THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KULIFE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1993
Life at the lake
Clinton Lake offers wide variety of recreation
SECTION C
PHOTOS BY TOM LEININGER STORY BY TODD PUNTNEY
Jeff Kolars leans over the edge of his sailboat as a gust of wind runs through the sail.
Counteracting the wind with his body, the boat tilts slightly out of the water and Kolars, as he hikes out, keeps it on that narrow line between remaining upright and tipping over.
"You have to judge the wind," he said. "If you gauge it wrong and over-compensate with your body, you're in the drink."
Above: Dana Ramsey lands his jet ski in the waters of Clinton Lake.
Right: Trails of waves are left by a water skier.
Kolars, Belleville senior, has been sailing for 4 years. He said the wind, the water and the peace kept him coming back.
"Sailing is calming, kind of like going out for a long drive," Kolars said. "It's just you and your ability to harness the wind, and it's cheap entertainment."
Cheap is the buzz word for most students looking for an inexpensive break from homework and school. And what better place to relieve stress and tension than in nature, outside with the trees and birds and sun? Clinton Lake is the inexpensive antidote for the college doldrums.
With 7,000 acres of glassy water ahead of him, Kolars knows what cheap, purifying entertainment is all about.
As an Army Corps of Engineers project, Clinton Lake's primary mission is flood control. But, like all lakes, Clinton pulls in people who seek affordable, natural entertainment. About 1 million people visited the park last year.
"Attendance has held properly steady over the years," said Dave Rhoades, park manager for the corps. "And it's quite a few people."
them." he said.
The lake is divided into two areas one run by the corps and the other by the state of Kansas. Rhoades said both were ideal for fishing, camping and hiking.
"You don't have to use our Corps of Engineer parks unless you camp in
On the south side of the lake is the Rock Haven campground, which has a number of horseback riding trails. Camping costs $4 per night.
"It's really a nice place to take the family and enjoy the outdoors," Rhoades said.
The main campground, with 450 spots, boat raamps, a swimming beach and lots of shade, is about 20 minutes from Lawrence, near Bloomington, on the west side of the lake.
Another campground is in the outlet area below the dam. There is no charge for use of this area. Many people like to fish in the lake's outlet stream, Rhodes said.
"It's usually pretty good fishing when the gates are open." he said.
A number of day-use areas are also available, free, with picnic tables, shelters and grills.
Canton State Park, which is run by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, has about 1,425 acres of land that can be used for camping, hiking, fishing, or mountain-biking, all for $8 a day.
Two campgrounds with 360 spaces, most of which have electricity and water hookups, are located west of the park office.
Story continues, Page 6.
WHAT ARE THE MOST FUN THINGS TO DO ON THE WEEKEND IN LAWRENCE?
"I usually go to Louise's West
because all the people go there, or I go to Benchwarmers for the bands."
Leigh Schick
Wichita senior
"I like to go to the Bottleneck
because I like seeing the good bands like Billygoat."
Chris Cunningham
Oconomoc, Wis., junior
"I like seeing different bands, catching cheap movies at the $1.25 movie theater or hanging out."
Lawrencesophomore
"I like bike riding at Clinton Lake or just hanging out with friends."
Danny Iskak
Indonesia sophomore
Compiled by Susan White and Tom Leininger
Sounds of music
The Lawrence music scene is an important part of many students' social lives. Several local bands have recording contracts and strong local followings.
See story, Page 7.
Center of activity
Robinson Center offers a variety of recreational activities. Students can use the building free with a valid KUID.
See story. Page 4.
Video cameras help Lawrence bar owners
Patrons videotaped showing identification in order to avoid fines
By Russell Lawrence Special to the Kansan
Local bar owners are retaliating against underage drinkers because the Alcohol Beverage Control of Kansas has issued citations worth thousands of dollars a year, three bar owners said.
"Fines usually range between $200 and $500 a person," he said. "Over the course of a year, you're talking about a lot of money paid out in fines that could have been used for something else."
Ken Wallace, owner of the Jayhawk Cape, 1340 Ohio St., said that since the installation of a video camera more than three years ago, he had saved a significant amount of money.
Video cameras have been installed at the entrances of some' local bars in order to provide footage of customers showing identification upon entering.
Wallace said he purchased the camera at a wholesale club on the spur of the moment, thinking a camera might be the solution to a costly problem.
The camera has been worth the money, he said.
"I was just sick of the police officers and ABC agents accusing me of not asking customers for identification," he said. "Even though I still pay fines, there are definitely not as many, and they're not as large."
Jim Conant, chief administrative officer of the ABC, said that he was not aware of any camera installation, but that he would applaud any effort to lower the number of underage drinkers illegally entering bars.
"I think it's a very good idea, but I don't want owners to start thinking that they're not going to be held liable just because they asked for identification at the door on film," he said. "Bar owners will still be liable if a person under the age of 21 is drinking."
Conant said the use of stamps or bracelets to identify underage drinkers often had failed when the owner did not patrol the bar efficiently.
"If that person sits at a table and starts drinking, that bar is table." Conant said. "I don't want anyone to think that installing the cameras is a silly idea. Owners just have to realize their responsibilities haven't diminished."
Bill Colgan, general manager of Benchwarmers Sports Bar & Grill, 1601 W. 23rd St. installed a video camera in January.
He said there were three pending cases involving underage drinking at his establishment that probably would rely on videotape to obtain a dismissal or reduced fines.
"The problem we were having was that kids were telling the police or ABC agents that we never asked for identification."
General manager, Benchwarmers
Bill Colgan General manager Benchwarmers
Usually after the kids have been pulled aside and we tell them that they were filmed upon entering the bar showing their identification, they will admit having showed us a false LD., he said. "The only problem is with the new types of laser printing and color backgrounds on the LD.'s, our job is becoming more and more."
"The problem we were having was that the kids were telling the police or the ABC agents that they were never asked for identification at the door," Colgan said. "Before we installed the camera, police would automatically assume we didn't card them, and the burden would fall on us to pay fine after fine."
difficult spotting fake ones."
Colgan said that since his camera was installed, police and ABC agents had not been in the bar as frequently.
"I don't know if they haven't been coming in as regularly because of the camera, but we definitely feel more comfortable having some sort of defense against the accusations made against us," he said.
"Colgan said that if the citations against Benchwarmers were not dropped, he would request a hearing and would use the videotape as a defense.
Steve Jenson, manager of Louise's West,
1307 W. Seventh St., said cues would cure
the outfits for an entire business day at his bar, which has a capacity of 73.
"Not only are we being fined between $200 and $500 for each offense, but sometimes we're required to shut down the bar for a few business days, which can really set you back in profits," he said.
After hearing about the success of the other two bars in dealing with underage drinking citations, Jonson had a camera installed during spring break.
Rick Renfo, co-owner of Johnny's Tavern, 401 N. Second St., said he was in the process of pricing camera systems for his bar.
"The other owners and I have talked and I think we're going to purchase a system," he said. "I think it definitely wouldn't hurt to install one."