The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a stream advisory for the Marais des Cygnes River near Osawatomie.

The advisory is a result of operation problems at the city of Osawatomie’s wastewater treatment plant. This has been issued because potential elevated bacteria and contaminants may be present in the river. Anyone who lives or has activities near this stream should not enter the stream or allow children or pets to enter the stream.

KDHE will rescind the advisory once flow recedes and subsequent bacteria testing indicates secondary contact has been deemed safe.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation warns against a social security scam and offers tips to avoid them.  The KBI says they are hearing of a scam where the caller provides a badge number and a case number claiming the person's bank accounts and social security number are compromised. They try to convince the person to wire them their remaining money for safekeeping. The caller ID may even show KBI or other legitimate agencies.

The KBI offers some information and advice to this kind of scam. The KBI might make a call related to a case, or to arrange an interview, but it will not be an unexpected call requesting a social security number, date of birth, account number, or other personal information. Never give personal information out, or transfer funds over the phone, unless you initiated the phone call to an agency or service. If a caller is acting suspiciously, it is okay to hang up and look up the number on your account statement, or on a public website to verify its authenticity. If you have been the victim of a scam, report it to the FCC.

The Parsons Police Department is currently investigating a targeted shooting in the 3100 block of Grand.

20-year-old Stedarrish Stepon Herman is wanted for questioning in connection to the shooting. He was last seen in a black Mercedes. Parsons PD says if anyone sees Herman do not approach, call local law enforcement or the Parsons Police Department at (620)421-7060.

This is an active investigation, and no further information is available at this time.

*Update 2:04pm*

The Suspect has been located and taken into custody by the South Coffeyville Police Department.

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*UPDATE 11:39am.

Law Enforcement, has canceled the search for the suspect. He was last seen in the area of Highway 169 & County Road 1400 just north of the Oklahoma State line. Please keep your eyes open and if you see the subject below, call your local law enforcement agency.

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The Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, along with South Coffeyville Police, Nowata County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County Emergency Management Drone team, are currently near the Kansas Oklahoma State line (U169 & County Road 1400) on a man hunt for the individual pictured. He is a suspect in a vehicle theft and side by side theft.

If you recognize the subject in the photo please contact Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 620-330-1000.Please avoid the area.   

 The Kansas Office of Broadband Development develops a comprehensive strategic plan to expand broadband infrastructure statewide and ensure every Kansan has access to reliable high-speed internet.

 To assist in this and provide accurate data for the plan, the department is calling on residents to participate in an important online speed test and survey. The data collected will help guide the allocation of state and federal resources to areas in need.

 The speed test will measure internet speed, general location and IP address, while maintaining the privacy of personal information. Participants also will be asked to complete an optional survey that provides vital insights into connectivity patterns, necessary training requirements and affordability of internet services.

 To ensure accurate results, participants are advised to conduct the speed test while connected to Wi-Fi from their home or business networks. It is important to confirm the presence of the Wi-Fi symbol and verify that a cellular network is not being used for the test. If possible, the test should be done in the late afternoon or early evening, as this is when service is typically the slowest.

 To participate, residents should visit the official website of the initiative, broadbandks.com, where they can complete a quick and simple online speed test. This test, which only takes a few minutes, will provide valuable data on internet connectivity throughout the state. Individuals without internet access at their homes or businesses can a call or text (913) 349-9555 to share their address where service is unavailable.

The list of candidates for this November's election in Wilson County are beginning to take shape.

There are still two open positions on the USD 387 school board, with Debra Meigs, Kris Marple, and Lucretia Calonder all having filed for three of the five openings.

The USD 461 district has six applicants for the school board, but only four active openings. Official results will be known later this week following tomorrow's election deadline.

A female representative is needed on the Wildcat Extension District Board. Marcus Leck has filed for the male representative, but policy requires one male and one female on the board.

The official deadline to apply for the election is tomorrow at noon.

Additional items of discussion at this week's County Commission meeting was an agreement between the county and Ron and Mason Wicker of Shreveport, Louisiana regarding the clearing of brush at Road 2100 and Ness Road. Also, there will be summer roadwork with asphalt and oil layering on Coyville Road, New Albany Road, and 500 Road to the county line.

 The Kansas Highway Patrol releases its Memorial Day Weekend Holiday Activity Report.

 The KHP worked four fatal crashes, resulting in five fatalities. There were 20 arrests for DUI, up from 17 in 2022. There were 72 seat belt citations, down from 101 last year.

 There were no fatal DUI related crashes or DUI related fatalities this year.

 The reporting period for the holiday ran from 6 p.m. Friday, May 26th, through 11:59 p.m. Monday May 29^th.

 The Nowata County Commissioners discuss security of the courthouse during their regular weekly meeting.

 The discussion comes in lieu of the bomb threat made at the Nowata Courthouse earlier this month. Commissioner Paul Crupper discussed regular courthouse improvements, with Nowata County Treasurer Rachael Marrs expressing confusion on why the cameras being purchased for the first floor are not the same as the second and third floor cameras, and why those cameras are coming from Wal-Mart and not from Glenn Security.

 Commissioner Chairman Troy Friddle responsed.

 The Commissioners will meet next Monday at their regular time at the Nowata Courthouse Annex and the meeting is open to the public.

 The Osage County Commission approved a food agreement for the county jail.

 Two commissioners voted to approve the agreement with Benchmark Government Solutions, with one abstaining. The amount billed weekly is based on a sliding scale involving how many inmates there are. 125 inmates and under would see a max price of $2,900 per week.

 The agreement puts inmates on a 2,800 calorie a day plan, lowered from the current plan, which is estimated to be more than 3,000 calories a day. The calorie decrease, however, concerns Commissioner Charlie Cartwright.

 An opt-out clause is in place for both Benchmark and the Osage County Commission.

 The commissioners meet again next Monday at 10 a.m. at the OSU Extension Center in Pawhuska. 

 A Bartlesville man facing a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon was in Washington County Court yesterday.

 A witness said in court documents that Robert Dale Anderson III pulled into his driveway and backed to a barn on the residence where the victim was. When the victim attempted to leave in her own car, Anderson blocked her in with his car. He then backed into the victim’s car to prevent her from leaving. Anderson then allegedly grabbed multiple pieces of plywood and threw at the victim, striking the victim once. Officers observed a noticeable laceration on the victim’s head, with noticeable bleeding and a visible bump on her scalp.

 Anderson is being held on $30,000 bond; his next court date was set for June 9th.

Some residents in Fredonia will have little or no water pressure this week. According to the city, a water line is being replaced on the northwest side of town and will cause areas of North 2^nd, North 3^rd and part of Tyler Street to have low or no water pressure at all. City Administrator Wesley Young says the old line cannot be clamped any further and must be replaced. Work begins today and is expected to take four or five days. The city says crews will work to restore service as soon as possible. Anyone living in the affected areas in need of drinking water is welcome to stop by City Hall.

A meeting on outdoor recreation will take place today in Neodesha. The Active Transportation Board will meet this afternoon at 4:30 to make recommendations on programs and projects involving sidewalks, parks, trails and streets. You do not need to be a member of the board to attend as members of the general public are welcome. The meeting will be held in the City Hall Commission Room.

 The Independence Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in the theft of a vehicle.

 IPD says the theft took place in the 300 Block of Spruce Street at approximately 1:05 PM. The stolen vehicle, a gray Ford Econoline, drove north on 8th Street before continuing in an unknown direction. Please check your surveillance cameras and notify IPD if you observe anything that may be relevant to the case. 

 IPD is also asking for help in identifying the individual. If you have information or see the vehicle, please call IPD at 620-332-1700, reference case 23-812.

The 8^th Annual KGGF Auction is this weekend. Organizer Tina Romine says what makes our auction special is that everything is brand new.

Some of the items featured at this year's auction include a lawn mower, dog food and a battery-operated sawzall. Romine says they have other items to bid on besides the physical items at the auction.

The auction is this Saturday at the Coffeyville Recreation Center at Walter Johnson Park. The doors will open at 8:00am and bidding starts at 9:00am. Registration for bidding numbers is free and door prizes will be given away.

 The Caney Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrest a Caney man after he threatens multiple people with a hatchet.

 The incident took place in Caney Thursday evening just after 7:00 p.m. at 903 East 3rd Street. Authorities learned from victims, who were able to exit the residence unharmed before law enforcement arrived, that 53-year-old Patrick Griffin made threats to cause harm to other occupants of the residence with a large hatchet. One of the victims said Griffin had thrown the hatchet at one of them causing them to fear for their safety. Police were notified that Griffin was still inside the residence and may also be armed with a handgun. Both Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies and Caney PD surrounded the residence and requested that Griffin exit the residence.

 After a search warrant was obtained, around 9:08 PM, a search of the residence began. Drones and robots were used in the home, with the exception of two upstairs rooms with closed doors. Griffin was found after deputies located a false wall, hidden behind insulation. Even though Griffin was verbally non-compliant, deputies took him into custody without further incident.  The hatchet was located and seized as evidence, but no firearms were located.

 Griffin was arrested and transported to Montgomery County Department of Corrections. Charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony interference with a Law Enforcement Officer will be recommended to
the County Attorney’s Office.

 A Pittsburg woman is sentenced for the 2022 shooting and murder of a Pittsburg man.

 62-year-old Verla Gilliland was originally charged with second-degree murder, but a plea deal earlier this month lessened the charge to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary. The incident took place March 19, 2022. Pittsburg Police responded to a shooting call at 111 W. Park Street, and found 64-year-old Harold Sheets deceased from a gunshot wound. Authorities believe Gilliland and the victim got into an argument that escalated, which in turn, led to the shooting of Sheets.

 Gilliland was sentenced to 72 months in prison, with 36 months of supervised probation after she is released.

 The Independence Police Department speaks on a recent case regarding suspicious activity in Riverside Park.

 Independence Police Chief Jerry Harrison says the incident happened May 22^nd. IPD responded to Riverside Park regarding suspicious activity by two men in a car. Harrison says a number of leads have been gained from social media and other sources, with multiple law enforcement agencies pursuing related leads since receiving the original report. IPD has investigated the incident and spoken with the occupants of the reported vehicle. Harrison says there was no criminal activity associated with the incident and no other evidence of criminal activity discovered from the leads shared by area agencies.

 IPD says they are not repeating the description of any of the vehicles reported or any other details out of respect for the involved citizens’ right to privacy. Officials say they appreciate the trust and support the community has given so the case could be closed.

 IPD encourages all citizens to serve the safety of our community by continuing to report suspicious behavior. If you believe you see criminal activity call or text 9-1-1 if it is an emergency or call 620-332-1700 if you need to speak with an officer.

 A Parsons man faces a charge of attempted murder after a shooting incident Sunday night in Parsons.

 Parsons PD received a call around 7:30 for an incident near 17th and Durr Avenue. Investigators say a shooting took place at a residence involving 58-year-old Terry Wayne Keaton.

 Keaton, who has also been charged with aggravated assault, was not at the residence, but was caught about 90 minutes later at the intersection of Highways 169 and 400.

 Keaton is in custody. More information will be released as it becomes available, The investigation is ongoing.

The City of Fredonia wants to hear from as many citizens as possible in the form of a survey. The first Fredonia Community Survey is underway right now, and City Administrator Wesley Young says he wants to hear from people who don't normally speak up.

Young is in his eighth month as city manager and says this survey will help him and the city commission to better serve the community. The survey is open to anyone who lives or works in Fredonia. Young says the goal of the survey can be easily summarized.

The survey is open through June 30^th. A link can be found here.

 A disturbance Saturday evening leads to the arrest of an Ottawa County man.

 Ottawa County officials say a call came in to 9-1-1 at 7:15 Saturday evening for a disturbance in the 400 block of Elm Street. The caller reported a man breaking windows of houses. The homeowner and witnesses chased the man, but he was able to escape. The search began by the Quapaw Marshals Office, who spotted a man matching the description near 3rd and Whitebird. The man fled as deputies began to question him, and after a short foot chase and the deployment of the K9 Unit, the man was apprehended.

 The man, whose name has not been released, had two active Ottawa County Warrants, for distribution and possession of controlled dangerous substances, and felony distribution of CDS within a thousand feet of a daycare.

 In addition to those charges, Quapaw Marshals have added requested charges of felony false impersonation, property damage, possession of CDS, and eluding an officer.

 The investigation is ongoing.

Many people spent their weekend at Fairview Cemetary in commemoration of Memorial Day. A crowd gathered at the Veteran's Memorial Patio to take part in the commemoration, which included several songs by the Coffeyville Municipal Band, a speech by Post Quartermaster Paul Melies, Rodney Lay, Jr. singing God Bless the USA and a rifle squad with color guard. Taps was also played as those in attendance and the many visiting the cemetery could remember those who gave their lives to protect American freedom.

One is injured in a two-vehicle accident north of Pryor, Oklahoma.

Just after 9:30am yesterday, a Pryor Police officer responded to an injury collision at the intersection of NS 435 and EW 470 about two and a half miles north of the city limits of Pryor. A 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by 54-year-old William Smith failed to yield at a stop and struck a 2013 Toyota Camry driven by 63-year-old Kelly Yoder.

Smith and his passenger, 58-year-old Angela Evans, were not injured in the accident. Yoder was transported by EMS to Hillcrest Hospital in Pryor, where she was admitted in stable condition with leg injuries. The occupants of both vehicles were wearing their seat belts.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, who is the lead Republican of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, releases a statement recognizing Memorial Day. Senator Moran says he recently had the honor to present an American flag to a World War II Kansas veteran and thank him for his service. He says this Memorial Day, he wants to take time to honor fallen service members.

Senator Moran recently introduced the Love Lives On Act, which allows the spouses of deceased service members to retain certain survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, if they remarry before the age of 55. He also recently led the introduction and passage of a resolution to recognize the 50th anniversary of the homecoming of prisoners of war from Vietnam. 

 Multiple Grand Lake incidents have seen the deaths of two people and the injury of a five-year-old.

 Grand River Dam Authority spokesman Justin Alberty says the first incident claimed the life of 54-year-old Eric Peterson, of Belton, Missouri. Peterson died Friday in an ATV crash in the off-road area below Pensacola Dam. Peterson, who was not wearing a helmet, was riding the ATV up a hill when it overturned.

 A second incident claimed the life of an 87-year-old Kansas man, who died in the Honey Creek arm of Grand Lake. The man, whose name hasn't been released, fell into the water while trying to step from a boat onto the dock. Alberty says GRDA officers responded to the scene shortly before 2:00 p.m. and recovered the man’s body.

 The third incident happened Saturday evening, as a boat exploded near the Check-in Bay area of Grand Lake. A 5-year-old child was taken to Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa with unknown injuries.

 Alberty says that incident is still under investigation.

 Bigger and better turned out to be the unofficial theme of this year's Mayfest in Caney, as a record number of people turned out for this past weekend's festivities.

 Caney Mayor Josh Elliott says the weekend kicked off with a bang, with a concert by Stoney Larue, and also ended with a bang with a fireworks display last night at the city softball complex. Elliott says the events in between Larue and the fireworks could be record setting for the town.

 Caney Mayfest concludes this morning with the Community Memorial Day service at Veteran's Memorial Park at 11:00, followed by the Memorial Day Scramble at the Caney Golf Club at 1:00.

Several Memorial Day Observances are taking place around the area today. In Coffeyville, the Memorial Day Service will start at 10 a.m. in Fairview Cemetery at Veterans Memorial Patio. Darrel Harbaugh will give an introduction followed by the Patriot Guard riders salute, the Star Spangled Banner, a speech by Paul Melies and Rodney Lay, Jr. will sing God Bless the USA. Everyone is welcome to attend. In Independence, the Mid-Continent Band will perform at 10 a.m. as part of the Memorial Day Observance at the Mount Hope Cemetery Cenotaph at 1300 North Penn. Ave. and all are welcome.

 A man surrenders to Bartlesville Police after a shots fired incident Saturday morning.

 Bartlesville PD says the incident happened at a residence in 1400 block of Meadow Lane around 12:20 Saturday morning. Officers encountered a man inside the home with a gun. After the man surrendered to police, officers found an adult female with a gunshot wound to the leg. The female was transported to Tulsa with non-life threatening injuries.

 More information will be released as it becomes available. The investigation is ongoing.

Three people are dead after a crash last night in Labette County.  According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a Dodge Ram driven by 81-year-old Jimmy Bond of Edna stuck a steer in the eastbound lane of U.S. 166 about 6 miles east of U.S. 169 just before midnight.  The impact caused the vehicle to veer into the westbound lane.  A semi hauling a propane trailer driven by 42-year-old Dusty Elbrader of Missouri was headed westbound on 166.  Elbrader attempted to avoid the crash but was unable to and both vehicles struck head on.  All three occupants of the Dodge were killed, including Jimmy Bond, 79-year-old Barbara Bond, and 21-year-old Colton Bond, all of Edna.  Elbrader was wearing a seatbelt and was taken to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center with a suspected minor injury.  The three occupants of the Dodge were not wearing seatbelts.  Next of kin has been notified.  The Edna volunteer fire department was among those who responded to the scene.

Just like much of the nation, the Cherokee Nation has a focus on healthcare.  There is a new hospital under construction in Tahlequah and another to start soon in Salina. 

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskins Jr. says not only are state-of-the-art facilities needed for their citizens but it's also important in attracting healthcare workers.  In an interview with KGGF, Hoskins also addressed the importance of education and job training as well as the preservation of the Cherokee culture.

Chief Hoskins has been keeping busy not only with his regular duties as Chief but also campaigning for the election that will take place next Saturday, June 3^rd.  The full interview with Principal Chief Hoskins will air next week on KGGF.

Coffeyville Fire, EMS and Police respond to a two-vehicle accident at the stoplight intersection of 4^th Street and Cline.

The incident happened before 9:45am. According to security footage from Green Acres, a Ford Flex was traveling south on Cline and a Ford F150 was traveling east on 4^th Street. Both Vehicles entered the intersection at the same time. The Flex struck the driver's side of the F150 causing the truck to strike the base of the traffic light pole. Witnesses at the accident say it appeared the light was yellow at the time the Flex went through it.

The driver and passenger of the Flex did not appear to be injured. EMS checked out the driver of the truck who is suspected to only have minor injuries. Traffic was slowed to one lane during the incident but a tow truck came and removed both vehicles.

Independence City Commissioners receive an update regarding Phase 1 of the construction of the new sports complex.

City Finance Director Lacey Lies says that the bids have been over budget, and they are working to correct that issue.

Phase 1 features of the complex include a four-plex of baseball and softball fields, a fitness court, lighting and parking improvements, a soccer complex, and a 1.1 mile hiking trail adjacent to the complex.

Lies says there is a target budget for Phase 1 and that adjustments and corrections will be implemented to meet that intended budget.

Additional items of business at the City Commission meeting was approving the closure of North 5th Street from Mickey Mantle Way to the entrance of the Aquatic Center for Montgomery County Public Safety Kid's Camp. The mayor also signed an agreement with with Cox Communications Kansas, LLC for the use of city property.

 For the second time in six months, the Silver Dollar City train has derailed.

 The latest derailment occurred yesterday afternoon around 3:50p.m. Silver Dollar City officials say the front wheels of car three on the Silver Dollar steam train went off track. Cars 2 and 3 separated, but stayed upright. Officials say the new safety protocols worked as designed, stopping the train safely and slowly with all cars remaining upright.

 Passengers were able to exit the cars and walk back to the park. One reported a minor injury, but they did not seek medical treatment.

Officials say the train will remain closed until further notice.

There are numerous pool openings in Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma this Memorial Day weekend.

Pools in Coffeyville, Independence, Fredonia, and Oswego all celebrate a grand opening tomorrow. Pools in Neodesha and Parsons will open for the season on Sunday.

The Nowata public pool is hoping for a June 1st opening. The Bartlesville pool is closed until further notice due to the ongoing water shortage.

A list of pools and their hours for the 2023 season are listed below:

Coffeyville- Big Hill Splash Aquatic Center; Monday 1-8 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday 1-7 p.m.

Independence- Riverside Beach Aquatic Center; Saturday-Wednesday 1-6 p.m., Thursday-Friday 1-7 p.m.

Fredonia Public Pool; Monday-Saturday 12-6 p.m., Sunday 1-6 p.m.

Neodesha Splash Zone; Monday-Saturday 1-7 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Oswego Public Pool; Open daily 1-6:30 p.m.

Parsons Public Pool; Monday-Thursday, Sunday 1-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday 1-8 p.m.

Roadwork will start next week on U.S. 69 in Cherokee County. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, the 12-mile resurfacing project starts at the Oklahoma-Kansas state line and continues north to the U.S. 69/U.S. 160/K-7 junction. No work will take place within the city limits of Columbus. The work is expected to start on Tuesday. Flaggers and a pilot car operation will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone during daylight hours. Drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less. The road work should be finished by late July, weather permitting.

 Representative Ron Estes issues a statement after the Supreme Court ruled in the Sackett v. EPA court case that dealt a blow to the Waters of the U.S. rule.

 Estes says the Supreme Court ruling against the Waters of the U.S. is a victory for Kansas farmers, ranchers, producers and all Americans. He calls the plan to regulate every pond and puddle across the country a gross abuse of power, and that the Supreme Court unanimously agreed and upheld the Constitution. Estes says Kansans are best positioned to conserve their land and natural resources, and politicians 1000 miles away are not needed to regulate the rainwater that accumulates in ditches in rural parts of the state.

 The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of petitioners Michael and Chantell Sackett. You can view the opinion here.

 An inmate at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy has passed away after being stabbed.

 According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the facility has been on lockdown since the stabbing incident May 19^th. A statewide lockdown of correctional facilities stemming from the incident was in place; that has been changed to allow for structured movement in all correctional facilities except for the Dick Conner Correctional Center.

 The DCCC remains on lockdown and no visitation will be allowed until further notice. Other facilities will return to normal this weekend.

Filing deadlines are coming up for area city offices, and the City of Neodesha has an opening. According to the city, one position on the commission is up for election this year. The commissioner position is a three-year term. Interested candidates must complete and submit the Declaration of Intention and Substantial Interest forms along with a $20 filing fee to the Wilson County Clerk in Fredonia no later than noon on Thursday, June 1st. If you are interested in running and want to know more about being on the City Commission, stop by City Hall in Neodesha to pick up a Guide to City Candidate’s brochure offered by the League of Kansas Municipalities.

USD 445 Deputy Superintendent of Business Micheal Speer has served the year as the president of the Kansas Association of School Business Officials. Executive Director John Hutchinson says the KASBO provides professional development opportunities for their members.

Hutchinson says, while serving as president, Speer added to their academic offerings and instituted a mentor program.  Hutchinson says if you were to ask Speer he would say it was all a team effort. He says it is but Speer did a good job of keeping everyone on task and help move the organization forward.

A Galena man is in custody after attempting to elude law enforcement.

Just before 9:00am, a Galena Police Officer attempted to stop a speeding car, which had been reported stolen in Joplin. The suspect, 24-year-old Hunter Hayes-Bebee, fled from authorities before going off the roadway on Highway 166 east of Baxter Springs and then fleeing on foot. Law enforcement from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Galena PD, Baxter Springs Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol searched the wooded area south of the highway, where they located Hayes-Bebee.

He is being held on allegations of possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal use of a weapon, fleeing and interference with law enforcement, reckless driving, driving while suspended, driving with no liability insurance and illegal registration.

A new city commissioner in Neodesha is now official.

Emily Vail-Keller was sworn in during yesterday's meeting. She fills the unexpired term of Commissioner Tom Nichol. In other business, the commission authorized bonds for a water and sewer project, approved an ordinance on vicious dogs, considered a bid for the library roof, and approved an ordinance that would allow special purpose vehicles on city streets such as golf carts and worksite utility vehicles after extended public comments on the topic. The ordinance does not allow for ATVs, and golf carts cannot operate between sunset and sunrise and it prohibits special purpose vehicles on part of main street.

 A Caney High School athlete has earned a scholarship, helping take his athletic and academic career to the next level.

 Multi sport athlete Drake Stapleton has earned the True Blue scholarship from the Kansas High School Activities Association. The $2,000 scholarship is based on the student's community service, academic achievement, school participation, and activity achievement.

 Caney Superintendent Blake Vargas says the scholarship couldn't have gone to a better person.

 Stapleton plans to attend Pittsburg State University, earning his degree to become a dentist. While at Pitt State, he will be a member of the track and field squad, throwing in shot put and discuss.

 Vargas says the entire district is proud of Stapleton, and can't wait to see what awaits him in the future.

Katy Days is this weekend in Parsons and a number of roads will be closed during the events.

Broadway Avenue from 13^th Street to 10^th Street, Heacock Avenue from Broadway to Grand Avenue and the 10^th Street loop from Broadway to Heacock Avenue are all closed from 6:00am tomorrow until noon on Sunday. 13^th Street from Broadway to Grand Avenue and Grand from 13^th Street to Heacock Avenue will both be closed for the parade tomorrow from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The 5K Race Route is closed from Tolen Creek Park to Larsen Boulevard just east of the Conference Center driveway North to Cattle Drive and the intersection of 15^th and Cattle Drive but will leave access open to Pete’s from 7:00am to 10:00am on Saturday.

The Parsons Police Department is also warning drivers to watch their speeds in the area around the events.

E-Waste recycling is coming to Parsons. The collection will be Saturday, June 10^th. The drop-off center is located at the Public Works Facility at 1000 North 1^st Street and will be open from 7:00am to noon. The ending collection time could change based on the amount of e-waste received.

Acceptable items include computer systems, monitors, VCRs, CD players, DVD players, stereo systems, cell phones, digital cameras, video cameras, and other types of audio/visual and electronic equipment. Government entities and businesses with large quantities, need to call in advance. Collection officials reserve the right to refuse non-recyclable items. Microwaves and TVs cannot be recycled. For more information call (620)421-7030. 

 Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announces ten communities receiving almost $3.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funding. Grant awards were made in three categories: Water and Sewer, Commercial Rehabilitation, and Housing.

 The three programs, which provide crucial funding for community development projects in Kansas, received a total of almost 3.2 million dollars.

 The Commercial Rehabilitation program provides funding to assist private property owners in the rehabilitation of blighted structures in downtown commercial districts. That includes $250,000 for rehabilitating a historic downtown building in Independence.

 A link for more information about CDBG grant programs can be found here.

 A Grove man was sentenced Monday to three years in federal prison for strangling a former girlfriend.

 30-year-old Tyler Craig Mitchell was also ordered to participate in a drug abuse program and will serve three years probation after his release. Mitchell plead guilty in 2022 to assault by strangling and suffocating in Indian Country.

 The incident took place July 6, 2020, in Delaware County. Court documents say Mitchell went to the victim’s mobile home as she was giving a child a bath. Mitchell placed his lanyard chain around the victim’s neck and began to strangle her. When she tried to call for help, Mitchell grabbed her phone and threw it in the bathtub.  Mitchell also strangled the victim a second time causing her to drop the child.

 Mitchell is also faces charges in Cherokee Nation District Court of domestic abuse, assault and battery by strangulation, kidnapping, and six counts of violating a protective order.

 A Washington state man wanted on charges of child molestation is found in Bourbon County.

 May 10^th, the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from the US Marshall Service in reference to a Garrett Morrell, who was using the alias of DJ or Dustin Bradley. Morrell had active felony warrants out of the state of Washington since 2020 for 4 counts of Child Molestation in the First Degree.

 May 11^th, the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office was able to track down Morrell to a rural area of Bourbon County. Morrell fled from law enforcement and Bourbon County Deputies. With assistance from the Fort Scott Police Department, authorities were able to place Morrell in custody after a short manhunt.

 Morrell is currently awaiting extradition back to Pierce County, Washington.

 A Bartlesville man was back in court Wednesday for charges originally dropped in 2021.

 42-year-old Michael Anthony Walker Sr. faces charges of murder in the first degree and arson in the first degree. The charges stem back to an incident in 2018. The charges were dropped in 2021 due to the McGirt ruling, but have since been refiled by the state.

 Court documents state that Walker Sr. burned down a residence with a woman and two dogs inside, killing all three of them. That incident took place November 6^th, 2018. Walker Sr. is currently serving a 10-year sentence on a separate arson charge that took place after the one in November.

 Walker entered a guilty plea for attempting to burn down a residence on the 1300 block of Armstrong Avenue in Bartlesville in December 2018. Walker Sr.’s violent criminal history was taken into consideration before his bond was set at $1 million dollars. He is ordered to appear back in court on June 9th at 9 am.

 The KBI arrests a paramedic on a warrant for aggravated sexual battery.

 The arrest took place Monday evening, and was a joint effort between the KBI and the Iola Police Department. Around 4:05 pm., 42-year-old Adam Ferguson, of Iola, was arrested on a charge related to an incident that occurred December 21, 2022, while Ferguson was working as a paramedic with Iola EMS. 

 The allegation was reported to the Iola Police Department, who requested KBI assistance with the case. Investigative findings were presented to Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway and charges were filed Monday.

 Ferguson was arrested at his residence immediately after the warrant was issued by the Allen County District Court.

 The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KSCRIME, or the Iola Police Department at 620-365-4960.

Work is underway on a new park in Coffeyville. Sycamore Park is taking shape just west of Community Elementary School on 1^st Street. The park has primarily been a green space in the past, but outdoor fitness equipment is currently being installed along with two playground features, swing sets, a merry-go-round, six pavilions, a walking trail, a youth soccer field and a nature trail are all in the works. City Manager Mark Hall says the public won't have to wait until the park is finished to enjoy it.

The park is being paid for through the new half-cent sales tax initiative approved by voters. Hall says work on the park is being done primarily by city crews as an additional cost-saving measure. Sycamore Park will be completed by the end of the year, and work will start on another park improvement next year.

 Officials with Washington County Emergency Management says storm siren upgrades are ongoing this week for several communities across the county.

 In the announcement made yesterday, new equipment will be installed for sirens in Copan, Dewey, Oglesby, Ochelata, Ramona and Vera. Emergency Management officials say there may be an occasional activation of the sirens this week while they are being installed and tested.

 Governor Laura Kelly announces more than $8.8 million from the Kansas High-Risk Rural Roads Program, going to nineteen rural counties to improve the safety and efficiency of roads and local roadways.

 The HRRR program is a federally funded initiative designed to improve safety on rural roads through state and local partnerships. This year’s 19 HRRR projects were selected from 50 applications seeking $30.3 million in federal funds. Kansas HRRR funds cover 90-100 percent of the total project cost, with the counties making up the difference if necessary.

 Projects in this program fall into one of two categories: Systemic (encompassing a local roadway network) or Site Specific. Projects in the Systemic category are 100% federally funded, and Site Specific projects are 90% federally funded.

 Funds for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 include $400,000 for Systemic projects for Cherokee County, upgrading signing on all major collectors in the west half of the county, and $682,000 for Site Specific projects in Crawford County, adding SafetyEdge, flattening ditch foreslopes, and installing 6” white edge lines on S. 200^th Street.

The nationally known Neewollah festival in Independence has officially revealed their 2023 holiday logo.

The logo was announced by 2023 Neewollah Generalissimo Sabrina Overfield, and was designed by Mark and Cameron Johnson, both of who also designed the 2021 festival logo.

Neewollah's 2023 celebration is titled Beautiful Moment, Timeless Memory and runs from October 21st through the 28th.  There will be a production of Beauty and the Beast which will feature performances on October 20th, 21st, and 22nd.

For more information and details about this year's Neewollah festival, follow the Neewollah Facebook page.

 The Osage County Sheriff’s Office and Bartlesville Police Department are searching for a missing man.

 39-year-old Maurice Jackson was last seen between March 1 and March 3 at the Osage Casino-Bartlesville. He is described as Black male, about 5-foot 9-inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds.

 If you have any information on Jackson’s whereabouts, contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 918-287-3535 or the Bartlesville Police Department at 918-338-4001.

 The Kansas Corporation Commission approves a siting permit establishing the route for the Wolf Creek to Blackberry 345 kV transmission line in Southeast Kansas.

 Approximately 83 miles of the line will be in Kansas, crossing Coffey, Anderson, Allen, Bourbon and Crawford Counties. NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest will construct and operate the line.

 In August, the Commission granted NEET Southwest a limited certificate of convenience and necessity as a transmission-only public utility, after determining that the transmission project will benefit customers by lowering overall energy costs, removing inefficiency, relieving transmission congestion, and improving the reliability of the transmission system.

 The Wolf Creek to Blackberry project originated from the Southwest Power Pool, a Regional Transmission Organization mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure, and competitive wholesale prices on behalf of its members. Kansas is one of 17 states served by SPP.

 A recording of the business meeting featuring comments by all Commissioners, is available here.

 With the unofficial start of summer this weekend, the Kansas Turnpike Authority releases tips for those planning on travelling.

 Memorial Day weekend means increased traffic on the roads, and also means higher chances for accidents and breakdowns. The Kansas Turnpike Authority reminds everyone to make sure your vehicle has been serviced before heading on a long road trip, including the tires, brakes, battery, wipers, lights, and turn signals and that fluids are good.

 Should an accident or breakdown occur, the KTA’s Safety Assist Program can provide roadside assistance. Dial *582 to request roadside assistance on the Kansas Turnpike. For help on other Kansas highways, dial *47.

 The KTA also reminds you to plan your route ahead, check on weather and road conditions, including construction, by visiting KanDrive.org.

 Two people have been injured after a fire at an oil refinery in Wynnewood yesterday morning.

 CVR Energy says the fire, at Wynnewood Refining near Highway 77 and Powell Avenue, started around 8:20 in the gasoline hydrotreater. The hydrotreater is used to remove contaminants during the refining process. Garvin County Emergency Management Director Dave Johnson says all workers have been accounted for. Johnson says the injured were transported for treatment to Mercy from Pauls Valley and Wadley’s from Wynnewood.

 Just before 12:30, the source of the fire was isolated and emergency crews extinguished the fire. CVR Energy says an internal investigation will be conducted. No word on if an investigation will be conducted by OSHA.

 Wynnewood is located an hour south of Oklahoma City.

 With the school year coming to an end, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office conducts a county-wide Registered Offender Compliance Operation.

 Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says the check was conducted because of summer break for school aged children. Groves says children will be playing more outdoors, going with their friends to parks and swimming pools, or may be going to new sitters.  It's important for parents to know if any registered sex, drug or violent offenders live in the areas their children live and play, so they can take precautions to keep their family safe.

 Groves says there are over 100 registered offenders living in the county, and the county saw a 95% compliance rate during the most recent operation. He says criminal charges will be requested on those suspected of violating the Kansas Offender Registration Act.

 According to the Crimes Against Children Research Center, one in five teens have reported receiving an unwanted sexual solicitation online.  In 2021, most of the more than 29 million tips reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children dealt with child sexual abuse images, online enticement, including "sextortion," child sex trafficking, and child sexual molestation.

 Funding for the Registered Offender Compliance Operation is provided through a grant awarded to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office from the Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant, United States Office of Justice Programs.

 A 28-year-old woman from Kansas has died after falling into a creek in Glacier National Park and being swept into a gorge.

 Park officials says the woman fell from a rocky overhang into Avalanche Creek Monday afternoon.

 Bystanders waded into the creek and pulled the woman out. They performed CPR and called 911. Emergency responders declared her dead at the scene.

 Her name and hometown have not been released.

 A standoff in Webb City last night ends peacefully.

 Just after 8:00 p.m., Webb City police surrounded a home in the 600 block of North Main Street, after identifying 29-year-old Tyretha Smith, of Webb City, entering the residence. Webb City police say Smith has felony warrants and a history of carrying firearms. The Webb City Special Response Team were called in and quickly surrounded the home. Smith, however, was not the first to exit.

 36-year-old Indica Smith, of Webb City, and 43-year-old Christine Lamberth, of Joplin, and three small children exited. The children were turned over to a relative who came to the scene.

 Smith was arrested on a warrant from the Carthage Police Department for failure to register a motor vehicle, while Lamberth was arrested on three felony warrants: One from Cass County for driving while revoked, a second one for probation violation for fraud out of Newton County, and the third from Jasper County for trafficking stolen identifications.

 The Jasper County Sheriff’s Special Response Team responded to the scene. They introduced CS gas into the home, which caused Tyretha Smith to exit the home around 10:30 p.m. He was taken into custody without incident.

 Webb City Police say additional charges of felony resisting arrest and felony possession of a controlled substance from this incident will be filed against Tyretha Smith, along with original charges of failure to appear and discharging a firearm from Jasper County, and a parole violation from Missouri Probation and Parole for possession of marijuana.

After months of discord surrounding the Coffeyville Fire Department and City Manager Mark Hall, last night's Coffeyville City Commission meeting seemed to be a turning point. Several public comments were made, including from Fire Captain Pete Caresio who apologized to the mayor for his comments made after the previous meeting. Caresio says he'd like better communication and asked for Hall to come and speak with the department.

Peggy Steele shared a presentation on the renovation work done on West 9^th Street and how a small project to fix a couple of houses utilizing revitalization loans turned into a critical mass. Steele also shared her own thoughts on the controversy surrounding the city manager and says while she might not necessarily agree with Hall's leadership or communication style, she thinks he is doing work that needs to be done in Coffeyville.

House Representative Ron Bryce also spoke during public comments and says that while starting an initiative or business may be hard, there are many people in town willing to help and who deserve thanks.

In other business, three Dodge Chargers were approved for purchase for the police department using American Rescue Plan Act money, A resolution was approved for the purchase of electric switchgear totaling $1.365 million, and the city manager mentioned briefly a plan to remove the concrete awnings on 9^th street between walnut and maple.

 Bartlesville Police responded to a strong arm robbery this morning.
 BPD says the call came from the Good Stop gas station, located at 925 SW Frank Phillips, around 2:36 a.m. Responding officers learned that the cashier had been robbed at gunpoint.

 The suspect, described as a white male, entered the Good Stop and pointed a pistol at the store clerk. The suspect wore a dark colored baggie jacket, a gray mask, and a red beanie on his head.

Bartlesville Police Captain Andrew Ward shared the latest information. 

 If you have any information on this robbery, please contact the Bartlesville Police Department at 918-338-4024.

 Bartlesville's city-owned Frontier and Sooner swimming pools and all city-owned splash pads remain closed due to drought conditions and declining overall water supply.

 Bartlesville officials say Stage 4 of the Water Shortage Ordinance bans all outdoor water use and requires that city-owned pools be closed. The city will enter Stage 4 when overall water supply hits 50 percent or below — a number that, without sizable rains between now and then, is expected to occur as early as next month.

 The city normally open the pools on Memorial Day weekend, but given the need to conserve water and the likelihood that the area will enter Stage 4 restrictions in mere weeks, the decision was made to keep them closed until the situation improves.

 If the watershed areas for Hulah and Copan lakes in Southeast Kansas receive enough rain in time to open the pools this season, the city will work with the Richard Kane YMCA, which manages and operates the City-owned pools, to get the pools opened as quickly as possible.

 YMCA officials say it would take about two weeks to hire staff and ready the pools for opening.

Roadwork to close a high-traveled highway between Baxter Springs and the Missouri State line next week.

Starting Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Transportation will close a section of Highway 166 and Highway 400 east of Baxter Springs. The closure begins east of Five Mile Avenue and continues east for three miles to the K-26 junction.

Areas of HWY 166 and HWY 400 that are outside of the active work zone will be limited to local traffic only. All through traffic should follow the state route detour on K-26, K-66 and Highway 69A. KDOT expects to reopen the realigned HWY 166 this fall, weather permitting. 

The City of Coffeyville wants to remind citizens of their cemetery's general rules and regulations for Memorial Day.

Elmwood, Fairview and Restlawn Cemeteries will all be open from dawn until dusk. For those driving through the cemeteries grounds, do not pull off the paved or gravel paths and there is a speed limit of 20mph. All flowers and decorations placed on Memorial Day must be removed by dusk on Sunday, June, 4^th. This does not include flowers placed in permanent vases.

No picnics or parties are allowed in the cemetery and no fireworks can be set off.

Coffeyville Fire, EMS and Police are working a two-vehicle accident.

The incident occurred north of the railroad tracks on Highway 169 just before the stop light on the intersection of HWY 169 and 11^th Street. Traffic is slowed in the area while the crews work the scene.

Caney's Mayfest is starting this Friday.

The Caney Police Department wants to remind citizens that there will be some road closings to accommodate several Mayfest activities. Caney PD says they understand this can be an inconvenience so they are trying to make it safe for everyone. Starting Friday morning, the biggest change will be 4^th Avenue being closed from McGee to almost Wood Street.

Caney PD will be blocking off all side streets leading to 4^th Avenue from both 3^rd and 5^th Avenues. Residents on those streets will have access but all other traffic is asked to avoid the area. These blockages will go until Saturday evening when most of the festivities are completed. There will be parking on the new one-way on Ridgeway between 4^th and 5^th Avenue for churchgoers that need to be near their vehicles if it gets too hot during the service.

Changes are coming to the utility meters in Coffeyville.

Over the next few months, Coffeyville citizens will see the Electric & Water Department employees and contractors from NexGen Utility Solutions around town. The city is doing a change-out and upgrade of all the electric and water meters. This effort is being done to allow the city to provide more accurate and timely meter reads, but also to provide customers with more detailed, and real-time information regarding their electric and water use.

Personnel performing these meter change-outs will be attempting to make contact with each customer prior to the change-out of their electric meter. Technicians will identify themselves, with a City of Coffeyville-issued Contractor ID Badge. Customers are encouraged to put their pets inside during meter change-outs, as meter technicians will not perform them while dogs are loose in the yard. 

 A Cherokee County cemetery is vandalized for the third time in a year.

 This past weekend, officials from Garden of Memories Cemetery, north of Pittsburg, discovered several bronze vases were stolen from headstones. Similar vases were stolen during the 4^th of July weekend and in October, 2022. Officials say a total of 200 vases have been stolen from the cemetery in the last year.

 Replacement costs for the vases is around $300, and upkeep and replacement costs are left up to the families of the individuals with the vandalized stones.

 Those interested in helping recoup some of the costs from the vandalism may call (319) 233-6136.

 A Bartlesville man is facing two Washington County Court cases on the same charges.

 52-year-old Danny Lowe is charged with separate counts of obscene, threatening, or harassing telephone calls. He's also charged with a count of an act of violence and a count of stalking. Both cases came within a three-day span.

 Lowe’s first case stems from an incident May 20^th, 2022. Lowe was trying to locate the victim. He circled the Ray of Hope center, and called them multiple times asking for the victim’s whereabouts. May 23^rd, family members contacted police because Lowe was contacting family members of the victim. Authorities say Lowe had sent 97 text messages in a five day period. Court documents say most of the messages degraded the victim and were laced with profanity. Lowe also left the victim 14 voicemails.

 Lowe has an extensive criminal history, including over 10 years of protective order violations. He is previously a felon, and has charges of kidnapping, domestic assaults, and possession of firearm after conviction.

 Lowe is being held on an aggregate bond of $100,000. His next court date is set for June 7th.

While the winter wheat crop may be doing better in southeast Kansas, the crop is struggling in other parts of the state. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kansas winter wheat condition is rated 37% very poor, 32% poor, 21% fair, 9% good and 1% excellent. Headed was 73%, behind 82% last year, and near the 75% average. Conditions in Oklahoma are slightly better with winter wheat rated 27% very poor, 25% poor, 38% fair, 9% good and 1% excellent. Headed was 95%, up 2 points from last year. In southeast Kansas, winter wheat is 100% joined and 93% headed. Corn is on track while soybean planting in Kansas is slightly ahead of last year. Cotton planted was 40%, well behind 66% last year.

 A Bartlesville woman was arrested over the weekend on charges of child endangerment and resisting arrest.

 Bartlesville Police located a vehicle in the Taco Bell parking lot. The woman in the vehicle, 37-year-old Natosha Coker, had slurred speech, with an odor of intoxicants in the vehicle.

 Court documents say Coker was in the vehicle with her adult daughter and three young juveniles in the backseat. Coker refused to get out of the vehicle and she would not identify to herself when asked by authorities. She was pulled from her vehicle after refusing to cooperate with officers.

 Coker is being held on $10,000 bond, with her next court appearance in Washington County Court set for this afternoon.

 A hostage situation this morning in Delaware County ends with the death of the gunman.

 Delaware County Sheriff James Beck says the call came in around 12:30a.m., reporting a man with a firearm inside the home of his estranged wife in the Red Rocks area north of Grove, Oklahoma. Residents in the home had a protective order against the gunman, later identified as 55-year-old Gary Combs. The four people in the home were able to escape, however, Combs was still inside with authorities arrived. Delaware County Sheriff's officials began negotiating with Combs, along with members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Tactical Team.

 Around 8:15 a.m., after a gunshot was heard, the OHP Team deployed CS gas through a window, then entered the home. OHP officials found Combs deceased inside a room. The cause of death was a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound.

 Beck says more information will be given as it becomes avialable. The investigation is ongoing.

 A body found in Buffalo Creek in northeast Oklahoma, near the Oklahoma - Missouri state line, has been identified.

 The Grand River Dam Authority says residents found the body Sunday morning around 3:45 am, near the entrance of Elk River from Buffalo Creek. Officials say the body of 38-year-old  Ashley Renee Revia, of Wyandotte, was found in water six to eight feet deep. 

 GRDA officials say the body has been taken to the Delaware County Medical Examiner's office, with an autopsy scheduled for the next day or two.

 More information will be given as it becomes available. The investigation is ongoing.

 An error has been discovered on some utility bills from the City of Coffeyville.  The error could show a higher electric bill than what it should have been for some electric customers. 

 The customer service department discovered the error after bills had already been mailed out. A monthly power cost adjustment of $0.07144 kilowatt hours was incorrectly input into the system rather than the correct rate of $0.0054 kilowatt hours. City Manager Mark Hall says they will work with those customers affected.

 New, corrected bills are being sent out to the affected customers and the due date has been extended to June 15th.

 The City apologizes for the human error and is implementing processes to prevent such mistakes in the future.

 Governor Laura Kelly announces that Kansas has attracted more than $16 billion in private sector investment in the last four years, resulting in more than 57,000 jobs created or retained.?

 Kansas has generated more than $1.2 billion in private sector investment this year. Kansas ranked first in the nation in private investment per capita and won the nation’s foremost economic development award, the Governor’s Cup from?Site Selection?magazine in 2021 and 2022.

 The Department of Commerce has recorded 910 economic development successes since January 2019.

 Washington County Commissioners accept a donation for their volunteer fire department.

 In their meeting this morning, the commissioners accepted a $3,500 donation from the Cherokee Nation that will go to the Washington County Volunteer Fire Department. They also approved a contract between the Washington County Assessor’s Office and Total Assessment Solution Corporation.

 Assessor Todd Mathes says the agreement with TASC helps anytime there is an issue with oil and gas production in the county.

 The commissioner’s meeting next week will be moved to Tuesday because of the Memorial Day holiday. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Washington County Administration Building in downtown Bartlesville.

Update: as of 10:45 a.m., power has been restored.

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There is a power outage on the west side of South Coffeyville this morning. According to the Town of South Coffeyville, the unplanned outage has maintenance crews replacing a few poles. The outage was reported around 9:30 this morning. Electric will be out for a few hours. If you have questions, please call 918-255-6045, option 1.

 The City of Miami’s Solid Waste Transfer Station will close soon for much needed repair work.

 Temporary closure of Miami’s Solid Waste Transfer Station facility is scheduled from June 5 through the 22^nd. The work will be done on the structural support columns to ensure safer conditions and to stabilize the building’s main support structure.

 During the closure, City of Miami utility solid waste commercial and residential customers’ trash will still be picked up hauled and disposed of by City crews as scheduled.

 Solid Waste Manager Kevin Horn says he hopes giving notice now will allow residents to take advantage of the next Free Saturday on June 3, 2023, before the closure occurs. Free Saturdays occur on the first Saturday of each month for Miami Residential Utility Trash customers only. Miami Utility Trash customers must show a current utility bill and driver’s license. Items not accepted during Free Saturdays include construction debris, roofing materials, tires, hazardous materials such as chemicals, fuels, oils, thinners, or automobile batteries, and paint. Air conditioners, freezers, and ice boxes must have the compressors removed.

 The City of Miami’s Solid Waste facility is located at 1117 W. Veterans Road. Operational hours are Monday through Friday 8 am. to 4 pm. and Saturday 8 am. to 2 pm. Call 918-541-2368 for more information.

A new commissioner has been appointed to fill a vacant position on the Neodesha City Commission.

Emily Vail-Keller was appointed during a special call meeting on Friday. This appointed position fills the unexpired term for Commissioner Tom Nichol who resigned on April 26th after announcing his plan to move to Wichita to be closer to family. Commissioners reviewed several letters of interest in the position during their special meeting. Vail-Keller's term will be up for election in November of 2024.

 A bill strengthening Oklahoma's fight against illegal purchases of land by non-U.S. Citizens heads to the governor's desk for signature.

 Senate Bill 212 was approved on Friday. It clarifies that no alien or any person who is not a U.S. citizen may directly or indirectly, through a business entity or trust, own land in Oklahoma unless otherwise authorized by current law.

 Senator David Bullard says the state must take swift, definitive action to preserve and protect Oklahoma and its citizens, especially after the proliferation of land grabs following the legalization of medical marijuana. Bullard says foreign entities have purchased over 380,000 acres of land in Oklahoma. He says Senate Bill 212 closes the loopholes they are using and adds an affidavit to the process to create a paper trail for law enforcement to shut it down.

 The Click It or Ticket campaign starts today across the state of Kansas and nationwide.

 Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade says his department will be joining multiple other agencies across the state for the seatbelt enforcement campaign. Wade says the primary goal for the campaign is driver and passenger safety in their vehicle.

 There is some good news for Kansans. A 2021 study conducted for KDOT revealed observed belt use rate for drivers at 85.9% in 2021, an increase over 2020 study results. It also compares to a national belt rate of 90% based on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration National Occupant Protection Use Survey results in 2020. Nationally in 2020, about 60% of passengers ages 18 to 34 who were killed in vehicles were completely unrestrained - one of the highest percentages for all age groups. Men make up 67% of those killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2020 and wear their seat belts at a lower rate - 55% of men killed in crashes were unrestrained, compared to 43% of women.

 The campaign starts today ends June 4^th. Wade says the primary objective will be enforcing seatbelts, but will be stopping for other traffic infractions.

The number of cattle on feed in Kansas and Oklahoma feedlots is down slightly from last year. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Kansas feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head contained 2.44 million cattle on feed on May 1, which is down 2% from last year. Oklahoma feedlots totaled 250 thousand head on May 1, 2023, down 9 percent from a year ago. Kansas placements for April totaled 420,000 head, down 2% from 2022. Oklahoma placements were up, with 45 thousand head placed in commercial feedlots during April, up 7 percent from a year ago.

 Shots were fired, but no one was injured in an assault incident Saturday in Joplin.

 The incident took place on South Jackson Avenue, on the Newton County side of Joplin. Newton County Sheriff Chris Jennings says an argument led to a single shot being fired. No one was injured by the shot. Authorities later located a man hiding in an attic and arrested him on assault charges. The man's name has not yet been released.

 The investigation is ongoing.

Milk production in Kansas is up compared with this time last year. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, milk production in Kansas during April 2023 totaled 360 million pounds, up 5% from April 2022. The average number of milk cows was 180,000 head, 9,000 head more than April 2022. Milk production per cow averaged 2,000 pounds.

 Prisons across the state of Oklahoma are locked down and all visitations are canceled by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, after a stabbing at a medium security prison in northeastern Oklahoma.

 DOC spokesperson Kay Thompson says the statewide lock down will last through today as state officials investigate the incident, which took place at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy, about 30 miles northwest of Tulsa.

 In addition to the medium security prison, the Dick Conner Correctional Center also houses a minimum security prison that houses about 1,200 inmates.

 The last time a statewide prison shutdown took place was in September 2021.

 A Bartlesville man facing a charge of domestic abuse in front of a minor child had his initial appearance in Washington County Court Friday.

 47-year-old Aaron Neil Williams was arrested Wednesday after police were contacted about a domestic abuse situation. The victim told police that Williams became physical with her in a vehicle after an argument ensued.

 The victim said that Williams would not let her leave the vehicle and allegedly tossed her around the cabin of the car. Williams then allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck and upper arms and choked her briefly. The argument took place in front of the victim’s child. Police reports indicate injuries to the victim's left elbow and side.

 Williams is being held on $25,000 bond, due to a record of domestic violence.

If you're noticing more ticks this spring, you're not alone. K-State Research and Extension Wildcat District Horticulture Agent Jesse Gilmore says there are a couple of reasons for the increased number of ticks in the area this spring. Gilmore says the first reason is a normal one for this time of year.  Gilmore says the second reason may have to do with the weather.

Gilmore says birds and opossums, are natural predators against ticks, with opossums each eating 5,000 – 6,000 ticks per year. If you're going to be in wooded areas or places with high grass, Gilmore advises wearing long pants and using insect repellent, but the most powerful prevention is checking yourself and pets for ticks each day.  A guide to help identify ticks is available here.

U.S. 75 north of Altoona will close for about a week during the start of June. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, work will start June 5^th to replace a culvert under U.S. 75 approximately 1½ miles south of the Altoona-Midway School in Wilson County. U.S. 75 will be closed to through traffic between K-47 and K-39. Traffic will be detoured on K-39, U.S. 400 and K-47. Weather permitting, the work should be finished and the highway reopened by Friday, June 9.

 The burglary of a Riverton home earlier this week lands two in the Cherokee County Jail.

 Just after 12:00 noon last Tuesday, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a residential burglary in Riverton.

 Deputies responded and located the suspects in the neighborhood.  The suspects, who were allegedly in possession of jewelry stolen from the home, were placed into custody.

 28-year-old Cade Ulery, of Asbury, Missouri and 40-year-old Sara Ray, of Baxter Springs, remain in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of Burglary and Theft.

 The Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled three public hearings in July to give Evergy customers an opportunity to learn more about the company’s recent rate increase request and to make comments before the Commission.

 The application, filed with the KCC on April 25, requests a rate increase of $14.24 per month for Evergy Central customers. The Evergy Central service area includes Parsons, Wichita, Fort Scott, Pittsburg and Independence, among other towns and rural areas.

 The closest hearing to Southeast Kansas will be held in Wichita, Thursday, July 27 at 6:00 p.m., at the Low Auditorium at Wichita State University's Hughes Metropolitan Complex, located 5014 E 29th St. North.

 For those unable to attend in person, a virtual option via Zoom is available to allow remote participants to comment. Advance registration on the KCC’s website is required for those participating by Zoom. The hearings will be broadcast on the KCC’s YouTube channel for viewing only.

 The Commission will also accept written comments regarding the rate increase request through 5 p.m., September 29, 2023, on its website, by mail to the Commission’s Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.

 The Commission will issue an order on the application on or before January 4, 2024.

 Good Samaritans and Joplin Police help stop an attempted child abduction during Joplin's Third Thursday event downtown.

 The call to Emergency Dispatch came in just after 9:00 last night. Initial reports say an adult male grabbed a 4-year-old girl outside of a bounce house near 3rd and Main. As the suspect tried to carry the child away, the mother began chasing after the suspect. Bystanders joined in the chase; they were able to confront, stop, and surround the man until authorities arrived. The child was rescued and reunited with the mother.

 28-year-old Johnny Arehart, currently homeless, is being held in the Joplin City Jail, with suggested charges of child kidnapping. The child appeared to be unharmed.

 Detectives with the Joplin Police Department are asking for people at the event who witnessed anything related to this incident, to contact Detective Sergeant Luke Stahl at 417-623-3131 extension 1885.

 The Parsons Police Department moooves to help resolve a traffic issue.

 The incident took place yesterday; the hazard was a calf that escaped from the local livestock market. The calf was located near Parcom in the 800 block of North 16th Street, just eight blocks from the Parsons Livestock Market. The owner of the livestock market and an employee were able to rope the calf in the 1500 block of Dirr Avenue, and with the help of Sergeant Waylon Kepley as an anchor on the rope, they were eventually able to get the unruly calf into a stock trailer and back to the market.

 Parsons PD says if you happened to see a loose cow, calf, bull, or any other livestock loose on the streets, please don't approach it. Call the police and they will make sure the animal is safely captured. Be safe and stay away.

The missing Coffeyville teen has been found.

18-year-old Caden Isle left on Wednesday and was reported missing yesterday. The Isle family and the Montgomery County Sheriff's office asked for the public's assistance in locating Isle. The sheriff's office reports that Isle is safe and has returned to his family.

Sheriff Ron Wade says he would like to thank all of those that shared the post and assisted with the search. 

 The only survivor of three men accused of kidnapping and murdering two Picher, Oklahoma teens twenty years ago has been released from jail.

 Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kay Thompson says Ronnie Busick was released at 6:45 this morning. Thompson says Busick was taken to a bus station, but did not say the destination on the ticket.

 Busick was convicted in the kidnapping and the killing of Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible, and the murders of Ashley’s parents in December of 1999. Lauria and Ashley’s remains have never been found.

 Phil Welch, Jr. and David Pennington both died before going to trial. Busick says he can’t remember where their bodies were dumped.

 Lorene Bible was one of the protesters at the prison this morning when Busick was released. She says she doesn't believe him, and she will never stop looking for her daughter’s remains.

 Governor Laura Kelly signs and line-item vetoes aspects of House Substitute for Senate Bill 113, the bill containing the budget for K-12 education.
 With her line-item vetoes, the bill fully funds K-12 education for the fifth consecutive year and protects funding for rural schools facing declining enrollment.

 In addition to funding schools in accordance with the state constitution, the version of SB 113 Governor Kelly signed also improves school safety by including $5 million so schools can purchase communication equipment to better coordinate with law enforcement and purchase naloxone to combat fentanyl poisoning.

 The bill includes $1.8 million to support teacher professional development and $1.3 million for a program that provides teachers early in their careers with mentors to support their professional growth, and gives students the technical skills for a modern economy by including $1.5 million to transport students to career and technical education opportunities, $1 million to ensure more students learn computer science, and $40,000 for a pilot program expanding the ways students can receive career and technical education credentials.

 Governor Kelly line-item vetoed appropriations in SB 113 that would have changed the school finance formula that determines the amount of funding annually appropriated by the state to public schools. Kelly says the provision would have risked the state’s compliance with constitutional funding requirements and could have resulted in rural schools having to cut services or close buildings.

 Governor Kelly’s full message to the Legislature and more information about her line-item vetoes can be found in the online version of this story here.

 A convoy of vehicles that included four buses from the Commerce School District were involved in a crash in Oklahoma City yesterday morning.

 Superintendent Steve Moss says the buses were there for a yearly inspection. Three of the vehicles were involved in the accident on Turner Turnpike, with two of the buses catching fire. One staff member received medical treatment.

 The investigation is ongoing.

 Former Nowata County Election Secretary Cary Freeman has been arrested for rape of a teenage girl.

 Court documents say the abuse started in September of 2022 and continued into March of this year.

 A forensic interview led to the arrest of Freeman. According to Nowata Court records, Freeman is currently being held on $1 million bond.

 Voters removed Freeman from office as Election Secretary in October, 2022.

Recent rains have slightly improved drought conditions in Kansas and Oklahoma. The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the eastern half of Montgomery county has improved from the extreme to severe category of drought. Areas to the north and west of Coffeyville are still in the D3 or D4 category, which is the worst classification of drought conditions. Almost all of Chautauqua and Elk Counties are in exceptional drought. Some counties in Oklahoma including Osage have all 4 categories of drought present within the county. A link to the latest report is available here.

 A Bartlesville man is facing charges of domestic abuse against a pregnant woman, after an incident Wednesday afternoon in Bartlesville. 36-year-old Chadd Null was arrested after police responded to a domestic situation in progress. The victim told police she had been physically assaulted by Null after an argument.

 Court documents say Null and the victim were arguing about the victims THC use while being 8 months pregnant. Null became angry and allegedly slammed the victim on the bed before placing his hands on her throat to the point where she could not breathe.

Null is being held on $25,000 bond; his next date in Washington County Court was set for May 26th.

 Very little information is known about a shooting that took place last night in the 300 block of West 3^rd Street in Coffeyville.

 The incident took place just before 8:00 p.m. Eye witness reports at least eight shots being fired.

 KHP, Montgtomery County Sheriff deputies and Coffeyville PD were all on the scene.

 More information will be given as it's available. The investigation is ongoing.

A woman is seriously injured after a single-vehicle crash west of Cherryvale.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, around 9:10 last night, 56-year-old Sheryl Bailey of Cherryvale was driving a Jeep Cherokee westbound on County Road 5000 about 6 miles west of 169. Bailey failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway and her vehicle came to rest in the ditch. Bailey was taken to Labette Health with a suspected serious injury. She was not wearing a seat belt.

 A person of interest from a 1998 case in Delaware County, Oklahoma, has died. 

 Delaware County Sheriff James Beck says his office was notified by the Welasco Police Department in Texas earlier today that 79-year-old James Sweeten, a person of interest in the disappearance of his ex-wife Peggy Sweeten in 1998, allegedly contacted them, stating he wanted to harm himself. When officers arrived, Sweeten was found deceased in an outbuilding from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The death has been confirmed by Delaware County Cold Case Detective Mark Wall.

 52-year-old Peggy Sweeten was last seen January 13th, 1998. New evidence authorities found last week yielded no answers. 

 The investigation continues in Delaware County, with a new investigation beginning  in Welasco. 

Phase three for the additions to Sherwin Williams Park is nearing completion. Coffeyville Recreation Commission Director David Rains says phase three adds three new amenities to the park.

The destination playground will include a ropes course, zip line and a surface-mounted merry-go-round. Rains says the concept for phase three started back in 2017 and is the last phase of their original three-phase plan.

Rains says once installation is complete the site will have final grade work, seeding and fence construction. He says they anticipate a Grand Opening the last week of June. 

Kansas's biggest attraction is celebrating its 60^th birthday this week. Big Brutus in West Mineral is holding a two-day event celebrating this milestone. Executive Director Cindy Morris says the first part of the event starts tomorrow.

Admission for tomorrow's events is $10 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. Morris says they will open their doors on Saturday at 9:00am.  Admission for Saturday's events is $20 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. Big Brutus is located at 6509 NW 60^th Street in West Mineral.

The Native American Fellowship Inc. in South Coffeyville is a polling location for the upcoming Cherokee Nation Election. The election will be on Saturday, June 3^rd. NAFI's Kris Crane says they will be open from 7:00am to 7:00pm on the day of the election.

Crane says those that filled out an absentee ballot form and received an absentee ballot have to vote by that ballot.  Crane says if you need an absentee ballot notarized and you can't get out they will come to you. She says they will help any way they can because everyone's voice should be heard. The number for NAFI is (918)255-4025.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is looking for a missing Coffeyville teenager.

Sheriff Ron Wade and the Isle family are requesting assistance in locating 18-year-old Caden Isle. He left yesterday morning at around 9:30am and has not been seen or heard from since. Isle left with only his laptop and was driving his 2001 Dark Blue Chevy S10 extended cab truck with Kansas Tag number 988MNJ.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Isle should call the sheriff's office at (620)330-1000 and ask to speak with Lt. Detective Chad Dunham or Patrol Sgt. Ricki Long. Anyone outside Montgomery County should contact their local law enforcement agency.

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center announces two inductees into their 2023 Hall of Fame Class.

Stephen Miller, DO, and Donald White, MD, have been named the 2023 inductees. This award honors people who have made a long-lasting contribution to healthcare in the community. CRMC Hall of Fame nominations recognize doctors, nurses, administrators, board members, advocates, and others for their impact on the community, concern for patients and services offered.

Dr. White began reading X-rays at CRMC in 1973 and has served in many capacities. He helped with the expansion of radiation oncology by recruiting Dr. Terry Powell to be the first Radiation Oncologist. Dr. Miller has delivered over 20,000 babies in his career at CRMC. 

 The Parsons Police Department registers for a grant to upkeep and to maintain their K9 program.

 The Aftermath K9 Grant was founded to showcase, support, and reward the unique contributions made by K9 units across the country. The program is based on community voting to be eligible for grant funding. Indirectly, the K9 Grant raises safety awareness and community kinship throughout the neighborhoods that Aftermath and community partners serve. The grants awarded can be used toward creating or maintaining a K9 program.

 Voting begins May 25th and runs through June 5^th.

 You can vote three times per day. Links to vote for the Parsons Police Department are listed below:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Independence is doing what they can to support local businesses with a cash mob tomorrow evening.

Individuals are encouraged to travel to downtown Independence tomorrow at 5:15 p.m at the corner of Penn Avenue and Myrtle. Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Wilson says the people participating will walk to a local business together to surprise them.

Wilson adds that the cash mob event was started by Liz Moore, with the idea that the fun of shopping can join with the support of small business owners.

Participants are encouraged to spend at least $10 at the showcased business, which will be revealed at 5:15 in the parking lot of Community National Bank.

The Wilson County Commission reach an agreement to sell a surplus CAT motor grader to a group from Salt Springs Township.

Jeff Pittman and Tina Kasting purchased the 2004 CAT 12H grader for $35,000, which was approved by the commissioners.

Other items of business from this week's meeting was the issuing of a right-of-way ditching permit to Ken Wohuska, a $1.00 pay increase for Kari Howard due to changing from laborer to equipment operator, and an agreement for USD 387 school nurse services for $17,573.10.

There will be no county commission meeting next week. The next meeting will be on May 31st at 9 a.m. in Room 101 of the Wilson County Courthouse.

 Congressman Jake LaTurner joins five fellow legislators in introducing the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act.

 The Act expands access to health care and save patients time and money by making permanent Medicare coverage of telehealth services allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes would include allowing patients to be treated at home, allowing rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers to provide telehealth services, and expanding coverage of audio-only services for certain conditions, among other changes.

 The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act expands and makes permanent Medicare coverage of telehealth services by removing geographic restrictions on originating sites, thus allowing patients to be treated from their homes, allowing Critical Access Hospitals to directly bill for telehealth services, allowing rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers to serve as distance sites for providing telehealth services, and expanding coverage to include audio-only services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services.

 A well traveled highway between Baxter Springs and the Missouri state line will close for reconstruction.

 The construction, beginning Tuesday, May 30th, will close a section of U.S. 166 east of Baxter Springs. The closure begins east of 5 Mile Avenue and continues east for 3 miles to the K-26 junction. Areas of U.S. 166 that are outside of the active work zone will be limited to local traffic only. All through traffic should follow the state route detour on K-26, K-66 and U.S. 69A

 During the closure U.S. 166 will be reconstructed on a new four-lane alignment south of the existing roadway. 5 Mile Avenue will be open to traffic until the construction of a tie-in at the end of this project phase. SE 90th Street will remain open to traffic. The work is part of the KDOT project to expand U.S. 166 and construct two interchanges from U.S. 400 southeast to the Kansas-Missouri state line. Work started earlier this year.

 Weather permitting, KDOT expects to reopen the realigned U.S. 166 later this fall. Highway condition and construction details are always available on KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.kandrive.org.

 Game wardens across green country give their weekly lake level updates after recent rainfall in the area.

 Oologah Lake is at its normal elevation with water stabilizing. Birch Lake is 0.88 feet below normal, but the water is rising. Copan Lake is 4.5 feet below normal, and water levels are falling.

 Hulah Lake is 5.05 below normal but water levels are stabilized. Skiatook Lake is the lowest of the lakes in the Osage, Nowata and Washington county area being 6 feet below normal, but water levels are rising.

 Lakes in Kansas are still feeling the effects of drought like conditions in the area. Wilson Lake is down 21 inches compared to normal, and with the unofficial start of the summer season beginning at the end of the month, Wilson Lake Army Corps of Engineers Park Manager Nolan Fisher says the recent rain has not brought up the lake levels. Fisher says it will take quite a bit of rain upstream to make ponds and streams overflow into the lake, however, he doesn't see any problems for Memorial Day boating.

 Kanopolis Lake is 1.6 feet below normal, although the level has gone up 2.8 inches, because of recent rainfall.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran speaks on the Senate floor to recognize National Police Week. Senator Moran says this observation began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy proclaimed this as a time dedicated to paying tribute to law enforcement who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Senator Moran recognized four members of Kansas law enforcement who passed away in 2022.  Moran says during this week, and really every other week of the year, we should and we do honor those we have lost and remember the families they left behind.

A Riverton man is arrested after his involvement in a shooting.

Just before 6:00pm last night, Cherokee County Sheriff's deputies responded to a shooting north of Riverton. The victim, who was not injured, had been shot at multiple times by a family member. The suspect fled the scene prior to law enforcement's arrival. This morning, an arrest warrant was issued for 37-year-old Joshua Ferguson, with charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and criminal threat.

As a result of their investigation, Cherokee County Detectives learned Ferguson was hiding out in Webb City. Through coordinated efforts with Missouri law enforcement, Ferguson was located and apprehended. Ferguson is being held in the Jasper County Jail, pending extradition back to Kansas.

 A new survey indicates Kansas drivers are among the worst in the nation.

 According to fourstateshomepage.com, a Forbes Advisor study says Kansas drivers were ranked third worst in the nation. Topping the list of worst drivers were Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky, according to Forbes.

 In 2021, 424 people died in car crashes in Kansas with a fatality rate of 1.34 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, according to a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) report.

 KDOT says 86.3% of crashes were in clear or non-adverse conditions. In 2021, almost 33,000 crashes involved driver infractions and cost Kansas over six billion dollars in total. From 2020 to 2021, there was a 10% increase in deadly crashes.

 According to Forbes, Kansas had the second-highest amount of deadly crashes involving distracted drivers, the third most deadly crashes involving drivers not obeying traffic signs, signals or officers, and ranked fourth in crashes involving drowsy drivers.

 Kansas Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Candice Breshears says they encourage drivers to always wear their seatbelts, have children in proper child safety seats, plan ahead and use designated drivers or ride-share services, put distractions away while driving, and slow down and focus on the roadway.

 The time to file for city commission in the city of Independence is nearing the deadline.

 Two positions are up for election. The filing deadline is 12pm Thursday, June 1st. If needed, the primary election, held if there are more than three times the number of candidates as there are positions up for election, would be held Tuesday, August 1^st. The general election will be held Tuesday, November 7^th.

 Candidates for all local elections file with the Montgomery County Clerk at the Courthouse in Independence, 217 East Myrtle. A person is eligible to file for a City Commission seat if they are a qualified elector of the City of Independence, meaning they are registered to vote and live within the Independence City limits.

 The filing fee is $70. Montgomery County receives $20 and $50 is sent to the Governmental Ethics Commission.

The League of Kansas Municipalities recently released their 2023 City Candidates Guide. A link to the guide is available here.

 Two rural Coffeyville residents are arrested on animal cruelty charges.

 Yesterday, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture served a search warrant on a residence in rural Coffeyville, for animal cruelty.

 The Sheriff’s Office and the KDA developed probable cause that many animals on the property and inside the residence were malnourished and being housed in very disturbing conditions. During the search warrant, detectives located and seized over 70 animals from the property including dogs, cats, birds, snakes, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and a lizard, as well as deceased animals. None of the animals had access to food or clean water and they were living in their own fecal matter. Detectives had a local veterinarian respond to the scene to evaluate the animals. The animals were removed from the scene and are being housed at appropriate shelters until further notice.

 Detectives arrested Heather Hall and Rafael Luna-Dezonne, both of rural Coffeyville. Hall and Luna-Dezonne were transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections. Charges include cruelty to animals: failure to provide food/water/shelter and cruelty to animals: Knowingly kill or injure animals.

 This case will be sent to the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office for review and proper charging.

 A Bartlesville man is facing a charge of embezzlement.

 Court documents say 33-year old Timothy Shaw is accused of taking just under $3,000 in deposits from Burger King. Video footage was provided to authorities showing Shaw preparing the deposits in an office in the restaurant.

 Officers say the video shows Shaw remove the deposit slip from the Arvest bag and slip it into a mix of other papers on his desk. Officers also say Shaw remove an unknown amount of cash and conceal it in his rear pants pocket along with his cell phone.

 Shaw did not show for two formal interviews with Bartlesville Police. He is being held on $5,000 bond, with his next Washington County Court date set for May 26th.

 A Bartlesville man is facing a domestic abuse charge after an incident late last week.

 29-year-old James Tiry was arrested after the victim contacted police to report the incident. Court documents say Tiry had thrown a 32 0z. cup of pop at the victim. The victim also says they were struck by a hatchet in their face.

 Tiry says he blacked out and that he remembers throwing the pop and the hatchet, but does not remember either object hitting the victim. Officers observed a small cut above the victim’s right eye that was consistent with her story of being struck by the hatchet.

 Tiry is being held on $20,000 bond; his next Washington County Court date was set for May 26th. Tiry is also ordered to have no contact with the victim.

The City of Neodesha is partnering with a private company to help recruit qualified applicants to fill city positions.

At yesterday's meeting, the city commission approved a contract with the company NEOGOV to help recruit and screen candidates. Commissioners acknowledged the challenges the city has faced in hiring positions such as linemen and fire/EMS operators. City Administrator Eddy Truelove says the company will advertise positions to a national audience and save time in screening applicants.

In other business, commissioners scheduled a special call meeting for this Friday for the unexpired term of Commissioner Nichol. Several letters of interest have been received to fill the position.

 Two men are dead following a suspected overdose after a Monday traffic stop by Bartlesville police.

 Bartlesville interim Police Chief Jay Hastings says a traffic stop was conducted near Price Road and Washington Boulevard on Monday evening, just before 11:30. During the stop, 47-year-old Jeffery Mack Hawkins, a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested on an active warrant. The driver, 47-year-old James Warren Chucalate, was released.

 A short time after Hawkins was transported and booked into the Washington County Jail, Hastings says he began having seizures and was transported to the hospital, where he died of a suspected overdose. At about the same time, police officers responded to a call of an overdose in the 2000 block of Southeast Osage Avenue. Upon arrival, it was discovered the victim was Chucalate, the driver of the vehicle stopped earlier by police. Chucalate was transported to the hospital, where he was also pronounced dead of a suspected overdose.

 Based on witness information at the scene, it is suspected that both Hawkins and Chucalate may have ingested narcotics at the time of the traffic stop earlier that evening. At the time of the stop, neither Hawkins nor Chucalate showed signs of illness or intoxication.

 The cause of death for both the deceased will be determined by the medical examiner. The investigation is ongoing.

 A Columbus man is in custody after leading law enforcement on a pursuit, which crossed state lines yesterday afternoon.

 Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies had been searching for 49-year-old Steven Tyner after a felony warrant had been issued for his arrest, stemming from his alleged failure to comply with bond conditions, having been arrested in December 2022 on allegations of rape and attempted murder.

 Yesterday, information obtained led Cherokee County Sheriff's Investigators to Tyner's whereabouts in Joplin. Missouri law enforcement authorities located and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Tyner, who then fled.

 The pursuit began by JPD, and entered Kansas, southeast of Crestline. Once in Kansas, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies performed a controlled tactical vehicle intervention, causing Tyner's vehicle to spin out, at which point he was apprehended.

 Tyner was transported to the Cherokee County Jail where he is being held on the outstanding warrant and new allegations of fleeing from law enforcement, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A drug dealer is arrested for the second time this month in Parsons.

Sunday night, an officer was on patrol when he witnessed a vehicle make a traffic infraction. The officer initiated a traffic stop and got the car pulled over. The officer identified the driver as Vincent Janssen Sr, who had been arrested by the Kansas Bureau of Investigations on May 2^nd for numerous drug-related crimes. During the Sunday night traffic stop a Labette County K9 alerted on the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. Janssen pulled down his pants and attempted to kick evidence under the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle located over four grams of methamphetamine, 11 fentanyl pills, 367 Cocaine pills and 15 Xanax pills. Vincent was arrested with new drug-related charges including distribution.

A domestic dispute victim is hit with a plate of food.

Sunday, a Parsons Police officer was dispatched to a reported domestic battery. Officers discovered the victim had been hit with a plate of spaghetti and was pushed. With enough evidence, officers arrested 60-year-old Roy Louis Peterson for domestic battery.

This is Peterson's second arrest in two months for domestic battery against the same victim.

Challenges face hospitals nationwide and Coffeyville Regional Medical Center is no exception. 

However, the local hospital has seen some positive outcomes.  CRMC’s CEO Brian Lawrence says the expanded hours at its primary care center has seen growth.  Lawrence, who also serves on the Board of the Kansas Hospital Association, says that CRMC faces some of the same challenges as most hospitals.  Lawrence says staffing is also a significant challenge to most hospitals.

Lawrence spoke to the Coffeyville Rotary Club at their most recent meeting.

 The city of Caney will have a new backup water source after an agreement with and the laying of a two inch pipe from Chautauqua RWD #4.

 Caney City Administrator Kelley Zellner says using water from Chautauqua RWD #4 will benefit Caney residents, as current backup Timber Hill water goes through a longer process to get to the Caney water treatment facility.

 Zellner says Quivera Lake is a spring fed lake, making it one of the few water sources able to replenish itself even during drought conditions. He says the plan to use Copan Lake as a primary water source is still in the works.

 Zellner says between Copan Lake and the new Chautauqua RWD #4 backup source, the city will have the option to bypass the current water treatment facility, which would save the city from the current operations and maintenance costs.

 A Joplin man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of fleeing from law enforcement.

 37-year-old Joshua Devena was sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to fleeing from law enforcement in December, 2020 and again fleeing from Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies after committing a residential burglary outside of Riverton in December, 2021.

 Devena is being held in the Cherokee County Jail pending transfer to the Kansas Department of Corrections, and was prosecuted by the Cherokee County Attorney's Office.

 Rock and blues great and Coffeyville native Donnie Miller has passed away.

 Miller was the host of the longest running blues jam; he says that gave him the opportunity to give back to the music that filled his soul. His career spanned over 45 years, playing thousands of shows, big or small, from dive bars to major concert tours.

 Miller started as a rock musician, playing 200 shows a year for 10 years in several bands. That led to an eight album deal with CBS Records, beginning in 1987. His first album "One of the Boys" was released in 1990 to critical acclaim and included Cyndi Lauper and Tommy Shaw making guest appearances. A devastating hand injury in 1992 led Miller to the blues as a way of therapy to relearn the guitar. Miller says it saved both his life and career.

 Miller moved to Nashville in 2000, where he continued his career and influenced many new and established artists, including KGGF's own Chris Freund.
 Miller was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2020. Memories and words of condolence are pouring in from all over the world by those who he shared the stage with or those who listened to his music. He once called his career a 45-year overnight success, but his music will live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved him.

 Miller was 64.

 Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach urges the Biden administration to scrap a rule withholding federal Title IX funds from entities that prohibit biological males from competing in girls’ and women's athletics.

 Kobach and 14 other state attorneys general voiced its opposition to the proposed U.S. Department of Education rule, stating that it disregards five decades of evidence showing the benefits of applying the traditional definition of biological sex in sports, noting that Title IX ushered in decades of progress for American girls and women in the last 50 years.
 Kansas legislators recently adopted a law that prohibits biological males from competing with biological women in sports. Kobach will defend the state law if challenged.
 Some other states joining the letter include Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas.

The full letter is available here.

It's starting to feel like a more normal rainy May for southeast Kansas. Here are the latest 24-hour rain totals:

KGGF Studios: 1.12 inches

Fredonia: 1.56 inches

Howard: 0.10 inches

South of Bartlesville: 0.68 inches

NE of Vinita: 1.34 inches

KGGF participates in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.  Your rainfall reports are welcome! Give us a call today on Open Line between 9 and 11 a.m.  Just call 620-251-6909.

 A bomb early last week leads to the discussion of safety measures during this week's Nowata County Commissioner Meeting.

 The bomb threat was made last Tuesday at the Nowata County courthouse. The man, who was visibly upset, threatened to barricade the door and bomb the building with everybody inside. He was arrested the next morning, after a search warrant had been filled. Arresting officers recovered firearms and reloading equipment.

 The event last week led to a discussion in yesterday's county commissioner meeting. Nowata County Treasurer Rachael Marrs asks if the situation was taken seriouosly.

 Commissioners agreed to purchase security cameras and monitors, and are looking into placing panic buttons for every office in the courthouse.

 The Osage County Sheriff's Department is looking for the person responsible for attempting a prison drop.

 According to a Facebook post from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place Friday morning around 4:30 a.m. OCSO Deputies were advised of a "Prison Drop" in progress at Dick Conner Correctional Facility in Hominy.

 The prison tower guard was using a thermal scope and saw the suspected individual north of the prison near an oilfield pump jack and then lost sight of the individual near that location.

 Deputies saw a moving flashlight in a wooded area. They tracked the individuals for approximately 500 yards but would lose track again. A sniper hood was spotted in a thorn bush, along with a duffle bag containing tobacco, cell phones, hot spots and phone chargers.

Anyone with information on a possible suspect is asked to contact OCSO or Hominy PD; you can remain anonymous.

 A Bartlesville man is a facing multiple charges after an incident on Lindenwood Avenue in Bartlesville.

 Mario Galvan's first appearance in Washington County Court was yesterday afternoon. He is facing charges of DUI, driving with license suspended, and obstructing an officer.

 Galvan was pulled over for erratic driving on Lindenwood Avenue. During the stop, Galvan exited the car, and ignored officers instructions to stay in his vehicle multiple times. Court documents say Galvan was non-compliant and stared at the officer as he gave him commands. Officers ordered Galvan to get on the ground seven times before eventually tazing him.

 Galvan's breath allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol. He is out on a felony assault and battery domestic charge. Galvan is being held on $20,000 cumulative bond, with his next court date set for May 26th.

Kansas Senator Roger Marshall along with Vermont Senator Peter Welch are introducing legislation to allow beef producers to sell across state lines.

The Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions Act would allow small processors to access more consumers. Meat and poultry currently cannot be sold across state lines unless it's processed at a USDA-inspected facility. Many direct-to-consumer marketing options including e-commerce have increased in popularity in recent years. The act would ensure a paper trail for tracing any food safety issues.

A violent offender is arrested in Parsons.

Yesterday at around 4:24pm, the Parsons Police Department was notified about a domestic battery in progress. While officers were responding to the scene the suspect fled. The caller gave a description of the suspect, who was identified as 28-year-old Edward David Gutierrez. An officer spotted Gutierrez and he was taken into custody.

Other officers were able to speak to the victim and a witness of the event and probable cause was developed for the arrest of Gutierrez. A large combat-style knife was located that was reportedly used to threaten the victim. Recommended charges are aggravated domestic battery, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated weapons violation by a felon and criminal restraint.

A Parsons man is arrested for making felony threats with an ax.

Parsons Police officers were called to a report of 33-year-old Benjamin Michael Watson threatening a victim with a hatchet. Later in the same shift, officers were called to an incident where Watson had threatened another victim. A possible location for Watson was found and he was arrested without incident. During his arrest officers located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Watson appeared in Labette County District Court on new charges of aggravated assault, criminal threat, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and other charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated burglary, criminal threat and aggravated intimidation of a witness. Watson was ordered to be held with a $100,000 dollar bond. Watson is a familiar face with PPD, as he has been listed as a suspect in seven cases since January 1^st and arrested four times in the same time frame.

The Sheriff's Office in Montgomery County was approved for a new telephone recording system.

Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections Administrative Assistant Liz Schwatken says that the new system would record all audio that goes through dispatch.

Schwatken says the new system would eliminate the previous method of downloading call audio to a more precise interval.

There was also a work session at this week's County Commission meeting with the Public Works Department regarding bridges.

Coffeyville's Summer Celebration will be here before we know it.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 8^th. Organizer Gail Smith says they are looking for volunteers.

Those interested in volunteering can contact Smith at (620)252-8688.  The Summer Celebration will include a car show, food trucks, live music and of course one of the largest fireworks show in the area.

 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran introduces the Rural Jobs Act, legislation to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment to disadvantaged rural communities in America.
 Senator Moran says it's time credit is put to work for rural Americans, adding that Rural Job Zones will cover the vast majority of rural states like Kansas, giving thousands of small towns the same opportunities as larger cities.
 The Rural Jobs Act would designate $500 million in NMTC investments for “Rural Job Zones.” The zones are low-income communities that have a population smaller than 50,000 and are not adjacent to an urban area. Under the new definition, Rural Job Zones would be established in 342 out of the 435 congressional districts across the country.
 The bill would also require that at least 25 percent of this new investment activity be devoted to counties with persistently-high rates of poverty and migration. There are approximately 400 counties in the United States facing persistent poverty.
 Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

 A 10-vehicle collision Friday afternoon claims the life of a Neosho man.

 The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the chain-reaction crash took place at 4:45 p.m. on I-44 West, two miles west of Mount Vernon. Nine vehicles were stopped in traffic because of bridge work at the Freistatt branch double bridges. A tractor-trailer driven by 53-year-old Patrick Joiner, of Jefferson, Georgia, struck the Neosho man’s vehicle from behind.

 37-year-old Roger Alexander was air lifted to Mercy Hospital Springfield, and was pronounced at 6:50 p.m. Next of kin were notified.

Three others suffered minor injuries, with another suffering moderate injuries. All were transported to Mercy Hospital, Joplin.

 According to MODOT, this is the first known fatality crash at these bridges.

With more people traveling during the summer months, the Kansas Department of Transportation reminds motorists of the importance of wearing seat belts every time they are in a vehicle.

Law enforcement agencies across Kansas will be supporting this focus on safety by participating in the national Click It or Ticket enforcement effort. The national seat belt awareness campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs from May 22 to June 4. 

Vehicle safety habits are important for all passengers, including children. Unfortunately, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows when parents ride without their seat belts, the use of child restraints drops up to 40%.

In 2022 across Kansas, 406 people lost their lives in crashes. More than 58% of those fatalities – 236 vehicle occupants – were not wearing seat belts.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, visit the link in the online version of this story at kggfradio.com.

 Governor Laura Kelly signs a bill providing students with medical school financial assistance.

 House Bill 2060 expands financial aid programs through the University of Kansas School of Medicine for students who practice primary care medicine or psychiatry in rural Kansas.

 The bill doubles the number of available agreements for KUMC students for the Kansas Medical Student Loan program and adds more women's services to the list of allowable practice areas. It also authorizes the Kansas Board of Regents to award osteopathic medical service scholarships to Kansas residents who are undergraduate students enrolled in or admitted to pre-accredited schools of osteopathic medicine.

 HB 2060 also continues providing incentives to Kansas community and technical colleges for individuals who have received or are pursuing a General Education Development credential while enrolled in an eligible technical career education program.

 Preliminary hearings begin for two Parsons residents accused of murder.

 47-year-old Kimberly Nibarger and 32-year-old Clint Nibarger made their first appearance in Neosho County Court Friday. They are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of 23-year-old Dakota Patton.

 Patton was reported missing April 25; his body was found in rural Neosho County last Monday. His vehicle was found in rural Labette County. Authorities say the front tires were blown out, and it appears the vehicle was towed to the area.

 Preliminary autopsy reports say Patton died from a gunshot wound, although official results are still pending.

 Kimberly and Clint’s next court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow.

 A Washington County jury found a Tulsa man not guilty on Friday of first-degree murder and also acquitted him on the lesser charges of first-degree manslaughter in the 2021 shooting deaths of two men at a Bartlesville bar.

 Gregory Rogers, of Tulsa, was accused of murdering Austin Standeford and Van Parson in a shooting at the Kickstand Saloon in December 2021. The jury did find Rogers guilty of carrying a weapon where alcohol is served. Rogers also admitted to shooting and killing the two men, but claimed it was in self-defense.

 Prosecutors called 17 witnesses during the trial including six witnesses who were in the bar at the time of the shooting. Closing arguments were heard Friday afternoon.

 The Washington County District Attorney’s Office claimed Rogers went to the bar looking for trouble and murdered the two men after they confronted him about inappropriate actions in the bar and attempted to kick him out. Rogers’ defense attorney Chase McBride argued that the shooting was in self-defense. He contends that there was a fight in the bar and that Rogers was on the ground when he fired the shots. McBride also questioned why there was no video of the incident when there were security cameras in the bar, but authorities claim the cameras weren’t working on the night of the shooting.

The verdicts were made after five hours of deliberations, with the only guilty verdict on the gun charge. Rogers will be sentenced at a later date.

Another Cherry Blossom Festival is in the books. Hundreds flocked to Cherryvale for the annual event presented by the Chamber of Commerce. A 5-K, car show, food trucks, craft vendors, cake walk and corn hole tournament were just a few of the events that took place on Saturday. In addition, several dance performances took place, and three bands performed between Friday and Saturday nights, including Worship Call, Straight Away, and EdgeOverEdge.

Kansas's 2023 winter wheat crop is forecast at 191 million bushels, down 22% from last year's crop based on May 1^st conditions. Wheat production for Oklahoma is forecast at 49.5 million bushels, down 28 percent from last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Average yield in Kansas is forecast at 29 bushels per acre, down 8 bushels from last year. Yield per acre in Oklahoma is expected to average 23.0 bushels, down 5.0 bushels from the previous year. K-State Research and Extension Wildcat District Crop Agent James Coover says winter wheat in southeast Kansas has benefited from periodic rainfall.

In last week's USDA Crop Progress Report, Kansas led the state in winter wheat joined at 94% and winter wheat headed at 72%.

Wilson County has seen a lot of rain over the past several days and minor low-land flooding is possible today in Fredonia and the surrounding area.  According to the National Weather Service, periods of showers and thunderstorms will affect the area today.  Strong to severe storms are not expected.  Flooding chances are greatest in areas that have already received heavy rainfall over the past 48 hours.  Street flooding was reported in Fredonia on Friday after severe thunderstorms moved through the area.  Another strong storm moved through Wilson and Greenwood Counties yesterday and a severe thunderstorm warning was briefly issued for Wilson County.

The Neodesha Historical Museum is holding it grand reopening tonight.

The reopening is for the museum building #2 project. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:00pm tonight with tours of the facility lasting until 9:00pm that evening.

The museum invites the public to attend and take in hundreds of previously hidden artifacts relating to the history of Neodesha.

 
 Governor Laura Kelly announces $30 million awarded to 18 recipients developing and improving tourism sites statewide.
 

 Funding was made available through the State Park Revitalization & Investment in Notable Tourism (SPRINT) program launched by the Department of Commerce earlier this year.

 The funds were designated by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and approved by the State Finance Council to support capital projects that spur regional economic development in the tourism industry, one of the most affected industries by COVID-19.

 
Visitor spending, which generates a total annual economic impact of $11.2 billion in Kansas, has yet to return fully to pre-pandemic levels.

 A local recipient of funds is the Brown Mansion, who received $100,000 from SPARK. 
 

 SPRINT applications included investments in state parks, museums, convention and visitor bureaus, conference centers, performing arts centers, entertainment venues, and other tourism-focused businesses and tourism agencies. Recipients will use funds towards infrastructure enhancements, renovation and repair of facilities, general construction, public land development, recruitment costs for permanent and semi-permanent exhibits, and costs for national museum affiliation. Awardees will have two years to complete their projects and utilize all awarded funds.

 A Joplin man involved in a motorcycle / van accident Wednesday afternoon has died.

 The accident took place at 12:41 p.m. at the intersection of 4th and Schifferdecker in northwest Joplin. The Joplin Police Department Major Crash Team says the accident happened when an ice cream truck pulled onto Schifferdecker from 4th Street, and into the path of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The motorcycle operator, 53-year-old Larry Bellamy, passed away from his injuries yesterday. Next of kin have been notified. 

 JPD encourages the public to use caution and be observant for motorcyclists and other members of the motoring public as they travel, so traffic crash numbers and fatalities can be kept to an absolute minimum. 

 The investigation is ongoing.

With National Police Week beginning on Sunday, the city of Independence is taking the opportunity to recognize their police department.

Independence Police Chief Jerry Harrison says this week has been honored for over 60 years.

The city made a proclamation at the City Commission meeting to recognize May 14th until May 20th as Police Week in Independence. Mayor Louis Ysusi says that he's grateful for the work and dedication the IPD puts in to keep the city safe.

Ysusi also proclaimed May 21st through the 27th as Emergency Medical Services Week.

 For the second time in history, the Professional Bull Riders are holding their prestigious World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.

 Unleash the Beast is set to begin tonight and run through May 21^st, with forty top riders and 100 bovine athletes competing for a $100,000 bonus at the end of the event.

Wyatt Rogers, from Hulburt, Oklahoma, is competing in his first PBR World Finals. He says it's been a long journey from being an 18-year-old rookie to now.

 Rogers joins Fort Scott native Tate Pollmeier in the field of forty; he says this is the cream of the crop in the arena.

 The PBR World Finals begin at 6:45 tonight and tomorrow night from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

 Governor Laura Kelly signs a bipartisan bill decriminalizing fentanyl test strips.

 Senate Bill 174 decriminalizes test strips, which can detect the presence of fentanyl in other substances, helping prevent overdose deaths in Kansas. 

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100,000 people died in 2021 from a drug overdose, the most ever recorded in a single year in U.S. history.

 2023 marks the third year a bill has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature to decriminalize fentanyl test strips. In 2022, the bill passed unanimously in the House but stalled in the Senate.

 SB 174 also increases criminal penalties for manufacturing or distributing fentanyl and for committing battery against a healthcare provider.

 Kansans looking for substance use treatment and recovery services are encouraged to use state services. A link to those services are available here. 

 Representative Ron Estes votes in support of H.R. 2 – the Secure the Border Act.

 The House passed H.R. 2 yesterday by a 219 – 213 vote. The Secure the Border Act restarts construction of the border wall, deploys technology to the southern and northern border, increases the number of Border Patrol agents and provides bonus pay, requires transparency regarding illegal crossings from the Department of Homeland Security, and according to Estes, strengthens current law to protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking, end the abuse of executive immigration authority and strengthen and streamline the asylum process.

A railroad crossing in Cherryvale will close early next week. Starting on Tuesday, the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad will close its north crossing on U.S. 169 at Cherryvale for repairs. Traffic will be detoured on old 169 highway through Cherryvale. A 10-foot height restriction and 10-foot width restriction will be in effect on the detour. No vehicles weighing over 85,000 pounds are allowed. The work is expected to be finished by Saturday, May 27^th.

 A Commerce police officer is being recognized for his efforts in saving a 7-month old baby's life.

 According to Commerce Police Chief Ernie Shelby, Officer Donnell Ware responded to a call on Wednesday where the infant was not breathing. When Ware arrived on scene, the parents were standing on the front lawn of their home with the father holding the baby. Ware laid the baby on the ground and started CPR. Ware says the baby started to make noise and then started breathing. He says he was trained in infant CPR while in the U.S. Navy, but this was the first time he used his training on a real baby.

 The baby was taken to the hospital, and is already home.

 A bill banning texting while driving in Missouri passed the Senate yesterday, and is now on the governor's desk awaiting approval.

 Missouri and Montana are the only states without a distracted driving law; as it stands, it is only illegal for drivers 21 and under to text and drive in the Show-me state. SB 56 would require hands-free cell phone use for drivers of all ages.

 The bill gives enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, violations occurring in a work zone when workers are present, violations occurring in a school zone, and violations that result in property damage, personal injury, or death.

 The bill also allows car dealers to collect sales tax on vehicles before the buyer leaves the car lot, either through a lump sum before they take the car home, or through monthly payments.

 If signed, the bill would take effect this August.

One person is injured after an accident north of Independence. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2010 Toyota driven by 65-year-old Curtis Roden of Fredonia was stopped waiting to turn onto county road 6200 in the northbound lane of U.S. 75 last night just south of the 400 intersection. Roden's vehicle was struck from behind by a 2007 Toyota driven by 30-year-old Brittney Ferraro of Neodesha who failed to stop. Neither Roden or Ferraro had any apparent injuries, however, passenger Laurie Roden who was riding in the stopped vehicle was taken to Wilson County Hospital with a suspected minor injury. All involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts.

Despite the rain, Coffeyville's Community Elementary Schools kindergarten through second-grade classes holds their end-of-the-year Field Day. Students participated in a number of indoor events including bean bag toss, three-legged race, bouncy ball relay and hula hoop toss. Students also got to compete in an inflatable obstacle course.

P.E. Teacher Anita Walker says the sixth-grade class, who helped with the Field Day, did an awesome job running the event.  Second-Grader Jaxon Gosnell says it was super fun to participate in the Field Day and his favorite station was the bouncy house slide.  Walker added that she will miss the kids and it was an honor to have been a part of their lives.  

The Coffeyville Recreation Commission Board awards two students with scholarships at their last meeting.  Seniors Tyler Zimmerman and Rxea Morse were awarded the $500 scholarships and recognized for their work for CRC for the last several years.

Zimmerman has worked as a soccer and basketball official as well as on the summer field crew. Morse has worked as a scorekeeper for youth football and youth soccer, a softball umpire and part of the building security at the Bobby Clemons Recreation Center.

Independence Fire-EMS responds to a reported structure fire with possible entrapment.

IFD responded to the fire at 612 South 12^th at 8:17am. Interior crews immediately began search and rescue with fire suppression operations. During the search and rescue flash over conditions occurred. Crews quickly suppressed flames and interior crews were not injured. A completed search of the structure found no occupants and the Independence Police Department confirmed the kids who lived at the residence were at school.

The structure was determined a total loss and the fire is under investigation. Off-duty personnel, Independence Rural, Dearing Rural and Cherryvale Fire-EMS assisted on the call.

A Missouri woman receives a prison sentence in Cherokee County.

36-year-old Lacy Gunter, of Verona, was sentenced to prison earlier this month after failing to comply with the terms of probation stemming from a 2018 case, where Gunter pled guilty to a vehicle burglary. On May 3^rd, Gunter was ordered to serve her original 9-month term of imprisonment.

Gunter is being held in the Cherokee County Jail pending transfer to the Kansas Department of Corrections and was prosecuted by the Cherokee County Attorney's Office.

Free Fishing Days for Kansas are coming up the first week of June.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks invites Kansans to get outdoors by visiting public fishing waters and enjoying free fishing on June 3^rd and 4^th. While other fishing regulations still apply, such as length and creel limits, anglers can enjoy fishing public waters without a license during this annual two-day event.

Links for fishing regulations and locations to fish.

The Independence Historical Museum and Art Center has been awarded a grant from the Sunderland Foundation. IHMAC Director Ashley Hovell says this is to help with their IHMAC Forever Campaign.

Hovell says the $30,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation will be used for interior renovations and improvements.  Hovell says this campaign was launched last year for what has become a four-phase project, with over $150,000 being pledged so far. 

Less than 48 hours remain until nearly 300 students graduate from Coffeyville Community College.

Dr. Ron Bryce, this semester's Commencement Speaker, says he will use local people to hopefully inspire the graduates.

Bryce says he hopes those examples help show the graduates that they can make a difference, whether staying local or moving elsewhere. He says he is proud to be this semester's CCC graduation speaker, calling CCC a backbone of the area.

 CCC's graduation is Saturday at 10:00am in the west gym of Nellis Hall. Those unable to attend the graduation ceremony in person can watch the graduation online. A link to watch the graduation can be found here.

 Independence Police are searching for two individuals attempting to break into vehicles.

 IPD says on Facebook the individuals attempted to enter cars in the Country Club area around 2:30 this morning. Residents are encouraged to check their cars and notify IPD if they have video that can help ID the suspects. One suspect was wearing ripped blue Jean shorts and a light-colored hoodie.

Update 10:15 a.m.

The enhanced risk for severe weather has been pushed slightly to the east.

********

Severe storms are once again possible for Kansas and Oklahoma today, with the greatest threat being along and west of I-135. Much of southeast Kansas including Coffeyville, Fredonia and Sedan as well as Bartlesville in Oklahoma are in the “slight” risk category for severe weather. Areas east of Coffeyville have a decreased chance of severe weather. Large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes are all possible with this storm threat. As always, KGGF will provide severe weather coverage if needed.

USD 446 is creating a brand new Hall of Fame that will honor the best of individuals that have made impacts in the district.

Independence High School Principal Kurt Seiler says this new Hall of Fame will be a great way to honor the alum and staff of USD 446.

District alumni must be ten years removed from graduation to be nominated, while faculty and staff can no longer be employed within the district. In order to be nominated, there must be three different letters of recommendation for the individual in question, with the exception of special circumstances.

Seiler says there will be a selection committee that determines who is inducted each year.

The inaugural class is expected to be announced in the fall, and the nomination form will be posted on the USD 446 website in the near future.

 Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach disagrees with a Biden administration rule that increases mortgage fees for homebuyers with good credit to reduce rates for homebuyers with lower credit scores. In a letter joined by 17 other state attorneys general, Kobach requests that the administration reconsider the policy.

 The Federal Housing Finance Agency's loan-level pricing adjustment policy went into effect earlier this month. Under the rule, individuals with high credit scores pay higher rates to subsidize the loans of high-risk borrowers.

 Other states joining the letter include Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. The full letter to President Biden's administration can be read here.

 A Chanute man is arrested on multiple charges after shooting himself in a Joplin parking lot.

 JPD officials say the incident took place at 12:24 this morning. Officers received information that an individual with multiple warrants was inside a vehicle in the Planet Fitness parking lot at 2113 South Geneva Avenue. The suspect, 36-year-old Andrew Hegwald, of Chanute, had active felony warrants out of Neosho County, for Statutory Rape and Child Molestation.

 Officers responded and located Hegwald inside the vehicle on the parking lot. As they attempted to make contact, Hegwald retrieved a handgun and fired one round resulting in a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was given medical aid and transported to Freeman Hospital in critical condition. Next of kin has been notified.

 The investigation is ongoing.

 A Shawnee, Kansas, man was life-flighted after his vehicle collided with a MODOT vehicle on I-49 yesterday afternoon south of Lamar.

 MSHP officials say the department of transportation vehicle was parked while work was being done in the passing lane. Lights and a sign board were active when it was struck by a Dodge Ram pickup truck.

 56-year-old William Hall was taken to a Joplin hospital by helicopter with serious injuries. No MoDOT employees were injured.

 The Cherokee County Sheriff's Department is reminding drivers to move over or slow down for emergency personnel and road crews when flashing lights are visible.

 The reminder comes as a KHP Trooper's patrol vehicle was struck yesterday afternoon while assisting a motorist on I-70 Westbound in Saline County. KHP officials say the trooper is currently alert and conscious, but was initially trapped inside his vehicle.

 Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says it's a scary scenario that could have been much worse.

 Only three feet separate emergency personnel from traffic moving at highway speeds, and there's only so much emergency personnel can do to keep themselves safe when they pull over on the side of the road.

 KHP and Sheriff's officials ask you to do your part to help troopers go home to their loved ones. Make a difference and help save someone's life by moving over and slowing down.

 A motorcyclist is in critical condition after an accident yesterday in Joplin.

 JPD says the crash happened at the intersection of 4^th and Schifferdecker in northwest Joplin. Preliminary reports say the van was stopped at the stop sign on 4th Street and proceeded to turn left onto Schifferdecker, pulling into the path of the northbound Harley Davidson.

 Schifferdecker was closed between 2^nd and 7th Streets for several hours during the investigation. The driver of the van was not injured. The motorcyclist, who was reportedly wearing a half-helmet, was taken to Freeman Hospital in critical condition. Authorities have not released his name.

 A Bartlesville man's first-degree murder trial is underway, as opening statements were made Tuesday.

 Gregory Rogers is being tried in Washington County Court for the December 13, 2021 incident. Rogers is accused of murdering Van Parson and Austin Standeford at the Kickstand Saloon.

 The incident began after Rogers allegedly made a pass at Standeford’s date, leading to an argument with both victims. Standeford and Parson both tried to remove Rogers from the Saloon when Rogers pulled out his firearm and shot both before fleeing the scene.

 If convicted, Rogers could face life in prison.

A Pittsburg woman receives her sentence on a drug case in Cherokee County.

39-year-old Misti Dawn Caton was sentenced to prison after failing to comply with the terms of probation stemming from a 2018 case, where Caton pled guilty to possessing methamphetamine. Earlier this month she was ordered to serve her original 15-month prison sentence.

Caton is being held in the Cherokee County Jail pending transfer to the Kansas Department of Corrections and was prosecuted by the Cherokee County Attorney's Office.

Coffeyville's Community Elementary School holds their end-of-the-year Field Day for third through sixth grade. P.E. Teacher Tyler Coots says the big thing with this event is allowing students the opportunity to see something that they may not see very often.

Sixth Grader Noah Hogan says the Field Day is a good change of pace from a normal day at school.  Students participate in five events, which include the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin throw and a baseball or softball throw.

Winners of the running events

6th Grade Girls 100 meters and 200 meters - Leah Tatman

5th Grade Girls 100 meters and 200 meters - Mondrea Fulcher  

4th Grade Girls 200 meters - Dottie Lewis

4th Grade Girls 100 meters - Jaleena Howard

3rd Grade Girls 100 meters and 200 meters - Amaiah Collins

6th Grade Boys 200 meters - Kyler Hurbutt

6th Grade Boys 100 meters - Christian Walton

5th Grade Boys 200 meters - Grady Waggoner

5th Grade Boys 100 meters - Adain Peyton

4th Grade Boys 100 meters and 200 meters - Jackson Burns

3rd Grade Boys 200 meters - Wilfred LaForte

3rd Grade Boys 100 meters - Mondre Fulcher

 Governor Laura Kelly signs a bipartisan bill creating two sales tax exemptions increasing available resources for suicide prevention and providing services for elderly and disabled Kansans.

 Kelly says House Bill 2002 will benefit area Agencies on Aging and Kansas Suicide Prevention, stretching the impact of the funds they receive, furthering their ability to improve the quality of life for those they serve.

 The sales tax exemption will help Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ increase its ability to provide suicide prevention training and raise awareness of mental health resources in communities across the state.

 The tax exemption for Area Agencies on Aging will expand their ability to serve Kansas seniors and individuals with disabilities through increased accessibility, services, and community.

 Governor Kelly also signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2010, which makes technical updates to statutes, amends definitions, and creates a special sentencing rule for the criminal discharge of a firearm by a convicted felon. The bill creates a special sentencing rule for violations involving buildings and motor vehicles, and amends the law to allow more individuals to participate in SB 123-certified drug abuse treatment programs.

 Students in Caney schools who may not have made it on time for breakfast have a second opportunity for their beginning meal, through an initiative called Second Chance Breakfast. Superintendent Blake Vargas explains.

 Vargas says the benefits of Second Chance Breakfast pay off for everyone involved, both physically and mentally.

 Vargas says Second Chance Breakfast has been a program in existence for a number of years, and he’s excited to see it continue throughout the upcoming school year.

 Independence City Hall will be closed during the mid-day Thursday for an Employee Appreciation Event.

 The city says they will close from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and they appreciate residents for their understanding.

 The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran to help prevent Federal Aviation Administration system outages.
 The NOTAM Improvement Act would require the FAA to strengthen the resiliency and cybersecurity of the NOTAM system, which alerts pilots of safety and location hazards on flight routes. This bill follows a recent NOTAM system outage in January that grounded flights nationwide.
 The task force created by the NOTAM Improvement Act would be composed of representatives from air carriers, airports and airline pilots, aircraft dispatchers and FAA personnel unions, as well as aviation safety and cybersecurity experts.
 This follows conversations in January, in which Senator Moran spoke with FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen following the NOTAM system failure to discuss his agency’s efforts to identify the factors behind the system outage that grounded all flights nationwide and to prevent similar breakdowns from happening again.

 Governor Laura Kelly signs bipartisan legislation expanding the state’s healthcare workforce and improves Kansans’ access to care.

 Senate Bill 131 streamlines the process for therapists, psychologists, social workers, and others to obtain and maintain licenses from the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, and it expands who can administer influenza and other vaccines to Kansans over a certain age.

 The bill also allows the State Board of Healing Arts to set up a process by which sports medicine professionals licensed outside of Kansas can practice in the state during certain sporting events.

 The Kansas Corporation Commission approves a settlement agreement allowing Atmos Energy to increase its net revenues by $2.2 million raising residential rates by $1.03 per month for the average customer.

 Atmos originally asked the Commission for an $8.3 million net revenue increase in an application filed in September.

 According to the KCC, the settlement agreement balances the need for reasonable customer rates while providing the company with sufficient revenues to meet its financial obligations and provide reliable service. In addition, the increase will be spread out among all customer classes.

 The settlement addresses other issues such as allowing Atmos to continue to utilize the Gas System Reliability Surcharge tariff to replace its aging infrastructure in the state, waiving the requirement to charge customers a credit card fee, and approving a voluntary smart choice carbon offset pilot program.

 Atmos supplies natural gas service to more than three million customers in eight states including 139,000 Kansas customers.

A recording of the Business Meeting is available on the KCC YouTube channel.

 Even with some precipitation over the past few weeks, Bartlesville's overall water supply continues to fall, keeping the area in Stage 3 of water restrictions.

 Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen says supply fell to 56.1 percent last week, down from 56.9 percent the week before. This means the City will remain in Stage 3 of the Water Shortage Ordinance with the exception of emergency water rates, which will remain at Stage 2 levels as a rate increase requires a vote of the City Council.

 Lauritsen says the council will likely be asked to implement Stage 3 rates if there is no improvement in the situation by the next council meeting May 15th.

 If approved, emergency rates could apply to households using 2,001 or more gallons of water per month instead of only those using 10,001 or more, as outlined in Stage 2.

 Currently, the restrictions in place include:

 Customers who use more than 10,000 gallons of water per month are paying higher rates. Outdoor watering is restricted to one day per week, with even numbered properties being able to water on Thursdays only. Odd numbered properties are able to water on Fridays only. Water pressure has been reduced to the minimum standards allowed by state and federal regulations.

 Bartlesville voters approve an ordinance by just over 79 percent last night renewing the city’s franchise agreement with Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

 The agreement allows the utility company to have access to the city public right-of-ways and streets to operate the electric grid within city limits.

 According to unofficial results from the Washington County Election Board, 568 voters in Bartlesville cast ballots favoring the ordinance, 150 people voted against the proposal.

 The ordinance also continues an existing two percent franchise fee to the city of Bartlesville for the access permitted to the streets and alleys.

 The agreement will be in effect for the next 25 years, meaning Bartlesville voters won’t see the proposition again until 2048.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office arrest three subjects after an investigation in Fort Scott.

 Yesterday morning around 10:45 a.m., law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at 113 South Barbee St. in Fort Scott. Methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug use paraphernalia were found at the location. Four subjects were on the property at the time the warrant was served.

 Following the search, 53-year-old Roger Firebaugh, of Fort Scott, was arrested for distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of school property, and two counts of use of a communication facility for the distribution of controlled substances.

 38-year-old Janelle Roberts and 61-year-old Cavin Ford, both of Fort Scott, were arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 The investigation is ongoing.

Power is restored after lightning caused some outages in Coffeyville last night. According to the City, lightning burned up a phase causing a power outage near 3rd and Buckeye last night. Coffeyville Electric distribution crews responded to the area and were able to repair the outage by 10:40 p.m. Anyone experiencing an outage should call 620-252-6180 and leave a message if the line is busy.

Today will be a bit of a break from severe weather after a busy afternoon of storms yesterday. A long line of storms prompted warnings for all of southeast Kansas, but those were canceled as the storm weakened as it moved to the southeast. A few additional warnings were issued once last night's storms entered Oklahoma, but only minor tree damage and wind gusts between 55 and 65 mph were reported for the area.

Tomorrow will bring another chance of severe weather, mainly for Kansas and Oklahoma. The latest information from the National Weather Service indicates the threat area continues to shift to the west, with the greatest risk of severe weather and hail being west of I-135. Sedan, Fredonia and Chanute have a better chance of seeing severe weather tomorrow than the rest of the area. Timing of a potential storm will be between 3 and 11 p.m.

Citizens of Coffeyville show up at the City Commission Meeting accusing City Manager Mark Hall of lying. Fire Captain Pete Caresio says Hall has made several statements in the past that are not true.  

Caresio says there has been zero communication between Hall and the fire department either before or after this incident.  A number of other citizens spoke during public comments with evidence of what they are calling lies by Hall. The lies being referred to are things said by Hall during the last commission meeting and in a press release sent out by the city manager's office regarding the fire department and the hazmat pay.

Coffeyville's Early Learning Center is one of 500 schools in the U.S. and the only school in Kansas to receive recognition as a model Professional Learning Community at Work. Principal Amanda Cavaness says the process has been a collective effort.

Cavaness says they had to learn the difference between working together as a group versus working together as a team.  PLCs are schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is ongoing, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students.

The three big ideas of a PLC are focus on learning. build a collaborative culture and create a results orientation. Director of Educational Partnerships at Solution Tree Mike Bauer was in attendance to recognize the ELC.

A homeless man is arrested during a home burglary in Parsons.

Sunday night at around 8:18am, a Parsons Police Officer was sent to a residence for reported found property. Upon arrival, the officer found a pile of clothing and items on the porch. The officer noticed that the door and frame had been broken and the person inside the house was one of Parsons's homeless residents. The officer detained 32-year-old Mathew Thomas Nibarger, who claimed he owned the house. The homeowner verified that the house was burglarized.

During a search of Nibarger, officer found illegal drugs and paraphernalia. Recommended charges are burglary, criminal damage to property and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Nibarger has a history of burglary. He has convictions for two burglary cases in 2013 and an aggravated burglary conviction. He also has a conviction for attempted aggravated battery from a 2018 arrest, all in Labette County.

A Parsons woman is arrested after multiple vehicle burglaries.

Late last weekend, the Parsons Police Department was notified about a vehicle burglary at the Savannah Park Apartments. Officers found several vehicles that appeared to have been broken into. The caller identified the suspect as a female wearing a black skirt and carrying a white bag. Officers canvassed the neighborhood and found evidence that the suspect could still be close by. Officers located a person matching the description. The individual fled on foot but was quickly taken into custody.

The suspect was identified by witnesses and a nearby bag containing items from a vehicle was also located. 41-year-old Amanda Dawn Lockard was arrested with requested charges of three counts of vehicle burglary, three counts of theft and one count of interference with law enforcement Lockard has an extensive criminal record with nine convictions for vehicle burglary from a 2020 case in Labette County.

A brand new program will showcase the best in video games, competition, and teamwork at Independence Middle School.

USD 446 is committed to increase student involvement in extra-curicular activities. With an increasing interest in video games and the growing phenomenon of competitive gaming, IMS has announced the intent to start a new ESports program.

Assistant principal Sam Carnes says that a majority of students were interested in this opportunity.

Many different video games are played at the competitive level, and Carnes says a game that could be valuable at the start is Rocket League.

The program was signed off by the USD 446 Board during last night's meeting, and is expected to begin at the beginning of the next school year.

*photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times*

 Safety upgrades continue to be the focus of the Caney School Board, with windows in high traffic areas the main topic in last night’s meeting.

 Superintendent Blake Vargas says it’s a balancing act between spending what the budget will allow for upgrades to the windows, and installing what would have the greatest security enhancements for the schools. He says there are two types of windows the board is considering.

 Vargas says safety protocols have changed, with school officials controlling the first level of doorways, so no one can enter any level of a building without permission, especially during student arrival and departure times. Vargas says it’s been a great year in Caney Schools, as they focus on every student every day this year, into the transition to next year.

Citizens of Montgomery County going through the process of registering a physical addresss will soon be filling out a new application.

County GIS Director Anne Miller says that since numerous departments are involved in the procedure, the new form makes it easier for all parties involved.

Miller adds that with the time and research put into the form, applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable fee to begin the process.

Additional items of discussion at the Montgomery County Commission meeting was the annual budget presentation for Four County Mental Health from executive director Greg Hennen. The County Attorney's office was also approved for new laptop computers, in preparation of shifting to a paperless format.

 Improvements for the courthouse was a topic of the latest Nowata County Commissioners meeting.

 Commissioners Paul Crupper and Troy Friddle discuss the updates on the improvements for the courthouse.

 In other business, the commissioners approved a purchase agreement for a 2021 Dodge Ram 2500 to the Armstrong Bank. The Commissioners meet every Monday at 9 am in the Nowata County Courthouse Annex. The meeting is open to the public.

 Voters head to the polls today for the City of Bartlesville Special Election. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 Washington County Election Board Secretary Yvonne House says the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal is the easiest way for voters to verify their registration or locate their polling place. The OK Voter Portal can be found here.

 The Washington County Election Board reminds voters to bring a current federal or Oklahoma state-issued photo ID, or federally-recognized tribal ID to their polling place. An official Voter Identification Card can also be used as proof of identity.

 A Bartlesville man was arrested early Sunday morning on charges of domestic abuse and an act of violence, threatening serious bodily harm or death.

 BPD were dispatched to the 900 block of Lynwood Court for a domestic call situation. The victim contacted police, saying Antonio Levi Street was refusing to let her leave the residence. The victim also said that Street forced her onto a bed by grabbing her arms and pushing her, and had pushed her onto the bed multiple times in attempt to keep her at the residence. Street allegedly told the victim that he would find whoever the victim was “leaving him for”, and then kill him, the victim, and then himself.

 The victim had visible bruising on her forearm and shoulder. Street has admitted to shoving her to keep her at the residence so they could talk.

 Street is being held on $50,000 bond; his next court date is set for May 24th.

Retired South Coffeyville Deputy Fire Chief Eddie Howard has passed away.

The South Coffeyville Fire Department made the announcement late yesterday. Howard served the department, community and brother firefighters for 34 years. Besides his work with the fire department, Howard was recently traveling the country doing work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and recently helped with cleanup efforts after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Howard was also active in the Coffeyville Amateur Radio Club. The department is asking for prayers for the Howard family in this difficult time, and members of the amateur radio club including President John Vest are sharing their condolences.

 National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month continues in the month of May, and the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety continue to remind motorists to keep a “watch for motorcycles,” and help prevent motorcycle crashes, deaths, and injuries on roadways.

 According to MoDOT, preliminary data from 2022 finds there were 151 motorcycle fatalities on Missouri roadways, accounting for 14% of roadway fatalities for the year. Fatalities resulting from motorcycle crashes is on the rise in Arkansas as well. Arkansas saw a 21% increase in motorcycles fatalities from 2019 to 2020, putting the state third regarding motorcycles deaths nationwide. The state of Missouri ranked ninth for the number of deadly motorcycle crashes nationwide.

 MoDOT says motorists can help improve the safety of motorcyclists by always paying attention and looking twice, always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic, checking all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections, and never driving distracted or impaired.

Leadership at South Coffeyville Public Schools is looking for a football coach. Superintendent Daryl Pruter says he'd like a candidate who can teach and coach, but says they're willing to entertain other options.

If you are interested in the position, please call the South Coffeyville High School. Personnel was discussed during an executive session at last night's meeting but no action was taken. In other business, the South Coffeyville School Board approved a fundraiser, rehired Jeff Lay as treasurer for next school year, renewed the Accelerated Reader subscription and approved the upcoming school calendar.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office locate the body of 23-year-old Dakota Patton, and arrested two subjects connected to his death.

 Yesterday morning around 11:40, deputies from the Labette County Sheriff’s Office and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office were searching an area northeast of Parsons in rural Neosho County. Patton’s remains were discovered in a field near 20th Road and Xavier Road.

 When the KBI Crime Scene Response Team responded, the evidence collected determined Patton died from an apparent gunshot wound.

 Arrest warrants for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder were then secured for 32-year-old Clint Nibarger, and 47-year-old Kimberly Thomas, both of Parsons. 

 Thomas was observed leaving a residence in Hollister, Missouri when she was arrested by the Taney County Sheriff’s Office at 6:00 last night. Taney County deputies then arrested Nibarger at the same residence around 6:30 p.m.

 Nibarger and Thomas were booked into the Taney County Jail.

 The investigation is ongoing.

 Twelve new park benches were approved by the Osage County Commissioners during their regular session meeting this morning.

 Commissioners Steve Talburt says it will cost just over $4,700 for the benches, and he explains why the benches are needed.

 In other business, the commissioners appointed Laura Teague to a six-year term for the Osage County Industrial Authority.

 The commissioners meet every Monday Morning at 10 a.m. at the OSU Extension Building in Pawhuska.

 A man convicted of killing two Northeast Oklahoma girls is set to be released on good behavior, and the Oklahoma Attorney General says nothing can be done to prevent the release.

 71-year-old Ronnie Busick plead guilty in 2020 to accessory to murder charges in the disappearance of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, and the deaths of Ashley's parents Danny and Kathy Freeman in Welch. Oklahoma Department of Corrections records say Busick will be released on May 19^th.

 Lorene Bible, mother of Lauria, petitioned the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office; Attorney General Gentner Drummond responded through email to say that he, nor the District Attorney General, have the legal authority to delay Busick's release from prison.

 Busick was sentenced to ten years in prison with five years of probation. Drummond says his office will stand ready to assist any senator or representative who brings a bill to either floor requiring those convicted of accessory to murder charges being required to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence imposed. Drummond also states that a new law would only apply to future cases, because of constitutional limitations.

 A Commerce woman remains in stable condition after a single vehicle accident Saturday morning.

 Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials say the accident happened at 10:45 a.m. on South 620 Road, less than two miles east of Quapaw. 81-year-old Amanda Johnson was pinned for nearly 25 minutes after her vehicle went off the road, rolled over and came to rest on the driver’s side.

 Johnson was admitted to a local hospital in stable condition with head and upper body injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

 Citizen alerts lead to the arrest of a Bartlesville minor.

 Bartlesville Police received citizens calls concerning a reckless driver in the Oak Park area.

 Bartlesville PD Captain Andrew Ward says an officer observed the driver swerving from lane to lane, and almost swerved into the officer.

 A chase ensued, and the driver finally stopped on his own. The minor was arrested and charged with DUI among other offenses. Because the subject is a minor, no name was released. There were no injuries or damage to property.

VIDEO COURTESY OF EIZIK SHPEIZER

 Dr. Ron Bryce will address the nearly 300 students set to graduate from Coffeyville Community College Saturday at 10am in the west gym of Nellis Hall.

 CCC College Relations and Student Services Director Yvonne Hull says it's an honor to have Bryce as the commencement speaker.

 Dr. Bryce grew up in Coffeyville and is a 1978 graduate of Field Kindley High School. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1986 with an M.D. degree. After graduating from Field Kindley, Bryce was inspired to enter the field of medicine after being employed at Coffeyville Memorial Hospital ER as a night orderly. He was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2022.

 Later this week, we will hear from Dr. Bryce on what he plans to say to the 2023 graduating class of CCC.

 Those not able to attend the graduation ceremony in person may watch online. A link to the broadcast is available here.

 The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, along with LifeChoices and the RISE Coalition, shuts down part of a human trafficking operation.

 The operation took place last Friday. Jasper County and Joplin Police detectives contacted four people who were offering prostitution services at a hotel in Jasper County. During the investigation, one person was arrested on warrants out of multiple jurisdictions, and one was arrested for prostitution. Jasper County Sheriff Randee Kaiser says the goal of the operation was to identify potential victims of human trafficking and connect them with appropriate services and the way to get away from traffickers.

 Kaiser says the secondary goal was to locate human traffickers and arrest them. He says the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office takes their role in stopping human trafficking seriously and will continue to work with agencies and local victim advocate groups to identify victims and traffickers, as well as the customers of these victims.

 The Missouri Department of Public Safety honored the lives of fallen law enforcement officers over the weekend, with two officers from Joplin being added to the memorial.

 JPD’s Corporal Ben Cooper and Officer Jake Reed's names were added to the Law Enforcement Memorial Wall of Honor as part of the annual Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial Service. They were two of 11 Missouri officers killed in the line of duty in 2022.

 742 names have inscribed on the memorial, 23 from the Joplin Police Department.

 The foundation was established twenty eight years ago to remember the law enforcement officers who lost their lives for their communities.

 A Bartlesville man was found guilty by a Jury last week for a murder in Osage County.

 Deante Williams was found guilty of first-degree murder and robbery with a weapon for the 2020 killing of Ryan Brown.

 The jury recommended Williams serves life in prison for the murder with an additional 20 years for robbery. 

 William’s next court date was scheduled for June 8^th.

A section of 1^st Street near the refinery closes today for roadwork. According to the City of Coffeyville, 1^st Street from Sunflower to Linden will be closed today through June 9th so that Coffeyville Resources can work on curb entrances and repairs.

Patchy dense fog is possible during the morning for areas in southeast Kansas. According to the National Weather Service, reduced visibility of a quarter-mile is possible in an area stretching from Wichita to Coffeyville. If driving, don't forget to use your low-beam headlights. The fog should burn off quickly this morning.

A man is seriously injured after a single-vehicle crash near Galena. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 39-year-old Thomas Sirbuly of Galena was traveling southbound on SE 90^th about 2 miles south of K66 on Saturday. Sirbuly was ejected from the vehicle after his Chevy pickup went off the roadway to the right and stuck and embankment. Sirbuly was taken to a Joplin hospital with a suspected serious injury. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

More roadwork gets underway near Sedan this week. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, workers expect to begin a mill and overlay project on K-99 from Sedan north to the Chautauqua-Elk county line this week. Flaggers and a pilot car operation will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone during daylight hours. Drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less. The road work should be completed by June, weather permitting. KDOT awarded the construction contract of $2.3 million to Pearson Construction, LLC, Wichita. Roadwork also continues on 166 Business Loop in Sedan as well.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office continue their search for Dakota A. Patton, the 23-year-old man who was last seen the evening of April 25, in Parsons, Kansas. Foul play is suspected in Patton’s disappearance.

 The Labette County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance on April 27, after Patton’s vehicle was located abandoned in a field in rural Labette County. Patton was also reported missing on April 27. 

 Patton is a white male. He is 5 ft. 11 in. tall and weighs around 230 lbs. He has brown hair, blue eyes, and facial hair. Patton was likely wearing blue jeans, a grey sweatshirt and boots. 

 KBI agents believe Patton may have last been in an area along the Neosho River ^_ between 20th Rd. and Wallace Rd., and 60th Rd. and Wallace Rd. Investigators ask fisherman, hunters, farmers, and hikers who frequent this area to report anything suspicious they encounter that may be connected to Patton’s disappearance.

 If you have any information about the disappearance of Dakota Patton, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Labette County Sheriff’s Office at 620-795-2565. Anonymous tips can be made online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

 The investigation is ongoing.

The Model A Clubs in Tulsa and Oklahoma City are making a stop in Coffeyville for the weekend. Club Member Rodger Johnson says every year they get together and go on a spring tour and a fall tour.  Johnson says there are a few differences between the Model T and the Model A.  

Johnson says you'll be able to see them all over the county over the course of the next few days.  Johnson says this weekend they are joined by the National Model A Club president. The Model A Clubs in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City have been around for 55 years. The Tulsa Club has around 70 members with at least 150 automobiles.

Coffeyville Friends of Animals is holding a dog walk-a-thon during the month of May. CFA's Becky Barnhart says this is a new event they are doing as a fundraiser.

Barnhart says the raffle winner will receive a custom leather dog leash made by Secondhand Sorrel Leather Company. For more information check out CFA's Facebook page or give the shelter a call at (620)252-6060.

 Parsons Police Department arrests a Parsons woman on several drug results.

 Tuesday evening at approximately 8:30pm, Parsons PD and K9 Morgan conducted a routine traffic stop for defective vehicle equipment in the 900 block of Main Street in Parsons. The driver, who did not have identification with her, identified herself as “Annebry Zamarripa.” The woman was later identified as Bryanne Biggs. Biggs was found to have a suspended Kansas driver’s license with several driving while suspended convictions.

 During a vehicle search of the vehicle, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were found. The controlled substances field tested for methamphetamine and marijuana.

 Biggs was also found to have an active warrant for her arrest through Barton County, KS for probation violation stemming from a controlled substance case. Biggs also has convictions and was sentenced for Possession of Controlled Substances in Rice County, KS in 2012; and in Barton County, KS in 2021.

 Biggs was arrested and taken into custody for the new charges in Labette County, and the arrest warrant from Barton County.

 Suggested charges from Parsons PD include unlawful possession of controlled substances, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with law enforcement, driving while suspended, no valid proof of insurance and defective equipment.

 Biggs appeared in Labette County District Court yesterday; she received a $15,000 dollar bond. Biggs remains jailed pending bond.

 A Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy, alerted to suspicious activity southeast of Crestline late last week, locates a stolen vehicle, and arrests the occupants.

 The 2005 Ford F-250 truck was reported stolen from Arcadia, Kansas. The driver of the stolen truck fled on foot before stealing a nearby skid steer. He attempted to flee through a wheat field from additional Sheriff's Deputies and State Troopers, who had arrived on scene.

 54-year-old Timothy Clinton was apprehended from the stolen skid steer and is currently being held in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of possessing stolen property, felony theft, fleeing law enforcement and criminal damage to property, along with outstanding warrants for his arrest out of Cherokee County and Olathe for failing to appear in court and possessing dangerous drugs.

 Also arrested at the scene was 40-year-old Jerome Devore, of Pittsburg.  Devore is being held in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of possessing stolen property, possessing methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, along with outstanding warrants for burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, battery and possessing a controlled substance.

 A Colcord woman dies after her vehicle lost control and hit an oncoming truck.

 The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 4:45 yesterday afternoon on Highway 59, less than a mile south of Jay. A vehicle driven by 45-year-old Rhonda Burke came around a curve, lost control and hit a vehicle driven by 58-year-old Tracy Teague, of Jay. Burke was taken to Integris Grove General Hospital where she died from her injuries. Teague refused treatment at the scene.

 The OHP crash report lists speeding as the cause of the collision.

 An Ottawa County woman who helped hide her boyfriend who escaped from jail received a two-year deferred sentence.

 41-year-old Callie Gower, of Miami, entered the plea in Ottawa County District Court to harboring a fugitive from justice in connection to the October 2022 jail break involving Tyler Tavis, Daniel Zajicek, Rusty Reece and Buck Martindale.

 Martindale was found by Ottawa County Sheriff’s deputies and Quapaw Nation Marshals at his girlfriend's rural Quapaw residence. Law enforcement officers found Martindale’s shoes lying on the floor, with Martindale found in the crawl space behind the vent.

 Martindale’s state charges of escaping from a penal institution, assault upon a correctional officer, obstructing an officer and public intoxication were dismissed in January based on a motion filed in December.

 The motion is based on the Lawhorn and McGirt Supreme Court rulings. The Lawhorn ruling allows the existence of the Quapaw Reservation making it the first and only tribe in Oklahoma to have its reservation affirmed that is not part of the Five Civilized Tribes. Martindale is a member of the Quapaw Nation.

 Governor Laura Kelly announces a new proposal requiring railroads operating in Kansas to have at least two railroad crew members in the lead locomotive.

 According to the Federal Railroad Administration, Kansas is in the top 25 states for highway-rail grade crossing collisions, resulting in five deaths and 14 injuries in 2022 alone. Derailments resulted in nearly $10 million in damage in 2022.

 Before the regulation takes effect, it will be subject to at least a 60-day public comment period. Organizations including the International  Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers have supported this rule.

 The majority of railroads in Kansas are currently operating two-person crews and will have no increased labor costs from the implementation of this regulation.

 The new rule would be enforced by the Kansas Department of Transportation. When the rule becomes official, Kansas will become the ninth state in the country with this safety requirement.

 Cherokee Nation leaders met with nearly 300 community members and leaders of the Cherokee Cultural Community organization Tuesday to celebrate the opening of a new community building. 

 The new facility will provide the community with a place to learn about Cherokee culture and language and host family activities. The building also provides future opportunities for Cherokee Nation programs and services to be available to Cherokee citizens in the area. 

 The Cherokee Nation purchased and rehabilitated the building under the Housing, Jobs & Sustainable Communities Act signed into law by Chief Hoskin in 2019. The Act initially set aside $30 million for housing projects and for improving communities through grassroots efforts. In 2022, the Act was amended to provide an additional $120 million toward housing and community efforts across the Cherokee Nation.

 The Cherokee Cultural Community is a participating organization of the Cherokee Nation’s Community & Cultural Outreach. The Dewey community building is being leased to the organization, which is standard practice for community centers owned by the Cherokee Nation across the reservation.

 The community center is a total of around 9,500 square feet.

 Allen County Court officials say a 78-year-old LaHarpe man is not mentally competent to stand trial for murder.

 Authorities arrested Raymond Maloney for the May 3, 2022 murder of his neighbor, 68-year-old Richard Diehl. The prosecutors office formally charged Maloney with first-degree murder and interference with a law enforcement officer.

 Maloney went through a mental evaluation at Larned State Security Hospital earlier this year, with the results coming back late last month. Wednesday, it was decided that Maloney is not competent to stand trial. The court also decided that the defendant is unlikely to be competent in the near future.

 Involuntary commitment proceedings have begun. Maloney will be committed to Larned State Security Hospital, with formal charges remaining.

 A Bartlesville man is facing a charge of domestic abuse by simple assault.

 32-year-old Jeffrey Rees was in Washington County Court yesterday afternoon from an incident that took place in December, 2021. Court documents say Rees was at his apartment with his girlfriend, his roommate and the roommate’s girlfriend. The victim and the roommate were watching a movie when Rees came in and demanded the roommate’s girlfriend leave the residence. Reese then allegedly threw the roommates girlfriend into the wall several times, before his girlfriend would try to intervene. She was allegedly thrown into the wall by Rees as well.

 Rees is being held on $2500 bond; his next court date is set for May 10th.

Farmers' markets in Coffeyville and Independence will start up for the season this weekend.

The first Coffeyville market is tomorrow from 9 until noon in Walter Johnson Park. The Coffeyville market will also be open Tuesdays from 4 until 6 p.m. Vendors are welcome and no registration is needed.  The first Independence Farmers' and Makers Market will be tomorrow from 7:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., and markets are also held every Thursday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Chestnut and 8th. Those interested in selling can contact the Independence Chamber of Commerce for details. There will be a market held tonight in Fredonia in the First United Methodist Church parking log from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. The Fredonia market also takes place on Tuesdays from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

The second Coffeyville Innovation Lab for Youth sees max attendance. A combined 24 boys and girls, eight to ten years old, attended last weekend's second session. Coffeyville Reawakening's Denise York says this could become a more reoccurring event.

Between the two weekends, there were a total of 45 students who participated in the innovation labs. Students selected and 3D printed a project identified a problem, found a solution, and then created a prototype.

United States Senate passed a bipartisan measure led by Senators from Kansas, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Alabama to stop the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken as part of the Endangered Species Act. Senator Jerry Moran says the Senate acted to protect farmers, ranchers and producers from the consequences of listing the lesser prairie chicken.

Morans says listing the bird as a threatened or endangered species is not the answer.  Senator Moran was joined by fellow Senator from Kansas Roger Marshall, as well as Oklahoma Senators James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin, Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia and Alabama's Katie Britt.

Update 12:40 pm: 

Showers continue this afternoon with Thunderstorm chances possible now after 5 p.m. The severe weather risk continues to shift to the southwest. Southcentral KS no longer in the "slight" risk category.

*****

Heavy rain is possible for southeast Kansas tonight.  The day will start out with some rain chances for western and central Kansas, then rain and thunderstorms will be possible for the four states in the afternoon, with the best chance after 2 p.m. continuing until 2 a.m. Friday for the Coffeyville area.  Some of the storms expected for southern and southeast Kansas could produce heavy rainfall.  Severe weather is also possible, with the best chance being in central Oklahoma into southcentral Kansas and threats including hail, 50-60 mph winds and an isolated tornado possible.

Field Kindley High School and Roosevelt Middle School showcase their improvements to both buildings. Assistant Superintendent Micheal Speer says it is important for the public to see exactly what the money was used for.

Both buildings, which construction started in the 1920s, still have a lot of the original work that was done when they were built. Speer says they wanted to keep the old with the new.  Some of the major improvements include building an auxiliary gym for the middle school, moving both school's offices to improve security and adding a student ran team shop and concession inside the main gym.

 Increasing active transportation opportunities across Kansas, whether walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, or skateboarding, is the goal of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s newly revised Active Transportation Plan.

 The ATP will serve as a guide for KDOT and Kansas communities on how to include and promote active transportation infrastructure when planning roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. The plan was developed with extensive input from Kansans and with guidance from KDOT and other state agencies, stakeholders and partners. National and local experts in planning, design and safety were included in the plan’s development process.

 Funding for active transportation projects is included in the 10-year Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE.

 KDOT will host “Bike, Walk and Roll” webinars where attendees can learn how to implement the plan in communities. Webinars begin May 24 and continue through the year. People can also attend an in-person summit in McPherson from Sept. 20-22 with more details on each plan topic, workshops and other activities. To view the Kansas ATP and for information on the webinars and summit, visit here.

 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran co-introduces legislation to bolster and attract new air service to small communities across the country.

 The Small Community Air Service Development Program was designed to allow small airports to apply for grants to help support and draw air carrier service to their airports. The Small Community Air Service Enhancement Act, according to Moran, will improve the SCASDP by increasing available funding for this competitive program and ensuring airports which have experienced a significant reduction in air service are prioritized.

 Moran says every flight counts in small communities with limited access to air travel, where each flight can have a significant impact on drawing new businesses and families to a region. Strengthening the Small Community Air Service Development Program will help small airports attract commercial flights increasing connectivity across the state of Kansas.

Governor Laura Kelly announces that the Environmental Protection Agency has granted her request to allow the sale of E15 products – gasoline blended with 15% ethanol – during the summer months through an emergency waiver.

Current estimates indicate that, on average, E15 is about 25 cents a gallon cheaper than E10. The EPA allowed for E15 sales during the summer of 2022 amid record-breaking inflation at the pumps and fuel supplies put at risk by the Russia-Ukraine War. This saved Americans at least $57 million in fuel costs and helped prevent potential fuel shortages across the country. 

The EPA’s emergency waiver for E15 went into effect on May 1.

Governor Laura Kelly announces a new program aimed at helping Kansas communities that lack high-speed internet.

The Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connectivity program will provide $30 million in competitive funding opportunities to build the infrastructure needed for more homes and businesses to access broadband.?

The goal of the LINC program is to reduce the cost of internet service, increase its availability, and improve its performance for users. LINC will provide opportunities for increased adoption of the internet by focusing on funding for broadband infrastructure enabling end-user locations with a minimum of 100 and 20 Mbps speeds, internet exchange point facilities to improve the overall internet access service quality for all Kansans, and middle mile infrastructure to reduce overall costs in delivering broadband to end-users.

Entities eligible to apply for the LINC program include internet service providers, political subdivisions, tribal governments, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations. Projects in higher-cost, rural areas are eligible for greater public matches to encourage providers to build out otherwise financially unviable areas. Projects submitted to the Capital Projects Funds program can be considered for these awards. 

More information about the LINC program is available at kansascommerce.gov/linc. Additional details about federal broadband efforts are available at AffordableConnectivity.gov and InternetforAll.gov.

 A trespassing call leads to the arrest of a Joplin juvenile.

 JPD officers were called Tuesday evening just before 6:30 to 2204 West 3rd Street for a report of a trespassing. Through further investigation, it was learned a burglary had taken place. Surveillance video images revealed a suspect had entered the building and used a BB gun to shoot at surveillance cameras on the premises. An officer recognized the suspect as a 17 year old juvenile male and were able to locate him at this residence. The juvenile was turned over to the Jasper County Juvenile Detention Center on 2nd Degree Burglary charges, with the case was turned over to juvenile authorities.

 A Joplin man is arrested on drug charges after an incident Monday near downtown Joplin.

 Joplin PD observed a silver scooter on Virginia Avenue an attempted to conduct a traffic stop near 20th and Main for traffic and registration violations. The scooter pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store and the driver attempted to enter the business. The officer was able to make contact with the driver, identified as 47-year-old Bobby Bowles, of Joplin. Bowles was found to have a revoked drivers license. During his arrest and search of his coat, the officer located 9 separate baggies each containing a white powder and crystal like substance. The substance in the baggies were tested and determined to be meth, weighing a total of 167 grams.

 Bowles remains in custody at the Joplin City Jail. Charges include delivery of a controlled substance and driving while revoked. His bond was set at $50,000 cash only.

 A Parsons man is arrested on speeding and drug charges after an incident early Monday morning.

 Parson PD says an officer was observing traffic near the intersection of Highways 400 and 59, when he observed a Buick Enclave traveling eastbound at 95 mph in a 65 mph zone. The excessive speed continued into the city limits of Parsons. As officers pursued the vehicle, the vehicle turned northbound onto US 59, then west onto 26000 Road. Emergency equipment was activated, and the pursuit ended in the 2600 block of Flynn Dr.

 50-year-old Christopher Brian Blansett, of rural Parsons, was found to be the driver of the vehicle. It was found that Blansett had an active warrant through the City of Altamont for his arrest, and a suspended driver’s license. An investigation found Blansett to be in possession of a suspected controlled substance, which field tested to be meth, and drug paraphernalia. Suggested charges include possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing or attempting to elude, driving while suspended, and speeding. Blansett is also listed as a Registered Offender as a Drug Offender, stemming from a Distribution of Controlled Substance conviction in 2021.

 A Bartlesville man is facing a charge of assault and battery with a deadly weapon after an incident Tuesday afternoon in Bartlesville.

 Bartlesville PD were called to a park in the 500 block of Bucy. Witnesses say 53-year-old James Edward Horton, Jr., was swinging a knife and stabbed a male victim in the hand. Another victim allegedly used pepper spray on Horton. He was taken into custody without further incident.

 The victims told Bartlesville PD they brought their child to the playground and when the child needed to go to the restroom, Horton tried to entice the child into the restroom. The victim tried to take the child to another restroom and recognized Horton as someone who recently burglarized his house.

 When the victim attempted to get out of the restroom, Horton started swinging a knife, stabbed the victim's hand, then the victim used pepper spray to protect himself and called 911.

 Horton has a record that includes charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon and arson. The Washington County District Attorney's office plans to file a sentence revocation on one of the charges based on the new charges.

 Horton is being held on $75,000 bond with orders to have no contact with the victims. His next Washington County court date is set for May 26^th.

A home in Independence has substantial interior damage after a fire.

Yesterday at 6:45 p.m., Independence Fire-EMS responded to a report of a structure fire at 512 N. 16th Street. Upon arrival, Tower 1 found smoke showing from the eaves and attic. Forcible entry was required and firefighters encountered a hoarding situation with large piles of debris to crawl over. The fire was extinguished quickly but substantial interior damage occurred. There were no injuries. Independence Fire-EMS was assisted by Independence Rural, Cherryvale Fire-EMS, and Dearing Rural Fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Independence Police Department and Independence Fire-EMS.

The Brown Mansion is hosting a bourbon-tasting event this weekend called Bourbon at the Browns. The event is this Saturday from 7:30pm to 10:30pm.  Tourism Director Amy Dollar says if you are on the fence about getting tickets they are still available.

Dollar says this event is a fundraiser for the Brown Mansion and tickets are $50.  Dollar says tickets can be purchased ahead of the event online or at the Chamber of Commerce. Tickets will also be available at the door but they would like to have a count of those attending before the event. A link to purchase tickets can be found here.

Elk County Dispatch receives a swatting prank call.

Yesterday afternoon at around 12:30, Elk County 911 center received a phone call from a man who stated he had just shot his wife. The caller then said he was holding his child hostage and had dumped gas all over the house. He said if he witnessed any law enforcement around the house, he would shoot the child and set the house on fire. Dispatchers heard what they believed to be three-gun shots before the phone call ended. Elk County Deputies and EMS, Montgomery County CERT and EMS, Kansas Highway Patrol and KHP aircraft unit, Wildlife and Parks Officers and Chautauqua County Deputies were all dispatched to the address.

During an investigation of the situation, it was determined that the call was a prank also known as a swatting call. Elk County Sheriff John Walker says these calls can be just as dangerous and the incident tied up resources and put the responding units and the public at risk.

 A morning traffic pursuit in Caney leads to the partial breach of the high school.

 According to Superintendent Blake Vargas, when a traffic stop led to a foot pursuit this morning near the high school, the vestibule was momentarily breached by the individual being pursued. The individual did not get past the first set of doors, as the rest of the high school's doorways are locked at all times.

 Vargas says a dedicated member of the staff will be on site every morning at 7:30 to monitor and allow all students in the building. Morning drop off procedures will also be reviewed. School officials ask those who drop off students at the high school to refrain from dropping them off before 7:30 am.

 School officials also say communication will be made if a pursuit is taking place within the vicinity of a school, so the school can be placed in a lock down, to prevent an incident of this nature from happening again.

 The beginning of May saw the official retirement of Caney Police Chief Kevin Kitterman.

 New Police Chief Ike Dye says the first thing he will do as chief is continue what Kitterman started.

 Kitterman says it will be strange waking up in the beginning and not going to the police station or being out on patrol, but he is looking forward to spending more time focusing on his wife and grandchildren. He adds he will miss the relationships he has made with many of Caney's residents, adding that Caney has a lot of good people in town. And when asked about how he wants to be remembered?

 Kitterman's last official act as chief was to swear in new Chief Ike Dye during Caney's regular session meeting this past Monday.

 A Delaware County man is convicted of lewd molestation, with the jury recommending a life sentence.

 30-year-old Raymond Davis IV, of Grove, was convicted of sexually abusing a five-year-old child. Five witnesses, including the victim, testified in the two day trial. Davis says the touching was accidental. The victim said Davis made her repeatedly touch him inappropriately, and he told her not to tell anybody, or she would be grounded.

 Davis' sentencing hearing was set for July 20.

 The city of Caney benefited from some much needed moisture last week to help avoid water restrictions.

 City Administrator Kelley Zellner says about half an inch of rain helped the Little Caney River and therefore avoided a water watch for the town. City workers check the Little Caney River dam daily to make sure the water level doesn't get below the dam.

 Timber Hill Lake, which is used to fill Little Caney River, is 15 feet below normal levels. Zellner says an agreement with Copan, Oklahoma is taking shape for Copan Lake to be the new primary water source, with an emergency line with Chautauqua County Rural Water District #4 serving the town as well.

 Zellner says they're trying to hook up the emergency line for use this summer, with the new primary water source breaking ground next spring. He says old one and two-inch lines are being replaced to prevent any leaks in waterlines. And the city is holding on to hope to receive enough rain to open the pool in town for the summer season.

 The Caney Police Department needs your help in identifying a man seen yesterday in the Caney Casey's.

 The photo was taken yesterday. Caney PD says it's an ongoing investigation and only limited information can be shared at this time.

 If you have any information on this individual, please call Caney PD at 620-879-2141 or message them on Facebook. Anyone with information can remain anonymous.

 The Kansas Department of Revenue announces total tax collections for April 2023 were $1.3 billion. That is 2.3% below the estimate and down 14.7% from April of last year.

 Individual income tax collections were $593.5 million, 11.4%, below the estimate, and 41.7% below what was collected in April 2022. Part of the decrease in the individual income tax receipts is attributable to having two fewer processing days after the April 18 due date than in April 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $354.2 million, 16.5%, more than the month’s estimate and 150.4% more than in April 2022. 

 Combined sales and compensating use tax receipts were $308.6 million, 0.7%, below the estimate, and down $1.4 million, or 0.4%, from April 2022.  The continued impact of reducing the food sales tax can be seen in the year-over-year decrease in the combined sales and compensating use tax collections.  

 A link to April 2023 receipts can be found here.

 Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson urges the Biden administration to reverse course on new federal housing policies.

 In a letter sent to President Biden and Sandra Thompson, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Johnson, along with financial officers from 26 other states, asked for the policies, which went into effect yesterday, to be repealed, saying they will add fees to the mortgages of buyers with high credit scores and down payments to subsidize less-qualified borrowers.

 The State of Kansas encourages home ownership through a tax-advantaged first-time home buyer savings account. This program allows Kansans to save up to $3,000, or $6,000 for a married couple, per year to a designated first-time home buyer account. Contributions to the account are eligible for a deduction from state income taxes, and the interest earned by the accounts is also exempt from state income taxes.

 Johnson says the goal is to increase home ownership across the country, because home ownership is a central component of the American Dream. He also says low credit scores are a significant barrier to buying a home. He says the new policy does nothing to address the shortage of housing inventory.

 A copy of the letter is available here.

 Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents, along with the Parsons Police Department and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, arrest two subjects following an investigation and execution of a search warrant in Parsons.

 At approximately 10:30 a.m. yesterday, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop, and executed a search warrant at 1720 Dirr Ave. in Parsons. Pills believed to contain fentanyl were located at the residence. Also discovered was cocaine, methamphetamine, drug use paraphernalia, and drug sale paraphernalia.

 Following the search, 56-year-old Vincent Janssen Sr., and 50-year-old Melissa Oja, both of Parsons, were arrested for two counts of possession of opiates with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property, possession of cocaine, possession of sale drug paraphernalia, possession of use paraphernalia, and criminal possession of a firearm.

 The subjects were booked into the Labette County Jail. Formal charges are pending. The investigation is ongoing.