Voter registration closes for Nov. 2 election

More than 1,000 people had turned out by 5 p.m. Monday to register to vote in the Nov. 2 election at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Voter registration closed at 9 p.m. Monday, which was the last day people could register to vote and be able to participate in November’s election. The Douglas County Clerk’s Office won’t have an official count on the number of registered voters until later today.

In other voting news, 222 people voted in advance at the courthouse Monday and 225 voted Friday, according to the clerk’s office.

Advance voting is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through noon Nov. 1 in the County Commission chambers on the second floor of the courthouse. Extended advance voting hours will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 27-28 and from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 30.

Above, Vicky Tuttle, Eudora, left, helps her mother, Hilda Tuttle, also of Eudora, read through an advanced voting ballot Monday.

Elkhart

KBI officials finish search of Morton County farm

Authorities have finished searching two sites at a Morton County farm, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office said Monday. The search had generated rumors that a body or bodies were buried on the farm.

Whitney Watson, a spokesman for Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, declined to discuss the results of the search, which began Oct. 8. He said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which had led the search, was leaving the farm.

Watson said an investigation is ongoing but added, “This aspect of the investigation has concluded.”

Authorities have not said what prompted the search of the 5,000-acre Bitner family farm, located near the small community of Richfield, north of the Cimarron National Grasslands. Morton County is in the state’s southwest corner.

Family members issued a statement last week through attorneys, saying the search would result “in absolutely nothing except a tremendous waste of tax dollars.”

Larry Joe and Betty Bitner, who live on the farm, said law enforcement officials came to their door with guns already drawn, something KBI Director Larry Welch has disputed.

Election 2004

Jim Ryun to participate in online chat today

U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun, a Republican who represents the 2nd Congressional District, will respond to questions today in an online chat at www.ljworld.com.

The chat will begin at 1:30 p.m., but questions can be submitted early on the Web site. The transcript will be available during the chat and will remain posted.

Ryan, who is seeking a fifth two-year term, faces Democrat Nancy Boyda in the Nov. 2 election. Boyda participated in an online chat Oct. 11.

Two additional online chats this week will feature candidates running for Douglas County District Attorney.

Republican Christine Kenney will chat at 1 p.m. Wednesday, and Democrat Charles Branson will chat at 1 p.m. Thursday on www.ljworld.com.

Gasoline Prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.95 a gallon at Conoco, 2330 Iowa.

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

7154.