Governor to appear at Kansas City events

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will help kick off two economic events in Kansas City, Kan.

Today, Sebelius will drive the first 2004 Chevrolet Malibu from the production line at the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant.

On Friday, she will be part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening of Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Education

Children to learn history in mud fort workshop

Children ages 6 to 12 can learn a piece of Lawrence architectural history with a program sponsored by Lawrence Parks and Recreation.

The workshop, “Kids, Let’s Build a Mud Fort!,” runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. today and Tuesday. Local historian Katie Armitage will lead a discussion and construction of a mud fort, which early Lawrence residents built to defend themselves from pro-slavery forces from Missouri.

Today’s session will be at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass., and will discuss the history of forts. Tuesday will be spent building a mud fort at Constant Park, Fifth and Tennessee streets, near the Kansas River.

The workshop costs $15 for a child, who must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call 832-7940.

Leavenworth County

Tonganoxie ready for fair

About 400 4-H and FFA youths are expected to display nearly 4,500 exhibits this week during the Leavenworth County Fair in Tonganoxie.

Activities at the fairgrounds begin in earnest today with a horse show at 9 a.m. and judging in woodworking, stitching and other exhibit categories.

A Tonganoxie teenager, pictured above in a file photo, sweeps out the cattle pens to prepare for last year’s fair.

Events at this year’s fair include a parade, rodeo, demolition derby, carnival and concerts. For a schedule of events, see page 3B.

Personnel

Lawrence schools promote worker to energy manager

The Lawrence school district promoted an electronics technician to serve in the new position of energy manager.

John Geist, who has worked in the district’s facilities and operations department since 1991, will start his job Tuesday if the hire is approved by the school board.

The board entered a contract in June with Energy Education, an energy-management consulting firm, to institute a program designed to save the district at least $2.6 million during the next seven years.

Tom Bracciano, the district’s director of operations and facilities planning, said Geist would lead efforts to educate staff and students about energy conservation.

Geist previously worked as an electronics technician and in sales for avionics companies in Ottawa. He has an electronics degree from DeVry Institute of Technology.

Public event

Army fort plans opening ceremony

Fort Leavenworth — An opening-day ceremony for students attending the intermediate-level education course at the Command & General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth will be open to the public.

The ceremony will be at 8 a.m. Aug. 18 on Abrams Loop in front of Bell Hall.

The ceremony will include remarks from the deputy commandant and a roll call of nations. In addition to the class president, 89 officers from 77 countries will post their nations’ flags around Abrams Loop during the ceremony.