KPR director to lead state broadcast council

Janet Campbell, director of Kansas Public Radio, has been elected chair of the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council.

The council, which is comprised of leaders of the state’s 10 public radio stations and four public TV stations, serves as an advocacy group for public broadcasting in the Legislature.

“It’s my goal to keep public broadcasting in the forefront of legislative thinking,” Campbell said. “That’s crucial in a rural state like Kansas. I hope that we can maintain — or even increase — our funding levels.”

Campbell directs KPR’s flagship station, KANU 91.5-FM, and the Audio-Reader Network at Kansas University.

Police

Administrators continue pursuit policy review

City officials are still reviewing the Lawrence Police Department’s vehicle-pursuit policy and might finish their review in December, City Manager Mike Wildgen said.

The policy has been under scrutiny since a high-speed chase Aug. 26 that ended with the fleeing motorist striking and killing 56-year-old Judith Vellucci of Lawrence at 31st Street and Nieder Road.

The LPD pursuit policy is only two pages long and is less detailed and less restrictive than those in place at several area departments. Reviewing it takes time because it involves looking in-depth at the department’s training procedures, Chief Ron Olin said.

“It is more involved than it appears from the outside,” he said.

Holidays

Santa to arrive downtown

An event featuring Santa Claus and holiday music will begin at 5:30 p.m. today at Ninth and Massachusetts streets.

Downtown Lawrence Inc. is sponsoring its annual downtown Christmas event. The program will feature songs by a variety of choral groups beginning at 5:30 p.m. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical will “rescue” Santa at 6 p.m. from atop Weaver’s Department store at Ninth and Massachusetts streets.

Children will have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with Santa after the rescue.

Honor

Lawrence music teacher to direct national choir

A vocal music teacher at Southwest Junior High School will direct a national honors choir during a performance in Los Angeles.

Janeal Krehbiel, who also is founder and director of the Lawrence Children’s Choir, has been selected to lead the National Junior Honors Choir.

The group will perform in 2005 at the American Choral Directors Assn. national convention.

The honor is presented to people considered among the top junior high school choir directors in the country.

“I was shocked but incredibly honored,” Krehbiel said.

About 2,000 junior high school students apply to join the choir, but just 200 make the cut. In Los Angeles, the students practice three days before a final concert.

Krehbiel has also taught vocal music in Denver and Hesston.

Social Services

Mental health group to meet Wednesday

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Douglas County will meet at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday in the second-floor conference room of the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine.

Featured speaker will be Jane Adams, executive director at Keys for Networking, a Topeka-based support organization for families of children with emotional or behavioral problems. Adams recently served on President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.

Adams will discuss the commission’s findings and recommendations. For more information, contact Charlie Ross at 842-0714 or by e-mail at charlieross@sbcglobal.net.