Bonner Springs High School students to open renovated theatre

BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. – Auditions are now underway for the Bonner Springs High School production of ‘Annie’, marking the first show to grace the stage in the remodeled auditorium.

Renovations on the BSHS Auditorium began this summer and will be completed within the next month.

With the new auditorium also comes a new drama program for high school students.

Drama instructor Chris Hotchkiss says ‘Annie’ will be a great opportunity to introduce students to the new courses.

“I look forward to working with the students and getting a chance to get them excited about what can be in the new department,” said Hotchkiss. “This show will mark the first time the drama department will be involved in a production; pair that with the new facilities and we're poised to have a very exciting show.”

Brian White, Director of Choral Activities at the high school says telling a wellknown story like ‘Annie’ is a great way to get a lot of students involved.

He also says the relationship between the music and drama departments will be one that gives students an opportunity to explore all aspects of performance art.

“It's a very rewarding experience that not only fosters memories to last a lifetime, but develops skills that our students will use for the rest of their lives,” said White.

‘Annie’ will be performed November 12th through 14th at 7 p.m. in the Bonner Springs High School Auditorium.

University of Kansas announces graduation candidates from Wyandotte County

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The names of nearly 4,550 candidates for degree from the University of Kansas this spring — representing 87 Kansas counties, 46 other states and 43 other countries — have been announced by the University Registrar. Degrees are officially conferred in June.

KU’s 143rd Commencement will be Sunday, May 17. More than 4,000 of the members of the Class of 2015 are expected to participate.

Below are those candidates from Wyandotte County, listed by city.

Bonner Springs High School students test skills in state competition

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. – Several Bonner Springs High School students put their classroom education to the test this week, participating in the Kansas Skills USA Criminal Justice competition.

Skills USA is a national organization serving high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations.

This year, the Skills USA Kansas Chapter added a Criminal Justice program to the competition. Twelve BSHS students competed, testing their knowledge of the criminal justice system and law enforcement skills.

Each student was given a written exam, judged on their interview skills, and asked to simulate a domestic violence call, a traffic stop and a terry stop.

Justin Howe, BSHS Social Studies teacher and Criminal Justice Club sponsor, said the students trained for the competition with a fellow Brave.

“School Resource Officer Anthony Davis spent a lot of time working with the students,” said Howe. “He helped prepare them for the competition, and it really showed.”

Deputies from the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office judged the event. Two BSHS students, Blake McMahan and Wayne Cornwell, were among the top three finishers. An award ceremony is planned for April 24th in Wichita where the winner will be announced.

The state champion will qualify to compete this summer in the Skills USA National Championship in Louisville, KY.

Bonner Springs High School students win big at regional journalism competition

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. – Bonner Springs High School students took home 18 prizes after competing in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association Regional Contest last month.

The winners and the categories they competed in are listed below:

Sports Writing – Darryl Terrell, honorable mention
News Writing – Taylor VandenHull, first-place
Cutline Writing – Kayla Willis, honorable mention
Yearbook Sports – Mikaela Bennett, third-place
Yearbook Sports – Alazia Stanley, honorable mention
Academics Photography – Lauren Murphy, second-place
Advertising – Kelsey Wheeler, first-place
Advertising – Jacob Kraus, second-place
Headline Writing and Design – Marissa Staterfield, first-place
Headline Writing and Design – Lucy Florez, honorable mention
Infographics – Lauren Murphy, second-place
Infographics – Jacob Kraus, honorable mention
News Page Design – Jacob Kraus, first-place
Sports Photography – Alysa Carpenter, first-place
Student Life Photography – Hanna Wenzel, second-place
YB Layout – Shelbey Taylor, first-place
YB Layout – Robyn Lewis, third-place
YB Theme and Graphics – Mikaela Bennett and Lauren Murphy, first-place

The students will now enter their work into the state competition, later this Spring.

New Bonner Springs post high school planning guide prepares students for the future

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. – Bonner Springs High School administrators are working to make sure students have a plan in place for their futures.

The school recently released a ‘Post High School Planning Guide’ which will serve as a blueprint for a student’s high school career and beyond.

The Bonner Springs High School administration worked closely with the school counselors to ensure the guide would provide options for students.

Wyandotte County students honored by the University of Kansas

KANSAS CITY, KAN. — Several students from Wyandotte County were recently honored by the University of Kansas this week.

The students, from KU’s Lawrence campus and the schools of Health Professions and Nursing in Kansas City, Kansas, represent 72 of 105 Kansas counties, 42 other states and 34 other countries.

The honor roll comprises undergraduates who meet requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and in the schools of Architecture, Design & Planning; Business; Education; Engineering; Health Professions; Journalism; Music; Nursing; Pharmacy; and Social Welfare.

Honor roll criteria vary among the university’s academic units. Some schools honor the top 10 percent of students enrolled, some establish a minimum grade-point average and others raise the minimum GPA for each year students are in school. Students must complete a minimum number of credit hours to be considered for the honor roll.

Local students honored by KU:

Carjacking suspect dead in Wyandotte County

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- An individual wanted for aggravated robbery was killed following a police chase that started in Wyandotte County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the pursuit began shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday following a carjacking in the area. It began in Edwardsville, Kan., crossed into Missouri and ended on Ruby Avenue in Kansas City, Kan., where the suspect was shot by officers at the scene.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The Bonner Springs-Edwardsville School District's response to the school budget situation

By Dan Brungardt
Superintendent of the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville School District

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- I have recently received several phone calls and questions about school funding cuts.

As you may have already heard, on last Thursday Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced that he will be moving ahead with funding reductions for public schools and higher education.

The automatic cuts do not require legislative approval and are scheduled to go into effect on March 7th. By instituting this reduction measure, this partially helps to plug a hole in the state's looming budget deficit.  Specifically, it will save the State of Kansas $44.5 million in the current fiscal year.

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: 2015 Wyandotte County Tournament Results

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Below are the results from this weekend's Wyandotte County Wrestling Tournament.

Click read more for the top finishers in each weight division.

Wyandotte County school districts to lose $1.9 million in funding

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The four Wyandotte County public school districts will lose nearly $1.9 million in funding after Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback announced new cuts to education on Thursday.

Brownback announced the state would reduce aid to public schools by about $28 million.

Two Wyandotte County students honored by Benedictine College

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Benedictine College has recognized those students who have distinguished themselves academically during the last semester.

Whitney Morrow of Kansas City, Kan., was named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2014 semester, which ended in December.

Kaihtlyn Schlachter of Bonner Springs, Kan., was named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2014 semester, which ended in December.

To achieve the honor, a student must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours and a grade point average of 3.5 or above per semester. Of the 1,854 students on campus for the 2014-2015 academic year, 528 made the Dean's List.

Bonner Springs/Edwardsville School District announces upgraded security system

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. ---- The Bonner Springs School District is working to protect its most valuable assets – students and staff – with an upgraded security system.

Over the course of a year, nearly seven dozen new security cameras have been installed at Clark Middle School and Bonner Springs High School.

During the past month, 36 new IP based cameras were installed at BSHS.

Four additional cameras will be installed by the end of the year. Six new security cameras were also installed at the district’s Central Office.

Park University honors students from Wyandotte County

Park University announces those students named to its Fall 2014 Dean’s List.

The list of Wyandotte County students below attend Park University’s Parkville Campus, Downtown Kansas City, Mo., Campus, Independence, Mo., Campus, or take online courses.

To qualify for the list, students must be degree-seeking; have completed 12 or more graded hours at Park University, either in one 16-week term or in two consecutive accelerated terms (Fall I/Fall II); earned a semester grade point average of 3.6 or better; and received no incomplete grade(s) for the semester or term

KANSAS CITY, KAN. 

• Lopez, Jessenia Maria
• Bautista, Judith
• Mixon, Jeffery W.
• Tuttle, Jennifer L.
• Carpenter, Ashley June
• Norton, Samantha N.
• Robertson, Mario Curtis
• Swanson, Sara E.
• Young, Michele Renee
• Bird, Kara M.
• Herr, Juliana Kaokangla
• Jones, Lisa J.
• Anthony, Devon P.
• Barnett, Elitha J.
• Fenner, Anthony Thomas
• Kennedy, Douglas G.
• Kennedy, Nathalie Zoe
• Morerod, Isaac D.
• Thacker, Esther Rae
• Romo-Gutierrez, Veronica

EDWARDSVILLE, KAN. 

• Miller, Samuel Aldon

Former Bonner Springs student honored by university

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. ---- Toby Sullivan, junior business administration major from Bonner Springs, Kan., was named to the Culver-Stockton College Honor Roll for work done during the fall 2014 semester.

To be named to an honors list, Culver-Stockton College requires students to meet high academic standards. Honor Roll students have earned between a 3.2 and 3.49 and were enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours, with no grade lower than a C.

Culver-Stockton College, located in Canton, Mo., is a four-year residential institution in affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). C-SC specializes in experiential education and is one of only two colleges in the nation to offer the 12/3 semester calendar, where the typical 15 week semester is divided into two terms, a 12-week term and a 3-week term.

The C-SC Wildcats are members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

2015 SPRING ELECTIONS: Bonner Springs

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. ---- While Bonner Springs Mayor Jeff Harrington will not face a challenge for this year's election, there will be four contested races in Bonner Springs this spring.

Below are the candidates running for seats on the Bonner Springs City Council.

AT&T donates $2,500 to Vaughn-Trent Community Services

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. — AT&T recently announced a $2,500 contribution to Vaughn-Trent Community Services, Inc., which will help fund the social service agency’s efforts to assist people with basic needs who reside within the Bonner Springs/Edwardsville School District

Three Bonner Springs band students honored by Kansas Music Educators Association

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. ----- Three Bonner Springs High School band members received one of the highest honors a high school musician can achieve when they were selected as members of the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) 1A-4A All-State Band.

The band members selected are Jacob Dobbs, snare drum; Lucy Florez, mallets; and Hannah Martin, clarinet.

Bonner Springs Elementary principal named Kansas Principal of the Year

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. – A long-time educator and instructional leader within the Bonner Springs School District is receiving recognition from her peers across the state.

USD 204 is pleased to announce that the Kansas Association of Elementary School Principals has named Kim Mitchell Principal of the Year.

SPORTS: Bonner Springs Braves wrestling results from Lee's Summit Invitational

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

BONNER SPRINGS, KAN. ---- The Bonner Springs Braves recently competed in the Lee's Summit Invitational Wrestling Tournament.

Below are the full results from each wrestler who competed at the event.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY TRAFFIC: K-7 & I-70 Interchange in Bonner Springs

From the Kansas Department of Transportation:

EXPECT DELAYS! WEEKEND OVERNIGHT LANE CLOSURES: Eastbound and westbound I-70 from K-7 to 134th Street will be reduced to ONE OPEN LANE each direction for bridge deck removal work (Ramp F bridge shown above) beginning at 9:00 p.m. TONIGHT, Friday, December 19 and will reopen to all traffic at 12:00 p.m. NOON tomorrow, Saturday, December 20, weather permitting in Bonner Springs.

EXPECT DELAYS! WEEKEND OVERNIGHT LANE CLOSURES: Eastbound and westbound I-70 from K-7 to 134th Street will be reduced to ONE OPEN LANE each direction for bridge girder removal work (Ramp F shown above) beginning at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, December 20 and will reopen to all traffic at 12:00 p.m. NOON on Sunday, December 21, weather permitting in Bonner Springs.

EXPECT DELAYS! WEEKEND DAYTIME LANE CLOSURE: Westbound I-70 at K-7 will be reduced to ONE OPEN LANE for pavement marking work on Saturday, December 20 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., weather permitting in Bonner Springs. This lane reduction will be the same lane in conjunction with the closure listed above.

Drivers will be directed through the project work zone via message boards, signage and cones. Drivers should expect delays and should allow extra time for their weekend commutes. The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and “Give ‘Em a Brake!” when approaching and driving through the project work zone.

This ramp work is part of the K-7 & I-70 Interchange Project Phase 1 construction. Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City Metro Area can be viewed online any time at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.

The K-7 & I-70 Interchange Project construction handout for Phases 1 and 2A-2B, including phasing schedule and traffic impacts, is available online at:  http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/kcMetro/pdf/K-7%20and%20I-70%20Phase%202B%20Project%20Handout.pdf

Clarkson Construction is the project contractor on this $18 million construction Phase 1 project. This portion of the project work is scheduled to be completed in late Fall 2014. (KDOT Project #70-105 KA-1003-05)