County approves permit for pumpkin patch
Douglas County commissioners approved a permit Wednesday night that will keep the Schaake Pumpkin Patch in business through 2012 :quot; if Larry and Janet Schaake are up for it.
"I'm thinking in 10 years we may want to give it up anyway," Janet Schaake said.
The Schaakes received a conditional use permit for their 23-acre patch at 1791 E. 1500 Road, which is about three miles east of downtown Lawrence. The pick-your-own patch welcomes thousands of customers and schoolchildren each year from the last week of September through Halloween.
The patch has deep roots, having started in 1975 as a 4-H project. It has grown since then to include a small shop with crafts, honey, popcorn, cider, jams and jellies.
County officials required the permit because the Schaakes sell products that were not produced on their own land.
New class of lawmakers to get budget briefing
Topeka :quot; Call it "Rookie Camp."
Kansas House leaders have invited newly elected lawmakers to a daylong briefing Friday on budget matters.
The briefing at the Capitol will include discussions with state budget experts and key members of the outgoing administration, including Gov. Bill Graves' budget director Duane Goossen and Secretary on Aging Connie Hubbell.
The state is running a $310 million deficit for the current fiscal year and faces an $858 million gap for the next fiscal year.
The Nov. 5 election produced 27 freshman legislators, including 19 Republicans and eight Democrats, including Tom Holland of Baldwin who defeated incumbent Republican Ralph Tanner in the 10th District race.
Readers Are Leaders to meet tonight
The joy of reading will be on public exhibit tonight at East Heights School.
This "Readers Are Leaders" celebration from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the elementary school's gym offers parents and their children, up to age 5, a chance to share pleasures that can be drawn from books.
A program bonus: There will be prizes.
Readers Are Leaders is sponsored by the district's early childhood programs, which are Parents as Teachers, Even Start and the Readiness Program.
Guest readers and a local storyteller also will attend the event at East Heights, 1430 Haskell Ave.
Local attorney to head county Republicans
Lawrence attorney Chris Miller was recently elected chairman of the Douglas County Republican Party.
Miller was unopposed to succeed Don Johnston, who did not seek re-election.
Miller was recently in the news for trying to run television ads in Lawrence and Topeka that were critical of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius' campaign said the ads were false, while Miller defended them.
Sebelius won the Nov. 5 election and will take office Jan. 13.
Author to give talk on Kaw Valley wildlife
Lynn Byczynski, rural Douglas County author and flower grower, will present "Exploring the Kaw Valley" at the Jayhawk Audubon Society meeting, 7:30 p.m. today at Lawrence Senior Center, 745 Vt. The talk will draw from her book of the same title.
She will discuss the history, life and geography of places of interest in Kaw Valley, which she calls one of the most heavily populated regions in Kansas. Byczynski said she was so impressed with the valley on her first trip in 1977 that she moved to Kansas from Pennsylvania.
The free meeting is open to the public.
Astronaut to talk at KU
A NASA astronaut will speak about his experiences Friday at Kansas University.
Richard Hieb, a mission specialist who has flown in space three times, will speak at 3:30 p.m. in 330 Strong Hall.
Hieb, a University of Colorado graduate, has been an astronaut since 1986. The KU department of aerospace engineering organized his visit.
Troopers use ribbons against drunken driving
Members of the Kansas Highway Patrol will tie red ribbons to agency-owned vehicles on Friday for the 17th annual Project Red Ribbon. Mothers Against Drunk Driving started the campaign in 1986.
The ribbons are meant to heighten public awareness of drinking and driving during the holidays and memorialize those killed in accidents involving drunken driving.
Red ribbons are given free at state, county and local law enforcement agencies as well as MADD chapters and the Kansas MADD state office.
Speaker to offer lecture on Kansas sodomy laws
A Kansas University graduate student will brief an audience about the history of the Kansas sodomy statute in a lecture this month.
Christine Robinson, a doctoral candidate in sociology, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Sunflower Room at the Kansas Union.
The talk is sponsored by KU Queers and Allies and LesBiGayTrans Services of Kansas. The free event is open to the public.
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