Lawrence Journal-World 08-20-2015

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USA TODAY

Making ‘Hee Haw’ hip Country music gets Lawrence twist at ‘Cowboy Cabaret’ 4A

Theater chain considers searching viewers’ bags. 1B

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THURSDAY • AUGUST 20 • 2015

High schools welcome some fresh faces LMH leader

announces retirement

By Michelle Tevis Twitter: @WellCommons

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

ABOVE: LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL UPPERCLASSMEN AND FACULTY, wearing yellow, entertain incoming freshmen during new student orientation activities Wednesday. Today is the first full day of school for all K-12 students. LEFT: Free State High School’s new principal, Myron Graber, was in the audience for his school’s similar orientation assembly.

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

School construction prompts safety concerns By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock

Construction crews put up protective fencing around the construction site at New York Elementary School this week following an accident last week in which an 8-year-old boy was seriously injured while playing in the area. Still, people who live and work in the East Lawrence neighborhood have begun complaining about the lack of safety precautions being taken since construction began several months ago. “That construction zone has not been properly secured for most of the time it’s been under construction. It may be that they’re finally getting around to it,” said Eric Kirkendall, who

Residents worried after accident at New York School works at the Lawrence Creates Makerspace in the 900 block of New Jersey Street. New York Elementary, 936 New York St., is one of several Lawrence schools undergoing major expansion and renovation as part of the district’s $92.5 million bond project that voters approved in 2013. On Aug. 13, 8-year-old Max McGill suffered what was described as a traumatic head injury after falling at the construction site. Police said he had wandered into the construction site during his play time while he was being supervised by a babysitter.

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

WORKER BOB ROBERTSON STRETCHES A ROLL of plastic fencing around the southeast corner of New York School on Tuesday. Nearby residents are concerned about the safety measures that have been taken surrounding the construction at the school.

Please see SAFETY, page 2A Inside: Injured boy out of hospital. 2A

Gene Meyer, longtime president and CEO of Lawrence Memorial Hospital, on Wednesday announced his plans to retire from the hospital. Meyer, 63, who has been in his LMH leadership role for 18 years, will end his tenure in May 2016. “I have had a great career working with associates who are Meyer committed to helping others,” Meyer said in a press release announcing his retirement. “The past 18 years have been incredible working in Lawrence as the CEO.” Meyer credited a strong leadership team with the hospital’s success and noted that many of the team members had been with him for close to all of his 18 years at LMH. He praised the team for its role in the hospital winning national recognition for the past three years from Truven Health Analytics as one of the Top 100 Hospitals. LMH also was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review by making its list of 100 Great Community Hospitals for the past three years. “You don’t win these things alone,” Meyer said, referring to awards on display at the Wednesday morning Board of Trustees meeting. “You do it with a great team. And my team is exceptional.” Please see LMH, page 2A

4 arrested after police pursuit with helicopter, two K-9 units By Caitlin Doornbos Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos

Four men are in custody after Lawrence police — with the aid of their two K-9 units and a Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter — searched for them Wednesday morning in the west Lawrence area near the Orchards Golf Course, Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said. Around 4 a.m., dispatchers received a report of several men with their faces covered outside an apartment in the 1300 block of Westbrooke Street, McKinley said. The caller suspected that the group was preparing to commit a robbery. When a responding officer arrived on scene, four people ran in different directions in an apparent attempt to flee police. More officers arrived to pursue the suspects, and found two weapons — one a semi-automatic rifle — that the suspects allegedly dropped as they ran away, McKinley said. Please see PURSUIT, page 2A

INSIDE

Sunny, warmer Business Classified Comics Deaths

High: 83

Low: 58

Today’s forecast, page 8A

2A C5-C10 C10 2A

Events listings Going Out Horoscope Opinion

8A, 2C Puzzles 4A Sports 6A Television 7A USA Today

Join us at Facebook.com/LJWorld and Twitter.com/LJWorld

6A 1C-4C 8A, 2C 1B-8B

School efficiency Legislators have begun asking officials in aid-seeking districts what they’ve done to improve classroom outcomes. Page 3A

Vol.156/No.232 26 pages


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