Person in Bush mask arouses suspicions

A person wearing a rubber George W. Bush mask aroused enough suspicion earlier this week to cause a Lawrence woman to report it to police.

The woman spotted the man walking back and forth about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday outside Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Road, according to a police report made public Thursday.

The woman called police because the person “looked out of place,” said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.

By the time officers got to the scene, the person was nowhere to be found, Ward said.

There was no crime to investigate, Ward said, so police labeled it an “informational” report.

County OKs site plan for new Worden church

Worden United Methodist Church received site plan approval for a new church Wednesday from Douglas County commissioners — but with a warning.

Commissioners unanimously approved the plan, but were concerned with one of the access points to the church being off U.S. Highway 56. The Kansas Department of Transportation may eliminate the access point as traffic increases on the highway, commissioners said. The second entry point is off East 900 Road.

Project site engineer Dwayne McCune said he would take the concern into consideration and look at possible solutions.

The county can issue building permits to McCune, but KDOT does need to sign off on the plan.

The new church, which would be built about 100 feet from its existing building at 298 E. 900 Road near Baldwin, is needed to keep up with the growing congregation. The new church will have room for 360 people.

Preschool plans festival

A local preschool is offering a free, family-friendly event Saturday with music, food, kids’ activities, a silent auction, and artwork for sale by local artists.

The Lawrence Community Nursery School’s Fall Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the preschool, known as “The Little Red School House,” 645 Ala.

The school will give away more than 70 door prizes including a stay for two at the Halcyon House bed and breakfast and gift certificates for local restaurants and merchants. Tickets for door prizes cost $1 and benefit the school.

Musicians include Mel Smith, who will play the “magic music box,” and the Jolly Ranchers.

LCNS is a parent-run cooperative founded in 1948 by a group of parents who wanted to provide interracial, low-cost preschool.