From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Aug. 4, 1988:

• A group of Lawrence residents who had banded together as the Rhode Island Street Preservation Committee about a year earlier were making an attempt to have an East Lawrence house declared a state historic site. However, state officials pointed out that it had been the committee, not the owner, who had nominated the house at 1106 Rhode Island and that the committee would not get far if the owner, Ray Barland, were to oppose the nomination. State historical society officials said that Barland and his family were reviewing their options and had not yet decided whether to lodge formal opposition. If the house were to be placed on the state historic register, its owner would be required to notify the state of any project that would alter or demolish the structure, and the state would then have the right to investigate and comment on any proposed project as well as on any project within 500 feet of the site.
• Two members of the Lawrence Chess Club had won titles the previous weekend at the Kansas Chess Championships held annually at Allen County Community College in Iola. Dick Verhage had scored 4.5 out of 5 points to win the title “1988 Kansas Reserve Champion,” while Jonathon Eck had co-won the “Class C” title in the reserve division. Fellow Lawrence residents Bill Quinlan and Fred Galvin had also traveled to Iola for the competition. The chess club, which included members ranging from grade school students to senior citizens, met twice monthly at the Lawrence Public Library.