SJHS principal closes out career

Longtime South Junior High School Principal Russell Blackbird bid his final farewell to students and the school district during Tuesday’s ninth-grade recognition ceremony.

School district administrators, including Supt. Randy Weseman, were on hand to recognize Blackbird’s retirement after more than three decades of service.

Blackbird served 10 years as principal at South. He previously taught at Schwegler School and the now-closed Riverside School.

Police discover lighters with illegal switchblade

Lawrence Police said a local gas station has been selling lighters equipped with an illegal switchblade.

Police got a call from a mother on Sunday saying her child had bought one of the lighters from the Phillips 66 at 1000 W. 23rd St., said Sgt. Dan Ward, a police spokesman. Police went to the store, seized one of the lighters and told employees the knife was classified as an illegal weapon under Kansas law, according to a report.

Employees said they weren’t aware of the law, Ward said.

Driver may get deal in fatal hit-and-run

A plea may be in the works for a driver charged with striking and killing a pedestrian on West Sixth Street. Adan S. Cruz, 23, appeared Monday in District Court and waived a preliminary hearing. His attorney, Shelley Bock, told a judge the case may be resolved short of trial.

Cruz’s arraignment was scheduled for June 16. He’s charged with involuntary manslaughter, drunk driving, and leaving the scene of an injury accident in the April 9 death of Jodie Hatzenbihler, Olathe.

Hatzenbihler, 25, was crossing the street after leaving Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St. Police believe she also was under the influence of alcohol.