LJWorld.com / Sophia Maines

Staff

Sophia Maines (Staff writer)

Sophia is a native of upstate New York. She came to the NewsCenter in 2005 after working as a news reporter at The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

She holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri - Columbia.

She lives in Lawrence and in her spare time enjoys hiking and exploring all that the Lawrence has to offer.

Recent stories

Friday Fourth of July expected to be a blast: Vendors upbeat; lake ready; By Sophia Maines; July 1, 2008; The Fourth of July is coming, and area parks and merchants are preparing for a big bang. “I’m sure there will be thousands of people here as usual,” said Kyle Broockerd, park ranger at Perry Lake. “I’d say the Fourth of July is our busiest weekend of the year.” And there’s every reason to expect Clinton Lake to be a major attraction this weekend.
Officer remembered as caring educator: By Sophia Maines; June 30, 2008; Lt. David Dillon, a veteran of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office who taught many area schoolchildren through the D.A.R.E. program, is remembered as a caring person and dedicated worker after his death in a bicycle-vehicle accident Saturday morning. Dillon was 44.
Families celebrate support, survival: Rare brain disorder affects about one in a million; By Sophia Maines; June 29, 2008; Six-year-old Gibson Huston’s condition is rare. “It’s about one in a million,” said Gibson’s mother, Saasha Huston. “When I ask doctors about it, they say there is no number because it’s so rare.” On Saturday, Gibson Hunter wasn’t alone in his battle with hemimegaencephaly, a disorder in which the brain develops abnormally.
Sheriff’s deputy killed in auto accident: Sheriff’s deputy killed while riding bike; By Erin Castaneda & Sophia Maines; 04:02 p.m., June 28, 2008 Updated 12:00 a.m.; Lt. David K. Dillon, 44, of Eudora, died Saturday after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle.
History on parade in Lecompton: By Sophia Maines; 02:46 p.m., June 28, 2008 Updated 12:00 a.m.; Georgia Perez was 3 years old when she was first introduced to the craft of beading by her grandmother. “I promised my grandmother I’d keep beadwork going,” the Westmoreland resident said. “I love going out to demonstrations and answering questions.” Perez set up her display of pine needle boxes, wampum belts, beaded buckles and earrings Saturday near Lecompton’s Constitution Hall, where several artists and craftsmen gave living history demonstrations.
Crews respond to fatality accident: By Sophia Maines; June 28, 2008; Accident involves vehicle and bicyclist.
Men show off their cooking skills for fundraiser: By Sophia Maines; 07:59 p.m., June 22, 2008 Updated 12:00 a.m.; Chicken enchilada casserole and sweet potato cheesecake were among dishes in the running for the top prize in today's Real Men Cook contest. “It’s a twist on the cooking competitions that we normally see,” organizer Donna Bell said of the all-men cooking competition. “These men are eager and happy to show off their culinary skills.”
Boat catches fire on Clinton Lake: By Sophia Maines; 07:01 p.m., June 22, 2008 Updated 12:00 a.m.; Fire destroyed a boat on Clinton Lake on Sunday afternoon but caused no injuries, said Aaron Henrichs, a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks officer.
Lawrence man involved in high-speed chase faces felony charges: By Sophia Maines; 06:26 p.m., June 22, 2008 Updated 12:00 a.m.; A 23-year-old Lawrence man is in Wyandotte County Jail facing felony charges following a high-speed chase Sunday that began in Douglas County, said Lt. Dave Porter of the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Witnesses say shooting occurred at large, outdoor bash: Incident near Cross Town Tavern second since April; By Sophia Maines; 05:38 p.m., June 22, 2008 Updated 12:00 a.m.; A noisy party involving hundreds of people Saturday night in the parking lot outside Cross Town Tavern, 1910 Haskell Ave., deteriorated into violence when a 21-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man was injured in an early-morning shooting Sunday.

Full story list

Recent photos

The sinkhole in the East Hills Business Park has grown to about 5 feet wide. A broken water line is blamed for the cave-in. The hole should be repaired by the end of the week.

Brenna Buchanan, a student in Kansas University’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning, leads a walking tour of downtown Lawrence on Saturday. The guided tours are associated with a KU class on the city’s architectural heritage.

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