Old Home Town – 25 years ago

Kansas’ population rose 2.1 percent to 2.414 million between 1980 and 1982 and Douglas County enjoyed a slightly higher increase of nearly 3 percent. The current county population was listed at just under 70,000 by the Census Bureau but local officials contended that was at least 5,000 below the actual figure.

Kansas University was listed as No. 13 among public universities and 29th among all institutions of higher learning in the number of students who were National Merit Scholars, the Kansas Board of Regents reported. KU currently had 44 National Merit Scholars enrolled. Kansas State was listed with nine Merit Scholars.

Gov. John Carlin signed a bill aimed at insulating electricity consumers from the shock of soaring rates when the $1.7 billion nuclear power plant at Burlington went on line the coming year.