IN 1977

Lawrence moved a step closer to completion of the Clinton Reservoir water treatment plant with the opening bids for the plant’s construction. Happily, the bids ran below the $8.4 million in bonds that had been voted, twice, by the city for the project.

The city commission called for steps to reopen full negotiations with the police and firefighters about a 1978 pay-benefit package after a short police slowdown. The job action had covered two days, during which there were no major problems of law enforcement.

A contract setting a basic fee of 6.75 percent of the total cost of the new Lawrence city hall was to be approved by the city commission for the firm providing architectural and engineering services.

The firm building the new Kansas River bridges here said it still was behind schedule but was optimistic about getting caught up in the coming three months.

IN 1962

Large turnouts of rural voters were expected here for the wheat referendum. Allotments and quotas were being determined by the vote.

A 22-day trip through the West with 11 people nine children and the parents proved to be enlightening and enjoyable for the James Gillispie family of Lawrence. They traveled 6,300 miles without serious problems and were ready to start all over again when they had the time and money.

The death of an elderly woman as the result of drowning in the Kansas River here was ruled a suicide by county coroner Jim Reed.

Kermit Beal, 31-year-old Lawrence attorney, resigned as counsel for the Kansas State Board of Tax Appeals in Topeka after holding the post for about a year. He said he planned to concentrate on private law practice in Lawrence.

IN 1902

On Aug. 31, 1902, the Lawrence Journal, referring to an early rivalry among the community’s free state leaders, stated, “The Topeka Herald wants the next legislature to fill the four niches in the rotunda of the capitol building with the statutes of John Brown, Jim Lane, Charles Robinson and John A. Martin. Don’t do it; if Robinson and Lane are put that near together, the state militia will have to be called out in less than twenty-four hours.”