From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 1, 1988:

• About 250 people had packed the Eldridge Hotel’s Crystal Room for three hours on the previous night to admire and bid on 46 “unconventional” Christmas trees. The second annual Festival of Trees had brought in more than $13,000, all of which was to go to The Shelter Inc. Shirley Martin-Smith, an organizer of the event, said one bidder had spent about $2,100 on a tree donated and decorated by K-2 Graphics which had been covered with wooden Jayhawks. Several other trees had gone for $500 to $600.
• Lawrence firefighters were still investigating a fire that had occurred on the previous afternoon at a residence at 646 Indiana Street. Officials said that an electrical short circuit had started a fire in the garage, after which the flames had spread to the ceiling and attic. Damage was estimated at $20,000.