IN 1977 – U.S. Postal Service statistics, which postmasters thought was an opening salvo in a campaign to close some rural post offices, indicated there were at least four northeast Kansas offices in which the postmaster’s salary exceeded the office’s revenue. Included were offices at Lecompton, Linwood, Ozawkie and Wakarusa.

A 60-year-old man camping on the Kansas River banks here apparently drowned after he fell into the river while filling a water bottle. Police identified the man as William Raymond Moore, no permanent address listed. It was later found he was a native of Meade County. A search was under way for the body.

For the second year in a row, gifts and grants to Baker University had passed the $2 million mark, according to president Jerald Walker.

IN 1962 – A 500-pound jaguar that had escaped from its cage in the Topeka Zoo died after a tranquilizer gun pellet had been loaded too heavily with sedative. The animal had roamed the Gage Park locale for about an hour after its escape.

IN 1902 – On July 18, 1902, the Lawrence World told of a factor of importance in deciding where to locate the new post office government building, reporting, “If the government building is located on the New Hampshire Street lots, the government will save about $600 a year. The railroads have to deliver the mail a certain distance from the depot, and the deadline is the alley east of the present post office.” Eventually the new building was built on the northeast corner of what are today Seventh and New Hampshire streets.