go along with his 10 points while Hal Payne just missed with eight points and nine rebounds. The Blue Devils finished with 52.3 percent shooting for the game and enjoyed a 58-32 rebounding advantage while committing just nine turnovers.
 
 

A fire caused $50,000 in damage last night at AutoStart USA Auto Sales.

Located at 6800 State Avenue, the fire was reported just after 10 p.m. last night. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"Crews forced entry into the building found one vehicle inside of service shop totally involved," said Craig Duke, spokesperson for the department. "The fire was under control within 15 minutes. Vehicle was a total loss, estimated damage to building and contents $50,000."

No one was injured during the fire.

There is some minor good news for the economy in Wyandotte County.

Latest statistics from the Kansas Department of Labor indicates that the unemployment rate in Wyandotte County has dipped from 10.4 percent in September to 10.1 percent in October.

But last year at this time, the rate was 7.8 percent.

Overall, the State of Kansas' unemployment rate also had a minor decrease in percentage.

The rate state-wide was 6.4 percent for October, down from 6.8 percent in September. Last October, the unemployment rate was at 4.3 percent.

"Kansas continued to experience a weak labor market in October," said Inayat Noormohmad, of the KDOL. "We have seen limited over-the-month growth, however, over-the-year job losses remain significant. While we’re seeing improvements in some economic indicators, we know recovery in the job markets remains uncertain for the near future."

According to the report, 57,700 have been lost during the year. However, in October, 11,700 jobs were gained across the state. Among the areas of increased employment are government, education and health services.

Meanwhile, manufacturing jobs have taken the biggest hit in Kansas, with over 25,500 jobs being lost so far this year.

Wyandotte County has the highest unemployment rate of any county in the State of Kansas.

In comparison to some nearby counties, the rate in Leavenworth County is 7.2 percent; 6.5 percent for Johnson County; 6.4 percent in Miami and 4.7 percent in Douglas.

Here are yesterday's police reports provided by the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department.

ASSAULT

• (AGG) 30 Block of Valley Street
• 1200 Block of Orville

BATTERY

• 1100 Block of S. 5th Street
• 2500 Block of N. 65th Terrace

BURGLARY/THEFTS

• 800 Block of S. Pyle Street: Tools stolen from car
• 5300 Block of Metropolitan: Flat-screen TV, laptop stolen
• 5300 Block of Inland Drive: Gas cans, telescope, tools stolen
• 13th and Orville Avenue: Wallet taken or misplaced
• 2600 Block of N. 61st Terrace: $4,200 in cash taken
• (AGG) 38th and Everett Avenue: Wallet stolen
• 3900 Block of Joyce Drive: Personal checks stolen
• 8600 Block of Parallel Parkway: License plate stolen
• 60 Block of S. 19th Street: Wyandotte County decal stolen
• 1700 Block of S. 40th Street: Two T-Mobile phones stolen
• 4800 Block of Parallel Parkway: Wyandotte County decal stolen
• 1300 Block of Merriam Lane: 30-pack of beer stolen
• 1900 Block of Tennyson Street: Wyandotte County decal stolen
• 4000 Block of N. 107th Terrace: Glass desk top stolen
• 2000 Block of N. 18th Terrace: DVD player, other papers taken
• 1600 Block of Village West: Two XBox 360s stolen, then recovered
• 3500 Block of Silver Avenue: TV, digital camera stolen
• 300 Block of N. Valley Street: Tag stolen
• 2400 Block of Steele Road: Projector taken
• 7800 Block of Everett: Tools stolen

CAR THEFTS

• 1800 Block of N. 76th Drive

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

• 3200 Block of Merriam Lane
• 800 Block of S. Pyle Street
• 5300 Block of Metropolitan
• 1200 Block of Central Avenue
• 1900 Block of Tennyson Street
• 1700 Block of N. 44th Street
• 2400 Block of Steele Road
• 7800 Block of Everett

DRUGS

• 1600 Block of N. 61st Street: Drug paraphernalia discovered
• S. 19th Street and Steele Road: Methamphetamine and marijuana found
• 18th and Parallel Parkway: Cocaine and drug paraphernalia found
• 19 S. 21st Street: Marijuana found
• 29th and Garfield: PCP found
• 2200 Block of N. 59th Street: Marijuana found

GUNS

• 29th and Garfield: Possession of a deadly weapon

Kansas State University recently announced a number of scholarships earned by Wyandotte County natives.

From a press release:

Bonner Springs: Kristen Cecelia Beeves, KSU Marching Band Scholarship, Marion H. Pelton Keyboard Scholarship and Rose Garzio Scholarship for Horn Performance, offered by Angelo C. Garzio in honor of his mother; Heather Carmitchel, Henry J. Putnam Memorial Scholarship; Kara Michelle Douglas, Dean's Choice Scholarship and Leadership Scholarship; Jaci Nicole Livers, Fairchild Scholarship; Cassity Taylor Mitchell, Marion H. Pelton Scholarship; Kyle Cameron Parker, Dean's Choice Scholarship; Alex Liam Slater, Opportunity Scholarship; Joseph Robert Sullivan, G.E. Johnson Engineering Scholarship; Olivia Lea Walterman, Achievement Award; Kali Ann Yates, Fairchild Scholarship

Kansas City: Courtney Nicole Albracht, Fairchild Scholarship; Jaime Arreola, Transfer Academic Scholarship; Marcus Andrew Bragg, Capitol Federal Scholarship, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship, Dean's Choice Scholarship, Gasaway Family Scholarship, Housing Leadership Award, Koch Impact Scholarships, Leadership Scholarship and Nancy Landon Kassebaum Scholarship; Lonell Cokise Brown, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Shahna Alyssa Campbell, Activity Scholarship; Stephanie Christine Despain, Edgerley-Franklin Urban Leadership Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Blake Spencer Franklin, Housing Leadership Award and Opportunity Scholarship; Morgan Andrew Franklin, Memorial Scholarship; Kara Danielle Godsil, Kenneth and Iralee Barnard Aviation Scholarship and The Marian W. 'Dolly' Hardman Endowment; Marcela Gonzalez, Martha S. Pittman Scholarship, Maud Gardiner Obrecht Memorial Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Choua Her, Memorial Scholarship and Transfer Academic Scholarship; Samantha Jo Hodge, Dean's Choice Scholarship and Medallion Scholarship; Jose Antonio Leal, NACME Scholarship; Sparkle Rashun Lucky, Memorial Scholarship; Ivette Martinez, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; James E Millsap, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship; Olivia Dyan Moore, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship, Housing Leadership Award and Leadership Scholarship; Manuel Adiel Munoz, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Justin Philip Peterson, Alumni Wabash CannonBall Scholarship, Engineering Scholarship and Henry J. Putnam Memorial Scholarship; Lauren C Pitts, Cargill Project IMPACT Scholarship and Memorial Scholarship; Jazmin Monique Richmond, Achievement Award and Memorial Scholarship; Tanya Marie Sherman, Koch Impact Scholarships and Martin Luther King Memorial Fund; David Smith, Memorial Scholarship; Angelica Soto, Memorial Scholarship; Jon Paul Sprung, Donna Kottwitz & Mark Larson Engineering Scholarship and Frank W. Kaul Mechanical Engineering Leadership; Allison Stimach, Hucke-Wavering Scholarship; Carissa Jean Sulzen, Fairchild Scholarship; Kelli Treff, Medallion Scholarship; Jeremy Walker, NACME Scholarship; David Earl Willis, Memorial Scholarship and NACME Scholarship
 

Howard Lewis, Jr., 53, was sentenced to 52 months in prison for his involvement in the 2007 death of Waynedale Avery.

Lewis was driving a car with Avery as the passenger on Jan. 8, 2007, when the car struck a utility pole on Parallel Parkway near Victory Drive. Avery was killed in the accident. Lewis pleaded nolo contendere to involuntary manslaughter in September.

He was driving with a blood alcohol level of .14, which is in excess of the legal limit of .08. The vehicle was also being driven at a high speed.