ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Back-to-school time will be arriving shortly, and a group of local citizens is looking to help families beforehand.

There will be a back-to-school drive from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10 at the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave., and the drive will feature free haircuts for all students in town, a free shoes drive, and some free school supplies.

Coordinator Tina Ward said a main goal of the event is to help families in the community.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Typically, items in the consent agenda are quickly approved with one motion at most commission meetings, but recent concerns about an employee in one department being paid from another department have raised more than a few eyebrows from Seward County leaders and constituents.

At Monday’s meeting, commissioners would later address and fix that situation, and another of the items in the consent agenda was taken care of prior to that.

After a discussion of about 10 minutes, voted to accept, not approve, two registers from Treasurer Mary Rose, one from June 8 through June 21 in the amount of $36,161.06 and the other from June 1 to July 5 in the amount of $79,720.99.

“I requested these items be pulled off because we had not received a detailed check register,” Commission Chairman Steve Helm said.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

More progress has now been made, and the start of construction could be coming soon on a local bridge thanks to a vote from the Seward County Commission.

Earlier this month, Administrator April Warden announced U.S. Senator Jerry Moran had secured funding for $2.378 million for the Massoni Bridge project through the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill.

Monday, county leaders took another step forward with the project by approving a project programming request from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Traffic on one of the busier intersections in town was backed up late last week due to an injury accident.

The incident took place shortly after noon July 17 at Pancake Blvd. and Western Ave., according to a release from the Liberal Police Department.

“Through the investigation, officers determined a white 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander had travelled eastbound on West Pancake Blvd. and attempted to make a left turn onto South Western Ave.,” the LPD release noted. “The Outlander was then struck by a white 2013 Lexus that was traveling westbound on West Pancake Blvd. The Outlander had three occupants and the Lexus had two occupants at the time of the accident. Multiple injuries were reported at the time of the accident. All individuals were transported to Southwest Medical Center for further treatment. The driver of the Mitsubishi Outlander was cited for failure to yield when turning left. Due to extensive damage, both vehicles were towed from the scene.”