Library group’s sale nets more than $26,000

Friends of the Lawrence Public Library raised $26,099 during this year’s spring book sale, which was earlier this month.

The group’s annual meeting will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in the library auditorium, 707 Vt. During the meeting Wiley Mitchell will receive the 18th annual Mary Dalton Murphy Award, which honors volunteers for their work with the group. Harold Piehler will discuss the group’s history.

The group’s fall book sale will be Oct. 2, and donations are being accepted.

Law enforcement: Osage County officials probe horse shootings

Osage County — Three horses have been shot to death in Osage County since March 18, police said.

“There’s a lot of people that are getting pretty irate,” said Laurie Dunn, an investigator for the sheriff’s department. “A horse doesn’t do anything to you, unless it throws you or something like that.”

Police found the first horse March 18 in the southeast portion of the county near Stanley Road, and two more turned up last week along South Wanamaker Road, Dunn said.

The sheriff’s department is offering a Crime Stoppers reward of up to $1,000 and asking anyone with information to call 1-877-672-7463. A victim also is offering a $2,000 reward.

Osage County is southwest of Douglas County.

Transportation: Kansas Turnpike marks new terminal’s opening

Wellington — The Kansas Turnpike plans to open a new south terminal Thursday, two miles closer to the Oklahoma border than the existing one.

A ceremony — including remarks from Turnpike Authority officials, a ribbon-cutting and music from the Wellington High School band — is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

The turnpike began construction last year on the terminal, at the 17th mile past the Oklahoma border, because of an increase in traffic. In 1992, less than 4 million vehicles passed through the terminal. But last year the number topped 5 million.

Troy Pearson of Mid-West Painting, above, does touch-up work Monday on a toll booth at the new terminal. The booths feature automated ticket dispensers.

Education: Central open house to feature winning play

An open house tonight at Central Junior High School will feature a 10-minute play honoring the story of World War II refugees.

Students in “Living in Limbo: The Story of the World War II Refugees of Fort Ontario” earned first-place honors Saturday at the Kansas History Day competition.

Last year, the play took third place out of 83 entries at the National History Day competition.

The open house at Central, 1400 Mass., is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The performance will be at 7:20 p.m.

Television: KU student film airs tonight on Animal Planet

A video produced by Kansas University students will be featured today on the Animal Planet TV network.

The video tells the story of Wiggles, a runt pig living near Rantoul who was raised by a terrier named Clementine.

The piece will air on “Amazing Animal Videos” at 8 p.m. today and 11 a.m. Sunday on Sunflower Broadband Channel 40.

It was produced by journalism seniors Megan Sinclair of Wichita and Zachary Lee of Highland Park, Ill.