News

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Businesses looking for employees and those looking for employment will soon have the perfect chance to come together.

The annual Southwest Kansas Regional Job Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2025 at the Seward County Activity Center at 810 Stadium Road. Businesses can come in that day from 8 to 10 a.m. to set up their booths. Any business in the area is welcome to set up a booth, with a single-booth space costing $60 and a double-space costing $85. Also helping to sponsor the job fair are KSCB-The Legend, the Leader & Times and La Mexicana radio.

Seward County Community College

Seward County Community College trustees met last Monday for the first scheduled board meeting of 2026. Newly elected member Brett Reiss joined sitting members Marvin Chance, Jr., John Engel, Kelly Hill, Dustin Ormiston, Casey Mein, and Keeley Young as the board conducted its annual organization process.

The following officers were elected for the 2026 year: Marvin Chance Jr. as chair, Dustin Ormiston as vce-chair, with SCCC President Brad Bennett continuing as clerk, and SCCC Vice President of Business Affairs Maddie Day as treasurer.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

February is nearly around the corner, which means communities throughout the U.S. will be commemorating Black History Month, including Liberal.

This year’s Liberal festivities will start with a community church service, which will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at New Community Missionary Baptist Church at 521 N. Nebraska Ave., and then the Taste Festival will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15 at the Liberal Senior Center at 701 N. Grant Ave. Next will be the Rosa Parks Scholarship Banquet, which will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Seward County Community College, and the month events will conclude with the Gospel Song Festival, which will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 at Bibleway Church of God In Christ at 410 E. Eighth Street.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

In high school, Mitchell Ohnick and Laureen Bartel were in many of the same activities such as youth group.

Despite running in the same circle, the two never became close friends until later in life.

“We were friendly enough to each other, but she was dating her ex-husband at the time,” Ohnick said. “I was that kid who was still dealing with certain aspects of my life and the traumas I faced with being a bad boy character.”

After high school, Ohnick dealt with alcoholism, and he and Bartel began dating in 2022. He said despite the alcoholism, Bartel still loved him.

Ohnick and Bartel have been dating off and on since 2022, and in 2025, the couple at last opted to stay together. Ohnick admits though the love has only recently become official, he did have a crush on Bartel in high school, particularly in his senior year.