ROTC cadets in Lawrence for Best Ranger contest

About 150 Army ROTC cadets from 21 universities will be in Lawrence on Saturday for Kansas University’s Best Ranger Buddy Team Competition.

Teams of two students compete in a series of events, including a 10-kilometer run, 500-meter swim, rock wall climb, and weapons assembly and disassembly. Events will occur at Clinton Lake, Robinson Gymnasium and KU’s West Campus.

Opening ceremonies begin at 6 a.m. on the trail near the Southwind 12 Theatres, 3433 Iowa. Closing ceremonies are at 4 p.m. near Youngberg Hall on West Campus.

The competition is based on the Best Ranger Competition, a seven-member event televised on ESPN.

Sheriff’s Office receives federal prisoner grant

The U.S. Department of Justice will reimburse the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for incarcerating federal prisoners.

The Sheriff’s Office will get $30,048 to cover some costs for the prisoners and provide federally mandated programs, Sheriff Rick Trapp said.

Each year the Sheriff’s Office uses a firm called Justice Benefits Inc. for assistance in researching and applying for little-known federal aid to ease the local tax burden, Trapp said.

Douglas County was one of 665 eligible entities across the country to successfully apply for the money.

New building for KANU nets $1.5 million in pledges

A Lawrence resident and a Kansas family foundation have pledged $1.5 million toward the new building for Kansas University’s public radio station, KU Endowment Association officials announced Thursday.

Hortense “Tensie” Oldfather, Lawrence, donated more than $1 million in securities. The Sunderland Foundation of Overland Park donated $500,000 toward the project.

Construction is under way on the 9,500-square-foot broadcast facility for KANU, 91.5 FM. Gifts still are being accepted for the $2.3 million project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Oldfather has lived in Lawrence since 1950. Her husband, Charles Oldfather Jr., was a KU law professor and university counsel.

James P. Sunderland, a trustee and president of the Sunderland Foundation, also is a member of KANU’s advisory board. He is retired chairman of Ash Grove Cement Company in Overland Park.

KU governance announces new faculty representatives

New faculty representatives have been elected to two Kansas University governance groups.

New members of the Athletic Committee are Don Steeples, geology, and Renate Mai-Dalton, business. Both will serve three-year terms expiring May 2005.

New members of the Faculty Council, also serving three-year terms ending May 2005, will be Barbara Anthony-Twarog, physics and astronomy; Phillippe Barriere, architecture and urban design; Mark Ezell, social welfare; Jane Gibson, anthropology; Nancy Kinnersley, electrical engineering and computer science; Jill Kleinberg, business; George McCleary, geography; Tim Miller, religious studies; John Peck, law; Howard Rytting, pharmaceutical chemistry; Steve Shawl, physics; Joe Sicilian, economics; and Susan Twombly, teaching and leadership.

Body identified, foul play suspected

A body discovered more than a year ago near Lecompton has finally been identified, according to a Topeka man who says he is the victim’s father.

Dale Miller told the Journal-World on Thursday he was told about a week ago by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that the body is that of his son, Dale Alan Miller, 38. The body has since been returned to the family and was cremated, Dale Miller said.

Dale Miller said his son had been murdered. The KBI and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating the death as a murder.

KBI spokesman Kyle Smith confirmed that an identification had been made but would not release the identity. He said information had been given to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

That information is being studied, but no charges have been filed, Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney said.

The body was found April 14, 2001, under chunks of concrete off East 225 Road, a quarter-mile north of 2190 Road.

Wetlands Field Day to exhibit proposed trafficway route

Markers showing how the proposed 32nd Street route for the South Lawrence Trafficway would pass through the Baker Wetlands will be the subject of an exhibit during the 11th annual Baker Wetlands Field Day from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Ted Cable, who helped draft a mitigation agreement between the university and state transportation officials, will be on hand to answer questions on the proposed routes.

Other exhibits will celebrate the wetlands’ diversity, including living displays featuring birds, turtles, frogs and salamanders. Canoe trips will be available.

Located south of 31st Street between Haskell Avenue and Louisiana Street, the 573-acre wetlands are home to nearly 250 species of birds, 400 plant species and 85 invertebrates.

The public is asked to enter the north gate; exit the east gate.