KU construction worker injured in 20-foot fall

A construction worker suffered minor injuries after falling about 20 feet Thursday afternoon at a job site on Kansas University’s West Campus.

Russell W. Haug, 56, the superintendent of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics project, was standing on some scaffolding Thursday afternoon attempting to put a beam in place, said Maj. Chris Keary of the KU Public Safety Office. Haug took off his safety harness to readjust it, Keary said, and the beam rolled unexpectedly, knocking Haug to a concrete slab about 20 feet below.

He suffered an injury to his right elbow, Keary said.

Haug was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The fall occurred just before 12:30 p.m. at the work site, just west of the Lied Center.

Two killed in pickup rollover

Sawyer A teenager and a 2-year-old were killed Thursday when the pickup they were in rolled over and landed on its top on a county road in south-central Kansas, Pratt County authorities said.

The accident occurred about 4 p.m. when the driver of the pickup lost control, rolling the vehicle off the road about seven miles south of Pratt, Sheriff Vernon Chinn said.

Chinn said the victims, George T. Crockett, 15, of Sharon, and Brittney T. Roth, 2, were not wearing seatbelts and were both ejected from the vehicle.

Cyclist collides with semi

Lyndon A Lyndon bicyclist has died in a crash with a semi-trailer, authorities said.

The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victim as Ricky D. Judd, 40.

He was killed Wednesday night when he emerged from a private driveway and collided with the truck that was southbound on U.S. 75, the patrol said.

Five people face drug charges

Lenexa Five people were charged after police seized a 190-pound marijuana shipment.

Lenexa Police said a drug-sniffing dog detected the marijuana Monday in a pickup truck in a hotel parking lot in Lenexa.

The five were charged Wednesday in Johnson County District Court with possession with intent to sell marijuana and failure to have drug tax stamps.

Those charged have been identified as Oscar J. Alvarez, 21, of Plainview, Tex.; Robert A. Gutierrez, 32, of Roswell, N.M.; Urian Jimenez, 23, Sara R. Roman, 19, and Ronald G. Cables, 21, all of Alamogordo, N.M.

Lawrence couple named to state treasurer campaign

Jeff and Kristi Hatfield of Lawrence have been named Douglas County co-chairmen of the Lynn Jenkins for state treasurer campaign.

Jenkins, 39, a Holton native and Republican state senator from Topeka, is a certified public accountant. She will face Dennis Wilson, an Overland Park Republican, in the Aug. 6 primary.

The winner of the primary contest will face Sally Finney, an Olathe Democrat, in the November general election.

Day of Caring volunteers can sign up this month

Roger Hill Volunteer Center needs volunteers for Day of Caring, sponsored by the United Way of Douglas County.

The annual event, which is Sept. 14, is one of the largest in the area. Volunteers spend the morning completing service projects for nonprofit agencies and their clients.

Projects are completed by about noon, and a free breakfast is provided.

Volunteers sign up in July and will be matched with projects in August.

If interested in volunteering, call the Roger Hill Volunteer Center, 865-5030, to sign up.

State court appoints commission members

Ann Gardner, editorial page and multimedia editor at the Journal-World, has been appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court to the Client Protection Fund Commission, a panel established in 1993 to consider claims by clients who suffer economic loss as a result of dishonest actions by Kansas lawyers.

John Parisi, Leawood, and Terry Beck, Topeka, also will join the four current members of the commission. Justice Fred Six, Lawrence, is liaison between the commission and the court.

Members are appointed to three-year terms.

The fund has repaid clients a collective $797,226 for loss they incurred as a result of attorney misconduct.

ECKAN announces distribution schedule

The East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp. will distribute food items to eligible Douglas County commodity participants, according to the following schedule:

Salvation Army, 946 N.H., 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday.

Penn House, 1045 Pa., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday.

Ballard Center, 708 Elm St., 9 a.m.-11 a.m. July 25.

American Legion Hall, Baldwin, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. July 25.

City Hall, Eudora, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. July 25.

Lawrence Edgewood Apartments, 1600 Haskell Ave., Edgewood Community Center No. 188, 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

Pioneer pilot to receive Amelia Earhart award

Fay Gillis Wells, a pioneer pilot and contemporary of Amelia Earhart, has been named the 2002 recipient of the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement Award, which is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the spirit and ideals of the world-famous pilot. Wells, 93, of Alexandria, Va., will receive the award during the annual Amelia Earhart Festival in Atchison, Earhart’s hometown. The festival runs July 19 and 20.

Wells is one of three surviving charter members of The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of licensed female pilots founded in 1929. The 99 charter members of the organization elected Earhart as their first president, and Wells as secretary.

Wells will receive the award during the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. July 20, at the Atchison Heritage Conference Center, 710 S. Ninth St. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 234-1854.