Kenneth C. Baker II and Amy Jolene, Eudora, announce the birth of their son, Kenneth Andrew, II, born Jan. 30 in Topeka.

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Randall Hedges and Kelli Raybern announce the birth of their daughter, Brea Elaine Hedges, born Jan. 30 in Auckland, New Zealand. Her maternal grandparents are Don and Shari Raybern, Lawrence. Her paternal grandparents are Allen and Kay Benjamin, Tauranga, New Zealand, and Bryan Hedges, Auckland, New Zealand.

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David and Jennifer Bruner Mier announce the birth of their daughter, Abigail Rebecca Mier, born Jan. 14 in Louisville, Colo. Abigail has a sister, Anna Katherine, 2. Her grandparents are Ron and Mary Mier, and Steve and Kathy Bruner, all of Lawrence. Her great-grandmothers are Jo Smith, Denver, and Kay O’Connor, Fairway.

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Michael Osburn and Crystal Evilsizor, Lawrence, announce the birth of their daughter, Willow Anna May, born Jan. 25 in Overland Park. Willow has a brother, Jesy Allen. Her maternal grandparents are Mark Evilsizor and LaNeece Jardon. Her paternal grandparents are Nita and Jimmy Osburn. Great-grandparents are Deneese Jardon, Larry and Sharron Peterson, Larry and Cheryl Evilsizor, Carol Warner and Betty Place.

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Madison Phillips, Lawrence, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2007 semester at the University of Central Missouri State, Warrensburg, by earning a grade-point average of 4.0.

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Andrew D. Grover, Lawrence, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2007 semester at the University of Minnesota by earning a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher.

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Several area students were named to Kansas State University’s fall semester 2007 honor roll: Charles Edmund Mersmann, Eudora; Joseph William Aber, Allen James Burkart, Michelle Amanda, Colgan, Emily Kathleen Coon, Colleen Rose Dahl, Bryant Michael Denning, Whitley Nicholle Jackson, Tess Ellen Ludwick, Samuel James Nitcher, Zack Aaron Pistora, Shon Carl Price, Danielle Marie Rew, Aarynne Danae Struble, Adrienne Leigh Struble, Aaron Shepard Trent, Amanda Michelle Weishaar and Nicolle Danielle Wilson, Lawrence; James Edward Kelley, Joshua Troy Lesser and Eric Christopher Lorimer, Lecompton; Jessica Marie Lynn, McLouth; Jenna Nicole Petesch, Meriden; Kathryn Rachel Glanville and Kabel Michael Robbins, Oskaloosa; Ashley K Guenther, Katherine Elizabeth Maier, Zachary Paul Maier, Stephanie Marie Mars, Wesley James Sylvester, Ottawa; Benjamin Richard Balman, Chelsy Eunice Coen and Kyle Allen Wright, Wellsville; Luke Christopher Finley, Winchester; Christina Lauren Davis, Aaron D. Duerksen, Emily Rose Seaman and Cassandra Lynette Garza, De Soto; Zachary Keith Mark and Courtney Lynne Sebree, Basehor; Mary Ellen Cox, Linwood; Kelly James Heitmann, Kezia Sage Huseman and Shannon Laurel Smith, Tonganoxie.

Kristen Renae Knight, Eudora, graduated with honors, cum laude with a bachelor’s of music education.

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Mena Sanchez, Lawrence, was named to the President’s Honor Roll the fall 2007 semester at Hutchinson Community College, by earning a grade-point average of 4.0.

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Lawrence students participated in the Chrisman Scholastic chess tournament on Jan. 26 at Bridger Middle School in Independence, Mo. Lawrence Southwest Junior High placed first place in the K-8 section. Three players, from Southwest, won medals: Andrei Elliott, seventh; Adriana Perez-Conesa, eighth, and Zhen Chen, 14th.

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Matt and Debbie Neis announce the birth of their son, Brandon Mark Neis, born Jan. 14, in Overland Park. Brandon has a brother, Blake Matthew Neis, 2. His maternal grandparents are Wayne and Helen Luetchens, Murdock, Neb. His paternal grandparents are Rita Neis and the late Harold Neis, Eudora.

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Free State High School and Southwest Junior High won first-place team trophies in K-12 and K-6, respectively, at the Topeka Collegiate High School chess tournament on Feb. 2 in Topeka. Quail Run and Cordley schools also earned the second- and third-place trophies, respectively, in the K-6 division. Individual second-place medals went to Thomas Reams, FSHS, K-12; Luke Lesslie, SWJH, K-8, and Eddie Wilson, Cordley, K-6. Ting-Ting Shi, Quail Run, was third, K-3.

Other Lawrence medalists were: in K-12, Peter Lesslie, FSHS, third; Alan Shi, SWJH, fourth; Thomas Clark, FSHS, seventh; Jason Chang, SWJH, 10th; Kellen Cross, FSHS, 13th, and Sean Stenseng, FSHS, 15th.

In K-8: All from SWJH, Adriana Perez Conesa, fourth; Andrei Elliott, sixth; Terry Han, 21st; Sudhanshu Manda, 22nd; Nicholas Shaheed, 23rd; Andrew Galbraith, 30th; Jacob Magnuson, 31st and Sarah Casper, 32nd.

In K-6: Cole Reams, Quail Run, third; Aaron Simon, Quail Run, seventh; Sam Stephens, Quail Run, 10th; Robert Newman, Wakarusa Valley, 14th; Joshua Kallenbach, Quail Run, 16th; Roscoe Bradt, Cordley, 18th; Darren Rawlings, Wakarusa Valley, 19th; McCarthy Fitch, Cordley, 10th; Sam Beaulieu, Cordley, 24th; George Wedge, Cordley, 32nd and Quentin Spencer, Quail Run, 32nd.

In K-3: Colin Bradt, Cordley, seventh, and Maxwell Briggs, Wakarusa Valley, 11th.