ONLY IN LAWRENCE
Special section in today’s paper pays tribute to the unsung heroes who make our town unique
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‘I definitely have a better afternoon if I get out and do this’
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City to consider Rock Chalk Park bonds By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
MEMBERS OF THE MAD DOG RUNNING GROUP hit the streets of Lawrence for a noontime 3-mile run. The group, comprised mainly of Kansas University faculty and staff, has existed for more than 40 years. Anyone is welcome to join in the runs, which begin every weekday at noon at the east entrance of Robinson Gymnasium.
Feel like a run in the midday sun? Join these ‘Mad Dogs’ at KU
F
red Van Vleck is giving me noonhour advice that I’ve received countless times before. “The secret,” Van Vleck says, “is not to overdo it.” Normally, I get that advice when I’m at the front of a buffet line. But now, I’m at the back of a line of runners, and Van Vleck’s advice has confused me. You see, Van Vleck is 79 and he makes 3-mile runs in the midday heat three times a week. If that’s moderation, I need to talk this guy into taking me to the all-youcan-eat Chinese bar. “But I don’t like hills,” Van Vleck, a retired Kansas University math professor, says. “I don’t
Lawhorn’s Lawrence
Maybe this would make more sense if I told you that Van Vleck is a Mad Dog. Or maybe it wouldn’t. In this town, a group of fitness enthusiasts who work out under the moniker of Red Dog Days gets a lot of attention. But the Mad Dogs, not so much, although they’re a type of exercise hound just as persistent. For more than 40 years now, a group of KU faculty clawhorn@ljworld.com and staff members have met every weekday at noon at the east entrance like going down them.” Great. I’m getting ready of the Robinson Gymnasium. On some days, to run with a guy who there are just two or three would rather run uphill. This certainly isn’t going of them, but on many days, especially Mondays, to be an ordinary lunch Wednesdays and Fridays, hour.
Chad Lawhorn
there are usually a dozen or so who gather under one of the shade trees. They stretch, Van Vleck then run. Their midday trek usually is three miles or so in about 30 minutes. Although most of the group members have some connection to KU, the run is open to anyone — even a hack reporter with a pencil behind his ear and a recorder in his hand. (For those of you who know me, I didn’t wear the cowboy boots on
clawhorn@ljworld.com
Karen Olson was a marketing executive writing ad copy for disposable razors and home pregnancy tests when a particular New York City homeless woman caught her eye. “Just on impulse, I really don’t know why, but I went across the street and got her a sandwich,” Olson said. “I
Plenty of sun
gave it to her and then she took my hand and told me about herself. All of a sudden, I had crossed an invisible line. These people aren’t untouchable.” That 1980s encounter is the seed from which the nationwide homeless services network Family Promise grew. Olson is the founder and president of Family Promise and will be in Lawrence next week to celebrate
the 25th anniversary of the nonprofit organization. Members of the public can hear Family Promise founder and president Karen Olson speak at the following sessions:
Oct. 2: Social Entrepreneurship: Mobilizing Communities to Fight Homelessness. 9:30 a.m., The Commons at Spooner Hall, Kansas University campus
Oct. 3: Challenges and
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Confusion accompanies health care reform rollout By John Hanna AP Political Writer
Opportunities in Community/University Collaboration, 1 p.m., Hall Center for the Humanities, Kansas University campus
Oct. 3: Sustainable Independence: The Journey of Family Promise, 7 p.m., Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union. “I had the perfect background for it, didn’t I?” Please see OLSON, page 7A
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Please see RUNNING, page 2A
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OVERLAND PARK — David Stagner arrived at a recent town hall meeting seeking information about an online insurance marketplace set up for Kansas under the federal health care overhaul. The 26-year-old Lenexa Between all the resident said he’s uninsured, hurt his bickering back back this summer and forth on both and ran up almost $16,000 in medical sides, they’ve lost focus on what’s bills in 10 days. He joined about important.” 250 people on the Kansas University — David Stagner on the satellite campus in the Kansas City state’s political leaders not area for one of 11 reaching enough people events this month led by Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger ahead of Tuesday’s opening in each state of online marketplaces known as exchanges. Praeger’s office brought stacks of brochures and
Founder of Family Promise coming to Lawrence By Chad Lawhorn
The Rock Chalk Park project is back at Lawrence City Hall, and it hasn’t gotten any cheaper during its time away. City commissioners at their meeting Tuesday will be asked to approve up to $40 million in industrial revenue bonds, a type of special financing that won’t obligate the city to pay for the privately owned sports facilities but will allow the project to receive a 10-year tax abatement. Approval of the bonds is expected to be relatively routine because a majority of city commissioners in March approved a resolution of intent to issue them. CITY But the bond activity has COMMISSION provided an update on the estimated costs for the project, which includes a track and field stadium, soccer field, softball stadium and several other amenities that will be owned by a firm led by Lawrence businessman Thomas Fritzel but leased to Kansas University Athletics. Dale Seuferling, president of the Kansas University Endowment Association, a
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Raise your mugs! 17th annual St. John the Evangelist Oktoberfest featured homemade traditional German food and German beer Saturday. Page 3A
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Vol.155/No.272 40 pages