Topeka

KU memo to employees claims no stance on war

At least a few legislators were taken aback by a memo from Kansas University administrators to employees saying the institution had no official position on the war in Iraq.

Copies of the “Dear colleagues” memo were e-mailed to legislators.

“KU shall remain a place of academic freedom for those who hold a wide range of views,” Chancellor Robert Hemenway wrote. “We shall also remain a community that supports the many international students and staff who are a vital part of the university.”

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said he understood why Hemenway sent the memo but said, “Everyone in government needs to support our troops, and that includes Kansas University.”

Valley Center

Wife of POW expresses thanks for support

The wife of a Valley Center soldier taken captive in Iraq is relaying her appreciation for community support through her family.

Jessa Miller, 21, has been surrounded by friends and family since her husband, Army Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, was captured Sunday in Iraq, said Ashley Elliott, Jessa Miller’s sister. Jessa Miller has said she is not ready to speak directly to the media yet.

“She wants to thank everyone for thinking of her and the children,” Elliott said. “The support is helping.”

Patrick and Jessa Miller have two children — Tyler, 4, and Makenzie, 8 months.

Ottawa

Community to cut back on care packages

Organizers of community mailings to soldiers overseas say they may cut back on care packages to obey a request from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The department asked that only family members, loved ones and personal friends send mail, packages or donations.

“Maybe we’ll slow it down,” said Cindie Steinmits, co-organizer of Williamsburg Post-It. “We certainly don’t want to interfere.”

The community project has been mailing letters and care packages with needed supplies since early March and was preparing to send another round of boxes and letters.

Newton

Mother gets glimpse of son on television

Verna Phillips hadn’t seen her son in months before she caught a glimpse of him on television this week.

Phillips was watching MSNBC Tuesday when a reporter asked her son, Army Pfc. Chris Hopkins, 20, some questions.

Hopkins, a Bradley tank driver, was reportedly about 50 miles from Baghdad at the time, working on a tank engine.

“There’s not much we can do but to pray that all the young people are OK and stay safe,” Phillips said. “I feel real good that Chris has been seen, and he’s OK.”

Phillips said she had not seen her son since December.

“I would have liked to have kept him home. But I can’t do anything about it,” she said. “I just hope he stays safe. He keeps telling me, ‘Mom, I’m OK. I’m in a tank.”‘

PLAINVILLE

Family prays for safety of serviceman

Yvonne Van Dyke’s prayer list gets longer each week.

But her grandson, Bill Van Dyke, always tops the list of local military personnel.

Spc. Bill Van Dyke, who will be 22 in April, is a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Bill just returned in January from a six-month tour in Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom and a knee injury has kept him in the U.S. for now. But Yvonne expects that Bill will be headed back to the Middle East soon.

“Two-thirds of his division are back there already,” Yvonne said.