KU, Lawrence officials apologize to NU fans

A trio of Lawrence officials has sent a letter of apology to Nebraska football fans regarding last weekend’s puncturing of tires on about 25 cars prior to the Kansas University-Nebraska game.

The letter — written by Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Mayor David Dunfield and Lavern Squier, president and CEO of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce — was distributed through Nebraska’s sports information department Friday.

“We condemn the vandalism and extend our sincere apologies to those Nebraskans who were victimized,” they wrote.

The KU Athletic Corp. is offering one free ticket per vandalized car for the 2005 KU-NU game. Victims also will be receiving gift packages from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Downtown Lawrence Inc.

Lawrence Police continue to investigate the incident.

Crash on interstate kills Ottawa resident

An Ottawa woman died Friday afternoon in a crash on Interstate 35 near Edgerton in Johnson County, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported.

Cindy J. Burdolski, 23, was traveling southbound on I-35 about 2:30 p.m. when her 2003 Pontiac careened into the side of a semi-truck, the patrol said. Burdolski died at the scene of the crash.

The truck, driven by Arren C. Wetzel, 24, of Des Moines, Iowa, lost its rear axle and struck a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle driven by 32-year-old Frederick E. Sage of Ashland, Mo.

Wetzel was not injured; Sage appeared to have suffered minor injuries but refused treatment, the patrol said.

The accident forced authorities to close I-35 and reroute vehicles to U.S. Highway 56, severely backing up traffic, officials said.

The interstate reopened about 5 p.m., the patrol said.

Historical society sets annual meeting

An archaeologist and cultural resources specialist with the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka will talk about gravesites from the time of Quantrill’s Raid at the Douglas County Historical Society’s annual meeting.

Randy Thies will speak and show a slide presentation during the annual meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass. Dinner will precede the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Rebecca Phipps, director of Watkins Community Museum of History, will report on the museum’s progress. New officers and board members will be elected.

The Kansas Humanities Council is co-sponsoring Thies’ presentation.