Nine pit bulls found chained in back yard

Lawrence Police are investigating three people on suspicion of cruelty to animals after finding nine pit bulls chained in the back yard of a home in the 1200 block of Summit Street.

Police discovered the dogs Oct. 30, but a report from the incident wasn’t made public until Monday.

A resident of the block called police about 8:40 a.m. Oct. 30 when one of the dogs chewed through a privacy fence, came onto his property and began chewing on the outside of his home, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.

Animal control officers went to the home and found the nine pit bulls chained in the yard. Officers turned the dogs over to the Lawrence Humane Society.

Ward said police had identified three owners, one who lived at the home and two who live out of the state. No citations had been issued as of Monday.

Theft

Narcotics stolen from pharmacy

A burglar stole more than $2,000 worth of OxyContin pills Monday morning in a burglary at Orchards Drug, 1410 Kasold Drive.

Pharmacist Mark Smith said it appeared whoever stole the pills had cased the store ahead of time.

The theft happened about 12:30 a.m. and set off an in-store alarm. The burglar caused $300 damage to the door and stole 680 pills valued at $2,330. OxyContin is a narcotic often prescribed as a painkiller.

Both Smith and Sgt. Dan Ward of the Lawrence Police Department said they didn’t know of other similar burglaries in recent months.

Injury

KU student who fell in fair condition

The condition of a Kansas University student injured in a fall last month has been upgraded.

Sara Anne Driessel, 18, Lenexa, was listed in fair condition Monday at University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. Driessel had been in critical condition since Oct. 24, when she fell from the second-story roof of a friend’s house at 1045 Tenn. after going outside to smoke.

According to the American Hospital Assn., fair condition means a patient is conscious with stable vital signs.

De Soto

Sunflower Quarry focus of public hearing

Johnson County commissioners are seeking public input about the future of the Sunflower Quarry south of De Soto.

The commissioners scheduled a public hearing for 7 p.m. today at the Millcreek Center, 311 E. Park St., Olathe, regarding the quarry, which is on about 810 acres near 95th Street and Kill Creek Road.

Hunt Midwest Mining has requested a 10-year conditional-use permit. The company, which has operated the quarry since 1991, has not had a permit to operate the site for more than three years.

The county’s planning staff has recommended approval of the company’s application with 38 stipulations, but a zoning board has recommended denial of the permit.

Gasoline Prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.85 a gallon at several locations around Lawrence.

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