From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 19, 1989:

A long-awaited rainstorm had finally arrived in Lawrence on the previous day. “Forget the disappointing sprinkles, the drizzles and the fraction-of-an-inch shower — this was the real thing,” a front-page article stated today. The rainfall, which totaled 1.32 inches, was the first one-inch rain in the city since March 30. Storm clouds had gathered around noon and unleashed rain and hail on the area. John and Karen Pendleton, whose 20-acre pick-your-own asparagus was east of Lawrence, said the storm had brought hail up to grape-sized to the farm and that the storm put an end to this year’s asparagus crop. The Pendletons, who had been planning to allow picking through the weekend, might hold a “hail sale,” John said. No other damage was reported from the mostly pea-sized hail, and as for the rain, farmers were welcoming it with open arms. “‘Let it keep coming’ was the main comment,” said Douglas County Extension Agricultural Agent Jack Lindquist of the calls he had received. “This is just a step in the right direction.”