During this week’s Wilson County Commission meeting, Road and Bridge Supervisor Kary Tatum announced that a new low-water bridge should be completed soon.

The bridge, located west of Chanute on K-39 between Wichita Road and Yale Road, was closed in early April due to flooding.

Tatum expects to lay concrete to complete the bridge this week. Wilson County estimates the project will cost $20,000.

In other news, Wilson County has begun working on its new budget. Kris Marple states mock-ups will be made for potential increases in county minimum wage, up to $14 and $15 per hour.

During this week’s school board meeting, Independence made three recognitions for recent achievements throughout the school district.

First, IHS had five powerlifters finish as state finalists, including Camden Pearson, who is a back-to-back state champion in girls’ bench press and power clean.

The board acknowledged IHS Theatre for winning Outstanding Overall Production at this year’s Wichita Jester Awards.

Also, kindergarten teacher Mary Swearingen was recognized as one of three semifinalists for the Region Two Teacher of the Year. Swearingen read from her speech about her passion for her work.

In other business, the Independence School Board approved the purchase of a 10-passenger, super duty van from Quality Motors of Independence for $61,612.

The Board also approved re-upping their membership in Schools for Fair Funding for the 2026-27 year.

Photo Courtesy: IndySchools Website

The City of Sedan is currently in the process of installing new grant-funded public seating.

City crews have begun the assembly and installation of new picnic tables and benches paid for by a Waste Tire Grant through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The City was awarded the $4,639 grant in March through the program that assists local governments in purchasing products made from recycled tires, such as playground surfacing, rubber mulch, or park benches. The grants are funded by revenue collected through the tire excise tax, a 25 cent per vehicle tire fee.

Photo courtesy City of Sedan

The City of Bartlesville will soon have a new Police Chief.

Deputy Police Chief Andrew Ward will become Bartlesville's new police chief when Kevin Ickleberry officially steps down from the role on July 2. Ward was offered the position following an internal application process that closed last month.

Ward began his law enforcement career working for the Kay County Detention Center in 2010. He joined the Bartlesville Police Department in 2012 where he served as a K-9 officer until 2022. Ward earned the rank of Corporal in 2018 and Sergeant in 2020. Ward was named Captain in 2022 before being promoted to Deputy Chief in 2024.

Chief Ickleberry has been on leave since December due to medical reasons, when Acting Police Chief Troy Newell stepped into the temporary role. Newell will continue as Acting Chief until Ward takes over in July.

The President of the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce is selected to lead a multi-state organization.

Coffeyville Chamber President Candi Westbrook has been chosen as the incoming Board Chair of the Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma or MAKO Chamber Conference. The move came at the group's 2026 annual conference held in April in Branson. The regional organization works to bring togther chamber professionals from the four participating states to assist in the advancement of economic and community development goals.

In her new role as Chair, Westbrook will focus on increasing participation across the four-state region, strengthening partnerships with organization sponsors, and maintaining high-quality programming for members.

Westbrook has served as President and CEO of the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce since 2017, where she focuses on business growth, community development, and strengthening Coffeyville’s economic vitality.

To learn more about the Coffeyville Chamber, follow this link

Discussions on the 2027 budget are set to get underway for the Neodesha City Commission.

On the agenda for today's meeting is an open session discussion on City finances for the 2027 budget. Commissioners will also consider bids for the purchase of transformers and for the repair of a ladder truck. There will also be a discussion of a Pathways for a Healthy Kansas Grant to fund improvements at Riverwalk Park and two Public Hearings for dangerous and unsafe structures.

Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the commission room at the Neodesha City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will also be recorded and available for later viewing on the City's Facebook page.

One person is dead following a single vehicle accident near Olathe.

The crash occurred shortly after noon on Tuesday on I-35 just south of Olathe. A 2015 Subaru Forester driven by 43-year-old Rhiannon Rodriguez of Leavenworth was traveling southbound on the Interstate when it left the roadway to the right and drove into the ditch. The vehicle then struck a tree and a concrete embankment. The SUV then caught fire. Rodriguez died at the scene.

A nearby pedestrian attempted to pull Rodriguez from the burning vehicle, but was unsuccessful. The 33-year-old man suffered minor injuries and was taken to KU Medical Center for treatment.

New legislation to prevent the misuse of nitrous oxide – commonly known as laughing gas – is signed into law in Oklahoma.

The law known as the Maddix Bias Act  makes it a misdemeanor to possess, buy, sell or transfer nitrous oxide for the purpose of intoxication. Violators could face up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The new law is named in honor of Maddix Bias, a 2023 Tecumseh High School graduate and standout baseball player whose life was tragically cut short in a car crash caused by his boss, who was under the influence of nitrous oxide. The measure also will increase penalties for possession of larger quantities and for those who sell or provide nitrous oxide to minors, including potential jail time, steeper fines and suspension of business licenses.

The law goes into effect 90 days after the final adjournment of the Oklahoma Legislature, which is slated to occur tomorrow Thursday, May 14 at 5pm.

The Wilson County Commission will hold their regular weekly meting today.

On the agenda will be updates from County Coordinator Kris Marple and County Clerk Kayla Busch. Road & Bridge Director Kary Tatum will also provide a summary of current work in his department. Today's Wilson County Commission meeting begins at 9am in Room 101 at the courthouse in Fredonia. The public is invited to attend.

The City of Coffeyville is hosting a grand opening for the new and improved tennis courts at Leclere Park.

Mayor Jim Faulkner says they invite the public to attend on Friday, May 22^nd at 10:00am at the tennis courts.  City Manager Ben Brubaker says despite the courts being open construction in the area is still ongoing.

The facility will continue to carry the name Clarence Stricklan Courts, honoring the history and legacy connected to the site and the community. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the courts. The ceremony will also feature special guest speaker Marilyn Pruitt, daughter of Clarence Stricklan.

The Coffeyville City Commission votes to raise the rates of water.

The commission unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance amending the rates applicable to the water utility. City Manager Ben Brubaker says last weeks incident is an example of why the the increase to help pay for cost of infrastructure improvements.  Brubaker says the rate increase will start in July of this year.

Brubaker says over 90% of customers are in the 5/8” meter size, which will see that average increase of $11.48 a month for the first year.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Director announces his retirement and his intention to run for county commissioner.

Retiring Director Rick Whitson says the decision to retire was not an easy one.  Whitson says his time as director of emergency management will help him as a county commissioner.  Whitson says he knows the number one issue for residents is taxes.

Whitson's official retirement date is June 1^st, which is also the last day to register to run for office in Kansas. Whitson would be running for the District One seat on the county commission, which is currently held by Robert Bever.

The USD 445 Board of Education hears an update on Energy Management from Navitas.

Energy Manager Nicci Williams says they monitor total electric, electric used and gas.  Williams says they exceeded the expected amount of savings in the first year.

The utility usage that was measured for the first year of this programs was from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. In other business, the board updated a number of policies as well as approved new hires including a new Ag Teacher.

Construction will start soon on a storm shelter in South Coffeyville.

At last night's school board meeting, Superintendent Daryl Pruter shared an update on a new storm shelter that will be built with $93,000 in grant funding. Pruter says the shelter will be built near the elementary school.

Pruter says construction will start as soon as school is out and should be completed by the end of the summer. The shelter will also be available for the community to use after school hours.

In other business, the board voted to hire non-certified personnel for the upcoming school year, and discussed plans for graduation, which is this Friday at 7 p.m.

The Independence High School Theater Department invites the public to attend the Rising Stars Cabaret tonight at IHS.

The evening will features performances from the IHS Jester Award winning production of The Addams Family: School Edition. Awards will also be given for the 12^th Annual IHS Drama Club Indy Awards. The program begins at 7pm at the IHS Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.

A South Coffeyville man is killed in UTV rollover accident last night.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 37-year-old Jared T. Zellmer was driving a 2021 Can-Am Maverick on County Road NS-416, just south of County Road EW-3 in Nowata County at around 6:45 last night when the UTV rolled over. Troopers say he was ejected and partially pinned under the vehicle.

Zellmer was taken to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. A passenger in the UTV was uninjured.

An effort to recall the Bourbon County Clerk is underway after a ballot error affecting the USD 235 school board election last fall.

Residents of Bourbon County have begun circulating a petition calling for the recall of County Clerk Susan Walker. At issue is a printing error in which incorrect ballots were issued for the school district election. After contacting the Kansas Secretary of State about the problem, new ballots were printed and mail-in voters were allowed to re-vote. However, 52 early voters were unable to re-vote.

In order to trigger a recall election, the petition must gather at least signatures totaling 40% of the votes cast. Organizers have until July 26^th to gather the signatures required.

A commission in Osage County, Oklahoma, passes away after a long illness.

District Three Commissioner Charlie Cartwright passed away early yesterday (Monday) morning due to health complications.

Cartwright had served in that position since January 2023. Prior to serving as county commissioner, Cartwright worked as a police officer for the Fairfax Police Department and beginning in 1997 he was hired on at the Osage County Jail where he worked his way up to Investigator. 

Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher first met Cartwright in 2011. Fisher has worked in Oklahoma and Tulsa County, but said Cartwright is possibly the best Investigator he has worked with. Fisher says Cartwright was always willing to give credit to others.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

The Nowata School Board gets an update on recent attendance numbers.

Nowata Public Schools have seen a recent decline in attendance. Reasons for the decline include students either transferring to another school or transitioning to homeschooling.

During Monday's meeting of the Nowata Board of Education, board members and Superintendent Dr. Mindy Englett discussed the term "unschooling." the term refers to a more informal approach to teaching, where the student can learn through real-life experiences rather than traditional, structured lessons. Dr. Englett says accountability is an issue.

The State of Oklahoma sought ways to cater to student needs with a change in their overall model at the high school level. Recent changes allow students to pick their pathway and the courses required to graduate on that course of study.

Independence Police arrest two people in separate incidents last week.

The first incident occurred on Tuesday, May 5^th, when officers were called to the 200 block of North Penn Avenue for a reported fight in progress. Officers arrived on the scene and, following an investigation arrested 32-year-old Tyrone Walton. Walton faces multiple charges including Criminal threat, Causing Terror, and Felony Possession of Marijuana.

The second incident happened on Friday evening, May 8^th. At around 11pm that night, officers were dispatched to the 800 block of North Penn for reports of three juveniles making threats involving firearms in backpacks. 18-year-old Tristan Cartwright was arrested and faces charges of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Use of a Weapon, and Aggravated Endangerment of a Child. Both men were booked into the Montgomery County Jail in Independence.

Photo: Tyrone Walton (left), Tristan Cartwright (right)

Water rates will once again be a topic of discussion at tonight's Coffeyville City Commission meeting.

The City has determined that in order to deal with infrastructure needs in the coming decades, including a new water plant, City revenue will need to increase. This will likely mean that water rates will go up. Currently, Coffeyville customers pay less for water than nearby cities of comparable size, including Independence, Parsons, Iola, and Chanute. If approved, the increase would go into effect in July.

Commissioners will discuss the City's options at tonight's meeting that begins at 6:30 in the Commission Room at City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City's YouTube channel.

The Kansas Department of Transportation announces that work on the railroad overpass in Coffeyville is now complete.

US-166/US-169 under the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad bridge in Coffeyville is now open to traffic, according to KDOT. The repair work began on April 10 to repair the bridge crossing with the work and street closure taking place on weekends. Traffic will now be open on the weekends once again.

For road conditions across the state, visit kandrive.gov or call 5-1-1.

Photo: City crews install mural on the railroad bridge. Photo is courtesy of the City of Coffeyville

A 19-year-old Hutchinson woman dies in a crash on K-96.

The accident occurred Monday afternoon around 4:15 near the intersection of Trail West Road or about 3 miles south of South Hutchinson. A semi truck was legally parked on the shoulder of K-96 and was approached by a northbound Dodge Durango driven by 19-year-old Nathan Pfannenstiel of Hutchinson. The driver veered onto the should and struck the parked semi. The collision caused fatal injuries to a passenger in the Durango, 19-year-old Baylee Flynn. She was pronounced deceased later that evening at Wichita's Wesley Medical Center.

The Kansas Corporation Commission will hold a public hearing tonight in Columbus to give Liberty utility customers the opportunity to learn more about the company’s rate increase request, ask questions and make comments.

Liberty Utilities has filed an application with the Commission requesting to increase customer electric rates by $15.8 million to recover costs for investments made to update aging infrastructure, modernize its customer service technology, and strengthen the system against extreme weather and other challenges.

If approved in full, the increase will be phased in over a three-year period. Kansas customers with average usage would see their monthly bill increase $11.88 in the first year, $21.28 in the second year, and another $21.28 in the third year. The proposed total bill after three years would be approximately $189.83, a 40% increase in the total bill.

The public hearing will be held at the Columbus High School Auditorium located at 124 South High School Avenue in Columbus beginning at 6 p.m. The hearings will also be broadcast live on the KCC’s YouTube channel and recorded for later viewing. Liberty Utilities has customers in southeast Kansas in Labette and Cherokee counties.

A few storms are possible tonight for the four-state area.

Storms are expected to develop along a southward moving cold front this evening between 5 and 10 p.m.

The Flint Hills into southeast Kansas will have the best chance to see a storm or two.

Hail up to golf ball size along with 60 mph winds will be possible with the stronger storms. Stay tuned to The Mighty 690 for severe weather updates if needed.