From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 15, 1989:

• A combination of snow and bitter cold had closed numerous area schools, frozen water pipes, and stalled cars over the past 24 hours, and the freezing weather was expected to remain in the area until Christmas, according to local forecaster Mark Bogner. Bogner, a forecaster for the Kansas University Weather Service, said the storm had driven the temperature the previous night down to 14 degrees below zero, which had broken the former record of 7 below set in 1943. The wind chills were the big problem, Bogner pointed out, with the overnight wind chill having reached a numbing 65 degrees below zero. Local responders said 22 vehicular accidents had been reported from 8 a.m. the previous morning until 8 a.m. today, but fortunately no injuries had resulted. All Lawrence public schools were conducting classes today in spite of the severe cold, but a number of other area schools had opted to close. “I seriously considered turning school out because of the cold, but we know an awful lot of our kids — it’s very difficult for some parents to make other provisions for the children’s care — so we decided to go ahead,” said Lawrence Supt. Dan Neuenswander this morning. “I worry about kids being unattended in weather like this too.”
• The overnight subzero temperatures had hampered Lawrence firefighters as they battled a blaze at a residence at 903 Lawrence Ave. The cold had caused a number of problems for firefighters, including slick roads, according to Fire Chief Jim McSwain. “Obviously, when you get that type of weather it puts additional stress — just like extremely hot weather places additional stress — on personnel,” McSwain said.