IN 1978

Kansas Gov. Robert Bennett announced he intended to recommend a statewide program of competency-based education and increased state spending for secondary education in Kansas by $32 million.

Two Douglas County employees were being trained to deal with lock maintenance on jails here to prevent having to call in outsiders to solve problems.

An agreement was reached by the federal government and attorneys for the Kansas Public Service Co., Lawrence’s natural gas supplier, about how an inspection was to be made of a pipe and coupling thought to be involved in a two-fatality gas explosion the past Dec. 15.

The Douglas County Commission’s legal counselor recommended that the contractor’s request for more work time on the new Kansas River bridge spans in downtown Lawrence be denied. Counselor Dan Young said the contract with Anderson Construction, Holton, “does not provide any legal basis” for the 57-day extension asked by the contractor. The first span of the bridge was to have been opened in December.

IN 1963

Kansas University and the Martin Eby Construction Co. of Wichita agreed on terms for a 6,500-seat expansion of the west side of Memorial Stadium and preliminary work was to begin immediately. The schedule called for the opening of the revamped stadium for general use in time for the 1963 season.

The final police report showed that three persons were killed, 314 hurt and 1,098 accidents had been reported in the city of Lawrence during 1962.

A two-year trial consolidation of the 4-H and FFA fairs and the Douglas County Free Fair was voted by local leaders.

Federal figures indicated at least $750,000 for actual construction work at the Perry Reservoir in calendar 1963 with more funds likely by mid-year for the work 14 miles northwest of Lawrence.

IN 1903

From the Lawrence Daily World of Jan. 7, 1903: “Regular work has been resumed at the university (KU) following the Christmas recess. Professors Carruth, Raymond and Dunlap, and Miss L Duc and Miss Galloo attended the convention of the association of foreign languages held in Chicago during the holidays. . . . About 30 Baker University students, who came in on the Union Pacific last night, missed the Santa Fe connection and were compelled to spend the night in town.”