ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Darla Forney has been part of Liberal and the USD 480 community for only nearly a year, and she has already made multiple positive strides in the community.

Friday, Forney was one of the speakers for this year’s Women’s Day Luncheon, where she talked about the power and importance of women in leadership roles.

“I love this space because we need each other. There is something powerful about women gathering together not to compete, not to compare – but to connect, to encourage, and to strengthen one another,” Forney said. “The theme for Women’s Day this year is ‘Women Educating Minds, Empowering Generations. And when I hear that phrase, I don't just think of classrooms. I think of kitchens. I think of hospital rooms. I think of boardrooms. I think of late-night conversations al the table. I think of prayer closets and front porches and community luncheons. Because educating minds and empowering generations happens everywhere. I am so very appreciative of the advancements women have made in the workforce. Many years ago, I would not have had the opportunity to serve as principal at Liberal High School. That door simply would not have been open. Women were not always invited to leadership tables. Women were not always considered for positions of authority. Women were often expected to stay in certain lanes. But because women before us were brave enough to push boundaries, to pursue education, to demand opportunity, and to persevere through resistance, doors began to open. Today, women hold esteemed positions at every level in almost every type of job. Women lead schools, hospitals, businesses, nonprofits, and communities. We see women in executive roles, women in STEM fields, women in public service, women in skilled trades. Advancements in equal opportunity and equal pay have come a long way, and they will continue to move forward.”

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

The 2026 Women’s Day Luncheon brought in many women from the community, and one of the speakers attendees got to hear from was Cottonwood Elementary School Principal Traci Mettlen.

As Mettlen told it, her Liberal roots run very deep.

“It is truly an honor to be here to celebrate Women’s Day and to stand among such strong, inspiring, and dedicated women. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story – but more importantly, to celebrate the power and impact of women who educate minds and empower generations,” Mettlen said. “I was born and raised right here in Liberal. This community is not just where I live, it is who I am. My parents, Wesley and Donna Brinkley, still reside in Liberal, and I was raised alongside my older sister, Mindi. I was blessed to grow up in a home that valued hard work, faith, education, and commitment. Those early lessons shaped the woman I would become. I attended McKinley Elementary School, West Middle School and Liberal High School. I walked the same hallways, sat in the same classrooms, and learned from teachers who believed in me long before I fully believed in myself. Those women planted a seed in me. They showed me that education was more than teaching lessons. It was about shaping lives.”

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Mid-March marks spring break for many area school districts, and while many families are hitting the road for a vacation, others are staying close to home as young people take a break from the world of academics.

For families with children looking for something fun to do over spring break, Liberal’s Baker Arts Center has plenty of fun activities for kids to do with its Spring Break Kids Camp.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final story recapping the debriefing of the recent fires in the area last week with the Seward County Commission. This story will discuss the recent controversy concerning Commission Chairman Steve Helm asking former Fire Chief Andrew Barkley to give Administrator April Warden a radio as well as drills the county  does to help prepare for emergencies.

As last week’s debriefing on the mid-February fires came to a close, some last issues were discussed, including the opening of shelters for those evacuated and a controversial video of a phone call between Seward County Commission Chair Steve Helm and former Fire Chief Andrew Barkley.

Seward County Health Department Director Brie Greeson said the Liberal Area Coalition for Families, in the past, has done a great job helping with shelters in the past, and she had recently talked to LACF Director Sarah Mersdorf-Foreman about what to do in situations such as the fires.