Lawrence, home of the hedgehog

There’s all sorts of minutiae that a man can ride to fame. But who would have ever thought a hedgehog would carry an 11-year-old Lawrence boy to national prominence?But a recent story in the Journal-World — and on 6News and our sister Topeka station KTKA 49 ABC News — about the efforts of Judson King to make hedgehogs legal in Lawrence has created a surge of national attention. The television story was displayed prominently on CNN’s Web site, driving about 40,000 visitors to the KTKA Web site to view the piece. That in turn has caused Judson to become a bit of a media personality. A radio station in Davenport, Iowa, of all places, had him on the air Monday. WIBW radio in Topeka is expected to have him on today. SEGA, the video game giant that introduced the world to the character Sonic the Hedgehog, also has been in touch and wants to send Judson a package of goodies for his efforts to promote hedgehogs. A real life hedgehog rescue organization also has been in touch to make Judson an honorary member of its society. But the big exposure may come later. Judson’s mother, Rebecca Weeks, said two nationally televised afternoon talk shows have called to discuss having Judson — and his hedgehog, Little Luke — on their shows. At the request of the shows, Weeks declined to name the programs. Weeks said she has been “flabbergasted” by the attention the story has drawn. Little Luke, though, hasn’t been impressed thus far. “Little Luke has been nonplussed,” Weeks said. “He was just happy that Judson gave him a piece of turkey the other day.”