News

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.

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.

FIVE RULE Rural Planning

The Seward County Development Corporation is conducting a comprehensive housing study to understand the county’s most pressing housing needs.

Community participation is essential to the success of this initiative. Residents and employers are encouraged to share their perspectives to help shape the future of housing in Seward County.

All residents and employers are invited to participate in a housing survey, available until Friday, March 21. The survey is accessible both online and in paper format. The online English version can be found at: HousingSewardCountyKS.com, while the Spanish version is available at: ViviendaDelCondadoDeSewardKS.com.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Redskin Field has been a fixture in the Liberal community for multiple decades, and Monday evening, some friction arose among the USD 480 school board regarding a potential new fieldhouse project there.

“I guess I’m really confused about this, because I don’t remember voting on even having this done,” Board Vice President Sarah Thompson said.

“I’d brought this to the board as part of the Facilities report back in December after I was given direction to bring this project to Facilities and then bring it back to the board,” Director of Operations Chad Mease said. “This is for concept drawings, this is not for any actual construction or building or any of that, this is to get some ideas and perspectives on what could be done.”