Free child development screenings offered

Parents concerned about their child’s walking, talking, hearing, seeing or thinking abilities will have the opportunity to get more information about how their child is developing March 17.

Lawrence Early Childhood Special Services will conduct free developmental screenings for children from 3 to 5 years old at Educational and Support Services, 110 McDonald Drive.

Screenings will be done by appointment only, and participants must complete application materials.

For more information, call screening coordinator Rusty Schnur at 832-5098, ext. 206; secretary Edie Boehle at 832-5098, ext. 205; or fax them at 832-5794.

Congressman to meet with KU students

U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore will be the next speaker in the “Students Learning Through Leaders” series at Kansas University.

Moore, a Democrat who represents the 3rd District, which includes the eastern half of Lawrence, will deliver a lecture at 1 p.m. Friday in Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. The speech is free and open to the public.

He also will eat lunch with 15 students beginning at noon. The luncheon is free and open to the first 15 students who sign up at the Student Union Activities office.

Moore also will be named Conservation Legislator of the Year by the Kansas Wildlife Federation at the beginning of the forum.

KU dean to take job with life span institute

An associate dean of the Kansas University Graduate School will step down in August to assume a new duty at the university.

John Colombo, who has been associate dean for three years, will become associate director for cognitive neuroscience at the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies.

As associate dean, Colombo helped to develop the Provost’s Task Force on Graduate Education and to shape new professional development programs for graduate students.

Colombo has been a fellow in the American Psychological Assn. and the American Psychological Society. His research in 2002 helped convince two major infant formula makers to add two fatty acids present in a mother’s milk. He currently is using a National Science Foundation grant to study infants’ perception of time during learning.

Lawrence MS Walk planned for April 24

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has set April 24 as the date for this year’s annual fund-raising MS Walk. Registration for the walk will begin at 9 a.m. in Burcham Park with the walk starting at 10 a.m.

Emily Zung will be the volunteer chairwoman. It is her fourth year to serve in this capacity.

Last year, 100 Lawrence walkers raised more than $17,600 for the society. The goal this year is to raise $22,000 in pledges.

To volunteer as a walker or volunteer, call the MS Society office at (785) 272-5292 or (800) 745-7148. Information is available online at www.MSMidAmerica.org.