Most ever to graduate from Haskell in fall

Haskell Indian Nations University’s fall-semester commencement ceremony is set for 3 p.m. today at Haskell Auditorium.

“We have a total of 59 students graduating,” said Haskell spokeswoman Lori Tapahonso. “Twenty-one of those are baccalaureate degrees — that’s the most we’ve ever had at fall commencement.”

Haskell counselor Aaron Gawhega will present the commencement address. Afterward, there will be a small reception.

Haskell plans holiday arts, crafts festival

The application deadline to reserve a booth for the Haskell Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale is 5 p.m. today.

Applications may be picked up at Parker Hall, room 103.

The fair will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Stidham Union on the Haskell Indian Nations University campus. Admission is free.

The sale will feature American Indian paintings, jewelry, pottery, beadwork and other arts and crafts items. Indian tacos also will be for sale.

For more information, call 832-6694.

Group to receive grant for heritage area

Topeka — State officials announced Wednesday the allocation of a $15,000 grant to the Territorial Kansas Heritage Alliance in Lawrence for help in establishing a nationally designated “Bleeding Kansas National Heritage Area.”

Scott Allegrucci, director of the travel and tourism division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, will present the check to Judy Billings, director of the Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau, at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Lawrence Visitor Center, 402 N. Second St.

Toys for Tots drive to give out door prizes

Organizers of Douglas County Toys for Tots hope to collect 500 new toys for area children during an event Saturday at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The “Drive for 500” runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donors can eat a free lunch provided by Hy-Vee, and will be eligible for door prizes. Grand prizes are two sets each of round-trip tickets to anywhere Frontier Airlines or Mesa Airlines or its subsidiaries — including Air Midwest and U.S. Airways Express — fly.

Toys for Tots, run by the Marine Corps Reserve, collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December for distribution to needy children.

Community members in need of assistance can contact the following resource centers for information on becoming a Toys for Tots family: the Ballard Center, ECKAN, Pelathe Center, Penn House, Salvation Army and the Douglas County Senior Center.