Honors: Student from Lawrence nets National Merit scholarship

A Lawrence resident enrolled at an elite Colorado boarding school is this area’s lone recipient of a corporate-sponsored National Merit scholarship.

Sam Knowlton was among 22 Kansas and 1,100 U.S. high school seniors to earn a scholarship from a corporation, foundation or business.

Knowlton attended Lawrence public schools before attending high school at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colo.

His National Merit award is sponsored by Payless Shoesource, which has headquarters in Topeka.

Lawrence had no corporate-sponsored National Merit winners last year.

Financial details of Knowlton’s award weren’t released, but most scholarships are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study. They range from $500 to $10,000 annually.

An additional 6,500 National Merit scholarships will be awarded in May and July.

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 Transportation: Railroad repairs to disrupt traffic on rural county roads

Some roads in rural Douglas County will be disrupted beginning this week as railroad repair crews make their way through the county.

On Friday and Saturday, Union Pacific Railroad anticipates closing its crossing at the intersection of North 170 and East 1675 roads. The crossing will be the first in the county upgraded, with adjustments to asphalt approaches and related work.

The next crossing to be closed  likely either Monday or Tuesday  will be on East 1600 Road, just south of North 1700 Road.

Future closings  as yet unscheduled  will be just west or south of U.S. Highways 24-59 at the following local roads: North 1800 Road, North 1900 Road, East 1400 Road, North 2000 Road and East 1250 Road.

Union Pacific expects its repairs to take seven weeks to complete.

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 On the Hill: Disabilities center at KU: announces new director

The associate director of Kansas University’s Beach Center on Disability soon will have another title beside his name, KU officials announced Wednesday.

Michael Wehmeyer, who has served as the center’s associate director since 1999, also will become director of KU’s University Center on Developmental Disabilities (UCDD).

Wehmeyer succeeds Stephen Schroeder, who retired in October. The UCDD conducts research on disabilities through post-doctoral and in-service training, technical assistance and direct services.

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 Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a 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.