Arson suspect to return next week to Kansas

It will likely be next week before a former Kansas University student suspected of being behind a string of arsons in Lawrence and Johnson County is brought back to Kansas to face charges, officials said Friday.

David Ryan Jay, 23, Olathe, is still being held by authorities in Fontana, Calif.

According to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, Jay should be back in Kansas by the middle of next week. He will then have a first appearance in Johnson County District Court on the two arson charges he faces.

More charges are expected at the state and federal level.

Douglas County Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney said she had discussed the local cases, including the arson at the Watson Library on the KU campus, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Kenney said she needed to do more research before deciding how the cases would be handled.

Jay is accused of setting 15 fires between March 6 and 11 in Lawrence and Johnson County. The damage is estimated at more than $8 million.

Community

Oread house-moving will disrupt traffic

An Oread neighborhood house will block traffic about 10 a.m. Tuesday as it moves from its home at 1309 Ohio to 1035 Ky. The house is being moved to make room for a new Kansas University scholarship hall.

While contractors move the house to Kentucky Street, police will block traffic along Ohio Street to 13th Street, on 13th east to Tennessee Street, north on Tennessee to 11th Street, then east to Kentucky Street and north to its destination. No-parking signs will be posted along the route.

The move is expected to last most of the day. Intermittent electrical service interruptions will be necessary, and will probably affect an area bounded by 16th Street on the south, 11th Street on the north, Kentucky on the east and Mississippi on the west.

Members of the KU Student Housing Assn. will distribute fliers to notify residents of the move and parking restrictions associated with it.

Olathe

Teen drowns in lake

A teenager drowned while swimming with three other friends at a suburban Kansas City lake.

Police said Joshua M. Schultz, 17, of Olathe, went underwater about 3:05 p.m. Thursday as he and several friends were swimming toward a tiny island in the southwest section of the 177-acre Lake Olathe.

The other teens called for help about 10 minutes later, after looking back toward shore and seeing their friend in trouble, police said. The friends swam back to the area, but could not locate Schultz.

Divers found Schultz shortly after 4 p.m.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found a Lawrence-area gasoline price as low as $1.60 at the Zarco 66 and Citgo stations near Ninth and Iowa streets.

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