Jim Sears, Baldwin, has joined Hilco Mortgage Corp. as branch manager/loan originator for the company’s Baldwin office.

Before joining Hilco, Sears was the branch manager at Kansas State bank in Baldwin. He also served previously as a vice president at Capitol Federal Savings Bank in Lawrence.

¢ Dr. Steve Bruner, Lawrence, recently attended the American Academy of Family Practice Scientific Assembly meeting in San Francisco, which drew about 17,000 members.

Bruner addressed the policy-making arm of the organization, the House of Delegates, regarding difficulties in dealing with insurance companies and coding problems that complicate patient care.

Bruner is a founder of Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics in Lawrence.

¢ Intrust Bank is sending Teresa Lawrence, of Lawrence, and a guest to the Big 12 Basketball Tournament this March in Dallas.

Lawrence was the winner of a trip for two through a drawing connected with the grand opening of an Intrust branch at 4920 Research Park Way. The branch opened in October.

Linda Peterson, Intrust’s branch manager, announced the gift.

¢ Bill Wood, agriculture agent with K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County, is among 30 current class members of a Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program. KARL is a two-year intensive study and training program designed to build leaders in agriculture and Kansas communities. Wood recently attended a seminar in Colby, where he learned tips for improving his skills in communication, news writing, media interviews and public speaking.

For more information about the KARL, click on www.karlprogram .com or call Wood at 843-7058.

Honors and awards

For the second straight year, Network Multifamily Security Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawrence-based Protection One Inc., was voted the nation’s “Best Provider of Apartment Security Systems” by readers of Apartment Finance Today magazine.

The magazine announced the results of the annual Readers’ Choice Awards in its November/December issue. Network Multifamily, the nation’s largest and oldest provider of multifamily alarm system amenities, also was voted best in its field for 2004.

Protection One, which provides monitored security services, has its corporate headquarters at the I-70 Business Center in North Lawrence.

Coming events

The Lawrence Apple User’s Group 2.0 will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Signs of Life community room, 722 Mass.

The topic will be, “So I have an iPod, Now What?”

For more information, click on www.laugks.org or contact Dave Greenbaum by e-mail at dsg@mac.com.

¢ Lawrence Area Partners in Aging will meet Thursday at Jade Mongolian Barbecue, 1511 W. 23rd St. Cost is $11.50. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon. Speaker will be Dr. April Bremby, a geriatric specialist.

The organization will begin charging annual dues this month. Cost is $25 for individuals and $50 for businesses.