The Kansas Department of Transportation has awarded Douglas County $1.4 million in funding through the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program. Douglas County Public Works applied for the funds to replace Bridge 1800-1124, which is on North 1800 Road, commonly called the Farmer’s Turnpike, and located 0.76 miles west of East 1200 Road. The bridge carries the road over Baldwin Creek northwest of Lawrence.

The community is invited to participate in a virtual Douglas County Behavioral Health Prevention Summit in September. One-hour sessions will take place on Tuesdays and Thursday and cover topics such as opioid, marijuana, suicide and vaping prevention as well as mental health promotion and supporting youth and families.

The schedule: 

Tuesdays (noon-1 p.m.)

The Heritage Conservation Office, in collaboration with the GIS Department, has created a new interactive story map to share the history and impact of the Natural and Cultural Heritage grant program, which is funded by Douglas County.

The Property Valuation Division of the Kansas Department of Revenue performs an annual compliance review of county appraisal offices.  The review is intended to evaluate the accuracy and uniformity in the property appraisals of each county as well as compliance with Kansas laws and regulations related to the administration of the property appraisal system.

The Youth Services Division of Douglas County Criminal Justice Services is offering “The Parent Project,” a 10-week program that gives parents, grandparents and caregivers tools to guide their strong-willed teens (ages 10 and older) and build healthy families. 

Classes are held every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., starting Sept. 3 and ending Nov. 5. The classes are held at 1006 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence. The program is open to Douglas County residents, and there is no cost.

Douglas County Emergency Management has incorporated a new Extreme Weather Emergency Shelter Plan into its Emergency Operations Plan in collaboration with community partners. The purpose of the new plan is to equip community agencies and organizations with a resource to support the expansion of emergency sheltering during extreme weather conditions.

The mill-and-overlay project is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Aug. 6, weather permitting, on County Route 1029 from N750 to N600 Road. The project will consist of milling, asphalt patch work and a 2-inch asphalt overlay.

Once milling is finished on County Route 1029, milling will begin on County Route 1 from the dam at Lone Star Lake to the town of Lone Star. This roadway will also undergo milling, asphalt patch work and a 2-inch asphalt overlay.

A photo exhibit by Kelsey Bremer, administrative assistant in District Court’s Division 6, will be on display in the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center until the end of August. 

The exhibit is in honor of her father, DJ, who died by suicide on Dec. 22, 2020. Bremer said she tries to capture his free spirit in her photos. “He was one-of-a-kind, unique in a certain way,” she said. “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him.”

The Board of County Commissioners reached a tentative agreement on July 16 on an approximately $201.3 million budget for 2025. They agreed on a mill levy of 41.298 mills, which is a decrease of 2.911 mills from 2024. This is the third consecutive year that the County Commission has reduced the mill levy. Two mills were reduced in 2024 and one mill was reduced in 2023. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 assessed value.

The Board of County Commissioners will begin reviewing the proposed 2025 Douglas County budget during public hearings that will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, July 8, in the Public Works and Zoning and Codes building, 3755 E. 25th St. The proposed budget is $206 million with a mill levy of 44.208 mills, which is a flat rate from last year. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value.

During the budget review process, the County Commission will have the opportunity to lower the tax rate and add services.

Jeremy had his 25th birthday in March. He had a lot to celebrate.

One month earlier, Jeremy had graduated from the Douglas County Behavioral Health Court. The court was established to address the needs of defendants with serious mental illness more effectively, connecting them with community support services. 

Jeremy was charged with second-degree attempted murder after driving a car into Lone Star Lake in February 2021. His mom was a passenger in the car.

Fireworks can be legally discharged in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County if the property owner has given permission and provides supervision. Fireworks are allowed at the following times:

• Monday, July 1 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 2 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 3 - 7 a.m. to midnight
• Thursday, July 4 - 7 a.m. to midnight

Fireworks should not be discharged on a public street or roadway.