‘Unofficial’ permission given for shelter

City commissioners Tuesday gave “unofficial, temporary” permission to Lawrence Open Shelter Inc. to begin operating a homeless shelter at 944 Ky. starting sometime in the next few weeks.

The building, also used by the Community Drop-In Center, isn’t currently allowed to have guests overnight. The earliest Lawrence Open Shelter Inc. could get formal permission would be in March — presumably when the need for shelter from the cold has lessened.

Commissioners agreed Tuesday to give temporary permission until the formal process in complete.

“Essentially, we’re ignoring our land-use laws,” Assistant City Manager Dave Corliss said. “While we recognize they have value, there’s other important values to attend to.”

Shelter officials said they would install a fire sprinkler system in the building before the shelter opens.

State offers aid to earn teaching certification

The state is offering a new financial-aid program to help people earn Kansas teaching licenses in high-need areas.

The Kansas Department of Education will operate the program, which is funded by a five-year, $2 million federal grant.

Through the program, people with a bachelor’s degree in a specific field can apply for a restricted license to teach in a school district having trouble filling vacant positions.

The special license allows people to begin teaching immediately while simultaneously completing courses online to earn the Kansas teaching license.

For more information, contact Martha Gage at (785) 296-8010 and mgage@ksde.org, or Gordon Wiebe at (785) 296-1105 and gwiebe@ksde.org, at the education department.

KSU offers event for high school juniors

Topeka — High school juniors wanting to learn more about college can attend an event sponsored by the Kansas State University Alumni Assn. Feb. 3 in Topeka.

The event, called Just for Juniors, will give juniors a chance to talk with KSU students about college life and talk to officials in the offices of financial aid and admissions. A drawing for a $100 scholarship also will take place.

Registration for Just for Juniors begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd. The program will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

For more information or to register in advance, call (800) 600-2586 or (785) 532-6260.

Family gives to KU for research award

The family of two Hays businessmen and farmers has established a research fund at Kansas University in their memory.

The family of Leo Orth Sr. and his son Robert Orth donated $13,000 to set up an annual award to support faculty and student research on Kansas groundwater. Both men were involved in conservation efforts.

The award will be administered by the KU geology department.

Family members who donated were Alice Orth of Hays, widow of Leo Orth Sr., and her children Charles Orth of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Leo Orth Jr. of Manhattan and Harvey Orth of Metairie, La.

Riverside pancake feed planned for last time

Parents, students and teachers tied to Riverside School will gather Saturday for one final pancake extravaganza.

The pancake feed, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the school, 601 N. Iowa St., is among a handful of events planned before the elementary building is closed at the end of the school year.

The Lawrence school board voted to shut down Riverside and divide students among Deerfield and Pinckney schools.

For more information, contact Riverside at 832-5840.

Forum features variety of religious beliefs

Looking for faith? You could find it today at the Kansas Union Ballroom.

Student Union Activities at Kansas University will be host to “Are You Spiritual?” a forum that will feature representatives from the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, atheist and Wiccan spiritual groups.

The free forum begins at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. For more information, call 864-SHOW.