News

Clifford and Irene Pepper estate donates more than $800,000 to SWMC Foundation

Southwest Medical Center

Southwest Medical Center (SWMC) is honored to announce a notable gift from the estate of long-time SWMC employee Clifford Pepper and his late wife, Irene Pepper. Their generous donation of $828,766.63 to the Southwest Medical Center Foundation will establish the Clifford and Irene Pepper Scholarship Fund, a new endowment dedicated to supporting the recruitment and retention of nurses, respiratory therapists, and lab technicians at SWMC.

Clifford, a dedicated employee for more than 42 years, began his journey with SWMC Feb. 22, 1966 as a medical lab technician. His commitment and skill led him to become a Medical Technologist Supervisor, where he was known for his exceptional work ethic, integrity, and dedication. He retired March 9, 2010, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and compassion that touched many lives.

Do you make the best chili or taco? Prove it

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Saturday, Sept. 27, will find much in the way of fun at Liberal‘s Light Park, and along with the Liberal Chamber of Commerce’s Duck Race Festival, Seward County United Way will providing some of its own fun for the day.

Through Sept. 22, United Way is taking registrations for its annual Chili and Taco Cook-off scheduled to take place from 11 to 1 p.m. Sept. 27 in Light Park.

Prizes of $300, $200 and $100 each will be given out in the chili and taco categories for first, second and third place respectively, all thanks to a new sponsor, For Custom Construction.

New nonprofit seeks to bring awareness to childhood domestic violence

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Living in a household where domestic violence is prevalent can leave lasting scars on everyone involved, particularly children. Soon, a local group looks to help with just that.

The first ever Sylvia's Fragrance of Hope Benefit Gala will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at Seward County Community College in Room SW229 C/D, and that evening's keynote speaker will be Adrian Jackson, who is the vice president of Homelife, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. Tickets are $35, and people can purchase them online through the Sylvia's Fragrance of Hope Facebook page, which takes them to the main Web site, https://www.sylviasfragranceofhope.org/, and people can also purchase tickets there.

Sheriff's office provides stats on drunk driving campaign

Seward County Sheriff’s office

The “You Drink. You Drive. You Lose” campaign has just ended.

During the previous two and a half weeks, the Seward County Sheriff’s Office conducted overtime saturation patrols to aggressively enforce Kansas impaired driving laws.

City buying out county’s portion of joint fire station

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

The 15th Street fire station will soon be completely in the hands of the City of Liberal.

Tuesday, Seward County commissioners voted 4-1. with Vice Chairman Steve Helm voting no, to accept an offer from the city to buy out the county’s portion of the fire station for $500,000.

The city originally made the offer at a joint meeting between the county commission and the Liberal City Commission, but the original offer took a section of the memorandum of understanding concerning giving the county the right of first refusal out of the contract.