ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Artists looking for a quiet space for inspiration for their work now have just that opportunity available in Southwest Kansas.

Liberal’s Baker Arts Center recently opened its new artist in residence house just south of the center, and Director Misty Martin said the  residency is a home converted into two separate multi-purpose apartments.

“The main purpose of it is to house artists who come here and spend resident time,” she said. “If an artist comes here for a period of time to work on their art, their craft, artists of different mediums, whether it’s painting, writing, music, cooking, whatever their art is, if they come here to work on that art, they usually also will spend time teaching classes in whatever area of art they do.”

Seward County Sheriff’s office

Summer travel season is underway increasing traffic on Kansas roadways. The Seward County Sheriff’s office reminds the public to recognize speeding as an aggressive driving behavior and to slow down.

The Seward County Sheriff’s office joins law enforcement across the country to remind drivers that Speeding Catches Up With You and you can expect to see increased law enforcement presence on local roads during the nationwide safety campaign, which runs through July 15.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

One of the many boards up for election is the Kansas State Board of Education, and one of the candidates for that board is Jean Clifford, who is running for District 5, which  covers 44 and a half counties in western and north central Kansas, which comprises 81 school districts and roughly 50,000 school students.

As Clifford tells it, her roots in Kansas and in education run deep.

“District 5 the largest area to run in that is not a statewide race, including all of the other races I have been involved with. I have served on the Kansas State Board of Education in the past – I’m not an incumbent for this race, but I have served, and I served 10 years on the Garden City USD 457 Board of Education,” Clifford said. “I’m a certified teacher with a special education degree, and I’m a former college adjunct instructor. I’m also a retired Air Force officer, I served 30 years in the Air Force on active duty and in the research as a JAG advocate. I’m married to Senator Dr. Bill Clifford, we’ve been married for 44 years, and he  represents Senate District 39 in southwest Kansas. We have six children and four grandchildren. I’m running for the state board because of my children and grandchildren. I believe in education, and I believe education is important to the future of our state. I want my children and grandchildren to have a bright future, and I think by having a strong school system, strong academic requirements, we’ll have the workforce tomorrow that’ll bring our state a successful economy in the future.”

L&T staff report

The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution Fourth of July Parade showcased patriotism on the 250th celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Prizes were awarded to the following floats: