25 years ago: Tickets selling well for Independence Days celebration

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for June 28, 1986:

  • “Have a blast on the Fourth – but be careful,” was the advice to Lawrence residents from local fire officials. Lawrence Fire Marshal Rich Barr reminded celebrants that by using common sense and following local fireworks ordinances, risk of fire and injury would be greatly reduced.
  • Judy Wright, coordinator of the Independence Days festival, said that she estimated the office was receiving about 40 calls a day about the celebration, several from out of town. Early indications on ticket sales were promising, as several local locations had called Wright to bring additional tickets for them to sell.
  • Officials at Kansas University were considering a major fund-raising drive, possibly involving a sum in the area of $100 million. A survey done for the KU Endowment Association by a Chicago research firm suggested that the “mood was right” for a major fund-raising project.