Lawrence High School Class of 1983 will have its 25th reunion Oct. 24-25. Friends from other classes are welcome.

Events for Oct. 24 include a tailgate party and football game. For the tailgate party, meet at 5:30 p.m. at Haskell Indian Nations University’s northeast parking lot and bring your own food. The game will be Lawrence High vs. Free State. Tickets are $4-5. After the tailgate party and football game, plan to meet at Johnny’s Tavern.

Events for Oct. 25 include a potluck and bonfire. For the potluck, meet at 11 a.m. at the Holcom Park shelter. For the bonfire, meet at 7 p.m. Location has yet to be determined. Check for updates on www.lhsclass1983.com.

For more information, questions, suggestions, check the Web site or e-mail the reunion committee at lions@lhsclass1983.com

¢ ¢ ¢

The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center announces area graduates from level 3 of its Future Astronaut Training Program on July 19 in Hutchinson.

The weeklong program, for students entering grades 7-10, emphasizes teamwork, leadership and problem solving, and builds on knowledge gained from FATP levels 1 and 2.

Level 3 campers spend two days at the Cosmosphere, then travel to Johnson Space Center in Houston for further training. While there, campers tour former and current Mission Control Centers and Building 9, which houses NASA’s space shuttle trainers and the International Space Station mock-up. FATP level 3 campers also tour the vacuum chamber and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab’s 6.2 million gallon pool, where astronauts train for work in microgravity. Both of these facilities were used in the movie “Armageddon.”

Before traveling to Houston, campers train at the Cosmosphere in the 4-G Centrifuge and in the multi-axis trainer.

The campers’ training at the Cosmosphere culminates in an advanced space shuttle mission aboard the Cosmosphere’s space shuttle simulator, the Falcon III.

Lawrence graduates include Charlie Thiel, son of David and Sarah Thiel; Harrison Longhurst; son of David and Nancy Longhurst; Daniel Clausing, son of Kathy Clausing; and Cal Pfannenstiel, son of Bruce Pfannenstiel and Kelly Calvert.

¢ ¢ ¢

Kansas State University announces area students who earned degrees this summer.

Summer graduates had the option to participate in K-State’s May 2008 commencement ceremony, or they can participate in the winter commencement ceremonies, which will be Dec. 12-13.

Area graduates:

Baldwin City: Will Davis, Bachelor of Science in aeronautical technology; and Julia Eddy, Bachelor of Science.

Lawrence: Faryle Scott, Bachelor of Arts; and Sydney Stone, Bachelor of Arts.

Wellsville: Dustie McClain, Bachelor of Science in agriculture.

Williamsburg: Amy Rich, Bachelor of Science in agriculture.

Meriden: Luke Flood, Bachelor of Science; and Tyler Van Winkle, Master of Science.

Tonganoxie: Ashley Clarke, Bachelor of Science in family studies and human services.

Overbrook: Brandon Smith, Bachelor of Science in apparel and textiles.

¢ ¢ ¢

Teachers from across Kansas gathered at Emporia State University on Sept. 19 to attend a workshop for struggling readers. The workshop, “You Mean I Have to Teach Reading, Too?!? Reading Strategies for Science and Social Studies Teachers,” was at the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence.

Area educators attending the conference:

¢ Tecumseh – Melissa Cupp.

¢ ¢ ¢

Monica and Bret Dittmer, Lawrence, announce the birth of their son, Orion James Dittmer, born Sept. 15, 2008, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Orion has a brother, Cayden William Dittmer, 2.

His maternal grandparents are Linda Randall, Lawrence, and William Randall, Spring Hill. His paternal grandparents are Mark and Lana Dittmer, Spring Hill. His great-grandparents are Norman and Alice Youngman, Jamesport, Mo.; Giles and Hilda Dittmer, Melcher-Dallas, Iowa; and Jeane Randall, Louisburg.

¢ ¢ ¢

John Studdard, Lawrence, will participate in the 26th annual Kansas Silver Haired Legislature session as a delegate from Douglas County. The organization, established by the Kansas Legislature, consists of individuals 60 and older elected by their peers to develop bills and resolutions of interest to seniors and their families.

The session will convene Tuesday and run through Thursday in Topeka.