Kathy Wolfe Moore files for re-election

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Kansas Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore has filed for re-election.

Moore represents Western Wyandotte County and was first elected to the house in 2010.

“It has been my honor to serve Wyandotte County in the House of Representatives, but there is much more to do,” said Wolfe Moore. “As a member of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the State Advisory Council on Aging, I have been very focused on ensuring that Kansas takes care of its most vulnerable. I have also worked hard throughout the school finance debate and remained an advocate for equitable school funding as a member of House Appropriations”.

More biographical information:

Wolfe Moore was first elected to serve the Western Wyandotte County area in 2010 and currently sits on Taxation, Health and Human Services and Appropriations committees and is also an appointed member of the State Advisory Council on Aging.

“Kathy’s priorities in the Kansas Legislature reflect the priorities of Kansas families,” said House Democratic Leader Paul Davis, Lawrence.  “She has advocated for increased public education funding, lower property taxes, and job creation for Kansas families.  I hope the people of Wyandotte County will send her back to Topeka to continue her excellent work.”

Professionally, Wolfe Moore has worked as the Business Director and Assistant to the CEO of The University of Kansas Hospital since 2005. Within her community, Kathy serves on the board of the Wyandotte Center, a Community Mental Health Center and is an Executive Committee member of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. This year, Kathy was chosen by her legislative colleagues to serve as Kansas State Director of the Women in Government Foundation.

Wolfe Moore has three grown daughters, Katie, Julianna and Emily Wolfe.  She and her husband, Ken Moore, live in Kansas City, Kansas.

The 2014 election will take place on Tuesday, November 4.

KCK Rotary Club announces Student Scholarship winners

KCK Rotary Club

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The Kansas City, Kansas Rotary Club, as part of its annual Student Scholarship Contest, recognized outstanding high school students from Wyandotte County schools. 

One female and one male student from each school are nominated by their respective schools to compete for $1,000 college scholarships.  All the students exemplify the highest academic, service and character standards in our community.  We can all be proud of what Wyandotte County has helped produce in these students.  And we are excited about want they can bring in the future.

The female students, accompanied by family and school representatives, made short presentations before the club on April 8th at its weekly luncheon.  The male students on April 15th.

The Club will choose one female and one male from these outstanding high school students to receive a $1000.00 scholarship at the college or university of their choice.  The scholarships will be awarded at the Club's luncheon on April 29th.

Left to Right:  Priscilla McInnes (KCK Rotary Club Member); Carly Zwart (Piper High School); Natalie Walton (Wyandotte High School); TeAra Crockett (FL Schlagle High School); Betty Gillespie (Turner High School); Melanie Arellano (Bishop Ward High School); Kemberly Sanchez (Bonner Springs High School); and George Moody (KCK Rotary Club President)
__________________________________

Left to Right:  Jordan House (Turner High School); Weston Vitt (Bonner Springs High School); Noah Jaksetic (Bishop Ward High School); Rogelio Gamboa (Wyandotte High School); Kalen Allen (Sumner Academy); Ahmedin Issak (JC Harmon High School); Aaron Wedlow (FL Schlagle High School); Jared Davis (Piper High School); George Moody (KCK Rotary Club President)

Pair charged in connection to shooting death

KANSAS CITY, KAN. —Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman charged Joshua Diaz with first degree murder in connection with the April 20, 2014, shooting death of Joaquin Patricio, which occurred in the 1000 Block of Cheyenne, in Kansas City, Kan.

Diaz is also charged with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Diaz is in custody in Jackson County, Mo., awaiting extradition. Bond was set at $500,000.00.

In addition, Gorman charged Meghan E. Patino, with one count of obstructing apprehension for prosecution. She was charged in the juvenile department of the district court.

Patino is in juvenile custody in Jackson County, Missouri.

 Both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

KCK man charged with first degree murder

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- From the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office:

Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman late this afternoon charged Leopoldo Loya-Bustillos, a.k.a. Omar Loya Peinado, Hispanic Male, DOB: 02-01-82, with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery in connection with the April 14, 2014, shooting death of Oscar Sanchez.

The shooting occurred at a bar in the 6500 block of K-32 Highway in Kansas City, Kansas. Sanchez was taken by private vehicle to the University of Kansas Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Original police reports indicated that the shooting took place in the vicinity of Interstate Highways 70 and 635.

Loya-Bustillos is also charged with one count of Aggravated Battery in connection with shooting a second individual.

He is in custody in the Wyandotte County Jail in lieu of $1,000,000.00 bond.

He is presumed innocent  until proven guilty.

Wyandotte County students initiated into Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The following local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines:

• LuDina Marney of Bonner Springs initiated into University of Missouri-Kansas City chapter

• Govinda Koirala of Kansas City initiated into University of Missouri-Kansas City chapter

• Bradley Hook of Kansas City initiated into University of Missouri-Kansas City chapter

These residents are among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society.

The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines.

Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

KCKCC to Host Jazz Summit April 23-25

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Kansas City Kansas Community College will be playing host to students from middle school, high school and college this week during the 2014 Kansas City Jazz Summit.

The summit is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 23 to 25 in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, 7250 State Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

“The goal (of the Jazz Summit) is to attract jazz band, combos and choirs from across the United States and hopefully Canada, making Kansas City a destination location,” said Jim Mair, Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies at KCKCC. “There will be great performances all three days, world class adjudication and on Thursday, there is the KC Heritage ‘Basically Basie’ competition with text voting - a first for jazz festivals.”

The Jazz Summit caters to jazz groups at the middle school, high school and college level in both competitive and non-competitive sessions. This not only includes bands, but choirs and combos as well.

There are three levels of participation. These include:

• Jazz Summit. A non-competitive group where jazz groups perform for adjudicators. No winners are named, but outstanding groups and soloists are recognized. Groups that participate in this category receive a plaque or trophy.

• Kansas City Jazz Heritage - “Basically Basie.” This is a competitive category on Thursday of the Jazz Summit. Groups are required to pick three songs from an established list of Count Basie repertoire. These selections must have been recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra. Judging is based on the authenticity and attention to detail. The top two groups will compete for audience voting, which is done by text message. The winning group receives a traveling plaque. Blue Valley Northwest High School has won the trophy the last three years.

• Jazz Tyro. This is specifically designed for younger bands with little experience. Those that participate receive positive comments as well as a clinic following their performance.

“Band enrollment is up 60 percent,” Mair said of this year’s summit. “Bands are coming from South Dakota, St. Louis, Oklahoma and Wichita, Kan.”

Local schools attending the Jazz Summit include Piper, Basehor-Linwood, Turner, Lansing, Tonganoxie, Shawnee Mission East, Blue Valley Northwest, Olathe Northwest, Olathe North, Shawnee Mission Northwest and Johnson County Community College.

The KCKCC Jazz Ensemble will perform at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, followed by the KCKCC Jazz Combo at noon. The KCKCC Standard Jazz Choir will perform at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

For complete schedules for all three days of the event, visit www.kansascityjazz.org/kansascityjazzsummit.html. For more information or for questions, contact Jim Mair at kcjazz@kckcc.edu or by phone at 913-288-7503.

Identity of dead body released by police

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Willie L. Henderson has been identified as the man discovered by Kansas City, Kan., police on Sunday.

Henderson, 36, was found in the 700 Block of 70th Terrace at 12:40 p.m. The cause of death is unknown at this point.

An investigation is on-going.