A disciplinary panel has recommended to censure a Montgomery County judge over his behavior and foul-mouthed outbursts. On Friday, the panel concluded that F. William Cullins violated central judicial canons of independence, integrity and impartiality. The recommedation, which also includes that Cullins should receive professional coaching, will be sent to the Kansas Supreme Court to ultimately decide his fate. 

Should the Supreme Court agree with the panel's recommendation, Cullins will not be kicked off the bench. He was elected to serve on the bench in 2006.

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to start a project that will expand a six-mile section of U.S. 69 in Crawford County to a four-lane divided expressway starting next week.

The expansion project begins at the U.S. 69/K-47 junction and continues north and ends three miles north of the Arma city limits. Two lanes will be added to the existing U.S. 69 alignment. Two-way traffic is being maintained on the existing lanes of U.S. 69 while the new lanes are under construction. Traffic will be switched to the new lanes when the existing lanes are rebuilt. Early project activity includes grading and work on box culverts off the highway.

The new expressway will be open to unrestricted traffic by mid-August of 2021.

The Chautauqua County Commission met on Friday for its regularly scheduled meeting on the last working day of the month.

As usual, the morning's meeting got started with an update on the roads and bridges by Mark McCall. Several roads and topics were discussed during this week's update, with the area near Road 32 and Cowboy Road getting the most discussion. Commissioner Rodney Shaw said that ultimately, it is the commission's job to take care of the road system in the county. 

Misti Byers of the health department also gave a brief report to the commission, and Crystal Wade also stopped by and had a discussion with the three commissioners on how best to collect delinquent trash fees throughout the county.

The board will have a quick turnaround, meeting again on Monday at the Chautauqua County courthouse. The meeting will begin at 8:30 am.

The Independence City Commission has approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a forgivable loan agreement with Indy Brew Works. The city will make a payment of $5,000 to be made toward a job creation incentive, and came at the recommendation of the Economic Development Advisory Board. 

The board recommended the loan because of the brewery's plans to use the money toward specific purposes outlined in the original request and also because of the potential revenue it could bring to the city. Indy Brew Works also plans to have five FTE employees within the first year of opening.

Also part of the agreement was that the brewery will provide yearly employment reports from the Kansas Department of Labor to the city, for every year for the remainder of the deal.

The Kansas Department of Transportation has awarded more than $8 million for 18 projects selected for inclusion in its Transportation Alternatives program for the federal fiscal year of 2021.

32 applications were submitted requesting over $22 million in funds with only 18 projects being selected.

The City of Coffeyville was selected for safe routes to school and rail to trail sidewalk and a shared use path project totaling over $913,000.

KDOT evaluated each application and their selections were based on criteria using inputs from various departments involving safety and network improvements, cost estimates, project readiness, public support and other factors.

For more information, visit the KDOT website or call 785-296-5186.

A grant awarded to the Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing at Pittsburg State University will establish the first rural primary care nurse practitioner residency program in Southeast Kansas.

The $2.3 million grant award, given by the Health Resources and Services Administration will span four years; the first year, which started last summer and will end in May, was dedicated to planning, while the next three years will feature one-year rotations and training for the Nurse Practitioner Residents.

The grant award will partially fund salaries and educational opportunities for 18 nurse practitioners who will do their residencies at Ascension Via Christi, Girard Medical Center, and the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

The program’s clinical focus will be rural primary care, but additional rotations will be provided to better prepare nurse practitioners for patient referrals and to promote cross-specialty networking and transdisciplinary learning. You can learn more about the project or apply online at https://www.pittstate.edu/nursing/nurse-practitioner-residency.html

It's National FFA Week and one tradition that the Adair High School FFA Chapter in Adair, Oklahoma has is their annual Labor Auction. Adair FFA Adviser Devin DeLozier says they've been putting on labor auctions at Adair since 1971.

DeLozier says as the labor auction has evolved they've included other things in their auction like equipment built in their shop and other items in a silent auction. He says this year they broke a record as they raised $102,812 and all that money will go back into the program.  DeLozier says he wants to thank the community for their support and the auctioneer from Coffeyville Livestock Brian Little, who has been the events auctioneer since 2014.

Adair FFA President Lilee Brinlee says she didn't realize until the next day the impact the auction had, but Vice President Mackenzie Reynolds says she was in charge of the silent auction and could tell they were in store for a special night.

KGGF along with Arvest Bank is honoring outstanding FFA students in our area with the Arvest Bank Ag Student of the Month. The first recipient of this award went to Caney FFA Chapter's Emma Pool, who says coming from being home schooled to public school as a freshman FFA was a great way to get her involved.

Being a leader is big part of FFA and Pool says she wants to be an example of what you put in you get out.  You can see the full version of our interview with Emma Pool on our Facebook page and if you know of anyone who should be honor with this award you can nominate them here.

If you are interested in coaching and working with kids, the Coffeyville Recreation Commission is looking for coaches for two sports for their upcoming seasons.

Special Events and Aquatics Coordinator Jaime Grant joined KGGF in studio Thursday morning and explained what particular sports need coaches.

To inquire about a coaching position call the CRC at (620) 251-5910.

Candi Westbrook with the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce joined KGGF on Wednesday morning with the Chamber Minute Update for this week. Some of the talking points involved the short lived Coronavirus scare in southeast Kansas, potential scams from callers, and information regarding staying connected with the chamber and their updates. 

Click HERE to hear the Chamber Minute Update with Candi Westbrook. 

If you have any questions or want to know more information, contact the Chamber at 620-251-2550 or visit their website at www.coffeyvillechamber.org. 

A man who was convicted of killing his roommate with a machete died on the same day he was admitted to prison.

60-year old Timothy Russell Moses died Tuesday at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. He had been admitted to the prison earlier in the day, according to officials with the corrections department. He was sentenced earlier this month to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder in Labette County. The death is being investigated.

Moses was convicted of killing 59-year old Donald Trammell by hitting him with a machete about 20 times at a Parsons home in 2017.

Kendall and Ashley Burnett, a Coffeyville couple accused of sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl were arraigned on a list of felony charges at the Washington County Courthouse on Wednesday. The couple faces a slew of charges including child sexual abuse, manufacturing, possessing and distributing child pornography as well as other charges pertaining to the incident. A court affidavit alleges that couple engaged in sexual activity with the minor female victim in various capacities.

Online conversation between the two showed their plan to involve the victim and plans to threaten her if she discussed the alleged incidents. Screenshots of the conversations have been circulating in various social media and online channels. The Bartlesville Police Department posted an update on Facebook encouraging citizens to stop the spread of sensitive and inappropriate content related to this case. BPD also stated that work was done to find a safe place for the minor victim to stay.

Both defendants remain in custody at the Washington County Jail on their original bonds. The pair will return to court on March 13 at 9:00am on the felony status docket.

Parsons Police Officers made two arrests in connection to a string of burglaries that took place in Parsons.

38-year old Amber Lockard and 29-year old Shadaiva Benge were arrested late Monday. Currently living in Parsons, both individuals are originally from Missouri and are currently on parole for previous felony convictions from Missouri Department of Corrections.

Officers were notified about a string of vehicle burglaries that took place approximately two weeks ago. During the burglaries a debit card was stolen and subsequently used at a later date at Wal-Mart. Officers were able to view the videos from both incidents and determined that it was the same suspects in both videos. Officers tracked and located the suspects to a house in southeast Parsons. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and a large quantity of stolen items were recovered from the home, along with illegal narcotics and paraphernalia.

Lockard and Benge are being held and charges are still being compiled and will be released at a later date.

One person was hit and killed by a car, after their own car crashed on an icy bridge in Bourbon County early Wednesday morning.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a vehicle was crossing a bridge at around 4:40 am, going northbound just north of Arrowhead Road on US-69. The driver of the car lost control on a slick spot and crashed into the median. The driver got out of their car, and a second vehicle also lost control in the same area, hitting and killing the driver of the first car.

All northbound traffic was diverted for more than an hour as authorities responded to the incident.

An Independence man was held in contempt of court during his hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse. 41 year old Tremayne Darkis appeared for his evidentiary hearing represented by his Defense Attorney Bryan Rickman. Darkis was accused of breaking the terms of his probation and he went six months without checking in with his parole officer. Both Darkis and his parole officer testified in the matter. Judge Williams Cullins ruled that Darkis would serve the remainder of his sentence stating he didn't believe Darkis could follow the terms of a new parole.

Darkis not agreeing with the sentence proceeded to argue with Judge Cullins and after several warnings held him in contempt, which added 30 days to his sentence. However, Judge Cullins did say he would take a written apology from Darkis to rescind that 30 day sentence.

The Kansas Department of Transportation have announced the winners of the 2020 Kansas Aviation Art Contest.

The contest is designed to challenge young people to use creative expression through art to illustrate the importance of aviation. Artists ages 6-17 were divided in three age categories (junior, intermediate and senior) to create art that celebrates the adventure and excitement of aviation. The theme for this year’s contest was “Flying Yesterday and Tomorrow.."

Some local winners in junior category are: Lily Weidemier, and Tripp Pelzel of McPherson and Journey Linthicum of Parsons. The first-place winner in each age group receives a prize package which includes a drone and a tablet among other prizes.

State winners will be submitted to the International Aviation Art Contest hosted by International Aeronautical Federation.

The Coffeyville Police Department is partnering up with other law enforcement agencies throughout Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri to increase enforcement near high schools in an effort to increase awareness on road safety.

Beginning February 24 and running through March 6, officers will issue citations to those found to be in violation of traffic laws, including speeding, texting or failing to buckle their seatbelts. The CPD also requests that parents talk with their teenagers and educate them on the importance of roadway safety.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced on Tuesday that the state has been investigating JUUL Labs' business practices in connection with the jump in youth vaping.

Schmidt said his office is one of 39 state Attorney's General participating in the joint investigation into JUUL's marketing and sales which includes targeting youth, claims regarding nicotine content and statements regarding risks, safety, and effectiveness as a smoking cessation device.

Schmidt mentioned that he would not characterize the status of the investigation or what the Attorney's General have found to this point.

Data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control found that last year showed more than five million youth reported to have used E-cigarettes within the past 30 days which was up from 3.6 million in 2018.

The selection of a preliminary hearing date for an Independence man on trail for murder has been postponed.  18 year old Benjamin Mason is on trail for first degree murder in the drive-by shooting death of 19 year old Kimberly Meeks. 

Mason who was arrested on December 15th appeared in court Tuesday morning to be informed that his attorney was out with the flu and Judge William Cullins pushed the selection of a preliminary hearing date back to March 17th.

A Coffeyville couple was arrested on several counts revolving around the sexual abuse of an 8 year old girl. According to their Facebooks both Kendall Burnett and Ashley Burnett are from Coffeyville. Kendall Burnett is facing possible charges of child sexual abuse, manufacturing, possessing and distributing child pornography as well as other charges. Ashley Burnett is facing similar counts in addition to enabling child sexual abuse.

Online conversation between the two showed their plan to involve the victim in sexual activities. Photos of the victim without clothes on were also exchanged in the conversation thread. The messages said the couple would take the victim’s cell phone away if she discussed what was going on. All of these incidents allegedly occurred at the Skyline Motel on Washington Boulevard. Evidence of cocaine and marijuana was discovered inside of the room. Kendall Burnett’s bond was set at $200,000 in addition to a $50,000 motion to revoke warrant. Ashley Burnett’s bond was set at $150,000.

The Washington County District’s Attorney Office is still gathering information on this case. Kendall and Ashley Burnett will remain in custody at the Washington County Detention Center.

A probable cause hearing was held on Monday. Both parties were informed on Tuesday in court that charges have not yet been prepared. Assistant district attorney Will Drake advised the court that Kendall Burnett could be facing up to nine felony charges and Ashley Burnett could be facing up to six felony charges.

A court affidavit alleges that couple engaged in sexual activity with the minor female victim in various capacities. The State of Oklahoma plans on bringing charges forward during arraignments on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.

The Parsons Sesquicentennial Committee would like to remind everyone that the contest to design the logo for the 150th Celebration of the founding of Parsons will be ending soon. The committee will accept entries until March 1^st at which time the committee will choose the winning logo and announce the winner of a $500 prize.

The logo will be used on all marketing and collateral material used during the planned yearlong celebration. Entries may be delivered on a jump drive or artistic platform to the second floor of the Parsons Municipal Building, attention Laura Cruz. If you would like more information please contact Jim Zaleski at 620-421-7030.

Crawford County Tourism has recently reported a significant growth in numbers in the last couple of years.

A recent report by the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau shows how significant the growth has been. The report by Tourism Economics utilized data from the 2018 calendar year due to the availability of information.

One of the key factors in the recent growth has been thanks to the opening of the Kansas Crossing Casino, two new hotels and overall general progress in Pittsburg.

According to the report, total visitor spending with Crawford County surged to over $86 million in 2018 which is a 62% increase over 2016. With the jump from 2016, Crawford County ranked 12^th among Kansas counties for total visitor spending.

To find out more information on what's going on in Crawford County, go online to www.visitcrawfordcounty.com.

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued flood warnings running through Wednesday morning for Labette County and Neosho County. The Neosho River is anticipated to see its water level rise near Parsons and also near Oswego. The NWS is forecasting that the river will Rise above flood stage by early Tuesday morning and continue to rise to near 21.3 feet by early Tuesday afternoon. The river will fall below flood stage by Tuesday evening.

KGGF reminds you to be safe, and turn around, don't drown.

The Attorney General’s Office will mark National Consumer Protection Week with free document destruction events throughout the state. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says their office works hard year-round to protect consumers. Next week, they will place a particular focus on helping Kansans protect themselves from identity theft and stay safe from scams. The office will sponsor free document destruction at eight locations throughout the state from March 2^nd to March 7^th, which is National Consumer Protection Week. Securely shredding personal documents is an important step toward preventing identity theft.

Residents in Southeast Kansas can mark their calendars for next Tuesday when shredding will be available in Chanute at the recreation center from 11:00am to 1:00pm.  Consumers are asked to limit their documents for destruction to three small bags or boxes. Documents will be securely transported to the shredding facility for safe destruction by certified shredding companies.

A full agenda for the last regularly scheduled Monday meeting for the Labette County Commission. The commissioners received an update from the Parsons Economic Development Director Jim Zaleski on business recruitment from the the 2020 Shot Show in Las Vegas. Great Plains Development Authority's Park Director Brad Reams gave their monthly update. The commission also heard from Director of Emergency Management

Charlie Morse regarding Title VI. 911 Dispatch Director Brandy Grassl got the chairman's signature on the IPAWS agreement which had been approved at a previous meeting.

Pitt State Theatre will be presenting the play “Silent Sky” beginning this Thursday at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

This play is based on the true story of Henrietta Leavitt, who worked at the Harvard Observatory as one of the female “computers” who mapped and measured the stars. Even with little recognition, she had a profound influence on the field of astronomy. The play is written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Megan Westhoff.

Performances are scheduled for February 27^th through March 1^st. Shows begin at 7:30pm Thursday through Sunday with two additional matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm.

For the first time in over 40 years, the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons received loaded train cars as state leaders were there for a ribbon cutting and throwing of the switch. KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz and Secretary of Commerce David Toland were there to celebrate the arrival of the first loaded train in more than 40 years.

Back in December TP&L had approached Great Plains Industrial Park about being its newest distribution center. The partnership with TP&L was quickly arranged and TP&L will now ship wind energy components to the park–which currently has 27 wind turbine blades. So far the park has had one train in and two trains are expected later this week.

The Montgomery County Commissioners met for their weekly meeting on Monday morning in the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence.

After a call to order, the Commissioners approved the agenda, minutes, and invoices for the month.

Appraiser Dee Carter was in attendance to update the board on valuation notices. (AUDIO) 

Carter gives a quick mention of what to expect for Coffeyville. (AUDIO) 

Carter also provided an update on a project that discusses delinquent tax for over 400 residences dating back to 2014. (AUDIO)

Public Works Coordinator Jim Wright had a chance to get in front of the Commissioners to discuss road and bridge plus special bridge bid requests. They received bids for corrugated metal pipe that is out of the debit road and bridge fund which was reviewed and approved by the Commissioners to move forward with.

Wright also mentioned that the Kansas Department of Transportation had sent out a notice regarding the postponement of the bid letting for the project at County Road 3900/3400 (Tucker Corner) which will be moved to next month with the recent changes in the U.S. Department of Labor Prevailing Wage Rates.

Wright provided the Commissioners with a meeting agenda for the 2020 County Commissioners and Road Officials Meeting that will take place in Chanute.

Regarding special bridge, they sent out three separate bid requests to five companies for sheet piling, H-beams, and bridge planks in which one of those bids was received back from Welborn Sales out of Salina. The Commissioners reviewed and approved that bid that totaled over $28,000 for sheet piling. The bid requests involving the H-beams and bridge planks were tabled for the next scheduled meeting because they recommended re-bidding those items as a single bid.

Hear the full audio with Jim Wright by clicking HERE.

Other discussions during the meeting involved Micah Boulanger from Employee Benefit Management Services and also RV Park application approval. 

The Montgomery County Commission Meeting agenda is always subject to change and all meetings are open to the public every Monday morning beginning at 9:00 AM.

A retired Allen County Community College art instructor will be holding a workshop next month at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center. Steve Greenwall, who taught at ACCC for 24 years, will be offering a class on pen and art techniques. Classes will be held on March 16, 23, and 30, as well as April 20. The cost for each class is $20, with each session starting at 10 a.m. and ending at noon.

Those who wish to finish a painting with the techniques taught by Greenwall are also invited to join him during his open studio classes, which cost $30 and will resume on April 27.

For more information, text IHMAC Art Coordinator Donna Rothgeb at 620-331-0108 or 620-332-7694. Alternatively, you can email her at rdrothgeb@cableone.net.

A Wichita company has been ordered to pay $10,000 in penalties and fees for violating the No-Call Act. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says Steven Motors agreed to pay $10,000 in fees and civil penalties. The attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division began investigating Steven Motors after receiving complaints from Kansas consumers about receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls. The complaints alleged that company employees were calling Kansas consumers on the Do-Not-Call registry.

Kansans who wish to register for the national Do-Not-Call list, or to report an alleged violation of the No-Call Act, should visit the Attorney General’s website at inyourcornerkansas.org.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), state and local officials and highway advocates attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the previously delayed U.S. 169 project in Anderson County this morning at Welda.

Starting in March, KDOT will reconstruct and rehabilitate 7½ miles of U.S. 169 from Welda north to the roundabout south of Garnett. Bettis Asphalt & Construction is the primary contractor on the $21 million T-WORKS project, which will add 10-foot shoulders to the roadway and provide a 32-foot clear zone off the highway. The project will also improve the vertical alignment of U.S. 169 to provide more opportunities to safely pass slow-moving vehicles.

Kansas has climbed into the top 10 of cheapest gas in the nation coming in at number 9, according to GasBuddy.com.

While the national average is currently stands at $2.47 a gallon, an average gallon of regular gasoline comes in at nearly 30 cents cheaper at $2.18 in Kansas. That is just over 3 cents higher than last week's average and but down 7 cents from last month.

Montgomery County came in at $2.21 a gallon which is 3 cents higher than the state average. Labette County comes in at 5 cents under the state average at $2.13 a gallon while Chautauqua and Elk counties are level with the state average of $2.18.

Across the border in Oklahoma, an average gallon of gasoline is $2.15 with gas in Washington and Nowata counties coming in at $2.14 and $2.17 a gallon, respectively.

An arrest was made in Labette County on Thursday afternoon after deputies discovered a cell phone left behind at the scene. 

Just before 2 p.m. on Thursday, Labette County Sheriff's Deputies were called to 26042 Irving Road for a burglary theft report. While taking the report, the deputies discovered a cell phone that did not belong to the owner of the property. Deputies found out that the cell phone belonged to 35-year old Karla Lassen.

Lassen was stopped on Clark Street, and deputies recovered stolen jewelry and numerous other items taken from the residence. Lassen was arrested for  burglary, theft and possession of a controlled substance. She is currently being held in the Labette County Jail.

The Allen County Sheriff's Department is looking for someone who allegedly shoplifted two different auto stores in Kansas.

The alleged thief took items from a store in Iola worth about $1,100 and items worth about $800 from a store in Hays. If you have seen this individual or have information on him, contact the Allen County Sheriff's Office at 620-365-1400 or send them a private message on Facebook.

Author Laura Moriarty, whose book “The Chaperone” is particularly relevant to Kansans, will be reading from her work at 8 pm. Feb. 27 in the Governors Room in the Overman Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.

“The Chaperone” tells the fictional account of real-life Louise Brooks, the famous actress and Jazz Age icon, as she makes her way from Wichita to New York to make it big. The narrative is told from the perspective of her chaperone, who shares five life-changing weeks with the star as they make their way across the country.  The novel was adapted into a feature film by PBS’s Masterpiece Films in 2019.

Moriarty is also the author of “American Heart,” “While I’m Falling,” “The Rest of Her Life,” and “The Center of Everything.” She earned a degree in social work before returning for her Master of Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is requesting comments on an amendment to the FFY 2020-2023 STIP document. STIP stands for Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

The STIP is a publication that lists all of KDOT's administered projects and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects for the state highway system. The list of projects being amended can be viewed on their website which is www.ksdot.org.

The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period which will finish on Wednesday, March 4^th. You can also make comments to the amendment over the phone by calling KDOT's Division of Program and Project Management at 785-296-2252.

To obtain an alternative format, contact KDOT Division of Communications at 785-296-3585.

KGGF was pleased to be joined by Steve Hale who is the Senior Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau to discuss the upcoming 2020 Census. 

Plenty of key topics were discussed regarding the Census and what people need to know and expect once the Census gets distributed beginning on March 12th. 

Some of the key questions answered by Hale include: 

- What is the Census? 

- What's the timeline for getting the Census, filled out and returned? 

- Are there other ways to fill out the Census outside from getting it in the mail? 

- What happens if someone doesn't respond to the Census? 

- Where can people find out more information regarding the Census? (Online and locally in Montgomery County) 

Click HERE to listen to the full interview with Steve Hale regarding the upcoming 2020 Census. 

A former Fredonia city administrator has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for child pornography.

40-year-old Michael P. Ohrt, pleaded guilty to one count of transporting child pornography. In his plea, he admitted using his Yahoo e-mail account to establish a Dropbox storage account and then uploading videos of child pornography. Dropbox identified the material as child pornography and reported the user’s information to authorities. Investigators traced the IP address to Ohrt’s work and home in Fredonia.

Ohrt faced up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervised release. Ohrt served as city administrator for Fredonia from 2015 to 2017.

Earlier this week Labette County Sheriff Deputies responded to a burglary in progress in Bartlett, Kansas. The victim stated that she was watching the subject remove items from her residence via the Ring App on her phone. The victim identified the individual as Bryce Phillips.

During the investigation officers were able to return the stolen items to the owner, and place Phillips under arrest for burglary and theft.

Tuesday morning the Labette County Sheriff Deputies began pursuit of a vehicle after the vehicle passed a deputy going 114mph. After about an 11 mile pursuit the vehicle lost control and wrecked. The suspects fled on foot and the deputies were informed the vehicle was reported stolen from Cherryvale. The sheriffs office received information a yellow vehicle was headed to aid the suspects. A Deputy located a yellow 2006 Chevy Aveo and after a high-risk vehicle stop was performed the occupants were identified as Taren Savage, of Parsons, and Jordan Marshall, of Cherryvale. Savage was released but Marshall was turned over to Cherryvale PD wanted for a burglary that was committed on Monday. Labette County Dispatch received a report of a man flagging down motorists. Deputies responded to the area and located Benjamin Whitaker, of Independence, deputies arrested Whitaker for an outstanding Kansas Parole Warrant. He was later identified as the second suspect from vehicle pursuit.

Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers relocated the yellow Aveo and as the Trooper conducted a traffic stop, the occupants exited and ran into a wooded area. After about a 45-minute manhunt, KHP Troopers took Hale and Savage into custody after being found hiding in a camper trailer within a mile of the traffic stop.

Whitaker was booked into the Labette County Jail for Kansas Parole Warrant, possession of stolen property and felony interference with a Law Enforcement Official. Hale was booked into the Labette County Jail for possession of stolen property and felony interference with a Law Enforcement Official. Savage was booked into the Labette County Jail for Felony Obstructing Apprehension Charges are being filed in cooperation with Labette County Attomey's Office and the investigation is on-going. In a collaborative effort of area law enforcement, the Labette County Sheriff's Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, the Cherryvale Police Department, the Altamont Police Department, the Parsons Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Highway Patrol Aviation Unit coordinated efforts during this situation to bring these suspects into custody.

Construction has begun on the new K-126 bridge over Cow Creek in Pittsburg as the first beams were set on the north half of the road. The work zone is just west of the U.S. 69 bypass.

Project activity includes: reconstructing and widening the roadway to 56 feet, replacing the traffic signal heads at the U.S. 69/K-126 intersection, and pouring new concrete at each end of the bridge. Two-way traffic is being carried through the work zone in staged construction phases.

B&B Bridge Company is contractor on the bridge replacement, which has a construction cost of nearly $3 million.

The City of Parsons was recently notified by a local business that there is currently a company making sales calls to local businesses regarding advertising on a calendar, magnet and/or a tote bag. 

According to the report, the company claims to be representing a local health organization, the Chamber of Commerce or the City of Parsons. All businesses are suggested to do due diligence prior to making any arrangements to purchase advertising from any company over the phone.

If you are contacted by someone saying they are representing the Parsons Chamber, please call 620-421-6500 to confirm and if you are contacted by anyone saying they are representing the City please contact Laura Cruz at 620-421-7030.

Students are out of class for the third day in a row at Coffeyville’s Field Kindley High School and Roosevelt Middle School.  Students are out for the second straight day because there is no heat in either school as crews continue to work on a gas line leak in front of the school. 

Classes are in session at both Community Elementary School and the Early Learning Center.

All you can eat pancakes will be served with ham and drinks on Saturday, Feb. 22^nd from 5:00 to 7:30 PM at the Bartlett United Methodist Church.

Live music featuring the Western Way Cowboy Church will be performed from 5:30 to 7:30 PM and a silent auction will be held during the event as well.

Donations will be accepted.

The Bartlesville Cherokee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America has discussed the just announced action by the national organization to file a Chapter 11 Reorganization plan. That case is in the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. President Dale Copeland says the local council is not directly affected by the National Scout organization’s actions.

Copeland says the Cherokee Area Council BSA has extensive safeguards and training to address the issue. He noted that the local council was recently recognized with the 2019 Journey to Excellence gold ranking. Less than 8-percent of the 261 councils nationwide achieved this prestigious honor which measures the quality local programming.

At around 10:15 Tuesday morning the Cherryvale Police Department received a report that there was an unexploded device in the downtown area. As a precaution a two block radius was secured and residents and business were asked to evacuate the area for their safety. Cherryvale PD had the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Bomb Unit on scene to assist with this matter. At 2:10 the scene was cleared and the unexploded device was removed securely by the Bomb Unit.

Cherryvale PD would like to thank KHP and the Bomb Unit for their quick response and assistance. They would also like to thank the citizens and local businesses for their cooperation today.

A presentation to purchase a vehicle to replace an older vehicle topped the last Wilson County Commission Meeting.

Road & Bridge Supervisor Kary Tatum discussed equipment in need of replacement. He presented a 1992 Kenworth W900 semi-truck for sale in the amount of $15,000. A motion was made by District 2 Commissioner Andrew Miller to approve the purchase of the semi-truck not to exceed $15,000. District 1 Commissioner Jerry Scott seconded the motion, and the motion carried.

In other business, County Coordinator Kris Marple presented a letter of support for an increase of financial aid to Local Health Departments from KDHE for signature. A motion was made by Commissioner Miller to approve the letter of support as presented. Commissioner Scott seconded the motion, and the motion carried.

An Independence man given probation for two charges. 20 year old Austin Sutton appeared in court in front of Judge Jeffrey Gossard. Sutton was charged with theft of a firearm and a probation violation in a previous case. The theft could carry a 10 month jail sentence. Judge Gossard ruled in favor of a 12 month probation and agreed to allow Sutton to serve the probation he violated concurrently with his new sentence. If Sutton violates the new probation order he would have to serve the 10 month jail sentence.

Judge Gossard also ordered Sutton to pay $800 in restitution along with other court fees.

Friends and family of Kimberly Meeks gathered in front of the Montgomery County Courthouse this morning with signs and chants for Kimmy. Meeks Mother Amanda Shamblin says she wants justice for her daughter.

Meeks was the victim of a drive by shooting on December 14, 2019 in Independence. She was 19 years old and had just graduated from Field Kindley.

The Pittsburg State University Symphonic Band and the Pittsburg State University Wind Ensemble will perform in concert on Feb. 20 at 7:30 pm. at the Linda & Lee Scott Performance Hall in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

Director of the PSU Wind Ensemble, Andrew Chybowski, said this concert will be pretty special because of its focus on the music and teaching of the late David Maslanka. Composer Roy Magnuson wrote a piece for this concert in tribute to Maslanka, which will receive its world premiere that evening.

The PSU Symphonic Band is under the direction of Doug Whitten. The concert also will feature guest conductors Matthew Reimer and Eric Stark in their first concerts as graduate conducting students for the Wind Ensemble.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is set to hold a groundbreaking ceremony to jump start the delayed U.S. 169 T-Works project between Welda and Garnett.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Friday, Feb. 21^st beginning at 11:00 AM. The ceremony will be located at the northwest corner of the U.S. 169 and 1000 road intersection in Welda. In case of inclement weather, it will be moved to the Welda Community Center.

There will be special guest speakers including Kansas Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz and also Mark Bettis who is the VP of Bettis Asphalt and Construction Company.

Starting next month, KDOT's plan is to reconstruct and rehabilitate 7 ½ miles of U.S. 169 from Welda north to the roundabout south of Garnett.

Work at the Independence Water Treatment Plant is expected to take another step forward when City Commissioner meet in a special session on Wednesday morning.

Commissioners will meet with a representative from Professional Engineering Consultants.  Last October, Commissioners requested some changes to the contract with PEC to complete Phase 2 of improvements at the Water Treatment Plant. 

Commissioners asked PEC to change the contract to add language for the contact basin work and utilize a local survey crew. 

PEC will be presenting those changes for approval by Commissioners Wednesday morning at 9:00 in the Veterans Room of Memorial Hall.

Kansas State Treasurer and Conservative Candidate for Congress Jake LaTurner closed out his Southeast Kansas Tour on Monday night with a visit in Coffeyville.

LaTurner was meeting with residents of Montgomery County to discuss the 2^nd District Congressional Race.

On Monday, LaTurner made rounds in Parsons, Mound Valley, Independence and ended his day with the stop in Coffeyville as he met with the residents on the Coffeyville Community College campus in the Oak Room at the Student Union.

LaTurner is very familiar with southeast Kansas. (Audio) 

LaTurner mentioned that there were plenty of pressing issues that the people in southeast Kansas wanted to discuss throughout his tour through the area on Monday. (Audio) 

The 2^nd District Congressional Race's election is set for Tuesday, August 4^th and LaTurner plans to make more stops throughout southeast Kansas and Coffeyville between now and the election.

Click here to listen to the full interview. 

The Chautauqua Board of County Commissioners met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday. As usual, the commissioners received a report on the county's roads and bridges from Mark McCall, who mentioned the rain and wet weather in the forecast for the weekend.

Barbara Rinck, a resident of Niotaze, was also in attendance to the commission to possibly consider establishing a hub for food pantry work in Chautauqua County. Rinck said the number of residents who required the pantry's services were growing in both Chautauqua County and Montgomery County, and that the volunteers would need an unused building in the county for food storage and distribution purposes. Although no official decision was made, the commission discussed possible buildings that would work as that hub.

The commission will meet once again next Friday, the last working day of February. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. and will take place in the Chautauqua County courthouse.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has notified the City of Frontenac that it violated the Kansas Open Records Act when it requested a $3,500 fee in order to furnish copies of public records to a reporter. In October 2019, a representative of the media filed a KORA complaint with the attorney general’s office alleging, in part, that the city’s $3,500 fee request to furnish public records he requested on September 18 was unreasonable.

Upon investigation, the attorney general’s office determined that Frontenac’s fee request was unreasonable and thus violated the KORA because it failed to explain or justify its $3,500 fee request, including why it was seeking $225.00 per hour for any time spent by its outside legal counsel.

The missing Independence teenager has been found. According to IPD Police Chief Jerry Harrison 14 year old Jordan Wilson has been picked up. Wilson who reportedly went missing sometime Sunday was found around 4:00pm Monday.

The Independence Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation appreciates the public's help.

Enrollment is fast approaching for the Fall Semester at Coffeyville Community College and students and parents may have questions about enrollment and financial aid.

CCC will be hosting an open house on March 19^th where those questions and more can be answered. Senior Director of College Relations Yvonne Hull visited KGGF this morning and described what information will be available at the open house.

For any further question about the open house, you can contact Hull at 620-252-7095.

A large public attendance at the Labette County Commission meeting as renewable wind energy was the big topic of discussion. RWE Renewables Brandon Hernandez says they want to be as open as possible with the process.

The public didn't get an opportunity to speak during this meeting, but there will be an opportunity in the future.

The Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board have awarded financial assistance to 334 victims of violent crime at its February meeting according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. Awards were made in 175 new cases. Additional expenses were paid in 159 previously submitted cases. The awards totaled just over $220,000.

The Division of Crime Victims Compensation in Schmidt’s office administers the Crime Victims Compensation program, which was established in 1978 to help victims of violent crime pay for their unexpected expenses such as medical treatment, mental health counseling, lost wages, dependent support and funeral expenses. The state’s three-member Crime Victims Compensation Board determines claims that are eligible for payment and how much money will be awarded to each claimant.

A portion of assessed court costs and fines, inmate wages, parole fees and restitution paid by convicted offenders provides funding to the program.

The Independence First United Methodist Church will be hosting a Spring Children's Consignment Sale on Saturday, March 14^th from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the church's Wesley Center, located adjacent to the church.

The Sale will include a half-price event from 12:15 PM to 2:00 PM.

The event is set to offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase quality used children's clothing, baby equipment, toys and maternity wear at affordable prices. Cosigners with products to sell benefit by earning 65% of each item's purchase price.

Cosigners must register in advance if they want to sell items at the event. A registration event is scheduled in the Wesley Center on March 4^th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Sale items can be dropped off on March 12^th between 12:00 and 8:00 PM and again on March 13^th from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

For more information, contact the church office at 620-331-3840.

**Courtesy of Tom Davis**

A Coffeyville, KS man is dead following a fatality collision just before 8 am Friday on US169 at County Road 300 northbound approximately 3.5 miles north of Talala, OK in Rogers County.

A 2007 Kenworth Semi driven by Kyle Ames, 32, of Delaware, OK was traveling northbound US169 when a 2007 Hyundai Sonata driven by white male,54, of Coffeyville, KS was traveling southbound on US169. For an unknown reason, the car crossed over the center line, entered the northbound lanes of traffic and struck the semi head-on.

The victim’s name is being withheld pending next of kin notification. Police say the subject was pronounced at the scene by OTEMS personnel from massive injuries.

The truck driver was transported by OTEMS to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK. He was treated and released with head and arm injuries.

The Neodesha Fire/EMS Department  have received a $5,000 grant today for extrication equipment.

The grant is provided through Frontier Farm Credit’s Working Here Fund. The grant will be used to purchase a new modern combination spreader/cutter. The new piece of equipment will replace the existing unit that is 21 years old. The new equipment will make it possible for rescuers to free crash victims more quickly, safely and effectively during emergency situations.

Two major highways intersect near Neodesha, so the new equipment will help to improve the rescue efforts and outcomes of vehicle crashes, especially high impact crashes that require modern, effective equipment. The grant is given to support projects focused on agricultural education, hunger and nutrition, young and beginning producers or essential services and rural disaster relief.

A boil water order for Baxter Springs remains in effect.   The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued the order Wednesday after a loss of line pressure placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination. 

KDHE says customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.

Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.

Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap

water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested.

Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

Some Kansas highway projects that have been put off may have a chance to be put back on the table.  State Senator Dan Goddard of Parsons, who serves on a sub-committee that reviews the budget for the Department of Transportation says that more money may be available…

https://kggfradio.com/assets/files/918god1.mp3

Goddard did not say exactly how much more money may be available in the KDOT budget or specifically what projects may receive the go ahead.

The International Student Association at Pittsburg State University will host the ever-popular International Food and Culture Fair on Saturday, Feb. 29, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

Food samples will be served from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in the Art Gallery. Immediately following, a cultural show with live performances will be on stage at 7 p.m. Students from at least least seven countries will provide food, and students representing eight different cultures will perform.  

There is an admission fee of $1 at the door; food samples are $1 each, cash only. The event is open to the public.

The Kansas Airstrip Attack is set to hit Independence in April. 

Jason Huang with Shift Sector and Airstrip Attack provides details on what to expect when the event takes place. (Audio) 

Huang says that safety and a family atmosphere are important keys to this event. (Audio) 

Shift Sector was founded around nine years ago and was started with drift and drag racing with it progressing over the years with the Airstrip Attack being one of the more popular events that they do each year. 

Events will take place all over the country including Colorado, Oregon, Indiana and Texas and it will be the first time that this event hits the state of Kansas. 

The event will take place April 18th and 19th which is a Saturday and Sunday at the Independence Municipal Airport and the event features half mile side by side drag racing and a trap speed competition. 

The best way to get tickets is to order them online at www.airstripattack.co and you can get full weekend tickets for just $30 compared to $25 per day if you decide to pay the day of the event. Also children three and under will get in for free. 

Beginning February 24 thru March 6, the Parsons Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies in Kansas with increased enforcement near high schools to raise awareness on roadway safety.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for individuals 15-18 years old in the United States – ahead of all other types of injury, disease or violence. Officers will issue citations to any individual who refuses to obey the traffic laws, whether it is for speeding, texting or failing to buckle up.

Teens will also be reminded that driving is a privilege and will be encouraged to learn about the importance of driving safely.

March will be the start of the self-response period for the 2020 Census as residents need to understand why they should fill out their Census.

It's about getting money locally for new roads, building new schools, funding new healthcare facilities, bringing new businesses and much more. The self response for the 2020 Census starts on March 12^th and it is mandated by the Constitution.

Most households will receive an invitation to respond to the Census starting on March 12^th. The letter will include an ID number that is tied to their physical address and people are encouraged to go online with the ID numbers to respond to the Census.

They can also respond over the phone or wait for a paper form to arrive in the coming weeks. 95% of households will receive an invitation letter in the mail while the other 5% includes households counted through different operations.

If the households have not self responded to the Census than they will follow by sending census takers door to door to collect responses. For more information, go online to www.2020census.gov.

Kansas Department of Transportation employees across the state will be certified as Federal Aviation Administration commercial drone operators tomorrow. Cooperative efforts between KDOT and members of the Kansas Unmanned Aircraft Systems Joint Task Force continue to improve partnership efforts between state agencies in Kansas. Drones represent a number of opportunities for the transportation industry to become more efficient. KDOT’s Division of Aviation partnered with K-State Polytechnic for 18-months to establish formal drone training for infrastructure inspectors.

The first group of KDOT UAS operators will graduate this week. This 20-person class represents Division of Aviation, multiple bureaus of the Engineering and Design Division and every KDOT District across the state.

The Coffeyville Community College Theater Department's newest production is set to open up at the end of the month with 7:00pm show times on February 28^th and 29^th and an afternoon showing at 2:00pm on March 1^st. Theater Director Ryan Mahannah says the name of the play is “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”.

Mahannah says that Coffeyville Friends of Animals is loaning them a puppy to use for the play. After the Sunday showing that puppy and others will be available for adoption. He says from 4:30 to 6:30 you can come and play with the dogs outside of the theater and if you don't want to adopt they are also taking donations.

The SEK Symphony and the PSU Opera Theater will team up this weekend with a pair of performances at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

The two groups will perform the historic “Cosi fan tutte” by W. A. Mozart — a story in which two officers are convinced their fiancés will remain faithful, but a friendly wager with another officer that they will not leads to chaos. Performances will be Friday night at 7:30pm and Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm.

Tickets may be purchased at the PSU Ticket Office in the Garfield Weede Building from 8:30am to 4 pm or by calling 620-235-4796. Tickets may also may be purchased at the door starting one hour before the performance.

The publisher of the Kansas City Star has filed for bankruptcy. Fox News Business Reporter Ginny Kosola has the update.

McClatchy has received $50 million in financing from Encina Business Credit that will enable it to maintain current operations for the company. The company expects to pull its listing from the New York Stock Exchange as a publicly traded company, and go private.

This week, President Donald Trump held a bill signing ceremony for the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act. During his remarks, President Trump recognized U.S. Senator Jerry Moran’s work on behalf of veterans and thanked him for his continued support.

Moran thanked President Trump for prioritizing veterans.  Moran says he is honored to chair the Senate Veterans Committee and he will do his best to those who serve.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is needing the public's help in locating a wanted man. 34 year old Jeremiah J McKenzie is a white male around 6 feet tall and weighing around 160lbs he has blonde hair and green eyes. McKenzie is wanted based upon a Bench Warrant out of Montgomery County District Court. The bench warrant was issued for 3 felonies pertaining to felon in possession of a firearm, 2 misdemeanors, and 2 traffic infractions. Based upon history McKenzie should be considered armed and dangerous.

If you see or know the whereabouts of McKenzie do not approach him, please call The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 620-330-1000 or your local law enforcement agency.

Two Sedgwick County residents have been found guilty of Medicaid fraud. 52 year old Gretta Elaine Smith, of Wichita, pleaded guilty in Sedgwick County District Court to one felony count of Medicaid fraud. The case stemmed from an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division, which revealed that between March 2018 and May 2018, Smith submitted false claims to the Medicaid program asserting that she provided in-home personal care attendant services to beneficiary 65 year old Joe Ross Mitchell while Mitchell was in fact incarcerated on unrelated charges. Upon being paid by the Medicaid program for the false claims, Smith then put some or all of the $2,794.44 on Mitchell’s jail commissary account.

Both cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Ed Brancart of Schmidt’s office.

After receiving $225,000 in grants from KDOT last week to replace fuels tanks for it's facility, the Tri-City airport will be receiving just over $916,000 in funds from the Federal Aviation Administration for the construction of a new taxiway.

The new taxiway will connect the existing taxiway with the airport's runway. The new taxiway will also allow pilots to get on and off the runway quicker and not use the runway as a taxiway after landing. Parsons will have to match 10% of the funding but the city has budgeted for that amount in anticipation of the possibility of receiving the grant.

The Kansas Turnpike Authority have announced they are now accepting entries for the 2020 Work Zone Awareness Week design contest.

The winning student will receive a $200 gift card and his or her work published in VYPE Magazine. Students in grades 8-12 can design a ¾ page ad focused on work zone safety. Entries must be in digital format suitable for magazine publication.

Submission must be submitted online by 11:59 pm, Sunday, April 12. More information for how to submit your entry and rules of the contest can be found here.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has announced five awards that recognize service to victims of crime are open for nomination. The awards are made each year to recognize agencies, organizations and individuals who provide exemplary service to victims of crime in Kansas. Nominations are open in the categories of "Criminal Justice," "Community Champion," "Outstanding Victim Service Organization," "Outstanding System-Based Victim Advocate" and "Outstanding Community-Based Victim Advocate."

Nominations are due by March 1, nomination forms and detailed information on the nomination process for each of the award categories can be found here.

Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) has announced new communications roles for two members of his staff. Roman Rodriguez will move from Press Secretary to Communications Director and continue to serve from the Wichita District Office. Grace Davis will move from Scheduler and Executive Assistant to Press Secretary and continue to serve from the Washington, D.C., office.

Having served as Press Secretary for Estes since 2017, Rodriguez has successfully kept Kansans informed through online newsletters, social media, and a professional rapport with local media throughout the 4th District. Before joining the team, he served as Brand Manager for Friends University.

Press Secretary Grace Davis joined the Estes’s staff in 2019 as Scheduler and Executive Assistant. She previously worked for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich at his production company Gingrich 360.

The Coffeyville Police Department took to Facebook to give an update on two road projects going on within city limits. KDOT's contractor on the US 166 and Willow Street project will be doing a finish grind on the road after completing work on the northern two lanes to create a smoother driving service. No time frame was given for completion. Also, within the next two weeks the public works department will install a four-way stop at the intersection of 9th and Elm to correct the blind spot and allow for safer traffic flow.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, with jurisdiction over amateur athletes gave opening remarks at his hearing which examined how student-athletes are currently restricted from profiting from their name, image, or likeness to supplement current scholarship and benefits they receive.

Senator Moran says it is important that actions taken by Congress do not harm the education, health, and well-being of student-athletes. Five people with ties to student athletics were present to provide their perspective including Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and Chancellor of the University of Kansas Dr. Douglas Girod.

An Independence man was sentenced in Montgomery County Court for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Judge Jeffrey Gettler sentenced 51 year old David Eytcheson to 43 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for an incident dating back to April of 2018. Eytcheson called the police out to his house in April 2018 on reports of hearing people in his attic. When police arrived they discovered he was under the influence of methamphetamine and was hallucinating and no one was trespassing in his home. When police attempted to arrest Eytcheson for drug possession he picked up a knife and an officer was cut on his pinky finger.

Officer Cook and Officer Lupardas, who were the officers involved in the original incident, were both present and gave statements.

The USD 445 School Board hears a nutrition update during this months board meetings. Assistant Superintendent Michael Speer says every three years there's an administrative review, which is an audit of the child nutrition department.

In other business the board approved the request for proposal of a dishwasher replacement at Student Nutrition Center, painting and brick cleaning at Community Elementary School, electrical switching gear at Roosevelt Middle School and handrail replacement at Field Kindley High School.

An Oswego man faces robbery and theft charges after holding up a convenience store.

36-year old Benjamin Queen allegedly walked into Casey’s General Store in Oswego and used a plastic gun wrapped in black tape to get an undisclosed amount of cash from the store. Queen has been charged with aggravated robbery and theft. He faces up to 4½ years of prison if convicted of all charges.

Bond for Queen has been set at $50,000.

A Labette County woman was arrested yesterday on several drug charges.

Labette County Deputies responded to information in reference to a wanted individual staying in Mound Valley. Upon arrival, deputies knocked on the door several times and smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence. After several more minutes of knocking and hearing movement inside the residence, deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence. Upon making entry, a white female was removed from the residence and identified as Leanda Pound. During the search, numerous items were seized from the residence, including items used to grow & fertilize marijuana. Deputies also seized marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Pound was arrested and is currently being held at the Labette County Sheriff's office on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia & distribution of marijuana.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has issued a statement regarding today’s approval of the Sprint/T-Mobile merger by a federal district court in New York.

Schmidt said the decision was a welcome one for Kansas and a decision that would increase competition in our state, expand quality coverage in many rural areas of Kansas, expedite the deployment of 5G technology for Kansans, and protect and expand Kansas jobs.

On July 26, Schmidt joined Kansas with the U.S. Department of Justice and four other states in a filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia formally approving the merger subject to certain conditions designed to main competition and enhance technology deployment. The company also provided assurances it would remain a major employer in Kansas with its second headquarters in Overland Park. The attorney general’s office handled this matter for Kansas because it enforces both federal and state antitrust laws.

After that approval, a group of other states led by New York filed a lawsuit in federal district court in New York arguing the merger violated antitrust law and seeking to block it. Today’s judicial ruling rejected New York’s arguments, clearing the path for the merger to proceed.

CRMC Auxiliary is set to host a Bake Sale on Friday, February 14^th beginning at 9:00 AM and going until all the items are sold out.

The Bake Sale will be located on the first floor of the hospital by the Auxiliary gift shop and they will also be set up on the second floor waiting room by Acute Care.

The Bake Sale is one of many fundraisers that the CRMC Auxiliary hosts throughout the year with a portion of the proceeds going towards various projects in the hospital.

For more information, contact Ashley Tatman at 620-252-1576.

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center is going to offer a new class called “Safe @ Home.” This class provides instruction on staying safe inside the house, outside the house, online and with others.

The class is set up for students in grades four, five and six to equip them to be safe when they are home alone. It's a 90 minute program and requires each child to have a student booklet.

Registration is required and you can register your child by calling 620-252-2201 or by emailing Ashley Tatman at ashleyt@crmcinc.org.

The program will take place on Saturday, February 22^nd from 9:00 to 10:30 AM in the 4^th floor Conference Room at CRMC and there is a fee of $10 and you can pay that fee the day of the class.

Bartlesville High School Theatre Department will be putting on a production of Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic this week.

Performances will be held on Thursday, February 13th and Saturday, February 15th at 7 p.m, with a Sunday performance at 2 p.m. The story, written by Matt Cox, is a parody of Harry Potter, from the perspective of the "Puffs," the "most hated and least important house" at a school of magic. The house attempts to stop evil all while a certain boy hogs the spotlight.

The Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation recently presented CRMC CEO Brian Lawrence with $299,082 for upgrades to the Medical Imaging Department. The Foundation began an 18 month campaign, “Imagine the Future in Focus” in September 2018 to support expanded services in Medical Imaging through Interventional Radiology and new equipment which provided upgrades to the department making it completely digital.

The majority of funds received during the campaign were through donors who participated in the Kansas Community Service Tax Credit program. Through the tax credit program, donations made to the CRMC Foundation of $250.00 or more qualified for a 70% credit on Kansas Income Taxes. The Kansas Community Service Tax Credit program is a great benefit to both the organization receiving the donations and the donor making the gift.

 The Labette County Commission met for their regularly scheduled meeting with only a couple of items on the agenda. First they met with 911 Dispatch Director Brandy Grassl to discuss repair on equipment, the phone system at the court services and using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

In other business they received the annual noxious weed report from Assistant Director of Public Works Ralph George.  Commissioner Doug Allen was not in attendance for this weeks meeting. 

The Montgomery County Commissioners met for their weekly meeting on Monday morning. The meeting began with the approval of the agenda along with approval of invoices.

The Commissioners had no minutes to approve this week. County Counselor Paul Kritz was in attendance and to start, went into an executive session regarding confidential matters relating to financial affairs. After close to an hour of the executive session, the meeting continued with Jim Wright from Public Works who needed agreements and signatures from the Commissioners regarding Tucker Corner.

All three Commissioners approved and signed off as it was for the construction inspection with Cook Flat involving Tucker Corner. County Clerk Charlotte Scott Schmidt brought up neighborhood revitalization to the Commissioners and was wanting to get approval for the neighborhood revitalization software program to be used within the county. This would benefit the appraisers office, clerks office and down to the treasurer's office. Data would be put into the system and the program would help calculate the appropriate response to save time and energy for employees working with the program.

The agenda is always subject to change and all meetings are open to the public. There will be no meeting next week so the next scheduled Montgomery County Commission meeting will be on Monday, February 24^th at 9:00 AM in the Lower Level of the Judicial Center in Independence.

Kansas has checked in as the 12^th cheapest gas in nation, according to GasBuddy.com. While the national average is currently stands at $2.42 a gallon, an average gallon of regular gasoline comes in at nearly 30 cents cheaper at $2.14 in Kansas. That is 6 cents cheaper than last week's average and nearly 15 cents off from last month.

Montgomery and Wilson counties clock in at $2.19 a gallon which is 5 cents higher than the state average. Lebette County comes in 10 cents under the state average at $2.04 a gallon while Chautauqua and Elk counties are level with the state average of $2.14.

Across the border in Oklahoma, an average gallon of gasoline is $2.07 with gas in Washington and Nowata counties coming in at $1.97 and $1.95 a gallon, respectively.

The Chautauqua County Board of Commissioners met once again Monday morning for its regularly scheduled meeting. As usual, the commission received an update from Mark McCall on the county's roads and bridges. Also bringing business to the commission was District Court Clerk Cindy Weaver.

Other items the commission discussed on Monday included an upcoming burn violation hearing and the first mockup of the revised county website. The commission will meet again next Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the Chautauqua County courthouse.

The Caney Fire and Rescue and Caney FANSS will be hosting “Breakfast With A Hero” on February 22^nd from 8am to 11am at the Caney Fire Station.

For $7, you get three pancakes and two pieces of sausage while two pancakes and one piece of sausage is $5. Either meal comes with a choice of coffee, tea, orange juice or milk. A walk thru of the fire station will also be available for kids to check out and touch the emergency vehicles.

Proceeds will be used to purchase a new set of cutters for the Jaws of Life.

With the help of the Coffeyville Community College Volleyball team, the ICC Volleyball team is hosting a donation drive for the homeless in Montgomery County and those affected by the earthquakes in Puerto Rico.

They are looking for canned food items, non-perishable foods, baby wipes, women's necessities, toothbrushes, flashlights, pens, notepads, deodorants and soaps.

The donation drive will take place on Wednesday, February 12^th starting at 4:00 PM at the Indy Fieldhouse. Bring your donation to help and stay for the Indy CC vs. Coffeyville CC basketball games at 6:00 and 8:00 PM.

The Independence Fire/EMS and Independence Police Department were presented with a life saving award last Thursday night.

Fire/EMS also honored the patient's wife who performed CPR on her husband until the arrival of EMS.

The patient was in cardiac arrest for 17 minutes and has since recovered and returned to work.

The life saving award was presented to Lt. Bennett, firefighter Rolland, paramedic firefighter Gates, paramedic firefighter Bowman, Fire/EMS Chief Wallis, and IPD dispatcher Peck.

After a highly successful first round of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Program last fall, a second round of applications are now being accepted for spring 2020. Applications will be accepted from Feb. 3 through April 15.

The Cost Share Program is designed to provide financial assistance that leverages state funding with local and private funding for projects related to economic development as well as job growth and retention. A minimum of 15% non-state cash match is required. Additional consideration will be given to project applications that commit more than the minimum required match amount.

All transportation projects are eligible and they must be construction projects that address an important transportation need such as promoting safety, improving access or mobility, improving condition or relieving congestion. Geographic distribution will also be considered during project selection.

The 2020 Kansas Heritage Series continues this year at the Wilson County Old Iron Club in Fredonia.

This month's speaker is Jim Hoy who is a folklorist who works with the Center for Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University. His program will be “Kansas Legends and Folktales” which includes grasshoppers so big that cowboys could ride them to herd cattle, summers so hot that corn pops in the fields and other tall tales.

This is event begins at 2pm and admission and free and open to the public.

A formal ribbon cutting has been held for the company that is occupying the former Amazon Building in Coffeyville’s Industrial Park. Officials with Phoenix Logistics and Array Technologies along with local officials gathered at the building for the ceremony. Montgomery County Action Council Trisha Purdon said the company is already up and running and will be fully operational in a couple of weeks.

The company will be using the building for storage and distribution of solar energy parts.

The Independence City Commission will meet for its regularly scheduled meeting tonight. Topics of interest for this week's agenda include a discussion for allowing the sale of alcholic beverages on Sundays, and a discussion on several traffic control proposals for the area surrounded by Pennsylvania Avenue, Oak Street, Park Boulevard and Parkhurst.

The commission will also consider adopting an ordinance amending qualfications for plumbers in the city. A full agenda for the meeting can be viewed at this link. The meeting will begin at 5:30 in the Veterans Room at Memorial Hall.

A Parsons man has been arrested on multiple charges including domestic battery and possession of marijuana.

Parsons police were responding to the 1100 block of Crawford on a domestic disturbance call and when officers arrived they met with the female victim and she told officers that she escaped her home and called police from a neighbor’s house. 25-year old Zachary Swafford was spotted leaving the scene in a green Saturn Ion. After a short pursuit, Swafford stopped and was arrested. A search of Swafford’s vehicle produced over a pound of packaged marijuana which was individually packaged for sale. Cash and scales were also discovered in the vehicle.

Swafford is facing charges of aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, sale and distribution of marijuana, fleeing and attempting to elude and a list of traffic violations relating to the pursuit. Swafford is being held in the Labette County jail.

Nationally recognized Pittsburg High School Theatre will have a presentation of "Freaky Friday" at Pittsburg's Memorial Auditorium from February 20^th-23^th.

This is a musical adaptation of the classic novel and movie which features an overworked mother and her teenage daughter who magically swap bodies and spend a day in each other's shoes.

Show times for February 20^th and 21^st will be at 7:00pm. February 22^nd will feature two performances at 2:00pm and 7:00pm while February 23^rd

will have a single performance at 2:00pm.

For more information, contact the school at 620-235-3200.

According to the City of Coffeyville crews pretreated roads before the winter weather hit this early morning. Coffeyville City Clerk Allison Pryor says a crew started working on roads at 4:00am and they will work until 1:00pm when a new crew will take over until 8:00pm. Pryor says they will reassess the road conditions after 8:00pm.

Roads that have been treated include all major avenues and streets such as 11^th, 8^th, 5^th, 4^th and 1^st streets. If you have any questions you can reach the city hall (620)252-6100.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office reports that they have only had one minor two vehicle crash with no serious injuries. They also reported that they have responded to about a dozen other call outs but nothing was serious. The Labette County Sheriffs Office is reporting that they haven't had any major accidents but have had numerous call outs.

Both sheriff offices say that road conditions around both counties are snow packed and icy. They encourage you to stay at home and not get out if at all possible. If you do need to go somewhere make sure you allow plenty of time to get there.

The Labette County budget has been hit with as much as a $350,000 added expense for the year due to a judge's decision. Judge Oliver Kent Lynch has made a decision to move court from the Parsons Judicial Center to the Oswego Courthouse. Commissioners say that they judge has the power to make the move, under Kansas Law the county and sheriff have responsibility for security. As a result, commissioners say they will now have to run full security at both locations as well as have the county attorney's staff Oswego for all types of criminal proceedings.

Commissioners have already made the decision to close the Parsons Judicial Center to the public except when court is actually in session effective today. Commissioner Lonnie Addis says the commission is looking at ways to cut the budget but may be forced to look at a tax increase at some point.

Congressman Ron Estes released the following statement after President Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union address to Congress:

"Tonight was a clear message of freedom and prosperity for the American people," said Rep. Estes. "The state of our union is stronger than ever before, and all Kansans are benefiting from this great American comeback. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi's speech-ripping act is overshadowing the president's recognition of a 100-year-old Tuskegee airman, a family reunited with a deployed soldier, and the bright futures for children who defeated health odds, aspire to greatness in the Space Force, and can attain their educational dreams. The stark difference between resistance and results was on full display."

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s third State of the Union address. Moran says the State of the Union offers Congress and the American people the unique opportunity to hear directly from the President of the United States regarding his vision for America’s future. He says he was pleased the president discussed trade, the economy, STEM education, and support for the military and veterans. President Trump highlighted accomplishments the nation has made on establishing fairer trade with China and signing the historic United States Mexico-Canada Agreement. These new trade opportunities will help provide Kansas farmers and manufacturers with new markets to sell their products around the world.

Moran says he looks forward to working with President Trump and the administration on the many issues discussed to deliver positive results for Kansans and all Americans.

The attorney general’s office will recommend a Shawnee County court enter judgment in favor of a claim for compensation and other benefits by Lamonte McIntyre who served 23 years in prison for a 1994 double murder in Kansas City, Kansas, that the evidence now available shows he did not commit. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says since Mr. McIntyre filed his lawsuit in Shawnee County last March, they have worked diligently to obtain and review all available evidence, including evidence not provided in the earlier judicial proceedings.

He says two developments have enabled him now to recommend judgment in favor of Mr. McIntyre. First, an ongoing criminal investigation by the KBI has confirmed previously available information and discovered additional information that supports Mr. McIntyre’s claim of innocence. Second, Mr. McIntyre’s counsel in October 2019 formally provided the attorney general’s office with more than 9,100 pages of documents, most of which had been previously provided, but more than 900 of which were not previously provided to the attorney general.

With a winter storm warning in affect for Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma due to an expectation of around 4 to 6 inches of snow here is the list of school closings for the day (Wednesday February 5^th) can be found here.

The winter storm warning is in affect until midnight tonight we will continue to keep you updated on additional schools closings on air, on our Facebook page and on our website.

A patient who had escaped from the Parsons State Hospital yesterday was captured early this morning north of Parsons.

At 11:30 yesterday morning, Neosho County Deputies were notified of a manhunt for an escapee from the state hospital who had stabbed an employee, and was on foot in the area of U.S. 400 and Ness Road. The patient was identified as 58-year old Randy Snodgrass.

At approximately 1:30 this morning, Neosho County Sheriff's Office Patrol Sgt. Rian Lahey located and arrested Snodgrass on a Kansas Department of Corrections parole violation warrant. Snodgrass was taken into custody without incident on K47 Highway just east of Ness Road, about 15 miles north of the hospital.

Snodgrass is currently being held at the Neosho County Jail on the warrant with no bond.

One person killed, with many other injuries and arrests reported. After the Chiefs won the Super Bowl one fan Sunday night was killed when he tried to shoot commercial grade fireworks from an improvised mortar when one exploded. The man who was not identified was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In other celebration news around Kansas City, KCPD says 20,000 people were present in the power and light district for the Super Bowl watch party. Police made a total of 14 arrests and 45 more people were thrown out of the party. The Kansas City Fire Department says they responded to 24 medical incidents during and after the game.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has extended its deadline for submissions to the 2020 Missing Children's Poster Contest. Fifth graders now have until Valentine's Day, February 14, to submit their poster to the KBI.

Submissions from public, private, and home schools are all permitted. Posters must represent the theme, "Bringing Our Missing Children Home." Full rules and the application form can be viewed here.

The Kansas poster winnerwill get to visit the Capitol and meet with Attorney General Derek Schmidt, the KBI Director, and Governor Laura Kelly. The winning poster will represent Kansas in the national contest. If it wins nationally, the student, along with their parents and teacher, will be awarded a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony.

Inmates from the Ottawa County Jail in Miami, Oklahoma are expected to be returned to the jail by tomorrow. 35 inmates from the jail wee transferred to the Washington County Jail in Bartlesville last week while workers repaired damage from a fire at the jail last October.

Inmates from Nowata County were also housed at the detention facility in Bartlesville after a gas leak was discovered at that jail last year.

A Coffeyville woman picked up a felony charge of false impersonation to create liability at the Washington County Courthouse yesterday. Eira Vega-Cervantes made a court appearance out of custody in front of judge Russell Vaclaw. Court documents allege that Vega-Cervantes presented a $674 check at City National Bank in Bartlesville. The check was in the name of the victim. Vega-Cervantes also presented a Texas identification card with the victim’s name on it while attempting to cash the check.

Vega-Cervantes posted a $5,000 bond for the incident.

No serious injuries in a two vehicle crash in Labette County over the weekend. The accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 59 and Union Road in Parsons. According to the Kansas Crash log a vehicle driven by 33 year old Gretchen Reitz of Erie was westbound on Union Road when it failed to yield when turning south on to Highway 59 when it struck a northbound vehicle on the highway driven by 66 year old Rodney Hizey of Parsons.

Reitz was transported to the hospital with minor injuries and her passenger 21 year old Winnie Tyobee didn't appear to have any injuries. Hizey complained of mild pain but was not transported to the hospital.

Winter weather is expected to move into Southeast Kansas and we head into tonight and through tomorrow. According to the National Weather Service out of Wichita, we could see snow today around two inches with the heaviest falling in Central Kansas. As we move into tomorrow the snow will move more towards the SEK as two to four inches in expected by tomorrow night.

Stay tuned to KGGF as we will keep you updated on the winter weather and if there are any school closings to go along with it.

For the first time in 50 years, the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions. Senator Jerry Moran sends his congratulations to the team, Andy Reid, the Hunt family and the entire Chiefs Kingdom. After the victory, Moran introduced a resolution to officially recognize the Chiefs and their victory in Super Bowl LIV with his colleagues, Senator Blunt, Senator Roberts and Senator Hawley.

The Chiefs Kingdom Champions Parade will be tomorrow starting at 11:30am. Following, there will be a victory rally at Union Station at 1:30pm. You can stay up-to-date with the details at chiefsparade.com.  Moran says he wants to thank all of the law enforcement officials for their work to keep everyone safe during this exciting time. He says let us all remember to be respectful of those in uniform during the celebrations throughout the week.

FARMS, a first-time workshop to be held in Pittsburg on February 26^th through the 28^th, is aimed at bringing farmers, ranchers, and scientists together so they can be of help to each other and their industries. Division Director for the National Institute of Food & Agriculture Tim Conner will be the keynote speaker for the workshop. It will be held at Block22 in downtown Pittsburg, and registration is being accepted now.

The workshop agenda will include an evening reception and keynote address, a full day of workshops with breakout sessions facilitated by county extension agents, and a day of proposal writing and planning for scientists.

The Coffeyville Public Library is reaching out to Coffeyville citizens and area businesses to help improve their summer reading program for 2020. The library is asking for donations of craft items and incentives that can be used during weekly events. The list includes items such as coloring books, tye-die materials, markers, and more. Incentives would include gift cards and coupons.

The summer reading program at the library promotes literacy and a lifelong love of learning in people of all ages. Check out a full list of items that the library is looking for here.

Several bids approved at the Montgomery County Commission meeting. The first bid that was approved was for the Sheriff's Office to purchase two Dodge Durangos stocked with the radio equipment from Superior Serv in Andover, KS for just over $82,000. Bids were also approved for Public Works for a special bridge welder from Thompson Brothers, a special bridge sandblaster from Canfield and Joseph and an air compressor from Fastenal in Independence.

In other business the commissioners approved the neighborhood revitalization plan from the City of Independence which was presented by Interim City Manager Kelly Passauer.

A Chanute man was arrested on Saturday on numerous charges including assault.

Officers with the Chanute Police Department responded to a disturbance in the 1100 block of South Central. Upon arrival, officers made contact with 39-year old Jeremy Peavy who showed officers a large knife that he had in his possession, but never came at them with it. Peavy began to holler and scream at the officers and a short confrontation took place with Peavy attempting the strike the officers with his fist before being placed into custody.

During the investigation into the original incident, one of the police cars parked in the area had been damaged and vandalized. Witnesses stated that they had seen Peavy do the damage to the patrol car. Peavy was placed under arrest for assault on law enforcement officer, felony criminal damage, misdemeanor criminal damage, interference with law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct. He was transported to the Neosho County Jail.

The regular scheduled meetings of the Johnson-O'Malley Parent Committee (JOM) and the Title VII Indian Education Parent Committee will take place this Wednesday at the Field Kindley High School Library in Coffeyville. The JOM meeting will kick things off at 6 p.m, with the Title VII Parent meeting following at 6:30.

The mission and purpose of these meetings is to support efforts of local education agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, and other entities that look to meet the unique education and culturally related academic needs of American Indians.

To serve on either committee, a person must be either the parent or a guardian of a Title VII or JOM verified child.

The Chautauqua County Commission met early Monday morning for its weekly meeting. Commissioners Rodney Shaw and Jack Carpenter were present at the meeting, while chairman Parker Massey could not attend.

Following the approval of last week's minutes, Mark McCall gave his latest road and bridge update. McCall spoke on the continuing road projects throughout the county, and also the continuing work on several trucks and vehicles, some of which are waiting on parts. The county is also looking for drivers with CDL permits that are searching for parttime work.

After McCall's update, Melissa Terrill from the solid waste department spoke with the commission and delivered reports for both the month of December and the yearly report for 2019.

The Chautauqua County Commission will meet once again next week, with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Chautauqua County Courthouse in Sedan.

Pittsburg State will have a presentation of "Silent Sky" at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts February 27^th – March 1^st.

The true story of 19th Century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women’s ideas typically were dismissed until men claimed credit for them.

Show times for Thursday and Friday will be at 7:30pm. Saturday will feature two performances at 2:00pm and 7:30pm while Sunday will have a single performance at 2:00pm.

For more information, contact the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts at 620-231-7000.

The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce encourages you to participate in the 2020 Census. Look for the census in your mailbox this March. The census only takes a few minutes to complete and can be completed online, by mail or over the phone.

A post on the Chambers Facebook page says after you complete the census, share your participation with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues as your assurance might encourage others to participate who may not otherwise plan to do so. You can visit kansascounts.org for more information.

With Walk Kansas set to start in March it's time to start thinking about putting together your team for the challenge. K-State Research and Extension State Coordinator of Walk Kansas Sharolyn Jackson says team members are usually pretty easy to find.

As part of the Walk Kansas challenge, each six-member team is asked to pick one of three challenges to complete over an eight-week period. Walk Kansas officially gets underway March 15^th.