Sound Off 2009
Sound Off for December 2009
Thursday, December 31
- Is there some organization I can call about landlord-tenant difficulties?
- When is the next electronics recycling event in Lawrence?
Wednesday, December 30
- How much property did the city annex in 2009?
- Does the Kansas Turnpike own a large piece of land along Michigan Street? And are they required to clear the sidewalk on that property? It's used by a lot of dog walkers and exercisers. Also, whom do I contact about having some of the turnpike fence replaced where it's fallen and beyond repair?
Tuesday, December 29
- When will the library have its annual children’s tea party? Isn’t that over the holidays?
- In the KU-Michigan game at Allen Fieldhouse in the advertising areas above the exits, there was a message that said "Click it or ticket," promoting seatbelt use. Was that provided free as a public service announcement? If not, who paid for that? Were state funds used?
Monday, December 28
- Where can you get information on the heating and cooling degree days historical records?
- How do I volunteer at the Lawrence Humane Society?
Sunday, December 27
- How much is the state going to get from this new casino in Dodge City?
- Why were the lights at Memorial Stadium on Dec. 18? What does that cost an hour?
Saturday, December 26
Friday, December 25
- What’s the coldest temperature on Christmas Day on record in the area?
- Will the Grinch steal Christmas this year?
Thursday, December 24
- How can we tip our Journal-World carrier?
- I saw that Douglas County was closing its offices Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day. Is Dec. 24 always a holiday for county employees?
Wednesday, December 23
- Where can I donate to the Tipsy Taxi program?
- Can you tell me what wire fraud is? I don’t understand how someone who’s been involved in a credit card scheme can be charged with wire fraud.
Tuesday, December 22
- Does Kansas University (including the Medical Center/KU Hospital) have luxury suites for KU’s football games? If so, how much public money is paid to the KU athletic department for this “educational” function?
- Do the Southwind 12 movie theaters plan on getting the capability to show 3-D movies?
Monday, December 21
- I have a GPS. When I'm out of town and I enter my home address, it takes me to the wrong side of the street. I also notice when I look at MapQuest, my house is on the wrong end of the block. How can I get this changed in the system? I'm afraid in case of an emergency the fire or police departments would show up at the wrong house.
- How many infants die per year in Kansas from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?
Sunday, December 20
- What is the purpose of the strobe light on the top of a school bus?
- There’s a small lake, northeast of town just south of Interstate 70, which appears in front of a private house. I think it used to be called Bismarck Lake. Is the lake private or public? Can the house be rented?
Saturday, December 19
- Will there be a Lawrence City Commission election in 2010?
- Can anyone request to be buried in the cemetery on Kansas University’s West Campus?
Friday, December 18
- When does the government start taking the 2010 census?
- When is the Chili Feed at Free State High School this year?
Thursday, December 17
- Does Kansas Athletics plan to open up Allen Fieldhouse for walking again?
- What are the responsibilities and duties of Susan Tate, the new director of the Lawrence Arts Center? What is her salary? Is it paid by taxpayers or private funding?
Wednesday, December 16
- How old are the buses the city plans to replace with the new hybrid diesel-electric buses?
- Who were the pilots who did the flyover at the Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade?
Tuesday, December 15
- At 12:30 a.m. Dec. 10, I saw a Lawrence police officer at Crestline Road turn down a dead-end road, where the band practices, south of the KU police department. Why wouldn't a KU police officer be watching that area? What business does a Lawrence police officer have being up there at that time in the morning?
- Todd Reesing made a recent trip with Lew Perkins to New York to receive an award. What award was it?
Monday, December 14
- How many people in Kansas have died from the H1N1 flu virus compared with seasonal flu?
- I saw where the convenience store that serves as the local Greyhound station has closed. Has the city lost its Greyhound service?
Sunday, December 13
- How many degrees did Kansas University give out last year?
- My wife and I purchased a supplemental Medicare health insurance through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. We were informed if we used a hospital we could save around $1,200 on our premiums. Lawrence Memorial Hospital isn’t on the approved list. Can you tell me why?
Saturday, December 12
- Is it legal for people to park right in front of the Lawrence Arts Center? They’re blocking the driving lane and the view of people trying to use the sidewalk, while they’re dropping off or picking up their children. If it’s illegal, what can be done? It’s dangerous.
- How is the player whose eye was poked by a KU player in the UCLA game? Is he OK?
Friday, December 11
- What are the consent forms used for at the H1N1 vaccine clinics? Do I need to print a form out before I go to the clinic? I don’t have a computer.
- I just got off the phone with the Sheriff’s Association. It sounded incredibly like a shakedown. There were recordings of my pledge. What will happen if I don’t follow through with my pledge or if it’s delayed?
Thursday, December 10
Wednesday, December 9
- How much money does the city of Lawrence spend on Christmas lights, garland, man hours to put up and take down, diesel fuel used for the vehicles like cherry pickers, and the electric bill? It seems there are more decorations this year.
- Tattoos are fairly common among college kids. I haven’t noticed any on members of the KU Crimson Girls or yell leaders. Does the athletic department have a policy prohibiting visible tattoos in these groups?
Tuesday, December 8
- Is there an organization that will take aluminum cans?
- How many street sweeping machines does the city of Lawrence have? The street sweeper went by my house last week. And here it is again. Did we buy more machines in the past year — it seems that the frequency of one coming by has increased.
Monday, December 7
- Do the Salvation Army bell ringers get a percentage of the money left in their kettle at the end of their day or month?
- How much money was made from the sales of the last three elementary schools that were closed: Centennial, East Heights and Grant?
Sunday, December 6
- I had an interesting debate with my doctor. He told me it was 100 percent illegal to drive while taking pain medication such as Oxycontin and Lortab. According to the packing information and my pharmacist, I was instructed to use caution while operating machinery or driving. Which one is correct?
- Why is the TV picture behind the radio broadcast of KU games?
Saturday, December 5
- I noticed Congressman Dennis Moore isn’t seeking another term. He’s had several fundraising parties for the campaign he thought he was going to have for this term. What will happen to the money that had been donated for the election he will not be involved in?
- The recently re-opened Douglas County Road 438 — known as the Farmers’ Turnpike — is an improvement. Why is there a right-turn lane into a field on private property? There aren't any other turn lanes on the entire road, not even the township roads.
Friday, December 4
- What service does the Salvation Army provide the city of Lawrence since its shelter is closed?
- What happened to the woman who was in a car accident on the Fourth of July (near Lone Star Lake)? I’ve been checking on an update about her condition, but haven’t seen anything.
Thursday, December 3
- What’s the “guest tax” and what’s the money used for?
- How many inmates are in Kansas prisons? And how does that compare with the rest of the country?
Wednesday, December 2
- KU is totally renovating an old stone farmhouse on Bob Billings Parkway, halfway between Iowa and Kasold. Who’s paying for it? How much is it going to cost? What will it be used for?
- With Thanksgiving, I was thinking about how much a “melting pot” the city of Lawrence is. What’s the racial makeup of the city?
Tuesday, December 1
- In the recent hit-and-run death of a Lawrence resident, the suspect was charged with two felonies: leaving the scene of an accident involving the death of a person and failure to report an accident. What are the possible punishments for these crimes?
- Has the Lawrence school board ever considered going to a four-day school week? It would save money on buses, gas, water, food, etc.
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