Center seeks donations after blood drives put on ice

The Community Blood Center missed out on collecting nearly 1,000 units of blood last week due to blood drives and appointments canceled because of the weather.

Now, blood center officials are asking all eligible individuals to donate blood as soon as possible to make up for the loss and ensure adequate blood supply for area hospitals.

Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Above, H.D. Vickers of Tonganoxie answered the call for blood Tuesday afternoon at the center, 535 Gateway Drive, with the help of collection supervisor Kari Johnson, left.

Hours at the center are noon to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. To schedule an appointment, call (785) 843-5383.

State legislature: Resolution recognizes celebrated literary figure

Topeka The Kansas House on Tuesday approved a resolution honoring writer Langston Hughes and encouraging participation in a symposium about him Thursday through Sunday at Kansas University.

Hughes, who died in 1967, spent part of his youth living in Lawrence, Topeka and Kansas City.

The symposium and numerous other events are in honor of the centennial celebration of his birth.

The House resolution recognized Hughes for his poetry and lifelong struggle against racism, and it was sponsored by Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence.

Brain Teaser: Hughes quiz, Day 7

This is one in a series of questions to test your knowledge on Langston Hughes, as part of the celebration of his 100th birthday. A new question will appear each day through Feb. 14. Each day’s answer will be posted at langstonhughes.ljworld.com.

7) What is the poem from which Lawrence’s city motto, “We have tomorrow bright before us,” is derived?

Answer to Tuesday’s question: Jesse B. Semple.

Investigation: Suspects interviewed about junior high fire

Lawrence fire investigators Tuesday were interviewing three suspects who may have set a fire in Central Junior High School’s basement boiler room.

The suspects are adults. One of them has never had connections to the Lawrence public school system, said Mark Bradford, deputy chief with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical. He declined to elaborate or further describe the suspects.

The fire was intentionally set sometime after the school at 1400 Mass. closed late Jan. 29 for the ice storm but before it reopened Monday morning, Bradford said.

No arrests had been made or charges filed as of late Tuesday.

City Appointment: Ottawa commission pares list for administrator’s post

Ottawa An ice storm and power outage didn’t stop Ottawa city commissioners from interviewing eight candidates for the city manager’s position last week.

Mayor Gene Ramsey said the commissioners narrowed the list to a few finalists.

Ramsey said the candidates, from Kansas and neighboring states, arrived safely in town for the interviews, which were conducted in executive session Friday and Saturday.

Now, the city’s attorney, Bob Bezek, will spend a week conducting background checks on the final candidates.

If all goes well, Ramsey said the second round of interviews would be around Feb. 15, and a new city manager could be hired the following week.

Scott Lambers left Ottawa in September to become Leawood’s city administrator.