Suspect charged in illegal trap case

Dist. Atty. Charles Branson’s office filed formal charges Wednesday against a father and son suspected of setting illegal fur traps in Riverfront Park.

Investigators allege the father, Erwin A. Schmidt Jr., 51, Lawrence, set the trap that killed a Lawrence man’s Rottweiler-mix dog on Jan. 30. He’s charged with four misdemeanor fish and game violations: Possession of pelts without a license, harvesting fur without a license, setting an illegal trap, and failure to put an identifying tag on the trap.

He entered a not-guilty plea Wednesday and had a trial scheduled for June 24.

His son, Matthew Schmidt, 25, entered a guilty plea Wednesday to harvesting seven raccoon hides without taking a fur-harvester education course and to harvesting fur without a license. A judge ordered him to pay a $50 fine for each of the two counts and to pay $60 in court costs.

Ljworld.com

‘Star Wars’ fans invited to online chat

Want to learn more about the new “Star Wars” film?

Jon Niccum, Journal-World entertainment editor, will chat with readers today on the Journal-World’s Web site.

The chat will begin at 1 p.m. on www.ljworld.com. You can submit a question early or join in live.

The transcript will be posted on www.ljworld.com.

Entertainment

Art Tougeau parade planned for Saturday

This year’s Art Tougeau parade will feature art cars not only from the Lawrence area but from out of town.

Some of the expected entries in this year’s parade could come from as far away as Houston and Austin, Texas, where there are similar but larger art vehicle parades, officials at the Lawrence Arts Center said.

The parade will begin at noon Saturday in front of the Arts Center, 940 N.H. Owners entering cars in the parade should register at 10:30 a.m. and begin lining up outside the Arts Center.

The parade route will be south to 10th Street, west to Massachusetts Street, north on Massachusetts to Seventh Street then back south on New Hampshire to the Arts Center.

A car art party will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday on the top level of the parking garage near 10th and New Hampshire streets.

Police searching for rape suspect

Lawrence Police are investigating a 20-year-old woman’s report that she was raped by an acquaintance after a night of drinking.

The woman told police that on Friday night she met a man at the Moon Bar, 821 Iowa, went back to her home with him and passed out. When she came to about 10 a.m. the next day, the man was having sex with her, she told police.

She reported the incident on Tuesday, said Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman.

He said police still were trying to identify the man on Wednesday.

More LHS graduate honors reported

The following Lawrence High School graduates have received scholarship honors:

Jacob Kucza, Neosho County Community College Cross Country Scholarship

Mark Kucza, Neosho County Community College Cross Country Scholarship

Nicholas Leet, Ohio University Diving Scholarship

Amanda Mayo, Yes Program Scholarship, Washburn University Clarinet Scholarship, Washburn University Pep Band Scholarship

Dylan Medlock, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Kansas Comprehensive Grant, University of Kansas Tuition Grant