News

ROBERT PIERCE

    • Leader & Times

In an effort to remain competitive in a tight labor market, the Seward County Sheriff’s office is asking to increase wages for its deputies and record staff.

The recommendation from Sheriff Gene Ward was to increase starting base pay for deputies to $23 an hour and $18.45 for the records division.

Doing this, though, would create pay compression issues, when new employees outpace tenured employees, for those already tenured in their positions. Therefore, Ward would like to give all tenured employees a $3 raise in an effort to mitigate this problem.

ELLY GRIMM

    • Leader & Times

Summer vacation is under way and for parents looking for some activities for their children during the break, Baker Arts Center will have multiple options in the coming weeks, according to Baker Arts Center Director Brittyn Heronemus.

Seward County Community College

Seward County Community College is hiring for head of Saints athletics following the departure of Athletic Director Dan Artamenko. In his letter of resignation, Artamenko said his next steps will be to focus on employment at a four-year institution.

“We appreciate Dan’s role in helping SCCC move to a growth-oriented approach in athletics,” SCCC President Brad Bennett said. “During his five years at Seward, we added men’s and women’s soccer, eSports, and completed the Sharp Family Champions Center to enable further growth in baseball and softball.”

L&T staff report

This is the list of candidates for offices in Seward County as well as state and national offices that will be on the ballot in Seward County.

Kansas House Dist. 125 Representative Shannon Francis will not face a primary or general election opponent barring a write-in.

Kansas Dist. 38 Senator Republican Ron Ryckman will not face a primary challenge but will face Democrat Mayor Jose Lara in a rematch from 2022.