News

Holidays can lead to increased stress

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

This time of year can bring happiness and positive feelings for many people, but many also struggle when it comes to their mental health.

Dr. Tera Robinson from Heartland’s Hope Mental Health Center said there are many factors that can come into play during the holiday season.

“The holiday season, while joyous, is also difficult. The season may bring a unique blend of joy and pressure. Common stressors include financial strain from gift-giving and travel, increased family conflict or complicated family dynamics, grief or loneliness that becomes more pronounced this time of year, and the pressure to meet heightened social expectations,” Robinson said. “Many people also experience disrupted routines, fatigue from overcommitment, and the emotional weight of reflecting on the past year. Together, these factors can make the season feel overwhelming rather than restorative. Additionally, people often feel pressure to create the ‘perfect’ celebration which can lead to disappointment and self-criticism. Beyond these factors, the shorter daylight hours and colder weather can impact mood and energy levels, making it harder for some individuals to cope with seasonal demands. For many, the combination of environmental, social, and emotional factors creates a challenging time of year.”

Sarah Miller joins McKensie Hood Edward Jones office

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

April 2024 saw McKensie Hood open a new Edward Jones location at 23 Professional Drive and last week, the office welcomed Sarah Miller to its staff.

As Miller tells it, she is no stranger to the financial world.

“I've been with Edward Jones for the past 11 years, I started with the company in March 2015. I worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) previously, and I took over an office from a gentleman when he decided to retire,” Miller said. “I was asked if I wanted to join Edward Jones, and it ultimately ended up being a good move for me. My former office was on 11th Street, I'd been with Byron Bird and Associates for 20 years before going out on my own and ultimately joining the company. This is just another way for me to help clients. That's what I did when I was a CPA, I helped with taxes and those issues, and now I'm helping clients with their retirement.”

Planning Commission continues hearing pros and cons of wind energy establishment

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Debate continues on the establishment of wind energy in Seward County, and Dec. 8, the county’s Planning Commission heard from leaders from Invenergy, as well as several locals speaking out against the project.

The feedback was part of a public hearing concerning a conditional use permit (CUP) for wind turbines in northeast Seward County, and the hearing started with Invenergy officials talking about the benefits of approving the permit.

Company representative Jana Matthews said the permit application was fully in compliance with the county’s zoning regulations. She likewise said Invenergy in its history has developed 121 wind projects which generate a total of 19 gigawatts of power capacity.

MAJORITY OF COMMISSION RESIGNS

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Three Seward County commissioners announced their resignation Monday night, and this will leave county precinct leaders looking for three new commissioners to fill those positions.

Commission Chair Scott Carr, former Vice Chair Tammy Sutherland-Abbott and Commissioner Presephoni Fuller made the announcement during the commission comments of Monday’s meeting.

The announcement comes exactly three months after the three commissioners voted to approve a 14-mill increase to the county’s budget over the Revenue Neutral Rate for Fiscal Year 2026.

Incentives keep home building alive

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

There are multiple housing programs available to help Liberal residents and as City of Liberal leadership tells it, they have seen great success this year.

“Every year, we work to put before the commission all the housing grant incentives the City of Liberal offers. All of these programs come out of the 1-cent sales tax and get paid back to citizens to help beautify Liberal and strengthen it,” Building & Code Enforcement Director Keith Bridenstine said. “Out of the nine programs, eight have been around for a while and one is new. The First Time Home Buyer Grant is a program designed to assist low- and moderate-income individuals with the purchase of their first home. For those who qualify, this pays them back $3,000 to help with closing costs. Applicants must meet the income limit, which is 125 percent of median income, and they can’t have owned a home in the last three years. This program has been utilized many times, and it’s been around for many years. There aren’t really any changes needed with this program right now. Over the past six years, we’ve averaged helping 45 applicants per year. The Home Repair Program assists qualifying homeowners of the community in enhancing, weatherizing, or repairing homes to improve the quality of buildings in the city, and that is also a $3,000 grant. A couple years ago, we did decide to include very low-income people to this program, and then last year, we decided to include veterans in order to recognize their sacrifices for our country. Over the past six years, we’ve averaged helping 67 applicants per year, and this includes work like tree trimming, emergency sewer repair, driveway repair, window repair, among other work. Qualifying applicants can use only one portion of this program this per year, and then after all three are used, you have to wait two years before applying again.”