The Independence Police Department has received several reports of a variety of scams in recent weeks and are warning citizens not to participate.

Citizens are reporting a scam where the caller impersonates an IRS agent and claims to have a warrant for the person’s arrest. The scammer demands you pay money over the phone or you'll be arrested. In another recent scam the scammer texts victims and attempts to exchange sensitive photos and then pressures them to purchase gift cards and text them the card information. In the third recent scam, the scammer sends the target a counterfeit check for $2,600 and instructs the victim to purchase four gift cards for $500 and to keep the $600. The victim is instructed to text the gift card information to the scammer.

Chief Jerry Harrison says these scams seem to circulate on a regular basis, unfortunately, several scams are occurring at the same time. Police warn citizens they will not accept payments for warrants over the phone and not to share sensitive photos. If you receive an unsolicited check in the mail it is likely fraud. Do not cash the check or provide the gift card information to anyone.

The preliminary numbers of the U.S. Census have been released and while the overall population of Kansas rose by just over 60,000, the population in Southeast Kansas has dropped dramatically with three counties in the top 10 of population loss.

According to State Senator Virgil Peck, Montgomery County and Labette County both lost a sizable portion of their population.

The other SEK county that was in the top 10 is Cherokee County which lost just over 1,600 which equated a 7.7% loss. Wilson County lost 884, Neosho lost 505 and Chautauqua lost 419.

Peck said that due to Johnson and Sedgwick counties each gaining 58,000 and 18,000 people respectively, it means that rural Kansans will have less representation.

Peck said each senate district is going to have about 73,000 people with the new population numbers. Redistricting committees will meet at 14 locations around the state including Chanute and Pittsburg at a date to be determined.

The entire interview Sen. Peck can be found here.

A fugitive from Kansas is arrested in Oklahoma. The Nowata County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team assisted the South Coffeyville Police Department with the arrest of a fugitive from Montgomery County.

45-year-old Jason Homer, of Coffeyville, was arrested during the overnight hours yesterday in South Coffeyville. Homer was booked into the Nowata County Jail on a Montgomery County warrant. He is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.

August is upon us, and that means the return of the Inter-State Fair and Rodeo. Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce Director Candi Westbrook said that those wishing to get the Fun Pass for the event should do so in the next couple of days.

Westbrook said the best way to get tickets for the various events would be to purchase them online. The Inter-State Fair and Rodeo runs all week from August 8th to the 14th. Aside from the aforementioned fair and rodeo, the week also features monster trucks and a demolition derby.

4-H provides youth with a wide range of different activities they can participate in, including the 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes. Youth Livestock Events Coordinator Lexie Hayes says this event allows them to show off their livestock knowledge.

The sweepstakes takes place August 21^st and 22^nd. The deadline to register for this event is August 1^st. To learn more about it contact the local Extension office or here.

The 5^th Annual Vaude in the Ville is coming up next Saturday, August 7^th at 7:00 pm at the Spencer / Rounds Theater on the campus of Coffeyville Community College.

Vice President of the Midland Theater Foundation Lisa Scheck explains what Vaude in the Ville is.

Tickets for this event are $25 and include access to the show as well as the after-party at the Coffeyville's Reawakening office. Tickets may be purchased online at The Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce, Coffeyville Reawakening Headquarters, or through any one of the Midland Theater Foundation board members.

All proceeds from this event go to the operational costs of the Midland Theater.

A Pittsburg man who was already registered as a sex offender has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for distributing child pornography. 38-year-old Jason Wayne Irving pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.

Irving admitted that in 2019 he used his email address to upload and send pornographic photos of children. Google detected Irving's e-mail activity and notified authorities.

After receiving a search warrant for Irving's smartphone, law enforcement discovered it had been used to operate the Google and Facebook accounts that had been reported for child pornography. Various files of child pornography were also found on the phone.

Irving had to register as a sex offender after he was convicted in 2003 of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.

A Riverton man was arrested late Wednesday afternoon on burglary and drug charges.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Investigators executed a search warrant on a home just outside of Riverton as part of an investigation into a weekend burglary. During the course of that search, officers found property previously reported as stolen as well as drug paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine.

Sheriff's Detectives arrested 40-year-old Stephen Hill, who was transported to the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Over forty people were present at the most recent wind energy meeting in Labette County, including two county commissioners and a wind energy company representative. RWE Project Developer Brandon Hernandez says the information presented at the meeting was one-sided.

Even though Hernandez was not set to speak during the meeting he did answer many questions but was sometimes aggressively cut off by multiple members of the audience. Commissioner Cole Proehl also spoke saying his goal is to protect the county's interests as a whole.  

Those who spoke during the meeting and the majority of those in attendance do not support the expansion of wind energy into Labette County. Hernandez said they are currently conducting studies in the county and those could take until 2022 or 2023 to finish.

Textron Aviation is commemorating its 25 years in Independence by hosting a celebration.

The event will take place on August 7^th from 9 am - 1 pm at the Independence Airport. Independence Chamber of Commerce Director Lisa Wilson gives the details of the event.

Wilson went on to say that the free celebration is a community gift to the City of Independence for their support of Textron Aviation over the past 25 years.

The Caney Police Department was dispatched to a disturbance involving an armed person with a knife.

Upon arrival, officers separated those individuals involved in the altercation and determined the 911 call was exaggerated by the reporting party. After checking warrants on both of the individuals it was found that 35-year-old Christopher Steffey had an active warrant for failure to appear in court.

Steffey briefly resisted officers, then he was arrested and taken to Montgomery County Jail.

As the temperatures and heat indices continue to climb, so does the risk for heat-related illnesses. Kansas State University climatologist Mary Knapp says the three signs of heat-related illness are often called The Heat Trilogy: heat cramps, heat stress, and heatstroke.

When planning outdoor activities - such as gardening, mowing the lawn, or playing sports - Knapp says to start hydrating the night before.

Knapp also says to avoid outdoor activities between 10 am and 2 pm when the sun is at its highest angle and you’re most likely to get sunburned.

A county courthouse could soon have a new memorial gracing its front lawn.

The Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial is intended to be a lasting tribute to those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The effort to build the memorial is being led by the Veterans Memorial Board, the Chautauqua County Board of Commissioners, local veterans and their family and friends. Board member Richard Hambleton said the plan was formed a couple of years ago.

The cost of building the memorial will start at about $35,000. Hambleton said about $8,000 has already been raised through donations. Those wishing to assist with the project can make a donation to the Sedan Area Foundation with 'Veterans Memorial' in the memo line. Donations can be mailed to the Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial at PO Box 190 in Sedan. A photo of the proposed design can be found posted with this story.

The Coffeyville Police Department's National Night Out is coming up next Tuesday.

The event will feature several activities for kids, including free swimming, music, a bouncy house, games and more. Activities will kick off at the Coffeyville Aquatic Center on August 3rd. The event starts at 5:30 pm and will end at 8 pm that evening.

National Night Out is held each year to promote the community and provides and opportunity to meet the city's officers.

Motorists in Crawford County will need to give themselves extra time for their commute as the Kansas Department of Transportation expects to begin a resurfacing project on U.S. 69 and U.S. 69B next Monday.

Project activity includes a mill and overlay on U.S. 69 between U.S. 400 and K-47, excluding the section within the Pittsburg city limits. U.S. 69B is being resurfaced through the communities of Franklin and Arma. Work will start on U.S. 69B and then proceed south on U.S. 69 from the K-47 junction. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone; expect delays of 15 minutes or less. Weather permitting, the project should be finished by early September.

KDOT awarded the construction contract of $2.3 million to Heckert Construction of Pittsburg.

The Coffeyville City Commission unanimously approved a resolution allowing the police department to apply for more grant funding.

The Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant is made available each year for police departments to apply for. Police Chief Kwin Bromley was not present at Tuesday's meeting; however, City Clerk Melissa Carter said any funding received would be used to purchase equipment crucial to officer safety.

The grant does not require a local match. The meeting lasted one hour, with most of it dedicated to an audit report of the 2020 fiscal year. The commission will meet once again in two weeks.

One is dead after a single-vehicle crash over the weekend in Montgomery County. Late this weekend, Montgomery County Sheriff Deputies along with Cherryvale EMS were dispatched to an accident with a possible fatality on county road 4400.

Upon arrival, deputies located a vehicle that appeared to have lost control, left the roadway, and rolled into a large ravine striking trees. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner. The driver was identified as 27-year-old Brittany Wofford of Bixby, Oklahoma.  

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has added Parsons Lake to the blue-green algae warning list. Due to the warning, the lake has been closed for swimming and other in-water activities. Boating and fishing are still allowed but officials warn that people and pets should not enter or drink the water. Exposure to the lake water cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, irritated eyes, seizures, and breathing problems.

Lake Parsons is the third lake in the area to be given a blue-green algae warning after Bill Hill Lake in Labette County received the warning last month and Altamont Lake Main City Lake two weeks ago. The Altamont City Lake North Lake is currently under a watch.

The Coffeyville Police Department will look to apply for an assistance grant and the city will decide on the location of a bike-share location in tonight's city commission meeting.

After the consent agenda, the commission will hear the Fiscal Year 2020 audit report and then Electric Utility Director Mike Shook says the first item on the agenda concerns the Coffeyville Police Department. Shook said that the police have received this grant the past few years that has provided important funding for the police department.

The next item on the agenda will concern a bike-share location in the city.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm in the commission room on the second floor of city hall.

The recovery of four stolen golf carts is in progress in Parsons.

Parsons Police Department officers were called to Katy Golf Course after the carts were reported stolen Thursday. Locks had been cut off of the storage sheds. After reviewing video footage, officers set out and found the first of the carts hidden in a barn off of North 17th Street. The second cart was found near the 2000 block of Crawford. It had been spray-painted, but otherwise matched the description. Both carts were returned to their owner.

Two carts remain missing. One is a 1997 Club Car electric cart, tan in color, and the other is a 1997 EZ-GO Golf Cart that is beige. Contact the Parsons Police Department with info at 421-7060.

Tensions were high as a moratorium was asked for a sixth time on wind energy expansion into Labette County. District Two Constitute Josh Ghering asked District Two Commissioner Brian Kinzie how he could support windmills when there is a health and safety risk involved.

Commissioner Kinzie, in response to Ghering, disputed the concerns over health and safety.  The moratorium Ghering was seeking was for 18 months. He would like to see how things in Neosho County continue to develop, including issues on the damage to rural roads. Commission Chairman Lonie Addis made a motion for the moratorium but it failed without a second.

The Coffeyville Fire Department has received a grant for $1,650. The grant is provided through Frontier Farm Credit’s Working Here Fund.

CFD used this grant to purchase a Yates Spec-Pak patient harness. The harness will be used to safely move patients during a rescue. The harness will be used in conjunction with their grain bin rescue equipment and during other rescues requiring patient movement in a confined space.

The City of Coffeyville is committed to maintaining safe and dependable drinking water. Under the guidance of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the City Water Department will be performing a system-wide flush to remove build-up within the water lines.

It is to be noted that short-term inconveniences may occur in some areas of town. The water may taste, look, or smell strange. The water will be safe to drink.

The flushing will begin this Friday. If you have any questions then you may call the Municipal Water Treatment Plant at 620-252-6150.

Kansas has reached a settlement with a major pharmaceutical company and three opioid distributors as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to bring accountability to those that fueled the opioid addiction crisis and provide funds to support addiction services. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt gives the details of the settlement.

In addition to financial terms, the distributors have also agreed to help prevent a similar prescription-drug crisis from happening again. Johnson & Johnson will stop selling opioids, will not fund or provide grants to third parties for promoting opioids, and will not lobby on activities related to opioids. Schmidt said an estimate of how much money Kansas will receive will be released at a later date.

Representatives from several Montgomery County towns and cities were in attendance for an American Rescue Act workshop Monday morning.

After a relatively short regular meeting, the Montgomery County commission started the workshop. Ashley Osborne, CPA from Yerkes, Michaels LLC, said the compliance requirements for Rescue Act funding are significantly higher than SPARK funding a year ago.

Those receiving funds have until 2024 to commit that money to projects. The American Rescue Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden earlier this year.

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin a field survey at the K-105 bridge over Cedar Creek on Monday, Aug. 2. The bridge is just over a mile south of U.S. 54 in Woodson County.

Survey crew members will gather information for the detailed design of a proposed improvement to replace the bridge. The survey is expected to be complete by Sept. 24. Activities include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the corridor. A member of the survey crew will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property.

For more information, contact KDOT Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen at 620-902-6433.

The Montgomery County 4H Fair is celebrating 100 years. Numerous weekend activities are lined up at Riverside Park in Independence to help celebrate.

Tonight, food trucks will be available until 9:00pm, the 4H food auction is at 6:00pm, the swine show start at 7:30pm and glow in the dark mini golf is from 9:00pm until 11:00pm. KUSN 98.1 will also be live from 9:00pm until 11:00pm.

Tomorrow, the dairy goat show is at 8:00am, bucket calf showmanship at 10:00am, barnyard Olympics at 2:00pm, the 100^th fair cookout is at 5:00pm and the goat show will start at 7:00pm followed by the sheep.

Arvest Bank and KGGF have selected the son of an FFA advisor as the July Ag Student of the Month. Adair FFA President Dax DeLozier is not only the son of the FFA advisor but he's the grandson of a former advisor. Despite the family name and the pressure of legacy that comes with it, Dax says he wants to make sure he's as approachable as possible to younger FFA members.

While Dax DeLozier is an example of a traditional FFA student with an agriculture background that doesn't have to be the case anymore. Adair FFA Advisor Devin DeLozier says an advantage FFA programs have is that there are many ways to be involved.  Dax DeLozier is currently being recruited by college livestock and horse judging teams including NEO. He is also considering running for state office for Oklahoma FFA.

There have been three arrests following an ongoing investigation in Nowata.

A traffic stop led to the arrest of Quinton Ballard. Ballard was charged with seven counts of burglary II, one count of knowingly concealing stolen property, and one count of possession of controlled dangerous substances.

Two additional search warrants were conducted. One in the 700 Block of South Hickory and the other in the 500 Block of East Fairview. Dale Wilkerson and Letisha McAfee have each been charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, misdemeanor possession of CDS and drug paraphernalia, and knowingly concealing stolen property. Additional search warrants are being sought and it is expected more arrests will be made.

The City of Independence has announced that they have named Scott Patton the new Director of the Independence Park, Zoo, and Cemetery Departments. Patton will assume the role next Monday.

Patton has worked as a park ranger for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism for the past two years stationed primarily at Elk City State Park, where he was responsible for a wide variety of roles including safety and law enforcement, customer service, educational programming, and park operations. He previously worked for the City of Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department and Kansas State University. His seasonal roles included time with the KDWPT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Tuttle Creek Lake in Manhattan.

Patton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Park Management and Conservation from KSU and earned Kansas Law Enforcement Officer certification through the University of Kansas training center.

A Galena man is dead after a crash in Cherokee County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 20-year-old Theodore Lane III was traveling southbound on State Line Road when he left the road and struck a telephone pole, and was ejected from the motorcycle.

The driver was wearing a helmet.

A Pittsburg man is behind bars after allegedly hitting a man with a bat during a disturbance.

On Sunday, July 11, officers with the Pittsburg Police Department officers were were dispatched to a residence in Northwest Pittsburg for a report of a disturbance. As officers arrived in the area, they located a man walking east on 23rd Street who was bleeding from his forehead, mouth, and left ear. The victim reported to the officers that he was struck in the head with a baseball bat upon arriving at the residence. The victim was transported to Ascension Via Christi Hospital before being transferred to Freeman Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, where he remains in stable condition.

After an investigation, the suspect was identified as 35-year-old Derek Edward Junk. Junk was arrested without incident on Thursday. Junk was transported to the Crawford County Jail where he is being charged with one count of aggravated battery. He is being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff and Emergency Management Office are hosting a presentation over topics that include mass shootings, school shootings and serial killers. Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson says they have two speakers lined up for this event.

The presentation will be on Thursday from 8:00am to 4:00pm at the Coffeyville Community College theater. Admission is free, but there will be graphic images and videos so you must be 18 or older to attend.

Several cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 have shown up in southeast Kansas in the past week and COVID numbers are up over the entire state. Dr. Joe Meier of the Wilson Medical Center says while the Delta variant isn't more dangerous, it is extremely contagious.

Vaccinations in the state have stagnated as only 48% of eligible Kansans have completed their vaccinations, according to the KDHE. Dr. Meier says aside from maybe a few minor side effects in a small portion of the population, the vaccines are safe and important.

Dr. Meier encourages everyone to get vaccinated with whatever vaccine they most feel comfortable with. The complete interview with Dr. Meier can be found here.

Recent car burglaries in Caney have been connected to two juveniles from Oklahoma.  A Caney resident reported that his debit card had been stolen and was used at the Quick Trip in Bartlesville.  Another citizen reported what appeared to be personal belongings strung along Highway 75 south of Caney.  In all 10 car burglaries were reported in Caney and others reported to have been broken into but nothing was stolen. 

Video footage from the Quick Trip showed 5 juvenile males.  Officers were able to determine the boys, all from Bartlesville, had traveled to Caney to visit friends. During the night, two of them decided to go “Car Hopping”, focusing on unlocked vehicles.  The two boys confessed to the thefts.  Most of the stolen property has been recovered but most of that property had been damaged.  Recommended charges will be multiple counts of felony burglary, theft and criminal damage to property. 

The Chautauqua County Fair and Rodeo continues today with several events forming the itinerary.

Animals being shown today include swine, rabbits and poultry, bucket calves and beef. Inflatables and rides will open at 6 pm, staying open until 10. The BBQ Contest will open up for check-ins at 8 pm, and a youth dance begins at 9.

In addition, 98.1 KUSN will be reporting live on location from 3 pm to 5 pm. The full schedule of events, including Friday and Saturday, can be found here.

Governor Laura Kelly announced that 36 Kansas Cities will be receiving funds for road repair. With a commitment to preserving and improving Kansas’s highways, Kelly has said twenty-three million dollars will be spent towards road improvement projects. Included within those 36 cities are 3 located within Southeast Kansas. The three cities include Parsons, Independence, and Baxter Springs. In Parsons, they are doing pavement restoration on U.S 59 for one million dollars.

In Independence they are doing two different projects, both projects are on U.S 75, they will be doing surface preservation for $300,000 and they will be doing geometric improvements for $1,000,000. Finally, in Baxter Springs they have planned to go through with pavement restoration on U.S 69A for $1,000,000.

Anyone considering starting their own businesses, already in business or just looking for new approaches to problem-solving are invited to enroll in the next “Entrepreneurial Mindset” class at Fab Lab ICC. Director Jim Correll says they have been offering this class since 2012.

This is a weekly class from 6:00pm to 8:00pm starting Thursday, August 12^th and running eight weeks until September 30^th. Correll says the cost of the class is $165, but there are ways to get it for cheaper.  More information on course content, schedule, requirements and scholarships are available by contacting Correll at (620)252-5349. A link to register can be found in the online version of this story at kggfradio.com.

The Labette County Fair Board received a donation of $50,000 from the Labette County Commission to replace the lights at the rodeo arena which is estimated to cost $100,000. The commission also agreed to match up to $25,000 in private donations.

The fair board said they want to replace the 30-year-old lights with LED lights and the wiring in the arena needs to be replaced as well. The lights were in the process of being replaced in anticipation of the night shows which begin with the ACRA / IPRA Rodeo on Wednesday and Thursday night and concludes with the demolition derby on Saturday night.

Over a week has passed since a Bartlesville teen ran away from home. 17-year-old Ericka (Evan) Lino left home on July 12 leaving belongings and a cell phone behind. Bartlesville Police Lieutenant Warren Morrow said Lino also emptied a bank account. Lino was last seen walking north on Highway 75 towards Dewey with a backpack, a jug of water and food.

Lt. Morrow said Lino had hinted at leaving town for Portland, Maine. He said they do not have a way to track the location, so they have no way of telling whether the teen is in the Bartlesville area or not.  If you see Lino, you are asked to call the Bartlesville Police Department's non-emergency number at (918)338-4001.

Residents of Caney are encouraged to double-check their cars and secure their valuables as break-ins become more frequent.

The Caney Police Department said it received several reports of car break-ins Wednesday morning, leading to the loss of personal property. Several persons of interest have already been determined in the case. Those with information that would help lead to the indentification of those individuals are encouraged to call the department at 620-879-2141.

A train has derailed in the City of Bartlesville.

Lieutenant Josh Johnson with the Bartlesville Police Department said the accident occurred around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday. He said four cars came off the track, with two of them landing sideways.

Adams Boulevard will be shutdown for approximately three to five hours. Johnson highly encouraged finding a different route if you are coming to town. 14th Street at the railroad tracks is not blocked by the train traffic at this time.

There were no injuries. The carts were reported to be empty when the derailment occurred.  A crane is heading to Bartlesville to lift the cars back on the track. A new engine is on its way from Owasso to come around behind it.

Pittsburg State University's president has announced that he is stepping down at the end of this fiscal year, June 2022. Steve Scott told the Kansas Board of Regents that he is going to keep his future options open so at the moment he isn't calling this a retirement. He is still tenured as a faculty member at Pitt State so he may consider teaching.

A graduate of Pitt State, Scott has served in several leadership roles. He was a faculty member in the College of Education, chair of the Department of Special Services and Leadership Studies, dean of the College of Education, vice president for Academic Affairs and university president since 2009.

If you enjoy music, you'll enjoy the 4^th annual event known as the Meadowlark Lounge that is scheduled for this Friday at the Independence Historical Museum & Art Center. The event will start at 7:00 pm with the doors opening at 6:00 pm. IHMAC Board Member Mike Flood explains how the idea of the Meadowlark Lounge came about.

Flood says that the concert will be a little different than most concerts.

Scheduled to perform on Friday are award-winning singer/songwriter Luke Christenson, Bryton Stoll, Chris Mitchell, and Larry Curt. Stoll will serve as the host. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the IHMAC or by calling 620-331-3515. All proceeds will benefit the Museum.

Photo Courtesy of the Independence Historical Museum & Art Center

A Girard man has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a man.

Early Sunday morning, Pittsburg Police Department officers were called to Ascension Via Christi’s in reference to a 40-year-old man who was brought in with multiple stab wounds to his face and abdomen. After interviewing several witnesses, it was revealed the incident occurred within a vehicle in the 400 block of West 6th Street.

Evidence was collected and 50-year-old Jose Flores-Velez was identified as the suspect. Flores-Velez was located at his residence and was placed under arrest for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and for a warrant out of Crawford County District Court for Domestic Battery. He was transported to the Crawford County Jail for booking and is currently being held without bond.

The victim in this case was later released from the hospital after receiving treatment.

Photo Courtesy of the Crawford County Sheriff's Office

The City of Caney continues to improve, adding a new public pool, a grocery store, and upgrading one of the main roads into town. At the most recent city council meeting, Tourism Committee Member Jared Daniels says the committee recommends using the Bajillion Agency to help to continue to improve.

Daniels says it's about improving the image of Caney and he thinks this agency can do it best. In other business, the city council approved a permit for the consumption of Cereal Malt Beverages for an event this Friday.

If you've ever wanted to build a guitar yourself or just enjoy building things FabLab ICC has a class for you. The Guitar Fabrication Class starts August 11^th and will run until December 8^th. Instructor Steve Reid says you'll get out what you put into the class.

The cost of the class is $165 but if you sign up before the end of the month you can get $15 off. The cost of the guitar kit is around $200 to $250. You can find the link to register here.

Hauntings: A Summer Seance at the Brown Mansion is coming up the first weekend of August. The event is the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th with two shows each night at 7:00pm and 9:00pm. Organizer Pete Walterscheid says seances originated in America.

Walterscheid says this is a recreation of the original seances, but it is all in good fun there are no religious connotations.  Tickets are currently on sale at the Chamber of Commerce, the Brown Mansion and the Dalton Museum. All proceeds of this event will go to the Brown Mansion.

Montgomery County has officially closed the book on its Community Development Block Grant funding program.

Jim Kelly, Interim Director of the Montgomery County Action Council, reported that the county had given away a total of $132,000 in grant money. The largest grant was $32,000, with the smallest at coming in at just $2,000.

Kelly said the grants helped retain jobs in the county.

The county is not required to match the grant funding. All money for the program came through the Department of Commerce. Each county was allowed to divide the money received as needed.

Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 will be traveling through southeast Kansas as part of its "Big Boy 2021 Tour" starting August 5th. The locomotive will leave Cheyenne, Wyoming, traveling through Nebraska before going south through Kansas City.

Six days from its embarkment, the Big Boy will arrive in Moran at 1:45 pm. Leaving at 2:30, the Big Boy will then eventually come to a stop at Parsons for the night by 4 pm. It will leave the next day at 8 am.

No. 4014 is the only operating Big Boy out of the 25 that were assembled from 1941 to 1944. It weighs 1.2 million pounds, and it the largest and most powerful steam locomotive in the world.

Recent high school graduates and some Kansas residents will have an opportunity at earning a new scholarship.

The Kansas Promise Scholarship was recently developed by the Kansas Board of Regents and is aimed at keeping talented Kansans living and working within the state. It is open to all 2021 high school graduates, or any resident 21-and-up who has lived in Kansas for at least 3 years.

Coffeyville Community College's Heather Pollet explained some of the financial details of the scholarship.

The scholarship is applicable to many of the technical programs offered by CCC. The college will be holding an informational session on Friday, July 30th at the Coffeyville Technical Campus. You can find the full interview, including more details on the requirements of the scholarship by clicking here.

 Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit most of the southeast Kansas area overnight. Flood warnings are in effect all weekend due to that heavy rainfall.

Areas in Wilson County saw over seven inches of rain including Altoona at 7.4 and the Fredonia area at 7.3. Parts of Neosho and Labette County saw over 5 inches of rain with Chanute at 5.7 and Parsons at 5. Coffeyville saw rain totals range from 1.8 to 3 inches with us at the KGGF studios getting 2. Other parts of Montgomery County include Indy at 2.25, Caney at 1.5 and Independence at 3.

A Missouri man has been arrested after committing a series of crimes over several days in Pittsburg.

Late last week, law enforcement officers with the Pittsburg Police Department were dispatched to a convenience store regarding a report of a robbery. The store clerk reported that a male suspect was taking an item of merchandise without paying for it. When confronted by the clerk, the male suspect told the clerk that he had a gun on him and then left the store.

Officers determined the suspect was 23-year-old Aaron M. Beard, of Liberal, Missouri.

The next day, Pittsburg PD was called to the Regency Inn & Suites for a report of an armed robbery. Beard came into the victim’s motel room and demanded money. The victim did not give Beard any money but told him he could take other property from the room. Beard did not take anything, but threatened the victim and then left their room.

Then earlier this week, Pittsburg PD was called to LaQuinta Inn & Suites regarding a report of suspicious activity. Officers made contact with Beard and a female subject. Beard was taken into custody while the female subject was released.

Beard was arrested on multiple counts including two counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Beard was transported to the Crawford County jail and is currently being held without bond.

A two-time Super Bowl Champion is the next speaker during a speaker series at Pittsburg State University. The series is coming to campus on August 30^th and tickets will go on sale July 27^th. The “H. Lee Scott Speaker Series: An Examination of American Life” was created in 2015.

This year’s speaker is Peyton Manning and the event, “A Conversation with Peyton Manning” is planned for 6:15pm in the Linda & Lee Scott Performance Hall in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts. A link to purchase tickets can be found here or at the Pitt State ticket office for $30.

A Parsons man is in custody following a child sex crime.

Earlier this week, the Parsons Police Department was notified about a possible fight. It was reported to them that a 21-year old man had tried to solicit sex from a 15-year-old female. The two had arranged to meet up through social media.

The suspect was identified as John Coates, who was arrested for suspicion of Indecent Liberties with a Child, Criminal Sodomy, and Indecent Solicitation of a Child. Coates was taken into custody without incident. He is being held waiting for his first appearance in front of a Labette County District Court Judge.

Several roads in Parsons are closed after heavy rains fell yesterday.

The Parsons Police Department is working with the fire department and Parsons city crews warn residents of flood water hazards. Crews will be working throughout the day to monitor and close roads as needed, as well as evacuate any citizens that may be in dangerous waters or areas of town.

A list of current road closures in Parsons can be found here. Continue listening to 690AM KGGF or checking kggfradio.com for further updates throughout the weekend.

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued flood warnings for northern Labette County and northeastern Montgomery County. This includes Parsons, Independence, Cherryvale, Oswego, and Altamont.

Significant rises are being monitored at the Neosho River. The NWS reported that flooding is expected soon near Parsons. The most current flood warning for Montgomery County expires 5:14 am on Monday. The most current flood warning for Labette County expires on 9:09 am Tuesday, and Neosho County expires at 11:43 pm Sunday. In addition, Wilson County is under a flood warning until 5:38 pm on Sunday.

As always, do not drive into standing water. Turn around, don't drown. Stay tuned to kggfradio.com and 690AM for further updates.

The summer reading program is still ongoing at the Coffeyville Public Library, with the theme “Tails and Tales”. As a part of the reading program, they have some great events planned during each week of the summer. Librarian Lois Hendrix says next week they have movies and crafts planned for all ages.

A full calendar of events for the rest of the month can be seen on the library's Facebook page. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 8:00pm, Friday and Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and closed on Sunday.

It's time to put on those swimming tucks and running shoes at the Junior Advisory Council Triathlon is scheduled for Saturday, August 7^th at Pfister Park in Coffeyville beginning at 8 am. JAC Coffeyville's Kari Vannoster Price lays out where each part of the triathlon will take place.

Contestants will be separated by age groups with the Junior division being between the ages of 7-10 and the Senior division ages 11 and up. Relay teams are also allowed to sign up as well. Price said the distance of the triathlon will vary depending on which division you are in.

Even though it is not required, Price said there will be training sessions that will take place to help you get ready for the event.

For more information on how to sign up for the JAC Triathlon, call 620-515-1118.

The next few days could see severe weather moving into the area.

The National Weather Service in Wichita is calling for possible thunderstorms starting from Thursday evening, moving throughout the weekend. Temperatures will remain in the 80s, but wind gusts, heavy rain and flooding are possible.

Saturday and Sunday pose the highest risk of severe thunderstorms. Make sure to tune into 690AM, KGGF, in case severe weather strikes.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin a project to repair two bridges on K-171 in Cherokee County beginning on Monday.

The bridges span the Kansas City Southern Railroad and Taylor Creek and are located three and a half miles east of U.S. 69. The bridges will be repaired one at a time, with the work starting at Taylor Creek. Traffic at the bridge will be reduced to one lane controlled by signals, with expected delays of 15 minutes or less. Project activity will be suspended over the winter months, with work resuming in the spring of 2022. The repairs should be complete by November 2022.

KDOT awarded the construction contract of just under $770,000 to Mission Construction of St. Paul. Drivers are reminded to obey the reduced speed limit through the work zone and to pay close attention to the signs and signals.

Independence resident arrested for drug possession. Earlier this week, sheriff’s deputies reported to a rural area of Montgomery County, in response to a report of a blue passenger vehicle sitting in a field. Upon arrival, they discovered 41-year-old, Bradley Hall fishing in a pond on the property.

During the investigation, deputies discovered Hall was trespassing and had a felony warrant out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hall was found to be carrying over an ounce of methamphetamine in his boot. During questioning, Hall said while fishing he stepped into a muskrat hole and that's where he found the methamphetamine. Sheriff Ron Wade said in his 32 years in law enforcement he's never heard a story like this.

Hall was transported to the department of corrections with suggested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute, and failure to have a drug tax stamp.

Vomitoxin was an issue that occurred in the wheat harvest a few weeks ago and could occur again in the corn harvest later this year. K-State Wildcat Extension District Crops and Soils Agent James Coover explains what vomitoxin is.

Unfortunately, not much can be done if vomitoxin is found in your wheat and it is usually not known until it is too late. Coover says about the only other thing you can do is feed it to your animals but even then, you have to be careful how much and what animal you give it to.

Coover also said that you must watch out for various types of ear rot that causes the formation of vomitoxin.

For more information on this subject, you can contact Coover at (620) 724-8233.

One vehicle crash in Cherokee County sends a man to the hospital.

Yesterday, 43-year old Dustin Clark, crashed his 2015 Honda Fury. Clark was traveling eastbound on U166, Clark then lost control of the vehicle and was ejected from the motorcycle.

Clark was then taken to Freeman Hospital with suspected serious injury, he was not wearing a helmet.

Suspect arrested in Cherokee County after multiple thefts. Earlier this week Cherokee County Deputies were alerted to the theft of copper from air conditioning units and the theft of a church van in the Southeast part of Cherokee County.

The stolen van was taken out of state and crushed at a reclamation facility. Yesterday afternoon, one of the suspects, 62-year-old David Wammack, was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of theft and criminal damage to property. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.

Over fifty people gathered in Mound Valley to discuss the potential of wind energy expansion into Labette County. Seven people spoke at the meeting, no one in favor of wind farms. One of the speakers, a school teacher at Labette County High School, Lindsey Wilson says she wants the commission to spend more time considering wind farms.

Topics discussed during the meeting included the effects on wildlife, health, and property value. Wilson says should landowners leasing their property have more say than homeowners who could be affected.

Discussion of this topic has picked up over the last few months and currently, a group of people against these wind farms is seeking the recall of District 2 Commissioner Brian Kinzie. Commission Chairman Lonie Addis was the only commissioner present at this meeting.

The Caney Police Department is searching for a man who is considered to be armed and dangerous. Early this morning, Anthony VanZant was involved in a domestic altercation with his ex-girlfriend in Caney. During the altercation, VanZant pulled out a pistol and ordered the victim out of her car. He was last seen in an older model, late 70's to early 80's gold or tan Ford flatbed truck.

VanZant was a passenger in the truck and the driver was reported to be armed as well. Caney PD says if you see this truck do not approach it and notify law enforcement immediately. VanZant is a white male, 6'7”, weighs around 230 lbs, with short brown hair and blue eyes. He is wanted by Caney PD for aggravated domestic battery. Anyone with information should call 911 or Caney PD at (620)879-2141.

A 31-year-old man is in custody after he attempted to elude Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies Monday afternoon.

Just after 2:00 p.m., a deputy started to initiate a traffic stop on a motorcycle ridden by James Alen Walker of Galena. Walker, who had multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest, started to elude law enforcement, ultimately fleeing on foot into a wooded area. The Deputy deployed his K9 partner who apprehended Walker until the handler detained him.

In addition to the outstanding arrest warrants, Walker is being held in the Cherokee County Jail on new allegations of Possessing Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference with Law Enforcement, No Driver's License, No Insurance, and Illegal Registration.

Two were arrested for theft in Cherokee County. Deputies were dispatched to an area east of Baxter Springs, where a property owner had reported a theft. During the course of the investigation, deputies located the suspect's vehicle in Galena.

During a traffic stop, the two occupants, 52-year-old Mark Stover and 19-year-old Joseph Kirker, were taken into custody. Some of the property was recovered at a Missouri reclamation facility but some had already been destroyed. Both men remain in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of theft and criminal damage to property.

Churches in Independence will be coming together for a mass worship on August 1^st in Memorial Hall in Independence. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 am. Pastor Nick Grim of Impact Christian Church in Independence says the idea for this event started with just a few churches and has only expanded.

After the service at Memorial Hall, the event will continue at Riverside Park from 1 pm to 5 pm with a food truck and free rides, and free mini-golf. The event will then conclude from Riverside Pool from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Pastor Grim said with this being an outreach event they are asking for a donation to help USD 446 students.

For more information on this event, you can contact Grim at 620-577-2168.

A sizable agenda awaits the Coffeyville City Commission as they meet in regular session tonight.

Following the approval of the consent agenda, the commission will make considerations to approve repairs to the roof of the Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power and approve a mill and overlay on sections of Cheyenne Street on the western side of the city.

Also on the agenda, are resolutions to fund the construction of offices at City Hall and the construction of a project at the Emergency Services building for storage.

Tonight's meeting will start at 6:30 pm.

Oswego will play host to the 110th Labette County Fair starting this weekend, with several events taking center stage.

All kinds of animals will be shown over the course of the week, including horses, swine, poultry, calves and beef, rabbits and goats. That will all culminate in the 4-H and FFA Livestock sale on Friday, July 23rd. In addition, the fair's pony pull being held Sunday, July 18th. Fair representative David Newby explained the rules of the event for those who have never seen one before.

The ARCA/IPRA/Open Rodeo will also be coming to town on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Newby said the rodeo is a fair tradition.

The fair kicks off this Saturday, and runs through the following Saturday. A full list of events can be found on the fair's website.

The 2021 Cherryvale Youth Fair wrapped up over the weekend. A number of youth participated in events ranging from showing livestock to indoor events like baking and sewing. Livestock exhibited at the fair on Friday night include cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and dairy cattle.

Grand Champion of each event are market beef - Maggie Chandler, heifers - Maddix Small, dairy cattle - Everett Henry, does - Ashley Chandler, market meat goats - Cammie Dodson, market lamb - Alivia Kaiser, ewes - Trey Newby, market hog - Tayte Leck and gilt - Brayden Reese.

A full list of winners including reserve champions for the livestock show and winners of showmanship, indoor events and the Skillathon can be found here.

The KDHE upgraded its harmful algae bloom watch for Big Hill Lake to a warning over the weekend.

The upgrade was made around 2:30 p.m. Friday. A warning is issued when a harmful algal bloom, in this case blue-green algae, is expected or present. Water is determined to be unsafe for humans and animals, and should be avoided. Fish may still be eaten, but should be rinsed with clean water while only the fillet portion is consumed. All other portions must be discarded.

Big Hill Lake, in Labette County, previously closed its swim beach late last month due to a previous advisory.  For up to the date tracking information, you may view the KDHE's algal bloom page here.

The name of the man who drowned at Elk City Lake late last week has been released. After Family notification, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the Independence man that drowned, as 47-year-old Craig Gilson. Friday, deputies were dispatched at about 5:00pm after reports of a possible drowning.

Witnesses at the scene told the deputies that they had heard a man yell for help before going underwater. The witnesses also reported that they had tried to help the victim, but were unable to. At around 11:20pm, Gilson's body was recovered from the lake. Sheriff Ron Wade asks that the public continue to respect the privacy of the family. Sheriff Wade would also like to thank Independence Fire-EMS for their assistance.

Labette County department heads continue to look for ways to recruit and retain employees. Currently, sheriff and 911 employees make forty cents extra an hour for working nights. Dispatch Director Brandi Grassl says she would like to see that pay increase and include weekends.

Grassl says she thinks that shift differential increases will help with employee recruitment and retention.  The Labette County Commission voted unanimously to approve the thirty-five-cent increase for dispatch, sheriff's office and jail staff beginning with the August pay period.

As the demand for gas increases, prices in Kansas and Oklahoma continue to climb.

Montgomery and Labette County residents are paying $2.88/gallon which two cents is higher than the state average of $2.86. Chautauqua County is $2.94 and Wilson County is the lowest in the immediate area at $2.85.

Gas prices in Oklahoma have shot up over the past three weeks by 10 cents to $2.87/gallon. Gas in Washington County is at $2.94 while Nowata County is at $2.78 which cheapest in northeast Oklahoma.

The national average is $3.15/gallon. Motorists are paying, on average, nearly a dollar more a gallon than last summer to fill up and close to 40 cents more than in 2019. Even with the elevated prices, Kansas and Oklahoma are ranked #8 and #9 for the least expensive gas in the nation.

Montgomery County is looking to upgrade its rural fire department reporting software.

Assistant Emergency Manager Lee Miller reported that they would begin looking for bids at an estimated cost of around $4,000 to $5,000. The software is currently being used in many different fire departments around the area, including Coffeyville, Independence, Parsons, Pittsburg and Bartlesville.

Miller said this software would bring many benefits from the analytical to the financial.

Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson emphasized that notion, saying and the capabilities and information they would obtain from the software would be vast.

In other business, Public Works Coordinator Jim Wright presented the commission with the county's road and bridge cash report for April, May and June. The commission will meet once again next Monday.

Two people were injured in a car wreck in Wilson County Friday evening.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 28-year-old Savannah Davis of Houston, Texas was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu eastbound on K-39 just east of Thomas Road when it crossed the center line and left the roadway. The vehicle struck a culvert causing the vehicle to roll over and it came to rest on the driver's side.

Davis sustained suspected serious injuries and was transported to Wesley Medical Center. Davis's passenger, 29-year-old Brian Noble of Coffeyville, also had suspected serious injuries and was taken to St. Francis Hospital.

Neither Davis nor Noble was wearing a seatbelt.

A teenager has gone missing in Mayes County, Oklahoma. 13-year-old Michael Russell, who may also be going by Michael Clarke, has been missing for over two days. He went missing earlier this weekend, the family believes he could have been taken from his home in Adair, Oklahoma. His family and friends have not heard from him or seen any activity on social media.

The Mayes County Sheriff Office is also looking for Russell. If anyone has any information on Russell or may have seen him please contact the Mayes County Sheriff's Office at (918)825-3535 or you can reach out to the family on Facebook. Photos of Russell can be seen below.

Strong to severe weather possible this afternoon between 1:00pm to 9:00pm. Storms could produce heavy rain, golf ball size hail, and damaging winds. Please be weather aware and don't drive thru high water, turn around don't drown.

If severe weather does hit tune in to the Mighty 690 KGGF for you severe weather coverage.

A man was reported to have drowned at Elk City Lake early Friday evening.

Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff's office were dispatched about 5 p.m. after reports of a possible drowning. Witnesses at the scene told the deputies that they had heard a man yell for help before going underwater. The witnesses also reported that they had tried to help the victim, but were unable to.

At around 11:20 p.m, the body of a 47-year-old white male was recovered from the lake. The name of the victim is currently being withheld pending family notification. Foul play is not suspected.

Sheriff Ron Wade asks that the public respect the privacy of the family at this time.

Free cancer screenings will be open to the public in Coffeyville.  The cancer screenings will be at the Keystone Masonic Lodge at 2001 Woodland Avenue on Saturday, July 10, from 9:00am to noon.

Included in this event are prostate, skin and colon cancer screenings along with body mass index assessments.  Registration is required, the link to register can be found here.  For more information, you can call (620)251-3003.

A routine traffic stop leads to the arrest of the passenger on drug charges. Yesterday afternoon, a Montgomery County Sheriff Deputy, Detective and a Kansas Bureau of Investigation Agent conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Independence. The driver was identified as Joshua Werner, of Cherryvale, and the passenger as Judy Eastwood, of Neodesha.

Werner did not have a valid driver's license and while speaking with him the deputy noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the car. During the search, deputies located marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on Eastwood's side of the vehicle and in her bag. Both were transported to the Department of Corrections, and during booking, officers located more narcotics on Eastwood. Werner has suggested charges of driving while suspended and Eastwood with multiple drug charges and trafficking contraband into a corrections facility.

A Caney man to appear in court after Fourth of July weekend hit-and-run. The Caney Police Department received a report of a convertible striking a power pole and mailbox. The driver fled the scene before officers could arrive. Officers were able to determine the vehicle was a Ford Mustang convertible, confirmed by witnesses at the accident.

Yesterday, officers located what they believed to be the vehicle parked in a garage in the 100 block of Church St. The vehicle was covered, which partially concealed the damage. Officers contacted 20-year-old Tyron Bradley at the residence. He admitted to being involved in the accident and fled the scene because he did not have insurance or current registration. Bradley was issued notices to appear in city court on charges of leaving the scene, no liability insurance and no current registration. The court appearance date was set for August 3^rd.

A new contest is encouraging residents of Coffeyville to clean its classic brick sidewalks.

Groups participating in the "Discover and Recover" contest should take a picture of their sidewalk area before starting.  Once done, before and after pictures should be sent to the Coffeyville's Reawakening Facebook page along with names, contact information, and the address of the sidewalk.

Reverend Doug Mund serves on the Coffeyville's Reawakening Board of Directors and is in charge of this mission. He said projects like these go beyond simple discovery.

Those who wish to participate should call Mund at 620-251-1190. The contest ends July 31st, with first place receiving a $100 gift certificate to a local business. Second place will receive $50.

A traffic stop and search warrant lead to the arrest of two on drug charges. Earlier this week, the Nowata County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jerry Anderson Jr from a traffic stop in southern Nowata County. Anderson had about a fourth of a pound of what was believed to be methamphetamine and a firearm. He was arrested for drug trafficking and two firearm charges.

The following day, the sheriff’s office served a search warrant at 506 Main in Delaware, which is the known residence of Anderson. During the search, more substance believed to be methamphetamine was found. This substance was individually bagged likely to be sold. At the residence, Jamie Anderson was arrested for a warrant.

State Senator Virgil Peck discussed Kansas's new voting laws and record revenue for the state of Kansas on this (Friday) morning. Peck first talked about legislation that was passed that took effect on July 1^st that is designed to make voting more secure.

Sen. Peck did say that two voting rights groups filed a lawsuit last month seeking to invalidate the new laws passed by the Legislature.

Peck also talked about the record revenue that the state has brought in. Sen. Peck said he would like to see checks written to the people of the state with the excess funds or to fund KPERS.

The entire interview with Peck can be found online at kggfradio.com under the community section.

Coffeyville Salvation Army Christmas in July is back this year. This year's one-day bell-ringing event will be on Saturday, July 24^th. Coordinator Joe Brooks says they will be set up at two locations.

Brooks says they've been holding a Christmas in July for about six years, but they are one of the only Salvation Armies in the area that do.  Brooks says he's very thankful for all the support he receives from Coffeyville, those who give and the volunteers who help him out.

The justice system can be confusing at times as it is hard to understand why some people who are in custody after allegedly committing a crime are not arrested. But as Independence Chief of Police Jerry Harrison explains, they are sometimes not allowed to make an arrest.

Chief Harrison did say that there are narrow exceptions to the Kansas law.

Chief Harrison also says that there are laws where the police “Shall Arrest” a person to comply with the law. Shall Arrest examples include DUI, Domestic Violence, and Fleeing and Eluding.

To listen to the entire interview with Chief Harrison, click here.

The Coffeyville Boys and Girls Club will have new gaming opportunities for its children following a recent donation.

Coffeyville Community College donated a shuffleboard and air hockey table to the organization. CCC's Yvonne Hull said the college was able to make the donation due to recent renovations throughout its campus. That includes recently replaced bleachers in the Nellis Hall East Gym, a refurbished basketball court in the West Gym, and a renovated cafeteria.

Boys and Girls Club Director Griffin Walker was on-hand to receive the college's donation.

The City of Coffeyville's electric department has received an award for its reliability.

The Oklahoma Municipal Alliance announced that Coffeyville Municipal Light & Power is being recognized for first place in the association's annual Electric Operations and Reliability Competition. The utility service was recognized in the category for cities over 10,000 population and was also cited for achieving the highest level of service reliability for cities within OMA's four-state member region.

OMA reported that CMLP's Average Service Availability Index was 99.998 percent. That number is defined by the industry as "the ratio of the total number of customer hours that service was available during a given time period to the total customer hours demanded."

OMA General Manager Tom Rider presented the award to CMLP.

A Caney man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on multiple charges.

The Caney Police Department received a 911 call at around 4 pm reporting a burglary in progress at the Garden Walk Apartments. The victim of the crime reported to the dispatcher that a person known to them as 29-year-old Aaron J. Walker had just kicked their apartment door open and entered the apartment. Walker was reported to have left the scene on foot.

Caney PD officers arrived within a minute of receiving the call and contacted Walker who was walking on 10th St. East of the apartment complex. He was arrested without incident. Upon investigating the scene, officers observed the front door and door jam of the apartment were kicked in and were heavily damaged as a result of the forced entry to the apartment.

Walker was arrested for Aggravated Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, and Criminal Trespassing. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

This isn't the first run-in with the law for Walker. He was arrested a few weeks ago on separate fighting charges.

Coffeyville's Hops Around Town Brew Fest is three months away. Chamber of Commerce Director Candi Westbrook says even though that seems far away they are looking for volunteers.

The brew fest is Saturday, October 9^th from 2:00pm until 6:00pm. There will be live music, food trucks and cornhole. A link for tickets can be found here.

There have been 21 new cases of COVID-19 in the last five days in Labette County.

That brings the number of active cases in the county to 26. There was also one new hospitalization, which brings the total to two current hospitalizations.

The Labette County Health Department encourages citizens to get vaccinated.

A Pittsburg man has been arrested on a wealth of charges including aggravated kidnapping.

The Pittsburg Police Department received a phone call from an anonymous person who reported their friend was battered by a significant other. However, the caller would not provide the location of the victim. Shortly afterward dispatch received a call from the victim and officers met with the victim. The victim stated that her significant other, 24-year-old Sean Michael Wolsey placed his hands around her neck and strangled her to the point where she nearly lost consciousness. The victim stated that she attempted to escape the residence through a window but was pulled back into the residence. Eventually, she was able to escape.

A search warrant was obtained for Wolsey's residence and he was taken into custody. Wolsey faces charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wolsey also had an active arrest warrant for him through the Crawford County District Court. He is being held in lieu of a $100,000.00 bond.

The Independence City Commission will consider following through on a recent fitness grant at its meeting Thursday.

If approved, Mayor Louis Ysusi will sign off on the National Fitness Campaign Grant Program and its associated requirements. The grant totals $50,000 and will be used to purchase and install a "Fitness Court" at the Central Park Sports Complex.

Requirements in the process include budgeting, installation, and spreading the word about the new court. The process is estimated to be completed around March 2023.

The commission will consider this proposal, along with other regularly scheduled business, at its meeting on Thursday. That meeting will begin at 5:30 pm at the Civic Center in Memorial Hall.

Health officials in southeast Kansas are urging residents to get vaccines against COVID-19 as the delta variant spreads across the region.

Over the past two weeks, 18% of COVID-19 tests in Crawford County have been positive, a sign of increasing community spread and inadequate testing.  In Cherokee County, the positivity rate is 27%. In its latest report, Wilson County saw a rise in cases by 25 since its previous report two weeks ago while Neosho Count was up by nine.

The Delta variant is currently the dominant strain in Kansas with 289 confirmed cases.

An Oklahoma man was arrested in Caney on a warrant for theft. Earlier this weekend, Caney Police Officers were on routine patrol when they stopped a vehicle traveling 48mph in a 35mph zone. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Brad Allen Bishop from Ochelata, Oklahoma.

Bishop was driving on an expired driver's license. After checking for warrants on Bishop it was discovered he was wanted in Osage County, Oklahoma for grand larceny, conspiracy and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property. Bishop was then arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.

The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce has announced the Shop Coffeyville Card, which is a community gift card that will replace the chamber bucks. Chamber Director Candi Westbrook says to help encourage people to check out the card they are holding a contest.

The contest will run until Friday and then the winner will be contacted either by phone or email. Westbrook says they wanted to make it easier and more convenient for the community to shop local.

Westbrook says the card works just like a credit or gift card and can be reloaded with more money at any time. The link for more information or to purchase a card can be found here.

The Coffeyville Summer Celebration is just four days away, but the lineup has seen some additions compared to previous years. New to the festivities this year is a cornhole tournament. Featuring 15 sets of boards, organizers are expecting a big turnout for what should be a popular event.

One of those organizers, Mike Bradley, said the tournament will help a good cause.

Registration begins at 11:30. The tournament will be held at the horseshoe pit, on the south side of Walter Johnson Park. The entry fee per team is $20. More information on the tournament and the festivities themselves can be found at the Celebration's Facebook page.

A 73-year-old Kansas man was killed after a weekend in Frontenac.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Virgil McCulloch was driving Saturday night on Cayuga Street just south of U.S. Highway 160 when his SUV went off the right side of the road. The vehicle hit a set of mailboxes and a driveway then sped up rapidly and hit a concrete storm ditch culvert.

He was taken to a Via Christi in Pittsburg where he succumbed to his injuries. McCulloch was not wearing a seatbelt.

A variety of fresh produce is available at this time of the year. While most are picked for peak freshness, K-State Research and Extension Food Safety Specialist Karen Blakeslee says how you store them will determine how long they maintain their best flavor.
 

Blakeslee says some produce will need to ripen before being refrigerated, including things like peaches, pears and plums.  Tomatoes should also be allowed to ripen at room temperature. Blakeslee says any produce that has been cut into needs to be refrigerated.

Coffeyville continues to improve the look of their neighborhoods, whether through remodeling homes, cleaning up vacant lots, or planting community gardens. To help encourage people in this, Reawakening's Peggy Steele says a contest has started that will run through Labor Day.

Steele says the commemorative bricks are valued at around $40 to $50 and are really hard to come by. The “Don't Spit on the Sidewalk” bricks are a part of Kansas's history that dates all the back to the early 20^th century.

A 59-year-old Crawford County man has been arrested on multiple sex charges.

Gerald Laverne Simmons of Pittsburg turned himself into detectives with the Pittsburg Police Department as the result of a swift investigation initiated on June 29^th, where Simmons was accused of inappropriate sexual contact with children under 14 years of age. This sexual contact is alleged to have occurred over the course of the past two years.

Charges will be requested for Simmons to be charged with nine counts of Rape of a Child under the age of 14; three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy of a Child under the age of 14; twenty-four counts of Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child under the age of 14; twelve counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child under the age of 14; and four counts of Aggravated Endangering of a Child.

Simmons is currently being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

A new day spa is opening in Coffeyville later this week.

The Doctor's Orders will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Wednesday, July 7th. The new business will offer not only massage therapy, but also facials, facial and body waxing, and eyelash extensions.

The new business is located at 209 W. 7th Street in Coffeyville.

A man was killed in a weekend crash near Copan.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 29-year-old Ethan Smith of Caney was traveling eastbound on West 100 Road when he hit a bridge, drove off the road, and struck a tree. The collision happened just before 5 a.m. Sunday.

Medical personnel responded to the scene but Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. The OHP said Smith was not wearing a seatbelt.

UPDATE: Michael Shook says the problem has been fixed and power has been fully returned to the area. 
 

Parts of Coffeyville are currently without power or experiencing lower voltage.

Electric Utilities Director Michael Shook says the area affected is around the 600 block of Maple and Elm. Crews are out trying to locate the problem and get it fixed as quickly as possible. 

Several pieces of legislation that were passed during the most recent legislative session are now law in the state of Kansas. One of those bills was the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act. Representative Doug Blex explains what the scholarship entails.

The qualifying programs covered under this scholarship include information technology and security, physical and mental healthcare, advanced manufacturing and building trades, or early childhood education and development. To qualify, you must be a resident of Kansas and have a family income of less than $150,000. But Blex said there is one more thing you must do to qualify.

A copy of the scholarship can be found here.

Several changes in the Kansas concealed carry law have taken effect, including a reduction in application fees. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said among the changes approved a new provisional license will be available for individuals between 18-20. New provisions also allow a concealed carry license to individuals who have had certain prior felony or misdemeanor convictions expunged.

The application fee will be lowered from $132.50 to $112. The reduced rate applies to applications received by sheriff’s offices between the start of July and June 30, 2022. Applicants should submit their applications with one check for $79.50 payable to the Office of the Attorney General and another check for $32.50 payable to the sheriff of the applicant’s county of residence. The cost for license renewals remains unchanged at $25.

The City of Cherryvale has received a grant of $37,400 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The grant is a part of the Community Facility Disaster Grants program and will be used to purchase a vehicle and equipment for the Fire-Rescue Department's Code Enforcement needs. Currently, other emergency vehicles are being used for code inspections and other related duties, which may cause delays when emergencies occur. The new purchase will be designated for Code Enforcement purposes, potentially reducing those delays and helping with response times.

The project will cost $49,971 in total, with the city contributing $12,571 of its own money.

The Cherryvale Youth Fair start next week at Logan Park in Cherryvale. The rabbit and poultry show are on Wednesday morning and the goats, sheep, cattle and swine shows are on Friday evening. Organizer Sharon Blaes says the auction of the exhibitor's bake goods will be Thursday at 7:30.

Blaes says on Friday will be the Skillathon, which is an event for all ages.  Blaes says they celebrate the end of the fair with a pool party on Sunday. KUSN will be live from the fair on Friday from 10:00am until noon. A link to the full schedule for the fair can be found here.

The City of Cherryvale has announced that City Hall will close at Noon on Friday for employee training.

City Hall will remain closed until 8 am on Tuesday morning in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

If you need immediate assistance, you are asked to call 336-2400 or 336-2121.

The Parsons Police Department has announced that Tyler Riggs has been promoted to Corporal.

Corporal Riggs brings eight years of law enforcement experience to the department. He previously worked for the Erie Kansas Police Department and the Neosho County Sheriff's Department. Corporal Riggs is also a Veteran from the US Marine Corps where he served as a military police officer and served overseas.

Corporal Riggs will be assigned as a department Field Training Officer as well as continuing to be an instructor for Taser and OC. Corporal Riggs will also take charge of the Department's traffic safety program which coordinates the Special Traffic Enforcement Programs including the state-funded Click It or Ticket, You Drink You Drive You Lose, Thanksgiving Safe Arrival, and the AAA Programs. He also will conduct traffic safety analysis in various parts of the city and develop reports to share with the community.

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to close a section of U.S. 169 north of K-47 on Tuesday morning, weather permitting. The closure runs from 130th Street north to 35th Street at Chanute.

The closure is part of the 13-mile U.S. 169 pavement reconstruction project in Neosho and Allen counties. Traffic should follow the signed state route detour on K-47, U.S. 59, and K-39, a map of this can be seen below. KDOT expects this section to be completed and reopened to traffic by the end of the year.

The city of Neodesha is celebrating its birthday in style.

Several events over the next four days will help Neodesha mark its 150th birthday. The festivities kick off today with the grand reopening of the Norman #1 Neodesha Historical Museum and an open house at the W.A. Rankin Memorial Library.

Saturday features a car show and bed races, with Main Street walking tours and Cemetery tours also a part of the fun. Neodesha will end its celebration on Sunday with fireworks sponsored by the city.

A Crawford County man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for second-degree murder. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says 34-year-old Jeremy Scott Delmarco of Arma, was sentenced by Crawford County District Court Judge Jennifer Brunetti to 184 months for reckless second-degree murder, and 43 months for aggravated battery.

The sentences will be served concurrently in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility.  Delmarco pleaded no contest to the charges on April 20 for the 2019 death of 36-year-old Brandy Lee Delmarco in Crawford County. The case was investigated by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Jessica Domme from Schmidt’s office.