KPR show wins awards

“Right Between the Ears,” the Kansas Public Radio sketch comedy show, recently received four awards in the 2004 Communicator Awards.

The show won Crystal Awards in the categories of writing/ humor, creativity/on-air talent/humor, creativity/on-air talent/acting and radio programs/live broadcast. The four awards were the most given to any entrant in the 2004 competition.

The international competition recognizes outstanding work in the communications field. The more than 1,000 entries were judged by industry professionals.

The station can be heard on KANU 91.5 FM in Lawrence.

Kansas Humanities Council awards grants

Topeka — The Kansas Humanities Council recently awarded $27,226 in heritage and humanities program grants to five organizations during the fall grand review session.

Clinton Lake Historical Society in Lawrence, Doniphan County Historical Society in Highland and Franklin Community Council in Franklin all received heritage grants.

William Inge Festival Foundation and Smoky Hills Public Television both received humanities grants.

The council already has announced grant deadlines for 2005. The deadlines are March 2, June 9 and Oct. 20.

For more information about the grants, contact the Kansas Humanities Council at (785) 357-0359 or e-mail info@kansashumanities.org or visit www.kansashumanities.org.

Lawrence resident named to Labor post

Topeka — Dorothy D. Stites has been named director of labor market information services for the Kansas Department of Labor. The unit provides information including employment and unemployment rates, wage statistics and labor conditions.

For the past five years, Stites has been assistant city manager in Hays. Before that, she worked for the city of Lawrence.

Stites is a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University and Kansas University. She resides in Lawrence.

Engineering programs developed for teen girls

The Kansas University School of Engineering has set dates for two programs designed to interest teen girls in engineering.

The Society of Women Engineers Weekend of Engineering will be Jan. 21-23 at KU. The weekend is geared toward girls in their junior or senior year and lets them get a feel for KU and the School of Engineering. Cost is $75 and includes meals, materials, activities and off-campus lodging. The deadline to enroll is Jan 14.

The second program is Project Discovery, which is a weeklong engineering camp for girls entering ninth through 12th grades.

The first session is June 5-11 and will focus on aerospace engineering, biomechanical engineering, or electrical engineering and computer science. The second session will be July 10-16 and will focus on architectural engineering, chemical and petroleum engineering, or civil and environmental engineering. Each session costs $300, which covers materials, lab supplies, meals and lodging.

Contact Florence Boldridge at 864-3620 or e-mail fboldridge@ku.edu.

Topeka

Drug discount card deadline approaches

Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for a $600 credit from Medicare to help pay for prescription drugs. The credit is available in 2004 and again in 2005 for those who qualify.

Beneficiaries eligible for the credit must enroll in a program by Dec. 31 to receive the full $600 credit for both years.

Beneficiaries who participate in the Kansas Senior Pharmacy Assistance Program are eligible for a card and may be eligible for the credit as well.

For more information about the program, call (800) 860-5260. Callers should have the names and dosage of their prescription drugs and preferred pharmacy ready.

Kansas City, Mo.

Teen charged with murder in baby’s death

A teenage baby sitter has been charged with second-degree murder in the shaking death of a 1-year-old girl, Jackson County prosecutors said Monday.

Prosecutors originally charged Timothy L. Thomas Jr., 17, of Kansas City, with first-degree assault last week after he allegedly injured Alyssa Gardner on Wednesday while baby-sitting. Alyssa died the next day.

Because of the death, prosecutors charged Thomas with second-degree murder. Prosecutors also added charges of child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Thomas remained jailed on $150,000 bond.

Police said Thomas lived with his pregnant girlfriend, their son, his girlfriend’s sister and the sister’s three children.

Thomas is accused of shaking her and bouncing her against a couch.