Law enforcement
Two arrested for breaking into police officer's pickup
Two men were arrested after allegedly stealing a Lawrence Police officer's 9 mm handgun, magazine with 16 bullets, uniform, ID badge and police radio from a pickup in downtown Lawrence.
Sky J. Betsellie, 18, and Mark P. Roberts, 20, were arrested when officers noticed them walking downtown. Police said they could see radio equipment hanging from one of the men's pockets.
The off-duty officer had parked his pickup about 11:30 p.m. Friday in the 800 block of Vermont Street.
When he returned to his vehicle about 1 a.m. Saturday, he noticed his window had been broken and that someone had stolen the items, police said.
Soon, other officers and police dispatchers began hearing unauthorized radio traffic. Police eventually located the suspects walking along Massachusetts Street.
Both men on Monday posted bond and were released from Douglas County Jail.
Investigation
Fire victim's identity withheld after autopsy
An autopsy was completed Monday on the victim of a Franklin County fire, but the victim's identity was being withheld pending the autopsy's results, authorities said.
A woman's body was found Sunday afternoon inside a camper that was engulfed in flames in eastern Franklin County, about four miles east of Ottawa. Firefighters responded to the 2700 block of Tennessee Terrace to find the camper and a single-wide mobile home on fire.
Firefighters extinguished the fire, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The source of the fire and cause of the woman's death weren't known Monday. An investigation continues.
Arson
Three arrested for fraternity fire
Fire investigators and police said three people had been arrested and were suspected in connection with a fire that damaged a Kansas University fraternity last month.
Thomas Cale Jr., 19, Lawrence, was released on a $1,000 own-recognizance bond after his first appearance Monday afternoon. He and two juveniles were arrested Saturday after police found them breaking windows at Phi Kappa Theta, which caught fire and burned Feb. 28.
The two juveniles, whose names were not made public, were released to the custody of their parents, police said. They were questioned about the fire and were considered suspects, said Richard Barr, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical fire marshal.
The three admitted to authorities that they had been at the vacant fraternity, 1941 Stewart Ave., before the fire broke out and had stolen items from the building.
Cale was booked for criminal damage and criminal trespassing.
Maintenance
City begins program for curbside waste pickup
Signaling that spring is nearly here, the city began curbside pickup of grass and leaf yard waste Monday.
Pickup will be every Monday, Solid Waste Division Manager Bob Yoos said in a press release. Residents are asked to place the clippings curbside in cans, polycarts, plastic bags or paper yard waste bags by 6 a.m.
The clippings are composted by the city, which is offering compostable paper bags in the Old West Lawrence, Hillcrest, West Hills Homes and Deerfield neighborhoods.
Contact Lisa Siegel, the recycling specialist, at 832-3046 for more information about the program.
Health
KU MedWest to offer heart disease program
Kansas University MedWest will offer a free one-hour program this month to help individuals understand the No. 1 killer in the United States: coronary heart disease.
Cardiologist James L. Vacek will discuss the disease and how to reduce risk factors, recognize warning signs and respond quickly to them.
A cholesterol screening also will be available during the program, which will be at 7 p.m. March 15 at KU MedWest.
For more information or to register, call (913) 588-1227.
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