East Lawrence Center’s gym closed this week

The west gymnasium at the East Lawrence Center, 1245 E. 15th St., will be closed today through Friday for floor refinishing.

The rest of the facility will remain open as normal from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Other gymnasiums available for public use while the East Lawrence Center’s gym is closed include the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., and Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St.

Celebrity paintings on tap on ‘River City’

John Tibbetts, Kansas University associate professor of theater and film, shows his paintings of celebrities beginning tonight on “River City Weekly.”

Tibbetts, who has done hundreds of celebrity portraits, discusses some of his favorites.

“River City Weekly,” with host Greg Hurd, premieres on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with replays at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Mondays, and 10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

Lawn mower driver struck, sent to hospital

A sport utility vehicle rear-ended a riding lawn mower Tuesday at 15th Street and St. Andrews Drive, sending the mower’s 62-year-old driver to the hospital, police said.

Paul Baker, 62, was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where he was in good condition.

Baker, an employee of Alvamar Golf & Country Club, was driving the Toro lawn mower from one mowing job to the next going east in the outside lane on 15th Street about 8 a.m. when a GMC Jimmy driven by a 15-year-old boy struck him from behind.

The boy, whose name wasn’t available Tuesday, told police he didn’t see Baker because the sun was in his eyes.

City to ante up for celebratory dance

The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday approved spending up to $3,000 to help sponsor a street dance to be held in conjunction with sesquicentennial celebrations.

The dance will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 18 in South Park. No alcohol will be allowed. Musicians Kelley Hunt and Billy Ebeling will perform.

Commissioners asked City Manager Mike Wildgen to ensure that adequate police presence is on hand at the dance for security.