News

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

The summer reading program festivities have officially wrapped up at Liberal Memorial Library, and as staff tells it, this year was a very strong one.

“I thought this year was great, this was one of the best summer reading turnouts we've ever had,” Liberal Memorial Library Assistant Director Shannon Moore said. “I would say the cozy coloring was my favorite part, it was a lot of fun. This year, we put a lot of our programming together so everyone could enjoy what we were doing. Instead of having programs just for children or just for teens or just for adults, we ran our programs more along the lines of being for the whole family, which I think was really great because everyone got to come in and enjoy everything instead of just Mom and Dad or just the children.”

ROBERT PIERCE

    • Leader & Times

The plains of Southwest Kansas are a far cry from the mountains of Austria, but Liberal’s community theater group is determined to make the hills come alive with “The Sound of Music” this July.

July 10, 11, 12 and 13, Rainbow Players is bringing the beloved musical to life on the stage of the Clifford and Irene Pepper Showcase Theater at Seward County Community College.

“The Sound of Music” is based on a true life story that follows Maria, a free-spirited young Austrian woman studying to become a nun at Nonnberg Abbey.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

July is here, summer is in full swing, and  it is hot outside in Southwest Kansas.

While many opt to stay indoors with the air conditioning, others take to the local swimming hole as a way to beat the heat of the season, and Liberal’s Adventure Bay Water Park gives people a chance to do so annually from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Late last year, Liberal-born filmmaker Ben Scantlin premiered his film “Flipping Pancake Day” in Liberal at Southgate 6 Theater, and recently, the film made its Hollywood debut.

The screening took place at the iconic Chinese Mann Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard as part of this year’s Dances With Films Festival, and Scantlin said it was an unbelievable experience.