Longtime fan shoots for writing success

Mary Burchill is hoping that her 36 years of sitting four rows from the top of Allen Fieldhouse is about to pay off.

Her new booklet, “A Fan’s Guide to KU Men’s Basketball in Allen Fieldhouse,” offers 32 pages of observations garnered during five years of copious notetaking.

It’s also an homage to the frenetic atmosphere she’s loved since watching the Jayhawks’ first game at the fieldhouse in 1955. She and her husband, Brower Burchill, have missed only a half-dozen games since buying their first season tickets in 1968.

“There’s a lot that people don’t see on TV,” said Burchill, retired associate director of KU’s law library.

Among her observations: “The first vestige of corporate sponsorship” at the fieldhouse came early, with a Longines clock installed on the south wall before the building opened; and upon completion of halftime entertainment, when “the court is empty, the floor is dry mopped with red and blue mops.”

The booklet — Burchill ordered 2,000 copies through Kansas Key Press — is offered for sale by nine retailers in Lawrence. She will sign copies from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at Southwest and More, 727 Mass.

T rides free for ArtWalk

The Lawrence Transit System will give free rides today as part of a promotion for the 10th Annual Lawrence ArtWalk.

Officials said the ArtWalk offered an opportunity to highlight how the city-owned bus system, the T, could provide transportation for people who do not want to worry about parking or traffic issues.

Free rides will be offered from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The ArtWalk, which features more than 90 artists at 41 locations throughout the city, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It continues from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The city’s bus system does not operate Sunday.

Fares, usually 50 cents, will be waived for all customers today, regardless of whether they’re attending the ArtWalk.

For more information about the ArtWalk, go to www.sunflower.com/~lawrenceartwalk/home.html.

Campus

Airborne cameras to film campus scenery

Helicopters will be circling and hovering over Kansas University today as photographers and videographers try to capture the fall beauty of campus.

Two helicopters are scheduled to fly from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. In case of rain, the flights will be done from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

KU officials said the flights would be conducted within Federal Aviation Administration regulations. University Relations staff are coordinating the photo shoots.

Election 2004

Toll-free line established to assist, educate voters

A nationwide toll-free line has been set up to help voters access local election information, protect voting rights and relieve election system problems.

Voters can call (866) MYVOTE1 to connect to local boards of election and check the status of their voter registration. Starting Tuesday callers also can learn what precinct they live in and where to vote. Callers also may record a statement concerning their voter experience.

The Common Cause Education Fund is the key sponsor of the voter alert line, which will be part of NBC News’ election coverage.

Common Cause is a consortium of nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations.