Eagles chapter marks 100th anniversary

Lawrence’s Fraternal Order of Eagles Mount Oread Aerie No. 309 chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary during the weekend with a banquet, dance and awards dinner.

The local chapter began Feb. 12, 1903, about five years after the organization’s founding in Seattle.

Since then, it has raised thousands of dollars for causes such as Meals on Wheels and the O’Connell Youth Ranch. This weekend, it gave $1,000 to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Assn.

About 90 people attended a banquet Saturday night, and about the same number came to an awards dinner Sunday at the Eagles’ lodge, 1803 W. Sixth St.

Lawrence Police officer Greg Pruett received the group’s Reverence for Law award. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical firefighter Brandon Holloman received the Excellence in Fire Prevention and Medical Service award.

Health department fines three restaurants

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently fined three Lawrence restaurants for violations of the food code.

• Stone Canyon, 3801 W. Sixth St., was fined $1,000. The department found employees using bare hands to handle produce during inspections Nov. 25 and Dec. 13.

Rod Donovan, part owner of the restaurant, said he appealed the fine. The restaurant was under different ownership at the time of the alleged violations, he said.

• Salty Iguana, 4931 W. Sixth St., was fined $1,250. On visits Nov. 25 and Dec. 5, the department found raw chicken and eggs stored above ready-to-eat food, as well as dried food debris on pans, knives and other equipment. The restaurant plans to appeal, general manager LeAnn Brock said.
• The Taco John’s at 2309 Haskell Ave. was fined $1,000. On visits Nov. 14 and Nov. 26, the department found employees didn’t wash their hands before preparing tacos. The restaurant appealed the fine, manager Dan Porter said.

Nurses begin receiving smallpox vaccination

Smallpox vaccinations will be given next week to the first of five Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department nurses who opted to receive it.

The vaccinations will be staggered over the next few weeks, members of the health board were told during a meeting Monday.

Five other health department nurses declined the vaccine, said Kim Ens, the department’s disease control coordinator. Participation is voluntary.

There are various possible side effects from the smallpox vaccine, Ens said. Many health workers across Kansas and the country have declined to get the vaccine because of questions about compensation for missed work time.

The nurses receiving the vaccine are part of a nationwide effort to prepare emergency response teams that would be activated in case of a terrorist attack.

Jobs for grad students topic of KU forum

Kansas University graduate students looking to land their first academic jobs can learn more about the process during a forum today.

The KU Graduate School is sponsoring a brown bag workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union titled, “Negotiating Your First Academic Job.”

The panel discussion will include John Colombo, associate dean of the graduate school, and Christopher Morphew, associate professor of teaching and leadership.