HASKELL COUNTY – The Haskell County Sheriff’s Office requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue an endangered persons advisory for a missing woman and her two daughters from Haskell County. The whereabouts of 23-year-old Martha Unger, and her daughters Madilynn Grace Unger, 2, and Haylie Faith Unger, 1, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate them. They were reported missing from their home in rural Haskell County today just before 7 p.m. It is believed Martha is driving a 2015 white Ford Explorer bearing Kansas tag 301RJY. Martha is a white female, approximately 5 foot...
Southwest Medical Center is pleased to announce that Dr. Peter Phan, M.D., F.A.C.S., has joined our outstanding team of medical professionals. Dr. Phan brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to serving the community, and we are thrilled to have him on board. Dr. Phan’s journey into medicine was inspired by a calling he felt as a high school student in Washington State. Reflecting on his path, he shared, “For years, I wanted to serve God but didn’t know exactly which career would fit. Then one day in Sunday school, I heard about missionary doctors and it suddenly...
EDWARDSVILLE – Governor Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced that $8.6 million will be awarded to 14 transportation construction projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Program for spring 2024. “These new Cost Share projects will repair and modernize transportation infrastructure in communities across Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Collaboration on these selected projects address short-term challenges to bring long-term solutions to the places Kansans call home.” With today’s announcement, more than $260 million has been invested to support the 179 projects selected in the Cost Share Program since it began in the fall of...
There’s nothing like music to transport people to a place of beauty, and the vocal recital “Afternoon in Italy” aims to do just that. Amira Coleman will present a program of light opera, Broadway tunes and traditional favorite at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at Brookdale/Liberal Springs. The recital is free to the community. Donations are welcome to help fund an opera study trip, sponsored by Wichita State University’s department of vocal music, where Coleman is a student.
“This is a way to share the music I’ve been learning all year as a freshman at WSU, and it’s something I love to do — perform for people who enjoy music but might have difficulties getting out to concerts,” she said. “Growing up in Liberal, as a voice and piano student, I always looked forward to recitals like this.” Liberal residents have seen Coleman perform in multiple musicals and plays at Liberal High School and Seward County Community College. As Fairy Godmother in “Cinderella” at LHS, she won “Best Supporting Actress in a Musical” from the Kansas Jester organization. She also played the role of Deloris in “Sister Act” in spring 2017 at SCCC.
As one of only two western-Kansas members of the audition-selected choir program at WSU, Coleman has received high praise for the training she brought with her.
“I received excellent training in piano, voice, and drama from Tammy Janzen, Chris Seeman, Tony Claus, Lance Burnett, Grant Mathews, and Gloria Goodwin and Dr. Magda Silva at SCCC,” she said. “When I hear positive feedback from my professors at WSU, it’s a compliment to the early music education I received back home.”
The “Canta Italia” trip to Lucca, Italy, is part of the opera studies track at WSU. Participants live in a small community in the region of Tuscany, study Italian, receive voice lessons from opera professionals, and travel to Verona for a performance of “Aida.” As the home of Puccini, Lucca is known as “the birthplace of opera,” and sponsors many performances and festivals.
During her first year at WSU, Coleman sang in the a capella choir and the chorus for two opera productions, “The Elixir of Love” and “The Marriage of Figaro.” A member of Dr. Cristina Castaldi’s music studio, Coleman is a double-major at the university, studying music education and musical performance.
Her program at Brookdale will offer a mixture of classical and popular music. Alisa Henderson will accompany on the piano.
“Going to Italy to study opera is not something I ever expected to be able to do, but thanks to scholarships, work at WSU’s performance center, and fundraising, I am almost there,” Coleman said. “The performance is a way to share with my community, and raise the final amount of funds I need.”
The public is invited to join Brookdale residents for the event. For more information, or to contribute to Coleman’s trip, call 620-417-4278.