News

USD No. 480 board candidates discuss improvements

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Candidates for the USD 480 school board had the chance to share their views with the community at a forum last week, and among the topics discussed were needed improvements and potential upcoming projects.

The first question in this regard asked what capital improvements or potential projects should happen on USD 480 properties.

“We have a lot of projects we have discussed and are looking at, and there are multiple things that need to be updated,” candidate Sarah Thompson said. “The ‘new’ high school is more than 40 years old and while we have made some upgrades there, there is still more work to be done. I don’t know how many people in the community have seen the high school’s new library since it’s been completed, that was something I was really passionate about when I got on the board due to safety concerns and other concerns. We need some updates to our athletic facilities due to some Title IX issues. Maskus Auditorium at the high school needs updating and the stage needs replaced, and there are just other upgrades here and there that need done.”

Rivera takes helm as director of Liberal Senior Center

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Tanya Rivera has spent much of her life working with senior citizens, and now, she has another opportunity to work with them.

Rivera was recently hired as the new director at the Liberal Senior Center, replacing outgoing Director Randy Altman.

Rivera has a degree in social service, and prior to coming to the senior center, she spent years working with the SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, which oversees senior centers in the area. Rivera too had worked as a social worker at the Liberal Good Samaritan Society. She said working with the elderly has always been her passion.

U.S. 83 traffic changes/reductions begin the week of Oct. 13 north of Sublette

Kansas Department of Transportation

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, traffic changes are planned to begin the week of Oct. 13 to allow for the passing lane project on U.S. Highway 83 north of Sublette.

The four-mile project starts near the U.S. Highway 56/83 junction and extends north, ending two miles south of the U.S. 83/U.S. Highway 160 junction.

Thrills to return to the prairie with ARKALON TRAIL OF TERROR

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Halloween is right around the corner, and the Liberal Police Department is looking to help people celebrate and be spooked at the same time.

This year’s Arkalon Trail of Terror will be from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Arkalon Park. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Liberal Police & Community Association, and the money raised goes toward the LPD & Me Christmas program.

Community Police Coordinator Dalanie Underwood said she and staff are excited to bring the event back for this year.

KDOT announces resurfacing project along U.S. 56 east of Dodge City postponed

Kansas Department of Transportation

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, the U.S. Highway 56 resurfacing project east of Dodge City is postponed due to changes in the contractor’s schedule. Information regarding the construction timeline will be released in the near future.

The resurfacing project along U.S. 56 starts 1,400 feet east of the U.S. 56/ U.S. Highway 283 intersection west for 250 feet. APAC-Kansas Inc. of Hutchinson is the contractor on this $770,590 project.

For more information on this project, contact David Ubel, Area Construction Manager, at 620-682-7938 or Yazmin Moreno, Southwest Public Information Officer, at 620-765-7080.

KDOT urges motorists to stay alert and follow posted signs in all work zones. For current road conditions, visit kandrive.gov or call 5-1-1. For updates on highway projects in Southwest Kansas, visit ksdot.gov/southwest-district.