Opinion

OPINION – Do we really know which teachers are qualified?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Starley Craig, Liberal

According to the Leader & Times, USD 480 now has 200 certified teachers and 100 non-certified personnel (teachers) on the staff. Those non-certified teachers include high school students, I assume, since it states USD 480 is planning on helping them with Associate’s degrees after they graduate from high school.

They also have two divisions of non-certified staff. One is composed of people (high school students?) who have no interest in becoming actual teachers, and the other group composed of people who have signed up for a plan to maybe go on with their own educations. They are called “resident Interns, and according to the paper, “are those we’re investing in each other” whatever that means.

OPINION – Retaining healthcare staff a challenge

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Susan Lukwago, Liberal

I am writing a letter in response to Ms. Carolyn Huddleston's letter in the paper Sept. 30, 2025.

Ms. Huddleston, thank you for caring very much about the pay to the staff of Seward County Health Department. Thank you for all the research. Did you come and talk with our Administrator, Brie Greeson as a part of your research? Did you come and talk with any of the staff of the Health Department? It is often helpful to ask questions of the people about whom you are talking, before presenting information about or for them. I say this with respect as a person who is also interested in research and accuracy.

OPINION – John’s gospel: incarnate Word, light of the world

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

Last week was a sort of birds-eye view of the first four books of the New Testament called the gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each offer a unique perspective on the life of Jesus. The quickest and easiest starting point might be to read straight through Mark. But today, we'll focus specifically on the Gospel of John. While we usually think of eternity going forward forever, John introduces Jesus as the eternal Word, reaching back beyond creation itself. And when other gospels begin with His birth or ministry, John delves into the profound meaning of Jesus as God incarnate.

OPINION – Commissioner Fuller, our tax dollars are for citizen use only

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Rachel Strickland, Liberal

Regarding an article in the Sept. 23 Leader & Times headed, “Commissioners differ on how to fund services while also respecting taxpayers.”

I understand that Seward County has gotten itself into a bind again with this coming tax judgement. Our county lurches from one crisis to another, and every time what do you do? You go back to the tax payer to save you from bad decisions. We are people, not milk cows. Act accordingly.

Regarding comments made by Commissioner (Presephoni) Fuller quoted in this article, and I quote, “If the undocumented families living in Liberal leave, the community would become a ghost town.”

OPINION – I fight for the public’s right to know

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

The Seward County Commission spent valuable meeting time recently discussing yours truly.

How did I become the topic of discussion?

I asked questions.

Journalists ask questions of government officials every day. Locally, I routinely talk to elected officials and administrators of various entities.

Sometimes those questions are about tough topics.

In 34 years at the paper and 26 of those as publisher, never has anyone asked me to fill out a Kansas Open Records Act request to receive information.

Until now.