Dog-bite victim suing owners of pit bull

The owners of a pit bull that bit a 7-year-old Douglas County girl two years ago are being sued by the victim and her mother.

Amanda Kirk, through her mother, Kara Kirk, recently filed the lawsuit in Douglas County District Court, against Teresa L. Anderson and Kirk Billings, seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

On June 2, 2000, Anderson, Billings and their pit bull, Savage, were at Clinton Lake near the campsite where Amanda and her family were camping, according to the lawsuit. The dog bit Amanda in the face, causing injury and requiring medical treatment, the lawsuit states. The girl suffered scarring, pain and mental anguish, according to the court papers.

Amanda and Kara Kirk accuse Anderson and Billings of failing to properly monitor, restrain and supervise the dog. Neither Anderson nor Billings could be reached for comment.

Blood Center changes hours

The Community Blood Center, 535 Gateway Drive, changes its hours today.

It will now be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and from 8 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month.

The Blood Center is the only provider of blood for Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

To donate blood, you must be 17, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. To schedule an appointment, call 843-5383. Walk-ins also are welcome.

VFW to conduct convention

Kansas Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary will meet for their annual state convention Thursday through June 9 in Dodge City.

State Commander Richard Clutts, Larned, and Ladies Auxiliary State President Alice Graham, Tribune, will meet at Dodge House Hotel with state officers and members from throughout Kansas.

State committee meetings will begin Thursday evening, and regular business meetings will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, followed by the joint opening of the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary at 1 p.m.

The joint awards ceremony will be at 3 p.m. Saturday. Awards are being presented to Capt. Jon Quinday, Russell, Kansas VFW Law Officer of the Year; Paramedic Ted Hazelton, Olathe, Kansas VFW Emergency Medical Technician of the Year; and Assistant Chief Russ Smith, Wright, Kansas VFW Firefighter of the Year.

The banquet will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at the hotel. Meetings will conclude June 9 with the election of the 2002-2003 officers.

Development screening clinic gauges children’s skills

The Douglas County Infant-Toddler Coordinating Council is sponsoring a free screening clinic June 18 for infants and toddler from birth to 3 years old.

The screenings which are from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in conference room D at Lawrence Memorial Hospital aim to help parents see how their child is developing.

It will also give parents the opportunity to ask questions about their child’s walking, talking, seeing, hearing or learning.

Children will be screened by child development professionals who will look at the children’s gross motor skills, such as walking and sitting, and fine motor skills, such as holding objects and playing with toys. They also will check speech and language development and self-help and personal-social development, as well as vision and hearing.

Call Douglas County ICC, 843-3059, to schedule an appointment.