From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 26, 1973:

• Lawrence school officials this week discussed a wide range of long-range concerns and plans for U.S.D. 497, including the controversial issue of school consolidations. The energy crisis dominated discussions of the future, as well as a projected decline in enrollment — both of which would be factors in possible consolidations, board members said. According to board member Gary Condra, “If fuel shortages mean combining of schools, then the board is going to have to do it. If we are going to do it, then we should decide early in 1974 rather than wait.” Board member Larry Hatfield agreed, calling consolidation “a tough issue” but adding, “Economically, it does not make sense to have classrooms empty…. We have to keep searching for ways to make financial savings.”
• Any Lawrence residents with new cold-weather recreational gear to play with were happy to hear the weather forecast today. The upcoming days were predicted to bring one to three inches of snow to the area, with temperatures in the low to mid 20s. The incoming storm had already treated western Kansas to several inches of snow.
• In New York, American Telegraph and Telephone said today that its customers could now reach 98 percent of the world’s 291 million telephones. Long distance operators could put callers in touch with people in 244 nations or territories abroad, company officials said.