Reception today to honor retiring emergency worker

Brian Lawrence, an emergency worker since the early 1970s who became a medical training officer with the the Douglas County Ambulance Service in 1977, is retiring this month from the Lawrence-Douglas County Medical Service.

A reception honoring Lawrence, who is now a battalion chief, will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today in the training room at Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical Station No. 1, 746 Ky.

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 Mail call: Post office makes changes for tax filers on April 15

Last-minute taxpayers who take advantage of late hours on tax night at the Lawrence post office will notice a change this year.

Although the main post office at 645 Vt. will be open from 9 p.m. to midnight Monday, the usual hand cancellations will not be applied to tax mailings, Lawrence Postmaster Bill Reynolds said. Increased security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent anthrax scares have prompted a need for machine cancellation, which will take place at the Kansas City processing facility.

However, as long as customers deposit their tax mailing at the main post office by midnight, they still can count on an April 15 postmark, Reynolds said.

Because of the added expense of staying open late and the decreasing volume of last-minute tax filings in recent years, Reynolds said he anticipated the late-night tradition at the post office may not continue for too many more years.

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 Environment: Material dumped near creek not hazardous, KDHE says

A sludge-like material dumped near a Kansas University garage wasn’t hazardous, a Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokesman said Thursday.

A small amount of the material, which tests showed contained soil, water and a “residual amount” of motor oil, was dumped April 2 by university officials who were cleaning an oil drainage system.

Mechanics at the vehicle maintenance garage were concerned because it was dumped about 30 feet from a creek on KU’s West Campus.

KDHE spokesman Mike Heideman said officials haven’t finished the report of their inspection at the garage, which occurred April 4.

“We’re still in the process of evaluating the inspection findings, in terms of whether any procedures might have been violated,” he said.

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 Making the move: Events to help arts center celebrate its new location

An open house and dedication are planned Sunday for the new Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H. Several other events also are scheduled during April in conjunction with the new center’s opening.

 Today and Saturday: “New Works Concert,” by Prairie Wind Dancers, 8 p.m.

 Sunday: Open house and dedication, 2 p.m.

 April 20-21: “Stuart Little,” by the Seem-To-Be Players, 1:30 p.m.

 April 27: Lawrence Arts Center Auction, 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the center, 843-2787.

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 Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a Lawrence-area gasoline price as low as $1.32 at the Conoco at Sixth Street and Crestline Drive and the Citgo stations at Ninth and Iowa streets and at 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.