ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Talks have been ongoing for a while regarding the possible realignment of the Six Points intersection in Liberal that connects U.S. Highway 83 with U.S. Highway 54.

Last week, those talks took a big step forward as officials with the Kansas Department of Transportation gave community members a look at maps showing the proposed design and a chance to learn more about the project’s timeline.

KDOT Consultant Team Project Manager Kelly Farlow said prior to last week, a two-year study was completed about a year ago with different options considered, and the chosen alignment was shown at two open houses last week at Seward County Community College.

“We’re expanding to a four-lane section,” Farlow said. “Through the city of Liberal, it’ll be a five-lane section. Outside, it’ll be the divided highway, and it has improvements to the former Six Points intersection of U.S. 54, U.S. 83.”

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

In mid-February, multiple fires hit Southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle amongst wind gusts of more than 50 mph, and local and area firefighters scrambled to get the blazes under control and minimize death and damages.

Recently, the Liberal Rotary Club, along with Rotary District 5680, helped provide some relief from financial losses fire departments suffered from battling the fires.

Together, the local club and the district recently collected a total of $6,128 for area fire stations, including Seward County, Plains, Tyrone, Okla., Beaver, Okla., and Harper County, Okla.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

There will be multiple ordinances for the Liberal City Commission to consider at its next meeting this evening starting at 5:30. This evening’s meeting will be in the commission chambers at the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave.

The first of the many ordinances up for consideration will be Ordinance No. 4646 concerning the establishment of the Liberal Youth Council.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Turpin, Okla., firefighters assisted with multiple fires Wednesday evening in Seward County, as well as some in Beaver County, Okla.

The Turpin OK Fire Department Facebook page said at 6:13 p.m. Wednesday, a page was received to assist with multiple fires in Seward County.

“Two trucks and four personnel were deployed,” the post said. “While en route back to the station after released from Seward County at 7:39 p.m., the trucks were rerouted to support Beaver FD at a fire in Beaver County located at NS132 and EW14.”

Subsequently, the post said, at 8:42 p.m., a fire was reported at the south headquarters on the WMA on T-T Ranch that a pile of dead trees were burning.

“Additional resources including one truck and a command vehicle, were dispatched to the scene,” the post said. “Upon arrival of Oklahoma Wildlife personnel with necessary equipment and fire trucks, the scene was released to their custody. All Turpin fire trucks returned to the station at 11:32 p.m.”