Briefly

Shannon Martin school graduates first class

The Costa Rican school established in memory of a slain Kansas University student will honor its first graduates on Friday.

The Shannon Lucile Martin English Center will recognize 48 students who have completed a basic English instruction course.

The center, in Golfito, was established in honor of Martin, a KU biology student who was killed in May 2001 in Costa Rica while completing a research project she had started a year before.

Jeanette Stauffer, Martin’s mother, said she planned to attend the ceremony, which will be at the Hotel Sierra in Golfito.

Costa Rica

Appeals court upholds convictions in slaying

San Jose, Costa Rica (ap) — An appeals court has upheld the homicide convictions of two people in the slaying of Kansas University student Shannon Martin, the court announced on Wednesday.

Kattia Cruz and Luis Alberto Castro were found guilty in November of killing Martin on May 13, 2001. Each was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

A third defendant, Rafael Zumbado Quesada, 48, was found innocent of all charges by the trial court.

Activism

Downtown vandalized in protest of wars

Hundreds of red-paint handprints appeared late Tuesday or early Wednesday on parking meters, storefronts, light poles and other items downtown — a protest against U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“These handprints are the symbolic evidence of our complicity as Americans in the killing, torture and destruction being carried out by our government in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said a sticker that explained the vandalism.

Sgt. Mike Pattrick, a Lawrence Police spokesman, said officers counted 75 businesses vandalized and between 150 and 200 pieces of city property.

By the end of the day, many of the handprints had been scrubbed off or covered with fresh paint.

Pattrick said police didn’t have any suspects.

Chautauqua

Event volunteers needed

The Lawrence Chautauqua Committee is seeking volunteers to help host old-fashioned tent programs and family-friendly activities June 23-29 in South Park. Each evening’s program will feature music, historical re-enactments, food booths and children’s activities.

Volunteers are needed each evening from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to hand out programs, help in the food vendor area, work with children and clean up the park grounds. Shifts are 2 to 3 hours long.

The committee is also seeking local hosts for several historic re-enactors. The re-enactors do not need lodging, but will need local transportation during their six-day stay in Lawrence.

To volunteer, contact Marilyn Hull at mhull@sunflower.com or 749-0402, or Judy Billings at 865-4411.

Gasoline prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found gasoline prices as low as $1.94 a gallon at Presto Phillips 66, 602 W. Ninth St.

If you find a lower price, please call the Pump Patrol at 832-7154.