Early-morning accident sends one to hospital

Ozawkie — An Ozawkie man was injured early Saturday morning when the pickup truck he was driving went out of control and overturned several times east of Ozawkie on Kansas Highway 92 near Labette Road.

Phillip D. Lutes, 27, was ejected from the westbound 1977 Chevrolet truck when the vehicle slid across the highway into the ditch and overturned, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Lutes was taken to University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. A hospital nursing supervisor, because of federal public information rules concerning patients, said she couldn’t confirm or deny Lutes was a patient there.

The accident was reported at 1:22 a.m.

Meeting

Local elected officials to hold joint discussion

Members of the Douglas County Commission, the Lawrence City Commission and the Lawrence School Board are slated to discuss topics of mutual interest Monday.

The three groups will hold a joint meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Officials plan to discuss business retention programs; proposals to improve the intersection of 19th and Louisiana; the southeast area plan and related sewer issues; bids received for the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical station; and discussion of possible management audits that may be of interest to members from all three boards.

Parks and recreation

New sites announced for winter sports

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department has announced it will offer two new locations for free-play volleyball and basketball this winter.

In cooperation with the Lawrence Public Schools, the department will allow free-play volleyball at Cordley School, 1837 Vt., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday from Jan. 4 to March 10. Free-play basketball will be offered at Deerfield School, 101 Lawrence Ave., from 8:35 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Jan. 4 to March 10. Free-play volleyball and basketball is open to adults over the age of 18.

Spitting, battery lead to arrests

Two Lawrence men were arrested on New Year’s Eve on suspicion of spitting on a 12-year-old boy and hitting a police officer in the face.

Lawrence police arrested a 39-year-old man at 10:30 p.m. Friday after he was accused of spitting on the 12-year-old, Sgt. Catherine Born said.

The suspect was upset earlier that evening and yelled at a boy and the boy’s mother — both of whom he knew — outside in central Lawrence, Born said.

She said she did not think the matter the suspect was upset about involved the boy and his mother. Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of battery. He left the Douglas County Jail early Saturday morning on $100 bail.

Police also responded Friday night to a caller wanting them to remove someone who was no longer welcome at an apartment on Ridge Court in south Lawrence.

When police arrived, they discovered a 23-year-old man who was wanted on a probation violation warrant, Sgt. Susan Hadl said.

The man tried to run away from the officers, Hadl said. The officers caught him, and he struck an officer in the face, Hadl said.

He was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Friday on suspicion of battery on a law enforcement officer and obstructing legal proceedings.

He remained in the jail Saturday night in lieu of $2,500 bond.