American Red Cross blood donation drives to be held in Wyandotte County, Johnson County

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to help their communities prepare for emergencies by giving blood during National Preparedness Month this September.

Becoming a regular blood donor is one way to help ensure communities are prepared for any emergency, including those where blood transfusions are needed. The Red Cross also encourages the public to get prepared by making a disaster plan for their homes or work places.

A sufficient blood supply is central to ensuring hospitals are prepared to meet patient needs in times of disaster, including the very personal ones that can happen any day. Because blood takes about 48 hours to be tested, processed and made available for patients, it’s the blood already on the shelves that can help save the day when emergencies occur.

This month also marks the sixth year that the Red Cross and Sport Clips Haircuts have teamed up to help increase blood donations.

Through the “Saving Lives Never Looked So Good” campaign, Sport Clips is thanking those who come to give blood in September with a coupon for a free haircut at participating Sport Clips locations. The coupon is valid through Nov. 8, 2015, and will be sent to donors via email a few days after their donation.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for patients needing transfusions. The Red Cross needs blood donors of all types – especially those with types AB, O negative, B negative and A negative – to give blood regularly.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

For information on planning for emergencies and preparedness training, visit redcross.org/prepare.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities on the Kansas side:

Wyandotte 

• 9/19/2015: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sporting Park – The Shield Club, One Sporting Way

Lenexa

• 9/22/2015: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Xeno Tech LLC, 16825 West 116th Street

Mission

• 9/24/2015: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Vin Solutions, 5700 Broadmoor, 9th floor

Overland Park

• 9/17/2015: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lighton II, 7400 College Boulevard
• 9/17/2015: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Care Spot HCA Midwest Health System, 9507 Antioch rd

Johnson County Gateway Phase 2 Project celebrates dual milestones

Kansas Department of Transportation

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Mike King, along with officials from Lenexa and Olathe, celebrated the completion of two key milestones today in the mega Johnson County Gateway project.

With the new K-10 and Ridgeview Road interchange in Olathe serving as the backdrop, Secretary King, Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm, Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland, Gateway Interchange Constructors’  Bill Clarkson and KDOT Project Director Burt Morey cut the ribbon to mark the completion of the K-10 and Ridgeview Road diverging diamond interchange and College Boulevard improvements.

“We know this massive project comes with many traffic delays and we understand what this means to commuters,” said Secretary King. “We know with each project step completed, drivers will experience the improved benefits that each phase brings to their daily travels.” 

KANSAS CITY METRO TRAFFIC ALERT: I-35 Pavement Reconstruction Project for April-December 2015 in Johnson County

OLATHE, KAN. ---- The project work for this weekend, April 18-19, has been rescheduled to now take place on Monday, April 20 due to rainy weather this weekend. The lane and ramp closures are as follows:

At 4:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, one lane of southbound I-35 will be shifted to the northbound side of the highway, then at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, the second lane of southbound I-35 will be shifted to the northbound side of the highway.

All I-35 traffic will be carried on the existing northbound lanes separated by concrete barrier while the southbound lanes are reconstructed.

Once the mainline traffic has been switched at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, the Santa Fe Street/135th Street to southbound I-35 entrance ramp and the southbound I-35 to Old U.S. 56 exit ramp will be CLOSED to all traffic. Marked detours will be provided for the ramp closures.

Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City Metro Area can be viewed at: www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.