Lawrence schools: LHS High Q team loses in competition

A team representing Lawrence High School was eliminated from the High Q competition Sunday by Washburn Rural High School.

The two teams were members of the “Sweet 16” of teams that had advanced past the initial round. Each match of the Sweet 16 is played live on WIBW channel 13 at 10:30 a.m. Sundays and again at 10:30 p.m. on the same day on KTWU channel 11.

A team representing Free State High School will compete March 24.

The High Q competition is in its 19th year, and is sponsored by WIBW and Washburn University.

The winner of the competition will be announced May 12.

Mock trial team to get second chance at state

Last month’s lousy weather may not derail Lawrence High School’s bid to qualify for the state mock trial competition, after all.

Paul Stuewe, an American history teacher at LHS, said icy road conditions prevented the Lawrence squad from traveling to Topeka for a four-school competition to determine a state qualifier.

“We couldn’t go because the buses didn’t run,” he said.

In fact, Shawnee Mission South and Bonner Springs high school teams didn’t make it either. The event went ahead as planned, and Washburn Rural  the only competitor  was awarded the state bid.

“We cried foul,” Stuewe said.

He said a compromise was struck to allow the three schools that missed the original competition to stage a regional qualifying event Tuesday in Bonner Springs.

Washburn Rural will retain its bid, meaning that the region will have two representatives at state March 16.

Severe weather awareness activities planned for week

Douglas County Emergency Management and the Topeka National Weather Service hope to inform Kansans during Kansas Severe Weather Awareness Week, today through Friday.

The annual statewide tornado drills will be at 10:30 a.m. and 6:25 p.m. Tuesday. Thursday is scheduled as a backup day.

Mike Akulow, warning coordination meteorologist with the weather service, will provide a free weather workshop for the public at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, Building 21Â South. The purpose of the program is to educate and promote severe weather safety in Douglas County. There will be drawings throughout evening for preparedness packs that include a weather radio.

Driver injured in K-10 rollover

One man was injured during a one-car accident at 6:25 a.m. Saturday on Kansas Highway 10.

The accident occurred near mile post 13, just east of Lawrence, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported. Dennis Hollingsworth, 24, Shawnee, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet truck heading east when he drifted to the left side of the road. Hollingsworth then overcorrected, and the truck crossed the median into the westbound lane, where it began to roll and came to a stop in the ditch.

Hollingsworth was taken by Life Net helicopter to Overland Park Regional Medical Center, where he was in fair condition Saturday night.

Area youths win honors at Model United Nations

Youths from area junior high and middle schools won awards at Model United Nations. The event was last week at Kansas Expocentre, Topeka.

Ben Robertson, Central Junior High School, won first place, and Vicki Bentley, South Junior High School, won second place in the best overall middle school delegate category. Robertson represented Germany, and Bentley represented Armenia.

Patton Junior High School, Leavenworth, won third place representing North Korea in the best middle school delegation category.

Awards were presented at the conclusion of the two-day event. About 800 junior high and high school students from northeast and central Kansas participated.