News

Several acres scorched in NE Seward Co.

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Two fires burned parts of farm land last week in northeastern Seward County.

Fire Chief Andrew Barkley said in a press release, the first fire happened shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, when firefighters were dispatched to a field fire at Road W and Road 13.

“Units arrived on scene to find approximately three to five acres of cut agriculture product involved in fire,” he said. “Firefighters worked through the afternoon and evening extinguishing the fire.”

Preliminary hearing to be consolidated for murder suspects

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

The preliminary hearings of four of the five suspects accused in the deaths of two Hugoton women earlier this year will be consolidated.

Hearings for 54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams and 43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum, both of Keyes, Okla., along with 50-year-old Cole Earl Twombly and 44-year-old Cora Gayle Twombly, both of Texhoma, Okla., are now scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 17 in Texas County District Court.

Seward County Democrats keep same leadership

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Election fever is catching on throughout the U.S., and the Seward County Democratic Party is not immune from that.

The party gathered for its monthly meeting Thursday evening, and one of the big items on the agenda was the election of officers. Ultimately, Kay Burtzloff was voted to remain chair, Kathleen Alonso was voted to remain vice chair, and Debra Huddleston was voted to remain secretary. All three expressed excitement about the election’s results.

Breast exams to be part of Health Fair

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

October will be here soon, and so too will be Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Oct. 5 is also the date for Southwest Medical Center’s 15th annual Community Health Fair at the Seward County Activity Center, and as in past years, clinical breast exams will be given at one of the booths.

SWMC Diagnostic Imaging Director Kelly Denton explained what will take place as part of the exams.

School board to discuss Edustaff, more at next meeting

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The USD 480 school board is looking to make an easy night for itself for its next meeting Monday starting at 6:30. Monday’s meeting will be in Room C107 of the Liberal High School East Campus.

Up first in new business will be an information item concerning a rewards program for good deeds done by USD 480 students.

“Our School Resource Officers (SRO) began recognizing staff and students who were doing good deeds or were identified as exceptional students at LHS,” the agenda information noted. “This year, our SROs would like to expand the challenge coin program to the middle schools.”