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Friday, October 19, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Explorers learn police work can be rewarding experience
Program teaches high school students about law enforcement
Lawrence police officer Tony Garcia shows Ben Ness of Lawrence how to check the accuracy of a radar gun by using a tuning fork
By Debbie Myers
Kansan staff writer
Brian T. SchonqiKANSAN
Eight young women and men sat around the conference table, sorting through police equipment that included a radar gun, a bulletproof vest, a nightstick and three colors of Light Paper for correcting reports.
They were not attending a rummage sale; it was the third meeting this school year of the Law Enforcement Explorer Scouts.
The Explorers, a branch of the Boy Scouts of America, meet every two weeks at the Donglais County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center. They attend in the ninth through eleventh grade and are interested in law enforcement.
Tony Garcia, Lawrence police officer, has conducted Explorer workshops for three years on topics such as crime-scene investigations, evidence handling, building searches and radar operation. This year an advanced class was started for students who have been in the program
Garcia said he had fun working with the Explorers.
"Their enthusiasm rubs off on me," he said.
Doing the workshops was a welcome opportunity for Garcia.
"There are so many negative things about police work that you need something positive," he said. "They give me a little something to the community."
Kathie Bunce, Lawrence High
School junior, is in her second year with the Explorers. She attends both the beginning and advanced sessions twice a month.
"It all seems like a game," she said. "But if you really just stop and think that at any moment you could be thrown down, it all seems pretty crazy."
"But it seems like something I'd really want to do.
"I've always wanted to help people. If I could save two or three lives,
then if I did die on the force, that would be what my job was about, so I'd see nothing wrong with it."
Garcia said the program allowed students to get to know police officers.
"It shows them that police officers are people also. And that we're there to help," Garcia said. "It shows the kids what it's like to be a police officer and maybe gives them a better appreciation of the job we do."
Banner to be sent to Navy troops
By Tracey Chalpin
Tomorrow, KU students, their parents and Lawrence residents will have a chance to sign a giant message of support to Navy battle groups in the Middle East.
Kansan staff writer
Scrolls of paper with the message "Happy Thanksgiving from the heart of America, Lawrence, Kansas" appear on a screen at KU-Colorado football game and as the Lawrence Riverfront Plain main west entrance from 3 to 5 p.m.
Gino DiSimeon, navy veteran and KU sophomore, that he began planning the banners about two weeks ago.
"When you're out there, you see there's nothing but water and the shun," he said. "It can be very lonely."
DiSimone said that he served in the Mediterranean Sea from 1984 to 1987 and that he experienced an anti-military atmosphere when he returned to the United States.
He said that lack of support could give soldiers in war zones hard hearts and make them brutish.
"It was really difficult to be proud when you weren't supported," he said.
Cmdr. Russ Conner, executive officer of the KU
Navy ROTC unit, said that during their first deploy-
ment, he received a letter from his comrade.
"We concentrate on things we take for granted," he said. "We learn to appreciate our families a little more."
Conner said that the scrolls from Lawrence could reach 30,000 troops in four battle groups in about two weeks and that they would be posted in the dining rooms aboard the ships.
David Longhurst, manager of the Riverfront Plaza, said that he thought collectible signatures and sending letters would be a good way.
"I think it's fantastic," he said. "It's hard enough removed from home. It is extremely difficult during war."
"When we have young Americans in that situation, any messages from home are helpful." he said.
Longhurst said that he spent a year in Vietnam and that support from home helped him cope with being at work.
When Longhurst was approached by DiSimone about how to involve the city in the banner project, Longhurst suggested that DiSimone go before the Lawrence City Commission with a request for a proclamation.
At Tuesday night's commission meeting, Saturday was proclaimed "Happy Thanksgiving From the Heart Day." Copies of the proclamation will be mailed with the scrolls.
Residents speak against proposed gas rates
By Chris Oster
Kansan staff writer
Lawrence residents upset by a proposed increase in gas rates voiced their opinions to the Kansas Corporation Commission yesterday in a publication.
The main issue raised at the hearing, which was conducted in the Lawrence City Commission chambers, was a proposed increase in the monthly customer-service charge. For residential customers, the proposed increase in the charge would be from $3.95 a month to $8 a month. For small businesses, it would increase from $3.95 to $30.
The Kansas Public Service Company, which serves about 22,600 Lawrence area customers, proposed a $1.6 million, 11.1 percent increase in May. The KCC staff has recommended that the gas company be granted a $881,942, 6.2 percent increase.
Wendy Marshall, Lawrence sophomore, spoke at the hearing and said that she was upset that because of her relatively low gas bills, the increase would have a disproportionate effect on her.
Sam Van Leeuwen, director of public affairs for the KCC, said that issues raised by the public at yester- day's rally were carefully considered by the commission
"I cannot conserve gas this way," she said. "I cannot lower my bill when this rate is fixed upon me whether I used the gas or not.
"What I wouldn't mind is paying more per unit of gas. Because that way I have a choice of how much I wish to pay and how much it affects my bill.