From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 17, 1987:

• The rain-swollen Kansas River, with its high water levels and treacherous currents, on this day claimed the life of a Lawrence man whose boat had gone over the Bowersock Dam. Elmer Wolford and his fishing companion Ricky Franks had borrowed the aluminum boat from a friend to float down the Delaware to the Kaw. After going over the dam, Franks had later come to the surface and had floated downstream for about a quarter-mile before being able to pull himself out of the water. Wolford was considered missing for many days as rescue teams attempted to discover his fate.
• The United Way of Douglas County had allocated $506,942 to 22 area agencies in the previous year. This year, those agencies plus two new organizations were requesting $619,551. The largest increase request had come from the Douglas County Children’s Development Association, which was seeking $60,000, a 94 percent boost from the amount requested last year.