News

KDOT announces resurfacing project to begin along U.S. 160 in Clark and Meade counties

Kansas Department of Transportation

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, traffic changes are scheduled to start March 17 along U.S. Highway 160 in Meade and Clark counties from the U.S. Hwy. 54/160 junction east to the U.S.160/U.S. Highway 283 junction.

U.S. 160 traffic will be reduced to one lane in sections as crews work to resurface this 17.3-mile project area. Motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes as flaggers and a pilot car direct one-lane traffic through the work zone.

Hugoton Police Department conducts training exercise at abandoned church

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Law enforcement agencies go through many hours of training every year, and the Hugoton Police Department likewise spends much time learning and relearning ways to do the best job protecting the public.

Hugoton Police Chief Courtney Leslie said, though, some of her department’s training is done in some unique buildings in the Stevens County community.

“We’ve done this in the past when we’ve learned of a building that’s going to be torn down by the city,” she said.

Small shed fire results in minor damage

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Local firefighters made quick work out of a small shed fire Friday afternoon in Liberal.

Liberal Fire Chief Kelly Kirk said firefighters were called to an alley behind 730 N. Washington Ave. shortly before 3 p.m. Friday.

Kirk said the fire was in a detached shed on the property.

“It seemed like it was a very small fire, maybe from a leaking propane tank,” he said. “They got it knocked down pretty quick.”

Kirk said the fire was out shortly before 3:15 p.m. The Liberal Fire Department responded with one engine, one squad truck, two admin vehicles and nine personnel. Units were back in service shortly after 4 p.m.

United Way to give away brand new Jeep

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Spring is almost here, and autumn is still a few months away.

The beginning of fall is typically when Seward County United Way hosts its annual chili cookoff in conjunction with the Liberal Chamber of Commerce’s yearly Duck Race Festival. Those dates are still scheduled, but United Way is already building excitement with another giveaway planned for that day.

The cookoff and the Duck Race are scheduled for Sept. 27, and along with the day’s other prizes, SCUW will be giving one lucky winner a chance to drive home in a new 2025 Jeep Wrangler.

Seward County to host town hall March 20

L&T staff report

Seward County will host a town hall meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 20 in the commission chambers of the Administration Building at 515 N. Washington Ave.

The public is invited to share ideas, ask questions and find out what is happening in Seward County. For more information, contact April Warden at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 620-626-3330.