Opinion

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.

Why not enhance services rather than give bonuses?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Carolyn Huddleston, Liberal

The Seward County Health Department is only open four days a week, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. None of the staff are working 40 hours per week. At the current time hours range from 32 to about 36.

However, as a result of an open records request, I learned that two sets of bonuses were given to staff of the Health Department this year. In one bonus, 23 staff each received $2552.58. It appears that every employee got one of these bonuses, which altogether totaled $58,709. The second set of bonuses, which was drawn from a KDHE grant, totaled $45,000, and these went to only seven women. Not all received the same amount. Here quarterly payments were made, totaling $9000 for 2 women, $6000 for 4 women, and $3000 for 1 woman. The Director, Brie Greeson, whose earnings for 2024 amounted to $107,446, is receiving one of these bonuses in the amount of $9000, and she also received one of those other bonuses in the amount of $2552 [as did all the other women in this group of 7].

Better times ahead

GUEST COLUMN, Greg Doering, Kansas Farm Bureau

It’s hard to imagine waking up and going to work on payday only to find you have less money than you started with at the beginning of the pay period. That’s the reality many farmers are facing as fall harvest enters full swing in Kansas. Almost every acre of corn and soybeans across the state is expected to cost more to plant, grow and harvest than farmers will receive when they sell their crops.

Revenue from wheat, soybeans and corn is forecasted to decline by 12, nine and six percent, respectively, in 2025. It will be the third year in a row with declining receipts for those commodities while expenses have remained the same or risen.