Last surviving Comanche codetalker dies

Charles Chibitty, the last of the Comanche code talkers, died Wednesday in a Tulsa nursing home. He was 83.

During World War II, Chibitty was one of 17 Comanches from Oklahoma who supplied the Allies with a language the Germans could not decipher. Chibitty’s unit took part in the Normandy invasion.

Chibitty attended the former Haskell Institute in 1940-41. He enlisted in the Army in 1941.

“He has given talks here before,” said Lori Tapahonso, spokeswoman for Haskell Indian Nations University. “He has a lot of family members who are Haskell graduates.”

Chibitty was a featured speaker during July 2003 dedication ceremonies at the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University.

In 1992, then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney presented Chibitty with a certificate of appreciation for his service to the country. Chibitty later received the Knowlton Award in recognition of his contributions to military intelligence efforts.

Chibitty also was an accomplished boxer and dancer.

Law

Kline to lead group of attorneys general

Kansas Atty. Gen. Phill Kline has been elected to lead a group of Midwestern attorneys general.

Attorneys general from 10 Midwestern states chose Kline to be Midwest Regional President of the National Association of Attorneys General during the national association’s summer meeting last month in Big Sky Resort, Mont.

The election also places Kline on the national organization’s executive committee.

The group was founded in 1907 to help attorneys general fulfill their duties and help them respond to state and federal issues.

Kline said in a statement that one of his priorities would be to work for better notification when a registered sex offender moved from one state to another.

Legion

Flag disposal ceremony to take place today

The Lawrence American Legion will perform a flag disposal ceremony at 3 p.m. today at the Fraternal Order of Police land near Lone Star Lake.

About 10 units will attend to represent the legion during the ceremony. Members of the Girl Scouts will also attend the demonstration on how to properly dispose of the flag. The legion plans an additional ceremony in September.

Meals

Cost of school lunches may increase again

The price of Lawrence public school lunches has risen steadily for the past few years and may climb again for 2005-06. The school board on Monday will decide whether to raise lunch costs by 10 cents up to $1.85 for elementary students, $2.10 for secondary and $2.60 for adults.

The costs have increased annually since at least 2001-02, when an elementary school lunch cost $1.50 and a secondary school lunch cost $1.70.