Haskell professor named to sesquicentennial board

Haskell Indian Nations University professor Dan Wildcat has been appointed to the Kansas Territorial Sesquicentennial Commission, the advisory board for commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Kansas Territory in 2004.

Wildcat’s appointment was announced last week by House Democratic Leader Jim Garner of Coffeyville.

Wildcat, who’s taught at Haskell for 16 years, helped organize an American Indian education program in 1996, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Earth Day.

Crime: High school student’s arrest for threat called rare event

The arrest last week of a Free State High School student for threatening to kill a bus driver was a troubling but rare event, the branch manager for Laidlaw Transit said.

“This is not something that happens every day,” said Bob Osborn, who manages the Laidlaw bus depot serving Lawrence public schools.

Lawrence Police arrested an 18-year-old male on disorderly conduct, criminal threat and criminal trespassing. On Tuesday, the student allegedly threatened to harm a bus driver and students on the bus.

The student had previously been banned from riding the bus, Osborn said. The latest incident occurred when the student tried to resume riding without permission.

Politics: Sen. Roberts to pay visit to Lawrence, area cities

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts will visit Lawrence, Topeka and Overland Park this week.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Roberts is set to speak at a Kansas Association of School Boards seminar at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 17th and Western streets, Topeka.

He will visit fifth-grade environmental labs at Williams Science & Fine Arts Elementary Magnet School, 301 S.E. Monroe St. in Topeka at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

At 1 p.m., Roberts will stop by the International Trade Seminar, sponsored by various Kansas chambers of commerce, at SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Sixth and New Hampshire streets, in Lawrence.

He’ll meet with Overland Park’s police chief, city manager and city council at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Overland Park Justice Center, 12400 Foster.

Snack time: Girl Scout cookie trucks on the road to Lawrence

About 7,000 cases of Girl Scout cookies are on trucks heading to Lawrence with arrival slated for Monday morning, Lawrence Girl Scout cookie officials said. That means fans of Thin Mints, Do-si-dos and other favorites should be receiving their orders in the next week or so.

For those who didn’t get a chance to order cookies, sales teams will set up at four Lawrence locations from about 9 a.m. to about 7 p.m. Saturday and next Sunday and again March 2 and 3. The locations are Wal-Mart, Kmart, Checkers Foods, and Hobby Lobby Creative Center.

At $3 a box and with 12 boxes per case, the 7,000-case order arriving Monday is valued at $252,000. The order is up slightly from last year’s 6,800 cases.

About 70 percent of proceeds stay with the local Girl Scout council to support Girl Scouting. A portion goes directly to the group selling the cookies. The balance goes to the bakery to pay for the cookies.