WIGGINS SAYS HELLO KU WINS OPENING GAME MARRED BY FOULS. PAGE 1B
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Opposition to efforts by Delaware Tribe raised
An honor 68 years in the making
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Kansas Native American groups say Lawrence casino would cause hardships By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photos
GAIL REED, OF BALDWIN CITY IS HEADING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., ON NOV. 18 TO RECEIVE A CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL that is being presented posthumously to her father, Wellington Mihecoby, pictured below, who was a Comanche code talker in World War II.
WWII Comanche code talkers receiving congressional medals By Elvyn Jones ejones@theworldco.com
Gail Reed remembers her late father, Wellington Mihecoby, as a verbose man with a booming voice. “Daddy was very vocal,” said Reed, of Baldwin City. “He loved to talk in public, and he never used a microphone.”
But her father could be reticent on some topics. For example, he rarely talked about his service in World War II and never spoke about how he used that distinctive loud voice with the U.S. Army’s 4th Signal Corps. The reason, Reed said, was that it was a top-secret mission and continued to be so after his discharge in August 1945. Please see MEDAL, page 2A
SEE A CALENDAR OF UPCOMING VETERANS DAY EVENTS ON PAGE 2A.
The leaders of the four federally recognized Indian tribes of Kansas have approved a resolution opposing efforts by the Delaware Tribe, which recently purchased land in Lawrence, to move to Kansas. The resolution states that “the odds are strong that the Delaware Tribe, currently based in Oklahoma, will apply to put its newly purchased Douglas County, Kansas land into trust with the eventual hope of gaming … .” The Kansas tribes, which all operate casinos, said if the Delaware Tribe were suc- The resolucessful in starting a casino in northeast tion said if the Kansas, it would cause Delaware Tribe “significant economic were successhardship” to the Kansas ful in starting a tribes. The result would be casino in norththe loss of job opportu- east Kansas, nities, diminished ser- it would cause vices to members and local communities, and “significant the inability to provide economic hardcharitable contribu- ship” to the tions, the resolution Kansas tribes. states. The resolution was signed by officials with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, and Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. Earlier this year, the Delaware Tribe purchased 90 acres of prime property in North Lawrence along the Kansas Turnpike. The tribe has said it wants to become a federally recognized Kansas-based tribe, and it has signed a development agreement with a company that specializes in building casinos. Earlier this week, however, Lawrence and Douglas County officials said they didn’t Please see TRIBES, page 2A
Man aims to pay health care forward by starting foundation By Giles Bruce gbruce@ljworld.com
As Sam Porritt stared up at the Italian sky, unable to move his legs, one thought crossed his mind. “My life is over.” Moments earlier, the Lawrence marketing consultant had been taking pictures of the beautiful scenery in the country’s Tuscany region, where he was vacationing with his wife, when he lost his footing and fell, forward, off a 15-foot wall. He was
paralyzed. When he regained consciousness, he quickly became resigned to the fact that would spend his remaining days incapacitated. Fast forward two years later. On a recent day, Porritt’s physical therapist holds his cane as he attempts to walk a few dozen yards without it. He’s also without the braces he normally wears to get around. Porritt, in a blue T-shirt and black sweatpants, moves forward one deliberate step at a time, almost tipping over and veering off center at
Lots of sun
‘Amazing’ insurance Rewind to a few weeks after the accident, when Porritt and his wife, Leann Johnson, were meeting with the intake officer at the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City. “We walked into the room and literally her first word wasn’t ‘Hello.’ Her first words were, ‘You have amazing insurance,’” Porritt said. Please see FORWARD, page 7A
Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
INSIDE Business Classified Comics Deaths
High: 63
LAWRENCE RESIDENT SAM PORRITT laughs while working on strengthening exercises Wednesday with Lawrence Memorial Hospital physical therapist Karen Bayouth. Porritt has created the Falling Forward foundation to assist those in recovery situations like his with paying the cost of rehabilitation that insurance will not cover.
times. But he makes it. Phew.
2A 1C-6C 11A 2A
Events listings Horoscope Movies Opinion
12A, 2B Puzzles 5C Sports 4A Television 10A
Firebirds win playoff opener 5C 1B-12B 12A, 2B, 5C
Low: 34
Today’s forecast, page 12A
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The Free State High School Firebirds blew by the Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars, 40-14, in the opening round of Class 6A football playoffs Friday. Page 1B
Vol.155/No.313 30 pages