Grant to boost state’s emergency response

Kansas will receive $21.7 million from the latest Homeland Security grant to help emergency first responders be better prepared.

The grant was awarded Tuesday as part of $2.5 billion in federal counterterrorism grants allocated during the fiscal year 2005. It was not yet clear how the grant would be divided among emergency departments in Kansas. That will be decided by state officials.

The federal Homeland Security grants are intended to help the nation’s emergency services prevent and respond to acts of terrorism and other potential disasters.

KU honors Haviland alumna

A longtime volunteer for Kansas University from Haviland was honored last week by the KU Alumni Association.

Lizabeth Beckett Ballard, a 1977 KU graduate with a degree in education, received the Mildred Clodfelter Alumni Award during the Kansas Honors Program ceremony at the Knights of Columbus in Dodge City. Ballard has coordinated the Kansas Honors Program event in Dodge City since 1986.

The award, created in 1986, is named for Clodfelter, who worked at KU for 47 years, including 42 at the Alumni Association.

Traffic Safety Commission

Panel to rank various projects at meeting

Lawrence Traffic Safety commissioners will discuss ranking the importance of various traffic-calming projects at their meeting next week.

The Traffic Safety Commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

The commission also will discuss pedestrian safety issues, and accept public comment about traffic safety issues.

County applies for Heritage grant

Douglas County commissioners on Monday approved applying for a $90,000 grant through the Heritage Trust Fund to help with costs associated with consulting fees involved with preservation of the Douglas County Courthouse.

County Administrator Craig Weinaug told commissioners he didn’t see any downsides in applying for the grant.

In December, commissioners approved a $48,480 contract for consulting services for the preservation and maintenance of the courthouse, 1100 Mass.

About two years ago, the county spent $60,000 cleaning the building’s stone exterior and painting the window frames. A $159,999 fire-sprinkler system was installed in 2002.

Trash collection

City to implement yard waste changes

Beginning Monday, city crews will no longer collect yard waste that is placed in plastic bags.

City trash crews only will accept yard waste — such as grass clippings, leaves or small woody debris — placed in cans, carts or compostable paper bags. Yard waste placed in plastic bags will be left on the curb with an information tag about the new requirements.

Crews also will not accept yard waste on any day other than Mondays. Yard waste that is set out as part of a regular trash collection will not be accepted.

The new policy is expected to cut down on the time that crews spend collecting yard waste, improve worker safety by eliminating the need to cut open plastic bags, and improve the quality of compost by reducing the chance of plastic being mixed with the compost.

Residents will be allowed to continue to place their regular trash in plastic bags.

Ex-LHS band director to retire from KSHSAA

A former Lawrence High School band director will retire from the Kansas State High School Activities Assn.

Victor Sisk was the band director at Lawrence High from 1984 to 1988. He is assistant executive director of the activities association and plans to retire by July 1.

Sisk was responsible for the administration of music, debate, speech, drama and cheer activities for the activities association.

Meteorologist to give severe weather tips

The Douglas County Emergency Management Department is offering training on how to deal with severe weather.

Mike Akulow, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Topeka, will present information on severe thunderstorm development and discussion of severe weather safety tips.

The presentations will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 17 at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 30 at Eudora City Hall, 4 E. Seventh St.; and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 31 at the Baldwin Fire Department, 610 High St.

The presentations are free and open to the public. For more information call 838-2459.