Meeting to address park weeding project

People interested in helping city crews maintain Watson Park as part of a pesticide-free pilot project can learn more at an informational meeting tonight.

A volunteer orientation meeting will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Watson Park Gazebo, located in the park that runs between Sixth and Eighth and Tenn. and Ky.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers to help with weeding flower beds and performing other manual labor needed as part of the pesticide-free project.

Any individual or group interested in volunteering can also call the Parks and Recreation Department at 832-3450 for more information.

Relay for Life total exceeds $133,000

Lawrence residents contributed their share in the search for a cancer cure last month when they participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

More than 74 teams and 200 cancer survivors raised about $133,675, relay organizers said. The money will help fund research, education, advocacy and service programs for the cancer society.

Alcohol violation reported at Moon Bar

The bar where former Kansas University basketball player J.R. Giddens was slashed in a knife fight is back in the police reports – this time for allegedly selling alcohol after hours.

According to a police report, an officer went to the Moon Bar, 821 Iowa, shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday and found people still inside drinking. The front door was locked, so the officer had to go through the back door, according to the report.

The incident been has been referred to the state’s division of Alcoholic Beverage Control for possible action, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.

Also during the weekend, one of the men injured in the knife fight was booked into the Douglas County Jail after being arrested by Eudora police on drunken-driving and drug charges.

Preston Patterson, 27, was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He had been released by Monday evening.

Bank robber agrees to pay restitution

Kansas City, Kan. A Lenexa man pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of bank robbery and will pay restitution in four other bank robberies, including one in Lawrence.

William Kemp Wilson Jr., 50, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the two counts he pleaded to. He will be sentenced Sept. 26.

Wilson pleaded guilty to robberies on Aug. 23, 2004, at Commerce Bank in Lenexa, and on Oct. 19, 2004, at First National Bank of Olathe in Shawnee. He was arrested after the robbery in Shawnee.

Wilson will pay restitution to Emprise Bank, 2436 Iowa in Lawrence, which was robbed Sept. 8, 2004. The U.S. Attorney’s Office didn’t say how much that restitution would be. Restitution also will be made to three banks in Lenexa.

Public input sought at forum on aging today

Kansas Department on Aging today will host a regional forum meant to identify which issues are most important to the nation’s current and prospective senior citizens. Open to the public, the session begins at 10 a.m. at the Ramada Inn in Topeka, 420 SE Sixth St.

Opinions gathered during the 90-minute forum will be used to guide the discussion at the White House Conference on Aging, Dec. 11-14 in Washington, D.C.

The Topeka gathering is one of 19 forums being held across the United States.

Health Care Access expands to Eudora

Eudora-area residents who need health care but lack insurance are encouraged to call Health Care Access, 841-5760, for an appointment at the Eudora Outreach Clinic, 101 W. 10th St.

“We have an agreement with Eudora Family Care that lets us have a presence in their offices on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.,” said Nikki King, executive director at Health Care Access clinic, which is based in Lawrence, 1920 Moodie Road.

“It’s part of an ongoing outreach project aimed at letting more people in Douglas County become familiar with what it is we do,” King said. More information is available on the clinic’s Web site: www.healthcareaccess.org.

Though appointments are preferred, walk-ins are welcome as well, King said.