Storm aftermath: Seven Kansas counties declared disaster areas

Leavenworth County and six other storm-riddled Kansas counties have been designated federal disaster areas, the White House announced Tuesday.

The action makes federal funding available to Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Miami and Neosho counties in Kansas.

Federal assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help people and businesses recover from their storm-related losses.

Those who sustained losses in the disaster-area counties can apply for assistance beginning today by calling (800) 621-FEMA or (800) 462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Reception: LMH community report to highlight progress

The public can hear about past progress and future plans for Lawrence Memorial Hospital at LMH’s annual report to the community and reception from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today.

Free refreshments will be available in the hospital atrium, then a 6 p.m. program will begin in the auditorium.

Speakers will include Sue Hack, Lawrence city commissioner; Joanne Hurst, chairwoman of LMH’s Board of Trustees; Dr. Michael Zabel, LMH’s chief of staff; Scot Buxton, president, LMH Endowment Assn., and Gene Meyer, LMH’s president and CEO.

The hospital’s annual report, “A Better Life/A Better Way,” which features photographs and stories highlighting LMH people and technology, will be distributed at the reception.

Military: Army Reserve units return from Middle East

Two dozen Army reservists are due home by the end of the week after 10 months in the Middle East.

A welcome-home celebration is set for Friday for 24 soldiers of the Hays-based U.S. Army Reserve 388th Medical Logistics Company.

The returnees include soldiers from 14 communities in Kansas, one from Nebraska and one from Iowa. They spent 10 months in the Central Command area of operations in Qatar since deploying in July.

Two other groups, totaling another 50 soldiers, remain overseas.

Calendar: KU announces dates for major fall events

Kansas University officials have set dates for their annual major fall events.

The 56th annual Band Day will be Sept. 6, when KU plays the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Open House will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20. Homecoming Week will run from Oct. 12 through Oct. 18.

Richard Johnson, dean of students, and Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for university relations, lead planning for the events.