Sprinkler triggers courthouse fire alarm

Problems with the sprinkler system at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass., caused the fire alarm to go off Thursday night.

Building maintenance director Bill Bell said a water valve problem caused water to back up, leading to minor damage.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical officials were called to the courthouse because of the fire alarm.

Bell said the sprinkler system’s mechanical problems were corrected Friday morning.

Baker student injured while crossing Sixth St.

A 23-year-old Valley Center man was in critical condition Friday night after being struck by a car while crossing Sixth Street early Friday morning.

Blake Pearson, a Baker University student, was initially treated at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He later was taken to University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., by ground ambulance because weather conditions did not allow helicopter ambulances to fly, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.

Lawrence Police said the accident happened at 1:58 a.m. when Pearson was headed north across Sixth Street near Crestline Drive. Ward said Pearson was not in a crosswalk when he was hit by a westbound Chevrolet Caprice driven by Christopher Brownell, 22, Lawrence.

Ward said police still were determining the cause and had not issued any citations.

Former Cherokee chief speaks at Haskell

Wilma Mankiller, the former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, spoke Friday to about 30 people at Haskell Indian Nations University.

Mankiller, an author and advocate, emphasized the need to preserve the American Indian culture.

Book-TV, part of C-SPAN, taped the lecture. It will air at a later date.