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TUESDAY • MARCH 1 • 2011
Bowersock expects to begin $25M plant ‘very shortly’ By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
A project to build a $25 million hydroelectric power plant on the north bank of the Kansas River is on the verge of becoming a reality. Sarah Hill-Nelson, an owner of the Lawrence-based Bowersock Mills & Power Co., conf irmed Monday that the company has found buyers for all the necessary bonds it needs to build a new plant near the northern end of the
Mild
High: 50
downtown Kansas River bridges. “It is not over till it is over, but we’re now anticipating to begin construction very shortly,” Hill-Nelson said. Financing has been the largest hurdle for the project, which was announced in 2009. The company has received the necessary federal permits to build the plant, which will operate in tandem with Bowersock’s existing plant on the south bank of the river. In November the company reached a long-term deal for the Kansas City, Kan., Board of
Public Utilities to buy all the power from the plants. But finding buyers for the nearly $25 million in bonds had been problematic as large institutional investors hadn’t taken the time to research the project. But Hill-Nelson said the project received a boost when the Securities and Exchange Commission ruled that qualified individual investors would be allowed to directly purchase the bonds. That allowed the project to court more regional investors.
City leaders on Monday were pleased to learn of the bond deal, which is scheduled to close March 11. They said the new “landmark” power plant building will Cromwell help market Lawrence as a community that wants to be a player in the green energy market. “In terms of a per capita basis,
‘I could not leave this world without that’ Low: 24
Today’s forecast, page 8A
INSIDE SCHOOL BOARD RACE
Candidate open to new ideas
we’re going to be producing as much renewable energy as any community in California,” said City Commissioner Aron Cromwell. The plant will produce enough electricity to power about 5,400 homes. The city of Lawrence will act as an issuer for the bonds, but won’t have any financial responsibility to repay the bonds. Private bond buyers are financing the project, but buyers will receive tax breaks that were part of the federal stimulus program, Hill-Nelson said.
Steps for closing school are set ——
Board to discuss plans for Wakarusa Valley School on March 14; public hearing is March 28
Rick Ingram, a professor of psychology at Kansas University, would think outside the box if elected to the Lawrence school board. Ingram says he would solicit ideas from across the community in order to develop the best schools in the state. Page 3A
By Mark Fagan mfagan@ljworld.com
SPORTS
Spotlight on seniors in Wednesday game Several members of Mario Little’s family from Chicago will be in Lawrence on Wednesday night to see his final game in Allen Fieldhouse. Little, Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar will be honored at a Senior Night ceremony. Page 1B
QUOTABLE
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Unfortunately our prisons are full of people who have mental health issues, and also, unfortunately, that doesn’t change the effect that this crime had on the victim.” — District Judge Peggy Kittel, while sentencing a man who attacked a woman on a bicycle path last June. Page 3A
COMING WEDNESDAY Lawrence police detail their use of Tasers during 2010.
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JOSEPH WILLIAMS, 54, SAID DETERMINATION was a big factor in earning his high school diploma from the Lawrence Diploma Completion Program, 711W. 23rd St. “He’s been one of the most dedicated students we’ve had,” said Sharen Steele, the program’s project coordinator.
At 54, he finally has his diploma, but the learning is just beginning By Brianne Pfannenstiel bpfannenstiel@ljworld.com
Joseph Williams is a Mississippi native, a community volunteer with the homeless and a proud grandfather. Now, after 54 years, he’s also a high school graduate. Recently, Williams completed his final course credit through the Lawrence Diploma Completion Program, 711 W. 23rd St. The program helps adults complete unfinished high school credits at their own pace to graduate. Unlike the GED, participants don’t bypass courses with a test but are required to finish them just as though they were in high school. When Williams arrived at the program’s office about two and a half years ago, he hadn’t completed a single one of the 46 credits he would need to earn a high school diploma. He dropped out of school at age 16 following the separation of his parents. In a family of 15 with six kids younger than himself, Williams did what was necessary and went to work. After years of work — and plagued by injuries that left him
permanently disabled — Williams moved to Lawrence. He settled down with his granddaughter, 5year-old Keyonna, whom he cares for by himself. When Keyonna started going to school, Williams began to wonder who would help her with her homework. “First she was doing half a day, then she got into full day, and I decided to focus on my education,” Williams said. “I want — I need — my diploma. I need it. I could not leave this world without that.” Motivated by the thought of his granddaughter, Williams persevered through eight English classes, seven social studies courses, six math classes, six science classes, two physical education requirements, two fine arts courses and 15 electives. English was tough. History “fascinating.” But biology is what really consumed Williams. “When he got into biology and the math classes he just really put his whole heart and soul into it, and he really did a great job with it,” said Sharen Steele, Lawrence Diploma Completion Program project coordinator. No matter what, Steele said,
Williams was always there, working away — sometimes as many as 40 hours each week. Even during the last year when Williams was homeless and living off of community resources, he still came to the office to work toward his diploma. “He’s been one of the most dedicated students we’ve had,” Steele said. “He’s been an icon around here. He’s got a really good moral ethic about him, and he’s just been kind of that extra voice in the background for the younger students to hear. They all know Joe.” Williams plans to hang his diploma on the wall at home so everyone can see it when they walk through the front door. He plans to look at it every day. He’s considering taking biology classes through Johnson County Community College. “I don’t think I’ll ever be done with school,” he said. “You learn every day as you go along through life. Even if there isn’t a classroom, you’re still learning.” — Reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel can be reached at 832-6314.
Senate leader promises KPERS funding will be addressed By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com
T O P E K A — The leader of the Kansas Senate has vowed that the Legislature will address long-term funding problems with the state’s pension system for teachers and other government workers. “We will have a definitive bill” this session, Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, said. But he
added that work on the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System would continue for a long time. KPERS faces a projected $7.7 billion gap between future obligations promised to retirees and current workers and anticipated revenues. A proposed Senate bill would increase the state’s contribution to the system. It would also require some workers to chip in more. A plan in the House would create a
401(k)-style plan for new employees. Morris, who was asked by Gov. Sam Brownback to come up with a proposal, said even if a 401(k)-type plan was started, that wouldn’t address closing the unfunded liability under the current plan. State officials emphasize that current retirees’ benefits are safe. — Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.
Plans to close Wakarusa Valley School will be up for discussion in two weeks and then up for formal public comment March 28, members of the Lawrence school board decided Monday night. On a 5-2 vote, the board set a formal process for considering a recommendation from the Lawrence Elementary School Facility Vision Task Force to close Wakarusa Valley, 1104 E. 1000 Road, southeast of Clinton Lake. And while board members Bob Byers and Marlene Merrill sought to slow closure proceedings, the rest of the board decided that at least laying the Morgan groundwork for making a decision as soon as possible would be the best approach. “People need to be on notice that this is a possibility,” said Scott Morgan, a board member and co-chairman of the task force. “If we end up closing this or any school, the earlier we do it the better.” Merrill, for her part, said she still had issues that she’d like to consider more carefully. Among them: whether Wakarusa Valley or some other school should close. Task force members had considered three schools — Cordley, Pinckney and Wakarusa Valley — as candidates for closure next year, before settling on Wakarusa Valley. They also recommended consolidating six schools into either four or three schools within three to five years. The board also should propose a bond issue that would address needs in elementary schools, the task force recommended. The board plans to discuss the recommendations March 14, then conduct a formal public hearing March 28. If approved as proposed, Wakarusa Valley would close at the end of this school year. In other action Monday, board members: ● Formalized acceptance of an earlier $529,546 donation from an anonymous donor toward construction of a $1.05 million project for concessions and restrooms at Free State High School. ● Hired B.A. Green Construction, for $34,359, to remodel a room at Lawrence High School for architecture, newspaper and small-engine classes. — Schools reporter Mark Fagan can be reached at 832-7188.