Five more human cases of West Nile confirmed

Topeka — Five more human cases of encephalitis or meningitis caused by West Nile virus have been confirmed in the state, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday.

Kansas’ total number of confirmed cases this year now stands at 23, one more than in all of 2002.

The latest cases were confirmed in a 16-year-old in Finney County; 63-year-old in Sedgwick County; 69-year-old in Rush County; 49-year-old in Osborne County; and a 7-year-old in Barton County.

Kansas keeps track of only the most severe cases of West Nile virus. KDHE said it was likely that many other people in the state were infected by the virus but the cases were mild.

Kansas University

Weather delays opening of new fitness center

Kansas University students will have to wait at least another week to use their new Student Recreation Fitness Center.

Mary Chappell, director of Recreation Services, said the center, originally scheduled to open Monday, now would open Sept. 23. She said humidity had been too high in the facility to install the racquetball courts, basketball courts and jogging track.

Even with the delay, the basketball courts won’t be ready for the Sept. 23 opening, Chappell said. They should be ready two weeks later.

The $17.2 million facility south of Watkins Health Center is being funded through student fees.

“It’s disappointing, but I think quality is worth waiting a couple weeks,” Chappell said.

Academics

Top high school seniors to be honored at KU

Seniors from 16 high schools in Douglas, Jefferson and Leavenworth counties will be honored Sept. 22 by the Kansas University Alumni Association and the KU Endowment Association.

The students, representing the top 10 percent of their classes, will participate in the Kansas Honors Program. The event starts at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Lied Center.

John Gaunt, dean of architecture at KU, will speak at the event and Kirk Cerny, senior vice president for membership services at the Alumni Association, will present awards.

Arts

United Way lands $7,653 for Jayhawk

A generous Jayhawk fan will be identified next week during the formal kickoff of the United Way of Douglas County’s annual fund-raising drive.

An anonymous eBay bidder — known on the online site as “jayhawk!!!!!” — put up $7,653 to win last week’s auction for “Chip off the Old Hawk,” one of 30 Jayhawks on Parade statues in Lawrence. The money goes to the United Way.

The fiberglass Jayhawk is on display at the southwest corner of 15th Street and Kasold Drive, outside the offices of sponsor Coldwell Banker McGrew Real Estate.

United Way officials intend to reveal the donor’s identity at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Dole Institute of Politics on Kansas University’s west campus.

“Everybody’s buzzing about it, but they’ll just have to wait,” said Jo Bryant, United Way director.

Several other Jayhawks on Parade also are being sold, auctioned or raffled to benefit other organizations.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found a Lawrence-area gasoline price as low as $1.56 at two stations: Zarco 66 No. 3, 900 Iowa, and Hillcrest Amoco, 914 Iowa. If you find a lower price, call Pump Patrol at 832-7154.