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Students become published authors
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City OKs closure of intersection near KU By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
DREW FOSTER, 8, FROM LEFT, LAYLA HARJO, 9, AND SPENCER MEYER, 8, look over their new books Tuesday during an assembly at Prairie Park School. Hundreds of students created their own books, then received a free hardback copy from Studentreasures Publishing in Topeka. The purpose of the program is to encourage creativity while reinforcing basic written communication skills.
Book program boosts creativity For these students, though, it was an even bigger thrill because they got to share the experience with all of their classmates during an assembly Tuesday morning when all the books arrived. “We’re going to spend a good amount of time today just reading each other’s books and looking at them,” said Erica Seals, the third-grade teacher who
By Peter Hancock phancock@ljworld.com
Hundreds of students at Prairie Park School got to experience a thrill this week that many struggling adult would-be authors only dream of: that day when a package arrives from the publisher containing the first hardbound copies of their books.
coordinated the project. The books were printed and bound by Studentreasures Publishing, a Topekabased company that seems to have found a unique niche in the world of children’s literature. Chad Zimmerman, CEO of the company, said the idea is to give every student a free copy of his or her own book.
“The only thing we ask is that they let parents know that they can buy reprints,” he said. “So the first copy of the books, what you see the kids walking away with, those are all free. .... And it turns out we get enough parents interested in buying reprints of the books that it’s a pretty good business.” Please see BOOKS, page 2A
Fraternity chapter suspended after animal cruelty alleged By Shaun Hittle sdhittle@ljworld.com
The Beta Theta Pi national organization has suspended the Kansas University chapter “indefinitely” following allegations of animal cruelty at a party at the fraternity Friday night. “We were a little shocked by the accounts that are being shared,” said Martin Cobb, spokesman for the Beta Theta Pi national organization. Lawrence police Friday night were called to Beta
Theta Pi, 1425 Tennessee No one was arrested, but St., to investigate an animal police will forward the case cruelty complaint involv- to the Douglas County Dising a turkey, said Lawrence trict Attorney’s Office for Police Sgt. Trent possible charging. McKinley. That process could Police determined take several weeks. that a live turkey, Representatives which had been in a from the KU chapter cage, got loose and did not return calls or was “chased and KANSAS emails. abused by several in- UNIVERSITY Cobb said officials dividuals present at with the national orthe party, seriously injuring ganization are still trying to the animal.” gather details about the case. Someone killed the tur“We want to get to the key, “stating he did so to end bottom of things ASAP,” he its suffering,” McKinley said. said.
At KU, the national organization, as well as the KU Interfraternity Council, are responsible for investigating such cases and taking action, said Jill Jess, KU spokeswoman. “Behavior such as that reported is reprehensible and is not what KU would expect from its students,” said Jess in a written statement. Jack Esberg, a KU student and spokesman for the Interfraternity Council, declined comment until the conclusion of the investigation.
It will be the new summer pastime of 2013: watching and wondering whether the main intersection leading to Kansas University will be open by the time students start arriving for the school year. Lawrence city commissioners at their meeting Tuesday stood by a November 2011 decision to close the portions of Bob Billings Parkway/15th Street for several hundred feet east and west of Iowa Street while crews in the area rebuild the road. Commissioners agreed to close the portion of the road from May 20 to as late as Aug. 16, despite hearing from about 10 neighbors and businesses who said the road closure would severely affect their businesses or daily lives. “This is the time of year that new residents are picking the places they go to shop,” said Carrie Warden, an owner of The Scone Lady’s Coffee Shop, 3300 Bob Billings Parkway. “If Please see CITY, page 2A
Police chief hears public feedback on camera policy By Ian Cummings icummings@ljworld.com
Some citizens concerned that Big Brother may be coming to downtown Lawrence got their chance to speak their minds and ask questions Tuesday. At a meeting Tuesday night, Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib took notes on possible revisions to a policy on downtown surveillance cameras before he submits the plan to the City Commission. Twelve citizens attended the meeting at the Carnegie Building, 200 W. Ninth St., to ask questions about the scope and cost of the department’s plan to install video cameras along intersections on Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence. The meeting followed a public forum in September, called by the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, to ask whether the cameras Please see CAMERAS, page 2A
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Chefs share recipes Local chefs share some of their favorite Christmastime family and restaurant recipes that help make the holidays special. Page 10B
Vol.154/No.355 28 pages