From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 15, 1988:

• City and county workers grew reminiscent today as they recalled a time when public employees had received copious holiday gifts from appreciative companies and individuals. “We’re in a whole different world than we were in 20 years ago,” Douglas County Sheriff Rex Johnson said today. Formal and informal gift-giving directives were in place to guide against inappropriate presents. Assistant City Manager Mike Wildgen said that the city had followed the same rule for several years: City employees were not to accept gifts that could not be consumed or eaten. “Basically, if it has any kind of lasting value, we don’t allow it to be accepted,” Wildgen explained. “We don’t want anything that would tend to unduly influence people.” Acceptance of liquor by city employees was also strictly forbidden. The directive also stated that gifts must be shared, meaning that the edible gift would be placed in a location where anyone, including the public, could partake in it. County Administrator Chris McKenzie said that the county followed similar guidelines. “There are vendors who will donate holiday gifts. Popcorn tins are routinely found in offices, and that’s shared with everyone in the office including members of the public.”
• It was reported today that Haskell Indian Junior College’s acting president would be returning to his responsibilities in Oregon and another Bureau of Indian Affairs official would take over the Haskell spot until the bureau determined the future of President Gerald Gipp. Bob Martin, president of Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute, would be replacing Van Peters, who had been serving in the post since October.