The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council announced the recipients of the 2020 Natural & Cultural Heritage grant program May 6, 2020, after the Board of County Commissioners approved them. A total of $200,000 was awarded to 12 projects. The projects and the amounts awarded are:

1. St. Luke AME Church, $57,750

Project: Brick and window rehabilitation

Douglas County has a new interactive cemetery map. The map was created by Senior GIS Analyst Amy Roust. She worked with Douglas County Heritage Coordinator Jan Shupert-Arick and John Nichols, of the County Clerk’s Office, who gathered records related to each cemetery. Work began on the project about three years ago.

“We are thrilled to launch this interactive online tool as part of National Preservation Month. Our goal is to promote preservation of cemeteries and to assist the public,” Shupert-Arick said.

As severe weather season ramps up, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about how to react to severe weather. While we understand the importance of social distancing, the National Weather Service and Emergency Management agree that during a Tornado Warning, the first priority should be protection from a potential tornado even if this means temporarily breaking social distancing.

Earth Day will look a little different in Lawrence and Douglas County this year. In March, the City of Lawrence and Douglas County announced that the annual Earth Day celebration in South Park would be postponed due to safety recommendations in response to COVID-19. In lieu of the in-person event, Earth Day 2020 will be celebrated during a week of virtual events that will bring the community together — even as we remain physically apart.

The Kansas Supreme Court announced April 17  that its Office of Judicial Administration worked with judicial districts to create a process that will allow some district courts to resume issuing marriage licenses while courts remain closed to in-person contact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Message to the community from: Dan Partridge, Director of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health; Russ Johnson, CEO and President of LMH Health; Sarah Plinsky, Douglas County Administrator; and Craig Owens, City of Lawrence Manager

We continue to work closely together – now more than ever - to protect the health and safety of all Douglas County residents and to provide critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is our top priority.

Unified Command leaders continue to strongly encourage voluntary compliance with the Kansas Governor’s Stay at Home order.

“We hope that all residents do their part to help prevent spread of COVID-19 in our community by adhering to the order and staying home unless performing an essential activity,” Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Director Dan Partridge said. “We firmly believe voluntary compliance is vital and key to the health of our residents.”

Douglas County Public Works announces that, weather permitting, East 1750 Road (North First Street in Baldwin City) between Route 12 (North 400 Road; State Lake Road in Baldwin City) and North 500 Road will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, April 13, for resumption of an improvement project that started in fall 2019. Public Works anticipates the road section will remain closed until early May 2020, weather permitting.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions – Criminal Diversion, Traffic Court Questions, Defendants on Work Release, District Court Operations, and Defendants on Work Release 

Consumer Issues – Price Gouging, Charity Scams, and Medicare Fraud 

Other Resources and Sites for Reliable Information – Local, State, National, and International 

Public Works anticipates the pavement rehabilitation project on portions of Route 438 and Route 1029 will resume Tuesday, April 7, or Wednesday, April 8. The pavement rehabilitation project began in late September 2019 and was suspended through the winter. This spring, the work will be on Route 438 (North 1800 Road; Farmers' Turnpike) from Berry Plastics to the Route 438/K-10 (SLT) intersection.

In an effort to protect the health and safety of Douglas County employees and the community, Douglas County will continue to restrict public access to all Douglas County buildings until at least May 18. The campgrounds and restrooms at Lone Star Lake also will remain closed.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our community and employees,” County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said. “All essential services remain operational and employees are ready to assist the public by phone and email.”

The bridge carrying East 1400 Road (old Louisiana Street alignment) over the Wakarusa River will be closed beginning Monday, March 30, 2020, for a rehabilitation project.  The bridge is located on East 1400 Road approximately ¾-mile north of North 1100 Road. Douglas County Public Works anticipates the project will be completed and the bridge reopened to traffic by June 13, 2020.