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PSYCHIATRIC
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of many

WINTER SOLSTICE 2017

Page 5

Learn more about the women

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what they offer patients to help
them achieve a more fulfilling life.

The Winter Solstice is upon us today. What does it mean

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LEADER
&TIMES
WEDNESDAY

Page 3

DEC. 21, 2016

Your daily news & views for 131 years

READY FOR SOME LASER TAG?

By ROBERT PIERCE
Leader &Times Senior Reporter
Christmas is half a week away, and
along with holiday celebrations, young
people are getting a break from school for
a while.
If young people locally are looking for
something fun to do over the yuletide
break, the Liberal Youth Hangout will be
hosting Christmas Break Laser Tag
nightly from Friday through Jan. 3, 2017.

Organizer Cory Barnett said the fun

will take place in the former home of
Stage in the Southgate Mall, and he is
leaving the design of the obstacles up to
some young adults.
I think one of thems 21, one of thems
18, he said. Im just kind of being the in
between guy between their creativity and
the business realm and the fire marshal.
Ive come down here and helped them a

N See LASER TAG/Page 3

Santa
appreciates
literacy,
too!
L i b e r a l M e m o r i a l L i b r a r y D i r e ct o r R o y ce K i tt s g i v e s a y o u n g
W a s h i n g t o n E l e m e n t a r y Sc h o o l s t u d e n t a h i gh - f i v e w h i l e g i v i n g
a w a y a n e w b o o k w i t h S a n t a l o o k i n g o n . T h e L i b e r a l R o ta r y
C l u b h a s b e e n d o i n g th i s p r o g r a m w i t h W a s h i n g t o n E l e m e n ta r y
S c h o o l f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , a n d a f te r r e ce i v i n g t h e i r b o o k s , th e
s t udent s g o t t o e njo y sna ck s. L&T photo/Elly Grimm

Expect changes
to 2017s Pancake
Day Talent Show
Special to the L&T

There will be several changes taking effect for the

2017 Pancake Day Talent Show. This years program is
scheduled for Feb. 25 and 26, 2017.
One of the first changes that you will notice is that
we will be having a two-day
show with live auditions
Saturday, and then
well have the 25act Finals Show
S u n d a y
afternoon,
Day
Pancake
Board Member
Mark
Strange
said. This will
replace the video
auditions that have taken
place the past few years, and our
goal is to modernize and update the format, making it
sort of like The Voice or Americas Got Talent.
Strange added the board will be offering an
advance combo ticket for both shows for $10, or $7 for
a single ticket. Saturdays preliminary show will include

N See TALENT SHOW/Page 3

Physicians assistant
sentenced for
cosmetic treatments

Christmas carols Friday

night at Light Park
L&T staff report

DJ Kieth Kieth S. Polacek has one Christmas wish

to bring the magic of Christmas back to local
children. He invites the community to join in for
Christmas carols at 8 p.m. Friday at Light Park. He
will DJ for free, and the City of Liberal will be on
hand for assistance.
The enitre community is invited to attend. Please
see Page 4 for Polaceks Letter to the Editor for
further information. If even more information,
Polacek can be reached at 620-391-9996.

Fresh Oklahoma
pecans available
Special to the L&T

The Missions group of South Church of God is

accepting orders for fresh Oklahoma shelled pecans
for the holidays.
Fresh Oklahoma pecans have been prepared for
sale by the women of the Church of God as their
annual fundraiser for missions.
They can be ordered by calling 624-2292, 6242266 or 624-7652.

Courtesy photo

Kansas looks at converting

juvenile center to predator unit
The the Department
for Aging and Disability
Services is working with
the state fire marshals
office to determine how
the juvenile facility in
the western Kansas
town of Larned would
have to be renovated to
hold sex offenders
By JOHN HANNA
AP PoliticalWriter
TOPEKA Kansas is looking
at converting a soon-to-close
juvenile corrections center into a
new unit for holding sex offenders
indefinitely for treatment after
prison, a top social services administrator told legislators Tuesday.
Tim Keck, acting secretary of
the Department for Aging and
Disability Services, said the agency

Vol. 131 Iss. 213 10 Pa ges

is working with the state fire

marshals office to determine how
the juvenile facility in the western
Kansas town of Larned would
have to be renovated to hold sex
offenders.
The Department of Corrections
plans to close the 152-bed juvenile
facility in March. The state has
more than enough space at its
juvenile corrections complex in
Topeka for its current population
of about 230 young offenders.
Also, lawmakers earlier this year
overhauled the juvenile justice
system to have a greater number
placed in community programs.
The state operates both a
mental health center for adult
prison inmates and a state mental
hospital in Larned. The Sexual
Predator Treatment Program is
part of the mental hospital, and its
population is growing.
We need to be prepared for
that, Keck told a joint legislative
committee reviewing mental
hospital operations. Were trying
to be proactive in determining
whether or not the juvenile correctional facility can be something we

can use.
The committees chairman,
Republican Sen. Jim Denning, was
skeptical of the idea, saying its
difficult to recruit physicians and
other licensed medical personnel
to work in Larned.
But he added the buildings
going to be empty. The worst thing
that could happen is it could rot.
Patients are committed to the
sexual predator program by the
courts after serving their prison
sentences and can remain indefinitely. Legislators created in the
program in 1994.
A critical audit last year said that
at the end of 2014, the sex
predator program housed 243
patients. The number has grown
since to 261. The audit said in the
programs first two decades, three
patients completed treatment,
while 28 died.
Kecks department and Larned
State Hospital overhauled the
program in the fall to make
treatment more structured and
personalized. The number of
patients whove completed the
program has grown to eight.

TOPEKA (AP) A Kansas physicians assistant

has been sentenced to a year of probation for
breaking federal law while treating patients with
Botox and another drug used cosmetically to prevent
wrinkles.
The U.S. attorneys office says 53-year-old Joel
Erskin, of Garden City, was sentenced Tuesday for
one count of receiving and dispensing misbranded
drugs.
He admitted through his plea to purchasing
cheaper versions of Botox and Juvederm from
Canadian pharmacies while he owned and operated
Renovo Medical. The business also is known as
University Medical.
The release says the Botox he purchased was
misbranded and failed to meet labeling requirements.
The Juvederm was adulterated and not approved for
U.S. distribution.
Erskin didnt inform his clients that the drugs were
purchased from Canada and didnt meet federal
standards.

Kansas governor to
give State of the
State address Jan. 10
TOPEKA (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback
plans to give the annual State of the State address Jan.
10.
Brownback said Tuesday that he has accepted an
invitation from incoming House Speaker Ron
Ryckman Jr. to address a
joint session of the Legislature the day after
lawmakers open their
2017 session.
The speaker traditionally issues such an
invitation because the
address is in the House
chamber. The 2017
speech is set for 5 p.m.
Governors use the
BROWNBACK
address to outline an
agenda for the Legislatures annual session and tout
past policies. Brownback is a Republican and used
part of his 2016 speech to criticize Democratic
President Barack Obama on national security issues.
Fiscal issues are likely to dominate the 2017
session. The state faces projected budget shortfalls
totaling $1.1 billion through June 2019.

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