Cougar Challenge to collect canned items for food bank

South Junior High School’s supporters will convene today to exercise and collect donations for a food bank.

The 18th annual Carol Church-Cougar Challenge run/walk starts at 2 p.m., said organizer Kerri Weber. It will take place on a 1.8-mile cross-country course that begins and ends at SJHS, 2734 La.

Weber said registration for the event is 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. The entry fee is one can of nonperishable food.

The charity extravaganza is open to all South students, family members and alumni.

Sponsors are Dillons, Checkers, Community Mercantile and McDonald’s.

Boys and Girls Club, Dillons pair on fund-raiser

The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence will be staging a “Round Up” fund-raiser from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at all four Lawrence Dillons locations.

Shoppers will be encouraged to round their purchases up the next whole dollar, or more, with proceeds going to the club.

Separate donations also will be accepted at Dillons stores during the event.

The Boys and Girls Club helps more than 500 children each day at eight sites in Lawrence. The club provides a safe place where children can participate in activities designed to build education and career development, health and life skills, and recreation and leadership skills.

Breeder reports theft of six pitbull puppies

A Douglas County pitbull breeder reported six puppies were stolen from his property south of Lawrence.

The 66-year-old owner of the animals called the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office after he noticed the dogs missing early Thursday morning.

The six pure-breds are between 8 and 10 weeks old and valued at $600, Sheriff’s Lt. Kathy Tate said.

Detectives are investigating the theft.

Speaker to explore family’s ties to Underground Railroad

An English family’s ties to a Kansas abolitionist will be presented during a Sunday meeting of the Underground Railroad Association of Douglas County.

Sheila Coates of Hull, England, will discuss the ancestry of Dr. John Doy, at 2 p.m. in the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

Doy was born in England. He was captured in January 1859 about 12 miles north of Lawrence while leading a group of 13 freedom seekers north on the Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad was a term used to describe efforts to bring slaves out of the South to freedom.

Doy was rescued six months after his capture from a St. Joseph, Mo., jail by 10 Lawrence men who became known as “The Immortal Ten.”

Neighborhood consortium gets change in leadership

The president of the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods has resigned because he is moving to Seattle to take a new job.

Jordan Lerner announced his resignation Friday after serving as LAN’s president since the beginning of the year. Caleb Morse, LAN vice president, will take over responsibilities at the Nov. 20 meeting.

“I think LAN will continue to have a strong voice in this city,” Lerner said. “I hope that in some very small way I have assisted in LAN’s growth and influence.”

New officers are elected annually in January, Morse and Lerner said.

Lerner, an engineer, will be taking a job with Abacus Engineering Systems.