Neighbors celebrate shared area with cleanups

Residents of three Lawrence neighborhoods pulled on their gloves and grabbed their trash bags Saturday to help beautify their surroundings.

Old West Lawrence neighborhood residents cleaned up their alleys and helped other neighbors clear brush.

About 20 neighbors helped out Saturday morning, said Ann Goans, secretary of the Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Assn.

To celebrate the cleanup, the neighborhood will have a block party from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today in the 700 block of Mississippi Street.

University Place and Oread neighborhood associations sponsored a joint neighborhood cleanup. About a dozen residents gathered Saturday morning at 1601 Ky. before setting out to clean up the area.

Above, neighborhood cleanup volunteers, from left, Matthias Reiber, 10, Beth Reiber, and Johannes Reiber 7, pick up trash bags from Charles Goff, coordinator of the University Place and Oread Joint Neighborhood Cleanup.

_____________________________________

Public Input: Health Department seeking feedback on children’s issues

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is soliciting feedback on the state’s special education and early intervention services for children.

KDHE officials on Monday will be at the Hillcrest Community Center, 1800 S.E. 21st St., Topeka, and on Tuesday at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., in Kansas City, Kan. Both meetings begin at 3:30 p.m.

The first two hours of each meeting will be for providers of services for infants and toddlers. After a 30-minute break, the discussion will shift to concerns of parents of developmentally disabled children.

Other meetings are planned for June 17, Pittsburg; June 18, Wichita; and July 1, Garden City.

Participants are encouraged first to call 800-332-6262.

_____________________________________

Transportation: Construction at intersection to modify city bus routes

The city bus system will reroute buses around construction at the intersection of 15th Street and Wakarusa Drive starting Monday.

Both the clockwise and counter-clockwise versions of Route 6 normally travel through that intersection. Riders who board the bus at the 15th and Wakarusa intersection should instead board at Inverness Drive and Wakarusa, or at Inverness and 15th Street.

The intersection repair will begin today and is expected to last until July 19. The alternative routes will be used until the intersection reopens.

For more information on routes and schedules, call 312-7054.

_____________________________________

Kansas University: Professor wins award for book of poetry

A Kansas University English professor has received a national award for his book of poetry.

Michael L. Johnson received the Ben Franklin Award from the Publishers Marketing Assn. for his book “From Hell to Jackson Hole: A Poetic History of the American West.” About 150 book experts judged the contest, which is open to any author.

Johnson will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. June 17 at The Raven Bookstore, 6 E. Seventh St.

_____________________________________

Gasoline Prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.25 at several Lawrence locations.

If you find a lower price, call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price.

Or visit the Pump Patrol message board at www.ljworld.com/section/gasoline.