Charlee Burghart, 6, daughter of Beth and Mike Burghart of Lawrence, caught this lively little bluegill at a local pond on July 16. Betsy Kelly took and submitted the photo.

Innocent Anavberokhai Jr., a junior at Lawrence Free State, participated in the KC Hardwood Classic with the Fieldhouse of Kansas City on July 27 in Overland Park.

Chayse Burghart, 9, daughter of Mike and Beth Burghart of Lawrence, caught this 18-inch whopper, a bass, at a local pond on July 16. Betsy Kelly took and submitted the photo.

These seven cousins, enjoying a hot july day at the pool, are the best of friends, ranging in age from 8 to 16 years of age. Austin and Dalton Springer are from Houston, Texas, Spencer and Madison Mustoe are from Leawood, and Alex, Ben and Carlie Miller are from Lawrence. They are the grandchildren of Norm and Marcia Runyon, of Lawrence.

Don "Red Dog" Gardner and assistants visited Van Go every Tuesday this summer to exercise with the 14- to 18-year-old apprentice artists as part of Van Go's Go Healthy program. Red Dog has volunteered at Van Go for the past four summers. His tough love approach helped the participants learn the importance of self care and physical fitness.

Ryley, 11, enjoys his pool in the backyard despite the heat.

The Ad Astra Area Aquatic swimmers are headed for the 14-and-under zone tournament: In the back row, from left, are Ainsley Krug, Claire Campbell, Josh Florence and Daniel Christie. In the front row, from left, are Peyton Krug and Emily Venters. Not pictured are JT Amrein, Marian Frick and Stephen Johnson.

John and Joan Blazek's grandchildren from Illinois and Topeka learn how to make old-fashioned s'mores in their grandparents' backyard. John and Joan recently retired and moved to Lawrence to be closer to their grandchildren and are very happy they made the move.

The Douglas County Kansas 4-H Reading Club held a Read-A-Thon at the County Fair on August 1 from 1-3 p.m. during the judging contests in Building 2. Members of the Reading Club and many others joined in and read more than 600 minutes to promote reading. The Reading Club also collected book and audio product donations for the Lawrence Public Library and KU Audio Reader program.

Pastor Phil and Pat Friedeman are shown with Phil’s 50th Ordination Anniversary cake following traditional worship service on June 23 at Plymouth Congregational Church. Phil received a standing ovation, a national and conference recognition plaque and kind remarks from Pastors Peter Luckey and Joshua Longbottom for his 50 years of service as a pastor and teacher of the United Church of Christ. Kay Koch provided the photo. Pat Friedeman submitted the photo.

Joe and Nancy Reitz, of Eudora, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyo., in the fall. They were married on Aug. 17, 1963, in Bloomington, Ind. Joe was a professor at KU and retired in 2006. Nancy is a CPA with Mize Houser & Company in Lawrence. They have five children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

KU had a reading challenge for the Future Jayhawks Club. Lorie Weston, of Olathe, and her 15-month-old daughter, Adelaide, read 31 books in the 31 days of July. They stacked all the books included on Adelaide’s reading log and took her picture next to them. Lorie Weston submitted the photo.

K.T. Walsh attends the dedication of a mural that she and Brad Gibson created at the Poehler Building, on Eighth and Pennsylvania streets, on Aug. 10. This historic building, in an area of East Lawrence known as The Bottoms, is the beginning of a new arts district near downtown. Deborah McMullen submitted the photo.

John Schmidt, left, and Dave Clingenpeel, manager of the 23rd Street Walgreens, show off their JobLink Employer of the Month award for June 2013. Schmidt submitted the photo.

The Backus family held a reunion, celebrating the 110th anniversary of the founding of the family's summer home on Third Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state. Barbara Backus McCorkle submitted the photo.

Paul Trouslot, of Lawrence, and his grandson Will Stubbs, of Leawood, meet Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer at the Royals-Red Sox game. All three are lefty first basemen.

Donna Hoag Dennis, second from right, is seen with her art that she is displaying during the month of August at the Ingredient 5 bar on Massachusetts Street on July 26. Her children, from left, are Deanna Hoag Chadick, Chuck Hoag and Karen Hoag Kosbab. Patti McCormick submitted the photo.

Barbara Ballard meets with President Obama and members of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators on Dec. 4. Official White House photo by Pete Souza. Photo submitted by Jennifer Sims.

The Salvation Army and Target partnered together nationally to provide backpacks, school supplies and shoes for children going back to school. Lawrence was a part of this program, and many children were fortunate to get much needed items for school. Photo submitted by Barry Watts.

St. Jude Circle #1127, Daughters of Isabella, installed officers for the next two years. They were installed by past State Regent, Janet Huss, of Lawrence. The new regent is Michelle Huslig-Lowrance, second from left in the front row. In the front row, from left, are Deborah Kurtz, Lowrance, Nancy Krische and Huss. In the second row, from left, are Meagan Barlow, Patricia McCafferty, Bert Morgison, Kathie Baldwin, Pamela Clark, Dorothy Henley, Theresa Rietter, Marcia Smith, Cheryl Hammerschimidt and Mary Reskhe. Connie Rockers submitted the photo.

Janis Bunker, president of the Lawrence Rotary Club, right, presents signs identifying historic Lawrence sites to Steve Nowak, director of the Watkins Museum. A gift from all Lawrence Rotarians, the commemorative signs describe homes and other sites related to Quantrill’s Raid and were displayed Aug. 17-21 in Old West Lawrence.

Ernie Dyer is pictured with his son Bryan Dyer and granddaughter Connor Dyer with the 15-foot tall sunflower that he grew in his garden. They were able to measure it with a stepladder and tape measure. Jan Dyer submitted the photo.

From left, Scott Urban, Wyatt Green and Austin Zousel each won their divisions in a recent Junior Olympic Archery Development national tournament. Competing as a team called the Scorpions, who represent Overton’s Archery Center in Lawrence, they took first place in the “male compound” division. Shelley Urban submitted the photo.

Bob Miller, of Eudora, is surrounded by his great-grandchildren to help celebrate his 90th birthday. From left are Quinton, 18, Bob, Baily, 13, Allie, 9, Tanner, 10, and Courtney, 12. Quinton, Baily and Tanner are the children of Bob’s granddaughter Nicole Parks. Allie and Courtney are the children of Bob’s granddaughter Nichelle Parks. Pam Coozennoy submitted the photo.

Coach Bill Self took a break from the KU pep rally at Corinth Square on Aug. 16 to pose with his biggest fans: Chris, Sara, Anna and Molly Scheibel. The little Jayhawks are the grandchildren of Reaumur and Mary Donnally of Lawrence. Reaumur Donnally submitted the photo.

Isabelle says, "Get away from my Lawrence Journal-World! I'm not done reading it!"

Representative Tom Sloan and Phil Moeller, commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, return from catching and pitching the first pitch at a Kansas City Royals game. Gail Sloan submitted the photo.

There have been generations of great care from pediatrician Terrance Riordan. From left are Riordan, Katrina M. Hayes, Brian D. Hayes and Katrina’s new baby Aaron Galem Jay Hayes. Great-grandparents Daniel L. Hayes and Gayle A. Hayes submitted the photo.

Genevieve Voigt, a summer intern at the Lawrence Arts Center Preschool, recreates a “sock drop” painting from when she was an LAC preschool student. Linda Reimond submitted the photo.

Lt. Veronica Cooper, right, receives the Navy Achievement Medal from Capt. John Lamberton, hospital executive officer, on July 24 for her performance as an obstetrics nurse while assigned to U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, in Sicily. Cooper is now at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, in Japan. She is a 2003 graduate of Free State High School and a 2008 graduate of KU’s Navy ROTC program. Jim Cooper submitted the photo.

Evelyn Louise Johnson, 2, enjoys a bubble gun at her home near Clinton Lake. Her parents are Kellen Selk Johnson and Robbie Johnson. Her paternal grandparents are Lora Lee Johnson, of Lawrence, and the late Robert Johnson. Her maternal grandparents are John Selk and Christina Jordan, of Lawrence, and her maternal great-grandparents are Tom and Suzi Jordan, of Lawrence. Christina Jordan submitted the photo.