Parks: Wells Overlook committee seeks volunteers for cleanup

In Jere McElhaney’s mind, Wells Overlook Park needs an overhaul.

And that means he needs your help.

The chairman of the Douglas County Commission is leading a committee of volunteers who want to clear dense trees at the park south of Lawrence, then replant the area as native prairie.

During a committee meeting Monday afternoon, McElhaney and others started putting together a list of tasks volunteers could tackle. Among them: clearing brush, picking up trash, cutting firewood and painting playground equipment.

For more information about the project or to offer volunteer services, contact McElhaney by phone at 842-4757, by fax at 842-6593, or by e-mail at jmcelhaney@douglas-county.com.

Study proposal: Advisory committee to poll merchants on parking needs

The city may update a 1992 study that showed a need for hundreds of parking spaces at the north end of downtown. And City Commissioner Marty Kennedy will call a meeting of the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee to see what area merchants think of the parking situation.

City Manager Mike Wildgen said the cost of an updated study could run into tens of thousands of dollars.

Those were the developments Monday during a meeting of the Parking Garage Task Force, which is examining The World Company’s proposal to donate land in the 600 block of New Hampshire Street to the city, which then would build a 750-space parking garage at a cost of $9.79 million.

Mark Andersen, a task force member and attorney for The World Company, said Monday that the company would guarantee demand for the garage by purchasing 750 parking permits during the first year of operation. That number would be scaled back to 375 permits over five years.

No date was given for the task force’s next meeting. The World Company owns the Journal-World.

Police: Gas leak evacuates houses

A natural gas pipeline break at Eighth and Arkansas streets forced evacuation of two houses shortly after 10 a.m. Monday.

The gas was shut off to the area in about 15 minutes and the residents were allowed to return, said Mark Bradford, deputy chief with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Police blocked off streets one block in each direction from the break, Bradford said. Other houses did not have to be evacuated because of the speed at which the break was isolated. The evacuations were precautionary and there was no serious danger, Bradford said.

The break was caused by a Lawrence city utility crew digging in the area, Bradford said. The pipeline belonged to Aquila Gas Co.

Kansas University: Students plan second rally to protest tuition increase

Kansas University students will have a second rally for a fair tuition rate and accessible education at noon Wednesday at Wescoe Beach.

The open-microphone event will be similar to one held two weeks ago, which culminated in a meeting with Provost David Shulenburger.

KU officials are considering several proposed tuition rates, including some that would more than double tuition in the next five years.

Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a Lawrence-area gasoline price as low as $1.23 at several North Lawrence service stations.

If you find a lower price, please call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price. Or go to www.ljworld.com/section/gasoline to join our Pump Patrol message board.