Amid a nationwide reckoning with police brutality and the role of police in communities, city leaders will soon review the findings of a recently completed study of the Lawrence police department and recommended changes to its operations. As part of a special meeting Tuesday, consultants with Citygate Associates will present the findings of the police department study to the City Commission and the public. The commission called for the study and subsequent report following national and local protests against police killings of Black people and other people of color, and calls for reallocation of some police duties. The subsequent report includes 75 recommendations across various categories, including race-related issues and community engagement, handling of complaints against police, and alternative responses to policing.
Source: LJWorld.com.

It was in 2016 that the former owners of Eskridge Lumber decided to retire. They either needed to sell the business or close its doors. That’s when community members stepped up. They wanted to purchase the business and run it as an LLC. “Most of us anyway didn’t really expect a return on our money,” said Beverly Clark, a retired school district employee. For the past five years, Eskridge Lumber has been under the ownership of 31 people who have invested time and money into the store.
Source: CJonline.com.

An award-winning rodeo clown came back home for the Abbyville Frontier Days PRCA Rodeo this weekend. Justin Rumford, who was born in Abbyville, won the PRCA Clown of the Year award, a record-breaking nine times – from 2012 through 2020. Rumford, who is in high demand throughout the country, was excited to come home to where he started his rodeo career by following his father, rodeo legend Bronc Rumford around the circuit. Rumford’s grandfather, Floyd Rumford along with his father Bronc, helped build the Abbyville Rodeo. It’s now in its 59th year.
Source: Hutch News.

New South Hutchinson City Manager Joseph Turner announced Monday that former city clerk Denise McCue is returning to South Hutchinson and will resume that role once again. McCue held that position for 18 years before resigning last year. She replaces Kara Neilsen who resigned this spring. …Turner consulted with the governing body and devised a strategy to get McCue to come back. Under a new agreement the city clerk will no longer be an annual appointed position. Instead, McCue will now work under the terms of a three-year contract with severance package provisions and can only be terminated by the city administrator.
Source: Hutch Post.