NEWS RELEASE AND MEDIA ADVISORY

June 15, 2015

Lawrence, Kan.—A full-scale emergency exercise will take place in Lawrence Thursday, June 18.  Participating agencies include Douglas County Emergency Management, Kansas University Public Safety, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, Douglas County Emergency Communications Center, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.  

Named in honor of Dwayne Peaslee, Peaslee Tech provides technical training to its students in a variety of training areas, including:

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced today former Lawrence resident Martin Miller, 56, was sentenced late yesterday afternoon in the Division Five courtroom of the Honorable Paula B. Martin following his retrial for the 2004 first degree murder of his wife, the late Mary Miller.  The retrial was a result of a February 2014 decision by the Kansas Court of Appeals that ruled Mr. Miller must be provided a new trial due to a jury instruction error during the original 2005 trial.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced today that late yesterday afternoon a jury found Lawrence resident, Gabriel A. Patterson, 21, guilty of three counts of aggravated robbery and one court of aggravated burglary.

The Douglas County Administrator’s Office is hosting an open house May 14, 2015 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to review the draft site plan for renovations to the Douglas County Fairgrounds at Building 1, 2110 Harper Street, Lawrence, Kansas. County administration and engineering and architecture team will be available to respond to questions regarding the site plan and offer any clarification needed regarding the project.

The intersection of Route 1055 with N 600 Road remains closed for construction.  Completion of improvements to the intersection is delayed due to unanticipated unstable subgrade soil.  The unstable soil has been stabilized with flyash, and must cure for approximately seven days prior to laying asphalt.  We currently anticipate completing intersection improvements and opening the intersection to traffic by 5:00 PM, Friday, May 1, weather permitting.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces former Topeka resident Archie L. Robinson, 30, was sentenced today in the Division Five courtroom of the Honorable Paula B. Martin following the March jury trial for the 2014 fatal shooting of Mr. Patrick D. Roberts.

About the Move

The Douglas County Public Works Department and Zoning & Codes Department are moving to a new facility beginning Wednesday, April 22, through Friday, April 24, 2015. Department-provided services and communications to both departments will be limited during the moving period.

The new facility is located at 3755 E. 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046. The current phone numbers for both departments will remain. We anticipate the following main phone numbers will be operational sometime during the morning hours of Thursday, April 23.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced today a jury found former Lawrence resident Martin Miller, 56, guilty in the retrial of the 2004 first degree murder of his then wife, the late Mary Miller.  The retrial was a result of a February 2014 decision by the Kansas Court of Appeals that ruled Miller must be provided a new trial due to a jury instruction error during the original 2005 trial.

Beginning at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 1, the intersection of Route 1055 (E 1700 Road) with N 600 Road will be closed to all traffic.  In addition to closure of the N 600 Road intersection, Route 1055 will remain closed from the north side of N 500 Road to N 600 Road.  Route 1055 between N 400 Road and N 500 Road will be reopened to traffic through construction.

The Douglas County Public Works Department announces that beginning Thursday, March 26, 2015, E 1750 Road between N 400 Road (Route 12; State Lake Road) and N 500 Road will be closed to through traffic.  The closure is temporary, and will remain in place while Route 1055 is closed to through traffic between N 400 Road and N 500 Road for construction work.

Residents along E 1750 Road will be able to access their properties from N 400 Road only.  There will be no traffic allowed on E 1750 Road between N 500 Road and ¼-mile south of N 500 Road.

2014 was a busy year for Emergency Management spent reviewing and enhancing emergency plans, as well as continuing programs that increased the overall level of community preparedness in Douglas County. As we reflect on the year’s accomplishments, we can certainly be proud of the work we did and the partnerships developed, with other agencies, focused on the health and public safety of the citizens of Douglas County. We hope you will enjoy our 2014 Annual Report.