Rural residents report theft of mail Monday

Mail was taken Monday from at least 18 mailboxes at rural residences southwest of Lawrence, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Much of the mail — including many Christmas cards — was found opened and scattered in ditches, officers said.

The mail thieves struck at mailboxes in the area of Lone Star Lake and just west of Pleasant Grove. Two of the victims said their mailboxes were taken. Losses were undetermined.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

Fatality

Christmas Day fire kills Turon resident

Turon — A Christmas Day fire claimed the life of a 91-year-old Reno County man, officials said.

When firefighters responded to the blaze at 2:20 a.m. Wednesday, the roof of Jay Barnett’s home had caved in. Barnett lived by himself.

His body was found between his recliner and the furnace. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson said he did not suspect foul play.

Technology award given to KU vice provost

Jerry Niebaum, Kansas University assistant vice provost for information services, and the KAN-ED network have been given the Kansas Leadership Technology Award from the Kansas Department of Education.

Niebaum has been working on special assignment for 18 months as planning coordinator for KAN-ED, which addresses inadequate bandwidth resources in rural Kansas schools, libraries and hospitals.