The Current Online

Biden spoke at MCC-Penn Valley HSI (Stephanie Weissman/The Current).

by Stephanie Weissman

MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute hosted Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, in a round-table discussion on the topic “Community College to Career” on April 30. [...]

Michael Holcomb/The Current

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by Stephanie Weissman

Families and friends joined together when Longview lent its campus to the Flights of Fancy Mega Kite Festival. On April 20, the event brought together people of all ages to the annual event, which was on its sixth year. The festival’s activities for children included kite making, a balloon artist, face painting and kite flying; all who came were able to see mega kites fly through the sky, as well as stunt kites. Kites that ranged from original to Dora the Explorer flew through the sunny, spring sky.

“It’s great getting out to fly and to show what we can do,” said Terri Wible, a member on the board of the Kansas City Kite Club. Wible, who has been flying kites for 20 years, was one of the many people who attended the festival to fly their own kites. “I’m glad that there is such a good turn out, and to see so many enjoy the event,” said Wible. At the event, there was a kite hospital, where people could take their kites to get fixed, and some people from around the country set up tents to help people learn more about kites.

“We’ve attended Kite festivals in Japan, China, Denmark, Mexico, and all over the United States,” said Oklahoma native Richard Dermer. Aside from being a kite activist, Dermer and his wife own a pizza hot-spot called Hole in the Wall Pizza in Oklahoma. Dermer shows how anyone can be a kite-flyer, and that it can be truly an enjoyable experience, as he has done so for over 30 years.

The event itself originated with Lee’s Summit City Councilman Allan Gray, the honorary chair of the event. Gray helped with the concept and serves on the committee to provide moral support.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for Lee’s Summit. It encourages families to come out and have outdoor fun – young and hold and from all backgrounds,” said Gray. Gray spent the festival working with people and having a good time.  “Kites are universal. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that all of this started with a simple conversation and to see Longview not just as a school, but as a community,” he said.

With a turn-out calculated at 20,000 people by the Lee’s Summit Fire Department, the Flights of Fancy Kite Festival allowed for many people to spend their Saturday amongst friends, family and peers with a beautiful, kite-filled view.

by Adam Welsh

On February 29, MCC shut down its “Open Wireless” internet access, closing off internet access to everyone except students, faculty and staff.  Many campus users wondered what was happening and for what purpose.

“It’s a security risk, flat out,” said Campus Outreach Coordinator Alex Grigsby of the Business and Technology Campus. “Making sure that the students and employees of the college have secure internet access is nothing short of a rigorously performed task, and with an open door things are bound to get in.”

Users now must use the wireless connection that requires an MCC login. [...]

by Jeff Gudde

Lately, the halls of MCC-Longview are filled with high-and tight-haircuts, buzz cuts, and military bags from different services. You don’t have to be ex-military or some secret agent to be aware of this fact—the U.S. military active duty and veteran population at MCC-Longview is growing fast as soldiers return home to seek education and a new life sans uniform.

This fact is even more apparent upon visiting the MCC-Longview Student Financial Aid Office, where Sandra Kremer, Veterans & Financial Aid Office Supervisor for MCC-Longview, presently oversees the processing of veteran requests for their use of Montgomery G.I. and Post-9/11 G.I. Bill educational benefits.

“The amount of veterans submitting request has increased almost two-fold in the last six months,” Kremer said. [...]