Esteemed Kansan, science teacher dies

A longtime Kansas educator who went on to lead the National Science Teachers Assn. has died in Fairfax,Va.

Wendell G. Mohling, 61, died Tuesday of complications from a stroke.

Mohling, who earned a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Kansas University, was known as a champion of aerospace education. He taught in Johnson County and received national attention in 1985 when he was selected as the state finalist in the NASA Teacher in Space Program.

Other honors included winning the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Kansas in 1977 from the National Association of Biology Teachers

He was the National Science Teachers Assn.’s president from 1992 to 1993 and had been its associate executive director for professional programs since 1993.

Cardboat boat race award winners listed

Awards have been announced in the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lawrence cardboard boat races Saturday at Clinton Lake.

More than 30 teams participated.

• Fastest time: Dentists Theodore Wiklund, Kent Peterson and Matthew F. Krische, 1 minute, 4 seconds. Second place, Lawrence Realty Associates, 1:26; third place, US Bank, 1:35.
• Fastest time, youths: Boy Scout Troop 59, 2:10. Second place, Chamber and Leadership Lawrence Kids, 2:54.
• Most creative boat: Progress Vanguard.
• Most fashionable boat: Wiklund, Peterson and Krische.
• Most spirited and organized crew: Boy Scout Troop 59.
• Best theme boat and crew: Douglas County Bank.
• Titanic award for most dramatic sinking: Boy Scout Troop 61.
• Best bobbing and slowest of team members: Lawrence Boys and Girls Club.
• Best pirate or extreme rule breaker: US Bank.
• Best all around boat: Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
• Admiral’s and Peoples Bank award: Dale Willey Automotive.

Metal band pushing political awareness

Metal band Truth Cell will be staging a political awareness rally at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Bottleneck, 737 N.H.

The goal of the rally will be to raise the awareness and political responsibility of young citizens, organizers said.

At the event will be booths where people can register to vote. Other bands performing are Moire, Remember the Day, Silence Broken and Dark Matter.

There will be a cover charge.