Patrol investigates accident on turnpike

The Kansas Highway Patrol was investigating a one-vehicle accident Monday night on the Kansas Turnpike in Douglas County.

Dispatchers with the Kansas Turnpike Authority said a vehicle struck the concrete median barrier on the westbound side of the highway. At least one person was thought to be injured, but no other details were available late Monday.

The accident occurred about three miles east of the Shawnee County line.

Friends of Kaw receives $15,000 from EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Friends of the Kaw a $15,000 grant, one of five for Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. It was the only grant received in Kansas.

Friends of the Kaw will use the money to help decrease health risks by informing the public about water quality in the Kansas River and identifying populations who may be eating contaminated fish.

The grant is part of $84,606 given by the federal agency through the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program.

Free State competes in ‘High Q’ quiz contest

Free State High School and Kapaun Mount Carmel High School in WIchita will compete in a “High Q” final to be televised at 4:30 p.m. Friday on Sunflower Broadband Channel 13. The contest will be shown again at noon Sunday on Sunflower Broadband Channel 11.

Free State and Kapaun Mount Carmel were two of the top 16 teams that competed in Super Saturday “High Q” on Dec. 6 at Washburn University in Topeka. The top 16 teams went on to single-elimination competition, which is televised each week until May 14, when the championship team will be named.

High school students from across Kansas compete to answer questions on topics such as art, literature, history, math and science.

Free State team members are Evan Ferrier, senior; Yuan Liu, junior; Austin Rivera, junior; Alan Sheu, senior; and Ivan Sheu, senior. Oather Strawderman is the team’s coach.