The West Wyandotte Branch of the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library will be offering free events this week.

Here are the dates, times and in some cases, different locations, from a KCKPL press release:

Book Sale Cart – Good books at great prices!  Check out our February book sale cart filled with popular fiction authors.  All titles $1.

Mondays, February 1, 6 p.m. – Learn English – Join us for an informal gathering to practice and refine your English.  Spend one-on-one time with an English speaker.  All languages welcome.

Thursday, February 4, 10 a.m. - Bookfix @ Scooter's Coffeehouse - Join us for a discussion of the book Animal Farm by George Orwell.  Scooter's is in the Legends at Village West.

Thursday, February 4, 10 a.m. – Toddler time (18-36 years old)

Thursday, February 4, 9:30 a.m. – A computer class on using Microsoft Power Point will be presented.

The Board of Public Utilities have set Monday, May 3 and Tuesday, May 4 aside for public hearings concerning proposed changes and revisions to the utility's water and electric rates.

The public hearings will begin Monday at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, they'll pick back up at 9 a.m. The hearings will offer the public to comment and will be held at BPU's Administrative Building, 540 Minnesota Ave.

Proposed rate increases would be geared towards increasing revenue.

More on the public hearings from a BPU release:

Affected parties wishing to intervene can appear at the public hearings, present testimony of witnesses under oath, conduct cross examination of employees and representatives of the BPU, present oral arguments and file written briefs in support of a position.  However, these parties must file a petition for intervention pursuant to the Rules of Procedure for Rate Increase Hearing forty five (45) days prior to the scheduled hearing date and file and serve exhibits, list of witnesses, and summaries of testimony and evidence at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled hearing date.

St. Mary – St. Anthony Church will host a bingo and social event on Sunday, Feb. 21.

The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Bishop Forest Church Hall, located at 615 N. 7th Street.

A $5 ticket admission will get you a bingo card, free desserts, popcorn, coffee and tea. Beer and soda will be available for purchase.

For more information, contact Carol Shomin at (913) 897-4833 or the Rectory Office. Tickets may be purchased in advance from the Rectory Office or Teresa’s Hair Salon, 508 North 6th or at the door on Sunday.

A Kansas City, Mo., man was injured in a Saturday morning vehicle accident in Wyandotte County.

Amos Hindsman lost control of his car due to the snow that hit the area Saturday. He hit a wall on Interstate 670 at milepost 2.5 eastbound in Kansas City, Kan.

He was transported to the University of Kansas hospital.

No other car was involved.

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The Wyandotte County Republican Party will meet on Feb. 4 in the community room of the Security Bank Building at 82nd and Parallel in Kansas City, Kan.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. All Republicans and/or individuals are welcomed to attend.

For more information, visit www.wycorepublicanparty.org.

Kansas State Treasurer Dennis McKinney will address members of the Turner Lions Club tonight.

McKinney will speak at the meeting, which begins today at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the Arthur Waugh Community Center, located at 831 S. 55th Street in Kansas City, Kan.

It's one of a handful of appearances he's making in the Greater Kansas City metro area.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

The second half of the Jayhawk Conference basketball race gets under way tonight with both Kansas City Kansas Community College teams within reach of major goals as Highland comes to town.

A 69-64 winner at Fort Scott Saturday, the Blue Devil men are 16-5 and within reach of a 20-win season and a first division playoff berth while despite a 53-44 setback Saturday, the Lady Blue Devils are within reach of their first winning season of the decade.

Both teams can avenge earlier losses to Highland in 5 and 7 games in the KCKCC Field House. The Scotties held on for a 70-69 men’s win at Highland in late December after the Highland women had pulled away for a 78-63 triumph.

Just 1 of 17 from three-point a week ago in an 82-64 win at Johnson County, the Blue Devil men were a sizzling 11 of 20 at Fort Scott as Derick Denny continued his three-point assault as KCKCC’s career record holder.

The runaway leader in three-point goals in the conference and KCKCC’s all-time leader with 197, Denny was 6 of 9 in a 20-point performance while Scott Fruehling added 3 of 6 and nine points from distance.

Andre Metoyer continued to play big inside with 16 points and nine rebounds while Dennis Tinnon had another double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Leading just 33-32 at halftime, the Blue Devils opened the second half with a 13-3 surge and stayed in command the rest of the way in improving their conference mark to 4-5.

The second half blues continued to plague the KCKCC women as Fort Scott overcame a 25-14 halftime deficit with a 38-19 second half comeback. It was the fourth time in seven conference losses the Lady Blue Devils have led at halftime.

A 53-37 rebounding deficit was critical at Fort Scott as the Blue Devils limited the Lady Greyhounds to just 27 percent shooting and committed only nine turnovers. However, KCKCC shot just three free throws and was outscored 14-2 from the foul line and managed only 7 of 26 second half shots for 26.9 percent.

Shannon Carlin had 11 points, Sarah Craft 10 and Alyssa Rushton 8 for KCKCC, which fell to 11-8 overall and 2-7 in the league.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

There’s a new all-time leader in three-point goals at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

With 7 of 11 three-pointers at Cowley County Wednesday, sophomore guard Derick Denny moved past Jason Jamison as KCKCC’s career leader.

The co-leader in the Jayhawk Conference last year with 108 three-point goals, Denny has 83 this season and 191 for his career to surpass Jemison’s 190 recorded in 2003-05. His 24 points at Cowley also boosted Denny’s season average to 17.6 points a game, best in the conference.

A 6-4 guard from Green Bay, Wis., Denny is the runaway leader in three-point goals in the Jayhawk. His 83 treys are 31 more than the 52 recorded by runnerup Trae Beck of Pratt and his 47.4 percent shooting percentage from three trails only Kevin Tukes of Allen County (.486).

In addition, Denny leads the Jayhawk in free throw accuracy with 39 of 44 for 88.6 percent.

TINNON PLAYER OF WEEK – Blue Devil forward Dennis Tinnon has been named the Jayhawk Conference East Player of the Week for his performances last week against Independence and Johnson County.

Tinnon had 21 points and 21 rebounds, the second most in KCKCC history, against Indy and then scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as KCKCC rallied past Johnson County 82-74.

A 6-7 forward also from Green Bay, Tinnon leads the Jayhawk Conference in accuracy, netting 87 of 130 field goal attempts for 66.9 percent, and is fourth in the conference in rebounding with 9.73 per game.
 

More links have been added to the "Links" section of The Kansan's Web site.

As far as I can tell, all links have been fixed as well.

Again, if you want your link added to the page, email nicks@kansascitykansan.com or NJSloan212@gmail.com.

A body found by Kansas City, Kan., on the 1100 Block of State Avenue has been identified as Deadra R. Barker.

Barker, a Kansas City, Kan., resident, was found dead after KCK police responded to a call Friday morning. The victim's family has been notified of the identification.

The cause of death remains unknown.

She was 48 years old.

ASSAULT

• 2400 Block of W. 41 Avenue (AGG)

BATTERY

• 4900 Block of Dixie Avenue
• 2900 Block of Francis (AGG)
• 38th Street and Parallel Parkway
• 40 Block of Kansas Avenue (CD)
• 2000 Block of N. 57th Street

BURGLARY/THEFTS

• 2500 Block of Minnesota Avenue: Cell phone
• 2300 Block of N. 87th Street: Prescription drugs taken from car
• 5500 Block of Leavenworth Road: Decal sticker stolen from car
• 1200 Block of Kansas Avenue: Prescription drugs taken
• 6200 Block of Kansas Avenue: Hi phonics galiath amps taken from car
• 7100 Block of Georgia Avenue: Decal sticker stolen from car
• 300 Block of Southwest Boulevard: Decal sticker stolen from car
• 6500 Block of Parkview Avenue: Torch kits, tools, saw zaw, other items taken (CD)
• 1500 Block of W. 39th Avenue: Decal sticker stolen from car
• 2200 Block of S. 38th Street: Cash, tools, iPod charger taken from car
• 4400 Block of Shawnee Drive: Decal sticker stolen
• 2700 Block of S. 47th Street: Car broken into (CD)
• 10th Street and State Avenue: Prescription pills, driver's license and wallet taken
• 5500 Block of State Avenue: Attempted robbery of storage area (CD)
• 1700 Block of Meadowlark: Money, cell phone taken in aggravated robbery (AGG)
• 1100 Block of Central Avenue: Vehicle plate stolen
• 7100 Block of Lafayette Avenue: Refund check taken from car (CD)
• 1600 Block of N. 60th Street: CD paper, insurance work taken from car (CD)
• 3500 Block of Haskell: Christmas decorations, bookends and purses stolen
• 3700 Block of State Avenue: Shoplifting
• 1500 Block of Central Avenue: E-Machine computer, microwave oven and refrigerator stolen
• 8200 Block of State Avenue: iPod stolen from car (CD)
• 6600 Block of Leavenworth Road: Copper pipes, furnace stolen (CD)
• 2900 Block of N. 78th Street: Speakers stolen
• 8100 Block of State Avenue: Items shoplifted
• 10000 Block of Cabela Drive: Receiver hitch taken from car
• 7600 Block of State Avenue: Dollar Tree robbed of $800
• 2900 Block of N. 78th Place: Speaker box stolen from car (CD)
• 3000 Block of Strong Avenue: $2 stolen
• 1500 Block of N. 27th Street: Hot water heater, refrigerator and duct work stolen
• 2700 Block of N. 41st Street: Television, DVDs stolen (CD)
• 1800 Block of N. 73rd Terrace: Decal stolen from car
• Springfield Boulevard and Quindaro Boulevard: Decal plate
• 900 N. 71st Street: 22-inch TV, car key and digital camera stolen (CD)
• 300 N. 70th Terrace: Compact Laptop stolen (CD)
• 1600 Block of Village West: TV stolen, then recovered
• 7700 Block of State Avenue: Groceries shoplifted
• 90 Block of N. Early Street: Sony TV, laptop computer stolen (CD)
• 400 Block of N. 18th Street: Four furnaces stolen (CD)
• 900 Block of Manocrest: Tires and wheels stolen
• 6300 Block of State Avenue: Decal sticker stolen
• 8900 Block of Parallel Parkway: Decal sticker stolen
• 4800 Block of Douglas Avenue: Sunglasses, Sony Stereo stolen from car (CD)
• 3100 Block of Waverly Avenue: Decal sticker stolen
• 800 Block of Osage Avenue: License plate stolen from vehicle
• 1500 Block of N. 21st Street: Item stolen from car
• 5500 Block of State Avenue: Jewelry, other items stolen from "non-dwelling"
• 200 Block of S. 14th Street: Nintendo Wii stolen
• 1000 Block of Ohio: CD, DVR stolen
• 1700 Block of Ruby Avenue: $8,000 in jewelry stolen (CD)
• 2900 Block of Wood Avenue: XBox and DVD player stolen (AGG, AGG BATTERY)
• 5300 Block of Leavenworth Road: Electrical wires, pipes stolen
• 2900 Block of N. 36th Street: Shoplifting
• 7800 Block of State Avenue: Prescription drugs, gift card stolen

CAR THEFTS

• 2300 Block of S. 8th Street
• 5700 Block of Locust Avenue
• 2500 Block of S. 74th Street
• 1500 Block of N. 78th Drive
• 57th and Kaw Drive
• 2300 Block of Silver Court
• 3111 Block of Merriam Lane
• 2000 Block of S. 18th Street
• 8100 Block of State Avenue
• 4300 Block of Fisher Street
• 1200 Block of N. 19th Street
• 1500 Block of N. 11th Street
• 1000 Block of Grandview Boulevard
• 2900 Block of Metropolitan
• 600 Block of Freeman Court
• 4700 Block of Douglas Avenue
• 2000 Block of N. 3rd Street

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

• 500 Block of N. 6th Street
• 4000 Block of Springfield Street
• 3200 Block of N. 61st Street
• 5400 Block of Crest Drive
• Northbound 18th Street (damage to car)
• 7000 Block of Beery Road
• 47th and Parallel Parkway
• 2200 Block of N. 56th Terrace
• 1200 Block of N. 75th Place
• 2700 Block of W. 42nd Avenue
• 12th and Kansas Avenue
• 2600 Block of Freeman Avenue
• 2000 Block of N. 2nd Street
• 1600 Block of Birch Street
• 1800 Block of S. 31st Street
• 4900 Block of County Line Road
• 1100 Block of Metropolitan Avenue
• 2900 Block of Orville Avenue
• 1100 Block of Springfield
• 600 Block of N. 31st Street
• 7100 Block of Parallel Parkway
• 10th Street and Washington Boulevard
• 600 Block of S. Valley Street
• 1800 Block of N. 18th Street: Graffiti on building
• 5400 Block of Kansas Avenue
• 5100 Block of Swartz Road
• 5500 Block of State Avenue
• 3100 Block of N. 10th Street

DRUGS

• 18th and Stewart: Cocaine
• 1600 Block of Village West Park: Marijuana and pipe found
• 1300 Block of Waverly Avenue: Cocaine and marijuana

FRAUD

• 1000 Block of Central Avenue: Unlawful use of credit card
• 1000 Block of Pacific Avenue: Criminal use of credit card
• 10000 Block of Stadium Parkway: Forgery
• 2800 Block of S. 47th Street: Forgery

Thanks to reader Phil Thomas for inspiring the question.

U.S. Representative Jerry Moran (right) of Hays learned everything he wanted to know about Kansas City Kansas Community College and more during an hour long fact-finding and information gathering with KCKCC President Dr. Thomas Burke and other administrators Thursday.

Also attending were acting provosts Brian Bode and Tamara Agha-Jaffar and deans Dr. Sue Courtney and Dr. Hasan Naima.

Moran is currently seeking the Republican Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Kansas this year.

KCKCC Photos by Alan Hoskins

A familiar script is developing for the Harmon Hawks – fight tough the entire game and stay strong enough in the fourth quarter for a well-earned victory.

Harmon won another nail-biter from the Washington Wildcats 66-60 at J.C. Harmon High School Friday night.

The Hawks were led by James Davenport's (pictured right) 19 points and 22 rebounds, while De'Ontae Hooks added 15, Exavier Bass-Brooks scored 13 and Jauan Wilson scored 10.

Like they did in Wednesday's game against St. James Academy, the Hawks fell down by seven points early at 22-15.

But behind outstanding rebounding from Davenport, Ron Stallings and Wilson, the Hawks converted some second chance opportunities into free throws and baskets.

Stallings cut Harmon's deficit to 24-23. A Wilson basket gave Harmon it's first lead of the game since a 3-2 start.

By halftime, Harmon led 33-26.

"My main focus was rebounding in the game," Davenport said. "I want the guards to do their thing."

For Washington, Tra'Vaughn White (pictured left) was the star of the show again.

Entering the game averaging 29 points a game, White did one point better Friday – scoring 30 points and hitting 16-16 from the free throw line.

White, along with Myles Hibler's 10 points, led Washington on the comeback trail.

White scored 20 second half points and began to trim Harmon's halftime lead immediately. He scored Washington's first four points of the half.

"We tried to just stay in front of him," said Heath Cooper, coach of the Hawks. "He's really special and he's making a case of being the best player in the league."

Two free throws from White tied the game early in the fourth at 48.

Two Davenport baskets provided Harmon a 53-48 lead, mixed in with a Wilson free throw.

Four straight points from White provided Washington it's first and only second half lead of 54-53.

Quiet for most of the game, Bass-Brooks took it over. He scored Harmon's next seven points to give the Hawks a comfortable 60-54 lead.

Bass-Brooks hit free throws to give Harmon a 64-58 lead late in the game.

Although Washington shot a healthy free throw percentage, two key misses and less than stellar rebounding cost Washington, according to head coach Eric King.

"My guys were tough tonight," King said. "They fight hard and we're going to fight. But we have to block out. It's just something we have to do better."

Friday's win completes a maddening schedule for Harmon - six games and nine days. Harmon went 6-0 during that stretch.

"No," Cooper said, when asked about the possibility of going 6-0. " Our guys have just somehow found a way. Anytime you get a league victory and only hit about two jump-shots in the game, it's a good night."

Prior to the Coffeyville Tournament, Harmon began to emphasize rebounding even more in practice.

Since then, they've out rebounded its opposition in every game.

"It's a luxury to have," Cooper said. "It's a daily focus for us."

Harmon's 11-2 on the season. Washington falls to 8-5.

For a number of years, 2010 was circled as an important one in the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District.

The district set four key goals for 2010 – have 85 percent of their students meet the standard in reading, 75 percent of the students meeting the standards in math, all students entering kindergarten ready to learn and all students exiting high school will be ready for college.

If preliminary numbers check out, KCK Public Schools could be closer to those goals than ever.

Marcy Clay, an instructional executive for the district, outlined some early numbers that show some good news for the district in a year that's been filled with bad news budget wise.

Two key nuggets of information:

• Half of the district's schools could make adequate yearly progress, or AYP. At least 40 percent of the schools are expected to make AYP in at least math or reading, or maybe both.

• 13 of the schools are expected to hit the district's 85/75 percent goals.

"Students are setting goals for their needs," Clay said. "The schools are working hard at trying to make AYP."

While the numbers are nice, KCK Public Schools Superintendent Jill Shackelford said the story is beyond the numbers.

"It's not just about meeting these goals, but it's about making sure each kid can get a good education in the district," she said.

Official numbers will be released later this spring.