Akin Prairie to welcome ‘wildflower walkers’

The Kansas Land Trust will conduct its annual Wildflower Walk at 1 p.m. Sunday on the Akin Prairie, in Douglas County east of Lawrence.

Kelly Kindscher, author of “Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie” and “Medicinal Plants of the Prairie,” will lead the walk. He will identify the wildflowers and grasses and share the interesting lore that surrounds native plants.

The Akin Prairie is named in honor of Tom and Dorothy Akin, who farmed the land around it beginning in 1944. Tom Akin placed a conservation easement on the native prairie in 1994 to ensure that the flower-strewn meadow his late wife had loved would be preserved in perpetuity.

Refreshments will be served after the walk.

To get to Akin Prairie, take Kansas Highway 10 east of Lawrence, turn south on Douglas County 1057. Go two miles, then turn west on Douglas County 1150 Road, and go approximately 4/10ths of a mile. Kansas Land Trust signs will point to a gate to the prairie on on the south side of 1150 Road. Parking will be along the side of the road.

Board of Education member seeks 3rd term

Bill Wagnon has filed for a third term on the Kansas State Board of Education.

Wagnon, a board member since 1996, is a Democrat from Topeka. He represents the 4th District, which includes the western half of Douglas County, including part of western Lawrence. The district also takes in Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties and the northern half of Osage County.

Wagnon, a history professor at Washburn University, said establishing all-day kindergarten and dropout prevention programs, recognizing outstanding teaching and leadership and paying teachers adequate wages were among his priorities. He also said working to establish an accountability system in preparation for federal No Child Left Behind mandates was a priority.

No other candidate has filed in the race, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. The filing deadline is noon Tuesday.

Democratic to file for county clerk run

A second candidate says he’s jumping into the race to replace longtime County Clerk Patty Jaimes, who’s not seeking re-election.

Jamie Shew, vice-chairman of the Douglas County Democratic Party, filed a campaign treasurer’s report this week and said he planned to officially file as a candidate next week. He will compete against at least one other person: Republican Marni Penrod, a deputy under Jaimes.

“I think one of the worst things is if there’s an unopposed race and you don’t have a dialogue that occurs,” Shew said.

The Journal-World last week documented the lack of competition in races for many county offices in recent decades. But Shew, 33, said he had his mind made up before seeing the article and had been considering the campaign for about six months.

Shew has a degree in political science and works for the Metropolitan Community Colleges of Kansas City, Mo. in recruitment, retention and public relations.

School administrator charged in molestation

Olathe — An 18-year veteran of the Olathe school district turned himself in on Friday after being charged with sexually molesting a 15-year-old girl.

Stanley Poitras, 57, is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child, a felony.

Court documents allege the girl was first abused shortly before her 14th birthday in January 2003 and the abuse continued until last February. The victim was described as mildly autistic.

District officials said the alleged incidents didn’t involve Poitras’ position and that his job as the district’s director of planning didn’t involve contact with children. Officials said Poitras had been on leave since February and he was scheduled to retire on June 30.

If convicted, Poitras would face a minimum prison sentence of three years and two months.