Fugitive father fails to appear in court

A Lawrence man wanted by the state of Indiana for failure to pay child support missed a court date Wednesday in Douglas County District Court.

An attorney for 54-year-old Leman Booher told Judge Paula B. Martin his client was stranded in Tennessee with a broken-down car.

Booher has been arrested at least three times in Douglas County on an outstanding Indiana governor’s warrant. He’s accused of owing more than $60,000 in back child-support payments.

Despite Booher’s failure to appear Wednesday, authorities in Indiana didn’t oppose his extradition being delayed 90 days because they’ve begun receiving payments from him, officials said.

Martin set his next court date for March 24.

Crime

KU student’s face cut in scuffle with burglar

A Kansas University student suffered minor cuts to his face and stomach in a scuffle with a burglar early Wednesday morning.

The 23-year-old student reported that he heard a noise about 4:05 a.m. coming from the attached garage of his home in the 600 block of Maine Street. When he went to investigate, he encountered a burglar, who cut him with an unknown instrument before running away, the student told police.

Nothing was stolen. The student described the suspect as a white male in his mid-20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 185 pounds, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt.

Police

Wife accused of pulling gun on husband at bar

Lawrence Police arrested a 45-year-old Lawrence woman Tuesday night on suspicion of taking a loaded handgun out of her purse and pointing it at her husband during an argument at the Cross Town Tavern, 1910 Haskell Ave.

A bartender called police to report the incident about 7:49 p.m. Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman, said he didn’t know the details of the dispute.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon. She wasn’t charged Wednesday, but a judge set her bond at $5,000.

Arts

Governor names state poet laureate

A Manhattan man has been named poet laureate of Kansas, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ office announced this week.

Jonathan Holden will serve in that position for two years starting July 5. He will simultaneously serve on the Kansas Arts Commission Touring Roster. Eligible organizations and schools can apply to receive an Arts Commission grant to help support a visit by Holden.

The poet laureate can establish a program of his design to coincide with the term of service on the touring roster. That may include workshops, a special reading series, school programs, conferences, specially commissioned poems or other projects promoting appreciation and writing of poetry in Kansas.