City sales tax collection climbs in October

City sales tax collections increased in October, putting overall collection for the year slightly ahead of 2001’s pace.

Lawrence received $1.679 million from its own sales tax and its share of the countywide sales tax this month, up from $1.598 million during the same period a year ago.

Overall, the city has collected nearly $15.8 million this year, up from $14.8 million in 2001, and is on pace to make this year’s budget of more than $17.6 million.

But sales tax collections have varied this year compared with 2001 collections they were down $100,000 in September and officials concerned about the economy have taken steps to restrict city spending.

Crime: Tobacco store robbed

Lawrence Police are investigating a theft Monday at a tobacco store in the Hillcrest Shopping Center.

Police said that shortly after 2 p.m., two men and a woman walked into Tobacco Express, 925 Iowa. One of the suspects sprayed the clerk in the face with pepper spray.

Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Pattrick said the clerk was incapacitated by the spray, but he could hear the suspects moving products around inside the store.

When the clerk heard the three suspects leave, he ran to a nearby shop to call for help.

Police were unsure Monday what was taken from the store.

Streets: City plowers to make practice run today

City employees will be running snowplows along their assigned routes today in a run-through for the upcoming winter season.

“This practice allows us to refresh our memories and also provide training to employees,” said Tom Orzulak, the city’s street division manager.

City street workers will be inspecting equipment, locating the required gear and traveling their assigned routes.

The plows will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Street Maintenance building at 11th Street and Haskell Avenue and conclude their routes by 4 p.m.

The practice is traditionally done on the first Tuesday of November. But wet weather is slowing other city street projects, so the practice has been moved up.

Above, city maintenance workers Terry Harmon, left, and Danny Basel repair the front end of a snow plow in December 2000.