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List of news items for all.

With Roe Overturned, District Attorney Suzanne Valdez among 83 Elected Prosecutors Committed to Not Prosecute Abortions

June 24, 2022
cmiddleton

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn Roe v. Wade, Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez has joined 82 other elected prosecutors from around the nation who are committed to use their well-established discretion and refuse to prosecute those who seek, assist in or provide abortions, calling the criminalization of abortion care “a mockery of justice.”

District Attorney Suzanne Valdez’s Statement on Delta-8 THC

June 14, 2022
rraney

LAWRENCE – The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office has taken the position not to aggressively prosecute end users for possession of small quantities of THC products. This is a matter of prosecutorial discretion based upon effective allocation of resources and prevailing community interests.

This office has never ceased to pursue illegal distribution of controlled substances. These operations pose significant and substantial community health and safety risks and frequently result in ancillary criminal conduct.

Jolene Cullen helps Behavioral Health Court participants connect to resources, meet goals

May 31, 2022

For 23 years, Jolene Cullen has worked in criminal justice. She has provided service in child abuse investigations, foster care placement, corrections, and house arrest programs. She currently serves as the Adult Services Officer in the Douglas County Behavioral Health Court program.

On May 19, she witnessed Amanda Klopfenstein and Joshua Walters graduate from the program and get their criminal charges dismissed. That’s what she loves most about her job.

Preservation conference, June 24-25, offers opportunity to explore historic sites, learn about preservation and Douglas County heritage

May 24, 2022

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council (HCC) is hosting a preservation conference, “Trails, Tales and Structures: The Stories of Douglas County Heritage,” June 24-25 in Baldwin City. The conference will offer site tours of historic landmarks on the first day and then panel discussions and interactive sessions about heritage and preservation on the second day. The conference is free and open to the public.

Public hearing about petition for incorporation of the City of Clearfield set for June 15

May 18, 2022

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, regarding the petition for incorporation of the City of Clearfield. The hearing will be held in the County Commission meeting room located in the County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts Street, on the second floor. The meeting also will be available by Zoom. Here's the link: http://dgcoks.org/commissionmeetings. The public hearing is part of the County Commission's regular business meeting.

Douglas County receives top bond rating from Moody's Investors

April 5, 2022

Moody’s Investors Service assigned a bond rating of AAA, the highest possible rating an entity can receive, to Douglas County with a stable outlook. The county first received this rating in November 2020.

According to an April 1 Moody’s news release, the rating reflects the county’s maintenance of stable financial operations and strong operating reserves coupled with low debt and pension burdens. The rating also incorporates the large and growing tax base with above average resident income that is supported by the institutional presence of the University of Kansas.

Shari Hicks enjoys serving community as Deputy Register of Deeds, volunteer

March 30, 2022

When Kent Brown was elected Register of Deeds in November 2020, he had an extensive spreadsheet of all of the traits that he was looking for in a Deputy. These included: leadership skills, industry experience and a willingness to learn. Shari Hicks, who was working in the County Clerk’s Office as the real estate coordinator, checked all of the boxes and more, he said.

“Shari’s positivity and enthusiastic attitude really made her stand out. She’s exactly the kind of energy I want to bring to this office.”

Lawrence man pleads to burglary, gun possession charges

March 29, 2022
jjess

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Michael Alexander Hormell of Lawrence today pled to amended charges of burglary of a dwelling, a Level 7 person felony, and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, each being Level 8 non-person felonies.

Hormell, 21, faces 11-34 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections on the burglary charge and 7-23 months in KDOC on the gun possession charges.

Lawrence man found guilty of voluntary manslaughter

February 18, 2022
jjess

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict of voluntary manslaughter against Steven Austin Drake, 25, of Lawrence. 

The charge stemmed from an incident in which Bryce Holladay of Lawrence entered a home on W. 27th Terrace on Sept. 19, 2017, and refused to leave for several hours. After a skirmish at the front door to the home, Drake shot Holladay in the face. He was declared dead at the scene.

Emergency Management offering Weather 101 on March 3

February 10, 2022

Douglas County Emergency Management is offering “Weather 101” from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in conjunction with Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The educational class will be in Flory Meeting Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St., and it is open to anyone at no cost. It will include information about severe thunderstorm development, identification of storm features and safety tips.

Local health officers to recommend new public health order requiring face masks at events with 500 or more individuals in attendance

February 4, 2022

The Douglas County Commission will consider a new emergency public health order during its Feb. 9 meeting. The new order would require individuals to wear face coverings at indoor gatherings in which 500 or more individuals are in attendance in a single space, such as a concert, sporting event, trade show or convention.

Douglas County native enjoys serving public as Chief Deputy County Clerk

January 31, 2022

The Douglas County Clerk’s Office is well known for conducting elections. However, it also is responsible for paying all of the county’s bills and employees as well as maintaining current records of real estate property in Douglas County.

That’s where Chief Deputy County Clerk Marni Penrod plays an important role. She works closely with elected officials, county department leaders, employees and vendors to ensure everyone is getting paid and the county is meeting all of its financial requirements.

Chief Judge signs order to add Juneteenth as holiday for Seventh Judicial District

January 25, 2022

Chief Judge James McCabria signed an administrative order today (Jan. 25) that adds Juneteenth as a holiday beginning this year for the Seventh Judicial District. In the order, it states June 19th marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The order also recognizes:

Continuance of District Court Traffic Dockets

January 13, 2022
jjess

Today, District Attorney Suzanne Valdez announced that the Douglas County District Court Traffic Dockets for January 14, January 21, and January 28, 2022 have been continued due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

“In light of our current situation, it simply is not safe to conduct business as usual with what is typically a large docket, causing many people to crowd into the courtroom,” Valdez said. “The health and safety of our community should always be our top priorities.”

Tax Sale - January 11, 2022

January 7, 2022

Notice of Sheriff's Sale of real estate situated in Douglas County, Kansas on January 11, 2022 at 10 a.m. in the County Commissioner Chambers, 1100 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas. Review document for property details. This is a public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash in had for all real estate described in the document.

District Attorney Suzanne Valdez’s Statement on Delta-8 THC

June 15, 2022

The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office has taken the position not to aggressively prosecute end users for possession of small quantities of THC products. This is a matter of prosecutorial discretion based upon effective allocation of resources and prevailing community interests.

This office has never ceased to pursue illegal distribution of controlled substances. These operations pose significant and substantial community health and safety risks and frequently result in ancillary criminal conduct.

Community invited to Treatment & Recovery Center dedication ceremony and open house on June 23

May 26, 2022

A dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Treatment and Recovery Center (TRC) will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23, followed by an open house until 7 p.m.

The dedication will include brief remarks by Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center CEO Patrick Schmitz, LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson, Douglas County Commission Chair Shannon Reid and Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard.

Heritage Conservation Council announces 2022 grant funding available to conserve local landmarks, natural areas

January 18, 2022

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council (HCC) announces that up to $200,000 in funding is available through the 2022 Natural & Cultural Grant program.

Each year, the HCC encourages applications that focus on the conservation of cultural, natural, agricultural or environmental resources or projects that produce educational programs or products on these topics. All projects must take place in Douglas County, Kansas, and be completed within two years.

To be eligible for funding, projects must fall into at least one of the following categories:

Douglas County implements emergency mask mandate to help protect community, healthcare system from spread of COVID-19

January 5, 2022

An emergency public health order that requires face coverings for those ages 2 and older inside public spaces in Douglas County will go into effect Friday, Jan. 7, to help protect the community as COVID-19 cases have rapidly increased during the past week.

As of Jan. 3, there were 1,538 active cases reported in Douglas County, according to Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health. The 14-day moving average for new cases is at 89 cases per day, a record high for the county.

Volunteer work leads Mike Baxter to longtime career as a firefighter, paramedic

December 30, 2021

At age 25, Mike Baxter, who worked in construction, volunteered with De Soto Fire & Rescue along with his father and brother. Once he started volunteering, he was drawn to the bond that he had with them and the community.

“There is something about a group of people who drop everything to go help someone in need, and they do it for little to no compensation,” Baxter said.

A few years later, he volunteered with the Eudora Township Fire Department and the Eudora City Fire Department. That volunteer work led him to a longtime career as a firefighter and paramedic.

Douglas County partners with Johnson County to offer Re-Entry simulation exercises to community

December 27, 2021

In 2022, Douglas County, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Re-Entry Program and Johnson County Government are partnering to offer several Re-Entry Simulation exercises throughout the year. These are educational outreach events that highlight the challenges faced by people transitioning from time in custody back into our community.

Agencies encouraged to fill out letter of interest form for ARPA funding

December 15, 2021

Douglas County has been allocated $23.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. These funds can be used for qualifying expenditures that occur between March 3, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2024.

The Board of County Commissioners is seeking project or program information from agencies interested in receiving funding through a letter of interest form. The form does not guarantee funding, but will help Commissioners further establish program parameters, guidelines and spending priorities. The deadline to complete the form is 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, 2022.

Robert Bieniecki continues career in protecting public as Emergency Management director

November 29, 2021

Robert Bieniecki has spent nearly 40 years protecting citizens through his work in the military, law enforcement and emergency management. He has flown planes during the Persian Gulf War, maintained aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and retired as a captain at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Now, he is serving as director of Douglas County Emergency Management during a global pandemic.

Yet, he remains humble. “I like helping people. I think I’ve always been a helper and wanted to provide community service,” he said.

Douglas County offers online resource for wellness, mental health

June 18, 2019

Douglas County offers an online tool called myStrength that is available 24/7. It's free and confidential! MyStrength offers a variety of programs, including: mindfulness and meditation, improving sleep, reducing stress, controlling anxiety, managing depression, balancing intense emotions, facing racism and discrimination, and coping with COVID-19.

To sign up for myStrength, visit https://mystrength.com and use access code: Douglas County.

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