ELLY GRIMM

    • Leader & Times

The Liberal City Commission should have an easy evening for 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.

Up first for the commission will be discussion of Resolution No. 2460 concerning an application for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

“WHEREAS, the City of Liberal Fire Department is an eligible applicant for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant; WHEREAS, it is determined by the governing body of the City of Liberal there is public support for the City to prepare a Assistance to Firefighters Grant application, which if approved, would fund grassland gear; and WHEREAS, the City of Liberal Fire Department, if awarded the grant, would allocate those grant dollars toward grassland gear. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the governing body of the City of Liberal, Kansas that the City of Liberal authorizes submission of this grant application, and authorizes the mayor, city manager, or grant administrator to sign all documents pertaining to the grant on behalf of the organization,” the resolution noted.

Kansas Department of Insurance

TOPEKA – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced Monday, the Kansas Department of Insurance has made its annual distribution to local Firefighter Relief Associations (FRAs).

Pursuant to the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act, $174,311.02 has been distributed among two local FRAs throughout Seward County.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act acknowledges that by providing additional protections for firefighters and their loved ones,” said Commissioner Schmidt. “The act not only gives first responders needed safety nets, but it also allows local communities to provide their citizens with improved firefighting equipment and resources.”

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

At its June 15 regular meeting, the Seward County Commission got a quarterly update on Southwest Medical Center, and CEO Amber Williams said the hospital seems to be trending in an upward direction.

Williams said SWMC is building its days of cash on hand or the number of days the hospital could run if operations ceased immediately. That number is up to 114 days, a figure Williams said is above most hospitals the size of Liberal’s.

“They’re usually running in the 30 to 45 days, so we continue to build on the days of operating cash,” she said. “One thing that is part of the cost reduction plan is through April 2026, we currently have a net income of $115,944.”

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for some good vacation ideas for this summer within the Sunflower State will soon have just that opportunity thanks to the Kansas Department of Tourism.

The Sunflower Program will start Thursday, July 9 and run through Sunday, Aug. 2. Tourism Deputy Director Jordan Roemerman said there is a lot to be excited for this summer.