East Heights teacher named elementary educator of year

Third-grade teacher Adela Solis, a nine-year veteran of the Lawrence school district, was named the district’s 2002 elementary teacher of the year at a ceremony Monday at East Heights School. Solis will go on to represent the district in the state’s teacher of the year competition.

Neighborhood: Decision on Oread houses expected to come this week

A state official’s decision on the fate of three century-old houses in the 1300 block of Ohio Street could come as soon as today.

Ramon Powers, director of the Kansas State Historical Society, will decide whether Kansas University will be allowed to demolish those houses to make room for scholarship halls there.

“I know (the decision) will come this week, and probably in the next day or so,” Dick Pankratz, Powers’ deputy, said Monday.

The Oread Neighborhood Assn. and Lawrence Preservation Alliance are against KU’s proposal.

The houses are near two buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: Spooner Hall, at 14th Street and Oread Avenue, and Usher House (Beta Theta Pi fraternity), 1425 Tenn. Changes to the “environs”  buildings and property near historic homes  must be reviewed before proceeding.

Powers plans to retire at the end of this week.

Redistricting: Committee likely to endorse map that splits Lawrence

Topeka  The chairman of the House redistricting committee said Monday he expects the panel will endorse a congressional map that splits Lawrence between the 2nd and 3rd congressional districts.

Chairman Mike O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, said the committee will meet to discuss congressional redistricting plans from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. today and Wednesday.

He said the full House may vote on a proposal Friday.

Lawrence is currently in the 3rd District with the Kansas City metropolitan area. Many Lawrence officials have said they either want the city to remain in the 3rd or be wholly placed in the 2nd District.

The 3rd District is represented by Dennis Moore, the only Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation. The 2nd is represented by Republican Jim Ryun, one of the most conservative members of Congress.

Police: Investigation continues in house-bombing case

Police are still investigating a March 3 bomb blast that seriously injured a rural Lawrence man.

Lloyd Haas Sr., 69, 1808 N. 1100 Road, remained Monday in a Kansas City-area hospital. He is still in fair condition, a hospital spokesman said.

Investigators from three law enforcement agencies are still working the case, Douglas County Sheriff’s Lt. Kathy Tate said. Leads are being checked by 10 sheriff’s officers, three federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents and one Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent.

The blast occurred about 3:30 a.m. March 3 inside Haas’ house. Investigators found evidence of a bomb.

There is a $5,000 reward from ATF for information that leads to the bomber’s arrest and conviction. A reward up to $1,000 is offered through the Douglas County Crime Stoppers program.

Calls can be made to 843-TIPS (8477). Callers remain anonymous. Calls also can be made directly to the Sheriff’s Office at 841-0007, but callers to this number are not eligible for a reward.