L&T Publisher Earl Watt

After years of trying to be known as the “crossroads of commerce,” the City of Liberal adopted a much better slogan in 2024, “From generosity to prosperity.”

That slogan is based on scripture and how it applied to Seymour Rogers, Liberal’s founder, who hand-dug a water well and then gave the water away free to travelers. His generosity earned him the title of being a “liberal” fella, and the fledgling community that sprouted up adopted the name Liberal.

The town continued to prosper and grow, reflecting Proverbs 11:25 which states,  “A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

From those humble beginnings Liberal thrived and grew into the town we know today with major chain stores and restaurants, a major beef processing plant, community college and so much more.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Todd Stanton, Seward County

Some say we have only one local political party but I observe three. We have Democrats that are perhaps increasing with migration, we have Republicans (a party being redefined nationally) and then we have the Republican-In-Name-Only folks, RINOs.

It’s this last group that seem to be the source of much local strife and the issue has gained the renewed attention of the county GOP under its current leadership.

Those who aren’t what they appear or perhaps do not represent the fundamentals of their party, whether Democrat or Republican, need scrutiny. Local Democrats grapple with some whose actions or words are aligned with the extreme left — something I do not associate with the majority of our local Democrats.

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

We introduced a few weeks ago some ways that American colonists' thinking shifted in the 1700s, embracing optimism and revolutionary ideas. The Enlightenment and a religious renewal of faith known as the Great Awakening, played roles. Political thought in England became the practice more in the colonies than it did in the mother land, leading to more representation for the common people. As we also discussed, the French and Indian War was a pivotal event, when colonists celebrated their shared victory over France, then were disappointed with new British policies.

Some background: a longstanding cultural antipathy began between England and France in 1066, when William the Conqueror led his army against the Anglo-Saxons to become king of England. He had no direct blood claim, only unsubstantiated pledges to justify his campaign. When Pope Alexander II declared him the rightful heir, English nobles accepted his reign, but numerous tensions remained.

RYCKMAN RECAP, Ron Ryckman, 38th District Senator

We did it.  As of 1:30 a.m. Friday night/Saturday morning of Week 12, the 2026 Kansas Legislature has officially adjourned “sine die.”  While that Latin term technically means “without a date” set for return, the formal Motion actually states that we will reconvene for 2027 at 2:00 p.m. on the second Monday in January (the 11th).  This “Veto Session” was true to its intent and purpose, with our having overridden 19 of the 28 bill rejections by the Governor and another 15 of the 33 line items that were stricken from the Budget.   She did manage to prevail on two measures that were not addressed because of a shortage of votes in the House -- as well as four of the spending sections that could not muster a 2/3 margin for approval notwithstanding her lack of signature, but overall it was not a good two days for our Chief Executive.  I heard someone comment on the elevator, “Isn’t it incredible that in a government with three co-equal branches, she should try to veto the entire Legislative Budget?”