From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for March 6, 1916:

• “Only three families have taken advantage of the board of education’s recent ruling and asked that their children be excused at 3 o’clock. The ruling which was made by the board was that any child making good second grade work or better might be excused upon request of the parent at 3 o’clock every afternoon. ‘While only a few parents have taken advantage of this opportunity for a shorter school day,’ says Superintendent Smith, ‘many others would like to see their children spend one more hour in the open. They will not have their children dismissed, however, when other children are in school receiving instruction.'”
• “The patrons of Quincy school want organized play. In a recent meeting of the Parent-Teachers association the matter was thoroughly discussed and when plans are fully matured they will be brought before the board of education. The parents of the children attending Quincy hope that the board will see fit to allow much of the gymnastic work which is required of the pupils to be carried on in the open air. The park back of the school has been chosen as the possible place for the play ground. Each week work in organized play and gymnastics is outlined for the teachers by the head of the department of physical training for the public schools. Heretofore this work has been done in the school rooms…. The park back of the school ground has always been used by the Quincy children as a play grounds under the careful supervision of the teachers. During recess and noon hours the children gather here for recreation. The basket ball courts, apparatus and even the hitching rails have been the source of great pleasure to the children. Wonderful feats of gymnastic skill have been developed on the hitching rails.”
• “Mrs. Jane Lavin, living near Lecompton, reported to the county authorities that she was held up by two masked men and mortgage papers she held on the farm of her sister were taken from her and an attack was made upon her. According to the story which she told yesterday at the home of John Damm, she was alone in her home when the phone rang and she was asked if her sons were home. She answered that her sons were at Stull. Later two masked men appeared and upon threats of death demanded the mortgage papers which she held over the place of her sister. Mrs. Lavin next remembers awaking on the floor evidently where she had fallen from a blow behind the ear. It is said at Lecompton that there has been considerable dissension between Mrs. Lavin, her sister and brother over the disposition of the property of their father, A. Murphy, who died lately. The alleged attack was the talk of Lecompton yesterday. It was impossible to hold church on account of it. The authorities at Lawrence were notified and County Attorney J. S. Amich went to Lecompton to investigate. He would not discuss the case this morning.”
• “The people living near the river have been disturbed in their slumbers the last two nights by the sounds of heavy blasting in the excavation for the south abutment. The workmen have been removing rock from the south abutment excavation by means of dynamite…. The night is chosen as the time for the blasting to find a time when the bridge is used the least.”