ARSON

• 2800 Block of N. Allis

BATTERY

• 6500 Block of Kaw Drive
• 800 Block of S. Ferree
• 7th and State Avenue
• 4400 Block of N. 107th Street
• N. 10th and Armstrong

BURGLARY/THEFT

• 6000 Block of Leavenworth Road: $549 in cash, cell phone and alcohol stolen
• 1500 Block of Woodland Boulevard: Computer games, Wii games stolen
• 5200 Block of Speaker Road
• 7300 Block of Leavenworth Road: Laptop stolen
• 10000 Block of Parallel Parkway: Shoplifting from Wal-Mart
• N. 20th Street and Quindaro Boulevard: $110 in cash stolen
• 2900 Block of S. 44th Street
• 1200 Block of Sandusky Avenue: Kansas tag sticker stolen
• 3000 Block of Lafayette: Cash and TV stolen
• 3600 Block of Matney Avenue: Petty theft
• 1400 Block of N. 63rd Place: Gold necklace stolen
• 700 Block of N. 32nd Street: XBox 360 and 52-inch TV stolen
• (AGG) 5200 Block of Edith
• 8300 Block of Leavenworth Road: AK-47 assault rifle and two other guns stolen
• 7700 Block of State Avenue: Groceries and meat stolen; later recovered
• 7400 Block of Armstrong Avenue
• 7800 Block of State Avenue: Shoplifting
• 1900 Block of Prairie: $3,000 in cash stlen
• 7800 Block of State Avenue: Shoplifting
• 1700 Block of Village West Parkway: Debit card, $150 in cash stolen
• 1100 Block of N. 79th Terrace
• 400 Block of Osage Avenue: Petty theft
• 21st and Metropolitan: $22 pick-pocketed
• 1300 Block of Quindaro Boulevard: Wyandotte County decal stolen
• 3900 Block of Rainbow Boulevard: Car keys stolen
• 2200 Block of N. 59th Street: Kansas decal sticker stolen
• 4200 Block of Speaker Road: Samsung Cell-phone stolen
• 2400 Block of Steele Road: Wallet and cash stolen
• 2200 Block of S. 55th Street: Cell-phone with camera stolen
• 300 Block of N. 70th Terrace: Cash, I-Pod Nano and digital camera stolen
• 400 Troup Avenue
• 1400 Block N. 78th Place: LCD TV stolen
• 6600 Block of State Avenue: Hand tools stolen
• 4400 Block of State Line Road: $500 purse stolen
• 1800 Block of Homer: Computer, gold necklaces stolen
• 1400 Block of N. 27th Street: $800 in tools stolen
• 3000 Block of N. 17th Street: $1,050 in cash stolen
• 7300 Block of State Avenue: Kansas 30-day tag stolen
• 1700 Block of Village West Parkway: DVD player, audio amplifier taken
• 3200 Block of N. 57th Street: Three gold necklaces stolen
• 2300 Block of N. 37th Street: Car stereo plate stolen
• 5800 Block of Webster Avenue: Nearly $1,000 in tools stolen
• 3000 Block of S. 9th Place: Amplifier, Sub wolfer stolen
• 33rd and Minnesota Avenue: Kansas plate stolen
• 400 Block of S. 86th Street: Stereo, CDs stolen
• 1400 Block of N. 63rd Terrace: Wallet, driver's license stolen

CAR THEFT

• 4800 Block of Parallel Parkway
• 900 Block of S. 73rd Terrace
• 4600 Block of Melody Lane
• 2600 Block of Essex
• 5500 Block of Pitkin
• 5000 Block of Melody
• 5200 Block of State Avenue
• 2800 Block of S. 24th Street
• 26th Street and Georgia Avenue
• 1700 Block of Ruby Avenue
• 2500 Block of 12th Street
• 2300 Block of N. 37th Street
• 3000 Block of N. 48th Street

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

• 1500 Block of Woodland Boulevard
• 300 Block of S. Mill
• 3000 Block of Lafayette
• 700 Block of N. 32nd Street
• (AGG) 5200 Block of Edith
• 8300 Block of Leavenworth Road
• 40th and Metropolitan Avenue
• 2500 Block of N. 83rd Lane
• 1800 Block of Homer
• 3200 Block of Fairfax Trafficway
• 1400 Block of N. 26th Street
• 3200 Block of N. 57th Street

DRUGS

• 13th and Lafayette: Drug paraphernalia found
• 2100 Block of N. 7th Street
• 18th and Wilson Boulevard: Marijuana
• 72nd and Splitlog: Marijuana
• S. 48th Street and Hagemann: Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
• S. 42nd Street and Shawnee Drive: Possession of marijuana
• S. 24th Street and Metropolitan: Possession of marijuana and pipe
• S. 45th Street and Kansas Avenue: Possession of marijuana and pipe
• 18th and Wilson Boulevard: Possession of Marijuana

OTHER

• Criminal use of credit card: 1500 Block of S. 49th Street
• Criminal use of credit card: 700 Block of State Avenue

In a video blog, Kansas City Wizards President Robb Heineman said he's encouraged about the process for the new Kansas City, Kan., stadim.

While he said the official paperwork and deal between the business partners and the State of Kansas is not complete, Heineman said the team is hoping that activity around the location will begin next week.

In the video blog, he added that selling the STAR bonds will be the biggest hurdle left. The Wizards are looking to opening the stadium in mid-season of 2011.

Here is his full video blog:

(PRESS RELEASE)

Imago Dei is pleased to announce the retrospective exhibition of Kansas City area artist George Chrisman. 

The opening reception, scheduled for Friday, January 8th from 5pm to 8pm, will be held at the Imago Dei Arts Center located at 1015 Minnesota Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101.

“Imago Dei is fortunate to have the opportunity to feature the work of an artist with such a distinguished career,” said Lori Triplett, Executive Director of Imago Dei. “George has offered a body of work that contributes to the ever increasing quality level of artwork showcased in the Kansas City, Kansas community.”

George Chrisman was an art instructor at Grandview High School for 31 years and at Avila College for 12 years. While at Avila, he also served as director of the Thornhill Gallery.

George produces functional stoneware, porcelain and paintings and has exhibited internationally in multiple group and solo exhibitions over five decades. George maintains a studio at his home and at Red Star Studios in the Crossroads Arts District.

The work of George Chrisman will be on display from January 5th, 2010 to February 6th, 2010. The Imago Dei Arts Center is open from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Mattie Oakman’s 30-year career at Kansas City Kansas Community College has come to an end – but not her career in education.

In fact, her career in education and helping others is just starting to build up momentum.

“I plan on volunteering as an advocate for misinformed victims,” says Oakman. “My goal has always been to be an advocate for persons who have been misinformed or not informed of their rights. That’s why I’m quitting work. The dollars are not everything. I believe in being in the forefront of learning and sharing knowledge and helping others is just as important to me.”

Towards that end she’s already enrolled in two KCKCC classes next spring – Crisis Counseling in the Victim Services program and Introduction to Criminal Justice.

“They’re tied hand-in-hand in people not being informed or helped,” says Oakman, who has already written a paper on Medical Neglect calling for a revamping of Medicare in a Legal Policy class.

Oakman contends that far too many people have either been misinformed or not been informed at all as to their rights as defined in written policies whether it be state and federal services, education, Social Security, free services and others. “For example, very few people know where they can get free dental work,” says Oakman. “They’re bounced around from place to place and never told there’s free dental work available.

“Neither do most people know that no matter how much money you make, you can get discounted prescriptions. If one person knows, then everyone should know.”

Oakman, 61, will enter her advocacy career armed with an impressive background resume. A self-proclaimed “professional student,” She holds a degree in Secretarial Science from Salt City Business College, an on-line degree in Philosophy and Religion from California; an Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies from KCKCC; and Life and Health Insurance license from the State of Kansas. And she’s just nine core hours away from a BA in Public Administration at the University of Kansas.

“I promised by grandmother and my dad I would not quit and I am a promise keeper,” says Oakman, who also went through Poise training in New Mexico to stay current with the College’s computer programming.

The daughter of military parents, Oakman was born in Lexington, Miss.; started grade school in Kosciusko, Miss, and graduated from Greer High School in Thomastown, Miss.

She started in college at Tougaloo Southern Christian College in Tougaloo, Miss., the only integrated college in the South at the time, but then moved with her parents to Junction City, Kan. She first attended Hutchinson Junior College before earning a Secretarial Science degree from Salt City Business College.

For 10 years she worked in banks, two years for the National Bank of Commerce in Memphis, Tenn., and eight years for United Missouri Bank of Kansas City, Mo., although living in KCK.

“I had married and had two children in different private schools and I needed to be closer to them instead of being stuck in traffic on the Lewis & Clark viaduct,” said Oakman, who decided it was time for a job change. “I was paying more for child care than I was making.”

That’s when one of KCKCC’s strangest hirings came about.

“I came to the College to get counseling on what classes I took and Don Alley suggested that I go to work at the College instead of going to school,” Oakman remembers. “They had no computers at the time, just keypunch, and I had computer experience and 10 years of banking experience.”


She started working in Academic Computing under Richard McMillin Dec. 17, 1979, then moved to Financial Aid for the last 18 years as a Technical Assistant Awarding Specialist where she certified loans and notified recipients of their loans and federal grants.

Oakman’s two children still live in Kansas City. Her son, Eric Oakman, is the general manager of a Mr. Goodscents in Lenexa while daughter Valereia Henderson is an on-line student at Concord Law School in California where she scored a perfect score on her entrance exam.

“I’m a Henderson and the Henderson has a legacy for being involved in education,” said Oakman. “One of the 12 plaintiff families in Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education was a Henderson. My father, Sam, owned all the sanitation trucks when the city of Memphis wouldn’t pay the sanitation workers and he shut them down in one of the largest strikes ever in the U.S. And a street has been named here in KCK for my cousin, I.H. Henderson.”

In addition to her advocacy volunteering, Oakman hopes to do some traveling.

“Most of my time is spent working and going to school so I’m going to do some traveling,” says Oakman, who works Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at the J.C. Penney store at Oak Park Mall. “I’ve been south, north and west but never to the east coast so I want to go there and I want to go to Hawaii and go back to England.

“Coming to the College was a great move. It not only helped me but helped others along the way. I enjoyed working here but I think I’ll enjoy not working even more.”

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Kansas City Kansas’ biggest feel-good story of the holiday season played out at Kansas City Kansas Community College Wednesday night when a record 345 families turned out for the 11th annual “Christmas in the City.”

An estimated 1,175 kids, parents and grandparents lined college halls for more than two hours waiting their opportunity to select from a wide array of toys, games, bicycles and tricycles and assorted other gifts including turkey dinners, bed spreads, back packs, goody bags and stocking stuffers.

“It was a great evening,” said Stacy Tucker, Director of KCKCC Honors Education. “We had a lot of happy kids and gave away all the bicycles and tricycles and most everything else.”

A joint venture of the AFL-CIO Tri-County Labor Council, the KCK Housing Authority, Board of Public Utilties and KCKCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honors Chapter, the event was open to children 13 years and younger living in Section 8 and Public Housing in KCK. KCKCC students, faculty and staff began working on the event at 9 a.m. in preparation for the record 375 families who had pre-registered.

“Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) does this every year but it really touches a lot of people in the community,” said Tucker, who coordinated the event with Paula Draves, Director of Section 8 for the KCK Housing Authority, and Judy Gifford, the AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison with the Tri-Labor Council and United Way of Wyandotte County.

Members of the PTK Chapter made up nearly half of the 75-80 volunteers assisting in the mammoth project.

“The students really enjoy it. We have some who come back to help year after year after they’ve graduated,” said Tucker.

“This is a big part of Christmas for the majority of families who attend,” said Draves, “The families are very appreciative of what everyone in the community does for them. It could not be done without the collaboration of our partners.”

“I thought it was awesome,” said Sandi Becker, a professional assistant in the KCKCC Honors Program helping with the event for the first time. The kids all had fun, especially the younger ones. Just to see the look on their faces when they got a look at all those toys was a blast.

“The kids were just adorable. I helped one little boy about 18 months old and he picked up the first thing he saw. I told him that he could have anything he wanted so when he got to the tractors and Tonka trucks, he put the other toy back and got what he really wanted. It’s a lot of work but oh my gosh, it’s so much fun.”

No Christmas would be complete without Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and each child had the opportunity to confide their Christmas wishes to the world’s most popular couple. In addition, there was face painting, story tellers and a bit of magic.   

Groups of approximately 10-15 families at a time were ushered into two levels of the Jewell Center where each child had a volunteer assist in picking out a toy, bicycle or tricycle.

Toys – an estimated 1,200 – were donated by the U.S. Marines “Toys for Tots” program while the KCK Board of Public Utilities provided the older children gift certificates and a choice of electronic games, MP3 players, footballs, basketballs and other older age toys.

Turkey dinners were provided 100 families by the Shrine Koran Temple 33 and Motorcyle Club along with goody bags containing microwave popcorn, granola bars, Rice Krispie treats, fruit snacks and candy.  

Each family also received a new bedspread or a backpack of school supplies from the AFL-CIO Tri-County Labor Council, which also provided 180 new bicycles and tricycles.

Unions making them available included Plumbers Local 8, Pipefitters 533, Roofers Local 20, Sprinkler Fitters, Steel Workers Local 13, Greater Kansas City Building Trades Teamsters 541, Laborers 1290, UAW Locals 249 (Ford Claycomo plant) and Local 31 (GM Fairfax plant) and private donors.

Also partnering in the giant undertaking were the Wyandotte County Juvenile Court, Office of the Inspector General, Unicare and Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners.

PHOTO: Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand to listen to the Christmas wishes of countless children at the 11th annual “Christmas in the City” at KCKCC Dec. 16. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)

NOTE: More photos from Alan Hoskins will be posted soon.

A Kansas City, Kan., man was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction.

Gary L. Wren, 23, allegedly committed the crime he is charged for on Dec. 2 in KCK.

If convicted, Wren could face a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

In two separate cases, two Kansas City, Kan., residents were charged in connection in falsifying documents or producing false documents.

• Miguel Angel Mendoza-Hernandez, 29, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute false United States identification documents, one count of possession of equipment for the purpose of making false identification documents, and one count of possession of a false Permanent Resident Alien card.

The alleged crimes happened in Kansas City, Kan., on Dec. 9.

He faces a penalty up to 15 years in distributing the false documents; 15 years for possessing to equipment and 10 years of possessing a false identification document to stay in the United States.

• Rafael Torres-Moreno, 32, was charged with one count of possession of a false Permanent Resident Alien card, and four counts of selling false identification documents.
The alleged crimes occurred in January, February, April and September 2009 in KCK.

He faces up to 15 years for selling the false documents and 10 years for possessing a false document.

A Kansas City, Kan., firefighter was injured after the department responded to a house fire at 1600 Stinson.

The firefighter suffered a minor injury to his finger, but was released to back to duty shortly after checking into a hospital.

The fire, which looks unintentional according to an early investigation, caused $35,000 in damage. There was a $25,000 loss in property and $10,000 lose in contents.

"Crews arrived on the scene within four minutes and found heavy fire coming from the rear of the structure," said Craig Duke, Battalion Chief and spokesperson for the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department. "All occupants were alerted by smoke detectors and had evacuated the structure. Crews made an aggressive attack on the fire and had the fire under control within 25 minutes. Crews were able to locate and safely remove two pet dogs and return them to the owner."

The fire was reported at 2 a.m. in the single family home. Five members of a family were displaced as a result of the fire.

(Photo courtesy of the KCKFD)

Members of the Board of Public Utilities Board of Directors approved of the 2010 budget last night.

The budget is $278.6 million, down from $25 million from last year. The cut represents an 8.1 percent in spending.

Three staffing positions were eliminated from BPU, bringing down the number from 681 to 678. It's the fifth straight year of staffing reduction.

“The 2010 budget reflects a $25 million reduction in spending from 2009, and the elimination of additional BPU staff positions,” stated Loretta Colombel, BPU Board President. “Staff has held the line on 2009 expenses and was told to reduce their 2010 budgets by at least five percent. In addition there will be no cost of living increases for non-bargaining employees. We approved a bare-bones budget for 2010.”

Over $175 million of the budget will be used in general operations, $34.2 million for debt services, $27.3 million for the PILOT (payment-in-lieu of taxes to the Unified Government) and $42 million in capital improvements.

The cuts in the budget were made due to the utility bringing in less money due to the economy and a cooler and wetter summer than usual.

“Like so many others, BPU has reduced spending and staffing as a result of national economic/market conditions,” stated Don Gray, BPU General Manager. “We are prepared to adjust and react as necessary throughout 2010 to ensure BPU continues meeting all of the community’s electric and water utility requirements”.

If you are looking for something to do the next few weeks you might consider volunteering for Heartland Habitat. It is the perfect way to celebrate the season of giving by giving of your time.

The end result is that a family will have a place to call home. Habitat needs construction crews. Projects are available December 17th through Saturday December 19 and then on December 22 and December 23rd.

You don’t have to have experience in the construction field. Volunteers will receive on-the-job training. This is a great opportunity for a group of family or friends or just you.

You learn while volunteering.  Construction volunteers must be 16 years of age. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Vanessa at 913-342-3047 or at vanessa@heartlandhabitat.org.

If you are not the construction type you might want to consider volunteering at the Habitat ReStore. Here donated building supplies, paint, cabinets, light fixtures, plumbing supplies etc. are available for you and me to purchase for our home renovation projects.
 
The money from the sales goes to help fund the actual building of the houses. Volunteers help sort donated items, keep the shelves stocked and help customers to their cars. If this is something you might like to do give Gina a call at 913-596-6597 or email her at gina@heartlandhabitat.org.
 
Check out www.unitedway-wyco.org to find other opportunities to volunteer.

Here is the three-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. South wind at 9 mph becoming west.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Northwest wind between 3 and 9 mph.

Friday: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 31. North northwest wind between 10 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of light snow, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. North northwest wind around 11 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Perhaps the best game on the schedule on the boys side of the Hy-Vee Shootout was the Harmon Hawks – Kearney Bulldogs matchup. Both teams were ranked high in their respective states, with Kearney a runner-up in last year's Missouri Class 4 tournament.

The game lived up to the hype, as Kearney edged Harmon 63-56 in a back and forth game.

The Hawks, making their debut in the event, showed some early jitters, missing some easy shots inside.

Dillon Starzl scored eight of Kearney's first 11 points, allowing the Bulldogs to build a six point lead at 11-5.

Behind Jauan Wilson (pictured above in FILE PHOTO), who scored 14 points for the Hawks, Harmon tied the score at 13 by the end of the quarter. Wilson hit a three-pointer as the first quarter ended.

From there, the game was a classic back and forth affair.

The Hawks were able to build a five-point lead in the second quarter, with Wilson scoring 10 points in the quarter.

"Jauan Wilson is a gamer," said Heath Cooper, coach of the Hawks. "When the lights are on, he's a greater player. He played all 32 minutes for us tonight and he's just a great leader."

Harmon led 29-28 at the half.

But it was Starzl who helped Kearney regain the lead early in the third, hitting a bucket to extend the lead to 35-32.

Harmon's De'Ontae Hooks struck back for the Hawks, scoring 13 of his team-high 15 points in the second half.

Along with Hooks, two key three-pointers from Exavier Bass-Brooks provided Harmon a 40-39 lead near the end of the third quarter and gave Harmon a 47-45 lead early in the fourth.

Grant Cozad hit several key buckets for the Bulldogs. He tied the game at 49-49 and after two James Davenport free throws, tied the game again at 51.

Down 52-51, Hooks stole the ball and was fouled on the layup. Converting the three-point play, the 54-52 lead Harmon acquired was its last.

Starzl tied the game on a third chance following two offensive rebounds. A late steal from Cozad extended the lead to four.

Kearney hit most of their free throws to extend the lead to seven. Starzl finished with 26 points, while Cozad finished with 19.

Despite the loss, the Hawks see some positives coming out of the experience.

"I was really proud of how the guys handled the Hy-Vee spotlight," Cooper said. "We handled it really well and it was a big stage. We were right there at the end. But Kearney...they are just winners. They have a winning senior class and that experience helped. But we were really proud of our guys."

Kansas Sen. David Haley of Wyandotte County is considering a run to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore.

Haley, a Democrat, said this afternoon that he is "seriously evaluating a bid for the Third District Congressional Seat in Kansas.

“Dennis Moore’s leadership in Congress has shown America much of what’s right with Kansas; that we here in the Heartland can indeed be socially progressive and fiscally conservative which is squarely where most Americans define themselves philosophically,” Haley said in a statement today. “By virtually ignoring political party labels, today the Third is the economic engine and in so many ways the pride of our State. We can ill afford to go backwards; to disintegrate into the confusion of yesteryear’s retrospection.”

Haley is currently a Kansas State Senator serving the Fourth District of Kansas. He is currently serving his third term in the Senate. He serves as the ranking member of both the Senate Judiciary and the Senate Public Health & Welfare committees.

Haley said his qualifications will help him with the important issues of the day.

“Assuring our national defense, affirming public safety, insuring access to suitable education and affordable healthcare, and expanding economic opportunity and job development are not untested campaign slogans for me as I seriously evaluate representing the values of this congressional District,” he said. “Should I do it, I’m confident that my record will speak for itself.”
 

The Greater Kansas City Local Initiatives Support Corporation will provide $14.1 million of New Markets Tax Credits into the new Children's Campus of Kansas City facility.

The official deal was closed last weak and it's the first time LISC has used the New Markets Tax Credits for a local project.

 “We are pleased to play an important role in bringing the Children’s Campus to Downtown Kansas City, Kan., which is a focus area for Greater Kansas City LISC," said Julie Porter, Executive Director of Greater Kansas City LISC. "The New Markets Tax Credits make it possible for this new centralized site of critical children’s services to be completed and at the same time reward donors for their support."

The Children's Campus is currently under construction at the corner of 5th and Minnesota Avenue. The campus will be 72,000 square feet in size.

The New Market Tax Credits offers taxpayers a credit against income taxes in return for equity investments in community development. It's authorized by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Over 200 jobs will be created or maintained at the Children's Campus once it opens.