Health

Volunteers sought to help at flu clinic

Health agencies still need volunteers to help at a flu vaccine clinic scheduled for Sunday.

About 50 more volunteers are needed for the clinic, according to officials with the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and Kansas University Student Health Services. The clinic will be open from noon until 4 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.

A limited number of spots are available for volunteers who cannot work the entire clinic, health officials said.

The health department and KU were able to secure about 1,300 doses of the flu vaccine. The vaccine is to be distributed to people in high-risk priority groups.

To volunteer, call DeeAnne Schoenfeld at the health department, 843-0721.

Oaklawn

Blast injures parents but spares newborn

A young couple were badly injured but their newborn daughter was spared when an apparent natural gas leak caused a house explosion.

A 19-year-old woman was in serious condition and a 20-year-old man was in critical condition at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus in Wichita after Saturday’s explosion. The 3-day-old girl was treated at the hospital and released. She was staying with relatives, said Chuck Thomas of the Sedgwick County Fire Department.

Officials did not release the victims’ names.

Investigators suspected the gas was ignited when someone lit a cigarette inside the house. While the two adults were injured, firefighters said the door to the baby’s room was closed, shielding her from most of the blast.

Authorities estimated the explosion did $47,000 worth of damage.

Oaklawn is a southern suburb of Wichita.

Government

County commissioners cancel two meetings

Douglas County commissioners will have no meetings this week.

The commissioners have canceled their biweekly meetings, which usually are Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings.

Several county department heads and officials will be in Maryland this week for a training course in emergency management.

Lawrence

Community center seeks holiday helpers

The Ballard Community Center is looking for families, groups, companies and individuals to adopt families in need through the annual Holiday Bureau program.

The Holiday Bureau is an adopt-a-family program that provides holiday gifts, clothing and food to low-income families. The center has 50 families in need of adoption.

For more information, call Chip Blaser at 842-0729.