News

• Special to the Leader & Times

The Western Kansas Community Foundation (WKCF) is conducting the “Our Community, Our Future” survey for the second year in Liberal and Hugoton in order to gain a deeper understanding of local priorities.

The initiative is a three-year, three-part process consisting of a survey, community forum, and grant opportunity. The survey is open to any individual that is a member of these communities as employees, students, or residents.

Survey responses will be collected throughout the Spring to be followed by a community discussion and gathering in the fall. WKCF seeks to bring together people from various sectors, including nonprofits, businesses, healthcare, government, education, and the general public to discuss potential solutions. Community dialogue is expected to take place in the fall.

At that time, a grant opportunity of up to $15,000 will be made available to eligible organizations for applications that address the needs outlined in the survey. Last year, the “Our Community, Our Future” survey process resulted in a $15,000 grant award to the Liberal Area Coalition for Families to address the need for transitional housing assistance in the community.

“The initiative is meant to bring local leaders together to discuss their community’s most pressing needs,” WKCF Executive Director Conny Bogaard said. “We know there is a lot of talent and opportunity, and we want to empower local leadership in addressing broad community needs. WKCF wants to not only understand their priorities but also, be part of the solution.”

The survey is available in English and Spanish and takes approximately five to 10 minutes to complete. Interested participants can access the survey online through the foundation’s Facebook page and wkcf.org. Print copies of the survey are available by request. WKCF encourages every community member, high school aged and older, in Liberal or Hugoton to complete the “Our Community, Our Future” survey and provide insight and perspective that will create opportunities to positively impact their community.

Western Kansas Community Foundation is the region’s hub for philanthropy, simplifying giving and amplifying impact through connecting individual donors to causes they care about, and using the power of collective giving to address our region’s greatest challenges. WKCF holds nearly $50 million in more than 200 funds established by individuals, families and organizations, each making a difference in their own unique way. Through WKCF, people who care about Western Kansas can make a lasting impact on the place we call home.

For more information visit wkcf.org or call (620) 271-9484.

By ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Like most non-profits, Liberal’s Grace Place Pregnancy Care Center is in constant need of funding, and finding that funding can prove to be somewhat of a challenge.

One of the largest sources of funding for the center is its annual Run Baby Run, featuring running, or walking, distances of one mile, 5K or 10 K.

This year’s run will take place Saturday, May 3, at Grace Place at 311 N. Grant Ave. in Liberal.

Registration for the one-mile run is $20, with the 5K fee at $42 and the 10K cost at $55. Shoes will be awarded to the winner of the 10K run, and Client Services Director Letty Hernandez said money raised from the event will go to not only help with Grace Place’s services, but also toward the building recently purchased at 121 W. Third Street, which she said is currently under construction.

“We think possibly sometime this fall, it will be ready, and we’ll be ready to purchase the ultrasound machine to put there,” she said. “We already have a nurse. We’ll be offering free limited ultrasounds.”

Registration for the run starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at Grace Place, and can be done online or at the center, and the run itself will start at 9.

Grace Place Program Manager Maria Froese said the center is definitely in need of donations, particularly any new or used baby items.

“If they’re used, they need to be in good condition,” she said. “We can also use financial donations right now, especially with the new building purchase. We could definitely use some financial assistance with that. The smaller size diapers, we do have enough of. If we could get size 3 and up, that would be great, same with the clothes. I think we have quite a few small sizes, but 9 months up to 14 is what we need right now.”

At this time, Hernandez said funds are ready for the purchase of the ultrasound and to pay part of the salary of the nurse to run the machine.

“We’re needing more donations to cover the costs of running the medical building,” she said.

Hernandez said Grace Place is likewise in need of volunteers and an additional classroom.

“If we could get some bilingual ones, that would be great and in the boutique workroom also,” she said. “Some of that is aligned with our mission.”

Froese said volunteers can set their own hours.

“They don’t have to come in often if they don’t want to,” she said. “Once a week for four hours would be fine.”

In September, Grace Place hosts its annual banquet, and in September 2024, the center hosted its first youth rally. The banquet is scheduled for September. Froese said hopes are to also have a youth rally, but between the Run Baby Run and the banquet, a car seat safety lane event will take place.

“We’ll be checking the car seats,” Hernandez said. “We’ll be providing car seats if they’re in need of a car seat and teaching them how to install it correctly. If they already have one and they just need it reinstalled or help with adjusting or checking it out to make sure it’s still in good use and it’s not expired, that’s what will provide with the safety lane.”

Hernandez said a date has not yet been set for the safety lane event, but it will take place after the May 3 Run Baby Run. She added classes at Grace Place have likewise done quite well.

“The curriculum has added quite a few new lessons,” she said. “It’s exciting for the ladies who have watched them all. They get to start watching new ones.”

Those who pre-register at www.graceplacepcc.com and ensure a T-shirt in their size for race day. Early registration can also be done at the center and by calling 620-655-8050.

Hernandez said a link is likewise available on the Grace Place Web site for volunteers to apply, and donations can also be made there.

Froese said she and Hernandez are also looking for more followers on the Grace Place Pregnancy Care Center Facebook page.

“That’s where we keep all of our updates,” Froese said. “You can register for the run on the Facebook page.”

Froese said the Grace Place Web site too has much information about what the center does and why they do it. She and Hernandez are both excited for this year’s Run Baby Run.

“It’s going to be good,” Froese said.

By ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Formed in 2024 to combat an ever-increasing drug crisis in communities throughout the region, the Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force was honored recently by being named this year’s Kansas Narcotics Officers Association Drug Unit of the Year.

Members of the Seward County Sheriff’s office and the Haskell County Sheriff’s office assigned to the Drug Task Force received the award April 15.

Currently, officers from the two sheriff’s offices make up the Drug Task Force, and it was in 2024 when they recognized a growing drug crisis in Haskell County and Seward County communities as well as other communities in Southwest Kansas.

“With this apparent need in mind, the Multi-Jurisdiction Drug Enforcement Task Force, dubbed the ‘Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force,’ was formed to combat these drug offenders,” Seward County Sheriff Gene Ward said in a press release.

Ward said in the task force’s inaugural year, immediate and significant success was seen in combating drug trafficking and distribution in the region.

“Through their investigations, the Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force directly seized 13 pounds of methamphetamine and 39 pounds of cocaine that was destined to be distributed in the Southwest Kansas region,” he said. “Their efforts caused the availability of drugs to plummet and the prices to skyrocket. The conducting of countless debriefs revealed subjects could no longer easily purchase their drug of choice within the Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force jurisdictions and were forced to go to other jurisdictions to purchase the drugs. This is a testament to the impact of the Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force has had within their communities.”

Ward said a great example of the effect the task force has had is an investigation into a cocaine and methamphetamine distributor who utilized the parcel service to receive two to four pounds of drugs at a time.

“This investigation resulted in search warrants conducted in a home in which three children were removed from the home and placed into productive custody,” he said. “The children’s ages were 9 years old, 6 years old and a baby only 5 months old.”

Ward said the meth and cocaine seized from the search warrant were located in the bedroom of these children.

“There was methamphetamine out in the open to be weighed and packaged,” he said. “In this environment, methamphetamine was found on the nipple of the baby’s bottle. All three children tested positive for having methamphetamine in their systems when taken  into productive custody.”

Ward said he has no doubt the efforts of the task force saved the lives of these children who were subject to a horrific environment.

“I would like to commend the members of the Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force in recognition of their incredible efforts and in being honored with the prestigious award of the 2024 Kansas Narcotics Officers Association Drug Unit of the Year,” he said.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Friday, May 2, Seward County Community College’s Rapid Fit Health Club Showcase Theater will come alive with the sound of music as SCCC presents its annual spring concert.

The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., and Instrumental Music Instructor Claire Thompson said the evening will feature music from many realms of entertainment, including movies, television shows and video games.