News

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Nearly two and a half decades have past since two planes flew into the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, and for many, the images of the day are still fresh in their minds.

Since 2003, Liberal’s Cottonwood Elementary School has honored those who died that fateful day, as well as first responders and military with its annual Patriot Day program, and music teacher Aspen Jaramillo-Martinez’s students have spent the early part of this school year learning patriotic songs for this year’s event scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 in the school’s north parking lot.

At the time 9/11 happened, Jaramillo-Martinez was 2 years old, and she said planning for Patriot Day means more with each passing year.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Schools are filled with students, and while the calendar still says summer, cooler weather has arrived on the High Plains.

Monday is Labor Day, and for nearly 20 years, the Saturday after Labor Day has been marked with a car show for one town in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

This year’s Hooker Car Show is scheduled to take place Saturday, Sept. 6, along Glaydas Street in the town’s downtown area. Organizer Linda Martin said this year’s show will likewise  have some of Hooker High School’s former students taking part with a school reunion happening the same day.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

After educating constituents about the mill levy, the appraisal process and the need for additional funding to help provide services, Seward County leaders turned their attention to that of road conditions in the county at the recent town hall meeting in Kismet, and much of that conversation concerned a question local residents will be answering this November.

“There will be a question on the ballot, and that question will be regarding whether or not the community of Seward County is in favor or not in favor of a half-cent sales tax that would be imposed to just Road and Bridge,” Administrator April Warden said.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

September is just around the corner, which means it will soon be time for the annual Duck Race Festival.

This year's Duck Race Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 27 at Light Park, with everything beginning at 10 a.m. and the duck race itself starting at 2 p.m., with the day ending at around 2:30 p.m. Ducks are available for adoption at the Chamber of Commerce office and any business with a 'Ducks Sold Here' sign, and like every year, people can adopt individual ducks for $10 each, or they can adopt a 6-Quack for $50 or a Lucky Pack of 13 ducks for $100. The total prize money will be $10,000 (1st place = $5,000; 2nd place = $2,000; 3rd place = $1,000; 4th place = $500; 5th place = $400; 6th place = $300; 7th place = $200; 8th place = $100; and Lucky Duck = $500). Like every year, Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and board members will all have ducks for adoption, so people can get in touch with them if they are interested in having ducks in the race, and ducks will also be available for adoption the day of the event until about 1 p.m.