First-class mail rate rising

Lawrence Postmaster Bill Reynolds is reminding everyone that starting Monday the cost of mailing a first-class letter will increase to 37 cents.

“There may be a number of people who don’t know the increase is going into effect,” Reynolds said.

The increase actually takes effect Sunday, so anyone dropping a letter into a mailbox late Saturday or Sunday should apply 37 cents of postage, Reynolds said.

Public works: Water line leak in wetlands won’t affect Baldwin service

A leak discovered Friday morning in a water line that runs under the Baker Wetlands should not disrupt water service to Baldwin residents.

The leak sprung in the 12-inch-diameter iron pipe that supplies Baldwin with drinking water from Lawrence sometime Thursday evening and was discovered about 10:30 a.m. Friday by Baldwin Public Works employees, city councilman Todd Cohen said. The leak was about 200 feet south of a major leak that occurred in the line last fall, he said.

Water flowed from the leak at a rate of 675 gallons per minute, Cohen said, and a total of 160,000 gallons were lost.

Douglas County supplied two dump trucks for hauling dirt and a track hoe to help dig down to the leak, Cohen said. Crews were able to repair the pipe fairly easily because the area around the leak was not badly eroded, he said.

Gasoline Prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.31 at both Citgo locations, Ninth and Iowa streets and North Second Street.

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.