News

Building the foundation to play at the next level

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

After playing baseball at Seward County Community College and with the Liberal Bee Jays, Kelby Tomlinson became an All Big 12 selection at shortstop at Texas Tech, and all of this came prior to him being picked in the 12th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft by the San Francisco Giants.

Tomlinson played professionally for 10 years, including four seasons in the major leagues, and this summer, he will bring that experience back to Liberal to help local baseball players elevate their game to the next level.

Commission to receive economic development update, more

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The Liberal City Commission will look to have a rather easy meeting this evening starting at 5:30. This evening’s meeting will be in the commission chambers at the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave.

Up first for the commission will be a presentation from Eli Svaty from Seward County Development Corporation, and he will be giving an overview of economic development progress for the first quarter of 2025.

Guymon man thrown from vehicle

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

A Guymon, Okla., man suffered a suspected serious injury early Monday morning as the result of a rollover accident southwest of Liberal.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported around 2:15 a.m. Monday, a 2007 GMC NK1 was traveling westbound from Liberal towards Guymon when it left the roadway to the right and entered the north ditch of U.S. Highway 54.

Ranch Rodeo helps Crossroads serve those in need of hippotherapy

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

To help raise funds for its services in 2021, Crossroads Therapeutic Riding Center began hosting a ranch rodeo in the spring at the Seward County Fairgrounds.

This year marks the fifth edition of the event, and the 2025 Crossroads Ranch Rodeo will take place this Saturday, with contestants getting rules starting at 5 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 6 p.m.

Making history: OPSU becomes first Oklahoma university to win National NACTA Championship

Oklahoma Panhandle State University

GOODWELL, Okla. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) students made history at the 2025 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference in Canyon, Texas.

Competing against top agricultural programs from across the nation, OPSU earned the prestigious NACTA Sweepstakes Trophy, marking the university’s first time being named overall national champions at the event.