Governor Laura Kelly is calling on Kansans to share thoughts and ideas on how Kansas can do a better job of preventing, responding to, and recovering from wildfires.

Last July the Governor established a Wildfire Task Force to take a comprehensive look at mitigating wildfire threats, to review how local and state agencies respond and how to support those entities better, and how to better support communities impacted by wildfires.

This is in response to the fact that since 2016 the state has experienced 3 large wildfires that consumed over 800,000 acres and receives reports of an average of 6000-plus wildland fires each year.

Your input can be submitted on the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s website through the end of November. www.agriculture.ks.gov/WildfireTaskForce

The Labette Community College Spirit Squad is hosting a Bingo Night Fundraiser.

There will be limited seating for this Friday, November 4^th at the Cardinal Event Center. Purchase your tickets either at the LCC Business office on the 2^nd floor of the Student Union or online at https://bit.ly/ccbingo

The Taco Dinner provided by Taco Mayo of Parsons will start at 5:30, Bingo starts at 6. Cost for the event is $15 for taco dinner and 2 bingo cards and $10 for LCC students or kids 12 and under. Call 620-820-1212 with any questions.

The Chautauqua County Commissioners reported that the Veterans Memorial Project has broke ground on the courthouse lawn.

The Chautauqua County Board of Commissioners met Monday morning at 8:30. Among other business the commissioners reported that the insurance carried by the county for their employees gave the board the option to cover transgender medical surgeries and care. The board voted 3-0 not to cover the optional services. The Board also reported that the Veterans Memorial Project has broken ground on the lawn of the courthouse. Project President Richard Hambleton said they are just needing a bit more manpower to complete the first phase of the Project and they will need a bit more help to complete the Memorial entirely.

The second phase includes the bronze statue and other ornamentation.

The Kansas Corporation Commission implemented the Cold Weather Rule in 1983 to prevent utility companies from disconnecting a customer’s natural gas or electric service during periods of extreme cold.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts Midwest household heating with natural gas could see their bills increase by 33% this winter. If the weather is colder than expected then those numbers will be higher.

The Cold Weather Rule also requires utility companies to offer a 12-month payment plan with 1/12 of the current bill 1/12 of the amount owed, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fee, plus any deposits that might be required to re-establish or to stay connected. The remaining balance must be paid over the next 11 months, in addition to the current bill.

More information is available on the Kansas Corporation Commission’s website: http://kcc.ks.gov/kcc-consumer-alert-winter­

A northeastern Kansas man is facing a felony charge of threatening to kill a Kansas congressman. The trial for 31-year-old Chase Neill of Lawrence has been postponed indefinitely so that a federal judge can decide whether he is too mentally ill to help his lawyers. Federal prosecutors contend in court documents that Neill developed a fixation on Kansas Second District Republican Jake LaTurner. Neill is accused of threatening to kill LaTurner in a June 5 voicemail message left at LaTurner’s office and continuing to make threatening calls the following day. U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter ordered last month that his mental health be examined.

Match Day 2022 is coming up soon.

The tenth annual one-day event on November 17^th is hosted by the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation and will provide $50,000 in match money for contributions given to support area nonprofit organizations and charitable funds in the community.  The Foundation's Sam Kudrick says they've added more organizations to the list people can donate to this year.

Foundation Director Janie Gillis says every donation adds up, and that Match Day has made a nearly one million-dollar impact on the community since it started.

During Match Day on the 17^th, you can donate in person, by mail, or online. Full details and a list of organizations receiving money is available here.

A new master food volunteer program is being organized by K-State Research and Extension's Wildcat District.

Health, Food Safety, and Nutrition Agent Holly Miner says individuals who have passion for food, preparation of food, health science, nutrition, or wellness are encouraged to attend.

The classes are taught by industry professionals, as well as county and state extension agents. Miner says the opportunity for up to 40 hours of training is available in exchange for an equal amount of approved service back to the community.

The training program runs from January 25th through February 17th and applications are currently open.  You can apply by calling Miner at 620-331-2690. All applications must be submitted by December 1st, and all potential volunteers are subject to an interview and background check.

Neewollah, Kansas's largest annual celebration, continues today with the Carnival opening from 3 to 10, the Kiddie Parade is at 4 this afternoon, and the Marine Force Band will perform at Memorial Hall at 6 tonight. It is free to the public but you must obtain a ticket at Neewollah headquarters at 220 N. Penn. Lost and Found is also located at Neewollah headquarters. Tomorrow, sister station 104.1 will be checking in live during the Grand Parade and we will update you on all of Saturday’s activities and events at that time.

The Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office is alerting Kia Sportage owners about a new recall instructing owners to park their vehicles outside due to a risk of fire.

Kia America has issued a new recall for certain Model Year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles due to a risk of an engine compartment fire originating from around the hydraulic electronic control unit and it may occur while the vehicle is in park or while being driven.

These same vehicles were part of a precious recall in 2016, but owners will need to have their vehicles repaired again under this new recall. Kia urges owners of these vehicles to park their cars outside and away from homes and other structures until the repair can be made. The recall repair is under development by Kia, as owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in December. To contact Kia customer service you can call 800-333-4542

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners will meet in regular session later in the day than usual. (This Monday, October 31^st /Today) the Commissioners will convene for an Insurance work session at 10 am.

Later at 1 pm, the regular session will be called to order and Reverend Melvin Simpson with the 1^st Church of God in Christ will give the invocation. The County Treasurer, Nancy Clubine is slated to address the commissioners at about 1:15, followed by Anne Miller and Jeff Phelps with the GIS office, and Emergency Manager, Rick Whitson will report to the board concerning the coroner. At approximately 2 pm, Public Works Director, Jim Wright will update the board about ongoing and upcoming projects in the county.

As always the meetings are open to the public. You can live-stream them on Facebook Live or Zoom as well.

The Agriculture Department announced that $759 million will be made available in the form of grants and loans to enable rural communities access to high-speed internet. The announcement came (yesterday/Thursday) from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a visit to North Carolina. There are 49 recipients in 24 states, Kansas and Oklahoma are included. Vilsack in his press conference said, “Rural America needs this.” He went on to say, “Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, but for too long they’ve been left behind and they have been underrecognized,”

The City of Caney has adopted a Tier System on the upcoming utility bill. This is due to the Water Emergency that Caney is under. Your Tier is based o your usage, Your new bill will reflect the tier you are in and the price you pay. The new ordinance was published in the October 20^th issue of the Montgomery County Chronicle. You can also view the new ordinance on the City Website or City of Caney’s Facebook page.

Coffeyville FFA is hosting a middle school Discovery Day on November 16^th.

Middle school students in 7^th and 8^th grades are invited to attend.  Coffeyville and Independence Ag Leadership will be hosting workshops for students to learn about FFA opportunities and making an impact as a leader in the community. Students from the Animal Science and Horticulture teams will be running invitational contests for both animal science and horticulture. These can give students an opportunity to be introduced to these contests on a basic level.

Registration is due by Tuesday. To register contact Coffeyville FFA Advisor Melissa Strassburg at melissa.strassburg@cvilleschools.com. 

The Coffeyville Fire Department fought two structure fires, one at 7th & Pine Street and the other on Penn Street.

According to CFD, both fires were large in scale. Both structures suffered significant damage due to the spread of the fire by high winds. No injuries were sustained in either fire. CFD received assistance from Coffeyville Resources, Dearing, South Coffeyville, Tyro and Liberty Fire Departments.

For the 81^st time, a new Queen Neelah was crowned and the new Queen made her first walk down the runway at Memorial Hall in Independence. Jade Umlauf is the daughter of Erich and Dalia Umlauf of Independence and has a long list of activities and academic honors, which include editor-in-chief of the yearbook and performances for the IHS theatre department.

Earlier this week Queen Umlauf accepted the Royal Tiara from 2021 Queen Neelah Sarah Schwatken. Generalissimo Denise Hines was on stage at the coronation to congratulate the new Queen.

Lyndi Easter, daughter of Mark and Sandra Easter of Independence will serve as runner-up to the newly crowned Queen Neelah Jade Umlauf.

A Longton man is to receive an award from the National Weather Service out of Wichita. Longtime Longton resident Leo Noland has been recognized by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration for 40 years of service with the Cooperative Observer Program and will be presented with an award on November 2^nd in Longton. Observers like Noland are invaluable to NOAA as they enable them to forecast and process warnings and help show a bigger picture of how we are affected by the weather. According to NOAA, there are over 11,000 volunteer observers across the globe that help make NOAA one the of most accurate weather predictors in the world.

The Parsons Chamber of Commerce is honoring all who served with a Veterans Day Parade. The Parsons Chamber is hosting the event in downtown Parsons at 9 am on Friday, November 11^th.

If you would like to be a part of the parade you must submit a completed registration form to the Parsons Chamber at 506 Main or email chamber@parsonschamber.org or click on the link here to register online.

A new ice cream parlor opens today in Coffeyville.

Hersh's Ice Cream at 123 west 9^th opens at 11:30 a.m. this morning after a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. with the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce.  Chamber Director Candi Westbrook says she's always excited when a new business opens in town.

Hersh's will start with 12 different flavors including toasted butter pecan, chocolate sea salt cashew and maple bourbon bacon to name a few. They'll be open until 8 p.m. tonight.

The Coffeyville Community College Foundation announces a new healthcare scholarship.

The scholarship is being endowed by the Monte and Amber Coffman family. This annual scholarship will be presented to an incoming freshman pursuing a career in healthcare. Priority will be given to Field Kindley High School graduates with a 3.0 GPA. 

 The Coffman Family Healthcare Scholarship can play a role in the continued growth and development of healthcare workers. Those interested in applying for this scholarship can contact the CCC Foundation at (620) 252-7070.

The Independence Police Department has established three ADA parking areas for the Neewollah Festival.

Those include the south row of the municipal parking lot located on the southeast corner of Chestnut and 8^th, the east half of the 100 block of E. Myrtle and the municipal parking lot located on the northeast corner of 6^th and Myrtle. ADA parking spaces will be marked with standard signs and temporarily painted stripes on the lots. Van-accessible spaces will have additional width to accommodate entry and exit from vans.

Parking is not permitted in any portion of any row marked for ADA parking without displaying ADA credentials. All violators will be cited and towed. Police Chief Jerry Harrison says obeying accessible parking signs isn’t just the law, it’s the right thing to do. 

A black powder squirrel hunt hosted by 3 River Muzzleloaders will pit teams of 3 hunters against the wiley, bushy-tailed rodents. Sign in before 8 am on Saturday, November 5 at E Peru Ave. in Peru, Kansas

There is a $25 buy-in per team with 50% payback for the 1^st place team and 25% for the team with the longest squirrel tail. You must turn in your squirrels by 3 pm. Max of 10 squirrels per team. Sunday hunting times are 7 to 3.

Bark your squirrels anywhere you want just make sure to follow all wildlife regulations in your state. A squirrel feed and cook-off will be held on Sunday after turn-in at 3.

The Wilson County commission board announced the issuing of two additional KDOT grants. The decision was shared at the weekly Wilson County commission meeting on Wednesday.

Following a brief synopsis by county coordinator Kris Marple, grants were issued to both Four County Mental Health Center, as well as Coordinated Transit District #10. The grants were ruled in favor by county commissioners Jerry Scott, Andrew Miller, and Casey Lair.

Other items discussed at the Wednesday meeting were searching for a new individual to maintain the clock tower, as it is currently left unattended, according to Marple Also, it was estimated that there may be approximately 9000 dollars available for reimbursement for the police academy training program, according to Wilson County sheriff Jack Lucke.

The Wilson County commissioner meetings take place every Wednesday morning from 9am-12pm in Room 101 of the County Courthouse building in downtown Fredonia.

KGGF News reported yesterday regarding the $4.3 million dollar grant to be dedicated to the acquisition of wetland habitat for conservation going to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. KGGF News contacted  KDWP to receive clarification as to how they plan to spend the federal money.

According to Chief of Public Affairs & Engagement Officer, Nadia Marji, KDWP has no intention of exercising eminent domain, funds will be used to manage and enhance already-designated sites, the majority of which would be conserved in the form of easements, and if KDWP should identify a willing seller it’s important to note the sale of any land greater than 160 acres must be approved by the Kansas legislature, and KDWP would be required to pay current appraised or fair market value for any property purchased.

A Cowley County man has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Kansas to protect against the unreasonable, unannounced, and warrantless searches as unconstitutional licensing requirements, all as a result of having to obtain a state-mandated license.

Award-winning and nationally recognized dog trainer and handler in Cowley County, Scott Johnson is required by the state to carry the license, but as part of the license, he is forced to waive his 4^th amendment rights. The government inspector can show up for a surprise search and if the license holder or their representative isn’t on the property within 30 minutes the government penalizes Kansans like Scott with a fine, even asking the government inspector to come back at more convenient time subjects the license-holders to penalties as well.

Litigation director of Kansas Justice Institute, Sam MacRoberts says the 30-minute requirement doesn’t make a bit of sense, especially for rural Kansans where just getting to the grocery store and back usually takes more than thirty minutes. MacRoberts went on to say that Scott’s rights don’t end the moment Scott trains or handles a dog.

Scott operates Covey Find Kennel, has handled multiple national champion dogs, and sits as a director of the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame.

The large smokestack at the Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power Plant will eventually get a new coat of paint.

The Coffeyville City Commission gave approval for an internal and external drone inspection to take a look at the condition of the stack and recommend any repairs if needed. Electric Generation Superintendent Tony Lawson explains the process.

The last inspection and paint coating was completed in 2012. Lawson says the painting may not happen until the spring.

In other business, the commission approved purchase orders for roof projects at the Electric Distribution Warehouse, City Hall and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. They also approved a contract to install a new ceiling grid for the ground floor offices in City Hall.

The lockdown at Community Elementary has been lifted according to Halie O’Connor, Public Relations/Administrative Assistant at Community Elementary.

KGGF News received a confirmed report of a lockdown at Coffeyville’s Community Elementary earlier this morning. Although Coffeyville Police Department was on the scene, the situation was apparently resolved as just before noon the word came from O'Connor with Community Elementary via email that the lockdown had been lifted.

No other information has been made available at this time. We will update you as soon as we are made aware of anything newsworthy.

Election day is just two weeks away and one of the races generating local interest is that of the Kansas Second Congressional District.

Democratic challenger Patrick Schmidt will face incumbent Republican Jake LaTurner on November 8^th.  Schmidt was a recent guest on KGGF and says he was inspired to run for office after seeing international threats facing the U.S. during his time as an officer in the Navy.

Schmidt also says the events on January 6^th influenced his decision to run and has been an open critic of LaTurner's actions on that day.

LaTurner refuted Schmidt's claims during a candidate's forum earlier this month that was broadcast on KGGF. The full interview with Schmidt can be heard here.

The Independence Historical Museum & Art Center (IHMAC) held an event to raise awareness, solicit pre-funding money, and seed the fundraising goal of $500,000. The IHMAC Forever campaign kick-off hosted 60 people representing 7 local businesses and they pledged $97,000, with IHMAC board members adding another $19,245 in pledges.

Ray Rothgeb, IHMAC President says the second phase of the improvement plan includes cleaning, repairing, renovating, and protecting exterior features of the 130-year-old Federal building that houses the museum and art center. Rothgeb announced that the IHMAC has been awarded $59,200 from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Grant and $25,000 from the City of Independence Downtown Building Grant.

The goal is to raise $500,000 over the next three years and establish funds to sustain the museum into the next century.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will receive a portion of the more than $66.7 million in matching grants to be distributed across 16 states that will support private land acquisition and planning projects. The funds originate from the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.

KDWP Secretary Brad Loveless said this grant funding makes it possible for KDWP to conserve nearly 1,600 acres of critical wetland habitat for at-risk species on non-federal lands. Loveless went on to say that this would pave the way for future efforts to conserve critical habitat across the state.

Of the more than 4.3 million slated for the Sunflower State, just under $4 million is dedicated to the acquisition of wetland habitat for conservation in support of Whooping Cranes and Eastern Black Rails, and more than $300,000 is set aside to support Kansas’ Aquatic Safe Harbor Agreement.

A Coffeyville man was arrested for alleged abuse of a child and alleged abandonment of a child. The Coffeyville Police Department also charged 27-year-old Lucas Cox with alleged possession of opiates and paraphernalia and allegedly operating a vehicle without a valid license or liability insurance. Reports of the arrest have been sent to the prosecuting attorney for review and formal charges.

The Coffeyville Police Department has announced via their Facebook page that they will be extra vigilant when patrolling, especially around schools this week in hopes that everyone in every vehicle wears seat belts. This week is Seat Belt Enforcement Week and the CPD says that seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half.

Montgomery County Clerk Charlotte Scott Schmidt has announced a time change to next week’s Commission meeting. Normally the board meeting starts at 9 am each Monday, however, next week the commissioners will be conducting a work session beginning at 10 am and the regular session will follow at 1 pm. That’s next Monday, October 31 the regular meeting will not be held until 1 pm due to a work session at 10 am

Law enforcement agencies across the state will collect unused medications as part of National Drug Take-Back Day. The collection event is part of a nationwide effort to safely dispose of leftover medications to prevent intentional or accidental misuse. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced that medications would be accepted at drop-off sites across the state from 10 am to 2 pm this Saturday, October 29^th. To find a location click on the link here. You can always drop off unused medications at your local police department or sheriff's office.

A local businessman is the winner of the 2022 Governor's Award of Excellence in the Under 30 Entrepreneur and Businessperson category. Akul A Patel with A-1 Computers in Fredonia saw a need for a computer repair business and started very small.

A-1 Computers and Patel were recognized by the Governor as a business that is driving local success with their entrepreneurial spirit and because they are doers, she has challenged the winners of the amazing businesses and business people to help normalize the incredible run she feels the state is on.

Textron Aviation was also recognized by the Governor with the Exporter of the Year Award. The Wichita-based aviation company is the manufacturer of Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker brands. Textron also has manufacturing facilities in the Independence Industrial Park.

A new position is opening up in the Montgomery County Commissioner's office, it was announced at the weekly commissioner meeting on Monday. The county will be searching for a new Financial Officer in Montgomery County to help with the balancing and maintaining of the total budget.

A few of the listed job responsibilities are, but not limited to:

• Administers, supervises, plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs the accounting and budgetary activities of the County
• Directs the County's financial management including but not limited to, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, Auditing, applies and monitors county grant programs for compliance, fixed assets and payroll.
• Directs the development and implementation of related policies and procedures.

District 1 Commissioner Robert Bever explains the position and what the county is searching for in a potential candidate.

Other items discussed on the meeting agenda include potential improvements to the county drainage system in order to maximize safety and protection from potential flooding, as well as a presentation from the Red Cross on the services and assistance the organization can bring to Montgomery County.

The next county commissioner meeting will be Monday October 31st at 9am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in downtown Independence, and as always, is open to the public and also streamed live on Facebook and Zoom.

The city of Independence is asking for applications to fill an un-expired term on the library board. The Independence Library District Board of Trustees is responsible for the budget, operations, and library programs in Independence. Applications are being accepted until noon on Thursday, November 10^th.  The term will expire on May 1, 2025.

Two minor students at Independence High School were arrested for possession of a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia. Late last week officers with the Independence Police department were dispatched to the high school as two minor students were allegedly caught with illegal narcotics. Arrest reports have been sent to the county attorney’s office for review and charges are to be filed.

Explore Crawford County in partnership with Pittsburg State University’s Department of Art and the University Marketing & Communication office recently won a statewide marketing award.

“Gus Explores Southeast Kansas” is a coloring book whose purpose is to teach guests and local children about SEK. The Coloring book won the award in the 2022 Small Budget Print category. Judges in the Travel Industry Association of Kansas Marketing Awards contest said that targeting families and providing an activity for their children is an effective, creative strategy to get tourists to Crawford County.

Executive Director Dave Looby and Marketing & Communications Manager Chris Wilson accepted the award. Wilson credited PSU Marketing, Dr. Oliver, and his art students for the success of the kid's book. The project surpassed expectations. An original print of 2,500 copies ran out so fast an additional 5,000 copies were ordered.

As Halloween nears, findings from a study asking the question, where are the ghostliest places in the US, shows Oklahoma and Kansas with more encounters with ghosts than most states.

According to the website Porch, Oklahoma ranks 3^rd in the nation having over 48 ghost encounters per 100,000 residents. Kansas ranks 10^th with 32 ghost encounters per 100,000 residents. Both States had military bases with a high number of sightings. Fort Sill, Oklahoma ranked behind only Fort Knox in Kentucky, with 35 for Fort Sill and an amazing 90 per 100,000 in Fort Knox. Kansas’ Fort Riley comes in 5^th with 23. Generally ghosts like smaller towns, avoiding big cities and crowds.

The study says that the bedroom is the most popular room in the home and women and girls out number their male counterparts in seeing ghosts and women and girls are the most popular gender of ghosts being seen. So when you see something out of the corner of your eye… you might just be adding to the statistics.

Kansas Department of Transportation accepted a challenge from the Missouri DOT to join in their goal of 0 fatalities on the nation’s roadways today. To encourage everyone to think safety first, today is Buckle Up Phone Down Day. Across the US last year more than 42,000 people died in crashes, that’s about 117 lives lost every day. About 50% of those killed were not wearing their seatbelts. Statistics show that the proper use of safety restraints reduces the risk of death by up to 45% and decreases serious personal injury by up to 50%. According to the CDC people not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle in a crash. For more information call 785-296-3585

The Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners will have a presentation from the Red Cross as well as approvals pending for 2 local businesses’ occupational licenses. Reverend Renita Butler with Friends Evangelical in Independence will conduct the invocation for the Board Meeting this Monday, October 24^th at 9 am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in downtown Independence. A work session with Insurance Brokers, Jim Wright, Public Works Director, and Anne Miller with GIS is slated on the agenda as well. As always the meeting is open to the public and is streamed live on Facebook and Zoom.

The Montgomery County Republican Precinct Committee men and women chose Melissa Johnson as the next Montgomery County Attorney. Johnson is currently an attorney in the KS Attorney General’s Office. Her name has now been forwarded to Governor Laura Kelly who should appoint Johnson to the position. Johnson received a majority vote over local attorney Robert Lattin. Johnson graduated from FKHS and currently lives in Topeka, but said she will be moving to Coffeyville.

This year 6 Supreme Court Justices and 7 Court of Appeals Judges are up for retention in Kansas. They must stand for retention after their first year. After that, each of the seven Supreme Court judges stands for retention every six years and every 4 years for Appellate Justices.

The ballot states the name, where they are from and if they should be retained in office.

As we have seen with the recent decisions by the US Supreme Court, the election process and balance of power in the courts can make a large and direct impact on the citizenry.

Short of looking up each judge’s decisions on individual cases, you can do your research in a few different ways. Many say the best way is to ask someone you trust who is in the know. Perhaps an attorney friend or someone who works in the system, who knows and can give anecdotal evidence on which way a judge leans. If you don’t know someone like that then there are other ways to find which way a particular judge slants politically. There are several websites that rate every candidate up for election or retention in the entire country. Just be aware who is sponsoring the website and factor that into your evaluation.

So do your homework, then you won’t be surprised when you open the ballot in this election because you took a minute to do your part and be informed.

Hundreds of families and children spent yesterday afternoon in Downtown Coffeyville during this year's Spooktacular event. 

Area organizations and businesses including KGGF handed out candy and treats to children in costume.  The warm weather in the '70s brought a large crowd that formed a line that wrapped through several intersections.  Several streets were blocked off for visitors' safety.  The event was organized by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, with bipartisan cooperation from the Kansas’ federal legislative delegation, announced Kansas has received federal approval for the enhancement of the Health Care Access Improvement Program. The announcement means that Kansas will bring in $341 million each year which will help rural hospitals and healthcare workers at a time when they are especially financially vulnerable. Governor Kelly says that Kansas must now expand Medicaid and increase access to care for all Kansans. The money secured federally by Senator Jerry Moran and others comes via the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Halloween weekend is just over a week away and the Independence Police Department wants to make sure everyone is trick-or-treating safely. Chief Jerry Harrison says there are several safety tips parents and children can follow.

Chief Harrison says besides just safety on the roads there are things that parents can remind their kids before they go out. Chief Harrison says homeowners should make sure their homes and front porches are well-lit and if anyone sees an unsupervised child check on them and call IPD if needed.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the Field Kindley head football coach and his family.

Coach Deonta Wade and his wife Megan Wade's baby girl Zionyah Wade passed away unexpectedly earlier this week. In addition to the GoFundMe, there are other ways you can support the family.

The FKHS Storenado along with The Dr. Hamm Early Learning Center has created a T-shirt fundraiser. The link to the t-shirt order form can be found here. There are also #NadoStrong decals available for ordering. The decals are around four inches and $5 each. You can contact Megan Camp or Cassie Erne to place an order. 

Neewolla starts tomorrow in Independence with the first performance of the musical Peter Pan. With the exception of the rigging crew for the flying scenes, the production is entirely locally produced.  Director Dee Byrd-Molnar says the musical showcases talent from all over southeast Kansas.

Performance times are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in Memorial Hall.  More information is available here.

Peru, Kansas will be hosting the 18^th Battle in the Brickyard. Experience a WWII reenactment at the Peru Brick Factory that is unlike any other. The 2-day event starts Friday, November 18th at dark with a small scenario in the factory, and at 0900 Saturday the 19th the Big Battle starts. The cost for participants is $25 and you get a hot breakfast and lunch. Camping is also available. Small vintage vehicles are welcome. Register or contact Erik Runge by email or visit their website.

The Sedan Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Halloween trunk or treat in Sedan. On Monday, October 31^st at 5:30 bring a big bag to the front of the Courthouse on N. Chautauqua Street. There is a costume contest right before the Trunk or Treat starts.

If you would like to have a spot and pass out candy, be there by 5 and then you can park and decorate your trunk. Prizes will be awarded for the best trunks as well.

That’s Halloween Night at 5:30 at the Courthouse in Sedan.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration has released its 2022-23 Winter Weather Outlook. Earlier today NOAA issued their predictions and interactive maps on their website for this winter season. The outlook for the KGGF listening area shows more of the same through January as far as precipitation is concerned. The only part of Kansas that may receive some relief is from a line north of I-70 in North Central Kansas to the Nebraska line. The interactive map shows that area will likely see significant improvement in the drought.

NOAA’s temperature outlook over the next 3 months for SE Kansas and the 4-State area shows that it is highly likely that we should receive above-normal temperatures.

The drought and warmer temps are attributed to La Nina suppressing the convection near the date line, which causes the colder than normal water at a depth of near-surface to 200 meters in the east-central Pacific along the equator. Combine this with large areas of warmer-than-normal water temperatures in both the North Pacific and North Atlantic and that results in the present characteristics that winter La Nina brings.

NOAA will issue a new set of outlooks next month on November 17^th.

Kansas is one of five states and territories to receive funding for increasing home and community-based services to ensure individuals with disabilities have more flexibility in where they live and receive services. Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services was awarded a $4.97 million grant to expand access and provide more choices to Kansans ready to transition from institutional care to independent living.

The grant is from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. There will be a 16-month planning and implementation period for the 5-year agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Two questions to amend the Kansas constitution will be on the ballot in November. One of the questions provides the legislature with oversight of state executive branch agencies by providing the legislature the authority to establish procedures to revoke or suspend rules and regulations.

Kansas State Senator and Senate Judiciary Chair Kellie Warren says this amendment addresses the growing bureaucracy which she calls a fourth branch of government.

Warren says the question is not designed to be confusing and has a simple goal.  In addition, warren says a “no” vote would keep the status quo, while a “yes” vote would return more power to Kansans.

The other question on the November ballot requires the election of sheriffs in counties that have the office and provides that sheriffs may be recalled from office. The last time the Kansas constitution was amended was in 2019.

A Nowata woman is arrested on a Cherokee Nation Tribal warrant.

48-year-old Terri Schell was arrested on a warrant for first-degree burglary. The incident occurred earlier this year on the morning of February 15^th. The sheriff's office was called to an address in Delaware. The victim reported hearing a knock and when he went to check on it, found Schell standing in his house. She was screaming the house was hers and he needed to get out. The victim grabbed his shotgun, but Schell also grabbed the gun and hit him with the barrel. She began throwing items around the house. The victim loaded his shotgun but Schell disappeared.

A deputy found a phone outside the house, believed to belong to Schell. After several attempts to contact her, she went to the sheriff's office for an interview. Schell says she doesn't remember anything about the morning in question, but she used to live at that address about 20 years ago. Charges were filed on September 8^th. Schell has been released on a $5,000 bond. 

Coffeyville Community College, the City of Coffeyville and Pratt Community College renew their Electric Power Technology program articulation agreement.

The partnership was created as a workforce development needs for the city in 2010. Coffeyville contacted CCC expressing a need for linemen to fill vacancies within the city electric department. After reviewing the pros and cons of establishing a new program at CCC, President Dr. Marlon Thornburg reached out to Pratt Community College.

The original articulation agreement was signed on April 1^st, 2010. Representatives from the city as well as both community colleges were on hand to continue this relationship focused on addressing the workforce development needs of those in Southeast Kansas. 

A Missouri couple is arrested in Cherokee County.

Around 3:30pm yesterday, an investigator with the sheriff's department pulled over a Dodge Ram for not having a license plate displayed. The driver refused to stop until coming up on a road closed due to construction. Inside the truck, law enforcement discovered a fully automatic firearm.

The driver, 37-year-old Garrett Cleaver, of Webb City, was placed under arrest and transported to the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of fleeing law enforcement, no registration, driver's license or insurance, unlawful possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of a firearm. The passenger, 37-year-old Elizabeth Lee Downs, of Ozark, was arrested on allegations of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The Community Foundation for Independence is one of the 12 grant recipients of the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions) that was started this year in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation. The grant program is a way for rural communities to move forward on local projects that lack capital or other resources. Brittany Hollum has been named the Rural Champion for the Community Foundation for Independence. She says her job is to assist other organizations and groups that might need help achieving their goals that involve health, safety, and wellness.

The Community Foundation for Independence’s grant is for Trails and Wellness in Montgomery County. Hollum says she welcomes project ideas or initiatives. If any organization or group would like assistance, they just need to reach out. Nothing is too big and nothing is too small. One purpose of the grant is to promote wellness. Hollum says the construction of new walking and biking trails and the marketing and promotion of those will benefit area residents.

More information on the Rural Champions program or to share an idea follow the link here.

K-State Research and Extension Wildcat District Wildlife Management division is presenting a free Coyote Trapping and Predator calling workshop.

The workshop will be held in the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons on November 3^rd at 6:30 pm.  K-State Research and Extension Specialist Dr. Drew Ricketts will discuss coyote biology, management and trapping and calling methods.

It is free to attend but they do require an RSVP by November 1^st because dinner is provided. For more information or to RSVP call 620-331-2690 or email Adaven Scronce at adaven@ksu.edu.

The Parsons Police Department is warning residents about a scam impersonating them.  Parsons PD has received several complaints about a caller saying there is an active warrant out for an arrest and they demand payment before threatening the victim with immediate jail time. The caller ID even shows a legitimate Parsons police phone number.

Parsons PD says not to provide the caller with any information and to just hang up. Officers do not call individuals about arrest warrants and they will never demand payment over the phone for bail.  Parsons PD asks for any call like this to be reported to them.

Governor Laura Kelly with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has proposed changing childcare regulations that would allow home providers to increase the number of children they care for if they meet certain safety conditions. This would align Kansas with the national average child-to-provider ratio

The announcement made yesterday is an effort to make child care more affordable. The proposed amendment will have to go through the required public comment period, parents; childcare providers, and business leaders across the state are encouraged to participate.

An informational meeting for licensed home providers will be held in an online-only format on October 24 from 6-7 p.m. Licensed home providers interested in participating in the meeting can join via Zoom.

KDHE will hold a public hearing on October 28 at 10 a.m. at the Curtis State Office Building, 1000 SW Jackson Ave., Suite 530, Topeka, KS. KDHE is also accepting written comments until October 28 at 5 p.m. via email to Amber Sellers at Amber.Sellers20@ks.gov. (Include K.A.R. 28-4-114 in the subject line.)

Two Montgomery County men are arrested after a tip about suspicious activity. 

Independence Police Officers were dispatched to the area of the 400 block of W. Main for a suspicious activity complaint about two individuals loading something onto a trailer. Officers arrived on the scene just as the vehicle was leaving, but were able to pull the vehicle over.  The driver was identified as 45-year-old James Ramey, of Cherryvale, and the passenger as 25-year-old Steven Hilyard, of Independence.

Both men were arrested.  The pair are charged with felony theft, possession of methamphetamine, a hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia. Both men are awaiting their first appearance in court.

Kansas historians will gather at Pittsburg State University for a discussion on a Southeast Kansas serial killer family.

The talk will be about the Bloody Benders as a part of the Gene DeGruson Memorial Lecture. The event, called The Bender Family Crimes: 150 Years Later, is on October 27^th at 7:00pm in the basement of the library. Historians will discuss the crimes committed by the Bender family that set up an inn in remote Labette County. The Benders murdered nearly a dozen travelers over several years who stopped by their inn. These crimes were not discovered until after the family fled the area. They were never caught, and their fate remains a mystery.

Panelists include Max McCoy, a former Pittsburg journalist and PSU faculty member who is now a historian and professor at Emporia State University, Carol Staton and Mike Wood, curators at the Cherryvale Museum, which houses some Bender family artifacts and Bob Miller, the current owner of the Bender property. 

Students in Coffeyville had the opportunity to learn about different careers during the annual Career Day at Field Kindley High School.      

Students from 6th grade at Community Elementary and Holy Name School through seniors at Field Kindley participated in the event.  Businesses and organizations such as KGGF, Community State Bank, Parents As Teachers as well as a host of others spoke with students about careers in their industry. 

Career Day is held annually and organized by the Field Kindley High School Guidance Department.     

The Kansas Attorney General is pushing back against the Biden administration's latest effort to impose the so-called Green New Deal on states through new regulations. 

AG Derek Schmidt has joined other state attorneys general in filing comment letters regarding a proposed rule from the Federal Highway Administration that would require all 50 states to reduce on-road CO2 emissions to net zero by 2050.  Schmidt says these efforts reflect the current attitude in Washington.

Schmidt says the group's main complaint is the way the administration is trying to make changes without proper legislation. Schmidt and the other attorneys general claim that the proposed measure violates the principles of federalism by requiring states to implement a federal regulatory program.

If you are a health care provider, nurse, doctor, pharmacist, social worker, educator, legislator, addiction specialist, member of law enforcement, EMS worker, or any other professional that would like to gain awareness of the impact of the prescription drug, opioid and stimulant crisis in our state, then you should plan to attend the 2022 Kansas Opioid and Stimulant Conference at Hotel Topeka on November 10^th.

Not only will you learn to identify and investigate cases associated with opioid and other drug use, but speakers will discuss strategies regarding how to address the crisis through the different lenses of Prescribing, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery. Continuing Education credits may be available.

For more info contact Lori Moriarty at  785-841-4138 or download the registration by clicking on the link in the digital version of the story at kggfradio.com

Two traffic stops on South Santa Fe Ave. in Chanute net three arrests for drugs.

On Saturday officers with the Chanute Police Department stopped 42-year-old Melissa Elder, of Humbolt and arrested Elder for driving while suspended and possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and paraphernalia. Also arrested in the stop was 59-year-old Tanya Martin of Chanute for alleged possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. 

Later that same day officers performed another traffic stop on S. Santa Fe Ave. This time officers arrested 25-year-old Donavon Knoffloch of Chanute for alleged possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and paraphernalia.

The Kansas Highway Patrol wanted to remind everyone that it’s Teen Driver Safety Week.

KHP wants to make sure you take just a minute of time to reiterate to your driving teens the life-and-death consequences of distracted or impaired driving. Even if you’ve told them a thousand times, tell them again that seat belts, speed limits, no texting, and staying sober will help keep them on the road. Do this and you could possibly avoid the anguish of the terrifying knock on your door or a phone call from a sorrowful Kansas Trooper to inform you about your teen.

The City of Independence has almost completed its Wayfinding Signage Project. The distinctive signs have been placed in key locations to assist visitors in finding the important attractions in the city.

The City wanted to thank Independence Action Partnership, ICC, Indy Rotary Club, Indy Optimist Club, Indy Main Street, Textron Aviation, Indy Recreation Commission, FORPAZ, Indy Chamber of Commerce Convention and the Visitors Bureau for their contributions to the project.

US Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester, the ranking member and chairman of the US Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, penned a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to complete the requirements of the 2-year-old legislation passed into law requiring the VA to increase the number of locations where VA telehealth care is available at non-VA facilities through a grant funding program.

It allows non-VA facilities, including Veterans Service Organizations, nonprofits, or businesses to become telehealth access points for local veterans living in rural or remote areas to receive care closer to home. Moran and Tester yesterday asked for a status update on the program development, steps taken to expedite implementation, and a timeline for VA to publish a proposed rule, and final rule, and award the grants in accordance with the law.

The Senators in their letter said the VA must take action to ensure veterans in rural and remote areas have timely and convenient access to care and telehealth services. You can read the full letter by following the link here.

Neewollah 2022 kicks off this week in Independence. The annual event has been going on for a long time according to this year's Generalissimo Denise Hines who is in charge of organizing the event.

Neewollah includes four parades, a carnival, a medallion hunt, a chili cook-off, and bandstand entertainment plus an annual musical which Hines selected herself.

The first performance of Peter Pan this Friday marks the beginning of the event. A full Neewollah schedule is available here.

A Copan man is the victim of a fatality collision on North 3950 Road about two miles west of Copan.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the crash occurred around 9:30pm last night. There aren't many details about the crash, but OHP says the 2010 Ford Expedition driven by 28-year-old Jimmie Hill was the only vehicle involved. Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.

Man on parole for shooting at law enforcement in Coffeyville in November of 2015 arrested during a traffic stop in Parsons. In the early morning hours of October 16, Parsons police officer Rory Johnson observed a Red Mercury Grand Marquis with defective equipment. When officer Johnson initiated the stop an individual was observed exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot. Officer Johnson gave chase and was able to detain the subject with the assistance of Sergeant Tony Adamson. When officer Johnson caught up to the individual he witnessed the subject toss something as he tripped and was falling down. After the officers had the subject under control they were able to find the object. It was a
Taurus 9mm pistol. The subject was identified as Kenneth Jarrell Jones, Jr.

Jones was found to have an active warrant out of Cherokee County for failure to appear. Upon searching Jones and his vehicle officers arrested Jones for multiple felonies. Jones is facing two counts of Aggravated Offender Registration and one count of Violent Offender Registration, six counts of Counterfeiting Currency, Distribution of Hallucinogens, Depressant Pills, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine all within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana also within 1000 feet of a school, two counts of interference with Law Enforcement, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon as well as several moving violations.

Jones was allegedly in possession of a quarter pound of methamphetamines, a quarter pound of marijuana, over 100 pills, 5 grams of mushrooms, 4 grams of crack cocaine, and six counterfeit $100.00 bills as well as the firearm. Jones' Cherokee County failure to appear warrant was for charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Oxycodone, Possession of Paraphernalia, Counterfeiting Currency, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana, and Driving while Suspended. Jones is currently waiting for his first court appearance.

Grant available to Kansans to help defray the educational costs of law school and to encourage new attorneys to locate their legal practice in rural Kansas. The Kansas Farm Bureau Legal Foundation Rural Law Practice Grant of $16,500 will be awarded to 3 recipients each year. The mission of the KFB Legal Foundation is to provide information and advocacy to farmer and rancher members, to unlock their potential and improve the quality of life in rural Kansas.

For more details or to apply by November 1st follow the link here.

A garage dwelling in Independence is a total loss as a result of a fire at 108 S. Wald. Yesterday in the early-morning hours' Independence Fire was dispatched to a residence known to be occupied, according to the Montgomery County Chronicle. When IFD arrived at about 5:15 am the garage structure was completely engulfed with flames and smoke. Within an hour both occupants were accounted for and reported safe and IFD, with help from the Dearing and Cherryvale Fire Departments brought the fire under control.

The structure was damaged to the extent that the City of Independence crews were called to demolish it. No one was injured in the blaze.

Both the Montgomery and the Labette County commissioner’s regular weekly meetings have been canceled. Both will continue their normally scheduled meetings next Monday the 24th at the regular time of 9 am for both.

Labette County Commission Chair Lonnie Addis says he will be at the Kansas Association of Counties Annual Conference in Overland Park. The 3-day event brings the county leaders of Kansas together and offers workshops and guest speakers to help county decision-makers across Kansas stay up to date and to share what is working in other counties.

The Independence City Commission has approved a burn ban within the city limits. The ban is for all forms of recreational burning, including but not limited to pit fires, bonfires, campfires, fires in outdoor fireplaces, firepits, or chimineas. It, however, does not apply to cooking or outdoor grills powered by propane, natural gas, or charcoal. Violators could be fined up to $1,000 and/or jail time.

The ban will remain in effect until rescinded by the commission or by directive of the fire chief.

Inflation is currently increasing faster than the average wages of American workers. K-State Research and Extension Family Resource Management Specialist Elizabeth Kiss says as a result the average household will pay more to purchase the same things they bought a year ago.

Kiss says the current economy provides an opportunity to think about values and goals and to set some priorities for how money is spent. Kiss says as price increases continue to outpace wages, it may be difficult to meet financial obligations. If that occurs, she says it may be time to make some lifestyle changes whether it's for one season or for the year.

The Sedan Elementary Students are participating in a Halloween Parade in downtown Sedan. The students will be in their costumes and will start the parade at the Farm Bureau on Friday, October 28^th at 2 pm. Martha Davis is coordinating the event. 

This is the first time the elementary students have paraded downtown. If your business would like to pass out candy Martha asks that you be outside on the sidewalk when they come by.

If you have questions, please call Martha Davis at 620-725-5611

The Chautauqua County Health Department is sponsoring a drive-thru flu vaccination clinic at the Sedan Fair Grounds. The clinic will be from 9 am to 3 pm next Friday, October 21^st. You will enter off of Park Avenue and continue to the large north door of the fair building. There will be traffic controllers to direct you. You are asked to please wear a mask.

If you are unable to attend the clinic you can still receive a vaccine via an appointment in the Health Department office. Call the office with any questions or to set up an appointment after the clinic at 620-725-5850

The Independence Recreation Commission would like to remind everyone that the Ash Pool will be closed for the Neewollah Activities. On Saturday and Sunday, October 22^ndand 23^rd the Pool will be closed for the Neewollah festivities and will close as well on Saturday, October 29th. Tomorrow and Sunday the pool is open with lifeguards available from 1 to 5 pm and then after Neewollah, the Ash Pool will be open Sunday, October 30^th from 1 to 5 with lifeguards available.

The cost for the pool is $3 per person for non-members. The Ash Pool requires children 7 years and younger to be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced enhancements to the state’s victim notification system. The announcement coincides with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Last year in Kansas there were 22.593 domestic violence incidents reported, that is one every 23 minutes.

Kansas Victim Information and Notification Everyday or VINE is an automated victim notification service that allows victims of crimes to search and register to receive automated notifications that inform them when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes from a county jail facility. You can access the information as either a guest or set up a confidential personal account on either the website or the mobile app. VINE also offers a telephone service that allows the user to search using voice prompts.

For more information about Kansas VINE or to sign up for offender notification, visit ag.ks.gov/vine.  For more information on domestic violence and resources for assistance, contact Victim Services Division at 800-828-9745 or visit www.ag.ks.gov/victim-services, or for 24-hour helpline assistance call 888-END-ABUSE or 888-363-2287.

A Denver, Colorado man was pulled over by an officer with the Caney Police Department for speeding. In the course of the traffic stop the officer arrested 27-year-old Franklin Atwater of Denver earlier this week for driving while his license is either suspended or canceled, alleged possession of marijuana, and alleged possession of cocaine.

The arrest report upon completion was sent to the prosecutor for review and formal charges.

A Coffeyville woman was arrested for felony charges stemming from a routine traffic stop in Caney. Officers with the Caney PD stopped 29-year-old Rachel McBeath of Coffeyville earlier this week.

According to the report from CPD McBeath allegedly was driving without proper registration, insurance, or driver’s license, and had in her possession enough methamphetamine to be charged with distribution. She also was charged with alleged possession of drug paraphernalia and 1 count of child endangerment.

The arrest reports upon completion are sent to the prosecuting attorney for review and formal charges to be filed.

A capacity crowd turned out in Coffeyville Thursday night as the two candidates for the 2^nd Congressional District in Kansas appeared at a forum.  Incumbent Republican Jake LaTurner faced off with the Democratic challenger, Patrick Schmidt at the Windsor Events Center in the forum sponsored by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce and KGGF. 

Congressman LaTurner said we face serious problems in Kansas and the nation, including crime, border control and inflation.

In his opening statement Schmidt said he is committed to strengthening rural healthcare, child care and expanding broadband internet.

The differences between the two candidates coupled with a partisan crowd from other southeast Kansas counties spurred on some contention during the forum.

Thursday’s forum was less than a month away from November’s general election.

There are high fire danger concerns in the area for the rest of this week. Kansas Forest Service Meteorologist Chip Redmond says the current mix of weather conditions is even more concerning during this time of year.

Redmond says despite the rain earlier this week there are still some really dry conditions. He says to expect extreme fire behavior where those conditions line up with the weather.

Wichita State University has received a grant from the National Science Foundation for $750,000 to provide scholarships for low-income engineering students.

Each student, who will be selected while in high school, will receive $18,750 in assistance over 4 years. For the first year, students will receive $10,000, then $5000 the second year, then $2,500 the third year, and $1,250 the final year. By front-loading the first year it will allow the student to focus on their studies and to not have to work and go to school. As freshmen, they will be paired with industry and faculty mentors so that by the time they enter their sophomore year, they identify as engineers and with their long-term chosen career.

All in an effort to increase the likelihood of graduation, the industry mentors will help establish a working connection and it’s expected that they’ll begin some kind of paid applied learning through that connection. By graduation, the students will be fully engaged in the industry of their choice and earning a full-time income.

The program was borne from statistics that show that low-income students have lower degree-completion rates than their typical-income peers in engineering.

The Kansas Corporation Commission has approved a settlement agreement and financing order allowing Atmos Energy to issue securitized bonds to recover $92.7 million in deferred costs resulting from the 2021 winter storm Uri.

In the wake of Winter Storm Uri, the Kansas Legislature passed the Utility Financing and Securitization Act, which allows utilities to use securitized bonds to pay for extraordinary costs at more favorable terms than traditional financing.

The exact amount of the winter weather recovery charge Atmos customers will see on their monthly bill can’t be determined until the bonds have been issued and the term and interest rates are set. However, based on estimates provided during the proceeding, it was estimated the monthly charge would be approximately $5.78 per month over 10 years. Without the bonds, ratepayers would see a charge of over $10.50 per month using traditional ratemaking.

The Commission has stated that any proceeds recovered by Atmos resulting from state or federal investigations into possible market manipulation, price gouging, etc., will be passed on to customers. 

For more than 540,000 Kansas residents it’s time to review their Medicare benefits. The open enrollment period starts Saturday, October 15^th, and runs through December 7^th. You can make changes during this period like switching from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage or vice versa. You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another or from one Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to another. Also if you didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so now.

Take some time and shop your plan and price your prescriptions. You need to know there were 88 Medicare Advantage Plans available in 2022 compared to 90 in 2023. 100% of people with a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan have access to a plan with a lower premium than what they paid in 2022.

State-by-State Fact Sheets are available for you. Just follow the link here. For more information and other Medicare-related issues call 800-860-5260 and you will be connected to a free Senior Health Insurance Counselor that can assist people across the state of Kansas. They do not work for any insurance company, their goal is to educate and assist the public to make informed decisions.

KGGF brings you the second Candidate Forum of the 2022 mid-term elections.

The Forum will spotlight candidates for US House District 2. Incumbent Republican Jake LaTurner and Democratic Challenger Patrick Schmidt will answer questions at the Windsor Events Center in downtown Coffeyville. The forum is open to the public.  It will also be broadcast live beginning at 6:00am on KGGF, 690 AM as well as streamed live on the KGGF Radio Facebook page.

The event is presented by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce, while the broadcast is brought to you by Windsor Place At Home Care, Eck Heat and Air, Coffeyville Coffee Company and the SEK Association of Realtors-Coffeyville Council.

Independence, Parsons, Fort Scott, Baxter Springs, Madison, and 29 other cities across Kansas have been selected to receive grants totaling $28.65 million for improvements to the State Highway System that is located within city boundaries. The grants are administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program. CCLIP is a component of the state’s transportation program IKE, which saw an increase in funding for CCLIP by more than $10 million over previous years. This is due to federal funds coming to Kansas as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation.

There are 3 categories of CCLIP projects: Surface Preservation which extends the life of the pavement; Pavement Restoration, which either replaces or rehabilitates pavement; and Geometric Improvements, which improves roadway turn lanes, intersections, or modifications of lane configurations. Independence will get $800,000 for the surface preservation of US 160; Parsons will get 1.25 million for pavement restoration of US 59; Baxter Springs will get $1 million for pavement restoration of US 69A; Fort Scott will get $1.5 million for Geometric Improvements of US 54 and Madison will get $1.5 million for Geometric Improvements of K 58.

KDOT received 54 applications requesting $38 million last year from Kansas Cities.

The fall season means an increase in deer activity alongside and on roads. Triple A Kansas Public Affairs Manager Shawn Steward says during this time of the year it is important for drivers to be proactive and cautious.

Steward says if you see a deer on the road it is better to hit the deer than trying to swerve to avoid the deer.  Steward says if you hit a deer make sure to call your local law enforcement to report the incident. He says there are salvage tags that can be gotten from the department of wildlife when it comes to harvesting the deer that was hit.

Due to an increase in calls about suspicious activity during the overnight hours over the last few months, Parsons Police Officers have stepped up their nighttime enforcement. Last night, an officer made two stops that yielded two arrests.

The first arrest was 38-year-old Timothy James Robinson who was arrested on three active failure to appear warrants. According to PPD, Robinson has an extensive criminal history involving narcotics and theft-related cases. The second arrest involved 40-year-old John Marshall Ray Brown, who had an active warrant out of Montgomery County for failure to appear. Brown was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Sheriff deputies find a potential bomb during an arrest.

A Labette County Deputy was dispatched to 3803 West Main St, in Parsons, for a report of a black SUV driving through the area. The Parsons Police Department was asked to assist. A PPD Sargent arrived on scene and located the SUV. The Sargent saw three individuals coming out of a storage unit that did not belong to them. The individuals were identified as Holly Rebecca Vanwinkle, Daniel Lee Mitchell and Randall Dean Baer. Vanwinkle and Mitchell both had active warrants and were placed under arrest.

While searching through a backpack a deputy found a metal pipe approximately 3 inches in length with a metal cap on one side and tape on the other. The Kansas High Patrol Bomb Squad was called for assistance and determined the device to be a explosive. Mitchell attempted to escape custody and damaged the sheriff's vehicle breaking the passenger rear door panel and damaging to the driver’s side rear door.  

According to a 2019 Kansas observational seatbelt survey, if the driver is buckled then there is a 97% chance the children in the vehicle are buckled. Conversely, if the driver is unbuckled that drops the chances the kids in the vehicle are buckled to 30%.

The Parsons Police Department published this fact along with an announcement on their Facebook page that beginning October 24^th through October 28^th they will join other Kansas law enforcement agencies to stop what they feel is an epidemic in Kansas.

Parsons PD went on to say in their post that there should be no surprises when it comes to this enforcement effort. Officers will issue a citation to anyone who does not obey Kansas’s seatbelt laws. Parsons PD and other Kansas Law Enforcement will be especially vigilant patrolling around schools.

Improvements are coming to the Coffeyville Municipal Airport. At their meeting last night, The Coffeyville City Commission approved a number of resolutions funding projects at the airport.  Many of the projects, such as replacing runway and taxiway lighting and adding lighted runway signs, are fully or partially funded by grants, according to Airport Services Director Jarrod Powers.  

The Commission also authorized applying for a grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation for crack sealing and repainting of runways.  

Finally, the Commission approved funding for repairs to the south hanger, which two companies are already interested in leasing according to Powers.

The city recently took over operations of the airport from the previous fixed base operator after his retirement.

Senator Jerry Moran penned a letter to President Joe Biden urging the President to stop depleting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Reserve is at its lowest point in 40 years.

Yesterday, Moran spelled out that the US consumes nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day and the recent decision to release another 10 million barrels from the reserve would have a minimal effect on lowering the price at the pump and only imperils our energy security at a critical time of global uncertainty. Senator Moran went on to say that now is the time to unleash the domestic oil and gas industry to lower prices, support American jobs, and decrease our persistent reliance on adversaries for our energy.

A copy of the full letter is available here.

Trick-or-treaters can’t miss the Spooktacular in downtown Coffeyville and the Coffeyville Community College Trunk-or-Treat. Start your trick-or-treating early next Thursday, October 20^th. Spooktacular, sponsored by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce, will start at 4:30 next Thursday afternoon. Trick-or-Treat in the historic Downtown Coffeyville, and then go to the Student Union parking lot on the campus of CCC. All of the athletic teams will be handing out the Halloween fare. The Trunk-or-Treat starts in the Student Union Parking lot at 6 pm. So that is next Thursday the 20^th, with Spooktacular at 4:30 and CCC Trunk-or-Treat at 6.

The Kansas Department of Transportation unveils a new phone app for drivers. The new app contains all the features of the KanDrive website, such as maintenance and construction activities, winter highway conditions, flooded roadways, and accidents affecting traffic. It also includes a hands-free and eye-free feature that announces upcoming traffic events while traveling. It also offers real-time streaming camera views across the state. Included is a trucker’s mode for commercial vehicle operators that announces rest stop parking availability.

If you prefer to receive real-time highway condition information over the phone, KDOT has updated and simplified the 511 system including improved speech recognition. Motorists can dial 511 and ask for reports on a specific route, either from city to city or within a city. For more information go to the website at www.KanDrive.org.

The Montgomery County Republican Central Committee will convene to select a new County Attorney to fill former Republican County Attorney Lisa Montgomery’s elected position. According to the Secretary of State’s Head of Elections office the convention must be held within 21 days of the day notification of a vacancy is received by the Central Committee Chair.

Daniel Knight, the Republican Central Committee Chair has requested that all Republican Precinct Committee members convene on Thursday, October 20^th at the Independence Historical Museum & Art Center at 123 N. 8th St. Credentialing will start at 6, the meeting to follow at 6:30. Those who are entirely unable to be in attendance can vote by proxy. For more info contact Daniel Knight at 620-870-8004

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Meeting has been changed. Charlotte Scott Schmidt, the County Clerk has sent out an official notice that the next scheduled meeting will be on Monday, October 24 at 9 am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in downtown Independence.

Officers with the Independence Police Department were dispatched to the Arco Building, as a white male was reported to have left the building with a box. 56-year-old Christopher McKenzie was arrested for Burglary, Theft, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and possession of a Narcotic or certain stimulant. Reports of the arrest have been sent to the prosecuting attorney for review and formal charges.

Candidates for the Kansas House District 11 seat answered questions on a number of topics including tax cuts, medical marijuana and education. Republican Candidate Ron Bryce says his approach is helping the people have the freedom to make decisions.

Democrat Candidate Greg Wilkinson says his approach is about believing in the future of Kansas.  You can hear the full candidate forum here. The U.S. House District 2 forum is Thursday at 6:00pm. It can also be heard on KGGF and viewed on the KGGF Facebook page.

With the current rate of inflation affecting consumer goods, there are an increasing number of people needing help to get by.  There’s a new group in Coffeyville that has formed to meet those needs.  Working out of the Holly House and using federal funds with guidance from the University of Kansas the group’s goal is to make an impact.  Founding Member Pastor Doug Mund says they work hard to help people who are not just trying to work the system.

Mund says that with the increasing Hispanic population they are serving more of that population, especially Guatemalans because of the harsh living conditions there.  Mund and Linda Follett with the group spoke to the Coffeyville Rotary Club during their noon meeting. 

Improvements have been made to several stormwater inlets around Coffeyville. Seven inlets have been upgraded or improved recently. Stormwater Superintendent Shane George says it is all about safety when it comes to keeping these inlets maintained.

George says if anyone sees an inlet that needs to be improved they can call the Stormwater Department and report that to them.  More before and after photos of the storm inlets can be seen below.

Montgomery County Precinct Committee Chair Daniel Knight meets with the County Commissioners to discuss the salary for the new County Attorney.  Commission Chair Robert Bever says the budget for 2023 has already been set but there is a range of salaries that the Commissioners can use.

Since former County Attorney Lisa Montgomery is a republican the Montgomery County Republican Precinct Committee will send their pick to Governor Laura Kelly, who will then appoint the new County Attorney based on their recommendation. Bever says once the Governor makes the appointment then they can discuss salary.

Bever says he hopes the Committee understands that since the budget has been set it would be difficult to change.

The candidates for the Kansas House District 11 seat will be meeting tonight in a Candidates Forum. 

Republican Ron Bryce will be facing Democrat Greg Wilkinson tonight at 6 in the Windsor Events Center in downtown Coffeyville.  The forum is open to the public but if you can’t make it the forum will be broadcast live beginning at 6 on KGGF, 690AM and also on the KGGF Radio Facebook page.  The Coffeyville Chamber is presenting tonight’s forum, while the broadcast is sponsored by Windsor Place At Home Care, Eck Heat and Air, Coffeyville Coffee Company and the SEK Association of Realtors-Coffeyville Council.

There will be another forum Thursday night, also at the Windsor Events Center.  That forum will feature the candidates for the U.S. House District 2 seat, incumbent Jake LaTurner and Democratic challenger, Patrick Schmidt.

New laptops will be purchased for USD 445 teachers. The Coffeyville Board of Education voted 7-0 to purchase 100 new laptops from Underground Vault and Storage for just over $85,000. Assistant Superintendent Michael Speer says the money for these laptops comes from three different sources.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of three Child Nutrition positions and one ESOL Translator position. The board also recognized the high school for their star achievement with graduation rates and heard an update from the Early Learning Center on Kindergarten Readiness.

Audit numbers released recently show that the state of Kansas paid millions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment claims between March 2020 and 2022.

State Representative Doug Blex was a recent guest on the KGGF morning show and says much of the money went overseas.

Blex blames the security of the state's computer system and says the problem was largely solved after two-factor authentication was implemented.

There is no guarantee that the state will be able to recover the estimated 466 million dollars in taxpayer money.

A Coffeyville Man was arrested for an open warrant for Montgomery County. Last week 49-year-old Gregory Jones was arrested for interference with a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, and an open warrant for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Reports of the arrest have been sent to the prosecutor for review and formal charges to be filed.

Legal sports wagering is just over a month old in the state of Kansas.

Sports wagering has generated a total of $1.3 million in revenue, including nearly $130,000 for the State of Kansas. Governor Laura Kelly says legal sports betting is a common sense solution to keep Kansans' money in Kansas and support Kansas businesses. Revenues reported are for settled and completed bets only, and do not account for future wagers like the Super Bowl or World Series.

The Coffeyville Board of Education in their regular meeting will discuss Kindergarten Readiness Strategic Plan and Star Recognition. The meeting will be held tonight at 5 pm. In other business, the board has retirements/resignations to accept as well as several 4 new recommendations for employment.

The next regular meeting will be on November 14 at 5 pm in the Education Center.

The Coffeyville Police Department arrested 32-year-old Devin Smith for the alleged distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana and several other charges. The alleged drug dealer was caught, according to CPD with between 100 grams and 1 kilo of meth and between 25 and 450 grams of marijuana. Smith was also charged last Friday with possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, interference with a law enforcement officer, no drug tax stamp, and possession of a controlled substance. Smith is awaiting his first appearance in court.

The Montgomery County 4H Wildcat District Shooting Sports are sponsoring a Fun Shoot at the Independence Gun Club. Registration will start at 9 am on Saturday, October 15.

The cost is $25 per team of 2 individuals. You will shoot 10 targets in Skeet and 15 targets in Trap. They will have 3 divisions: Corporate, Open, and Youth. Prizes are to be given in all three divisions as well as a 50./50 shooting game also. Door prizes, a raffle, and a chili dinner are provided too.

For more information go to the story on our website at KGGFRADIO.com Eye and Ear protection is required.

Independence to receive a grant from KDOT’s Transportation Alternatives program. The funds will go toward connecting the existing sidewalks along West Main Street and Laurel Street To Peter Pan Road and Labette Health’s Independence Healthcare Center. The grant will cover about 73% or approximately $980,224 of the 1.34 million dollar project. City Engineer John Garris said that the city is thrilled with the support from KDOT to support the City's infrastructure needs. Neodesha also was awarded grant money from KDOT for its Safe Routes to School project; Parsons for the Tolen Creek Trail; and Frontenac for sidewalk improvements.

Perfect weather and fun combined to bring out the crowds for Coffeyville’s Brewfest Saturday.  Estimates about 400 people attended the annual event which this year moved to the new U.P. Pocket Park.  Live music and a cornhole tournament were part of the fun while, distilleries, vineyards and craft breweries gave attendees to sample their products.

Coffeyville Community College honors two alumni during their Distinguished Alumni Luncheon. In addition to honoring Stephen Rench and Sally Presson, CCC also recognized scholarship donors and recipients. President Dr. Marlon Thornburg says it is important to see the impact these scholarships make.

CCC announced eleven newly established scholarships including the Connor Taylor Legacy Award. This award will go to a CCC baseball player chosen by the coaches in honor of former player Connor Taylor.

The City of Parsons receives a grant for improvements to the Tolen Creek Walking Trail. Economic Development Director Jim Zaleski says the grant comes from the Kansas Transportation Alternative program.

Parsons says the motivation behind the project is to improve safety in the area around the walking trail. The announcement was made by Governor Laura Kelly yesterday during a press conference.

Population decline has been a continuing topic of discussion, and Kansas District 11 Democratic Candidate Greg Wilkinson stopped by the KGGF studios to discuss a variety of issues including ways to retain and bring more people into southeast Kansas.  Wilkinson says area communities can play on their strengths to bring in business.

Wilkinson says organizations like Coffeyville's Reawakening can help grow the community and adds it's important to come together despite political differences.

Wilkinson is running against Republican Candidate Ron Bryce and both will answer questions from the community at the Candidate's Forum on October 11th at 6 p.m. which will also be broadcast on KGGF-AM.

Lucy, the longtime mascot for Romans Motors in Independence has passed away.  Lucy has been featured in advertising and was known for greeting customers for years.

Lucy Romans crossed the rainbow bridge on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. She passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones –She was 12 years. . She was the best girl.

Lucy enjoyed rides to Romans Motor Co. and Romans Outdoor Power. She loved all the attention she was showered with by staff and customers alike. She was the face of Romans and appeared on many billboards and ads. Her reputation preceded her. One could say she was a bit of an icon in Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma.

To know Lucy was to love her.. She loved snacks, car rides, long naps and belly scratches, but most of all she loved her family fiercely as they did her.

Lucy will be forever missed and forever remembered. . She will be carried in the hearts of many who were privileged to know her.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to AWOL or your local animal shelter in Lucy’s name – and also give your pups some extra love.

Repairs have been made and water service should be back to normal after a water main break this morning in Bartlesville.  That's according to Elaine Baines with the City of Bartlesville.

This morning, the break in the 800 block of SE Washington Boulevard across from Walmart created disruptions for water customers, some businesses and the Bartlesville  Public Schools.  Superintendent Chuck McCauley announced shortly before 8 a.m. this morning in a text that classes at all campuses were called off due to the low water pressure.  McCauley said it is a health and safety issue when students can't get a drink of water or use the restroom, let alone trying to use water in case of a fire.

A light agenda is anticipated for the Montgomery County Commissioners meeting. The regular meeting will be held this Tuesday, the 11^th due to the Columbus Day holiday. Emergency Manager Lee Miller will talk to the Board about the Kansas Incident Support Program. Anne Miller will discuss GIS and at about 9:30 Jim Wright will update the Commissioners about projects with the Public Works department. No other business is scheduled at this time. The meeting as always is open to the public in the lower level of the Judicial Center or you can stream it on Facebook LIVE or ZOOM. A reminder that the courthouse and the Coffeyville tag office will be closed Monday as well for Columbus Day.

The bodies that were found in Mound Valley have been identified and the autopsy has been released.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office have released additional information concerning the deaths of the two people found Monday inside a residence in Mound Valley. The two victims were identified as 39-year-old Jason M Bakken and 43-year-old Leanda R. Pound both from Mound Valley. 

According to an autopsy on both victims, it was determined that they both died from gunshot wounds. The case is now being investigated as a homicide. Anyone with information is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME.

An Independence man is ordered to receive mental health services during a 36-month supervision.

The court order stems from charges of threatening the life of the President of the United States as well as a secret service agent on a Facebook post.  Scott Ryan Merryman agreed to a deal in which the federal government will defer prosecution of the case for up to 36 months.

If Merryman is able to comply with the conditions of the agreement then the government can choose to reduce the order to 25 months. Once Merryman has completed the supervision the government can dismiss the charges against him.  Court records indicate that Merryman developed PTSD as a result of a battlefield incident in which he unintentionally shot and killed an innocent Afgan child during a firefight.

Sedan Chamber of Commerce, the Chautauqua County Fair, and the Sedan Area Economic Development Committee are sponsoring Halloween Home Decorating Contest.

The winner will receive a plaque for the best-decorated house and business. You need to sign up by October 22^nd to participate. Contact Johnathan Martin: Email -  cqcountyfair@yahoo.com  Phone - 620-605-0641

The State of Kansas in the upcoming General Election will have two Constitutional Amendments on the ballot. According to some recent social media posts, there seems to be confusion about the Sheriff's Constitutional Amendment. In essence, if you vote for the new Amendment then you are voting to preserve how your Sheriff is currently elected and that the involuntary removal of the Sheriff can only be done by either a recall election or through a procedure initiated by the State Attorney General. What this Amendment does not allow is the involuntary removal of the Sheriff by a possibly vindictive county attorney. If you vote no, then everything remains the same as it is now. To view a copy of the ballot, follow the link in the online version of this story at kggfradio.com

The Caney Valley Antique Power Association is having a membership drive and open house. If you enjoy interacting with a group of people that collect, preserve and show off history, then bring a potluck covered dish tomorrow at 1 to the open house just north of the cloverleaf at the intersection of Hwy 75 and 166 north of Caney. That’s tomorrow at 1.

An 8-year-old dies in a house fire in rural Independence.

Yesterday afternoon at around 2:07pm, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence at the request of the Cherryvale Rural Fire Department. Cherryvale Rural Fire, Independence Rural Fire, Sycamore Rural Fire and the City of Independence Fire & EMS were fighting a fully involved structure fire where an 8-year-old female was still inside. IFD made entry into the residence and was able to locate and remove the child from the residence.

EMS transported her to Labette ER where she was pronounced dead. The cause of death is undetermined at this time. Montgomery County Detectives along with the Kansas State Fire Marshall’s Office were called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire, which is still under investigation.

Candidates for Kansas House of Representatives District 11 will participate in a candidate's forum next week.  The forum will feature Republican Candidate Ron Bryce and Democratic Candidate Greg Wilkinson.

The event is hosted by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce, and President Candi Westbrook says the public is welcome to attend. In addition, she says there are a couple of ways to tune in if you can't make it in person.

The event will start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11th  at the Windsor Event Center at 8^th and Walnut in Coffeyville.  An additional forum for the U.S. House District 2 seat with incumbent  Jake LaTurner and Patrick Schmidt will be held next Thursday, October 13th also at the Windsor Events Center.  Both forums will be broadcast on KGGF-AM.

Alaska’s Fiddling Poet, Ken Waldman will be fiddling and telling stories in the Spencer/Rounds Theatre as Coffeyville Community College presents its 7^th production in this year’s Humanities line-up.

34 years in Alaska honed his poems, stories, and tunes to combine into a show that is uniquely his. A former professor with a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing he brings a perspective you don’t expect. The Fiddling Poet takes the stage in the Spencer/Rounds Theatre at 7 pm on Tuesday, October 18. The show is free to the public.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Coffeyville Community College is selling “Fight Like a Raven” pink shirts. Purchase yours and join everyone for the Pink Out Volleyball game against Cowley County on Wednesday, October 19^th at 6:30 pm. The following Saturday, October 22^nd Veterans Memorial Stadium will be pinked out as the Ravens take on Georgia Christian at 1 pm. The link to order is  here - Hurry because they will cease taking orders to purchase shirts next Wednesday the 12^th at noon.

A Chanute woman is arrested during a traffic stop for numerous charges. The Chanute Police stopped 31-year-old Chelsea Snow of Chanute for an illegal tag display yesterday. The officer then arrested Snow for alleged driving while suspended, and possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. Neosho County Attorney’s Office will review the report and consider formal charges.

A Chanute man is arrested for drugs and burglary. Officers with the Chanute Police Department were called to the 700 block of S. Central Ave or a criminal trespass complaint. During the investigation, officers arrested 22-year-old Zebadiah Pass of Chanute for alleged burglary of a vehicle, possession of marijuana, and methamphetamine and paraphernalia. The arrest reports will be sent upon completion to the Neosho County Attorney’s Office for review and formal charges to be filed.

The Kansas Department of Transportation won a national award in the 2021 America’s Transportation Awards competition. Although the award for the Turner Diagonal interchange project in Wyandotte County was for $10,000, the KSDOT has received pledges that have boosted that amount to over $25,000. The award winnings presented by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials through online voting from the public, have been donated by winners in the past for scholarships, but never before has a winning state leveraged the award to get matching contributions to the extent Kansas has

To apply for a scholarship for the 2023 spring semester, you have to be a Kansas resident in either a 2 or 4-year public higher education institution. To see the full list of requirements - click here. Scholarships of $5000 are available for juniors or seniors in a four-year program or $2500 for those in the final year of an associate degree program.

The Coffeyville Community College Foundation will recognize two former students during the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Luncheon. Stephen Rench, class of 1950, and Sally Presson, class of 1996, will both be recognized during a luncheon tomorrow at CCC.

Rench is a graduate of Field Kindley High School and CCC. While attending Coffeyville Community College, he participated on the debate team and was a founding member of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Rench went on to graduate from the University of Kansas and then joined the U.S. Air Force. After serving, he went back to school and graduated from Georgetown University School of Law. Rench spent 53 years in the legal field.

Presson graduated with her Associate of Applied Science degree from CCC. She has served 30 years with the CCC foundation. Presson was a member of the international organization PEO for 60 years and served in several offices including President.

A new convenience store is coming to Coffeyville. A Pete's Convenience Store, which is based in Parsons, is currently under construction on 11^th Street between Patterson and Maple Street. Owner Gratz Peters says he's had interest in this location for a while.

Peters says their goal is to be open before Memorial Day Weekend depending on weather and other delays.  Peters says his family started out in the trucking business and then in 1977 got into the service and gas station business and then expanded to the convenience store business in 1982.

The Cherokee Nation Will Rogers Health Clinic will be giving out Flu and Covid Booster Shots. Go to the NAFI/Cherokee community building in S. Coffeyville On Wednesday, October 19th from 4 to 6 pm. For those 3 years and up Flu shots are available and COVID booster only shots for those age 12 and up. For more information call 918-273-7539.

No elevator will be available this Saturday at Veterans Memoria Stadium for the Coffeyville Community College football game.  The Red Ravens are scheduled to host Iowa Central Community College for their Homecoming game Saturday evening at 7:00.  Although the elevator will not be working wheelchair accessible seating will still be available in the General Admission section.

The Labette Community College is hosting a Kids Fall Fest. Take the kiddos 12 and under to Forest Park in Parsons and participate in the costume contest for kids and pets. Eat some free hot dogs and enjoy the games and treats. Labette Community College's Kids Fall Fest is happening Tuesday, October 25^th from 5:30 to 7 at Forest Park.

 Contact Lauren Holmes at 620-820-1178 with any questions.

A Coffeyville man was apprehended by the Coffeyville Police Department for a failure to appear warrant, and that escalated to new charges. In the process of arresting 56-year-old Johnny Glasgow for the open warrant, officers allegedly found an open container of alcohol, methamphetamines, and drug paraphernalia. Reports of the arrest have been sent to the prosecuting attorney for review and formal charges to be filed.

A Coffeyville man was arrested for alleged possession of marijuana. 48-year-old Christopher Green was taken into custody by the Coffeyville Police Department for also allegedly interfering with a law enforcement officer and failing to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance. Reports of Green’s arrest have been sent to the prosecuting attorney for review and formal charges.

Small businesses in Kansas may be eligible for more COVID relief through a Kansas bill passed in June. The $50 million investment will help Kansas businesses recover from the pandemic by providing tax relief to those who qualify. There are several hoops to jump through to receive the relief, but you can learn if your business qualifies and how to access guidance from the Kansas Department of Revenue. . The link is here. It will take at least 30-60 days to get registered and once your registration is complete and confirmed you may apply to the Kansas Department of Revenue, the deadline is April 15, 2023.  For questions about the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Program contact KDOR at 785-368-8660.

The Parsons Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Parsons. Starting at 9 am on Friday, November 11^th Parsons will honor those who served this country with a parade. To submit a registration form and be a part of the festivities click on the link here and either email it to the chamber of commerce or drop it off at the Chamber offices at 506 Main in Parsons. You will need to complete registration by Friday, November 4^th.

The Crawford County Mental Health Center (CCMHC) has been awarded a four-year, $4 million expansion grant from the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This will make the 9^th community mental health agency in Kansas that will become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. The remaining 17 community centers are to be accredited by the state in the next two years.

The grant will enable CCBHC to hire up to 27 new staff members. It will allow CCBHC to be more embedded in schools, jails, ERs, Law Enforcement, and the Courts.

CCBHC’s goal is to increase access to and improve the quality of, community-based mental health and substance use disorder services, particularly to underserved communities. Crawford County Mental Health Center has been serving Pittsburg and the surrounding area’s mental health needs since 1961. For more information on CCMHC’s services click here.

The state of Kansas continues to lose population at an alarming rate according to Senator Virgil Peck who was a recent guest on the KGGF morning show.

Peck attended the Workforce Development Committee meeting in Topeka where he says he learned about some distressing statistics.

Peck says the population decline is at an all-time high in the state.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montgomery county lost around 4,000 people between the 2010 and 2020 census.

The Independence Community College Fine Arts Department is hosting a concert this weekend. The ICC Choir and Concert Band Concert is this Sunday at 4:30pm at the William Inge Theater.

The concert will feature arrangements from Josephine Poelinitz, Desmond Early, Kirby Shaw, and more, including pieces from Doctor Who and Frozen II. Admission is free.

A Kansas Supreme Court Justice visited the campus of Independence Community College.

Justice Melissa Standridge met with students, faculty and staff to discuss how the court system interacts with other branches of government and how the courts impact everyday lives. She answered questions and informed students on who their government representatives were for life after ICC.

Vice President for Student Affairs David Adams says students interacting and asking questions with a member of the highest court in Kansas was an important experience for students.

An investigation is underway after two bodies are discovered in Labette County.

Yesterday morning around 8:30am, the Labette County Sheriff's Office received a call from a subject who was checking on two friends in Mound Valley when he discovered the bodies. When deputies arrived at the residence, they discovered the decomposing bodies of male and female subject.

The Labette County Sheriff’s Office requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's assistance and at around 9:10am KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene to investigate. The bodies have not yet been positively identified. The circumstances of their deaths are considered suspicious. Autopsies are scheduled. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME.

In what was once a troubled school district things have made a dramatic turnaround.  Coffeyville Public Schools now exceed state averages in many categories.  There are many factors that have played a role in the turn around including strategic planning.  Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services for Coffeyville Schools, Lora Stalford says one factor is the district’s partnership with parents.

Stalford says the district also stresses the positive.  She added that given the social and economic statistics of the community Coffeyville schools are performing at a high level.  Stalford spoke Tuesday to the Coffeyville Rotary Club.

In observance of Columbus Day, the Montgomery County Courthouse and the Coffeyville Tag Office will be closed. That's Monday, October the 10th.

The Board of Commissioners Meeting will be rescheduled to Tuesday, October the 11th at 9:00 am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in downtown Independence.

Mark your calendar for Trunk or Treat in downtown Caney on October 31^st from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm. Spaces can be reserved by coming by the Caney PD or by calling 620-879-2141. Hurry, as there are limited spaces available.

Bring a big bag and don’t miss The City of Caney’s Trunk or Treat on 4^th Ave in downtown Caney, Ks Halloween night, October 31st from 5:30 to 7:30.

October is national Pedestrian Safety Month. The Kansas Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsors the campaign to raise awareness about pedestrian safety behaviors, speed, roads as well as post-crash care.

Nationwide, a pedestrian was killed every 81 minutes and every 10 minutes someone was injured in traffic crashes in 2020. NHTSA on its website has a Walkability Checklist that helps communities identify and improve walking areas and you can find more information about the National Walk and Roll to School Day to be held on October 12^t.  

Two are arrested in Chanute after officers respond to a scene after a no response on a 911 call. 

On Sunday, someone in the 1600 block of S. Highland Ave. in Chanute dialed 911 and did not respond. Officers were dispatched to the location and in the process of interviewing those involved, 22-year-old Alexander Barlow and 36-year-old Amanda Klotz were arrested for alleged possession of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia.

An Iola man is arrested for drugs in Chanute. 

Late last week officers with the Chanute Police Department were dispatched to the 500 block of N. Steuben Avenue in regards to a disturbance. In the process of the investigation, officers arrested 23-year-old Alec Nelson for alleged possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A stolen vehicle is recovered in Parsons.

Sunday, a Parsons Police Officer took a report of a stolen red 2004 GMC Canyon with Tennessee plates and loaded with personal items. The victim stated that he had come to Parsons to attend his mother’s funeral and then take her belongings back home. An officer on patrol spotted the vehicle being driven by Scott Gabrial Hall. The officer initiated a traffic stop and Hall continued to the parking lot in front of Westco. Multiple officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop. The vehicle was occupied by Hall, Scott Wells and Robbie Daniels. All three were arrested on numerous theft and drug-related charges.

The truck was released to the owner. There was damage to the vehicle and the items in the truck were missing. Later a call came in about a large pile of damaged furniture and property. Officers found some of the missing items from the vehicle but many of the items were damaged including an antique dresser made in the late 1800s and a eulogy poem that was written by the victim for his mother’s funeral.  

A Galena man is arrested early this morning on burglary charges.

Around 12:45am, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a rural residence east of Baxter Springs, after the homeowners were awakened by someone in their house. Deputies arrived minutes later and apprehended 37-year-old William Timothy Paschal inside the home. Paschal was transported to the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of aggravated burglary and burglary and arson, stemming from a fire he is suspected of starting in a nearby barn.

A Parsons man is arrested for incident exposure and fighting with officers.

Parsons Police Officers were dispatched to a residence for a report of a man standing on the residence's porch and taking off his clothes. Upon arrival, officers found a now completely naked male who was acting delusional and combative. The man was identified as Roy Cruz Jr. Officers attempted to arrest Cruz for indecent exposure but he was kicking, thrashing about and fighting the two officers. Cruz rolled over a 5-quart jug of motor oil that was on the porch covering himself in it. Cruz was tased after being warned by the officers to stop fighting them but it only had a limited effect on him.

Cruz was placed in custody. While being checked by EMS, Cruz began kicking and thrashing about again kicking one of the officers in the knee, injuring the officer. Cruz is currently being held for indecent exposure and battery on a law enforcement officer. Cruz has a long criminal history including arrests for burglaries, warrants, probation violations, drug charges and traffic offenses. Parsons PD has come into contact with or arrested Cruz 19 times since 2012.

Jim Wright with the public works department updated the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners about the Little Caney River LogJam. He addressed the Board during the regular meeting Monday morning. The Board agreed last week to use their equipment for the removal of the logs from the jam at a cost of $7500 to the City of Caney. This should enable the City to better utilize the water flow from the release of water from Timberhill Lake further upstream.

What is being done now will not fix the problem. Significant rain is the only thing that will correct the situation.

Chairperson Bever said the City might have to look for a long-term solution to the logjam problem as it will probably keep occurring over time.

In other business the Board agreed that the courthouse would close at 2 pm on October the 28^th for the Kiddie Parade. Chairperson Robert Bever made the announcement.

The City of Independence is closely monitoring the local water supply and City Engineer John Garris says that although the flow from the City’s primary water source, the Verdigris River, has been sufficient to meet the city’s needs and with fall on the horizon and the accompanied reduced demand, citizens are still encouraged to voluntarily conserve water when possible. Mainly due to the long-rage forecast indicating a lack of any significant precipitation.

Garris went on to say that a new agreement with the Kansas Water Commission will provide a reserve of 60 million gallons from the Elk City Reservoir for emergency use as well as 40 million gallons of state vested water rights are remaining.

The City will cease operating fountains, watering City grounds, and washing vehicles, and they ask citizens voluntarily limit or cease lawn watering, vehicle washing, and filling of swimming pools.

The City will provide updates and water conservation tips every Friday on its Facebook page. Any water leaks should be immediately reported to the City at 620-332-2507.

The State Child Death Review Board reported that Kansas recorded an increase in the number of drug-related deaths in children aged 0-17, especially a dramatic increase in fentanyl-related deaths.

 The report showed that the number of drug-related deaths rose to 16 in 2020 up from five in 2019. There were 11 fentanyl deaths in 2020 after the report showed no fentanyl deaths in the previous four years.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported almost 500,000 people of all ages died from overdoses involving both illicit and prescribed use of opioids from 1999-2019. In recent years, in Kansas and across the US, the data has shown an increase in the use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. While fentanyl is a prescription drug, it is also manufactured illegally. Frequently it is incorporated into illicitly manufactured pressed pills and mixed with other substances without the knowledge of the end user.

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners will meet this morning at 9 am in the Judicial Center in downtown Independence. Jim Wright with the Public Works department will meet at about 9:30, followed by Jason Clubine at 9:45 about the computer department. At 10:30 the Board plans to go into executive session for discussion about non-elected personnel.

In other business, the Board plans to discuss the Kiddie Parade on October 28^th and the indigent contract agreement. The meeting is streamed on Facebook Live or Zoom or in person this morning at 9 in the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence.

The Chautauqua County Commissioners have issued a county-wide burn ban. The ban specifically prohibits any person in the county of Chautauqua from open burning, including but not limited to setting fire to any forest, grass, range, crop, or other wildlands, or building a campfire or bonfire, or burning trash, or burning other materials that may cause a forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands fire.

A fine of $1000 may be assessed to violators. This does not include BBQ Grills.

Questions can be directed to Chautauqua Co. Emergency Management at 620-725-3108

Great weather and plenty of events combined to bring out good crowds to downtown Coffeyville for Dalton Defenders Days.  Upwards of a thousand people turned out for the 11:00am raid re-enactment.  Two more re-enactments are scheduled for Saturday at 3:00pm and 5:30pm.

Lots of craft vendors, food trucks, a car show and live entertainment’s scheduled throughout the day Saturday to ensure there are events and activities for people to enjoy.