THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2002
STATE NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5A
Parents add ads, logo, quadruplets to world
The Associated Press
WICHITA - Weeks before their birth, the Tetrick quadruplets already had their very own, professionally designed logo. And Web site. And advertising agency.
Before tiny Peyton, Parker, Camden and Christian — a rare two sets of identical twins — entered the world, their parents were part of an unusual public relations blitz that portrays the joy of a suddenly large family grounded by the couple's financial problems, all aggravated by the proud papa's role in the war on terrorism.
The Wichita firm Lottridge Advertising has been soliciting donations from local and national corporations, and arranging media interviews for parents Christina and Patrick Tetrick.
Their goal: Use the rarity of having two sets of identical twins — odds are 1 in 25 million — the more general oddity of having quadruplets, and the father's military plight as promotional tools to lure advertisers and help the family stay affloat.
Across town at Via Christi Medical Center, Sondra and Eldon Headrick were also dealing with the media frenzy generated by the birth of their sextuplets, one day after the Tetrick quadruplets were born. The Headricks told reporters at a brief news conference they would not hire an ad agency to represent them. They didn't elaborate.
present them. They commotion over multiple births — quadruplets
quintuplets, sextuplets, etc. — isn't new. Neighbors and businesses often help newly enlarged families with room additions, outfitted minivans and months- or years-long supplies of diapers.
But those offering help usually seek out the family in need, making the Tetricks' effort an interesting twist.
"We are not interested in making money out of our kids," Christina Tetrick says. "We are just interested in keeping our house."
The couple bought a two-bedroom home just days before learning they would have quadruplets. Their income was cut by 60 percent because of Patrick's military activation and because Christina can't work while raising four infants.
can't work without him. Patrick is a master sergeant with the Hutchinson-based 346th Military Police Company, an Army Reserve unit activated as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
So the Tetricks hired Lottridge, and a media campaign was born.
For example, hundreds of buttons emblazoned with the babies' red-white-and-blue logo — four tiny footprints forming a circle around a star — were printed and handed out to hospital staff, family, friends and others.
The logo was printed on cigar bands and put around 75 blue bubble gum cigars, many given to reporters at a news conference at Wesley Medical Center.
House redistricting coasts
The Associated Press
TOPEKA - A Kansas House redistricting proposal continued its quiet ride toward becoming law yesterday.
No one opposed the map during a 20-minute public hearing before the Kansas Supreme Court, and the seven justices asked no questions.
In the Legislature, the bill for redrawing the 125 House districts avoided the controversy that surrounded Kansas Senate and U.S. redistricting plans.
"This was good practice for the Senate map," said Attorney General Carla Stovall.
Stovall presented the map to the court and told the justices that the plan met all legal and constitutional requirements.
Legislators are redrawing all of the state's Kansas House, Kansas Senate, State Board of Education and U.S. House districts this year to adjust for population changes reflected in the 2000 census.
The court has until May 5 to rule on the Kansas House plan. Gov. Bill Graves already has signed it, so if the court accepts it, it will become law.
The bill pairs four Democrats in two new districts and put incumbent Republicans against Democratic incumbents in two
other new districts.
"This one was really cut and dried," said Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, whose office oversees elections. "The House did what it is supposed to do with making it public and following the process."
Though not all House members were pleased with the map, it was not the contentious issue nor did it draw the same attention that Senate and congressional redistricting drew.
The Senate had to draft a second plan for its chamber's districts after Graves vetoed a first plan, saying it circumvented the committee process.
EARTH DAY IS APRIL 22 -PROTECT OUR HOME-
VISIT THESE WEB SITES TO SEE HOW YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR DAILY ROUTINES AND LESSEN THE IMPACT. THINK GLOBALLY - ACT LOCALLY http://www.rprogress.org/ the footprint quiz and see how your "ecological footprint" compares to others worldwid
rv the footprint quiz and see how your "ecological footprint" compares to others worldwide.
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/tools/calculators.html Use the Green House Gas calculator to see what global impact you're having.
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/management/tensteps.html A good site if you're interested in helping your community become sustainable.
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BoardInfo/Facts/Recycle.html A California site with facts on resources saved through recycling.
To learn more about campus environmental improvement projects and initiatives or get involved as a student, please contact: Student Senate Student Environmental Advisory Board - SEAB Environmental Studies Student Association - ESSA Greek Environmental Board - GEB ENVIRONS Department of Environmental Stewardship
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Lee's Testimony Thursday, April 18, 12:20 p.m. Wescoe Beach
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