Turnpike stop leads to federal drug charges

Kansas City, Kan. — Two men from Washington, D.C., were charged Wednesday in federal court with one count each of possession with intent to distribute PCP.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office identified them as Mark Seymour, 32, and Paul Douglas, 31.

Monday, Seymour and Douglas were traveling in a car stopped by the Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic violations on the Kansas Turnpike in Leavenworth County. Troopers noticed a chemical odor and brought in a drug dog to conduct a search.

The dog alerted troopers to the presence of illegal drugs, and a 1 gallon jug full of PCP was found in a cooler in the car’s trunk, prosecutors said.

If convicted, Seymour and Douglas could face a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.

The two remain in custody.

Exhibit honors seniors, LHS art teacher

An exhibit opening Friday at Roy’s Gallery honors graduating Lawrence High School seniors who have earned scholarships to attend art schools next fall, and it recognizes the work of longtime LHS art teacher Pat Nemchock, who’s retiring after 29 years.

The reception is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 1410 Kasold Drive. The free event is open to the public.

Nemchock’s graduating students have earned $1.7 million in merit scholarships this year.

Nemchock, chairwoman of the art department, was known for helping students put together their portfolios and communicate with admissions counselors at art schools across the country. She has been the Kansas Art Education Assn.’s Secondary Art Teacher of the Year, the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s Educator of the Year and was this year’s Lawrence Public Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Teenager killed in wreck with school bus

Garden City — A teenager died Wednesday when he lost control of the speeding car he was driving and crashed into an oncoming school bus, authorities said.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the victim as Victor E. Landeros-Jimenez, 17, of Garden City.

Three passengers in the teen’s car and the driver of the bus were injured, the patrol said. No children were on the school bus at the time.

Senior services plans ‘armchair’ trip to Haiti

Those people attending today’s Douglas County Senior Services armchair travel trip will learn about Haiti.

The event will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the studio of the Lawrence Senior Center, 745 Vt.

A master drummer from Haiti will perform. Haitian snacks also will be served.

To register, call the Senior Center at 842-0543.

Call to active duty prompts snap wedding

For the past two years, Wayne Thompson and Deb Lucero have pinched pennies in hopes of getting married this summer in Hawaii.

“The tickets are already bought,” Lucero said.

But May 14, Thompson, an Army reservist and Gulf War veteran, learned he was being called up for a year of active duty, starting Tuesday.

When Lucero and Thompson’s co-workers at Haskell Indian Nations University learned of the disrupted wedding plans, they planned a replacement ceremony.

“So on Friday, we’re going to have a Hawaii-style wedding — complete with flowers, and a roasted pig — at the gazebo,” on the Haskell campus, said university spokeswoman Lori Tapahonso.

The wedding begins at 11 a.m.

Hot line aims to answer government questions

Citizens with questions relating to the federal government can call (800) FED-INFO from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday to have their questions answered.

The Federal Citizen Information Center provides information such as national park details, federal jobs, Social Security, copyrights and other facts about federal agencies, programs and activities.

The center also has a Web site with federal information at www.firstgov.gov.