Haskell welcoming students for fall term

Students are returning to Haskell Indian Nations University this weekend for the start of the fall semester Wednesday.

Saturday, new and transfer students moved into dormitories and took part in placement testing, paid fees and attended student-orientation sessions. Returning students will go through the same process today.

“Everything has gone pretty smoothly,” said Karen Gillis, dean of students.

Although the final count won’t be known until Tuesday, about 400 new and transfer students arrived Saturday at Haskell, and more were expected to come in through Tuesday, Gillis said.

About 700 returning students are expected today, she said.

Kansas Democratic party

Primary loser selected to face Brownback

The loser in the Aug. 3 Democratic primary was picked Saturday to run against Sen. Sam Brownback in the November election, after the withdrawal of the primary’s surprise winner.

Lee Jones, 53, a railroad engineer from Lenexa and a former lobbyist, was selected at a meeting of the Democratic State Committee.

He will replace Robert Conroy, 76, a retired railroad employee from Shawnee. Conroy got 56 percent of the vote without campaigning and then withdrew, saying he was too tired to run against Brownback in November.

Jones’ candidacy will not become official until Conroy’s victory is certified by the state canvass and his withdrawal filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.

The canvass should be completed Friday, said Mark Simpson, the party’s executive director.

Recreation

Club to disseminate water-safety tips at park

The Kansas City Whitewater Club will pass out information about water safety from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Wakarusa Outlet Park, shelter No. 8, below Clinton Dam.

The event is part of an ongoing educational program sponsored by a grant through the American Whitewater Assn.

Emergency workers will be on hand to answer questions.

More information about canoeing and kayaking opportunities is available at www.kcwc.org.