IN 1977

The U.S. Gross National Product increased at an annual rate of 5.2 percent in the first quarter of 1977, the best gain in a year and, according to federal officials, a signal of an improving economy.

The opening of the new Lawrence Memorial Hospital was being delayed a week because of trouble with a contractor, administrator Don Lenz announced.

Officials were emphasizing that after the United States had been waltzing along for years with cheap energy, the music was about to stop and that conservation and alternative energy supplies would be necessary to meet the needs of the future.

A North Dakota-born, Arizona-educated woman was the new director of the Watkins Community Museum here. She was Ann Clausen, 29, who was to replace Arthur Townsend as of May 1. Townsend had resigned for another position after directing the museum since its opening in mid-1975. He had highly recommended Clausen for the post.

IN 1962

More than 100 leading Americans had been invited to ride a special Santa Fe train from Kansas City to Abilene May 1 for ceremonies dedicating the Eisenhower Library. President John Kennedy and former presidents Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover were among those due to be on the train along with several from Lawrence.

The morning Kansas Relays parade was spared the all-too-frequent rain, but high and gusty winds caused serious problems for most of the participants and floats. Damage to the floats was in some cases heavy.

Mimi Frink, a senior at Lawrence High was crowned the 1962 Miss Lawrence at a ceremony sponsored by the Lawrence Jaycees. Miss Frink later was to serve as Miss Kansas and was a strong prospect to compete in the Miss America contest.

Capt. Karl Reber, commander of the local National Guard unit, called a surprise practice alert for the approximately 100 men in his group and said the response had been “even better than we had hoped.” The Guard was pronounced “ready to serve and serve well” by state officials who observed the exercise.

IN 1902

On April 21, 1902, the Lawrence Journal, commenting on yesterday’s dust storm, noted, “And yet, there was one thing to be thankful for while the wind blew and the dust seemed more than you could bear, and that this part of Kansas doesn’t see a day of the kind on an average of once a year.”