Historical society opposes quarry proposal

The Douglas County Historical Society board has entered the fray over a proposed rock quarry.

N.R. Hamm Quarry Inc. is proposing a quarry at a 175-acre lot near the intersection of North 1825 and East 350 roads in northeast Douglas County. The site is on the north side of the Kansas Turnpike.

On Tuesday, county historical society board members approved backing the position of the Lecompton Historical Society, which opposes the quarry.

History buffs oppose the quarry because it would be near what was the pre-Civil War Camp Sackett where seven Free-State men — including the state’s first governor, Charles Robinson — were prisoners while awaiting trial for treason.

Mom prevents swap of gun, game console

Wichita — Police are praising a mother who called police Tuesday night after her 9-year-old son told her about plans to swap a Microsoft X-Box video game console for a handgun, saying she thwarted a potential tragedy.

Police spokeswoman Janet Johnson said after the woman called around 10:30 p.m., officers went to the home of the second 9-year-old boy and found a loaded handgun in his backpack. The boys apparently planned to make the trade at school Wednesday.

“This was a case of good communication between a child and his parents,” Johnson said. “The mother cared enough to call, and what could have been a tragic situation was avoided.”

Jim Lehrer to lecture

Emporia — Jim Lehrer, who hosts “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” on PBS, will speak Monday at Emporia State University.

Lehrer, a native of Wichita, will speak at 7 p.m. in ESU’s Plumb Hall. A question-and-answer session will follow the lecture.

He has hosted “The News-Hour” since 1975. He also has moderated 10 presidential debates, including one in September 2004.

The lecture is free and open to the public.