News

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

The Kansas Highway Patrol has released the names of the two pedestrians who died after being struck by a train Sunday evening in west Liberal.

KHP said the fatality occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday on Western Avenue near the railroad tracks there.

KHP said a pedestrian, Adam J. Flores, 61, of Bangor, Maine, was pushing another pedestrian, 42-year-old Deanna M. Flores, also of Bangor, in a wheelchair when they attempted to cross the railroad crossing while the crossing arms were down and the warning signals were active. Both were struck by a train and died at the scene.

The Flores were taken to Miller Mortuary in Liberal. KHP also said the train, Union Pacific No. 8891, was driven by Byron K. Eaton, 52, of Hartley, Texas. He and a passenger, 25-year-old Michael J. Carbone of Keller, Texas, suffered no apparent injuries and were wearing their seat belts at the time.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

When Erica Nordling holds a paint brush, her soul finds freedom, and she said for her, she loves the freedom painting brings to her.

“It’s like connecting to your soul,” she said. “Whenever I get to sit down, when I get to paint, my soul gets to breathe.”

While the Hugoton resident has been doing art her whole life, it was only in 2020 when she first began practicing on a daily basis, and this is when she was giving herself more freedom to create without trying to do what she had seen in other artwork.

EARL WATT & ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

After a 45-minute executive session and a specially called meeting Friday, the Liberal City Commission came to an open session and voted to terminate City Manger Rusty Varnado with cause.

The motion was made by Jeff Parsons and seconded by Matt Landry.

The vote was 5-0.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Flu season is just around the corner, and many medical offices and some pharmacy businesses will be offering vaccines to help people get through the season with as little illness as possible.

One of those businesses is Liberal’s Walgreens store, and workers from the store’s pharmacy will be on hand to give flu shots at the upcoming Community Health Fair Oct. 5 at the Seward County Activity Center.