News

District approves incentives for long-term employees

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Entities throughout town are wrapping up their 2024 work, and that includes the USD 480 school board with a quick special meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Up first for the board was discussion of a stipend for Classified and administrative staff.

“Per the agenda, for classified and administrative staff not covered by the negotiated agreement, we propose a one-time longevity and retention incentive to be paid to eligible full-time staff who have been here five years or more during the 2024-25 school year on Dec. 22,” Superintendent Stephen Linkous said.

Inspectors believe stands were made out of lightweight material

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

The bleacher installation project at the rodeo arena at the Seward County Fairgrounds has been temporarily stalled.

After workers were thought to have completed the project, officials with the county’s Planning and Zoning department were called to do an inspection of the bleachers, and Administrator April Warden said upon that inspection, county commissioners received a packet of pictures of the erected bleachers showing materials used for the project were lightweight.

World premiere of ‘Flipping Pancake Day’ coming to Liberal Dec. 27

Special to the Leader & Times

The world premiere of “Flipping Pancake Day” will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at the Liberal Southgate 6 movie theater.

The film’s creative team is planning a special red carpet event with food and drinks to celebrate the occasion and give back to the community. The event is free to the public.

When is the winter solstice, and what is it all about?

Old Farmer’s Almanac

The winter solstice date is Saturday. So, what is the winter solstice, and why does it happen?

When is the Winter Solstice?

The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere is marked by the winter solstice, which occurs at 3:21 a.m. CST Saturday.

For the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs every year on Dec. 21 or 22. (The Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice occurs in June.)

Two plea deals reached in murdered Kansas moms case

Special to the Leader & Times

TEXAS COUNTY, Okla. — A preliminary hearing was waived, and two plea deals were announced on Tuesday in the case of murdered Kansas mothers Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.

The two Hugoton women disappeared in March while they were going to pick up Butler’s children in Oklahoma. Their bodies were found buried in a freezer in April. An autopsy revealed that both women had been stabbed to death.