Lawrence Journal-World 11-07-11

Page 1

L A W R E NC E

JOURNAL-WORLD ®

75 CENTS

LJWorld.com

-/.$!9 s ./6%-"%2 s

Wisdom of the ages

BIG 12 CONFERENCE

Mizzou exit is hardly a bang ——

After months of rumors, move to SEC anti-climactic By Chris Hong chong@ljworld.com

Kevin Anderson/Journal-World Photos

INA ARNETT, 102, left, now has company in the “century club” with her good friend Maxine Summers, right, who turned 100 on Tuesday. Both are residents at Drury Place at Alvamar, 1510 St. Andrews Drive.

Area centenarians reflect on longevity

By Karrey Britt kbritt@ljworld.com

ONLINE: See the video at WellCommons.com

About 40 people gathered in the dining room at Drury Place at Alvamar last week to celebrate a special occasion: Maxine Summers was turning 100. “She’s very special to all of us. She’s the best,” Lillian Dewey said. “She’s always smiling.” Summers also is known for walking laps on the second floor, which can be seen from the first floor.

She keeps track of the laps with pennies that are on a railing. Sandy Nelson, manager, said jokingly, “Every once in a while we give her speeding tickets.” The remark caused Summers to smile and laugh. Her advice for longevity: “Never giving it a thought.” She didn’t want to share her life story, but she did say that the first 50 years were much better than the

last, and that’s because she’s watched so many friends and family die before her. “It’s really sad,” Summers said. She made fast friends with Ina Arnett, who moved into Drury Place about two years ago, and Arnett is older than Summers: she’s 102. “Maxine and I get along real well,” Arnett said. “We just know each other pretty good and enjoy each other’s company.” See CENTENARIANS, page 2A

“It’s awesome that Missouri’s leaving. They suck.” Chris Benson, Lawrence

HENRIETTA OLSON, 107, is a resident at Medicalodges in Eudora. Her recipe for a long life includes lots of coffee.

Story project gives history many interpretations By Aaron Couch acouch@ljworld.com

Sunnyside Avenue has an idyllic name with a not-soidyllic origin. Just ask Joyce Schild. Schild, who now is in her late 80s, and her husband moved to Lawrence after World War II. There were no houses available to rent so they ended up in Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo yellow Army barracks that had THELMA HOLLOWAY ENGAGES with a group been converted into temporary reliving memories of their past at a gather- housing. ing at Babcock Place, 1700 Mass. A local Those yellow barracks were project, “MyStory” asks seniors to recall on what is now Sunnyside Avand write down historical events as seen enue, the road on the Kansas through their eyes. University campus flanked by

It’s official. The University of Missouri has left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference, confirming what many have speculated for months. The SEC announced the move Sunday, making Missouri the second Big 12 team to join the conference this year, along with Texas A&M. Missouri will begin competing in the SEC next season. “We came to this decision after careful consideration of the long term best interests of our university,” said Brady J. Deaton, chancellor of Missouri, in a press release. “We believe the Southeastern Conference is an outstanding home for the Mizzou Tigers, and we take great pride in our association with this distinguished league.” Missouri and Kansas University have been conference members since 1907. Here’s what some Jayhawk fans thought about Missouri’s exit:

Haworth Hall and Robinson Gymnasium. “They had cockroaches. They were cold; they were hot. But you were among friends,” Schild said. Today, Sunnyside Avenue is the only physical legacy of those yellow barracks. But Schild’s memories are a legacy, too. This month, a group of senior citizens is exploring those types of memories as part of a storytelling series sponsored by the Lawrence Public Library and Babcock Place. It’s not just about reminiscing, but also about comparing the different ways people remember the

same historical events. “There are lots of these moments that we experience differently,” said Gayle Sigurdson, a Babcock Place employee who helps facilitate the story series. “A lot of your values come from those experiences.” At the group’s first meeting, Pattie Johnston of the Lawrence Public Library asked members to think of the events that made big impressions. Some people named the biggies — Pearl Harbor, 9/11, the JFK assassination. But many named events that are big in the history books but Please see STORY, page 2A

“I think it’s sad because the rivalry will be gone.” John Clark, Lawrence

“I think it stinks for Kansas City.” Marissa Clark, Lawrence

“I think it’s what’s best for the school.” Joel Bohnenstiehl, Kansas City, Mo.

! Read more about Missouri’s Big 12 exit in Sports, page 1B.

Brownback sets up meetings across state to discuss child poverty By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

TOPEKA — Child welfare advocates say they are pleased that Gov. Sam Brownback has initiated meetings to address childhood poverty but are concerned about some earlier Brownback actions.

“We’re delighted to see the governor elevate the conversation,” said Shannon Cotsoradis, president and chief executive officer of Kansas Action for Children. But Cotsoradis said she is worried about a directive from Brownback to state agencies to reduce Children’s

ings, early childhood education and other services to children and their families, she said. Funding for the CIF comes from payments made to the state from the master tobacco settlement, which in turn goes to programs that serve about 200,000 Kansas children.

INSIDE

Rain developing Classified Comics Deaths Events listings

High: 65

Initiatives Fund expenditures in their proposed budget submissions. Some of those submissions have proposed cuts of nearly 30 percent, she said. If approved by the Legislature next year, those cuts “would have a devastating impact,” on programs that provide newborn screen-

4B-10B 9A 2A 10A, 2B

Horoscope Movies Opinion Puzzles

9B 5A 8A 9B

Sports Television

Low: 48

Today’s forecast, page 10A

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

1B-3B 5A, 2B, 9B

Nearly a quarter of Kansas children are living in poverty, the governor’s office said. Brownback has said reducing the percentage of children living in poverty is one of his top goals. “Studies show children Please see POVERTY, page 2A

MEETING SCHEDULE The meetings on children’s issues will be held from 1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Jack Reardon Convention Center in Kansas City, Kan.; Nov. 16 at the Drury Hotel in Wichita; and Nov. 17 at the Dennis Perryman Athletic Complex in Garden City.

COMING TUESDAY We’ll give you the latest news from a school group tackling closings and consolidations.

Vol.153/No.311 36 pages

Energy smart: The JournalWorld makes the most of renewable resources. www.b-e-f.org


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Lawrence Journal-World 11-07-11 by Lawrence Journal-World - Issuu