Power plant shut down temporarily for refueling

Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant near Burlington has been shut down for refueling.

Workers removed 193 “fuel assemblies” from the reactor on Monday; 89 new assemblies will be put in, along with 104 that have already been in use.

The plant’s refueling and maintenance outages are every 18 months, with about one-third of the fuel replaced.

Other work during the outage includes an inspection of the reactor vessel head, testing on electrical supply and water systems, routine maintenance on motor-operated valves and on an emergency diesel generator.

Wolf Creek will return to full power operation later this month.

County: ECO2 meeting postponed Wait until next week.

That’s the message for members of ECO2, a committee formed by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce to develop a plan for acquiring industrial land and preserving open space in Douglas County.

The committee’s 4 p.m. Tuesday meeting was postponed because it conflicted with a community reception for the Kansas men’s basketball team at Memorial Stadium.

The next meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the chamber, 734 Vt.

Committee members are scheduled to review a draft plan of the committee’s proposal for financing and managing the acquisition and preservation of property.

April Fools’ Day: Radio prank compared to a terrorist attack

Olathe A city water official says a radio station April Fools Day prank that caused some residents to think their water supply was unfit for drinking and even bathing was akin to “a terrorist attack.”

Jerald Robnett, the city’s superintendent of water protection, said his department received calls from 150 customers Monday after KQRC 98.8 FM reported the water contained “high levels of a naturally occurring substance,” dihydrogen monoxide, that causes increased urination, profuse sweating and wrinkling of hands and feet.

City officials said about 30 residents called 911.

The April Fool’s Day gag upset Robnett so much that he said, “It’s a terrorist act as far as I’m concerned.”

City Manager Michael Wilkes called the joke irresponsible and said it jeopardized public safety.

Lecompton: City council members elected

Lecompton voters on Tuesday filled three vacant seats on the city council.

Incumbents Cynthia Treaster and Nick T. Fergus, the only two candidates on the ballot, both were re-elected to two-year terms. Treaster received 29 votes; Fergus received 36 votes.

Voters also elected Marsha Paslay by write-in. She received 21 votes.

The polls in Lecompton were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Three hundred Lecompton residents were registered to vote in the election.

Voter turnout was low, but not uncharacteristically so, said Deputy Douglas County Clerk Jo Dalquest.

“It’s typical for an off-year election in Lecompton,” she said.

Election results will become official on Friday, after the Douglas County Commission canvasses the ballots at a 9 a.m. meeting.

Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a Lawrence-area gasoline price as low as $1.32 at the Citgos at Ninth and Iowa streets and 920 N. Second St.

If you find a lower price, please call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price. Or go to www.ljworld.com/section/gasoline to join our Pump Patrol board.