From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 25, 1976:

• After having escaped from a cage at the Lawrence Arts Center in July, a bull snake had given itself up this week to be captured. The snake, one of two which had been loaned from West Junior High School’s biology department for use as props in a summer production of “You Can’t Take It With You,” had escaped along with its companion before the performance. One snake had been found a few days later, but the other had hidden beneath the floorboards, to be captured recently by Karen Warren, assistant to the center’s director. “The poor thing was starving because we have no mice in the center,” said center director Ann Evans. “It was on its last leg.” Stan Roth, high school biology teacher, had been called in to pick up the snake, which was eventually returned to the West biology department. “Stan told us that after four mice and a large drink of water it was feeling much better,” Evans said. Roth had also reassured center staff that the snake could not have reproduced during its period of hibernation.
• President Gerald Ford edged out Ronald Reagan in New Hampshire’s leadoff primary this week, while former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter enjoyed a comfortable victory in the crowded Democratic field, with Arizona Rep. Morris K. Udall coming in second and Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh placing third.