Lawrence Journal-World 08-04-12

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SMASH HIT

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Demolition Derby rocks county fair Lawrence & State 3A

Crist’s play can make, break Jayhawks Sports 1B

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Llama show defies expectations Observer finds method behind the goofiness By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

It has been said a llama can kick a coyote to death. At the moment, I don’t think there are many coyotes shaking in their boots. Currently, you see, llamas are not looking much like the tough guys of the corral. One in particular is parading around a Douglas County 4-H arena with Hawaiian-style umbrellas protruding from its sides while its young leader dances in a crepe-paper skirt. During other parts of the morning, llamas have worn little blue bonnets atop their heads, which look a bit like a camel’s and are capable of spitting like one, too. They have been led through a plastic kiddie pool minus the water. They have walked atop a wooden teeter-totter. They have been forced to step through children’s hula-hoops. Hula-hoops for coyote killers, for crying out loud. What the heck is going on here? It is the 4-H llama show at the Douglas County Fair. In other words, a livestock show that has been crossbred with “The Gong Show.” Perhaps this scene will put it in perspective. Llama show judge and Lawrence resident Carrie Mershon is telling the crowd how the next contest is designed to simulate what a llama may Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photos experience on a trail. At that very moment, a man MATTHEW KELSO, OF EUDORA, AND HIS LLAMA NAMED SPIRIT don “Blues Brothers” cosis setting up two coat-rack tumes Wednesday morning for the llama show at the Douglas County Fair. Kelso won Please see LLAMAS, page 5A the final grand champion llama ribbon.

Final day of the county fair The Douglas County Fair concludes today with a host of events at the fairgrounds at 19th and Harper. The annual 4-H livestock auction begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Arena of the fairgrounds. A musical performance by Arnie Johnson & The Midnight

Special is set for 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the Kansas All-Terrain Vehicle Association’s 4-Wheeler Dirt Track Races begin at 7 p.m. at the outdoor arena. Carnival rides by Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival also will be operating from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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Jamie Ullery, 47, died from injuries about 2 weeks after head-on crash An attorney for the estate of an Overbrook woman who died from injuries in a January highway crash in Douglas County has filed a lawsuit against several parties seeking $5 million in damages. Jamie J. Ullery, 47, died about two weeks after the 1 p.m. Jan. 3 crash involving two vehicles on U.S. Highway 56 near Worden. A Kansas Highway Patrol report said Ullery was a passenger in a westbound minivan and that the driver, Joann O’Brien, 76, also of

Overbrook, fell asleep and drifted into the eastbound lane before striking an eastbound pickup truck just after O’Brien woke up. According to the suit filed July 26 in Douglas County District Court, Ullery needed in-home care because of a disability, and Ullery’s two caregivers were O’Brien, who the attorney said is also her mother, and the other passenger in the vehicle O’Brien was driving, Alice Beatty, 51, of Independence, Mo. The suit lists O’Brien and Beatty both as defendants, and identifies them both as employees of Wind-

Business Classified Comics Deaths

High: 96

Low: 63

Today’s forecast, page 8A

sor Place At-Home Care, which operates throughout the state. The suit alleges O’Brien and Beatty took Ullery with them to Lawrence that day for a mandatory training session, and that O’Brien suffered from diabetes, which caused her to fall asleep at the wheel on the way home even though she was “cautioned not to drive” before leaving the training session but “failed to heed that warning.” Attorney Linus Baker said he filed the lawsuit on behalf of Tracy Ullery, who is the special administrator of Ja-

mie Ullery’s estate and the father of Jamie Ullery’s son. “We cannot get this settled out of court because it involves a minor,” Baker said. “He’s the sole heir of the estate.” Baker, who said he had conversations with O’Brien before filing the suit, said the home-care program Ullery participated in was designed so that family members could be made into caregivers. Windsor Place operated the care program through a contract with state agencies. The suit lists as defendants

8A 1C-4C 6C 2A

clawhorn@ljworld.com

City leaders are now pointing to 6 million new reasons why they’re excited about a proposed northwest Lawrence recreation complex. A city-hired consulting firm is estimating a new city-owned youth fieldhouse combined with a Kansas University track/ field and soccer complex directly will inject about $6.3 million worth of spending into the Lawrence economy each year. “As we continue to explore additional details about this project, I think we continue to be very encouraged,” said City Manager David Corliss. “The consultants can point to some pretty positive economic activity associated with the facility.” The facility also is growing larger. The new docu- Corliss ments detail the proposed facility has grown from about 172,000 square feet about a week ago to about 181,000 square feet currently. Corliss said the new space is being devoted to additional indoor turf fields that can accommodate indoor soccer leagues. “We think there will be quite a bit of demand for that,” Corliss said. The new report was done by Convention Sports and Leisure International and attempts to estimate the economic impact if the city and KU proceed with plans to build a new sports complex at the northwest corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway. The report makes several projections, including: Please see CENTER, page 2A

Judge won’t dismiss suit over abortion rules

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8A, 2B 5C 4A 7A

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TOPEKA— A Kansas judge refused Friday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by two doctors who are challenging new state regulations for abortion providers, enabling critics of the rules to present evidence at trial that they are unnecessary and burdensome. Attorneys for state officials who could be required to enforce the new rules had asked Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis to uphold the regulations as valid without a trial. They argued that the state only must show it has a rational reason — protecting patients’ health — for imposing the COURTS special state health and safety regulations. The judge ruled against the state after an hour-long hearing, saying a review of whether the regulations were reasonable touches on medical questions “way beyond common knowledge.” The rules set minimum requirements for abortion providers’ staff and buildings, specify drugs and equipment they must have on hand, and require them to make their

Please see LAWSUIT, page 2A

INSIDE

Afternoon storm

By Chad Lawhorn

Associated Press

Lawsuit seeks $5M for U.S. 56 fatality gdiepenbrock@ljworld.com

Rec center will add $6M to economy, report says

By John Hanna

A llama at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Wednesday

By George Diepenbrock

LJWorld.com

5C 8B 1B-6B 4A, 2B, 5C

Please see ABORTION, page 2A

Judges face voters All three Douglas County district judges who face retention votes in the November general election have filed paperwork seeking to serve four more years on the bench. Page 3A

Vol.154/No.217 24 pages


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