Saturday, August 11, 2007

Overnight House Fire In St. Joseph Kills 6

It's just as well it was too damn noisy and busy in the K.C. Metro overnight that I didn't hear what happened in the biggest city in the northern MetroRegion...

A St. Joseph-MO residence caught fire and killed 4 children and 2 adults. One man- who was injured- escaped death by leaping out of a 2nd-story window.

The fire was reported around 5:30 am in the 2800 block of Sacramento.

St. Joseph Fire department officials said there were no working smoke detectors in the home- frequently filled with children- neighbors say.

The Captain knows all too well of death by fire- and sincere condolences to survivors of this terrible tragedy as well as the Saint Joe emergency crews that had to work the incident.
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Three Dead In I-435 Crossover Wreck In Lenexa-KS

Five vehicles crashed and 3 of the drivers are dead after a firey crossover wreck on I-435 near 87th Street earlier this Saturday afternoon.

Four others were injured, None of the dead have yet been identified.

Police urge motorists to avoid I-435 in Lenexa for at least the next several hours.
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New York's Harlem Becoming Gentrified

It's the same story in many American cities- including here in The BBQ Capitol Of the World.

In Harlem- the poorer people are actually being displaced by high-dollar condos and other buildings of that ilk.

And those high-dollar tenants don't like the all-night beat of African drums either....
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"Judge Not- Lest Ye Shall Be..." High Point Church

One of these Dallas Metroplex "megachurches" was to hold a memorial service for a Navy vet Thursday and cancelled it Wednesday- according to this AP entry.

They had received information that the Navy vet was gay- that different and downridden part of society that Jesus hated so much.

Jesus wouldn't have blessed such a man much less such a service now would he?

(As Rev. Hargil Oates): "Bless you Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-Point Church of Arlllllllllllllington Texas - may you receive by His Grace that your lightning rods are properly installed...."

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CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: NWS-SPC Says A "Slight Risk" Of Severe Storms In IOWA- NEBRASKA

This according to the latest "Day-1 Convective Outlook" just issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman-OK.

As shown on the click-to-enlarge map- the "slight risk" area covers about the northwestern half of Iowa and Nebraska from Omaha NW to the South Dakota border south of Souix Falls.

Notice the brown line on the map. To the right of that line ordinary thunderstorms can be expected- and that line has moved south of Kansas City since the last outlook early this Saturday morn.

It looks that some aspect of the present shower/thunderstorm activity in north and south-central Kansas may provide some precip or at least welcome cooling for the western half of the Kansas City MetroRegion as the day wears on.
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Number Of Americans Killed In Iraq Now 3684

That according to the Associated Press with no end in sight.
Enjoy that (not) with your weekend leisure....
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The Kansas City MetroRegion Overnight News and Weather Report - Saturday, August 11, 2007

** THE GUNS OF MID-AMERICA ABLAZE OVERNIGHT **


*** There is at least one man dead and 4 injured in separate shootings in the Metro overnight.

* The fatality is reported at 6th Street and Armstrong in KC-KS.. Police found a car crashed into a tree with the male driver dead of at least 2 gunshot wounds around 4am Saturday morning.

Witnesses reportedly told police it was a running gunfight between the suspect and "several" occupants of a blue car. They say both cars were hit- and police were checking area hospitals for additional victims.

Unknown yet if related- but KC-MO police reported "one of four occupants" of a car arrived at a local trauma center with a gunshot wound about 4:20 am.. That victim was "shot in the leg."

* Around 3:30 am- a male gunshot victim apparently made it as far as the 1400 block of Admiral Boulevard before he collapsed. He was taken to an area hospital with critical injuries- and witnesses told police the shooting happened "a few blocks east" of where the victim ended up.

* Just before 1 am- Grandview-MO police responded to the 11900 block of Blue Ridge Extention on a shooting. There they found a 55-year-old male who'd been shot in the shoulder- possibly during the course of a street robbery. The victim was whisked off to a trauma center and police were looking for the suspect: "a young- short- black male- about 110 pounds with braids...."

* A shooting victim was found at Independence Avenue and Indiana about 12:10 am.. This victim was also shot in the shoulder- but no suspect information was immediately available.

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** Cass County- MO Crash Critically Injures A Female **

... The call for this incident came in right around 2 am for a single vehicle rollover on C Highway south of Peculiar.
One female occupant was found barely responsive- and was flown to an area hospital by helicopter.
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** KC-KS Fire Severely Damages Home **

... A house fire at 8th Street and Vermont required 6 KC-KS Fire department companies just before 3 am..
The back side of a lived-in house was heavily-involved in flames when firefighters arrived. The occupants had escaped uninjured. The fire was out about 15 minutes later with no injuries.

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** KC-MO Police Chase Drunk Around Cliff Drive **

... A KC-MO police officer who still at the scene of the Independence Ave. & Indiana shooting observed the male driver of a "F-150" pickup driving erratically.
After an about 10 minute pursuit around streets in the Northeast area- the driver crashes his vehicle into a tree on the embankment above Cliff Drive at Gladstone Boulevard and takes off down the hill.
It takes almost 2 hours- four companies of firefighters- MAST- plus at least half-dozen police- to get to the man on the steep bluff who was apparently injured in the crash and haul him away.
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<><><> OVERNIGHT WEATHER <><> <>

It was one of the warmest overnights of 2007.
Temperatures in urban areas remained at or just above 80 degrees at dawn with virtually calm winds and high humidities. Skies remained mostly clear.

Today will be another one of the hottest days of the year- with temperatures in the upper 90's by late afternoon. An area of thunderstorms in central Kansas may provide relief with cloud cover- keeping high temperatures down.

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First with Metro Kansas City Breaking News - NBC41 ACTION NEWS.
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Friday, August 10, 2007

Space Shuttle Endeavor Has Gouged Underside

NASA officials are worried- they spotted a gouge on Endeavor's underside. Scientists think the gouge was caused by ice during liftoff and are studying the problem.
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Perseid Meteor Shower This Weekend

If you happen to be enjoying a weekend under the stars- look up.

The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend- especially Sunday night-Monday morning.
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Citizen Letter From KC-MO's Mayor: "Notes From Funk's Front Porch" X

Funk's Front Porch

10 August 2007

Dear Folks,

Funk and I had a nice weekend off, sort of. He worked in the car while I drove six hours each way. Then, because we’ve been so tired I guess, we just sat and stared at the woods and the stars for the rest of the weekend. We ended up leaving early because both of our kids are headed off to college soon and I want to spend as much time with them as I can before they go. This is our son’s first year at college, so it’s a big adjustment for our family.

The town hall meetings continue to be a huge success. Funk really shines at these events. One of his best traits is being able to break down very complex ideas into simple terms so that everyone can not only understand the idea, but they can grasp it in a short amount of time. Also, he connects with people best when face-to-face; with them realizing that he is someone that they can trust.

One of the greatest things that the Kansas City, Missouri school district offers is Ailey camp. It is an intense six-week program that culminates with a performance mid-summer. Our daughter Tara was part of the program when she was 12 years old and it was probably the highlight of her elementary school years. It was an honor for Funk to be asked to speak at this year’s event. We were both amazed at how far the program had come in the nine years since Tara’s experience. The kids seemed to perform at a professional level. That, in and of itself, is a testament to the great efforts by all of the people involved with the program, with the main player being Tyronne Aiken. This is one of the main reasons Funk chose Tyronne to be on the Parks Board – he is a wonder with kids. I cannot imagine how many of them he has saved. We’re both looking forward to seeing what he brings to the youth of our city with regards to parks and recreation.

I forgot to tell you that the first and hardest draft of Funk’s book was completed a few weeks ago. Guess where the big lug took me out to dinner to celebrate. Yes, my big spender took me on a date to the Westport Flea Market - mostly because it was chess club night and he didn’t want to miss it – some date, huh? It was strange walking in there though, because I hadn’t been back since the primary election night last February. Things have been so fast paced that we haven’t really had time to celebrate the win, much less digest it. So going back to the Flea Market brought a little clutch to my heart for all that we’ve achieved this past year.

Please continue to help us to help you by lending your support to Funk each Thursday. If there is an issue on the Legislative docket that is important to you, let us know how you’d like Funk to vote. If he’s voting your way, please call your council members and ask that they support him with their vote as well. If he’s not voting your way, give our office a call and try to convince him to see things your way. Remember, the man is not averse to changing his mind.

In faith,
Gloria & Mark

You can respond to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com.

Please help us by forwarding this email to as many people as you think might want to be more informed about their city government. They can sign up to receive the newsletter at http://www.blogger.com/www.funksfrontporch.com.

The Mayor’s top ten priorities:

1. Establishing a good working relationship with the Council
2. Getting the City’s finances in order
3. Making downtown work
4. Tending to our neighborhoods
5. Implementing the Housing Policy task force recommendations
6. Improving the perception and the reality of public education in Kansas City
7. Reducing Crime
8. Repairing our sewer systems
9. Establishing an excellent regional transit system, which includes light rail
10. Improving citizen satisfaction with City services.

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Electronic Toll-pass Records Can Tell On You

People who have been the recipients of judgments against them can tell you- you can lie to Mama about where you've been- but your electronic tollway pass sticker that leaves printed records that can be subpoenaed by a lawyer might indicate otherwise- according to this Associate Press dispatch.
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Whose $38-Billion Is The Feds Pumping Up The Stock Market With

OK- so now all the million and billionaires are nervous. The stock market has seemingly burst that false bubble it's been growing.

But someone explain this- what the AP reports- to me: "The Fed added $19 billion in liquidity to the market Friday morning, then another $16 billion and, in mid-afternoon, $3 billion."

Who the Hell's billions are those? Taxpayer money? If so- why not bail out the poor TAXPAYERS directly?

Please- someone who knows more about high finance than moi explain this cozy-sounding arrangement.
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Taxpayers Pay Nearly Quarter Of A Million For Ford's Funeral

Want to be an American who doesn't have to hoop-jump to get their government death benefits for passed-on loved ones?

Be president.

According to the AP- American taxpayers just dished out $230000 to the Ford Foundation to pay for Jerry Ford's funeral last December.
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Friday NEWS inDIGESTion



* NEW YORK - The stock market continues to tumble after the so-called financial experts finally clue-in that most Americans are scraping by with higher fuel and food costs and loss of well-paying jobs moved overseas to slave labor.

* BAGHDAD - An American military helicopter was "forced down" but the occupants only injured. This after a report that nearly 1/3 of all American military weapons sent to Iraq are "unaccounted for."
Either America is arming al Qaida or maybe all the missing guns are making it back to America and falling into the hands of thugs....

* MINNEAPOLIS - Navy divers think they found a third set of Human remains at the site of the Interstate highway bridge collapse. Officials are no closer for a reason the 40-year-old structure failed.

* HOLLYWOOD - In an unconfirmed story- it's rumored that Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan have been abducted and duct-taped together at an undisclosed but far-FAR away location by TV news purists. Also unconfirmed is the report several citizens groups have offered to pay the abductors to keep them.

* HUNTINGTON-UTAH - Rescuers have drilled a hole to the location they think the 6 trapped miners are- but so far haven't heard a thing out of them. The mine company's owner of course insists that an earthquake caused the mine's collapse- not the other way around as geologists have said.

* WASHINGTON - The Bush administration says they're going to clamp down on illegal immigration- more than 6 years after Bush was appointed as president and more than 2 since he was elected by an obviously drugged populace.

* KANSAS CITY - City leaders- predictably- have said that the City can't afford Clay Chastain's light rail plan that VOTERS ALREADY APPROVED and that a new election (not free) is needed.
The City couldn't afford another arena- corporate welfare for our wealthy sport-team owners and all the T.I.F.'s given out either- but that sure didn't stop them nor did ANYONE PETITION (James Nutter) for another election.
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Sale For Tickets To Sprint Center Opener Bogus or Ticketmaster SUX

I wonder how many (non-wealthy/connected) KANSAS CITY- MO TAXPAYERS- who are stuck with this brand-new but slightly-pregnant Kemper Arena- got tickets for the opening show with Elton John?

I also wonder how many tix were set aside BEFORE the 10 am starting time that the general public was allowed to buy them?

This ticket fiasco is just proof AGAIN on how the ordinary taxpayer is hosed- yet they never seem to get a clue....

Oh- make sure you-all vote DOWN light rail in K.C. so this burg will stay behind the times forever....
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Outdoor Sauna Tips

It's summer for goodness sakes. All the news media should have to tell us is to use common sense during any periods of extreme temperatures.

Enjoy. Something the news media doesn't tell you is to go out and enjoy one of our distinct four seasons. That's four of the reasons I won't live in warm climes: Summer- Fall- Winter and Spring.

But there are some basic precautions to take:

One thing I've noticed over the years in heat like this is the failure of tires- coolant hose and drive belt breaks.

Make sure your tires are properly inflated- check them when they're cool.

You DON'T want to be stuck on the along the road in 105-110-degree heat indices with a tire that shredded on the 130-degree pavement due to being under inflated do you?

Feel and visually examine those rubber water hoses and drive belts on the engine (when they're cool too of course). If the rubber seems mushy on the hose and you see cracking on either a hose or a belt- replace them.

LOTS OF WATER not BEER. Yeah I know- nothing tastes quite like a cold beer on a sweltering day. Heh- hard lemonade? YOU make that call....

Watch over the very young and very old when it's hot. Neither take the heat as well and they can't or won't tell you they're burning up.

Save money- set your home air conditioning to 78 degrees and lower your travel speeds- fuel economy is better at 60 mph rather than 70 mph.

So what if people give you dirty looks while you're driving in the SLOW LANE? I have more cash than they- less gas used and certainly no speeding tix. Often- I see the same speeding bozos waiting at the exit ramp traffic signal anyway- they gained one or two car lengths.

The heat won't and can't last much longer- fall begins in less than 5 weeks.

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Thursday, August 09, 2007

Central States Weather: Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 576 For NE - SD

The NWS' SPC in Norman-OK has parts of northern Nebraska and southern South Dakota under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 pm tonight.

The storm activity will move generally eastward- overnight into southeastern SD and NW Iowa.
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American Bar Association Plans To Restrict Public Records

As reported by the AP- the ABA's pro to this issue is that it's too easy for people to see other people's arrests and/or convictions for crimes.

Most everybody else's astonished con to the issue is that well DUH!- we SHOULD have access to the records of people involved in criminal shenanigans.

ESPECIALLY the news media.

This slow but sure move to secrecy by elected officials (Bush administration) and governmental/quasi-governmental agencies should be alarming to Americans....

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CENTRAL STATES BREAKING NEWS: "Major Incident" In DeKalb-IL

The Associated Press is reporting authorities in this Illinois town are only calling it "a major incident" after a "monster truck" plowed into a crowd "during a demonstration" today.

It's reported "100 people" were watching the vehicle perform stunts when it lost control (the truck pictured here is NOT the one that crashed)- ran into the crowd and ended up on some railroad tracks.

"Several people" had been taken to hospitals and there were no initial reports of any fatalities.
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Doctor Of Love Dedication: Harry Chapin's "Flowers Are Red"

The following is dedicated to my fellow citizens who don't run with the crowd- educate- think for themselves and refuse to be spun.

Download this tune- sit back- listen- and Hell- sing along with the late- great Harry Chapin as he sang about individuals- and how we tend to view those who think outside the box...



Flowers Are Red
By Harry Chapin. From his album: Living Room Suite


The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And all responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one

But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.
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Searchers Locate 2 More Bodies In Minneapolis Bridge Wreckage

Navy divers are reported to have found the 2 departed souls- bringing the known death toll in the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis to 7.

Six people remain missing.
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Capt. Spaulding's NEW FEATURE: Reader Polls

The folks at blogger.com keep adding features - and so do I...

On the right panel below the IMPEACH BUSH & CHENEY image are the new reader polls.

Feel free to vote early & often (as it says there) and check back because I'll be adding all KINDS of polls- some actually serious ones too!
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Some Johnson County- KS - Jackson County-MO Overnight Rainfall Totals

These are from the JoCo-KS 'Stormwatch' system of weather stations/stream/rain gages on the significant urban waterways in Joco & JxCo as of 4 am Thursday. Precipitation in the Kansas City MetroRegion has or is diminishing.

LOCATION RAIN IN INCHES
Woodland Road @ Clear Creek Rain- 4.49
Shawnee-Mission @ Mill Creek Rain- 4.17
75th @ K-7 Rain- 4.09
Johnson Dr and K-7 Rain- 4.08

O.P. City Hall Rain- 3.78
Desoto Streamway Park Rain- 3.78
67th St and Caenen Rain- 3.74
Elmwood @Brush Creek Rain- 3.27
Brooklyn PS (Brush Creek) Rain- 3.27
Porter Park (Brush Creek) Rain- 3.23
Johnson Dr @ Turkey Creek Rain- 3.23
Lackman @ Little Mill Crk Rain- 3.23
Lamar JoCo (Turkey-Rock Creeks) Rain- 3.19
95th St @ Camp Creek Rain- 3.07
Corporate Woods Rain- 3.03
74th @ Brush Creek Rain- 3.03
Woodland @ Coon Creek Rain- 2.99
75th @ Brush Creek Rain- 2.99
79th St. @ Little Mill Rain- 2.96
U.S.G.S. (103 & Marty- OP-KS) Rain- 2.96
95th St @ Kill Creek Rain- 2.95
K-10 @ Cedar Creek Rain- 2.95
69th @ Turkey Creek Rain- 2.95
Mission Rd. @ Indian Creek Rain- 2.92
Roeland Dr. Rain- 2.88
Lee Blvd. @ Dykes Branch Rain- 2.80
Ward Pkwy (Brush Creek) Rain- 2.72
KC College (Brush Creek) Rain- 2.72
Waterford Place Rain- 2.68
I-435 & Nall Rain- 2.64
63rd St @ Blue River Rain- 2.60
103rd St @ Indian Crk- 2.60
Main/Brookside (Brush Creek) Rain- 2.56
85th St @ Blue River Rain- 2.52
I-35/Antioch @ Turkey Rain- 2.52
Lexington Ave & Sunshine Rain- 2.44
JoCoCommCollege Rain- 2.40
87th Lane @ Mill Creek Rain- 2.40
Paseo HS (Brush Creek) Rain- 2.32
Allied-Signal 95th@ Blue River Rain- 2.29
K-10 and K-7 Rain- 2.28
Old Hwy 56 @ Harrison (Olathe) Rain- 2.20
Wilshire Woods Rain- 2.09
135th and Pflumm Rain- 2.09
Allied-Signal @ Blue Rain- 2.05
Olathe Rain- 1.97
Quivira @ Tomahawk Creek Rain- 1.97
143rd St @ Kill Creek Rain- 1.93
Roe at Tomahawk Creek Rain- 1.89
119th St @ Cedar Creek Rain- 1.89
127th and Evening Star Rain- 1.89
SW Blvd @ Turkey Crk Rain- 1.85
Pflumm @ Tomahawk Crk Rain- 1.85
AS Toyta Rain- 1.85
119th St @ Little Cedar Creek Rain- 1.77
Linwood Rain- 1.73
127th St @ Kill Creek Rain- 1.73
127th St @ Cedar Creek Rain- 1.73
JOCO Transit (SW Olathe) Rain- 1.73
Metcalf @ Turkey Creek Rain- 1.65
Gardner Lake Rain- 1.65
159th St and Edgerton Rain- 1.65
151st St @ Spoon Creek Rain- 1.65
Switzer @ Tomahawk Creek Rain- 1.62
Metcalf @ Tomahawk Creek Rain- 1.58
17th St @ Blue River Rain- 1.58
Morse Rain- 1.54
151st and England Rain- 1.42
Bonita (175th & US 169) Rain- 1.42
I-35 & Lamar @ Turkey Rain- 1.42
Pflumm @ Coffee Creek Rain- 1.34
Metcalf at Negro Creek Rain- 1.34
New Century Airport Rain- 1.34
Red Bridge @ Blue River Rain- 1.30
143rd and Grant Rain- 1.30
191st and Dillie Rd Rain- 1.30
Kenneth @ Blue River Rain- 1.10
Mission @ Negro Crk Rain- 1.06
Switzer @ Coffee Crk Rain- 1.06
Lackman @ Wolf Crk Rain- 1.02
Stilwell Rain- 0.99
Olathe Lake Rain- 0.98
191st and Mission Rain- 0.95
Kenneth @ Negro Crk Rain- 0.95
US69 @ Blue River Rain- 0.95
191st @ E. Wolf Crk Rain- 0.75
Mission @ E Camp Branch Rain- 0.71
179th @ Wolf Creek Rain- 0.63
199th and Padbury Rain- 0.55
Allied Signal (95 & Lydia-KC-MO) Sluice Rain- 0.35
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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS-WEATHER: Turkey Creek Coming Out Of It's Banks In Merriam

Police have reported- at 1:25am- that "Turkey Creek is out of it's banks at 62nd Street & Mastin" and "into the parking lot at 61st Street & Merriam Drive.

There is no NWS flash flood warning in effect.

Rainfall totals since 10:30 pm in the Turkey Creek headwater has been 3 to 3.25 inches. Four inch and greater amounts are shown in the area of K-7 & Shawnee-Mission Parkway in Shawnee and to the De Soto area.

While the heaviest storms have moved south and east- there are still additional storms developing in Douglas County KS..

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING WEATHER: Storms Continue- Damage Reported - Flash Flood Threat Increasing

The thunderstorms that roared into the K.C. Metro continue to move from the west now to the east from near Topeka to over the Metro along and south of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers.

Damage has been reported to trees and power lines in the storms- one situation working now in the area of 84th Street and Campbell in south KC-MO reportedly has affected four houses directly and the entire neighborhood indirectly with a power surge and outtage.

Around 10:30 pm- Leavenworth-KS police thought a boater was swept into the water when wind gusts of 50 mph struck on the river downtown- but that boater was located safely self-rescued about 45 minutes later.

Now the flash flood threat- as of this writing- real-time rain gages in parts of northwest Johnson County KS are recording more than 3 inches of rain in less than 90 minutes.


Other rain gages in the headwaters of Brush Creek- Prairie Village and north Overland Park- reporting rates approaching two inches with more storms upstream from all locations.

I will continue to monitor the situation through this Thursday morning....
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Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Space Shuttle Endeavor Launches Safely

KANSAS CITY MetroRegion's BREAKING WEATHER: Tornado Watch For Northern MetroRegion

As you can see by the county-outline map- Tornado Watch Number 572 is now in effect until midnight for Atchison County-KS- Buchanan- Caldwell and Clinton Counties MO..

Check the flags hoisted on the mast as your Captain keeps track of this developing weather situation....
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KANSAS CITY MetroRegion WEATHER: SPC MetroRegion Severe Weather Update

The following is a mostly internal forecast discussion by the Storm Prediction Center telling area forecast offices of possible imminent severe weather development.

This "Mesoscale Convective Discussion (MCD)" is for the Kansas City MetroRegion. Cutting through the technical jargon- the chance for thunderstorms developing to our north through west increases through the afternoon and evening....


MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 1685
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
318 PM CDT WED AUG 08 2007


AREAS AFFECTED...SERN NEB...NERN KS...NWRN MO...SWRN IA...

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE

VALID 082018Z - 082145Z

AT LEAST ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY BY LATE AFTERNOON AND A WW MAY BE REQUIRED.

OUTFLOW BOUNDARY EXTENDING FROM JUST E OF HSI TO NEAR STJ IS BEGINNING TO MIX OUT WITH A VERY HOT AND EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AIR MASS SPREADING NWD OUT OF KS. AREA PROFILERS INDICATE 150-250 M2/S2 0-3KM SRH ALONG THIS OUTFLOW BOUNDARY. HOWEVER...PROFILERS ALSO INDICATE WINDS ALOFT ARE VEERING WITH TIME...LIKELY DUE TO DEPARTURE OF CONVECTIVE SYSTEMS IN NERN NEB AND SRN IA. THIS CALLS INTO QUESTION OVERALL FORCING REGIME. HOWEVER...LOCAL RADARS SHOW LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION NEAR HSI...ALONG OUTFLOW BOUNDARY/COLD FRONT INTERSECTION. GIVEN CONTINUED HEATING...MIXING OUT OF CIN AND SWLY LLJ...SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THIS OUTFLOW BOUNDARY.
ADDITIONAL STORMS MAY FORM FARTHER SW AS WELL ALONG COLD FRONT...WHERE VISIBLE IMAGERY SHOWS EXPANDING CU FIELD.
SUPERCELLS...WITH HAIL/WIND/POSSIBLE BRIEF TORNADOES...WOULD BE LIKELY INITIALLY ALONG THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY...BUT WOULD LIKELY TRANSITION TO MORE OF AN MCS WITH HEAVY RAIN THREAT.

..JEWELL.. 08/08/2007


ATTN...WFO...DMX...EAX...OAX...TOP...GID...

Border Boondoggle - The $1-Billion Fence

I KEEP saying- why aren't politicans given pre-office drug screen tests like the REST OF US do? They keep passing these measures that MUST have been thought-up by some acid head...

The $1.2 billion for a fence on the Mexican border along with all kinds of other bogus electronic surveillance gear is the latest example.

In this Associated Press story- Border Patrol guards say a new fence will require MORE manpower a.k.a. taxpayer dollars to work (get out your cost-clickers folks).

And that fence will do NOTHING to address the problem of the estimated 20-million illegal immigrants already IN America.

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Money Is The Root Cause For Hospital Burn Unit Closings

The biggest failure of America is the provision for health care guaranteed to ALL of it's citizens- regardless of economic strata.

The Congress and Senate people don't worry about this- for they're provided the BEST health care the American taxpayer can pay for.

But now comes down the word for the REST of us- via THIS AP article- that medical centers' burn units are closing down nationwide.

Not a good thing with America's infrastructure falling apart. I know- who cares?

_________________

Even Cops Aren't Safe Around Today's Criminal

I was taking care of my weekly tithing yesterday and as usual had a scanner going.

Apparently- I had just missed the KC-MO cop getting shot on Gregory Boulevard after a drug bust gone violent and the wild car chase afterwards- but not the congregation of police that had either gone to the hospital where the officer was taken or to the other hospital where the suspect was taken.

The thugs are getting brazen- or desperate. When they start firing away at the police- you HAVE to know the ordinary citizen doesn't have a prayer (unless you're permitted concealed carry).

The Captain's wishes for the critically-injured policeman a fast and total recovery- and God save us all from criminal gunfire.
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KANSAS CITY MetroRegion WEATHER: Severe Storm Chance Moved Southward


According to the latest SPC severe thunderstorm outlook- the southern boundary of the "slight" risk area is now over the K.C. Metro- generally along the Kansas and Missouri Rivers and north.

This jibes with the outflow boundaries that moved through the city around dawn from storms up north.

Conditions look quite favorable for thunderstorm development locally in the next 3-4 hours- storm movements will generally be from southwest to northeast- and once again I think the most general severe threat will be torrential rains of 2 to 3 inches per hour with the stronger storms.



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KANSAS CITY MetroRegion WEATHER: Today's Severe Storm Risk Area And Current Radar

Again today- the current SPC forecast of a chance for severe thunderstorms again is in the northern through northwest portions of the Kansas City MetroRegion- as depicted by the current radar image below (click on all images to enlarge them). The current storms are moving east or northeast- the storms you see in the image west of Atchison and St. Joe have developed in just the past hour and a half.

My current thinking is that storm outflows will be even closer to the K.C. Metro this morning and again later today- so MAYBE those of us needing a good rain will be rewarded for your daily Native dance rituals.
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007

KANSAS CITY MetroRegion Weather: Slight Chance Of Severe Storms North

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman-OK has outlooked parts of the extreme northern and northwestern MetroRegion for a "slight" chance of severe thunderstorms later today and tonight.

I think the greatest threat will be for flash-flooding rains- as which happened in eastern Nebraska overnight where some areas received up to 10 inches of rain.

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Monday, August 06, 2007

KANSAS CITY MetroRegion WEATHER: NWS Excessive Heat Warning Now In Effect

ATCHISON KS-MIAMI-LINN KS-DONIPHAN-LEAVENWORTH- WYANDOTTE- JOHNSON KS- BUCHANAN- CLINTON-CALDWELL-LIVINGSTON-LINN MO- MACON- PLATTE- CLAY- RAY-CARROLL-CHARITON-RANDOLPH-JACKSON-LAFAYETTE- SALINE- HOWARD-CASS-JOHNSON MO-PETTIS-COOPER-BATES-HENRY - INCLUDING THE CITIES OF: ATCHISON- PAOLA- MOUND CITY- TROY- LEAVENWORTH- KANSAS CITY KS- OVERLAND PARK- OLATHE- ST. JOSEPH- PLATTSBURG- KINGSTON- HAMILTON- POLO- CHILLICOTHE- BROOKFIELD- MACON- LA PLATA- PARKVILLE- PLATTE CITY- WESTON- LIBERTY- EXCELSIOR SPRINGS- RICHMOND- CARROLLTON- SALISBURY- KEYTESVILLE- MOBERLY- KANSAS CITY- INDEPENDENCE- LEXINGTON- CONCORDIA- MARSHALL- FAYETTE- NEW FRANKLIN- RAYMORE- HARRISONVILLE- PLEASANT HILL- WARRENSBURG- SEDALIA- BOONVILLE- BUTLER- RICH HILL- CLINTON

323 PM CDT MON AUG 6 2007

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TUESDAY TO 7 PM CDT FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TUESDAY TO 7 PM CDT FRIDAY.

A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE...CURRENTLY CENTERED ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY...HAS TRAPPED HOT AND HUMID AIR ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THIS AIRMASS IS NOT EXPECTED TO GO ANYWHERE OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS ALLOWING THE HEAT TO BUILD UP ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS AND MUCH OF NORTHERN MISSOURI. BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON...HEAT INDEX READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE AT OR ABOVE 105 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL HOURS ACROSS AREAS ALONG AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 36 FROM ST JOSEPH...TO CHILLICOTHE- AND MACON. ADDITIONALLY...OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE WARNED AREA ARE NOT EXPECTED TO COOL MUCH OVERNIGHT...WITH LOWS BOTTOMING OUT ONLY AS LOW AS THE MID 70S IN RURAL AREAS...AND STAYING NEAR 80 IN MORE URBAN AREAS.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN HEAT INDICIES EXCEEDING 105 DEGREES FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS...FOR THREE OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. BE SURE TO DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

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MONDAY NEWS inDIGESTion

Round and round the world we go - in the style of WHB back in the early 60's - echo-dateline and all ...

* BAGHDAD - The nation caught in Bush's Folly sees it's political situation worsen. Five more ministers in the government say they'll boycott any meetings. Meanwhile- 28 die after a truck bomb explodes in the northern Iraq city of Tal Afar.

* LONDON - Farmers in the U.K. hope the latest round of foot and mouth disease is contained. Men in America always hope foot in mouth disease is contained.

* MOSCOW - The Russian government announced a new anti-ballistic missile missile defense is now in place and working. Hopes are that it will never be used.

* HUNTINGTON, Utah - What was reported early today as a 4.0 earthquake in Utah was actually a mine collapse. Six miners are trapped and feared dead.

* WASHINGTON D.C. - "Flight delays on America's air carriers are the worst they've been in 13 years"- said a Department of Transportation spokeman just getting off a flight from New York he boarded last week.

* CORRECTION - In last hours' news update- it was reported President Bush was committed.
The correction to that story is that the President was committed to tracking al Qaida.

Mr. Qaida- a hack driver in New York City- had no comment.

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Mid-Summer Morning In Vancouver-B.C.


Courtesy of www.katcam.ca

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The Warmth Of The Sun - Entertaining Dutchess

Music is someone's thoughts and/or feelings put to notes and often- words. Crafting words into a form of art as such has always impressed me- so at age 21 I started doing "my own thang."

Out on the veranda this AM with the Yamaha- entertaining the dog- birds and squirrels with a 20-year-old personal ode to the Season of Sun ...


SUMMER AGAIN
(J. BOTEE) ©1987 ... BoSongs MUSIC COMPANY



(Intro) Distant shores ..... Calling me,
Long lost days
When we were young and free;
Mem'ries that slip your mind but then,
Before you know .... It's summer again;



Long departed mem'ry,
Or a present view?
Days of fun, surf and sun,
Long overdue;
In the old days on those beaches,
We shared a bond;
But now it's new days on those beaches,
And the spirit is gone;


(Chorus) Let's get together,
And do it again;
It's been far too long,
Since we did it my friend;
From old Laguna
To Malta Bend,
Shady trees, feel the breeze,
It's summer again;

Impromptu picnic,
In an unlikely place;
Laugh at how you acted,
With pie on your face;
Ah those old days on the beaches,
Burning summer sun;
Now it's new days on those beaches,
You are long gone;


Let's get together,
And do it again;
Live a life-long summer,
That would never end;
Surfing off Laguna,
Skiing Malta Bend;
Making 'whoopee' in the sand,
Yes it's summer again;



(Bridge) Ah-Ha (Shooby-dooby....Dooby do-wah),
Ah-Ha (Shooby-dooby....Dooby do-wah),
Ah-Ha (Shooby-dooby....Dooby do-wah),
Ah-Ha;


Days are short
And the nights so cold;
Dream of youth and lovers,
While you're growing old;
Gone the old days and the beaches,
Yes the summer's done;
But new days will bring
Yet another one;


Let's get together,
And do it again;
It's been far too long,
Since we did it my friend;
From old Laguna
To Malta Bend,
Shady trees, feel the breeze,
It's summer again;

Let's get together,
And do it again;
Live a life-long summer,
That would never end;
Surfing off Laguna,
Skiing Malta Bend;
Making 'whoopee' in the sand,
Yes it's summer again;


Yes indeed, it's summer again;
Can't you see, it's summer again;
Sun and free, it's summer again;
You and me
And summer again.


SUMMER AGAIN
©1987 February 11, 1987 ... BoSongs MUSIC COMPANY
WORDS & MUSIC: J. BOTEE ... #359

Written on a spring-like day at Longview Lake.

States Act On Illegal Immigration Since The Feds Can't

Can't or won't- YOU make the call...

Too many Americans are against amnesty for an estimated 12-million illegals in this country and why shouldn't they be?

The state pollys get it- and have been passing anti-illegal immigrant laws to fill the Washingtonian void.

Legal experts fear it creates a "patchwork" of laws- most they claim are "unconstitutional."

I say piss water beats no water at all on this fire....
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Oklahoma Cop Shooting At A Snake Kills Boy FIshing With Grandpa

There's a reason Andy only gave Barney one bullet.

According to the AP article about this tragedy/crime- so should have had the Noble-OK cop that was trying to shoot a snake in a tree and ends up shooting a boy dead who was fishing with his grandpa.

Someone apparently forgot to tell Deputy Fife that bullets don't have eyes....
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Six Days After Collapse- Pieces Of Broken Minneapolis Bridge To Be Raised

Geez- I'm glad this wasn't a 110-story building!

Survivors of those missing in the deadly Interstate-35W bridge collapse maybe will find some answers this week as workers will begin pulling the wreckage from the Mississippi.

The death toll remained at 5 with at least 8 people still missing- including a young mother and her child.
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American War Dead In Iraq

The count as of yesterday was 3668 American lives lost- according to the AP count.
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Sunday, August 05, 2007

'National Bikers Roundup' Winds Down Today

The event has been going on most of this week out at the Kansas City International Raceway in the 8200 block of Noland Road.

The air around here has been heavy with the deep-throated roar of Harleys - I've noticed literally hundreds of bikers in south K.C. over the past 4 days and have thumbed-up so much it's stuck there.

Last night I heard a fire department pumper captain say there was around 3000 people at KCIR. The STAR article this morning said upwards of 50000 were to attend.

The number of fire department & medical calls out there support that estimate. Since Friday night I've heard and/or logged probably a dozen calls there- virtually all involving folks over-indulging and motorized equipment.

Other than the occasional mishap- it sounds like folks are behaving themselves and having one good-ole time.
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The Kansas City MetroRegion Overnight News and Weather Report - Sunday, August 05, 2007

** Three Struck By Hit & Run Driver In KC-MO **


*** This is reported to have happened in front of the Club Barcelona in the 3000 block of Southwest Boulevard around 1:05 am Sunday morning.

Police say witnesses reported a "black or dark purple Chevy Malibu" ran into 3 people outside the club. One suffered a serious head injury- the other patients had lesser hurts.

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** Motorcyclist Critically Hurt in KC-MO North **

... A male motorcyclist is in critical condition with a fractured skull and other injuries after he wrecked his bike in the 4600 block of North Highland around 2:45 am Sunday morning.
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** Two Victims Of Gunshot Heard Overnight **

... A gunshot victim in serious condition was reported by the KC-MO Fire department as enroute to an area trauma center around 2:45 am..
This person was possibly shot in a car and police were investigating.

... According to KC-MO police- a Hispanic male showed up at another trauma center about 3:30am Sunday morning- shot in the leg.
The victim reports it happened about 10 minutes prior- that he was at a car wash on Southwest Boulevard when he was shot by an unreported suspect.
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** Man Seriously Hurt After Chase By Independence Police In KC-MO **

... In the space of a minute starting at 12:49 am- KC-MO police report a chase in progress by Independence cops of a motorists "on traffic charges only" going west on 23rd Street from I-435.
One minute later- the suspect vehicle is reported to have crashed in the 2600 block of Oakley- the male driver pinned in the vehicle and seriously hurt. He was also under arrest.
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<><><> OVERNIGHT WEATHER <><> <>

Skies overnight ranged from mostly clear to partly cloudy and temperatures stayed warm- in the mid to upper 70's to 80 degrees in urbanized areas. Winds were breezy and from the south.

By late afternoon and evening today- areas in the northern MetroRegion may see some scattered showers and thundershowers with temperatures in the 90 to 95-degree range most locations.

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First with Metro Kansas City Breaking News - NBC41 ACTION NEWS.
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