Automobile catches fire in downtown alley

Amber Tice just wanted to pick up her last paycheck from a downtown Lawrence clothing store where she used to work.

But she ran into some bad luck after getting it the car she borrowed caught fire.

“When I came around the corner, I saw smoke,” Tice said Wednesday afternoon, staring at the smoldering 1990 Ford Taurus.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical firefighters were called to put out the fire, which occurred about 3 p.m. in the railway alley just north of Waxman Candles at Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

Fire Capt. Pat Karlin said there had been heavy smoke showing when firefighters arrived. Karlin said the fire originated in the engine compartment.

Tice, of Perry, said the car belonged to her grandmother and she didn’t know how much it was worth.

“Not very much,” she said, watching a wrecker service take it away.

Police

FSHS report of assault determined to be false

An investigation into the reported sexual assault of a girl at Free State High School was determined Wednesday to be unfounded, Lawrence Police said.

But no details about how police made that determination were released. Police also declined to release names of the girl or her parents, or the police report that would have carried the names.

Police said the investigative report would be forwarded to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review and a determination of whether any action would be taken against the 15-year-old Free State student for falsely reporting a crime, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

Police were called Saturday by the parents about the incident and an investigation was begun, Pattrick said. School officials also were notified and cooperated with the investigation.

Free speech

Activists to protest possible attack on Iraq

Peace activists this Saturday in Lawrence will march to demonstrate their opposition to an American invasion of Iraq.

The march, organized by the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, will begin at 10 a.m. at Buford M. Watson Jr. Park, Sixth and Kentucky streets, and proceed along Massachusetts Street to South Park, where it will conclude with a brief rally.

Coalition coordinator Allan Hanson said governments around the world were opposed to a military attack on Iraq.

Funny pages

‘Twins’ comic to end

The artist who produces “Twins,” the comic strip that runs daily in the classified section of the Journal-World, is discontinuing the strip. The last day for the strip will be Saturday.

In a recent comics poll, it ranked 24th of 28 comics on the list of readers’ favorite comics that appear in the Journal-World.

Gasoline Prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.35 at Sam’s Food Mart, 1910 Haskell Ave. If you find a lower price, call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price. Or visit the Pump Patrol message board at www.ljworld.com/section/gasoline.