Parks: U.S. House approves Kill Creek expansion

Washington – The creation of 2,000 acres of park land on the former site of the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in DeSoto cleared a major hurdle Tuesday night.

The U.S. House approved a Defense Authorization Conference Report containing language from a House bill prepared by U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan. The Senate must still give its approval, officials in Moore’s office said. U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., introduced a similar bill.

Supporters of the park proposal want to transfer to county control land that contains tallgrass prairie and old-growth forest. The transfer would expand the borders of the 850-acre Kill Creek Park in Olathe, which opened last year.

Election: Former housing director to run for commission

Lynn Goodell, former director of the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department, is preparing to run for a seat on the Lawrence City Commission.

Tuesday, he filed paperwork with the Douglas County Clerk’s Office declaring Vickie Randel to be treasurer for his campaign. Goodell has not formally filed for office, however.

“Some people wanted to donate some money,” he said Wednesday. “To do that, I have to have a treasurer.”

Goodell said he would make a formal announcement when he filed, probably within the next month.

He worked for the city 24 years, retiring in 2001. The department he headed was renamed Neighborhood Resources after he left.

City Government: Mayor seeks volunteers for advisory boards

Mayor Sue Hack is putting out the call for volunteers to serve on some of the city’s 40 advisory boards.

Appointments to the boards vary from two to four years. Most meet monthly, with some tasks occurring outside the regular meetings. Appointments are recommended by the mayor and must be approved by the city commission.

Those interested in serving should write the mayor at P.O. Box 708, Lawrence 66044.

Schools: Sixth-grade teacher wins educator award

Pam Williams, sixth-grade teacher at Broken Arrow School, left, reacts to the surprise announcement that she was selected as the Lawrence district’s 2002-2003 master teacher of the year. Supt. Randy Weseman at right made the announcement Wednesday during a school assembly.

Animal Rights: PETA plans downtown protest of turkey farms

Don’t be shocked if about noon today you see a giant turkey on crutches crossing the intersection at Ninth and Massachusetts streets.

Members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will be in the area carrying signs as they protest what they call the “crippling effects” of factory farming on turkeys.

PETA members say turkeys on factory farms have been genetically bred to grow so quickly that their bones and muscles give out under stress of supporting huge upper bodies. Many are barely able to stand, the group says, and close confinement means they are more prone to diseases.