Appeals court upholds ruling against cop critic

The Kansas Court of Appeals on Friday upheld a local ruling in a lawsuit filed by a vocal police critic against Lawrence police officers.

The appeals court found Douglas County District Court Judge Robert Fairchild acted properly when he refused to reconsider a judgment against Dale McCormick.

McCormick had filed suit against Police Chief Ron Olin and two officers he claims used excessive force against him during a 2000 traffic stop. He said he suffered a broken thumb during the incident, which led to his decision to become a full-time police critic.

When the court entered summary judgment against McCormick, he filed a motion for reconsideration that Fairchild denied. Summary judgment can be entered when a case can be decided as a matter of law without a trial.

Officials announce flu shot clinics

It’s time to fight the flu.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department will offer flu shots at a series of clinics through Nov. 14. The first is from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St.

Other upcoming clinics are:

• 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Holcom Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St.
• 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Oct. 16, Eudora City Hall, 4 E. Seventh St.
• 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 17, United Methodist Church, 353 Elmore, Lecompton.
• 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Oct. 17, Baldwin Senior Center, 1221 Indiana St.
• 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 18, health department, 200 Maine.

For other clinic dates, call 843-0721.

Shots are suggested for people at high risk of serious illness, including senior citizens, people with chronic illness, women more than three months pregnant and healthy children ages 6 to 24 months.

The cost for the flu shot is $15, but no one will be turned away if they cannot pay.

Rail company offers reward for vandals

Garden City — Garden City Western Railway Inc. is offering a reward to help find whomever is responsible for tampering with track switches and damaging several railcars.

The reward of $5,000 is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of vandals who tried to derail a train by tampering with track switches. Several railcars also were damaged Monday and Tuesday.

Vandals released the air and hand brakes on seven railcars at the Railroad Engine House. Those cars rolled downhill and derailed, causing extensive damage, said Finney County Sheriff Kevin Bascue.

Pioneer Railcorp, which owns the damaged railroad property, has not determined the estimated cost of damage.

Kelly Chopp, general manager of Garden City Western Railway, said the FBI and the sheriff’s office were investigating the accident.

“Whoever did this, we think, had to know how to release air brakes,” Chopp said. “That’s not something an average vandal would know how to do.”

K.C. arena complex to be privately managed

Kansas City, Mo. — After years of debate on privatizing some government services, the City Council has awarded a Philadelphia company a contract to manage Kemper Arena and the adjacent American Royal Center.

Global Spectrum, a Philadelphia-based unit of Comcast Inc., will take over the operation of the 19,500-seat arena and the rest of the city-owned American Royal complex on Oct. 12. The City Council approved an agreement with the company on a 10-0 vote Thursday.

City officials began negotiating with Global Spectrum in July after concluding that private management was the best hope for boosting revenues, providing better concerts and other entertainment and improving the efficiency of the operation.

Ownership of the facilities remains with the city, which will continue to manage parking for about 7,000 vehicles.