Elvyn Jones / LJWorld.com

Staff

Elvyn Jones

Elvyn Jones is the community reporter for the Baldwin City Signal.

Recent stories

Students learn the ropes of summer research project: By Elvyn Jones; June 6, 2013; On her second attempt at tree climbing using the single-rope technique, Rebecca Tripp quickly ascended a 15-foot rope hanging from a branch of a pin oak on the Baker University campus. “ “You want a higher tree, don’t you?” said Dan House, a member of Tree Climbing Kansas City, who was instructing the first-time climber in the technique. Tripp nodded yes — and lowered herself into her wheelchair. She and seven other students from around the country were being introduced to tree climbing Thursday as part of a two-month summer research project. By Elvyn Jones
Baker graduates tell of ‘magical’ experience: By Elvyn Jones; May 19, 2013; Minutes after graduating Sunday, Sydney Doster posed for photos with a big smile and ready for the next adventure in her life, which she said will take her from one magical place to another.
Fire destoys downtown Baldwin City home: By Elvyn Jones; April 20, 2013; Bob Bennett shook his head early Saturday afternoon as he surveyed the remains of his home. “It’s been there 110 years,” he said. “It’s gone now.” By Elvyn Jones
Local painter befriended luminaries of art world, led resurgence at Baker University: By Elvyn Jones; February 7, 2013; The subject of Tom Russell’s latest completed painting is a view from his Baldwin City studio of a tree in full autumn splendor behind those still holding on to their faded summer color. “I just finished it,” Russell said. “It took me a long time. I started it when it looked like that. “I can only sit or stand for about three hours before it starts to hurt. I used to spend hours in the studio. I’d lose all track of time.” By Elvyn Jones
Mardi Gras Diversity Day event at Baldwin High School to educate about Down syndrome: By Elvyn Jones; December 23, 2012; The sixth annual Mardi Gras Diversity Day event will include Baldwin students with disabilities and others from Free State, Lawrence, Eudora, De Soto, Ottawa, Spring Hill and Wellsville high schools.
All aboard the dinner train: Kansas Belle hopes to be offering mobile meals, entertainment soon; By Elvyn Jones; November 15, 2012; Monday morning in a rock quarry north of Ottawa, a crane operator gently picked a 75-foot red dining car from the back of a semitrailer to place on two sets of wheel assemblies already on railroad tracks. The car was pulled later in the day to Midland Railway’s Baldwin City yard, where it will be part of what is now called the Kansas Belle Dinner Train. By Elvyn Jones
North Sixth Street to open Friday: By Elvyn Jones; November 14, 2012; Baldwin City motorists frustrated with driving out-of-route on a gravel road for miles to get to Lawrence will have an early reason to be thankful Friday with the removal of barriers on North Sixth Street. By Elvyn Jones
Kansas House, District 54: Ann Mah vs. Ken Corbet: By Elvyn Jones; October 28, 2012; The race for the 54th Kansas House District pits what could be termed a 40 percent incumbent against a Shawnee County businessman. By Elvyn Jones
Kansas House, District 10: Erica Anderson vs. John Wilson: By Elvyn Jones; October 28, 2012; Voters in the 10th District Kansas House on Nov. 6 will elect a new person to represent them in Topeka for the third time in three terms. By Elvyn Jones
Everything falls into place for festival: By Elvyn Jones; October 20, 2012; ‘Wonderful’ weather, activities draws large crowd to Baldwin City Maple Leaf Festival.

Recent photos

Tom Russell, 95, the former head of the Baker University art department, works daily in his art studio in his Baldwin City home. Russell was a student of regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton and a friend of abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock. Russell will be honored Sunday at Baldwin City’s 25th annual chocolate auction.

A Kansas Highway Patrol officer works the scene of a fatality accident Tuesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 59 in southern Douglas County. The wreck was at the corner of U.S. 59 and Douglas County North 150 Road, two miles south of Baldwin Junction.

A fireman walks along U.S. Highway 56 past flaming trees set ablaze as part of a backfire Sunday evening. Firefighters from departments throughout Douglas County and units from Franklin and Johnson counties fought a series of fires Sunday afternoon along the highway west of Baldwin City.

A firetruck works to control a grass and brush fire, northwest of Baldwin City, Sunday evening. The fire prompted officials to close part of U.S. Highway 56.