Attorney kills himself near South Park gazebo

A 54-year-old Lawrence resident shot and killed himself Saturday afternoon in South Park, Lawrence Police reported.

Richard A. Krogh, 54, an attorney, shot himself at 2:30 p.m.

He was sitting on a bench just north of the gazebo.

Randy Ziesenis, Baldwin, was smoking a cigarette in the park at the time.

“I heard a loud pop and I saw him slump over and the gun fell out of his hands,” Ziesenis said.

Police would release few details about the shooting, but Ziesenis said the gun was a semiautomatic pistol and that Krogh was shot in the left ear.

Cancer survivors invited to Roaring ’20s dinner

Topeka — The American Cancer Society will celebrate Cancer Survivor Day today with an evening dedicated to the Roaring ’20s.

Cancer survivors and their families, or family members of cancer victims can attend the free event. Registration is between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Agricultural Hall, Kansas Expocentre, One Expocentre Drive, Topeka.

Attendees will be able to view antique cars and pictures of Topeka. An Italian dinner will be served, followed by a survivors recognition program, entertainment provided by Topeka High School Jazz Band members and door prizes.

For more information on Cancer Survivors Day, call the society at (785) 273-4422.

City residents to walk 50 miles for MS society

Craig Comstock and Joey Eck, both of Lawrence, are two of more than 100 volunteers who will walk 50 miles next weekend for the Mid America Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The MS Challenge Walk will begin Friday in Paradise, Mo., at Smithville Lake and end Sunday in North Kansas City, Mo., at Macken Park.

Each participant was urged to raise $1,500 in pledges. Money raised will help the society research and support victims of multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease that affects 400,000 Americans. It can cause blindness, loss of balance and coordination, slurred speech, tremors and paralysis.

To volunteer or participate, call (913) 432-3926.

KU Summer Band rehearsals to begin

Local musicians will gather beginning Tuesday night to rehearse with the second annual Kansas University Summer Band.

The group is open to instrumentalists in high school and older, though some exceptions could be made. Rehearsals will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Room 130 in Murphy Hall.

The summer will culminate in a concert July 15 at Murphy Hall featuring traditional concert band music.

Tom Stidham, associate professor of music, will direct the band, which had about 70 participants last year. Participation is free.

“The object is to have a good time, and to let people keep their chops up,” Stidham said.

Baker adds two majors

Baker University will add two new majors starting this fall for its students.

Students will be able to major in Internet science and technology and molecular bioscience.

Internet science and technology will combine problem-based learning with more traditional methods used in science and engineering. The major is for students pursuing a career in Web design, computer networking, e-commerce and programming.

The molecular bioscience major will incorporate biology and chemistry for students to understand life processes at the molecular level.

Baker now offers 50 majors for undergraduate students at its Baldwin campus.

County to review repaving plans

Douglas Country commissioners will meet Monday to consider paving the way for road repairs this summer.

Commissioners will review plans for “microsurfacing” two roads: County Road 1029, from U.S. Highway 56 to a quarter mile south of North 100 Road; and County Road 438, near its intersection with Kansas Highway 10.

Microsurfacing involves applying a layer of pavement thick enough to fill wheel ruts but thin enough to cost less than traditional surfacing projects. County officials expect the work to cost $70,000.

Also up for approval during Monday’s meeting, set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.:

• An offer from Hi-Plains Sand to sell the county 1,500 tons of de-icing salt for $40,500.
• A plan to maintain current health insurance rates for county employees while increasing costs for retirees and retirees’ families.