Local book illustrator to work with students

A Lawrence Public Schools alumnus and acclaimed children’s book illustrator will work with fourth-graders this week through the Adventures in Imagination partnership of U.S. Bank, the Lied Center and the school district.

Stephen Johnson attended Sunset Hill, West Junior High and Lawrence High schools.

The artist and author started art at KU and the Universite de Bordeaux and the Conservatoire des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux, France, before moving to New York City to work as a painter and illustrator. He and his family now live in Lawrence.

Johnson’s paintings have been exhibited at the Chicago Art Institute and on the covers of Time and Forbes magazines.

He will sign books from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Children’s Book Shop, 937 Mass.

Enrollment begins for Parks and Rec

Lawrence Parks and Recreation officials will begin enrollment for winter and spring classes and activities on Monday.

The 2005 Winter/Spring Activities Guide will be distributed through the Journal-World today and will be available at all Parks and Recreation facilities.

Residents have several options for registering in classes, including via the Internet, fax, mail or in person at a neighborhood recreation center. Online enrollment is available at www.lprd.org. All registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The winter and spring activity period will include more than 250 programs.

Music fund-raiser

planned at LHS

Those in the mood for classical music and dessert can find them Tuesday at Lawrence High School.

The “Evening of Class” features the LHS orchestra, desserts and a silent auction to raise money for the group.

Tickets are $5 at the door or from any orchestra member.

The event starts at 7 p.m. in the LHS cafeteria, 1901 La.

Wichita

Former officer sentenced in child porn case

A former Park City police officer has been sentenced to almost three years in prison after investigators found in his home about 1,000 images of children being sexually exploited.

A defense attorney for John Coleman, 44, had asked for probation after Coleman’s family said he was a strong father and was receiving counseling. But Sedgwick County District Judge Joseph Bribiesca denied the request Friday, noting Coleman’s role as a police officer and allegations of sexual harassment by Coleman before he resigned.

In a separate case, Ronald Hutchings, 38, pleaded guilty Friday to sending and receiving child pornography over the Internet. Because Hutchings was convicted in 1994 of two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, he is facing a sentence of between 15 and 40 years in federal prison.