On this date, Culture Farms, Inc., had laid off about 150 employees and had suspended operations. The firm’s president told the employees that the layoffs were temporary, but he also made it clear that the firm could not promise employees would have jobs to return to.

Harry Courtney, Lawrence’s oldest barber, had passed away earlier in the week at age 83. He was born in 1902 and had been barbering since the age of 13. After moving to Lawrence in the 1920s, Courtney had set up shop in the Eldridge where he remained for nearly 60 years, winning the respect of other local barbers and a loyal customer base.

About 40 people gathered at the Lawrence Holidome to discuss transportation needs in the city, especially for the poor and disabled. All three county commissioners attended the meeting, but four out of five city commissioners said they purposely shunned the meeting on the grounds that they were worried it would take a confrontational tone.