Police department has openings for officers

The Lawrence Police Department announced Friday that it’s hiring.

The department is down seven officers from its full staffing levels and wants to fill the vacancies, said Sgt. Mike Pattrick, a department spokesman. Applications are available at the city’s administrative-services office on the second floor of City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets, or online at www.lawrencepolice.org.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be at least 21 years old by Sept. 13. They also must have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.

Completed applications will be due June 19 at a written exam to be administered at Lawrence High School, 1901 La.

Government

Library advocates lobby Congress for support

A group representing Kansas libraries met with members of the Kansas congressional delegation to lobby for library legislation pending in Congress.

Lawrence resident Patti Butcher, president of the Kansas Library Assn., was among the group, which met briefly with Reps. Dennis Moore and Jim Ryun and Sen. Sam Brownback.

The event aimed to raise awareness about the effect of trickle-down federal funding on local libraries, Butcher said. Federal programs allow the state library to support statewide projects such as interlibrary loans, competitive technology grants and special population projects in local libraries, she said.

Festival

Kites to fly high at Clinton Lake event

Kites the size of buses, kite buggies and kite surfing will be among the highlights at the 2004 Kite Festival at Clinton Lake.

Presented by the Kansas City Kite Club, the event that drew about 2,500 spectators last summer will be from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the lake’s west swim beach near Bloomington State Park shelter No. 6.

Doug Hoffman, of Olathe, maneuvers a four-string kite at last year's Kite Festival.

The event is free and open to the public, but charges for Clinton Lake passes will apply.

The club also will have membership information available. Family membership costs $10 per year, said Sean Beaver, club president.

The festival is sponsored by Red Bull, Wind Wizards, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, KLZR-FM 105.9 and ABC Inflatables, which will have an inflatable “moon walk” apparatus for children on site. For more information, visit www.kckiteclub.org.