The largest turnout in 11 years for a Douglas County budget hearing – four people – saw the commission go ahead with a mill levy increase from 20.82 to 21.67 and a spending boost of $403,916 for a final budget figure of $3,669,806.

The town of Richland was being phased out as the planned Clinton Lake began to take shape. The eventual lake would inundate the Richland area 19 miles to the southwest of Lawrence and most families already had moved from the locale.

The revamped Miller Furniture Store was to open for business for the first time since a fire caused more than $100,000 in damage Dec. 28.