Lawrence area braces for soaring gas bills and court cases
In January 2001 Lawrence residents faced gas bills triple previous averages with statewide officials citing dwindling supplies and strong demand after a cold December. Separately, many custodial parents hit delays in child support from a new state center, while Gov. Graves weighed taxes and GOP rivals eyed 2002 governorship. Lawmakers and state education officials reshaped standards amid battles over evolution. The lottery faced internal misconduct questions as a top judge was sworn in, and community leaders gathered to discuss social capital sparked by Robert Putnam as over 2,000 attended the summit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kansas Public Service
Lawrence
Kansas University
Deanell Tacha
10Th
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Tacha
Lied Center
U.S. Supreme Court
Stephen Breyer
Robert Putnam
Bert Nash
Putnam
February in Kansas highlights and campus tragedies
February events in Kansas included the State Board of Education restoring evolution in science standards, Oread Inc. closing, and the death of KU student Shyra McGee after a collision with a drunken driver. Nationwide news cited Dale Earnhardt's Daytona 500 crash, FBI agent Hanssen’s espionage, and the XFL debut aided by Lawrence firm GLPM Architects.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
State Board of Education
Kansas Science Standards
Oread Inc
Kansas University
Dale Earnhardt
FBI
Robert Philip Hanssen
Russia
XFL
Lawrence
Glpm Architects
Shyra McGee
Stouffer Place
Sixth Street
Monterey Way
Brandon Gentry
Gentry
Death threat prompts student absences at Southwest Junior High
About one fifth of Southwest Junior High students were absent on March 27 after a death threat was scrawled in a restroom. On March 29, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission approved a preliminary Home Depot plan at 31st Street and Ousdahl Road despite resident opposition, while rejecting a larger commercial and office complex at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southwest Junior High School
Lawrence- Douglas County
31St Street
Ousdahl Road
Sixth Street
Wakarusa Drive
New Faces Win Local Elections and Leadership Shifts
April saw Sue Hack win the city commission vote alongside re-elected incumbents Dunfield and Kennedy. Linda Robinson claimed a school board seat with Turney and Salkind also victorious. Lied Center appoints Tim Van Leer as executive director, while April G. Leer departs for a New York post. The BIA cleared Haskell Indian Nations University to proceed with the South Lawrence Trafficway south of campus after a street vacate plan. Discipline actions rose at Lawrence High amid threats, and Ralph Nader spoke at the Lied Center. A fatal two-car crash claimed Peter Swalm’s life, and KU’s Bob Frederick announced resignation in June amid financial pressures. George Weber died after a Bowersock Dam incident.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sue Hack
Lawrence
City Commission
David Dunfield
Marty Kennedy
Linda Robinson
Business-Education Partnership
Austin Turney
Leni Salkind
Tim van Leer
Lied Center
April G. Leer
el Camino
Calif
College Center of the Arts
Jackie Davis
New York
South Lawrence
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Haskell Indian Nations University
Lawrence High
Peter Swalm
Bob Frederick
Frederick
Department
George Weber
Bowersock
Kansas River
May events mark tragedy and change in Lawrence area
In May the Lawrence City Commission rejected a Home Depot zoning proposal on 31st and Iowa while remaining open to the project. Abortion provider Dr. Kristin Neuhaus announced the end of her Wichita practice citing safety and financial concerns. Natasha Helm, 17, waived to no contest for abducting two children from a west Lawrence home. KU student Shannon Martin was stabbed to death in Golfito during study abroad. Farmland Industries laid off 68 union workers at the Lawrence nitrogen plant amid weak fertilizer markets. The eternal flame at Oak Hill Cemetery was briefly halted then restored after veterans complained of energy costs. Daniel Peterson, former youth group leader, was sentenced to over 10 years for sexual relations with four boys. KU held its 129th commencement with 4,000 graduates. Mayor Rundle’s bid to appoint David Burress to the planning commission failed, triggering a local debate on commission makeup. Baldwin High student Kenneth Goff was charged after striking classmate Anthony McClintock with a broom.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lawrence
31St
Iowa Streets
Kristin Neuhaus
Wichita
Natasha Helm
West Lawrence
Kansas University
Shannon Martin
Golfito
Costa Rica
Farmland Industries
Lawrence Nitrogen
Oak Hill Cemetery
Daniel Peterson
Tonganoxie United Methodist Church
Mike Rundle
David Burress
Lawrence-Douglas County
Baldwin High School
Kenneth S. Goff
Anthony McClintock
McClintock
June brings speedway opening and citywide activity streams
The first weekend of June saw the opening of the new 224 million Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County with its inaugural races. Lawrence hotels and motels reported higher occupancy as locals cashed in, while other town events included the D-Day Memorial dedication in Bedford Virginia and artist Jim Brothers spotlighting sculptures of invasion soldiers. Flooding hit Leavenworth County and parts near Easton, the Hall Family Foundation pledged 42 million to Kansas University over five years, and a New York trial brought David Jamison to court for the stabbing death of KU graduate Amy Watkins. Lawrence leaders rejected a Big Box proposal, safety issues included parking meters being robbed at night, a psychic scam drained 3000 dollars, and KU named Al Bohl athletics director.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kansas Speedway
Wyandotte
Lawrence
Bedford
Jim Brothers
Brothers
Leavenworth
Stranger Creek
Easton
Tonganoxie
Hall Family Foundation
Kansas University
New York
David Jamison
Amy Watkins
Sixth Street
Wakarusa Drive
July heat and fires spark ban talk in Lawrence
Lawrence residents debated banning fireworks after a series of July blazes destroyed a vacant home four apartment units a playground asset and a Dumpster. The heat pushed the community to open a temporary homeless shelter at St. John the Evangelist Church while 220 KU Medical Center staff treated attendees at Kansas Speedway opening events. The region recalled the 1951 flood’s 60th anniversary, mourned former Gov. Joan Finney, and followed KU plans on demolition for scholarship housing with a joint city university planning panel. FBI agents aided Shannon Martin case as hair analysis yielded no match to suspects. In Jefferson County Ronald Decker 54 was charged with the 1999 murder of Lloyd Green 45 buried in a McLouth backyard.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lawrence
Lawrence Catholic Center
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Kansas University Medical Center
Kansas Speedway
Kansas
Joan Finney
al Bohl
Oread
University
Jeanette Stauffer
Shannon Martin
Miguel Angel Rodriguez
FBI
Martin
Jefferson County
Ronald Decker
McLouth
Lloyd Green
Decker
Green
Also Mentioned on This Page
Bill Graves
George W. Bush
Norman Pineta
U.S. Department of Transportation
Graves
U.S
Jerry Moran
Todd Tiahrt
Gary Sherrer
House
Kent Glasscock
Tim Shallenburger
Carol Rupe
Sue Gamble
Bruce Wyatt
Rupe
Gamble
Kansas Lottery
Lottery
Ed van Petten
Melissa Lacey
Journal-World File
Circuit Court of Appeals
Supreme Court
Kansas City
Disney Internet Group
Honeywell
Olathe
Karen Swisher
Total Fitness Athletic Center
Iowa
University Daily Kansan
Jason K. Smith
Granada
Mass
Massachusetts Street
Illinois
Midwest
San Antonio
Jurnal
HINU
Journal-World File Photo
Green Party
Ralph Nader
Journal-World
Ihe Yoder
Thad Allender
Journal-World Fire Photo
Bradford Square Apartments
Cole
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