JoCo Community College Foundation names health care exec Johnson Countian of Year

The Johnson County Community College Foundation has named Steven D. Wilkinson as Johnson Countian of the Year for 2022. He is a longtime community volunteer and a retired health-care executive who served 17-plus years as chief executive officer of Menorah Medical Center.

“Steve’s strong desire to help others is the epitome of JCCC’s mission of inspiring learning to transform lives and strengthen communities,” Marshaun Butler, president of the JCCC Foundation, said in a news release.

Wilkinson began his health-care career in 1983 as executive vice-president of St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas, and later was named president and CEO. In 1996, he moved to Kansas City to be regional executive of the American Hospital Association.

He joined Menorah shortly after the hospital moved to Overland Park, and also held positions at the hospital’s parent company, HCA Midwest Health.

Wilkinson retired in 2015 but was persuaded to serve as Kansas City area president and CEO of Prime Healthcare in 2018.

Besides devoting time to professional health care associations, Wilkinson has been a board member for local organizations ranging from the Johnson County Business Leadership Council and JCCC Foundation to the Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City, the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and Kansas City Hospice. He is a past member of the University of Kansas Edwards Campus Board of Advisors.

Wilkinson and his wife, Wanda, have chaired fundraising committees for the Overland Park Arts & Recreation Foundation’s Stems event, Kansas State University’s Wabash Cannon Ball, Kansas City Hospice and the JCCC Foundation’s Some Enchanted Evening gala. The couple also has served on the Catholic Charities Snow Ball committee.

Wilkinson will be honored Nov. 12 at the Some Enchanted Evening gala.

Meet Blitz, now working for PV

Prairie Village’s first police dog, Blitz, is on the job.

When Blitz was introduced to the Prairie Village City Council on April 4, Police Chief Byron Roberson described Blitz as the city’s first “official” K-9 officer. He said that archival photos, from the late 1950s or early 1960s, show a Doberman Pinscher accompanying an officer at the city’s shopping mall, but there’s no indication that the animal ever worked for the department.

Blitz, a Belgian Malinois, joined the department in November after attending a six-week training course with his handler, Officer Ben Overesch.

De Soto buying land for future schools

The De Soto school board has agreed to buy about 150 acres in the southern part of the school district for future school construction.

If all goes well, the district could close by mid-summer on the land, near 127th Street and Waverly Road in Olathe. The cost of the vacant property is $10,951.22 per acre, or just over $1.6 million. The tract is large enough to accommodate an elementary school, middle school and high school if needed.

“While it will be several years before the district will need the land to build schools, the acquisition supports the district’s long-range planning to be prepared for future school needs,” the district said in a news release. “Funding for the purchase is part of the bond issue approved by voters in 2018.”

By taking action now, the district said, it can get the land at a lower cost and put future leaders in a better position to respond to growth.

The De Soto School District serves more than 7,400 students with seven elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools as well as the Cedar Trails Exploration Center for early childhood and career programs. Besides De Soto, the district includes parts of Shawnee, Lenexa and Olathe.

Bridge repair on U.S. 69

U.S. 69 drivers could encounter delays through early September as crews repair the southbound bridge over 179th Street in Overland Park.

Southbound traffic is being reduced to a single lane as workers replace damaged concrete and overlay the bridge with concrete, the Kansas Department of Transportation said.

Gardner Edgerton award

Gardner Edgerton is among three Kansas school districts to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for outstanding summer meal programs.

The Turnip the Beet award was granted at the silver level to the Gardner Edgerton and Wamego districts, while the Haven district in Kansas earned a gold award. All three make use of local produce in their summer food programs.

In Gardner Edgerton, the district handed out 30,000 meals each Tuesday over the summer, giving 2,500 children kits containing 14 meals each. Families could choose from among three meal-kit options, including vegetarian fare and local fruits and vegetables. One farmer provided tiny watermelons, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

“We had some really great help from our community partners, too,” Droegemeier said. “Walmart loaned us 20 carts (to help with curbside deliveries), and Price Chopper would sell us items at cost if we couldn’t get it. Teachers helped, too.”

Free day at Arboretum

May 3 is the next free admission day at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

The Arboretum, at 8909 W. 179th St., will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Drug Take Back Day

Several local law enforcement agencies are participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30, where people can safely dispose of unneeded prescriptions to prevent them from being abused or harming the environment.

Events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a list of dropoff sites, visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

2 SM schools receive Challenge Awards

Crestview and Merriam Park elementary schools, both in the Shawnee Mission School District, are among 92 Kansas schools to receive a 2021 Challenge Award.

Only two Johnson County schools received the honor, which recognizes schools that make a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population. The award is based on Kansas Assessment results in math and reading, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism rates and the socio-economic status of those taking the test.

This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "JoCo Community College Foundation names health care exec Johnson Countian of Year."