One is left injured after an accident crash in Cherokee County.

25-year-old Taylor French was Eastbound on SouthEast Quaker Road. French's passenger-side tires dropped off the edge of the roadway, French overcorrected and the vehicle overturned. French was taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin with a minor injury. French was wearing her seatbelt.

Arvest Bank and KGGF are honoring our last Ag Student of the Month for the year and our first-ever two-time winner. Neodesha FFA President Gage Bell was the recipient of the award in August 2020 and now under a new FFA Advisor is the recipient again to end 2021. Ag Teacher Emma Lehmann says she hasn't known Bell long but he has been a big help in her first year.

Bell says he's been involved in agriculture all of his life as he is a part of a fourth-generation farm.  Bell plans to graduate from Neodesha in the spring and then go two Labette Community College followed by two years at Kansas State. After college, he plans to return to work for the farm.

When the Legislature gathers in Topeka for the start of the 2022 session on January 10^th, State Senator Virgil Peck will move up to serve as vice-chairman of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee. Senator Peck says this is an honor to be elevated to this position.

Senator Peck was appointed for the position by Senate President Ty Masterson. The move requires Peck to vacate his position as vice-chair of the Senate Insurance Committee. Peck says he understands it is a step forward for Senate District 15 and looks forward to the challenges of his new responsibility.

A strong arctic blast will be moving into Southeastern Kansas tonight. Channel 6 Meteorologist Stephen Nehrenz says this evening should see an increase in showers and thunderstorms.

Street crews and emergency services are prepared in both Coffeyville and Independence. Temperatures will drop throughout the day tomorrow into single digits by Sunday morning and wind chills could be as low as -10. Temperatures should moderate back into the 40's by Monday.

The battle between the possibility of a wind farm and the citizens of Labette County leads to the recall of a county commissioner. The possibility of a wind farm in Labette County has been going on for more than just 2021 but this year it got tense.

Going back to April, Commissioner Cole Proehl put a resolution in place to get discussions started with RWE that was seconded by Commissioner Brian Kinzie and passed on a 2-1 vote with Commissioner Lonie Addis voting against it. This resolution would lead to questions about a possible open meetings violation, which did lead to a KOMA violation against both Commissioner Proehl and Commissioner Kinzie. This KOMA violation would open the door to a possible recall of Commissioner Kinzie.

Commissioner Kinzie said they just wanted to get him out of office to get someone in who would vote no alongside Commissioner Addis.

In order to recall the commissioner the citizens of district two had to gather signatures and the county had to hold a recall election. More than enough signatures were gathered and a recall election date was set for December 7^th.

As we got closer to the recall election date things got more and more tense at county commission meetings.

District two did vote to recall Commissioner Kinzie with a vote of 844 for and 591 against. It was the first time in the county a commissioner had been recalled and the first in Kansas in five years. The Labette County republican committee voted in Terry Weidert to fill the vacant seat. He looks to take office sometime in January after governor approval.

With the prediction of falling temperatures and potential freezing rain, this weekend here are some important winter weather safety tips.

Try to limit the amount of time outside in the cold. Wear plenty of layers of clothing, including socks, gloves, appropriate shoes and hats. Work slowly when doing outside chores. Use rock salt on icy walkways and steps. Keep a charged phone with you and let someone know when you're traveling and the route you plan to take. Check on elderly family and neighbors. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Keep bottled water and a blanket in your vehicle in case you stall or go into a ditch. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Plan on roadways being impassable and power outages. Ensure you have adequate prescriptions, food and other necessities.

Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff, honoring the over 7,000 Kansans who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff immediately through sundown on December 31st. Kelly said that it was with great sadness that she had given the order to lower the flags for the seventh time. She also reminded that there are ways and tools available to prevent further unneccessary deaths of loved ones.

To find a vaccine distributor near you, visit vaccines.gov.

In 2020 a new president, state legislatures and congressmen were all elected but you could say the elections in 2021 were more important. New city commissioners and counselors, school board members and college board members were all elected and will have a more local impact. Sales tax questions were also voted on this year.

KGGF hosted a candidate forum for both the city commissioner candidates as well as candidates for the school board and college board in Coffeyville. Current Mayor and Now Reelected Ann Marie Vannoster says she wants to continue to improve fiscal responsibility in the city.

Besides the elections to fill local offices the City of Coffeyville also voted to extend a sales tax. City Manager Mark Hall says this will be used to make multiple improvements around town.  The sales tax was extended for another ten years. The newly elected candidates and the incumbents will start their new term next month.

Next week a roadway expansion will begin on U.S. 166 in Cherokee County.

A four-lane expressway will be constructed between the U.S. 166/U.S. 400 and U.S.166/K-26 junctions. The roadway will taper to two lanes south of K-26 to the Kansas-Missouri state line. U.S. 166 traffic will not be affected during the early project phases, which include equipment staging, clearing, and bridgework. The expanded U.S. 166 alignment and interchanges will be open to unrestricted traffic by late May 2024.

A Parsons man and woman are facing numerous felonies following a traffic stop in Cherokee County.

Just before 7:00pm yesterday, a deputy made a traffic stop north of Columbus on Kansas Highway 7 and as the vehicle stopped, the driver and passenger attempted to change positions in the vehicle.  The original driver had a suspended driver's license. During the investigation, a considerable amount of different narcotics and drug paraphernalia consistent with the distribution of narcotics was located and seized along with nearly $2,000 in counterfeit currency. A juvenile under the age of 10 was also in the vehicle.

Arrested at the scene were 31-year-old Kenneth Jones and 24-year-old Bailey Britton. Both were arrested for possession with intent to distribute, possession of multiple different drugs and aggravated child endangerment. 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Revenue urge Kansans to be alert for text messages that claim to represent KDHE and KDOR.

These unsolicited messages may be phishing scams, and people should delete and not open the links or respond to the texts. State agencies will not send unsolicited text messages requesting vaccination status, social security number or other sensitive information. Additionally, all KDHE and KDOR websites end with a .gov suffix. Websites with endings such as .com or .org are not legitimate.

People can report scam text messages in three ways by reporting it on the messaging app you use, coping the message and forwarding it to 7726(SPAM) and reporting it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov.  

The Independence Community College Jazz Band is hosting its New Year's Eve Gala this Friday.

Come join the band as they play music ranging from old swing-style pop to music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Director of Instrumental Ensembles Larry Markiewicz said this event is open to anyone looking for a way to bring in the new year.

The gala begins at 8PM and will go until 1AM. Tickets for the event can either be purchased through the Independence Chamber of Commerce or through Eventbrite. Music begins at 9PM.

It has been a big year for the Dalton Defenders and Coffeyville when it comes to national media attention. The movie about the Dalton Gang and their attempt to rob two banks in Coffeyville came out earlier this year and premiered here in Coffeyville in early July.

During the premiere, some of the actors and the director were available for photo opportunities and a meet and greet. If you've yet to see the Death Alley movie it is now available to purchase on DVD or online. It is also available for free with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Later this year during the Dalton Defender Days in October, the crew of Discovery's Expedition Unknown was in town filming an episode for their show. Host Josh Gates says the Dalton Gang could have really made a name for themselves had they pulled off both robberies.

The episode of Expedition Unknown featuring the Dalton Gang should debut sometime in April or May of 2022. Expedition Unknown is a weekly show on the Discovery Channel and is also available to stream on Disney+.

The City of Coffeyville celebrates and will continue to celebrate the Dalton Defenders every year in October.

Montgomery County has posted their top ten most wanted with arrest warrants in the county.

Those suspects include Dustin Vaughn, burglary, Seandale Hayward, probation violation, Jonathon Wrinkles, arson, Christine Allison, felony failure to appear, Timothy Padilla, possession of meth, Amanda Lee, probation violation, William Little III, possession of meth, and Quinton Kendrex Jr, felony failure to appear.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of any of these individuals, please call the sheriff’s office at (620)330-1000. Some suspects may have multiple warrants and none of these individuals should be approached.  Photos of these individuals can be found here.

A motorcycle flees Parsons Police Officers before eventually crashing.

On Christmas Day, Parsons PD received multiple reports of a motorcycle speeding through the city at estimated speeds of 100mph. Two officers spotted the bike while patrolling on South 16th Street, but the driver was temporarily able to evade the officers. Officers later caught sight of the bike turning east on Morgan. As officers attempted to make a traffic stop the bike sped away toward the low water bridge by Marvel Park. As officers approached the bridge they found bike parts spread out across the street and the bike laying over. The driver attempted to flee on foot and hide in a creek bank.

The driver was identified as Danny Cash Jr and was taken into custody. Cash did have minor injuries from the crash and was taken to Labette Health. Recommended charges are for speeding and interference with a law enforcement officer.

The Montgomery County Courthouse will be closed for the new year, but will reopen under new hours in 2022.

Offices will be closed December 30th and 31st, but will reopen on Monday. The public works department will be open from 7:30AM to 4:30PM, all other courthouse offices from 8:00AM to 5:00PM, and the treasurer's office from 8:00AM to 4:00PM.

Due to staff shortages, the treasurer's office will be closed from 12:00PM to 1:00 for the lunch hour.

Two suspected thieves are in custody after a Cherokee County Deputy discovered them burglarizing a building south of Columbus.

At around 2:30am this morning, the deputy observed suspicious lights outside of a building used for storing equipment and other property. Moments later a vehicle left and the deputy conducted a traffic stop. As a result of information obtained from the suspects, and evidence in their possession, both occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody.

49-year-old Ernest Wayne Moore, of Chetopa, and 35-year-old William Raymond Zimmerman, of Columbus, are both being held on allegations of burglary, theft and criminal trespassing.

One year after COVID-19 begin affecting the area, introducing stay-at-home orders, mask mandates and limiting social gatherings, the COVID-19 Vaccine began to become available to the majority of the population.

Vaccine distribution was done in phases with phase one including health care workers.  By the time we got to March, a year after the state had gone into a lockdown for COVID, vaccine distribution had hit phases three and four which made it available to almost everyone.

Eventually, three different brands of the vaccine were available, the first of which was Pfizer followed by Moderna and Johnson and Johnson. The J&J version of the vaccine was just a single dose, which made it more requested.  Vaccines became available not only at hospitals and pharmacies but also on the campuses of colleges and we even had them available at our annual farm and home show.

As we approach the end of 2021 vaccines and vaccine mandates continue to be a polarizing topic as now a third strain of COVID is affecting the country.

A Cherokee County man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murders of two individuals in 2020. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says 30-year-old Mark Hopkins II, of Columbus, was sentenced to life in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility without the possibility of parole for 50 years.

Hopkins last month pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree premeditated murder. The crime occurred in June 2020, resulting in the deaths of Blaze Swank and Kylan Shook in Cherokee County. The case was investigated by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Related charges against another defendant remain pending.

A new district two commissioner has been appointed for Labette County and now awaits approval from Governor Laura Kelly. Commissioner-elect Terry Weidert says his biggest goal in taking over as a commissioner is to solidify his portion of the county.

One of the biggest issues in the county is the possibility of wind farms. Weidert says this is something he is not in favor of.  Weidert looks to take office sometime in January and says at this time he does plan to run again when he finishes out the rest of this current term.

A cheerleader from the University of Oklahoma was killed in a crash along the Oklahoma-Kansas border yesterday morning.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 20-year-old Britney Marie Turley was driving on Kansas Highway 1 near Coldwater when her truck veered off the road and struck a concrete barrier. The Kansas Highway Patrol did not say how or why Turley's truck veered off the road.

Another wild week of weather awaits southeast Kansas, with the potential for snow heading into the new year.

Early on in the week, it will still be warmer than average, but a cold front will move throughout the region Tuesday evening that may drop high temperatures from anywhere from the mid 30s to the 50s. The rest of the week sees temperatures continue to warm, but a drop on Saturday brings a slight chance for wintry weather on New Year's Day.

Although there is only a small chance, the National Weather Service in Wichita is advising those who may be traveling for the new year to plan for anything, so that they may be prepared in case snow does in fact fall.

Following one of the most abnormal years that was 2020 many looked for 2021 to bring a fresh change and better year. It wouldn't take long to be greeted by the first significant challenge of the new year for Coffeyville and the surrounding areas. As February saw record lows, rolling blackouts and concerns over natural gas supply.

As we got closer and closer to the potential storms many were making guesses at the amount of snowfall, but News On 6 Meteorologist Alan Crone said it was just too early to tell.  When the storms did hit they brought record cold temperatures with them and put a strain on many power companies. Coffeyville Utilizes Director Mike Shook asked the city to conserve as much power as possible.

Many people dealt with the loss of power or heat, including us here at the radio station, but after a week of below-freezing temperatures, water line breaks, rolling blackouts and conserving energy we made it through the first big event of 2021.

Christmas has come to an end and the Cherokee County Sheriff has some quick, easy and effective tips to help safeguard recently received gifts.

Sheriff David Groves says when it comes to valuable items like jewelry, firearms and some electronics, take a couple of pictures of each item, including any serial numbers. He says often deputies perform traffic stops or conduct search warrants where there is stolen property, but the rightful owners aren't able to positively identify it or they don't know the serial numbers.

Also, as you start to clean up and set trash and packaging out to be picked up, break down any boxes gifts may have been in. Sheriff Groves says failing to do so advertises the new items that might be available to be stolen inside your home.

Agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Cowley County Sheriff's Office are investigating a homicide at the Cowley State Fishing Lake.

Just after 6:00pm Wednesday night, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a shooting. Deputies responded to the lake and conducted an extensive search to locate the victim. At around 8:00pm, they discovered 37-year-old Joel Leon-Santos, of Ark City, who was suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite attempted life-saving measures, the victim died from his injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information about the shooting is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME.

The 2022 annual Kansas State of the State Address will be delivered in person this year.

Last year do to concerns over COVID-19 the address was done virtually. This year Governor Laura Kelly will give the address to a joint session of the Kansas House of Representatives and Senate on Tuesday, January 11 at 6:30pm. The address will be done in the House Chamber. The legislature will convene for the 2022 session the day prior.

The Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board has awarded financial assistance to 191 victims of violent crime at its December meeting. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says awards were made in 67 new cases and additional expenses were paid in 124 previously submitted cases. The awards totaled $108,671.50.

A portion of assessed court costs and fines, inmate wages, parole fees and restitution paid by convicted offenders provides funding to the program. The state’s Crime Victims Compensation Board determines claims that are eligible for payment and how much money will be awarded to each claimant. Awards are limited to a maximum total amount of $25,000 with limitations of $5,000 for funeral expenses, $5,000 for outpatient mental health counseling, $10,000 for inpatient mental health treatment and $1,500 for grief counseling for family survivors of homicide victims.

The State of Kansas is working to provide those impacted by last week’s wildfires with some financial relief.

Governor Laura Kelly says farmers and ranchers are the backbone of the state, and the devastating wildfires they experienced last week have taken an enormous toll on their livelihoods. Governor Kelly is directing Department of Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart to work with the legislators to fast-track legislation to exempt sales tax for Kansans trying to replace damaged or destroyed fences.

Tax exemptions must be passed by law through the Kansas Legislature. Currently, Notice 17-01 only applies to wildfires that took place in 2016 and 2017.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Elk County Sheriff’s Office are investigating after two men were shot and killed outside a home in Longton early this morning. The Elk County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call just after midnight. The caller reported that a man had shot two men.  

The preliminary investigation indicated that 55-year-old Dewayne L. Smith, a 57-year-old white male also from Longton, and three other men were at an outdoor gathering at a residence. 41-year-old Lyle W. Miller arrived after a short time pulled a pistol from his waist and shot Smith and the 57-year-old man at close range. When deputies arrived at the scene both Smith and the 57-year-old man were pronounced dead. Deputies determined Miller had entered a residence and law enforcement surrounded the house. After some time deputies went into the residence to discover that Miller was dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation is ongoing.

KGGF KQQF and KUSN will be taking a look back at the year 2021.

Connor Harbit and Matt Jordan will be recapping the year in both local news and sports. Tune in during the 7:00am newscast and 5:00pm newscast for the news recap and during noon sports for the sports recap. The year in review is brought to you by Roman's Motor Company.

Gifts for a Nations, an organization out of Mound Valley, is working to get donations of hay for farmers and ranchers in Northeaster Kansas. Organizer Debbie Cramer says last week's storms caused significant fire damage in the area of Paradise.

Cramer says donations of hay can be dropped off at any of the area Bartlett Co-ops in Edna, Bartlett, Coffeyville, Chetopa, Mound Valley and Oswego. If you have any questions, Cramer says you can contact her.  Cramer says if you don't have any hay to donate they are also taking donations to buy hay and pay for the transportation of the hay to the Paradise area. She says there is no deadline to donate.

A double homicide in Longton is currently under investigation. According to reports, the incident occurred in the area around 5^th Street between Wyandotte and Montgomery Street sometime after midnight.

According to the Elk County Sheriff's Office, this suspect was located but he shot himself before he could be arrested. The Montgomery and Chautauqua County Sheriff Offices assisted Elk County in searching for the suspect.

More details will be available as we receive them. 

The Coffeyville Police Department is joining in on an enforcement campaign aimed at reducing DUI-related crashes throughout the state.

Beginning December 26th and moving through January 2nd, the department is joining with other agencies in the "Taking Down DUI Traffic Enforcement Campaign" sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

According to KDOT, the New Year's holiday period outranks other holidays in the number of crashes in which drivers are impaired by alcohol or other drugs. If you do choose to partake in holiday reveling, be sure to have a sober driver available at all times.

The reward for any information leading to the arrest of a Parson Police Officers Puppy's Murderer continues to rise.

Earlier this month a Parsons PD officer discovered their puppy “Ranger” had been brutally decapitated in their backyard. It is believed this attack was a direct result of the puppy belonging to a Parsons PD officer. The murderer still has yet to be apprehended. This heinous and vile action that killed an officer's puppy has garnered the support of people from across the United States.

There is now a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Ranger's killer. The investigation into this crime is ongoing and will continue until the criminal is brought to justice.

The suspect in Tuesday’s robbery of the Coffeyville Taco Bell has been apprehended. 

The suspect has been identified as Chad Huggins, of Oklahoma.  The suspected getaway vehicle, which was reported stolen out of Bartlesville was found near Highway 166 in Chautauqua County Tuesday afternoon.  After an all-night search, Chautauqua County Sheriff Richard Newby says the suspect was apprehended this afternoon after a brief chase.  Huggins is currently in custody.

The KBI is searching for Dawson J. Mitchell in regards to two homicides in Fort Scott.

Fort Scott PD responded to a 911 call at 402 Main St, upon arrival they located, 48-year-old Melissa Mitchell who had died from a gunshot wound. Further investigation of the house lead to the discovery of 53-year-old, Leonard Zimmerman, who had also been shot and was deceased. The victims' son, 23-year-old, Dawson Mitchell of Fort Scott, is wanted for questioning in regards to the murders.

If you know the whereabouts of Dawson Mitchell, you are asked to contact the Fort Scott Police department at 620-223-1700 or the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Mitchell is expected to be armed and dangerous.

The Taco Bell in Coffeyville is robbed and the suspect is still on the loose. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office was searching the area south of 166 Highway between Road 13 and Road 16.

The most recent update from the sheriff's office says they determined that the suspect had driven through a fence back onto and across the highway and onto another property. The vehicle tracks were followed to a lease road and were lost.  The suspect's vehicle is a 2015 gray Silverado pickup reported stolen from Bartlesville.

The Independence Fire Department responds to their third fire in the last week.

IFD responded to a reported structure fire at 201 N 2^nd St yesterday afternoon around 4:45. A second alarm was immediately called due to two ambulances on other calls. Arriving units found heavy smoke venting from a two-car unattached garage. Crews were able to extinguish the fire within 15 minutes and were able to clear the structure by 6:00pm.

Assistance was received from Independence Rural Fire. Dearing Rural and Cherryvale Fire-EMS were en route but canceled when the fire was quickly extinguished.

A Coffeyville man has pled no contest to first-degree murder in an Independence shooting in 2019. 

Twenty-year-old Benjamin Mason entered the no-contest plea in the shooting death of Kimberly Meeks in Independence.  The no-contest plea to one count of first-degree murder was accepted by District Court Judge William Cullins who has set sentencing for February 15, 2022 at 1:00pm.

Next year will bring new inductions to the Field Kindley Athletic Hall of Fame.

This year's inductions including the 1979 Kansas State Wrestling Championship team and 2014 FKHS graduate Devin Cosper. Each year, a limited number of former student-athletes are selected for the Hall of Fame by committee in recognition of their accomplishments while attending FKHS.

The 1979 wrestling team was known as the "Magnificent Seven" as seven wrestlers qualified for the state tournament. All seven of those athletes placed in their individual weight divisions. That includes Mark Allen (1st), Tod Roberts (2nd), David Hughes (2nd), Benton Howard (3rd), Vincent Stout (3rd), Joey Vacca (4th), and Randy Williams (4th). In addition, head coach Doug Lunt and assistant coach Phil Cagle will be inducted as well.

Cosper was a basketball and track standout for FKHS, winning the 100m dash at the Kansas State Track Meet her senior year. She attended Coffeyville Community College, leading the Jayhawk Conference in scoring and earning first team All-American honors. She then attended the University of Arkansas, where she continued to play basketball.

Next year's induction will take place in between the girls' varsity and boys' varsity basketball games on Friday, January 7th.

The Montgomery County Courthouse is closed for the holidays.

The courthouse and the Coffeyville Tag Office will be closed on Thursday, December 23^rd, and Friday, December 24^th in Observance of Christmas.

Both offices will reopen on Monday.

The Labette County commission approved the purchase of new radio equipment for 911 and dispatch, but it didn't come without an argument. Commissioner Lonie Addis disagreed with Commissioner Cole Proehl and Dispatch Director Brandy Grassl on where the money should come from.

The cost of the equipment was around $16,700. Commissioner Proehl and Grassl offered a compromise of splitting the purchases between the two budgets, which Addis eventually agreed to. Until the new district two commissioners are appointed there are only two commissioners so votes can be split 1-1. Commissioner Addis later made a comment to Commissioner Proehl saying he likes knowing in an argument right now he can't be outvoted.

A U.S. Senator from Kansas and Oklahoma lead a group of colleagues in introducing the Marginal Well Protection Act.

Senator Roger Marshall and Senator James Lankford introduced this act to prevent the EPA from levying excessive methane emission fees for wells that produce less than 15 barrels of natural gas per day. Marginal wells are small, often family-owned wells with around 15 employees or fewer. Senator Marshall says thousands of Kansans rely on the oil and natural gas industry to provide for their families, and small producers simply can’t withstand the financial burden that comes with excess emission fees.

Authorities are crediting a quick-thinking deputy with saving the life of a woman who was struck by a train in southeastern Kansas.

The Labette County sheriff’s office said that Deputy Gabe Vitt was in Parsons when he heard dispatchers tell emergency crews that the woman had been hit late Sunday while on foot. Vitt was only a couple blocks away from the crossing and arrived in time to apply a makeshift tourniquet to the woman’s partially severed leg. Vitt then consoled the woman until other rescue crews arrived.

Authorities thanked Vitt for keeping the woman “calm and coherent during a life-threatening event.”

The “Taking Down DUI” traffic enforcement campaign starts next week.

Parsons PD along with many other law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Kansas Highway Patrol. The goal of the enforcement campaign is to limit the number of crashes caused by being under the influence of drugs/and or alcohol. The New Year's holiday period is known for seeing the most amount of crashes caused by drivers being under the influence.

If you've had anything to drink, do not drive, don't get behind the wheel. Call a cab, call a friend, use ride-share, make sure that you do not drive while under the influence of alcohol. DUI's are completely preventable, do your part and make sure to have a sober ride home lined up to ensure you arrive home safely.

Parsons police arrested a man mid-dumpster dive behind a Pump-N-Pete's.

Parsons PD was dispatched to the Cardinal Villas in the 1400 block of Broadway for a report of vehicle burglary. Officers discovered that the victim has his vehicle broken into in the parking lot of the Cardinal Villas and was notified through his phone that his debit card was used at the neighboring Pump-N-Pete's, the victim knew he left his wallet in his vehicle. The burglar was found in the dumpster behind the gas station, Roy Cruz Jr., 41 of Parsons, was arrested, during the arrest Cruz assaulted an officer.

Cruz was taken into custody on charges of burglary, theft, criminal use of a financial card, interference with law enforcement, battery of a law enforcement officer, and various drug charges.

A meeting to select a new county commissioner will be on Tuesday night to replace Brian Kinzie who was recalled earlier this month by voters.

Registration for the meeting begins at 6:30 pm while the meeting begins at 7 pm Tuesday in the Altamont City Park Building. A photo ID is required to register.

The person who is selected by the Labette County Republican Central Committee at Tuesday's replacement convention will serve until 2022 and will be up for a retention election in November 2022 before completing the full term that ends in 2025.

A man in Parsons was arrested after a reported sexual battery.

Parsons PD was dispatched to the lobby of the police station when a woman filed a report against William Patrick Mansfield Jr.Following the report Parsons police officers arrested Mansfield. During the investigation of the reported battery, it was found that Mansfield failed to register as an offender through the Labette County Sheriff's Office. Mansfield is a convicted felon as well, who was recently released on Parole. Mansfield has since had another warrant issued by the Kansas Department of Corrections for a Parole Violation.

Mansfield was arrested on charges of sexual battery and failure to register as an offender.

The USDA has announced that it is sending nearly $16 million in grants and loans to improve critical infrastructure across rural communities in southeast Kansas. Congressman Jake LaTurner said that these grants from the USDA will help rural communities improve the quality of drinking water and sewer systems.

Chetopa will receive $2.3 million to rehabilitate the city’s sewer system, including repairs to manholes, service taps, and installation of new pipe. Neodesha will receive nearly $1.5 million to construct and improve the city’s water distribution system by installing an elevated water storage tank and new waterlines, as well as upgrading the existing elevated storage tank. Caney will get just over $1 million to cover the costs associated with the replacement of a section of waterlines in the city. Lastly, Neosho County Rural Water District #4 will get $12,540,000 to construct and make improvements to the Rural Water District’s distribution system by constructing a new booster pump station, a new elevated storage tank, and installing new water supply lines.

The USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas.

The Coffeyville Fire Department is responding to a house fire on 3rd and Elm Streets.

The department is currently working to extinguish the flames. Please avoid the area if you are able to do so.

Continue to check back here for further updates.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prices of groceries in October were 5.4% higher than last year. Despite the higher costs, K-State Research and Extension Nutrition Specialist Sandy Procter says there are ways we can stretch our dollars.
 

Procter says having some meal preparation basics on-hand, such as canned goods, is another way to have a quick meal and save both time and money.

Independence Fire-EMS responded to a reported structure fire at 1008 West Main yesterday afternoon.

First arriving units reported heavy smoke from the attic vents. Firefighters were able to bring the attic fire under control within 30 minutes. Crews remained on the scene for almost two hours to make sure the fire was fully contained. All occupants safely escaped with no injuries. Assistance was received from Independence Rural and Cherryvale Fire-EMS.

The newest variant of Covid-19 has been discovered in a Kansas resident.

The KDHE reports that the infected individual is a vaccinated adult in Franklin County. Christmas is right around the corner, and it is more crucial than ever to be protected from Covid-19. To keep you and your loved ones safe, health officials are urging Kansans to get vaccinated or get a booster shot, wear a mask, get tested should you experience symptoms, and practice social distancing.

A cold front will bring chilling temperatures to the area later tonight.

Breezy northwest winds will see temperatures drop to just single digits into towns such as Great Bend and Concordia. The low for Coffeyville is predicted to be 21F while Chanute and Eureka may drop into the 10s.

Southeast Kansas will actually feel higher temperatures than much of the state on Saturday, sitting around the low 40s. However, areas such to the northeast will only reach the low to mid 30s.

After wind and wildfire damage affected most of the state of Kansas the attorney general's office is warning residents of potential contractor scams.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt says after storm damage, the instinct is to clean up and make repairs as quickly as possible, but fraudulent contractors often rush into storm-damaged areas to take advantage of local residents in their time of need. Roofing contractors operating in Kansas are required to register with the attorney general’s office.

The AG’s office provides some tips to help avoid scams. Get references, get written estimates from different contractors. check contractor complaint records and document everything. If you think you've been a victim of a scam or to find the roofing contractor list visit inyourcornerks.org.

Coffeyville has announced its promotion and graduation dates and times for USD 445.

The Kinder bound end of the year celebration will be May 12th and the students' teacher will provide more information later. No date in May has been set for the Kindergarten program but the teachers will provide more information for this as well. Field Kindley High School senior graduation will be on May 14th at 2:00pm in the FKHS gym. The Eighth-grade promotion will be on May 19th at 7:00pm at Benefiel Auditorium. The Sixth-grade promotion will be at the CES gym at 10:00am on May 20th.

The Independence Police Department is monitoring the potential of threats at USD 446 today after a national trend has spread through TikTok. Police Chief Jerry Harrison says there have not been any specific threats made locally.

Chief Harrison says to not be alarmed by police presence at the schools today that it is just part of their standard response plan.  Chief Harrison says if any parent or student were to see any type of threat online to notify the police immediately. USD 445 in Coffeyville says they have also not received any threats locally and are working with CPD to monitor the situation

A threat of possible school shootings has been circulating nationally on social media.  The threat has been going around the app called TikTok and is warning students to stay home today. While the threat did not originate in the area the schools are aware of the potential.

USD 445 Superintendent Craig Correll says they plan on having extra police presence at all schools this morning and they appreciate their relationship with the Coffeyville Police Department in times like these. USD 446 Superintendent Rusty Arnold says they do not consider the threat to be credible, but they are monitoring the situation closely.

In a post on Twitter, TikTok says they handle even rumored threats with utmost seriousness, which is why they're working with law enforcement to look into warnings about potential violence at schools even though they have not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok.

The Heritage Foundation released its nationwide Election Integrity Scorecard on Tuesday, ranking Kansas in the Top ten. The scorecard provides a breakdown of each state's election laws and regulations and associates a score based on those merits.

Secretary of state Scott Schwab says Kansas has been leading the nation with forward-thinking election security laws for years. In fact, topics that are highly debated now, like voter ID and signature verification for mail ballots, have been in Kansas law for almost a decade.

Review how Kanas scored here

Law enforcement agencies around Kansas will be participating in a campaign targeted toward combating impaired driving in the state.

The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign officially kicked off yesterday and will continue through the start of January 2022, with the Kansas Department of Transportation and several law agencies throughout the state participating.

According to KDOT data, the week after Christmas and the period around New Year's Day sees the most crashes in which one or more drivers are impaired by the use of alcohol.

KDOT suggests planning ahead to celebrate safely. Designate a sober driver before traveling, call a ride-share service or use public transportation before celebrating. Check to see if sober ride programs are offered in the community during the holidays. Also, prevent others from driving impaired by taking their keys or providing alternative transportation.

A Joplin, Missouri man is in custody after a resident discovered him allegedly attempting to burglarize a property north of Riverton Wednesday afternoon.

Upon the arrival of Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies, the suspect fled the scene in his truck and attempted to hit two of the deputies. The suspect fled through Riverton into the Lowell area, where he abandoned his truck and fled on foot. He was discovered by law enforcement a short time later hiding in the back of a vehicle.

36-year-old Joshua John Devena is being held in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage to Property, Two Counts of Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement, Fleeing Law Enforcement, and Driving with a Suspended License.

The safety of children on the school bus depends not only on the bus driver but others on the road as well. Coffeyville Public Schools offers the following winter safety tips to students, parents, and motorists.

Don't rush to catch the bus, put down the phone, have patience while driving and pay attention to weather alerts and school closings. Should bad weather arise this winter, keep it tuned to KGGF, KUSN, KQQF, and KGGF FM for all area school closings during a winter storm.

A Fort Scott man is seriously injured after a crash in Bourbon County.

79-year-old Harold West was northbound on US-69 Hwy. West turned left in front of another vehicle causing a collision between the two vehicles. Ronald Spencer, the driver of the other vehicle sustained no injuries. West was taken to Research Medical with a serious injury.

A man is left seriously injured after a crash in Montgomery County.

81-year-old, Lawrence Fox, was backing his Dump Truck onto an access road off of Sweeny Hill Drive. Fox backed off the roadway, causing it to overturn onto its passenger side. Fox was taken to Freeman Hospital in Joplin with a serious injury.

Kansas will receive nearly $27.6 million from a legal settlement with a pharmacy benefit management company that manages prescription costs for its Medicaid program, after an investigation into whether the company had overcharged the state.

The settlement with Centene Corporation is the result of a years-long investigation into the company’s business practices undertaken by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office. Schmidt accused the company of failing to represent the state’s best interests.

In the settlement, Centene agreed to change its practices.

Schmidt thanked the Kansas Medicaid program and the Kansas Insurance Department for their assistance in obtaining the settlement.

KDOT Veteran, Mike Bright, is retiring after 28 years of service to the agency.

Bright began his career in 1993 at the Iola construction office. In 2002 he was promoted to the position of District Four Office Coordinator at the KDOT district office in Chanute, where he managed project documentation and all-district highway permits. Brights plans for retirement include motorcycle rides, camping, and travel.

A Parsons man has been arrested on gun and DUI charges.

Parsons Police Officers responded to the 1400 block of Morgan Avenue on Tuesday for a report of a vehicle crash where a parked car was struck. When officers arrived, they discovered that there were three vehicles involved in the accident. A black Nissan Versa was found to have struck two legally parked vehicles that were on the side of the road. Officers found that the driver of the Nissan was 26-year-old Raymond Alfonso Anthony Rigazio.

Rigazio was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At the scene, officers discovered a black 9mm Glock pistol with a 30-round magazine in it. Officers determined the weapon belonged to Rigazio. The discovery of the weapon led officers to arrest Rigazio for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon as well as Driving under the influence, Transporting an Open Container, and No Vehicle Liability Insurance.

During the investigation of a shooting that took place on Monday in the early morning hours, it was reported that a black vehicle that matched the description of Rigazio's rented vehicle was seen leaving the scene after the shooting. This information along with the discovery of the weapon in Rigazio's possession now makes him a Person of Interest in the shooting as well.

A high wind advisory is in effect for Montgomery County and the surrounding area.

Sustained winds of 30-40 miles per hour are possible, with gusts reaching over 50 miles per hour. Winds will be strongest from around noon to 6 PM as a cold front passes through the area.

During this time, it is recommended to avoid any outdoor burning, secure any Christmas decorations or other items that could be blown around, and drive with both hands on the steering wheel.

Those driving through western Kansas could experience low visibility due to blowing dust.

Coffeyville Community College has received a massive donation to be used toward the construction of a new state-of-the-art wellness center.

Curtis and Janice Harshaw are donating $1 million toward the construction of the new project. It will be used not only for providing opportunities for CCC students, staff, and faculty, but also for providing programs and courses for Coffeyville residents and residents of surrounding communities.

The college will be working closely with the Harshaws in ensuring that their vision and goals for the new wellness center are met. To achieve this, a committee has been formed to explore options involving the center. In addition, the college will also be working with the Coffeyville Community College Foundation to match additional donors with the $1 million gift.

Multiple fire departments battle a major fire at a home in Independence. Independence Fire-EMS received a report of a structure fire at 725 N. Penn Ave this morning at around 10:19am. Arriving units found a fully involved structure with houses on both sides in immediate danger. A ground and aerial attack brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes.

Units remained on scene as the structure is considered unsafe and is being torn down. Three neighboring houses also sustained damage during the fire. Units from Independence Rural, Dearing Rural, and Cherryvale Fire-EMS assisted on the call. Ambulances from Coffeyville and Parsons assisted with EMS coverage during the call.

If you are looking to ring in the New Year in style, the Independence Community College Jazz Band with be holding a New Year's Eve Gala on December 31^st.

Independence Chamber of Commerce Director Lisa Wilson gives the details of this stylish event.

Tickets are on sale for $20.00 per person and can be purchased at the Independence Chamber of Commerce or online at eventbrite.com. A light fare and champagne toast will be included in your ticket.

With online shopping becoming more and more popular each year, and especially during the holiday season, residents are reminded of some basic, but important tips on how to protect purchases and guard against potential scams.

It's recommended, if possible, to have packages delivered to your place of work or a location you know someone will be at, rather than having it left on your front porch unattended. Some thieves will drive neighborhoods or even follow delivery trucks so they can steal the packages after they are dropped off.

In addition to making sure your packages are secure, it's important to monitor your credit card accounts closely, be aware of fraudulent websites that may look like a familiar store and if given the option, take the extra time to enable the two-step authentication feature, which will send a code to your cell phone to ensure you are the same person attempting to make an online purchase.

The suspect in a shooting at a Bartlesville bar, that left two dead last night, turns himself in. 51-year-old Gregory Rogers turned himself into the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office this morning. He has been arrested on two counts of first-degree murder. Bartlesville Police Chief Tracy Roles says they are working to find out what caused the altercation.

Chief Roles says they believe the public was never in danger and that the incident was an isolated event in the bar. The victims worked at the Kickstand Saloon. They are identified as Austin Standeford and Van Parson. Standeford was working when the incident took place, but Parson was there as a patron.

Crawford County Mental Health Center appointed Heather Spaur, as the new Deputy Director. Spaur has worked at the health center for over nine years serving as the Director of Personnel and Marketing, and worked in the Crawford County Clerk's Office for eight years prior to that, serving as the Deputy County Clerk.

Spaur will serve as the Project Director as the agency transitions towards obtaining the status of a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.

Spaur says she is very excited and grateful for the opportunity to help transition the agency into a CCBHC.

Independence Community College will be closed for Winter Break starting tomorrow through January 4^th. The dining and residence hall will be closed during the break. The Residence Hall will reopen at 9:00am on January 10^th.

Both men’s and women’s basketball teams will be back in action on January 5^th in Dodge City and then back at home on January 12^th against NW Kansas Tech. You can check indypirates.com for a complete schedule. 

Copan Public Schools is hosting an open house for their new Ag Building.

The open house tour of the facility is tomorrow from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. Copan Superintendent Chris Smith says they are thankful to the community for supporting their last bond issue. He says the community has always supported their small school and that they couldn't have done it without them.

The new parking lot at Field Kindley High School is open and ready to use. Assistant Superintendent Michael Speer says there a fifty parking spaces in the new lot.

Speer says the next step for construction is the demo work in the high school.  Speer says they are waiting on materials for the construction of the underground detention basin, which could take six to twelve weeks to arrive.

In other business, the school board received an update on graduation rates and post-secondary success from Principal Travis Stalford and approved the calendar for the 2022-2023 school year.

The ICC Fab Lab is once again offering a course in entreprenuership

Those considering starting their own businesses, or looking for new approaches to problem-solving, are invited to enroll in the next "Entrepreneurial Mindset" class. Fab Lab Director Jim Correll will lead the class each Wednesday from January 12 to March 9, meeting from 6 to 8 PM.

Course homework includes viewing one hour of video content weekly, among other things. Class sessions will include discussion of the video content and visits from area entrepreneurs. This class is open to adults of all ages, and may either be used for credit for traditional students or non-credit for non-traditional students. Participants may take this course virtually through an "enhanced" Zoom meeting if desired.

To register, visit the ICC Fab Lab website here.

Two are dead after a shooting at a Bartlesville bar, with the suspect still on the loose. The shooting occurred last night around 8:30pm at the Kickstand Saloon on the west side of Bartlesville. Police Chief Tracy Roles says there was an altercation inside the bar that led to the shooting.

The suspect left the scene on foot. Roles says he was described as a black male, between six foot and six foot three, wearing a red top and is bald.  Roles says one of the victims died on the way to the hospital and the other victim died at the hospital. One was in his 30's and the other in his 20's.

The Labette County Board of Canvassers certified the votes from last week's recall election of Commissioner Brian Kinzie. The votes were 844 for the recall and 591 against. Commissioner Lonie Addis says this is a historic day in the county.

Commissioner Kinzie was not present at the meeting and after midnight he will no longer be a commissioner. The head of the county republican committee has 21 days to call a meeting to nominate a replacement, which has to be approved by Governor Laura Kelly.  

Kansas Representative Jake LaTurner joined KGGF Monday morning to talk about several items.

One of the items that he talked about was his yes vote on the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2022.

Another item the Congressman brought up was inflation that hit 6.2% in the United States in October.

You can hear the entire interview with Rep. LaTurner here.

A Parsons man has been arrested on numerous counts after leading police on a chase throughout Parsons. Last Friday, Parsons police officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of Crawford to take a report for a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was described as a red Nissan Altima with a Kansas tag on it.

The next day, police were called to the area of 10th and Main for a report of a vehicle matching that description being in the area. While responding, the vehicle was located going west on Main near 14th Street. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but when they exited their patrol cars the driver drove off.

The driver evaded officers throughout the city reaching approximate speeds of 63mph in residential areas. The driver stopped the vehicle in the 1800 block of Clark in the alley and took off on foot jumping over fences. The driver was then tased by an officer and taken into custody without further incident.

The driver was identified as 43-year-old Daniel Roy Adams who had previously been identified as the suspect in the theft. Adams was arrested on December 1st for Theft and Burglary and released while waiting for official charges to be filed by Labette County Attorney's Office.

Requested charges on Adams include Motor Vehicle Theft, Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, Reckless Driving, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, Driving While Suspended, Probation Violation, Interference with Law Enforcement, and multiple traffic ordinances.

The Chautauqua County commission re-approved its 2021 budget on Monday.

In a short budget meeting, the two commissioners in attendance chose to re-approve the budget that had been decided on late last year. The changes to the new budget reflect increased expenditures throughout the year, after the commission chose to pay off the jail sales tax fund early.

In other business, the commission moved to approve the sales tax receipt for ambulance funding, using money from the commissioner fund to do so.

A new president for Kansas State University has been announced. The new president is the current dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University and a Virginia Tech graduate. Incoming President Richard Linton says K-State is well situated to respond to the needs of Kansans.

Linton says he is hoping to bring some of the success he saw at NC State to K-State.  Linton says his immediate goal is to listen and learn about the needs of Kansans and Kansas agriculture.  He also wants to address the concerns surrounding infrastructure at K-State. Linton will be the 15^th president at the university.

Multiple fire departments work together to put out a fire in Montgomery County. 

Firefighters from the Independence Division along with Independence Fire & EMS were dispatched to a structure fire at 3750 County Road 4050.  The first units on the scene found heavy fire coming from the east and south side of the house. Mutual aid was called for from the Sycamore Division and Elk City Rural Fire. Independence Fire sent additional personnel to the scene as well.

There was no one home at the time of the fire, but the home is a total loss and a family dog perished in the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown and the investigation has been turned over to the County Sheriff's Office.  Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson says it is good to see the collaboration between departments and across jurisdictions.  The county has better fire and EMS protection right now than ever before.

A man from Wellsville, Kansas is under arrest after almost hitting a cop car and then attempting to elude the police.

A Caney PD Officer spotted a suspicious vehicle in the northwest part of Caney, the driver almost hit the cop car and then refused to pull over. The resulting chase hit 70 miles per hour and resulted in Montgomery County Sheriffs aiding in the pursuit. The chase, which covered a lot of ground in the Caney area, ended on County Road 2400. The driver of the vehicle, 20-year-old, Raven Maley was arrested without incident. Maley is facing charges of felony fleeing, multiple moving violations, and driving under the influence.

A Parsons man was arrested after stealing gaming consoles from a neighborhood home.

Early Wednesday morning, an officer with the Parsons police department was called to the 2100 block of Crawford on a report of someone breaking into a home. The victim reported waking up to take out their dog when they had noticed that the backdoor was damaged. Video surveillance cameras captured a male entering the home and stealing electronics, including an Xbox One S gaming console, as well as a Nintendo Switch.

The suspect was identified as 23-year-old William Myers of Parsons. Later that day, officers were called back to the neighborhood after a report that Myers had been seen again. He was identified and arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and theft. The items that had been stolen were located in a backpack during the arrest.

Felony charges are being forwarded to the Labette County attorney's office.

Two men have been arrested after a car chase through the southern side of Independence.

Just after 1 AM on Wednesday, patrol deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle displaying expired registration in Independence. The vehicle failed to stop when signaled to do so and took off at a high rate of speed.

Deputies conducted a tactical vehicle intervention in the area of 17th and Cedar Streets, forcing the vehicle to stop. The driver, identified as Cornelius Williams of Wichita, then tried to flee on foot. He was quickly captured and taken into custody. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Douglas Allen of Independence, was also taken into custody.

Williams has been booked on charges of fleeing and attempting to elude officers, while Allen was booked on charges of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.

The case has been turned over to the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office for review.

A Missouri man and woman are facing felony drug charges after Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies investigated suspicious activity north of Riverton Wednesday evening.

As a result of information obtained during the investigation, a search warrant on the property located at 4710 Southeast Highway 69A was executed and suspected methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia was located and seized.

47-year-old Scott Carter, of Neosho, Missouri and 32-year-old Tiawana Kaufman, of Joplin, Missouri, were both taken into custody and transported to the Cherokee County Jail where they are being held on allegations of possessing meth and drug paraphernalia.

Two people have been taken into custody for numerous drug offenses.

Earlier this week, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies served a narcotics search warrant on the residence of Levi Hart located at 1020 North 11th Street in Independence. Hart along with Danyale Alaback were taken into custody when officers arrived at the residence. Officers located on Hart’s person a set of brass knuckles.

During the search of the residence, Officers located Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Marijuana, LSD, and what is believed to be ecstasy/molly. Hart and Alaback were booked into DOC for distribution of methamphetamine within 1000ft of a school, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hart received an additional charge of criminal carrying of weapons.

The case has been turned over to the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office with the above-suggested charges for review.

Christmas time can be a fun but hectic time of year.

One of these hectic times can include last-minute Christmas shopping especially for parents who bring their children along. You never want to lose your kid in a store but just in case you do, Independence Police Chief Jerry Harrison says to make sure your child is educated on what to do.

When it comes to the holiday traffic Harrison says you need to obey all traffic laws and not drive distracted.

For those who do some holiday traveling, he says thieves watch for inactivity at a house because they like easy targets. Harrison says to put your lights on timers and have trusted neighbors check on your house while you are gone.

You can listen to the entire interview with Chief Harrison here.

Coffeyville should see a home construction boom thanks to over $600,000 in-home construction assistance from the federal government.  The USDA’s Rural Development has announced it’s investing $624,960 to assist low-income Kansans in building homes in the Coffeyville area.

City of Coffeyville’s Housing Director, Charla Brown says this grant will help to build 20 new homes in Coffeyville.

She adds that Coffeyville is the only city in the state to receive this grant.

Brown says they hope to begin the construction in early 2022.

The formal announcement of the grant will be made at next Tuesday’s City Commission meeting.

A Chanute man is injured after an accident crash.

71-year-old, Richard Hall was eastbound on 3^rd Street under the railroad overpass. Hall entered into the westbound lane and struck the raised sidewalk, Hall then continued eastbound across S. Santa Fe and struck a wooden fence, then came to rest in a private drive facing northeast. Richard Hall was taken to Neosho Memorial Regional Med Center with an injury. Hall was wearing his seatbelt.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reopened U.S. 169 from 35th Street at Chanute south to 130th Street.

The highway reopening south of Chanute marks the end of the first phase of the 13-mile U.S. 169 pavement reconstruction project in Neosho and Allen counties. Next week the contractor plans to move north and close U.S. 169 between K-39 and Plummer Avenue. The state route detour for the second phase will be signed on U.S.54, U.S. 75, and K-39.

A warrant arrest in Parsons leads to a fentanyl discovery.

Parsons Police Officers were called to the 3000 block of Redwood for a report of a suspicious person digging through trash. Officers located the suspect in the 1200 block of South 29th and discovered that it was, 60-year-old, Randal Morris of Parsons. Officers discovered Morris had an active Felony warrant out of Labette County District Court for Probation Revocation. During the following arrest, they located a baggy containing fentanyl, marijuana was also discovered on his person.

Parsons officers are requesting the Labette County Attorney's Office file charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

The killer of the Parsons PD Officers' puppy, 'Ranger' is still unfound.

Earlier this week, the puppy 'Ranger' was found lying in the yard with his head severed. The killer of the puppy has still not been brought to justice. The Parsons Police Department is accepting donations for the reward fund to bring 'Rangers' killer to justice. You can bring money to the police department front counter at 217 N Central or take checks to the Parsons Municipal Building Water Department at 112 S 17th Street. Checks need to be made out to the City of Parsons-reward fund. The police department will make a new wanted poster with an updated amount in the near future. Currently, there is a $3,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the suspect(s) in this case.

If anyone has any information on this incident, contact the Parsons Police Department at 620-421-7060 or call the Tip Line at 620-421-7057.

Temperatures will rise in southeast Kansas later this week.

The National Weather Service in Wichita is calling for temperatures to rise throughout much of Kansas, especially in the southeastern portion of the state. Thursday should see highs of anywhere from 62-70F.

Other areas of Kansas, including the north-central part of the state, might dip back down on Friday. Predicted highs range from anywhere between 45F to 76F, depending on location.

Bob Dole will be honored Friday in a private memorial service with President Joe Biden in attendance and a public service at the World War II Memorial in Washington. Those events will come before the casket of the former presidential candidate and decorated soldier travels to Kansas for events in his hometown and the state capital.

Dole’s casket will lie in state Thursday at the U.S. Capitol. The Dole Institute of Politics says Biden will join former presidents, congressional leaders, friends, and the Dole family for the private service Friday morning at Washington National Cathedral. A public memorial service is set for Saturday morning in Dole’s hometown of Russell, Kansas, and followed by a private afternoon ceremony at the Kansas Statehouse.

Voters in Labette County have recalled County Commissioner Brian Kinzie.  Unofficial results of a special election held Tuesday to recall were 59% YES to recall Kinzie and 41% NO votes to retain Kinzie in office.  There were 831 YES votes to recall and 580 NO votes to not recall Kinzie.  Tuesday’s vote may have implications on the future of wind energy in the County as the petition to hold the recall election was based on alleged meetings Kinzie had in regard to negotiating with RWE to put windmills in Labette County.

Ballots will be canvassed by the Labette County Commission next Monday, December 13^th to determine the official results.

A federal court has blocked a third vaccination mandate imposed by the Biden administration.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia today granted a motion by Kansas and other plaintiffs to place a temporary injunction on the “Federal Contractor” vaccine mandate. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt goes into detail on what was in that mandate.

The court found that the executive order “goes far beyond addressing administrative and management issues to promote efficiency and economy in procurement and contracting, and instead, in application, works as a regulation of public health, which is not authorized under the Procurement Act.”

In addition to this ruling, a new state law enacted last month requires all employers, both public and private sector, to accommodate employee requests for relief from COVID-19 vaccine requirements on medical or religious grounds.

State Senator Virgil Peck will be continuing his listening tour through southeast Kansas that he began last week.  Peck will be making stops in Montgomery and Neosho counties this Thursday.  Peck says the purpose is to hear the concerns of constituents.

He adds that it’s also important to keep voters informed.

Peck will be at the Independence Historical Museum Thursday morning at 8:30, Cardinal Drug in Chanute at 10:30, the Brickhaus in Erie at noon and wind up at the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce office at 4pm.

Voters in Labette County will be going to the polls Tuesday to decide the future of County Commissioner Brian Kinzie.  In what could also be a referendum on the future of wind energy in the County voters will face just one question on the ballot, that is to whether to retain Kinzie as a Labette County Commissioner.  A NO vote on the ballot will keep Kinzie in office, while a YERS vote will recall Kinzie from the position.  KGGF will be reporting the results of Tuesday’s election after the polls close at 7pm.

A weekend hit and run leaves one man injured.

26-year-old, Jesse Lockskin was eastbound on West Quincy on his bicycle. A currently unknown person driving a silver van was also eastbound on West Quincy, when they collided with Lockskin, then fled the scene.

Lockskin was taken to Ascension Via Christi with a possible injury. Lockskin was not wearing a helmet and did not have reflective devices on his bicycle.

K-9 Karim and his handler Corporal Kyle Shields have seized close to 30 grams of various drugs during traffic stops.

Parsons PD Sergeant Brice Dickens made a traffic stop on a 1997 Chevy Blazer in the 2100 block of Crawford. Karim indicated on the vehicle leading to a search that found illegal narcotics in the vehicle. Then days later, Sergeant Dickens again made a traffic stop leading to an arrest. This time he stopped a 2011 Ford Edge in the 1500 block of Crawford. K-9 Karim indicated on this vehicle as well, the following search found syringes, one of them was "loaded" with a clear liquid. Additionally, they located suspected marijuana, a plastic baggie with a white crystal-like substance and a digital scale, were also seized. Officers arrested Trinity Dawn Pratt, 45 of Parsons, and Morgan Leigh Wilkins, 27 of Parsons, along with Emari Taylor

Parsons Police are requesting charges by the Labette County Attorney's Office for possession of controlled substances, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and sale/distribution of certain stimulants on all three individuals arrested.

A dog was found dead by decapitation by its owner on Friday afternoon.

Parsons Police received a call from one of their staff reporting that their dog had been killed in the 1400 block of South 14th Street. Parsons Police Sergeant Waylon Kepley responded to the house.

It was reported that a three-month-old puppy, was let outside in the fenced back yard at approximately 7 am and at approximately 2 pm the owner found the black puppy lying in the yard with its head severed. Officers determined that the puppy had its head sliced off with a sharpened blade at another location and then the suspects returned the body to the backyard.

This crime of cruelty to an animal is a felony for knowingly and maliciously killing an animal. Additionally, charges for criminal trespass would also be added. Police believe this was a targeted attack of a law enforcement officer's home and the Department is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the suspect(s) in this case.

If anyone has any further information on this incident, contact the Parsons Police Department at 620-421-7060 or call the Tip Line at 620-421-7057.

A former US senator from Kansas has passed away. Senator Bob Dole has died at the age of 98. Senator Jerry Moran says on behalf of all Kansans they express their sympathies for the Dole family.

Dole served as a senator from 1969-1996 and in 1996 he ran for president. Governor Laura Kelly has ordered all flags to be flown at half staff until sunset on Thursday.

Large crowds took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to turn out for the Coffeyville Christmas Parade Friday night.  The parade, which featured almost 80 entries wound through downtown Coffeyville along Eighth, Walnut, and Ninth Streets.

Many in the crowd remain ed downtown after the parade to take advantage of the opening night of Christmas on the Plaza.  The parade was broadcast live on KQQF 98.9FM and online with video at kggfradio.com and the KGGF, KUSN, KQQF Facebook page.  The parade can continue to be viewed online and on the link below.  

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Galena Police Department are conducting a death investigation.

Galena PD was dispatched to a residence after a subject reported that he had located a deceased person. Officers arrived 801 E. 11^th St. in Galena, there they found a deceased male inside the house. The man was identifed as ,68-year-old Jerrod L. Brewer. It was not clear how Brewer died, and the KBI has been asked to help with the investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

A man has been arrested after attacking Parsons Police Department officers in the nude.

Officers with the Parsons Police Department were called to the 1400 block of Grand Avenue for a 911 call regarding a potential case of domestic battery. At the scene was 30-year-old Dustin Almond, who began cursing at officers using sexist and racist language while in the nude. After being arrested, Almond became combative, attacking officers while being put in the patrol car and even charging the cell door in an attempt to fight and escape.

No serious injuries were reported by the officers. Almond refused all offers of medical assistance.

The police are requesting the Labette County Attorney's Office to file charges of domestic battery and three counts of felony battery of a law enforcement officer.

A large crowd was on hand last night for the Caney Christmas parade.

With temperatures in the mid-to-low 50s, it was perfect weather to hold the event. In all, 67 different entries participated in the parade. That included churches, service vehicles, local politicians, and much more.

You can view the parade in its entirety below. Also, make sure to tune in to tonight's Coffeyville Christmas parade. You can either listen in on Sonshine 98.9, KQQF, listen online at kggfradio.com, or catch it on Facebook Live on the KGGF/KUSN/KQQF Facebook page.

A Parsons woman has been arrested on numerous charges including theft and burglary.

On Monday, Parsons Police took a report for a theft of delivered goods off a porch. There was a video of the suspect that was posted on social media. Officers also gathered video from several sources throughout a thorough neighborhood canvass.

The next day, Parsons Police Officer Rory Johnson was called to the 2700 block of Gabriel for a report of a possible break-in of an unoccupied house. Officers searched the residence and located 33-year-old Rachel Lynn Ashley in the house. The owner of the residence said that no one was allowed inside. Ashley was arrested without incident.

This investigation led to Ashley being positively identified as the suspect in the theft that had been on social media. Officers made the connection and charges are being filed for that case as well. Ashley is being charged with Criminal Trespass, Theft, and Burglary.

The Montgomery County Clerk’s office has announced that they will be available to assist in processing the Homestead or Safe Senior Property Tax Refund for Low-Income Seniors starting on Monday, January 17, 2022.

For the Homestead refund, you must be a homeowner and pay the property taxes to qualify. Renting does not qualify.

For the Food Sales Tax Credit, you must file a Federal Income tax return before calculating the food sales tax credit. If you do not file a federal income tax return then you do not qualify for the food sales tax credit.

The Clerk’s Office will be available to assist applicants Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. The Deadline for processing the returns will be April 15, 2022.

Below is the information that you will need to bring with you:

SRS                                                    Food Stamp payments for all of 2021

                                                           Cash Assistant payments for all of 2021

Social Security (1099)                     Benefit Verification form that includes your “Date of Disability Onset” (if

                                                           receiving disability payments)

                                                           Income letter for all of 2021

                                                           1099 (Interest and Income)

Children                                              Birthdates

                                                            Social Security numbers

Homeowners                                      Statement for 2021 Property Taxes-Applicants names must be on the Deed.

Income                                                All income for any household member over the age of 18

For 2021. – If you file a Federal or State income tax return you must have your tax preparer complete your homestead as well. County Clerk’s office will no longer be able to calculate the homestead on citizens who file a Federal and/or State income tax.

The county will not be able to process your claims unless all necessary paperwork is brought in at the time of preparing your claim. If you have any questions, you can contact the County Clerk’s office at (620) 330-1200.

Two Caney police officers have received awards for their efforts to help a man who has been stabbed in early November.

Caney Police Officers Joe Elliott and Jesse Cross responded to a passed out at a residence in east Caney. Upon arrival at the call, the officers found a man who had been cut with a knife during an altercation with another person. Officers immediately administered first aid measures to stop/slow the bleeding until an ambulance could arrive on the scene to provide advanced life support measures.

Officer Cross and Officer Elliott received their Life-Saving Awards at the Caney City Council Meeting on November 29^th.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has started Omicron variant monitoring in the state. The Department started preparation on Monday to track cases of the new variant once they are identified in the state. Currently, there are no cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the state.

As this is a new variant, it is still unknown how transmissible or contagious the variant is. It is also unclear how quickly it will spread, however, with over 64% of the eligible population fully vaccinated, Kansas is more prepared for Omicron than previous variants.

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center CEO Brian Lawrence and the Director of Rural Prosperity for Kansas Trisha Purdon spoke at this month's Business Over Breakfast in downtown Coffeyville.

According to Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce Director Candi Westbrook, Lawrence talked about two new physicians coming to Coffeyville.

Purdon talked about the initial findings of a big housing study done all across Kansas.

To listen to the entire interview with Westbrook, you can find it here.

The annual Parsons Christmas Parade is set to return with one small change.

This Thursday, December 2^nd, the Parsons parade will return, however starting this year, the parade route between Central and 17^th street will have no parking. The decision was made by city staff to keep the parking off the two-block stretch for pedestrian safety. City officials heeded the warnings of citizens and parade planners and in the interest of public safety, will close the two-block section of on-street parking. There are still parking lots around the parade route as well as street-side parking around the downtown area.

A common predator that causes a lot of damage to livestock and chickens in Kansas is the coyote.

When looking at the abundance trends, the population of coyotes has increased. K-State Diversified Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Adaven Scronce says that the population has increased three-fold since the fur market crashed in the late 1980s.

While coyotes are omnivores, they do damage to farmers and ranchers as they kill livestock and poultry. While some methods are lethal, Scronce says there are many non-lethal methods to prevent coyote damage.

For more information about coyotes, contact Scronce at 620-331-2690.

The Labette County Commission met in executive session with a potential attorney to represent the county for negotiations either for or against the possibility of wind turbines. Commissioner Cole Proehl says if they were to vote no on this project their options to stop it are very limited.

The original proposal by RWE was made available for the public to view. Commissioner Proehl says negotiations with RWE shouldn't be a quick process.

The recall election for Commissioner Brian Kinzie is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7^th. Voters will need to either vote yes to recall or no to keep him in office.