Police make five arrests in counterfeit bill incidents

Lawrence Police have arrested five people after a flurry of counterfeit money showed up at various businesses.

Police first arrested four suspects at the Bismarck Inn, 1130 N. Third St.

Police were called Monday to Total Petroleum Inc., 1010 N. Third St., to examine a possible counterfeit bill. A clerk told an officer that the suspects left the store in a teal Ford Ranger pickup, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

The truck was found at the inn, and the suspects were found in a room. Officers confiscated “evidence consistent with the manufacture of counterfeit currency,” Pattrick said.

Taken to the Douglas County Jail were a Perry man, a Topeka man and a Topeka woman. No information was available on a second woman suspect. Charges are pending.

On Friday, a 31-year-old Lawrence man was arrested after detectives searched a house in the 2400 block of Jasu Drive. Evidence related to a counterfeit operation also was confiscated, Pattrick said.

The suspect was taken to jail and later released on $10,000 bond. Charges are pending until his first court appearance Feb. 14.

Police said there was no apparent connection between the Monday and Friday arrests.

Oread neighbors to meet

The Oread Neighborhood Assn. will hold its winter meeting at 7 p.m. today at Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

Watkins historian Steve Jansen will speak on the topic of “Oread Neighborhood at Risk.”

The Oread association is contesting Kansas University’s decision to demolish several century-old homes in the 1300 block of Ohio Street to make way for scholarship halls. The demolition of such homes, residents say, threatens the historic identity of the neighborhood.

Comedy team to perform juggling, mime, improvisation

Ottawa Laughing Matters, the husband-and-wife team of Jay Cady and Leslie Siefert-Cady, will present a show of juggling, mime, magic, radio plays, improvisation and audience participation today and Wednesday at Ottawa Municipal Auditorium, Third and Hickory.

The couple studied with the legendary mime Marcel Marceau and have performed in 30 states and seven foreign countries. They’ve performed with Cirque Du Soleil and opened by Judy Collins.

They will perform at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. today and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for those under 18. Tickets will be available at the auditorium 30 minutes before each show.

Student groups to perform at Brown Bag concerts

Three student ensembles are featured during February’s Brown Bag Classics from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium at the Kansas Union.

Performing are the KU Horn Ensemble, Wednesday; Instrumental Collegium Musicum, Feb. 13; and KU Harmonie, Feb. 27.

The concerts are free and open to the public. Audience members can bring their lunch, and the Kansas Union provides soft drinks.

Kansas to receive grants to enhance park sites

Kansas is getting $1.7 million in grants to enhance state and local parks, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said.

The funds will be used to improve park recreational facilities and to promote environmental conservation, Roberts said. Kansas has 24 state parks attracting more than six million visits a year.

The grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Land and Water Conservation Fund. It is matched by state contributions.

Books jackets on display at University Press exhibit

Seventy-six books, jackets, covers and journals will be featured at a show at the Kansas University Press, 2501 W. 15th St.

The items are winners in the 2001 Association of American University Presses Book, Jacket and Journal Show. They’ll be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 24.

Each exhibit visitor will receive a copy of the show catalog containing design specifications and judges’ comments.