Firefighters plan benefit for colleague’s family

A barbecue and chili cook-off will be among the events scheduled Saturday to benefit the family of a Lawrence firefighter whose son has muscular dystrophy.

Firefighters and medics will staff the events, which run from noon to 7 p.m. at Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical’s Fire Training and Maintenance Center, 1941 Haskell Ave.

The benefit is for Fire & Medical Lt. Joe Mehl and his family. About two years ago Mehl’s son, Lucas, 10, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Mehl will have additional expenses coping with his son’s illness, such as renovating his house to make it more accessible, firefighters said.

Planned for Saturday’s event are contests involving teams of firefighters from area departments. There also will be bands and other music throughout the day, as well as raffles for $3,000 worth of merchandise from area businesses.

Lucas and Joe Mehl are pictured above at their home this summer.

Fund-raiser

Audio-Reader benefit exceeds $10,000

This past weekend’s sale of recordings and equipment to benefit Kansas Audio-Reader Network raised $10,672.75 and drew people from as far away as Hays and Council Grove, officials said.

“We would’ve been happy with $5,000 our first time out,” said Diana Frederick, development director for the service. “What surprised us most was that we had people lining up outside the door at 5 p.m. That just kind of blew our staff and volunteers away.”

Audio-Reader broadcasts news and other materials 24 hours a day for the blind and visually impaired. The service has been working to raise $40,000 to convert its satellite system from analog to digital format.

Crime

Shots fired in robbery; police seek two suspects

A suspect fired gunshots into an occupied vehicle early Wednesday morning during a robbery in North Lawrence, but no one was injured, police said Wednesday.

Police were working to identify two men thought to be responsible for the robbery and shooting, which happened at 3:28 a.m. in the 400 block of Elm Street, said Sgt. Mike Pattrick, a Lawrence Police Department spokesman.

Pattrick said one of the suspects was arguing about money with a man who was inside the vehicle with a woman. During the argument, the other suspect fired several shots into the vehicle, and the two men left in a small, green vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money, Pattrick said.

Education

Baker enrollment rises 1.3 percent to 3,098

Enrollment at Baker University rose 1.3 percent this fall, officials announced Wednesday. Baker’s three schools enrolled 3,098 students, up from 3,058 last year.

The college of arts and sciences in Baldwin had its enrollment increase 1 percent, to 895 students from 886.

Enrollment at the school of professional and graduate studies, which has campuses in Topeka, Wichita, Overland Park and Lee’s Summit, Mo., increased less than 1 percent, to 2,083 students from 2,070.

Baker’s school of nursing saw the highest growth. It rose to 120 from 102 students, an increase of 17.6 percent.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found Lawrence-area gasoline prices as low as $1.32 at Citgo, 2005 W. Ninth St., Zarco 66, 900 Iowa, and Hillcrest Amoco, 914 Iowa.

If you find a lower price, call 832-7154.