Forensics programs depend on community support

Congratulations to the Free State forensicators. And many thanks to the LHS Forensics team for hosting a large tournament for schools from all around the area. There have been a few articles in the LJWorld the past couple of days describing Forensics, and the recognition is much appreciated by those who participate now and those who were forensicators while in high school. It's a little disappointing, though, that Bishop Seabury Academy's very strong team has not been mentioned. Seabury sent half of their team to LHS last Saturday while the other half competed at the tournament in Baldwin City. The school of about 200 students (6th-12th grades) has more than 40 9th-12th graders on its forensics team - about 40% of the high school students. As a 2A school they compete regularly in 6A tournaments. At Baldwin they placed 3rd overall. At LHS they placed 5th overall. Hats off to these dedicated and talents kids, and to their coaches, Mr. Doug Weaver and Mr. Chris Bryan!

February 19, 2013 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

This movie theatre is very run-down and I think they could use some healthy competition. Most of the young people in Lawrence will go to this theatre and it's always packed, but that's just for convenience. My spouse and I prefer to go to Olathe AMC Studio 30 or The Legends Phoenix Theatres. They're not too far away and the experience is well worth the drive. Comfortable seats, clean theatres and bathrooms, wide aisles with good legroom. At Southwind, I cannot enjoy a movie that lasts more than 90 minutes because the aisles are so narrow it makes my legs hurt.

January 22, 2013 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Letter: Hiring and firing

The letter-writer is correct. Therefore, do not vote for either Romney or Obama. Find the person on the ballot who truly has the best interests of the majority of the electorate in mind. If you can find that person on your ballot, that is.

October 11, 2012 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Ribbon cut on new U.S. Highway 59; road expected to be open to traffic in early October

The maple trees in Baldwin are very old, so they are dying. No new ones have been planted over the past few decades to keep the ambiance going. Kind of a metaphor for the town.

September 19, 2012 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Sound Off: On a trip across Kansas, I noticed fields of sunflowers. Is this becoming a popular crop

I want to thank the questioner for one of the funniest LJW threads in recent memory.

August 9, 2012 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Rep. Anthony Brown wins GOP primary for senate's 3rd District; will face incumbent Holland in November

Tom Holland has always worked to represent his contituents, regardless of party lines. That's as a representative and as a senator. Now, his recent run for governor was a whole different matter. I blame it largely on his campaign management, and probably the fact that he was being "handled" by the Democratic Party, but his gubernatorial campaign was nothing like what we've seen from Holland in the past.

A couple of weeks ago we found a Holland flier on our door. The word "INDEPENDENT" was very prominent across the bottom of the card. Nowhere was the Democratic Party affiliation mentioned. I'm not sure how to take this. As an independent voter, I applaud any candidate who truly is independent. On the other hand, there's a strong possibility that this is sneaky ploy to downplay the Democrat affiliation. If so, then intentional misdirection is very disappointing behavior.

August 8, 2012 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Retired judge's portrait not enough to satisfy state voter ID law

It's starting to look like the biggest thing that will come out of this voter I.D. law will be finding out exactly how many people are driving around without carrying their driver's license. My son also is waiting for his driver's license card. It the meantime, he was issued a paper license that does, indeed, have his picture on it. If you're legal to drive, the State makes sure you have paper to prove it. So, carry it whenever you're driving. That's a law that I think we all have agreed is a law worth having.

August 3, 2012 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ID effort

Jamie Shew should be lauded not only for helping voters, but also for finding a middle ground that accepts the new requirement AND accommodates the issues that some populations may have in complying with the requirement. While others sit around and fume over the new rule, Shew has moved forward in a non-partisan way. This is the type of "politics" we need to encourage in our elected officials. The only way we're going to get our country back on track is to reward those who show willingness and creativity in working together - usually those pesky "moderates" on both sides of the aisle.

Great Job, Jamie! And no thanks to any partisan politicos, blue or red!

July 31, 2012 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Candidate crush at Secretary of State's office

TerriLois Gregory would never have been elected if there had been a better alternative. People didn't so much vote for her as against the incumbent.

June 12, 2012 at 2:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Not so friendly

The biggest problem as far as I can see is that you have significant differences in the vehicles' size and speed capabilities. What is really needed is exact rules and laws, and separate driving and cycling lanes. "Share the road" will never work because there is too much difference in the way one drives a bicycle and the way one drives an automobile. If bicycles are to be taken seriously as transportation for adult "drivers," then the laws and rules of operating them must be specific. And how about training/certification of safe cycling just as we have to prove that we're prepared to drive cars on public roads? Also, driver's education should include the cycling training as well, so people would be tested on their knowledge of how to interact with cyclists. Driving is a privilege and a responsibility. Ditto cycling on public streets.

May 22, 2012 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )