Committee gets ready for St. Pat’s parade

The Lawrence organization that sponsors the local St. Patrick’s Day Parade is gearing up for its annual celebration.

Tonight, the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will crown a queen at its annual coronation. The event gets under way at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by the coronation at 7 p.m. at the Flamingo Club, 501 N. Ninth St.

The culminating event for this year’s celebration will be the parade, which starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The parade follows a route from South Park, up Massachusetts Street and finishing in North Lawrence at the Flamingo Club.

This year, the parade’s proceeds will go to the Crown Casting Club, which promotes fishing and environmental awareness for children ages 4-16.

The photo above shows participants in 2002’s parade.

County

Undersheriff to run for sheriff’s job

Douglas County Undersheriff Ken McGovern will declare his candidacy for sheriff Monday.

McGovern said Saturday he would make an official announcement at noon in the commission chambers on the second floor of the Douglas County Courthouse.

McGovern will become a candidate only four days after Sheriff Rick Trapp announced that he would not run for a second term because of personal reasons.

McGovern has worked more than 20 years with the Sheriff’s Office, where he began as a jail corrections officer in 1982. Trapp appointed McGovern undersheriff in December 2002 after then-Undersheriff Bill Shepard retired.

Since then, McGovern also has been the director of the Douglas County Jail.

No other candidates have announced for the post, which is up for election in November.

Meriden

Highway wreck injures 3

Three people were injured Friday night when two vehicles collided on Kansas Highway 4 in Meriden.

Lori Wellman, 40, Meriden, was in critical condition Saturday at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka, a hospital spokeswoman said. Chris Wellman, 14, Meriden, and Travis Swendson, 29, Valley Falls, were taken to Stormont-Vail, where they were treated and released, the spokeswoman said.

The accident was reported at 6:48 p.m. Friday when Lori Wellman, driving a southbound 1995 Ford Explorer, attempted to make a left turn, the Kansas Highway Patrol said. The Explorer collided with a northbound 1981 Chevrolet pickup driven by Swendson.

Chris Wellman was a passenger in the Explorer, the Highway Patrol said.

Government

Commission moves meetings to morning

After several months of afternoon meetings, Douglas County commissioners will resume their 8:30 a.m. meeting time Monday.

Monday’s agenda includes discussion of the county’s technology fund, a bridge replacement and the schedule for preparing the 2005 budget.

The commission meets at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found Lawrence-area gasoline prices as low as $1.62 at Site, 946 E. 23rd St.

If you find a lower price, report it to Pump Patrol at 832-7154.