Lawrencian selected for deafness commission

Topeka — A Lawrence woman was among nine from across the state selected by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to serve on the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Lorraine Michel, a contractor with the state on newborn hearing screening regulations, has been appointed to a three-year term on the panel, which advocates for Kansans who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Michel worked as director for children’s developmental services in the Bureau for Children, Youth and Families in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment until she retired in 2000. She also worked as an assistant professor at Kansas University.

Sebelius also appointed to the commission James Clark of Wichita, Brian Hettrick of Olathe, and Becky Yadrich of Kansas City, Kan. Reappointed were Lorna Alexander of Frontenac, Dr. Gregory Ator of Kansas City, Kan., Gregory Heller of Leawood, Glenda Lickteig of Hutchinson, and Helen Van Etten of Topeka.

Aquatic center to close for slide installation

Parts of the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center will be closed Monday and Tuesday as crews install a new dragon slide in the children’s swim area.

The children’s swim area and the zero depth area of the center, 4706 Overland Drive, will be closed during the installation process. The installation also will alter the start date of three water fitness classes that were scheduled to begin either Monday or Tuesday. The dawn patrol and shallow shakers classes will begin April 4. The water warriors class will begin April 5.

Classes for on-going courses at the center that will be affected by the installation will be made up at the end of the current session. For more information on classes that will be affected, call the Parks and Recreation Department offices at 832-3458.

KPR director chosen for governor’s council

The director of Kansas Public Radio has been named to the Governor’s Cultural Affairs Council.

Janet Campbell will be one of 10 members of the council, which serves to increase the quality of life of Kansans and foster creativity in the state. She was appointed last month.

Campbell also directs the Kansas Audio-Reader Network and is chairwoman of the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council, a state organization composed of the CEOs of the state’s nine public broadcasting outlets.

KPR, licensed to KU, broadcasts on KANU 91.5-FM in Lawrence, KANH 89.7-FM in Emporia and KANV 91.3-FM in Olsburg-Junction City.

OU accreditation report selected for exhibition

A report completed for accreditation at Ottawa University is being used as an example for other universities at a conference next month.

The self-study report completed by Ottawa was selected as one of 20 reports to be exhibited at the Higher Learning Commission’s annual meeting April 8-12 in Chicago. The report was a major requirement for Ottawa to earn a 10-year re-accreditation in 2004.

Officials from other universities will have the opportunity to view the reports to use as examples for their own self-studies.

Hospital CEO named to university board

The CEO of Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa has been elected to the Ottawa University Board of trustees.

Larry Felix will serve a three-year term on the board. He was nominated by the board’s committee on trusteeship.

Felix has served at Ransom since 2000. He previously was chief operating officer of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center of Northern Oklahoma. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Ottawa University’s Kansas City campus.