Stories from Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Persistent dry conditions throughout Kansas have led Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to upgrade the drought status of 25 counties in northeast and east central Kansas from watch to warning, resulting in the entire state now being under a drought warning. A drought warning indicates a severe drought. Public water suppliers, following their self-determined water conservation plan, may impose mandatory water use restrictions. Urgent surplus water contracts from state-controlled storage may be authorized...

Whether it's off to school or work or an out of town sports event, many of us pack and carry "bag" lunches. Food brought from home can be kept safely until mealtime if these guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service are followed...

100 YEARS AGO (1906) Those are not electric lights in front of Grant Hornaday's handsome new automobile. There are four headlights on the machine. Two of them are much brighter than the others. The brilliant lights are from ascetyline lamps, developed by certain chemicals. The other lights are from common oil lamps...

RENFRO -- Madeline Jean Renfro, a girl, was born at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2006, at Mercy Health Center, to parents Ryan and Emily Renfro. She weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. Maternal grandparents are Billi and Jeff Woodson, Wichita. Paternal grandparents are Pat and Danny Renfro, Fort Scott...

A national heritage area in parts of eastern Kansas and western Missouri could be a huge asset to Bourbon County and surrounding areas, Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Judy Billings said. Billings, who spearheaded a grassroots effort to persuade the U.S. ...