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PUBLISHED SINCE 1891
Sunday • June 18 • 2023
Contributed Photo
MEMBERS OF THE RICE-BYRD FAMILY MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PERSON in Lawrence last weekend. They’re pictured here with Kerry Altenbernd, who performs interpretations of abolitionist John Brown, at Grover Barn.
These family members are descended from a freed slave who lived in Lawrence. Last weekend, they all met for the first time.
‘We have become
one.’
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo
LAWRENCE’S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION PARADE makes its way through downtown on Saturday.
Juneteenth celebration is all about community By Matt Resnick mresnick@ljworld.com
W
d Rice Sr. Courtesy of Richar
MCCARTER BYRD
By Austin Hornbostel
L
ahornbostel@ljworld.com
Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photos
ast weekend in Lawrence, a group of family members descended from the freed slave who for a time operated the only tannery in Kansas, McCarter Byrd, met in person for the first time. The roughly 30 folks who congregated in Lawrence came from far and wide — from places like California, Florida, Nebraska and Illinois — to connect with and get to know the community that they’ve now discovered is an important place in their family’s rich history.
ABOVE: CITY COMMISSIONER AMBER SELLERS, RIGHT, AND URSULA MINOR, PRESIDENT OF THE LAWRENCE BRANCH OF THE NAACP, SECOND FROM RIGHT, are pictured at the Lawrence Juneteenth Celebration Parade on Saturday. BELOW: MEMBERS OF THE UNITY HIGH STEPPERS DRILL TEAM from Topeka perform during the parade.
hat does Ju n e te e n t h mean to Lawrence? At the city’s annual celebration of the holiday on Saturday, attendees had plenty of answers: It’s about Black history and culture, social service, learning, singing and dancing — and it’s a time for building community.
> JUNETEENTH, 8A
Contributed Photo s
ABOVE, BYRD TANNERY IS PICTURED AS IT LOOKED IN 1915. AT LEFT is what remains of the tannery on Maine Street.
> FAMILY, 5A
LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Some say cuts will be detrimental to district’s performing arts programs By Rochelle Valverde rvalverde@ljworld.com
SCHOOLS
During budget reductions over the last two years, five band, orchestra and choir positions have been cut
from the district’s secondary schools, calling for some teachers to split time between schools and the combination of some grade levels into one class. There is the potential for more
cuts to be made, resulting in reductions to the district’s performing arts staff that could surpass 20%. Some involved in those programs say the cuts are having an impact on the
quality of the performing arts programs in the district’s middle and high schools. The district states that though there have been reductions in staff, there have not been any reductions in the band,
orchestra and choir class offerings available to students, and that the reduction in staff is tied directly to student enrollment.
> ARTS, 7A
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