News

TAX INCREASE FAILS TO PASS

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Approval of the budget for Seward County’s upcoming fiscal year will take a little longer after commissioners heard from some local constituents at Tuesday’s Revenue Neutral Rate public hearing.

Chairman Scott Carr opened the hearing for audience members to come to the podium and voice their concerns. First to speak was county resident Justin Alexander, who said his property taxes have gone up about 21.5 percent in the last three years, and with the county potentially exceeding the RNR for this year, they could go up even more.

“I’ve looked at the valuation notice you guys sent out, and based on that and what I calculated, I should be pushing somewhere around a 30 percent increase in the last four years on my property,” Alexander said. “To me, that seems pretty extravagant.”

Grace Place to host youth rally Sept. 18

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Part of the purpose of Liberal’s Grace Place Pregnancy Care Center is to educate women about pregnancy.

As part of its annual fundraising banquet, center officials bring in speakers from across the country to educate women about pregnancy issues, including teen pregnancy and abortions.

This year’s banquet will take place Sept. 17 at the Seward County Ag Building with nationally known sex education speaker Pam Stenzel, and the following night, Stenzel will be back at the Ag Building for a youth rally also hosted by Grace Place.

AVHS welcomes orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kawtharani to surgical team

Artesian Valley Health System

MEADE – Artesian Valley Health System (AVHS) is excited to announce the addition of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Firas Kawtharani, M.D., to its surgical staff.

AVHS has established a partnership with Southwest Medical Center (SWMC) in Liberal to bring Dr. Kawtharani to Meade, where he will provide orthopedic surgical services. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to patient care.

Resurfacing to begin along U.S. 83 in Finney/ Scott counties

Kansas Department of Transportation

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, traffic changes are anticipated to start today along U.S. Highway 83 from the U.S. Highway 50/83/400 intersection north to the south city limits of Scott City.

U.S. 83 traffic will be reduced to one lane in sections as they work to resurface the roadway along the 31.55-mile-long project area. Motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes as flaggers, and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone.

MacArthur Fun Run coming Sept. 12

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Those wanting to get in some fun exercise while also supporting local education will soon have the perfect opportunity for just that.

The MacArthur Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) will be hosting a 1-mile fun color run and 5K color run Thursday, Sept. 12, with registration starting at 5:30 p.m. and the run itself starting at 6 p.m., and everything will be starting at MacArthur Elementary School at 925 S. Holly Drive. Registration, which can be done either ahead of time or that evening, is $15 for an individual runner and $30 for a family up to six people, and then $10 more for more people after that. Prizes will be given to the top three finishers, and the Kozi's Ice sno cone stand and other vendors will be there that night for participants.