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Clearer picture emerges of proposed rec center By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
New details — along with a few new financial questions — emerged Monday night about a proposed recreation complex
in northwest Lawrence. City officials told a crowd of about 75 people at a public meeting at Free State High School that preliminary plans show that a recreation complex
at the intersection of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway could include a 172,000-squarefoot fieldhouse with eight high school-sized gymnasiums, a 10,000-seat track
and field stadium, and parking for more than 800 vehicles. “This will name Lawrence as one of the top amateur recreation communities in the U.S.,” said
Mayor Bob Schumm. The plans presented Monday night were the most detailed yet but also sparked questions about whether Kansas University is making a large
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enough financial contribution to the project. The draft plans, which have been developed by Lawrence-based Paul Please see REC, page 2A
SCHOOL BOARD
District budget slightly lowers mill levy By Andy Hyland ahyland@ljworld.com
The Lawrence school board on Monday voted to publish a budget for the upcoming school year with a slight decrease in property tax rates. “We feel like we’re fortuWe feel like we’re nate to be in fortunate to be in good financial shape,” said good financial shape. Kyle Hayden, We’re also fortuassistant super- nate to present a intendent for business and op- budget where we’re erations. “We’re not projecting a tax also fortunate to increase.” present a budget where we’re not projecting a tax — Kyle Hayden, assistant superintendent for business and operaincrease.” The total mill tions levy that will be published in the newspaper will decrease by two-tenths of one mill from last year’s levy, to 59.263 mills. One mill is equivalent to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value, meaning the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $635.52 in school district property tax under the proposed levy, and the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $1,317.05. District officials projected property values in the county to remain flat, while predicting enrollment to grow by about 73 students. The district will receive $3,838 per student from the state in the coming year, an increase of $58 from the previous year. District officials have previously said they want the approximately $1.4 million generated from that money to go toward teacher
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Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photos
MILENA HUBBELL OF THE CLINTON EAGLES 4-H CLUB works with her llama “Dalai” on jumping a board Monday in anticipation of the Douglas County Fair competition. Her brother Piper, below, also in 4-H, works on training Tina.
Critters of all kinds preparing for fair By Meagan Thomas mthomas@ljworld.com
A pet and dog show Saturday marked the beginning of two weeks of 4-H contests and shows at the Douglas County Fair.
For 14-year-old Bailey Hiersche, this will be her fourth time participating in the fair’s rabbit show. She joined 4-H because a friend of hers was in it, and Hiersche has since had success Please see FAIR, page 2A
Please see SCHOOL, page 2A
District judge overrules municipal court on city sidewalk ordinance By George Diepenbrock gdiepenbrock@ljworld.com
A Douglas County judge has reversed an earlier decision by a municipal court judge that found part of the city’s sidewalk ordinance was vague and therefore unconstitutional.
Wording is not unconstitutionally vague, she decides The city had filed an appeal after acting Municipal Court Judge Randy McGrath in February acquitted Robert Gilmore, 54, of Lawrence, of three counts of obstructing people from being able to pass on the sidewalk
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so vague as to be facially violating of any constitutional provision nor is it subject on its face to arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement.” The judge cited similar city ordinances in other states that
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downtown. The three incidents occurred in 2011 in the 900 block of Massachusetts Street. According to a decision filed in Gilmore’s case, District Judge Paula Martin last week wrote the sidewalk ordinance “is not
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A former employee of the Lawrence school district claims in a lawsuit that she was wrongfully terminated for reporting misconduct. The district denies it. Page 3A
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the U.S. Supreme Court upheld. Elizabeth Hafoka, a city prosecutor, had argued that the city ordinance — drafted in 2005 along with a law on aggressive panhandling — was written clearly with plain language and
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Vol.154/No.206 20 pages