West Nile human cases increase by 2 in state

Two more suspected cases of West Nile virus have been diagnosed in the state, the Kansas Department of Health announced Friday.

An 8-year old boy from Barton County is suspected to have contracted neuroinvasive West Nile virus, a relatively severe form of the disease.

A 32-year-old from Lane County has exhibited symptoms of West Nile virus fever, a less severe infection.

The two new cases bring the total active cases in the state to 16. Forty-four Kansas counties, including Douglas, have reported some form of West Nile virus activity so far this season.

Health officials encouraged Kansans to take precaution against mosquitoes, which can spread the disease to humans. Those precautions include using insect repellent with DEET, and limiting outdoor activity at dusk and dawn, when mosquito activity is highest.

Sesquicentennial

First settlers included farmers, mechanics

With the city set to celebrate its 150th birthday Sept. 18, the Journal-World is taking a look at early-day life in Lawrence:

Farmers and mechanics were plentiful in 1854 Lawrence.

Eight mechanics and five farmers were among the 29 men in the first party of settlers sent to establish Lawrence by the New England Emigrant Aid Co., according to David Dary in “Lawrence: An Informal History.”

There were two physicians and two merchants in the group. Other occupations represented by one man each were banker, carpenter, lawyer, reporter, architect, clerk, speculator, laborer, clergy/speculator and sportsman. Two men did not list an occupation.

Kansas University

New assistant dean lured from retirement

The former interim dean for the Kansas University School of Fine Arts has been named assistant dean for the Graduate School.

Carole Ross replaces John Augusto, who recently left KU for the Future Institute in West Virginia.

Ross taught at KU from 1970 until she retired in 2001. She had served as interim dean before Toni-Marie Montgomery was hired in 1999. Ross now will direct the Graduate Application Processing Center and coordinate graduate school fellowships.

Police arrest suspect in summer burglaries

Lawrence Police say they’ve arrested a suspect in a string of summer burglaries at several restaurants and shops.

Acting on a tip Wednesday, they made a traffic stop and arrested Nicholas P. Willems, 19, Baldwin. He’s since been charged with six counts of burglary, two counts of felony theft, six counts of misdemeanor criminal damage and four counts of misdemeanor theft.

Prosecutors allege he’s responsible for the following burglaries:

• June 21 at Pizza Shuttle, 1601 W. 23rd St.
• July 2 at Burger King, 1110 N. Third St.
• July 7 at a residence in the 1100 block of West 27th Street Terrace.
• July 10 at Baskin-Robbins, 1524 W. 23rd St.
• Aug. 8 at Ray’s Wine & Spirits, 721 Wakarusa Drive.
• Aug. 8 at Tobacco Express, 2104 W. 25th St.

As of Friday, he was being held at Douglas County Jail with bond set at $10,000.

Meet and Greet features area GOP candidates

Republican candidates will participate in a “Meet and Greet” event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St.

Candidates expended to attend include:

• Kris Kobach, candidate for 3rd Congressional District.
• Rich Lorenzo, candidate for 10th District seat in Kansas House.
• Cindy Monshizadeh, candidate for Douglas County treasurer.
• Marni Penrod, candidate for Douglas County clerk.
• State Sen. Mark Buhler and Douglas County Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney, both incumbents.

The event is open to anyone interested in meeting the candidates.

Police ID suspects in purse snatchings

Lawrence Police say they’ve identified four suspects in a series of purse-snatchings last month.

A break in the case came Thursday night when an officer on routine patrol saw a 1997 Plymouth Neon parked behind the former Tanger Outlet Mall, 1035 N. Third St. It matched the description of a suspect vehicle connected with the purse snatchings, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.

So officers impounded the car, obtained a search warrant for it and eventually recovered evidence connected with the Aug. 29 robbery of a 20-year-old Kansas University student’s purse at Hy-Vee, 4000 W. Sixth St., he said.

Police were trying Friday to find the suspects for questioning, but Ward said he couldn’t provide more information.

The two other purse snatchings happened Aug. 29 at Java Break, 17 E. Seventh St., and Aug. 27 at Dillons, 3000 W. Sixth St.