American Legion reports missing flags

Someone stripped the local American Legion Post of its flags during the weekend.

Bob Brooks, commander of American Legion Post 14, 3408 W. Sixth St., said a U.S. flag and a prisoner of war-missing in action flag disappeared sometime late Saturday or Sunday from the flagpole outside the post.

“It’s pretty low for a person to do something like that,” he said.

It’s the second time in the past year someone has stolen a flag from the post. Brooks blames “anti-Americanism.”

American Indian historian to speak

Vine Deloria Jr., a leading American Indian historian, author and advocate, will speak at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Navarre Hall conference room at Haskell Indian Nations University.

Deloria is the former executive director of the National Congress of American Indians. He’s a retired professor of political science at the University of Arizona and retired professor emeritus of history at the University of Colorado.

Deloria recently co-wrote “Power and Place: Indian Education in America” with Dan Wildcat, director of the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center and a faculty member in the American Indian Studies department.

The program is a part of the Indian Records Conference, which runs through Thursday.

Deloria’s presentation is open to the public. For more information, contact the university at 830-2715.

Blood drive planned

The Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross plans a blood drive Wednesday.

The drive will be from noon to 6 p.m. at First Christian Church, 10th and Kentucky streets. No appointment is necessary.

The drive will feature a competition between employees and management of the Lawrence McDonald’s restaurants.

Real baby Jay wins ‘Hawk of the Arts’

Luci Costello, 2, of Lawrence, had the winning ticket in a Monday drawing for the Jayhawk sculpture “Hawk of the Arts.” It’s among 30 renditions of the Kansas University mascot made for Jayhawks on Parade.

Her parents, Marci and Steve Costello, will help Luci decide whether to leave the artwork on display at the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau or turn it into the largest yard art on the Costellos’ lawn.

Sarah Martin, director of Lawrence Education Achievement Partners, said tickets sold for the “Hawk of the Arts” drawing raised $3,000 in donations for the group, whose volunteers work to boost public school student performance.

Thirty decorated Jayhawks have been displayed in Lawrence since April under a program organized in part by the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Hawk of the Arts” was at the bureau’s office, 402 N. Second St.

Leukemia walk planned

The fifth annual Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk will be Thursday at the South Park gazebo.

The walk will raise money for research programs to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, provide patient services and educational programs for patients and their families, and provide educational programs for medical and allied health professionals.

The walk will take place along a two-mile course on Massachusetts Street. Participants will carry balloons. Dedication banners will also be displayed to honor family members and friends.

Registration begins at 6 p.m., and the walk begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call (316) 687-2222.

‘Coach Fam’ gathering to benefit mental health

Former Kansas University head football coach Don Fambrough will be the guest of honor at “An Evening with Coach Fam and Friends,” a benefit for the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

More than 15 former KU football coaches, All-Americans and other players will join in Thursday’s event.

The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Lawrence Holidome. It will include remarks from former coaches John Hadl, David Jaynes, David Lawrence, Jack Mitchell and Gale Sayers, as well as current head football coach Mark Mangino and athletic director Lew Perkins.

Tickets to the event are $125, which includes a social hour and tailgate-themed dinner at the Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

KU alumna to read novel at Baker

Baldwin — Kansas University alumna Laura Moriarty will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday at McKibben Recital Hall in the Owens Music Building at Baker University.

Moriarty will read from her first novel, “The Center of Everything,” and answer questions.

The novel deals with a young girl in Kansas trying to make sense of the world around her.

Moriarty received a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in creative writing from KU.