News

Jake Gill bringing show to Bullwackerz in Hugoton

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Country musician Jake Gill has been working on making his mark in the music world the past few years, and soon, he will be making his way to the area.

Gill will be bringing his band and music to the area with an upcoming concert, which will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at Bullwackerz Saloon at 109 E. 6th Street in Hugoton. The show is free and sponsored by Bullwackerz Saloon, but reservations are encouraged since 20 free VIP meet and greets are being offered, which will entitle lucky guests to a pre-show acoustic set on the bus with the band. Attendees will also have the opportunity to adopt a facility-bound veteran at the event and even communicate with their adoptee, and each person who adopts a veteran will receive a gift from the band after the event.

Liberal Ministerial Alliance to host 2025 Baccalaureate May 7

L&T staff report

The Baccalaureate Service for the 2025 Liberal High School Senior Class will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Liberal High School inside the James Maskus Auditorium. Everyone is welcome to this special service sponsored by the Liberal Ministerial Alliance.

After career in developing talent, Beesley to retire

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Renee Beesley came to work at Hugoton High School a decade ago, and at that time, the school had no show choir.

Starting such a choir was her primary goal before she became an educator.

“When I decided to teach, I said, ‘I will do that if you let me start a show choir,’” she said. “They allowed me to do that, and the first year, we just met on Sundays. It was so late in the year when I came on board. The schedule was already made.”

SCCC and GCCC partner for Registered Medical Assistant program in Liberal

Seward County Community College

Seward County Community College (SCCC) and Garden City Community College (GCCC) and have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand educational opportunities for students in Liberal and the surrounding areas. This agreement establishes a partnership for a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) program taught on the SCCC campus by instructors from both colleges.

SCCC, Jayhawk Conference commit to 25 percent in-state LOIs

Seward County Community College

The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) has taken a significant step toward investing in Kansas student athletes by approving a new bylaw requiring all member colleges to reserve at least 25 percent of their athletic Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Kansas students.

The decision was made during this week’s KJCCC meeting, where participating colleges came together to support the change. The policy will take effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year and will apply across all sports offered by the member institutions.