News

District recognizes standouts, talks ACT scores

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Teacher recognition was the top priority for the USD 480 school board at its most recent meeting Monday evening.

The recognition started during the Good Things part of the meeting, during which Liberal High School math teacher Charito Flores was honored as the Educator of the Month. Shortly afterward, more of the district’s 5 C’s winners were recognized, and Monday’s honorees were Brandi Fowler, Stacy Johnson, Dane Parcel, Jessica Graham, and Leo Sena.

Gifts to Kansas military personnel being collected for Presents in a Package campaign

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The holidays can be a tough time for people, especially for military personnel deployed overseas and away from home.

Since 2017, staff with Volunteer Kansas have been putting together Presents in a Package for deployed military personnel, and this year, the tradition will continue.

Women’s conference to feature nationally known speaker

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Nov. 16, Diversidad Latina will welcome nationally known speaker Cibad Hernandez to Liberal for its Empoderate Mujer women’s conference.

Diversidad Latina’s Patricia Fierro said the conference will be amazing, and Hernandez, with millions of followers on social media, provides great influence.

“He talks about women empowerment, self-reflection and self-worth and many things that have to do with our state of being, our mental health, empowering women and talking to them about everyday life and how we should value ourselves more in things,” she said. “He’s really great with words, and we’re really excited to have him here.”

Kansas Republicans make final push to increase turnout

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Election Day is Tuesday, and Thursday, some state and federal Republican candidates did some last minute campaigning in Liberal.

The Kansas GOP Party’s Run Right Bus Tour pulled into town Thursday morning at Billy’s, and Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mike Brown confirmed what most believe has happened as a result of the Biden Administration with a show of hands from those in attendance.

“Everybody is struggling,” he said. “Nobody is in as good of a position as they were in four years ago.”

2024 Health Fair sees large turnout, record tests

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

In early October, Southwest Medical Center hosted its 15th annual Community Health Fair, and the event was so successful, initially, coordinator and SWMC Marketing Director Janeth Vazquez could not find the words to describe the success.

“It was extremely successful, extremely organized and very well attended, and we are super grateful and excited this was a very successful Health Fair,” she said.

While the Health Fair having a landmark edition may have contributed to its success, Vazquez said numbers for the event continue to grow with each year.