Opinion

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

No, I’m not going to address the county tax increase today. I believe there are enough members of the community taking a keen interest in remedies, and we will report on those efforts as information becomes available.

Needless to say, the natives are restless. Justifiably so. And while this decision has created a rift in our community, there are other efforts being discussed by other entities that are looking to a more positive future.

For one, the City of Liberal is exploring the option of changing downtown to angle parking and a more pedestrian friendly district for about three blocks.

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

It is the time of year for vegetable gluttony.

The truth is, I am a vegetable glutton all year round. I blame my mother. My mom grew up on a farm, and when my sister and I were growing up, my mother was one of the first moms in our suburb to plant a big vegetable garden. We had beans and tomatoes and zucchini, and I don’t remember what else. I loved vegetables from a very early age. My mother would serve whatever we were eating in a large serving bowl, and if there was anything left, she’d give me the bowl to finish up — I’d eat with the serving spoon.

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

I have been impressed with the reasoned response and diligent work of the public after the recent massive tax hike by three of the Seward County commissioners.

Your phone calls have been heartening to know so many of you are paying attention and are willing to take action to do what you believe is right.

Over the years many have stopped by the office and visited with me about running for office. That goes for some currently on the commission, both for and against the recent decision to support a record-setting tax hike.

GUEST COLUMN, Mike Bedenbaugh, author of ‘Reviving our Republic’

Last week, we marked the anniversary of September 11 — commemorations for the tragic actions of 19 suicidal psychopaths who murdered nearly 3,000 Americans in a single morning. The images of that day still haunt us. And yet, alongside our grief, we remember something else: For a brief, shining moment, we came together as one people. The world rallied to us. Neighbors helped neighbors. There was hope that tragedy might spark unity.

This week, we commemorate something different: the signing of our Constitution, the bold framework that created a federal republic. It was not perfect, but it was revolutionary. It divided power, checked ambition, and bound states and citizens into a shared covenant of liberty.