Southwest Medical Center

Southwest Medical Center is pleased to announce Zak Ibrahim, MD, a board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon, will be joining the Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Care Center later this month.

Dr. Ibrahim brings more than three decades of experience in orthopedic and spinal surgery, with a focus on minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques. He joins the clinic after spending the last two decades in Denver, where he was a leader in advancing minimally invasive spine care and owned his own Spine & Robotic Surgery practice.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking to start tackling those outdoor improvement projects will soon have some help thanks to multiple area vendors.

This year's SpringFest Home Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26, and everything will be at the Seward County Activity Center at 810 Stadium Ave. There will be many vendors on hand for home remodeling and improvement, equipment, cleaning and restoration, cookware, phones, food and snacks, clothing, and much, much more, according to coordinator Cheryl Collins. 

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for a golden evening of fun will soon have just that opportunity.

The 2026 Chamber Bash will be Saturday, April 4 at the Seward County Activity Center, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the dinner and everything else starting at 6 p.m. The meal will be a prime rib dinner thanks to National Beef. The Chamber Recognition Awards will start at 7 p.m. and then the entertainment will start at 8 p.m., which this year will be hypnotist Erick Känd. The Richie Dorman Band will be providing music during the meal, and EverMore and Co. Photography will be on hand to take commemorative photos that evening.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Conservation districts in three area counties recently hosted a Local Work Group in Liberal to help make recommendations to the Kansas Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist to address resource concerns at the local level.

The day also featured a Soil Health Workshop hosted by the districts in Seward, Stevens and Morton counties, and this featured a presentation from Kansas Association of Conservation Districts Soil Health Specialist Candy Thomas, who talked about what makes good soil and what needs to be done with soil.

Oklahoma State University Assistant Professor and Cropping Systems Specialist Dr. Josh Lofton was part of the workshop as well, along with two of his students.