Town house fire causes $90,000 in damage

A two-alarm fire Friday evening at 2210 Greenbrier Drive caused an estimated $90,000 in damage, according to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical.

Twenty firefighters eventually responded to the incident, which was reported at 6:05 p.m. Division Chief Jerry Karr said flames were not obvious from the exterior of the building, but all three floors of the town house were filled with thick, black smoke.

The fire was under control by 6:30 p.m., and no one was injured. The occupants of the building will be temporarily displaced, Karr said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Two caught during burglary at junior high

Two men nearly got away with $1,900 after a burglary at South Junior High School.

Lawrence Police responded about 2 a.m. Friday to an alarm at the school, 2734 La. When they entered the building police said they heard talking but could not locate the suspects.

The men reportedly ransacked offices before fleeing.

One suspect was caught inside the building. The other was found while trying to flee. Police arrested the two men, and all money was recovered.

Officials suspend three junior high students

Fireworks, stolen property and fighting resulted in suspensions for three Lawrence junior high school students, district officials said Friday.

Julie Boyle, the district’s communications director, said an eighth-grade boy at West Junior High School was suspended for five days pending a disciplinary hearing for lighting an illegal firework after exiting a bus. No one was injured.

Another eighth-grade male at West, 2700 Harvard Road, was suspended five days on suspicion of stealing two videotape recorders and library books from the school. Lawrence Police were notified of the incident, Boyle said.

Officials at Southwest Junior High School, 2511 Inverness Drive, suspended a ninth-grade boy for three days for hitting another student, who was not seriously injured.

Two face charges after chase in county

Douglas County Sheriff’s officers took three people into custody Friday after a chase on the Kansas Turnpike.

Topeka Police said a narcotics detective attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation about 4 p.m. when the vehicle fled and eventually headed east on the turnpike.

The car was later stopped by Douglas County Sheriff’s officers.

Three people were taken into custody and transported back to Topeka. The driver was arrested on traffic charges and for obstruction. One passenger also was charged with obstruction and the third was released.