Douglas County invites the community to a groundbreaking ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, for the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center (JLEC) addition and renovation project, as well as the Public Safety Building. The event will be held on the south lawn of the JLEC, 111 E. Eleventh St.

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 Feb. 4 and ending April 15. There is no class on March 18. The classes are held at 1006 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence. The program is open to Douglas County residents, and there is no cost.

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council (HCC) is accepting applications for funding through the Natural and Cultural Heritage Grant Program. Up to $210,000 is available for grant awards in 2025. The Board of County Commissioners allocated funding for the program as part of the county’s annual budget. Award amounts range from $5,000 to $75,000.

HCC encourages applications that focus on cultural heritage, natural heritage or historic preservation. All projects must take place in Douglas County, Kansas, and be completed within two years.

Douglas County Government offices and District Court will be closed Monday, Jan. 6, due to weather-related safety concerns. Douglas County is under a Blizzard Warning until 9 p.m. today, Jan. 5. Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. 

The National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory from midnight today, Jan. 5, until 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6. Very cold wind chills as low as 21 below are expected.

The Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) has three community member seats under the new bylaws that are open for applications. Terms are for two years. The CJCC meets bi-monthly with meetings scheduled for the second Tuesday of the following months: February, April, June, August, October and December.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Douglas Co. Rural Water District No. 6 public water supply system located in Douglas County. The advisory was issued because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.  Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has reissued a boil water advisory for Douglas Co. Rural Water District No. 6 public water supply system. This district covers the northwest area of Douglas County. It does not include the city of Lecompton or the city of Lawrence.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice: 

In December of 1994 DGSO Dispatcher Edna Brubaker sits at a desk in a small room equipped with a computer, radio and phone, and she punches a card to track updates for the lone Douglas County Deputy that is on duty for the shift.

The deputy has just completed a traffic stop and has provided her with a location, vehicle description and the driver’s information. She writes all of this down by hand, paying close attention to every detail to ensure it is correct. 

Douglas County has partnered with community agencies to present a screening of the award-winning documentary, “It’s Basic,” which looks at pilot programs that test the effects of giving people an extra $500 to $1,000 monthly with no strings attached.

There will be two screening events:

Douglas County is seeking applications for the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, a competition where students pitch their business ideas. The event will be 8:30 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 7, at The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, 2920 Haskell Ave., in Lawrence.

Douglas County will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, for the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center (JLEC) addition and renovation project as well as the Public Safety Building. The event will be on the south lawn of the JLEC, 111 E. Eleventh St.

The goal of the largest capital improvement project in the County’s history is to improve security for all users, improve operational efficiency and enhance technology availability.

Renovation of the County Commission meeting room is scheduled to be finished Jan. 13, 2025, just in time for the swearing-in ceremony of elected officials. The renovation project includes fitting the room to accommodate five commissioners and repairing water damage that occurred in October 2022 from a fire sprinkler flood.