From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for July 3, 1972:

• The weather outlook for the Independence Day holiday was not looking conducive to picnics, barbecues, parades, or fireworks. Mostly cloudy skies and occasional showers were in the forecast for today, with thundershowers expected over much of northeast Kansas in the next 48 hours. Lows tonight were predicted to be in the upper 50s with the high on the Fourth staying in the mid 60s. Lawrence had narrowly missed a severe storm the night before, with heavy rains, gusty winds, and occasional hail passing through the area just south of town. Residents of the Vinland and Baldwin areas were reporting extensive damage to their crops and garden produce from the storm.
• In spite of the forecast, about 20 or 30 canoes were expected to participate in a canoe-float down the Kansas River tomorrow. The Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club was sponsoring the float, which was to begin at the Lawrence dam and end in Eudora.