Christmas parades to roll through area downtowns

Christmas parades Saturday will mark the holiday season in Lawrence and Ottawa.

At 11 a.m., about 100 horse-drawn carriages and wagons once again will roll through downtown Lawrence in the annual Eldridge Hotel Old Fashioned Christmas Parade.

The parade will travel along Massachusetts Street from Seventh to 11th streets.

In downtown Ottawa, the Storybook Christmas Parade will begin at 1 p.m.

Animals

Another dog attack proves fatal, police say

Lawrence Police are investigating a second attack in less than a month that caused the death of a dog.

Police said a 15-year-old Akita/chow mix chained in its yard in the 1600 block of Second Terrace was attacked by another dog the night of Nov. 25

The family took the dog, named Cujo, to its veterinarian. The animal later had to be euthanized because of the injuries.

Witnesses weren’t sure of the breed of the attacking dog.

Animal control officers still are patrolling the area looking for the dog, which was described as a gold-colored, medium-sized animal that had been seen in the neighborhood several days before the attack.

Last month, two pit bulls jumped a fence in an east Lawrence neighborhood and mauled a Labrador retriever tied up in its back yard. That animal also died.

Schools

Junior high faculty work McDonald’s fund-raiser

South Junior High School faculty and staff worked the night shift Wednesday to raise money for the school.

For three hours, folks from the junior high cooked fries, served drinks, worked the drive-up window and cleaned the lobby at the McDonald’s at 901 W. 23rd St.

“It really is a fun night for the faculty and students, as well as our crew members,” said Marilyn Dobski, owner and operator of the McDonald’s franchises in Lawrence.

McDonald’s donates 20 percent of sales during the three-hour period to the school.

South’s choir made an appearance at the dining extravaganza to perform holiday songs for customers.

Next semester, the students at South will collect food and paper goods to donate to Ronald McDonald House.

Fund-raiser

Rodeo event to benefit 4-H, emergency services

Lucky Seven Rodeo Productions will stage the third-annual Bullennium at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Indoor Arena of the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The rodeo features bull fighting, bucking, clowns and the “Bull Poker.” Miss Rodeo Kansas will appear, singers will perform patriotic songs, and door prizes will be given away.

Donations collected from the event benefit Douglas County 4-H clubs and The Douglas County Heroes Fund for fire, medical, law enforcement and emergency management teams of Douglas County. Last year, the rodeo raised $1,032.