L awrence J ournal -W orld
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bringing the property up to city code, preserving the house and adjacent barn and protecting the historical integrity of the site, which once housed a prominent dray wagon business. “We want to see how quickly we can get someone turning this eyesore into an asset,” City Manager David Corliss said. But city officials on Monday confirmed a point that wasn’t clear throughout the eminent domain process: City officials have no record of ever trying to prosecute and fine the property’s owners for violating a host of property maintenance codes. City officials sent multiple notices of violation to the property’s owners, beginning in 2010, but City Attorney Toni
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 Wheeler said there was no record the city had ever filed a case in Municipal Court. Wheeler said the condition of the property and the age of Barland’s widow — she is in her 90s — caused the city to opt against filing a suit. Fines for violations of the property maintenance code can be as high as $500 per day. Why the city hadn’t prosecuted the case years earlier wasn’t clear. Barland died in 2004, but it is generally agreed the deterioration of the property began decades before then. Corliss, though, said he didn’t think the case was a sign that the city’s system for enforcing code violations was broken. “I think you can look at this and say this is the exception that proves the rule,” Corliss said. “We don’t have too many of these situations. We usually get good compliance.” Wheeler said to her knowledge this is the first
time the city has used its eminent domain powers for the purpose of stopping further deterioration of an old home. Corliss said he expects the use of eminent domain for such purposes in the future will be rare. Commissioners had tried to work out an agreement with members of the Barland estate that would have avoided the use of eminent domain. Commissioners delayed the eminent domain process to give the estate time to clean up the property or find a buyer for the site. But commissioners last summer agreed to move ahead with eminent domain after judging not enough progress had been made at the site. The $114,500 amount to be paid by the city was determined by a trio of independent appraisers appointed by Douglas County District Court. The city had suggested a price of about $95,000, Wheeler said. She said the Barland estate had sug-
gested about a $150,000 price. An attempt to reach a representative with the estate wasn’t successful on Monday. Corliss said a request for proposals to rehabilitate the property, if approved by commissioners, could be issued within the next few weeks. Lawrence architect Stan Hernly previously had put forward a plan to convert the house into a rehabilitated and expanded rental property and the barn into an office space. But Hernly, who made the proposal last summer, also said he may need some city financial support to make the project feasible. Corliss said he didn’t have a good sense for how many other proposals may be submitted to the city, or whether they would seek financial assistance from the city to rehabilitate the property. Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. today at City Hall.
Making sense of a mom’s anxiety
I have anxiety about taking my kids to the doctor. I’m not talking well child visits. I’m talking about the visits for when they are actually sick. It sounds crazy, right? I mean, what is the doctor for other than making your children better when they’re sick? Yeah. I get that. But you see, there is a fine line between being a responsible parent and being off-yourrocker crazy. For example, when HJ got her first cold, I, like most first-time parents, marched her right in to the doctor hoping they would prescribe us a magic elixir that would immediately make her well. Ha. I got a smile and a “Yep. She’s got a cold. Give her some Tylenol and she’ll be fine.” I didn’t need to pay $100 to have someone tell me the obvious. And I really didn’t want to be THAT parent. Everyone knows There’s also the benefit the one. He or she takes website that explained will allow the couple to of being able to schedule the kid in for every hiccup. the potential downsides begin traveling and being They self-diagnose their of giving a kidney. “It’s physically active again. All the procedure rather than getting a last-minute child and are just SURE Sua huge commitment. It’s thanks to Forkenbrock. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A call that a cadaver is zie is allergic to everything probably harder on the “If anyone knows of ready. And, Wormsley in the history of ever. donor physically than it an award I can nominate NO. I was not going to is for me to receive,” he him for, let me know,” she noted, he now has the whether he was a match. opportunity to personbe that one. So the next said. “I don’t want a mercy said. “There’s no way I Before that email, ally thank his donor, and time she got a cold, I donation.” can thank him enough.” Wormsley, 62, had reeven take him out for waited. And waited. When That didn’t dissuade After an initial test signed himself to sevI finally took her in, it Forkenbrock, 42. He showed Forkenbrock and dinner. eral more years of fatigue, For Wormsley, the turned out that she’d had discovered that after Wormsley were not a dialysis and waiting on recovering from the dona- match, a second test found hard part — finding a do- a double ear infection for the donor registry. He was almost a week. Mom of tion he would be able to the two to be compatible. nor — is out of the way. born with polycystic kidBut even on Monday, the the year, right here. I was resume his normal life, Today, they go under the ney disease, a progressive sure they’d call Family which for him includes a knife at Kansas University day before the surgery, disorder that causes cysts he still could hardly Protective Services on me heavy dose of physical ac- Hospital in Kansas City, to form in the kidneys comprehend what was for being so neglectful. tivity: running, bicycling, Kan. and often leads to them Obviously, I can be quite hiking. The greater conForkenbrock expects to happening. failing. That’s what started “I don’t know if I’m dramatic in my head. cern was the well-being of be out of the hospital by happening to Wormsley going to totally believe In the course of the next his co-worker. the end of the week and about a year and a half it until I wake up tomor- two years, I got a little bet“I know how much of a miss the next month of ago. ter about knowing when time commitment dialysis school (not long after that, row afternoon,” he said. In class, the normally “It just seems so surreal. things required a doc’s eye was, and his energy level he’ll be able to resume high energy Wormsley What are the odds you and when to wait it out. wasn’t where he wanted it exercising). Wormsley started feeling fatigued get a donor from work Still, though, every trip to to be. I wanted him to be will be at KU Hospital and “fuzzy-headed,” as he and he’s a match?” the office would fill me able to get back to a norfive to 10 days and return said. He signed up for the with anxious energy at the mal lifestyle and hopefully to teaching in about six donor registry but knew — Reporter Giles Bruce can be reached possibility that it was either live a long, healthy life,” weeks. it had an average waiting at 832-7233. Follow him at Twitter. something catastrophic or Forkenbrock said. “And by Forkenbrock hopes time of a few years. While com/GilesBruce donating a kidney to Mike, his donating an organ a couple people expressed that takes him off the list will inspire others to do interest in donating a kidand someone else moves the same. People who ney, nothing crystallized. up a spot. So I’m really receive kidneys from If anyone was interhelping two people.” living donors are said to ested, though, Wormsley Wormsley’s wife, live longer and reject the would direct them to a Kea, says the transplant organs at a lower rate.
Kidney
Caring for Women. Caring for Life. At Lawrence OB-GYN Specialists, we provide comprehensive care to help women throughout life. Our OB-GYN experts – which include board-certified physicians, certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners – work together to deliver individualized care for every patient. Whether you are preparing for adulthood, motherhood or menopause, our OB-GYN experts address your health and concerns with compassion, expertise and professionalism.
Introducing Leslie E. Underwood, MD Dr. Underwood grew up in Oklahoma and earned a bachelor’s degree in health and sports science in 2000 at the University of Oklahoma, where she was an Academic All-American in golf. She completed her medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City in 2006. Dr. Underwood finished her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2010 and joined the staff at Austin Regional Clinic in Austin, Texas. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Underwood and her husband have settled in Lawrence with their 3-year-old daughter, 1 ½-yearold son, and a big old yellow Labrador. She loves cooking, running, golfing and watching sports. She is excited to have the opportunity to job share with Dr. Michele Bennett, which allows her time for family and career.
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Larryville Mom
Megan Spreer non-existent. However, last week B-maggedon struck our house (i.e. B’s first major illness). If you remember correctly, B does not handle discomfort well. Therefore, my internal struggle began: She just has a cold. Everyone gets colds. She’s just crabby because she feels bad. It’ll get better. OK, it’s not getting better. It’s been a week. What if she has a sinus infection? What if she has an ear infection? What if she got that super bug thing? What if they tell me she’s fine and she’s crabby because she’s just kind of a jerk? I bit the bullet and took her in. After pulling in to the doctor’s office parking lot, leaving to return home because HJ forgot to wear shoes there, and coming back to finally go in to our visit, we confirmed that yes, B had a yucky cold, but also a double ear infection. Whew. So she’s not just in a jerkish phase. She’s legitimately sick and I have validation that I’m not crazy. I feel like I should not consider that these things make a successful doctor’s visit, but oddly I kind of do. I hope you all are having a much healthier start to the new year at your house. — Social media specialist Megan Spreer writes the Larryville Mom blog at WellCommons.com.
New Year Resolution? Kick Your Pain Pill Addiction
Hiten Soni, MD is specialized in the evaluation, induction, and maintenance of: Suboxone Therapy Vivitrol Therapy Behavioral Therapies Call 785.393.6167 today for an appointment. We are here to help.
“Caring for women and their healthcare needs is very rewarding,” says Dr. Underwood. “There is nothing quite so exciting as helping a mother bring new life into the world, and nothing so humbling as being a part of the miracle of healing.”
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