News

Local, area schools receive grants to strengthen students’ health and well-being

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Southwestern Heights Junior High School and Cottonwood Elementary School were among 107 schools across the Sunflower State to recently receive Healthy Habits for Life grants from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation.

The grants assist in implementing programs that promote healthy lifestyle choices for K-12 students. The BCBSKS Foundation looks for programs that will help Kansas youth reduce cardiovascular risk, increase physical activity, learn healthy eating habits and reinforce positive mental health.

This year, 57 percent of the grants are being used to support students’ mental health. SWHJH’s grant was not used for mental health, but USD 483 Nurse Norma Sanchez did say the money was used to purchase two outdoor basketball goals and a pickleball set for Heights students.

Local students earn exciting educational opportunities

Tri-County Electric Cooperative

This year, two seniors from the Tri-County Electric Cooperative service area had an amazing time at the Oklahoma Youth Leadership Summit.

Jaxon Lehnert from Turpin High School and Kamryn Ott from Forgan High School each received $500 scholarships and attended this special event on March 7 during the Oklahoma Youth Expo. They learned valuable leadership skills and met important leaders from all over the state.

In another exciting update, TCEC is thrilled to announce that three local high school juniors have been chosen for an unforgettable trip to Washington, D.C.

City adds one water fee but sunsets another

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Liberal citizens will now officially see some changes to their water bill due to action taken by the Liberal City Commission at its most recent meeting Tuesday evening.

To begin the discussion, the commission heard about Resolution No. 2430 concerning the adoption of a Wastewater Improvement Fee.

KDOT to host listening sessions on improving highway mobility in Southwest Kansas

Kansas Department of Transportation

The Kansas Department of Transportation is hosting six listening sessions as part of the Southwest Kansas Highway Mobility and Expansion Strategy – a study looking at various ways to improve highway mobility, safety and accessibility in 44 counties in and near Southwest Kansas.

Some topics may vary due to public concerns in that area, but issues to be discussed will included four-lane highways, passing lanes, adding shoulders, roadway conditions, economical/environmental factors, transportation networks in bordering states and more.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the study, ask questions, provide feedback and talk to study team members.

Fun and games scheduled for 2025 Chamber Bash

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The Liberal community will soon have the chance to come out and play later this month thanks to the Liberal Chamber of Commerce.

The 2025 Chamber Bash will be Saturday, March 29 at the Seward County Activity Center, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the dinner and everything else starting at 6 p.m. The meal will be a prime rib dinner thanks to National Beef. The Chamber Recognition Awards will then start at 7 p.m. and then the entertainment will start at 8 p.m., which this year will be comedian Brian Kiley, who was a guest multiple times on 'The Late Show with David Letterman,' 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' and 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien,' and still performs regularly at comedy clubs in Los Angeles.