From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 28, 1973:

• A Memorial Day weekend storm system brought strong winds, heavy winds, and tornadoes to states from Oklahoma to Florida. At least 39 fatalities were reported this morning, as well as millions of dollars in damage. Authorities said hundreds of persons had been injured and thousands of homes damaged or destroyed as the storms played out across the Midwest and South. Most of the deaths were as a result of the tornadoes, including three Kansans who were drowned when a twister struck their fishing boat. No severe weather had been reported in Lawrence, but low temperatures and intermittent rains had chilled the spirits of even the hardiest campers at local lakes. Only 99 people had attended the opening of the city municipal pool on Saturday; pool officials had decided to keep the pool closed on Sunday and probably Monday due to a continued cold forecast.
• Local summer activities, festivals, and fairs scheduled for the coming months included the Lawrence Horse Show on June 13-15, followed in July by the Oskaloosa Old Settlers’ Reunion, the Eudora CPA Picnic, and the Linwood Pioneer Festival. August would bring the McLouth Threshing Bee and the Leavenworth and Douglas county fairs. The four-day Lawrence Horse Show, then in its 29th year, was to benefit the local Fraternal Order of Police. The first two nights were to feature a rodeo and Western Pleasure Horse classes, all to be held at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.
• At their meeting this week, Lawrence city commissioners were to receive bids for sewer installations for the Meadowbrook planned unit development. The commission were also scheduled to consider site plans for Jayhawk Rentals, 1302 W. Sixth, and for additions to the Jewish Fellowship Hall, 914 Highland Drive, and the Easy-Wash Launderette, 1215 W. Sixth.