THOUSANDS FLOCK TO INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Photograph by: Kiel Peterson
It was a celebration for the ages as thousands packed the Baldwin City Golf Course on Friday, July 5, for Baldwin City’s annual Independence Day Celebration. The crowd came ready to celebrate, and they weren’t disappointed. Families arrived early, setting up tents, coolers, and blankets to claim their spots for the evening. Organizers had anticipated this year’s event could bring
in even more people than last year’s estimated attendance of 5,550—and by all accounts, they were right. From the moment the gates opened, families and friends poured onto the greens, many with picnic blankets and lawn chairs in tow, ready for an evening packed with food, games, live music, and fireworks.
The Baldwin City Recreation Commission, with the help of countless volunteers, coordinated the large-scale
Next Rec Event Sundays at Six: Off the Record
July 13
Sullivan Square 6-7:30 p.m.
event, ensuring everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Their hard work paid off, as the celebration drew one of the biggest crowds in recent memory. Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed a variety of food trucks, bounce houses, shopping, face painting, and live entertainment. As more attendees of all ages arrived, the excitement grew throughout the night as people enjoyed the festive atmosphere.
As darkness fell, the crowd gathered in anticipation of the fireworks display. The show did not disappoint, lighting up the night sky with a brilliant display that brought the evening to a spectacular close.
This year’s Independence Day Celebration was another shining example of Baldwin City’s strong sense of community and tradition. Organizers are already looking ahead to next year, as the event continues to grow in size and spirit.
KANSAS LAW ENFORCEMENT BOASTS LOWEST CRIME RATE IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS
Story by Anna Kaminski, Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Kansas’ crime rate in 2024 reached its lowest mark in at least 20 years, according to recently released data, and some attribute the drop to law enforcement success.
Violent crimes saw a five-year low in 2024, and property crimes maintained a downward trend, per the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s annual crime index report.
“We believe the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies throughout Kansas have an impact on bringing down crime, as does the public’s cooperation and assistance when major crimes are committed,” said KBI director Tony Mattivi.
The report has been published in some form at the KBI since 2003. It compiles data from local and state law enforcement agencies, creating a snapshot of the year’s crimes while reflecting greater trends when compared to past years.
A crime index rate is the number of recorded crimes per 1,000 people in a given year. Kansas’ rate decreased from 27 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023 to 23.3 in 2024. The report said it’s the lowest rate in more than 20 years.
“When assessing crime on a statewide basis, it is difficult to understand what drives crime from year to year because so many factors influence crime trends,” Mattivi said.
The state’s murder rate, for instance, fell below the 10-year average. With 117 murders in 2024, it marked a more than 25% decrease from 2023.
“Finding a common circumstance for these murders is difficult,” the report said, “as 46.2% of the reports indicated ‘unknown circumstance.’ ”
Murders in 2024 involved arguments, domestic violence and unknown suspects. Making up smaller fractions were illegal drug transactions, which totaled 2.6% of murders, and gang activity and drive-by incidents,
which made up less than 1% of murders in 2024.
All crime categories decreased in 2024. Some numbers were fractions of pre-pandemic averages and others made history. Around 7,100 burglaries were reported in Kansas in 2024, the lowest number since 1966, when around 10,700 burglaries were reported, according to the report.
Wyandotte County had the highest reported crime index rate in the state, with nearly 47 crimes per 1,000 people. Sedgwick County was a close second with a rate of nearly 44. The lowest reported crime index rate in 2024 was 0.7 in Jewell County, though the county sheriff’s office only reported seven months out of the year.
The number of law enforcement officers employed in Kansas is inching closer to its pre-pandemic level of 3.84 officers per 1,000 people, according to data from the FBI. The number of employed law enforcement officers rose between 2023 and 2024 from 3.44 to 3.69.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach took credit for the decrease in crime rates, attributing it to his “law and order approach.”
“Kansans are less likely to be the victim of a crime today than at any time in the past 20 years,” Kobach said in a news release, which referred to him as Kansas’s chief law enforcement officer.
While crime has decreased nationally in the past three decades, Americans still worry just as much — if not more — about their safety and the presence of crime, according to Gallup polling.
Around half of Americans who participated in 2024 surveys worry about crime a great deal, and few are satisfied with policies addressing crime. Americans perceive that crime is growing in the areas where they live.
Almost half of Americans polled in 2024 thought crime increased over the previous year, when crime nationwide
ARCHAEOLOGISTS LAUNCH COUNTYWIDE SURVEY TO UNCOVER DOUGLAS COUNTY’S PAST WITH HERITAGE CONSERVATION COUNCIL FUNDING
LAWRENCE, Kan. – A team of archaeologists from Augustana University and the University of Kansas has launched a yearlong survey aimed at uncovering Douglas County’s historic past.
The project, which began in June, is focused on identifying and documenting archaeological sites across the county. Researchers will analyze existing artifacts and conduct field surveys to better understand the area’s history.
Leading the effort are Austin Buhta of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Rolfe Mandel of the University of Kansas. The researchers are encouraging local participation from Douglas County residents and property owners who may have artifacts or historically significant land.
“Community involvement is vital,” Buhta said. “Whether you’ve found artifacts or have land with historic potential, we’d love to work with you.”
Participation is free, voluntary and confidential. Investigators will not conduct any excavations or remove items from properties. Instead, they’ll document findings through photographs and share maps and reports with property owners upon request.
The team is especially interested in upland crop fields, properties situated along the Santa Fe or Oregon/ California trails, and areas with exposed streambanks.
The $99,677 project is funded through the Heritage Conservation Council’s reserve account. Upon completion, findings will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners and shared with the State Historic Preservation Office.
Residents interested in participating can email dig@augie. edu or call (605) 274‐4369 for more information.
GROUNDBREAKING SCHEDULED FOR BALDWIN SCHOOL BOND PROJECTS
Work is set to begin on the new Career Technical Education (CTE) addition and other projects included in the Baldwin School Bond. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Tuesday, July 15 at 6 p.m. in the bus loop area on the southwest side of Baldwin High School.
Following the groundbreaking, refreshments will be available at 6:30 p.m.
The event marks the start of major construction efforts that will bring facility improvements and expanded educational opportunities for Baldwin City students. The CTE addition is among the most significant projects planned, with the goal of enhancing technical and career-focused programs in the district.
This milestone represents continued investment in the future of Baldwin City schools.
PUBLIC NOTICE: KANSAS GAS SERVICE & CITY OF BALDWIN CITY
Notice is hereby given that Kansas Gas Service, a Division of ONE Gas, Inc., and the City of Baldwin City, Kansas, have begun negotiation for the renewal of the City’s natural gas Franchise Agreement. The proposed Franchise Agreement would provide a fee of three percent (3%) on the gross receipts derived from the distribution of natural gas within the City. The term of this Franchise Agreement is expected to be twenty (20) years. The current Franchise Agreement expires in June 2026.
ROAD WORK TO IMPACT BALDWIN CITY AREA
Douglas County Public Works has contracted with Vance Brothers, Inc. to apply chip seal on 26.5 miles of roads throughout the southeast portion of the county, including areas near Baldwin City.
Work is scheduled to begin in mid-July and is expected to last three to four weeks. Flaggers and a pilot car will control traffic through one lane, resulting in potential delays of up to 15 minutes in the work zones. Crews plan to work on roughly twomile sections per day. All other roads will remain open during the project.
The chip seal process extends the life of asphalt pavement by applying a coat of tack oil followed by a layer of fine aggregate. This year’s contract totals $1.1 million and is funded through the county’s Road and Bridge budget.
Residents of Baldwin City and surrounding areas should review the project map to see the impacted routes and plan travel accordingly.
BALDWIN CITY WELCOMES NEW POLICE OFFICER
NOW HIRING
OBITUARY
HARRY A. NORTH
FEB. 13, 1936-JUNE 24 2025
Harry A. North, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully at his home on June 24, 2025 at the age of 89, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on February 13, 1936 at the family farm in rural Franklin County, Kansas, the son of Frank and Daisy (Jones) North. The family moved to Ottawa, Kansas where Harry attended Hawthorne Grade School and Ottawa Junior High. The family moved to rural Baldwin City, Kansas in 1951, where Harry attended Baldwin High School and was a graduate of the class of 1954.
Harry was called to service in the US Army from 1958 to 1960, where he attained the rank of Private First Class and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
When he returned home, he established Harry North Construction and was the owner and general contractor for over sixty years. He was proud of the many relationships that he formed over the years in the construction business in Douglas and Franklin Counties.
Harry served for seven years on the Baldwin City USD 348 school board with two years as president and was also a boy scout leader.
The Baldwin City Police Department has welcomed a new officer to its ranks. Officer Liam Murphy was officially sworn in during the City Council meeting on July 1. Already certified as a law enforcement officer in Kansas, Officer Murphy has hit the ground running and is currently patrolling Baldwin City streets alongside his Field Training Officers. The department and community congratulate Officer Murphy and wish him success in his new role.
Baldwin City Police Department is now hiring a crossing guard for the 2526 school year. Very few jobs are more important than keeping our children safe at crosswalks, and we take it seriously. Questions? Contact Mike Pattrick at mpattrick@ baldwincity.gov.
• 7am - 8am & 3p.m. – 4pm.
• 2 hours per day, 185 school days per school year.
• Safety equipment provided.
• Cross walk location is near 5th and Ames, by Sonic.
• $20.00 per hour.
Full information and application available here: https://www.baldwincity.gov/ jobs/crossing-guard-4th-andames.
Camping Event Space Sweatlodges Lodging
Family Camps for Veterans
On September 9, 1956, he was united in marriage to Betty Turner and together they celebrated sixty-seven years of marriage. Harry is survived by his beloved wife, daughter Susan Johnson (John) of Baldwin City, Kansas; sons Timothy North (Pam) of Kechi, Kansas and Brian North (Natasha) of Baldwin City, Kansas; grandchildren Courtney Johnson, Katelyn Johnson, Ashley Zorn (Edison), Andrea Gartman, Allen North (Cassie), Coltin Thomas, Riley Thomas (Skyler), and Lylah North; great grandchildren Hudson, Edric, Elaina, Westen, Whitley, Gannon, and two on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Daisy North; brothers Lyle North and Dean North; and sister Margaret Burke.
All who knew and loved Harry are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Baldwin City Golf Course Clubhouse, 1102 Main Street, Baldwin City, Kansas from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
Private graveside services will be held at a later date at Sutton Cemetery, Baldwin City, Kansas.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association or the American Diabetes Association c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.
KANSAS PREPARES TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR CHIEFS, ROYALS TO CLAIM INCENTIVE FOR STADIUM CONSTRUCTION
Story by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate president said Thursday a meeting with bipartisan legislative leadership would be called July 7 to extend the deadline for the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals to accept an offer of financial support for construction of professional sports stadiums in Kansas.
Senate President Ty Masterson said the Republican-dominated Legislative Coordinating Council, which conducts state business when the Legislature isn’t in session, would consider an extension of the one-year STAR bond deadline enacted in July 2024. Masterson didn’t indicate how lengthy the extension could be.
Masterson said Mark Donovan, president of the Chiefs, asked Kansas officials to alter
the deadline “in light of substantial progress the Chiefs have made in discussions” with the Kansas Department of Commerce on an NFL development on the Kansas side of the border with Missouri.
Those discussions have included building of a stadium, headquarters, practice facility and related business developments, Donovan said.
“The letter from Mark Donovan indicates that the drive to bring this historic project to Kansas is moving down the field,” Masterson said. “Now that we are in the red zone, this extension will provide stakeholders sufficient time to ensure the ball crosses the goal line.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill last year authorizing issuance of bonds that would cover up to 70% of stadium
construction, but the law set the deadline for making a deal at June 30, 2025.
Last month, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed legislation that would finance up to 50% of the cost to renovate or build new stadiums for the Royals and Chiefs. Missouri’s commitment of tax revenue would be capped at $1.5 billion.
The NFL and MLB franchises play at facilities in Kansas City, Missouri, that were built in the early 1970s. Owners of the teams have encouraged formation of public funding packages that would support replacement of those stadiums. Debate about the future of both franchises has rekindled the economic border war between Missouri and Kansas.
The Legislative Coordinating Council would take up the measure altering the
deadline at 2 p.m. July 7 in Topeka.
“The complexity and scale of the project, and the importance of crafting a structure that works for all stakeholders, make it clear that more time is needed to bring the effort to full fruition,” Donovan said in a letter to Masterson.
He said the Chiefs had engaged in multiple rounds of dialogue about stadium proposals with the state Department of Commerce. The Chiefs hadn’t received a response to the franchise’s latest proposal in six weeks, he said.
“Extending the secretary’s authority will allow that process to continue productively and will preserve Kansas’ ability to secure the most significant economic development initiative in its history,” Donovan’s letter said.
COMMUNITY WHY SUPPORT THE COUNTY FAIR
TIMELESS STITCHES
As summer sets in fully and the 4th of July is already behind us, it’s time to think about the county and state fairs. Each year, the counties across the state hold local fairs that feature a wide variety of open class competitions. These range from specific animal classes, horticulture, flowers, fine art, photography, food preservation and more to, yes, quilting. The open classes are for everyone, with entry categories for youth, adults, and seniors.
I’ve been entering the Douglas County Fair and Kansas State Fair since 1986. That year I entered two items in the Needlework/ English smocking division at the Kansas State Fair. My daughter Allison’s English smocked dress received a blue ribbon and, I believe, a division champion ribbon at the state. The English smocked Christmas angel also won a blue ribbon. At that time, there were enough seamstresses making garments and other items with English Smocking that the Kansas State Fair had an entire category for that specific needle art.
It would be years later before I entered a fair again. While in California caring for my aging parents, I took up crocheting afghans for our church’s layette program. Mom had dementia and I needed a hobby to keep my hands busy that was also easy to pick up and put down as she needed me. I entered the last afghan I completed in the 2010 Contra Costa County Fair, along with several of my first quilts. The afghan won a blue ribbon and a Sweepstakes ribbon (California’s version of Champion & Reserve Champion), and two of the quilts won a 2nd and 3rd place ribbons.
After returning to Kansas in 2012, my quilting improved and, with the encouragement of members of the Emporia Regional Quilt Guild, I began entering items in the Lyon County Fair and the Kansas State Fair. Each year I would travel to Hutchinson to drop off the quilts prior to judging and return on the last day of the fair to pick the quilts back up when they were released. Going to see my quilts hanging there, almost always with a ribbon, was great fun. What was even better was seeing all the other quilts, garments, needlework,
knitting & crochet items, and more. There are so many talented creators across each county and across the state! Wandering through the displays, I would take pictures of quilts or custom quilting as inspiration for future projects. By 2014 I was back in Douglas County and picked up where I left off back in 1986 and began entering, only this time it was nearly all quilts.
When people ask me why I enter quilts, I tell them it’s definitely not for the money. I’m proud of the many ribbons hanging up on the wall, but the premiums paid out at the county or state fair are nominal. It can be interesting to read the judge’s comments; however, always remember they are only one person’s opinion. It’s also not for the notoriety; although, as a quilting professional, having a few ribbons on my wall does provide an air of expertise when working on client commissions. The main reason I enter is to share my art with others and encourage and inspire others on their own quilting journey.
When Covid-19 hit, the fairs and their open class divisions took a huge hit. Entries were down for several years and even now, five years later, the number of entries overall is still lower than before. Slowly, the numbers seem to be picking back up; however, in other open class divisions, like the baking and food preservation, entries are still low.
I always encourage my quilting friends to enter their quilts in local quilt/craft shows, guild shows, county fairs, and the state fair. Even beginning quilters should enter their quilts. For a fair visitor who is a new quilter to see a “My First Quilt” notation might encourage them to enter in the future. For new quilters, the comments may provide suggestions of how to improve their craft. Little things can be improved with someone else’s eye giving you feedback.
Don’t be afraid of entering because you don’t want your quilt judged. Instead, enter as a creator providing art for other fair attendees to enjoy who may not be crafters/quilters, yet they enjoy looking at all the beautiful creations. Toss the comments without reading them if you want. Enjoy getting a ribbon and hang it up proudly! And always remember how many other people will enjoy seeing your creations displayed with other works of art however simple or complex—all worthy of hanging for all to see. Overall,
whenever I’ve attended local fairs or craft shows, it’s always a treat to see the wide variety of creations. It’s like going to a quilt show at the fair, in an oasis of cool an the air-conditioned building!
For more information and guidelines on how to enter items:
Douglas County Fair, July 28-August 2, fair book and entry guidelines -- https:// dgcountyfair.com/fair-info/
Kansas State Fair, September 5-14, fair book and entry guidelines -- https:// www.kansasstatefair.com/p/competitions/ competitive-static
If you live outside of Douglas County, KS, or even beyond Kansas, be sure to check online where and when your own county or state fair will be held and how to enter.
QUILT CAPITAL
By Sharon Vesecky & Liz Granberg-Jerome
COMMUNITY VOICES
DOOR DETAILS INNOCENT IGNORANCE
DEAR HOMEKEEPER
By Cat Henry
You know it doesn’t take a renovation to personalize a space, sometimes, it’s the small projects that carry the most impact. Especially when it comes to framing views and shaping the experience of moving from one room to another. One detail I often notice, and love to play with, is how a doorway can serve as a frame, like looking into a living portrait. Recently, I visited my friend Janet, whose home beautifully illustrates this idea. Her condo is decorated in palettes of light blues, warm greys, and cheerful yellow that radiates both serenity and brightness mirrors her own personality: calm, inviting, and joyful. It reminds me of how a homekeeper can impact the ambiance of her home.
Janet’s has a cleverly designed open concept living space. Her openings between rooms creating a natural visual flow. In her living room, sits two yellow chairs that face her sofa and coffee table. Their backs point toward an adjoining room. There is a wall in the next space, her TV room, painted the exact same vibrant yellow as the chairs. So, when you look through the opening, your eye is drawn across the space from chair to accent wall. It’s a visual pull that connects the two rooms seamlessly. The effect is subtle yet striking. Even her bedroom, where I stayed continued, the story with a yellow accent wall there too, offering continuity.
It made me think about how doorways and openings affect the way we move through and perceive a home. I’ve always been intrigued by old apartment layouts, especially those called “railroad apartments” or “floor-throughs” in places like New York City. These are long, narrow apartments where rooms line up in a row, you walk through one to get to the next. The name comes from old train cars, and the design recalls colonial homes or early American layouts where hallways didn’t really exist. Instead, one room opened into the next, in what architects call an “enfilade.” There’s something dramatic and charming about that setup. It creates a natural rhythm and sense of movement through space.
Victorian homes brought about more structured hallways, giving rise to the idea of private, compartmentalized rooms. But I still love the theatricality of a home with fewer barriers, a layout where each doorway draws you deeper, like frames within a frame. It’s cinematic and layered, encouraging the eye (and the imagination) to explore.
In my current home, I have no traditional
hallways. Rooms open into each other through wide wall arches, except for the private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms, which still have doors.
Look around your own home, how do the openings between rooms feel? Are they welcoming? Could they be made more inviting? Sometimes all it takes is a bit of reimagining: a shift in furniture, a pop of color, or a small decorative touch.
Consider placing a pair of chairs in a visible spot or hanging a mirror or tall plant to draw the eye forward through the room’s openings. You can paint or trim the door frame to make it a visual feature. I painted a black outline around a geometric cut-out arch and then painted my bay window frames black to echo that detail, choices that tie a room together.
You could update all your door hardware for a cohesive look. It can be costly to do at once, but phasing it in creates a polished result. Or try hanging a curtain at the sides of a doorway tied back with ribbon, using double-sided fabric so it’s lovely from both angles.
In one of my doorways, I installed wooden scroll appliques to add flourish. Scrollwork suits my style; I even added white flat scrolls to blend with my upstairs paneled doors. I’ve always named (and labeled) bedrooms. What were referred to by my kids name on a door now have names that match their current décor—Sunflower, Leaf, Firefly—all tied to nature.
These little touches don’t just change the look of a home; they make it feel more yours.
Until next time, warmest regards. Cathenry. ch@gmail.com
P.S. The details are not the details they are the design.
I love the phrase, innocent ignorance. Those two words together are packed with unspoken meaning and create such curiosity. What is an innocent ignorance? When I put those two words together I am speaking of the things we say and do that cause harm or pain to someone else, but we never intended it in our own hearts. For instance, a backhanded compliment might sound something like this, “That’s a great color on you, but the print makes you look fat” or “Hey little Johnny you look like a cowboy in that hat, too bad you’ll never have enough money to own a horse” or “You have such a beautiful face, now you just need to lose about twenty pounds.”
There is no malice in any of those statements, but someone was hurt by what you said. The lady in the beautifully colored dress with the large print felt pretty until you suggested she wasn’t. Little Johnny always wanted to be a cowboy and riding his own horse was his lifelong dream until you told him he couldn’t. The lady with the pretty face works hard to keep your attention on her face because she hates her fullfigured body, now you’ve just agreed that she should.
An innocent ignorance is a word or statement we’ve all made without considering the consequences to the person we’re saying them to. Sometimes an innocent ignorance is something we learned as children that we may not consciously believe ourselves, but we never took the time to cleanse our minds of those thoughts and beliefs. Some such thoughts may be black
people are violent or white people are treacherous or Mexican men are macho or Asian women are submissive or native Americans are alcoholics. The list is endless of things that we’ve heard all our lives and we’ve internalized them and without knowing it, they have become a part of our subconscious belief system. As a result, we say things that hurt people that we really and truly don’t consciously mean.
So, what’s the remedy Jeanine? Are you suggesting we examine everything we think before we speak it into existence? Wellllllll, I know that sounds like a lot, and in the beginning, it really is, but if it makes the world you live in a better place, isn’t it worth it? Maybe we should begin with digging up those things we already know exist in our past lives and being honest with ourselves about how we react and what we think when we hear a new story about a driveby for instance. Who do you automatically assume did it? Or the smartest math student in the class, what is the first race you think of? Or an all American girl, notice who your mind conjures up or what color is neutral? Is the color you’re thinking of neutral for everybody or just your race? We all say we want a gentler, kinder, more tolerant world, but are you willing to do what it takes to create one? Don’t you realize YOU are the world! It’s not some entity outside of you, it is you and you get to create the world you live in by doing the work it takes to shift the energy in the direction you want it to go. If you want more love in your life, be more loving. If you want more light in your life, find the good in everything and everybody. If you want more kindness, be kinder. You get to decide. What do you choose? So, if you want to know what I really think, “Just Ask Me, I’ll Tell You.”
JUST ASK ME, I’LL TELL YOU By Jeanine Ross
