Tornado assistance

Disaster Recovery Center ready to close shop

Today is the last day of operation for the joint Kansas-federal Disaster Recovery Center in Lawrence.

The mobile center at Clinton Parkway Assembly of God, 3200 Clinton Parkway, will be open from 9 a.m. to noon to provide information about federal disaster assistance to victims of recent tornadoes.

Centers in Kansas City, Kan., and Arma will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and on Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, the federal government Friday said three Kansas counties were added to the federal disaster declaration because of tornadoes and flooding.

Haskell, Meade and Seward counties are eligible for individual assistance for residents and business owners, and Seward County is eligible for public assistance.

Other Kansas counties that have been declared disaster areas are Anderson, Cherokee, Crawford, Douglas, Labette, Leavenworth, Miami, Neosho, Osage and Woodson.

Military

Guard artillery unit called to security duty

Topeka — An Ottawa-based Kansas National Guard battalion with a unit in Lawrence has been ordered to active duty.

The 1st Battalion, 127th Field Artillery, has received mobilization orders for more than 200 soldiers, the Adjutant General’s Department said Friday.

Besides Lawrence, the battalion has units in Burlington, Garnett, Holton, Lenexa, Paola, Salina and Topeka.

The unit will be responsible for security duties at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley, replacing soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, which has headquarters in Wichita and units in south-central and southwest Kansas.

Crime

Two youths detained after eastside shooting

Two Lawrence boys were detained Friday at the county’s juvenile detention center after being arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting in eastern Lawrence.

It was unclear whether anyone was injured.

Lawrence Police arrested the pair — one is 17 years old, the other 13 — after receiving several reports about 10:45 p.m. Thursday of gunshots in the area of 16th Street and Rose Lane.

Police said Friday it appeared the 17-year-old boy fired several shots at a dark-colored car with three passengers inside. Because they were unable to locate the car, police don’t know whether any of the passengers were injured.

Both suspects were booked into the Douglas County Youth Services detention facility.

The 17-year-old was taken into custody on charges of criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm by a juvenile. The 13-year-old was arrested on charges of aiding a felon, criminal possession of a firearm by a juvenile and theft.