From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for June 20, 1976:

• Two new, small shopping centers were being planned for the 23rd and Iowa area. Site plans for both were approved this week by the city commission. The 23rd Street development, called Ports O’ Call, was to bring together two businesses already operated by George Leinmiller — George’s Hobby House, 711 W. 23rd, and the Captain Shop, Rt. 3 — along with a clothing store. The center was to be located on the south side of 23rd, between the existing Burger King and Country Kitchen. The other development, at 25th and Iowa, was on a long, narrow lot stretching west from Iowa along 25th. Developer Ron Holt said he was still finalizing details with possible tenants for the three store spaces.
• Outdoor education in Lawrence made a forward stride this week as the U.S.D. 497 school board arranged to secure 233 acres at Clinton Lake as a student nature study area. The board’s action represented the culmination of four years’ planning to gain rights to an environmental education area. In an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers, the district planned to take responsibility for maintaining the land for a 10-year period, during which they would not be charged for its use. “We’re not anticipating large sums of money needed to maintain this,” said Supt. Carl Knox, adding that a rock road could be put in during the first year of the area’s operation.