A new restaurant from a familiar name is opening up next week in Coffeyville.
Eric and Dawn Lanning are opening up Granny J’s on Monday. The restaurant will feature a familiar menu, with many local favorites. Granny J's is located in the same place as GiGi's, which also used to be Lannings at 111 W 9th Street.
Granny J's hours will be Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 2:00pm with a Friday night dinner menu from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
The Kansas Cold Weather Rule designed to help Kansans who are behind on their utility payments avoid disconnection during the winter month begins tomorrow November 1, 2024.
While the Cold Weather Rule is in effect, utility companies cannot disconnect a customer's service when the local temperatures are forecast to drop below 35 degrees within the following 48-hour period. The Cold Weather Rule also requires utility companies to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow consumers to maintain or re-establish service. Any residential customer with a past due balance will qualify for payment arrangements. It is the responsibility of the customer to contact the gas or electric company to make arrangements.
The Cold Weather Rule applies only to residential customers of electric and natural gas utility companies under the jurisdiction of the Kansas Corporation Commission, however many municipal utilities and cooperatives have similar winter weather policies. The Cold Weather Rule will remain in effect through March 31st.
The KCC is the agency that regulates public utilities in the state and implemented the rule in 1983 to prevent utility companies from disconnecting a customer's natural gas or electric service during periods of extreme cold.
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office releases a summary of the autopsy results in the deaths of two Kansas moms murdered in the Oklahoma panhandle earlier this year.
The summary states that 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley both died from multiple sharp-force trauma and that both of their deaths are considered homicide. The two women were reported missing on March 30 after leaving their Hugoton, KS, homes to pick up Butler's children in Oklahoma. They were found dead on April 14th.
In April, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation arrested Tad Cullum, Paul Grice, Tifrfany Adams, and Cole and Cora Twombly in connection to the case. All five have been charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder in the case. They are accused of killing the two women over a child custody dispute. Court documents allege that Grice stabbed Butler to death, cutting his hand badly in the process, while Cullum allegedly stabbed and killed Kelley. The women were then placed in a freezer, then driven to the burial site where they were eventually discovered.
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office is expected to release the full report on November 15th.
The Galena Police is investigating the weekend death of a Carthage woman.
G-P-D officers responded to 321 Clark Street on Saturday evening around 5:45pm after reports of a death at the location. Officers arrived to find an unresponsive female who was later identified as 50-year-old Stacy Miner. Miner was pronounced deceased at the scene.
G-P-D says Miner's death is currently under investigation but foul play is not suspected at this point. Officials are asking the public for help with the case. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Galena Police Department at 620-783-1900.
A thunderstorm system brings severe weather to southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.
Last night's storms brought heavy rains, tornado warnings and power outages to the area. A storm system that moved through Ottawa County in northeast Oklahoma brought a tornado warning for the cities of Fairland, Afton, and Bernice while that same storm later moved into southwest Missouri, prompting the issuance of another tornado warning in the Springfield area. The storm system also left more than 2,000 electric customers in the Miami area without power.
In the Coffeyville area, the KGGF indoor rain gauge indicated more than 1.5 inches of rain last night.
A Wednesday morning fire leaves a Girard home in ruins.
Fire crews in Crawford County responded to the call around 10:30 yesterday morning. The Crawford County Sheriff's Department says the house was fully engulfed in flames when responders arrived on the scene. The home was completely destroyed in the blaze.
Crews from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Crawford County EMS, Sherman Fire, District 4 Fire, Hepler Fire, and Arma Fire responded to the scene.
Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriff's Office
A Nowata man is arrested in Bartlesville and faces his 3rd felony DUI charge of the year.
40-year-old Justin Don Phelps was arrested after a traffic stop on Monday evening. Court documents indicate that Phelps admitted to officers that he had been drinking and had also smoked methamphetamine earlier in the day.
He was taken to the Washington County Jail where he was charged with felony driving under the influence. Phelps is being held on a $500,000 bond and his next court appearance is set for tomorrow.
One person is dead following a Tuesday evening car accident in Dewey.
Dewey Police Chief Jimmy Grey says the accident involved multiple vehicles.
US-75 was temporarily closed in both directions to allow emergency crews to respond to the scene. The name of the victim has not yet been released, pending notification of the next of kin.
The Kansas Corporation Commission is warning consumers about a recently revealed scam.
The Commission has received reports that an individual claiming to work for the KCC has been calling utility customers and offering a 30% discount on electric bills. The caller then asks about Medicare or Medicaid eligibility before asking for a credit card number to the refund can be applied.
This person does not work for the KCC and the Commission urges customers to use caution if they receive a call. Most importantly, do not provide credit card information over the phone.
The Kansas Corporation Commission Utilities Division establishes and regulates rates for public utilities such as electricity, natural gas, liquid pipelines, and telecommunications.
Here are the readings from area rain gauges after last night's storms:
KANSAS:
KGGF Studios: 1.74”
Coffeyville Airport: 1.48”
Independence CoCoRaHS Observer: 0.45”
Altoona CoCoRaHS Observer: 1.09”
Howard Mesonet Station: 0.47”
Sedan Mesonet Station: 1.00”
Parsons Mesonet Station: 0.58”
Erie CoCoRaHS Observer: 0.88”
Iola CoCoRaHS Observer: 1.00”
Chetopa CoCoRaHS Observer: 1.80”
Cherokee Mesonet Station: 2.78”
Pittsburg CoCoRaHS Observer: 2.54”
OKLAHOMA:
Foraker Mesonet Station: 1.56”
Copan Mesonet Station: 0.77”
Skiatook Mesonet Station: 1.06”
Nowata Mesonet Station: 1.93”
Vinita Mesonet Station: 2.17”
Miami Mesonet Staton: 2.51”
Here is a list of area Trunk-or-Treat/Trick-or-Treat events. If your organization is holding an event and would like to be added to the list, please contact the station.
Coffeyville
Keystone Masonic Lodge, 2001 Woodland Ave, 6pm-9pm
Bargain Center Halloween Bash, 710 Northeast Street, 12:30pm-5:40pm
VFW 1022, 1714 W 8th St, 4:30pm-until out of candy
Asbury Village, 3800 Asbury Drive, 5pm-7pm
Spooky House Buckeye Estate, haunted house, hayride and more (free), 502 North Buckeye, 5:30pm-9pm
Trunk or Treat, First Church of the Nazarene, 2300 West 1st, 5:30pm-6:30pm
Bible Baptist Church, games, candy, hayride and more, 701 West 4th, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Independence
Trunk or Treat, downtown, 6pm-7pm
Trick or Treat at Montgomery Place, 614 South 8th, 4pm-6pm
Trunk or Treat at Credo Senior Living, 2120 north 13th, north parking lot, 5pm-7pm
Boo-tiful Night, Medicalodges, 1000 Mulberry, 5:30pm-7pm
Elk City
Trunk or Treat First Christian Church, 222 South Montgomery, hot dogs, drinks, candy, 6pm-8pm
Dearing
Christian Church Block Party, 302 Independence Ave., 6:30pm-8pm
Cherryvale
Trunk or Treat, downtown, 6pm-9pm
Neodesha
Trick-or-Treat with Neody Police and Fire, Neodesha Fire Department, 112 South 4th, 5:30pm
Fredonia
Trunk or Treat, downtown square, 5:30pm-7pm
Caney
Trunk or Treat, downtown, 5pm-7pm
Moline
City Hot Dog Roast, City park, 5:30pm
Howard
2:50pm West Elk Elementary Parade
5:30pm Hot Dog Roast
5:30pm-6:30pm Trunk or Treat
6:30pm West Elk Football Game, Trunk or Treat to follow the game
Parsons
Trick or Treat, Parsons Public Library 311 South 17th, 9am-6pm
Altamont
Trunk or Treat, Miller Tire and Lube at 104 West 4th, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Trunk or Treat, Christ's Church, 1019 East 4th, 5:30pm
Columbus
Halloween Walk, East Pine Street, 5:30pm-6:45pm
Oswego
Trunk or Treat, downtown, 6:30pm
South Coffeyville
Trunk or Treat First Baptist Church, 506 Shawnee, 6pm-8pm
Dewey
Trunk or Treat, downtown, 6pm-8pm,
Area firefighters were busy with a large grass fire yesterday afternoon in Labette County.
Multiple Montgomery County units provided mutual aid for a fire near 3000 and Chase Road just south of 166. Units from Montgomery County Rural Fire District 1, Coffeyville Fire, Coffeyville Resources, Dearing, Liberty and South Coffeyville assisted the Edna Fire Department with a large grass fire threatening structures. Last night's rain and expected showers this weekend should put a stop to the daily grass fires in the area.
Photo courtesy Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography.
The Coffeyville Public Library and Rotary Club are teaming up to host an adult spelling bee.
Event Organizers Julie Voelker and Rachel Koszalaka say they wanted to create a fun event that would raise money for both organizations.
Teams will have opportunities to purchase additional lifelines to assist them in spelling a word. Koszalaka says they have several different prizes available for the winners.
The spelling bee will be held at Baggers Bar and Grill on November 15th, starting at 6:00pm. Entry fees are $60 and registration is due by November 8th. The link to register can be found here.
The Kansas Department of Transportation announces the approval of several highway construction projects set for southeast Kansas.
KDOT has approved just over $1 million for the repair of a bridge near Elk Falls on US-160 over the Elk River located about 6 miles east of the US-160/K-99 junction. Two projects in Montgomery County were approved. KDOT has okayed $1.3 million to install a guard fence along US-166 between Tyro and Coffeyville. Also approved was $1.7 million for the replacement of a bridge over Pumpkin Creek just east of Coffeyville.
The total bids approved for projects in southeast Kansas counties is more than $9 million.
Some special Halloween programming is coming up tomorrow night on KGGF.
Starting at 6 p.m., we'll have some live updates from the Cherryvale Trunk or Treat. Then we'll play a classic old-time radio drama plus a KGGF exclusive feature on The Bloody Benders. At 7 p.m., we'll broadcast Orson Welles' “War of the Worlds” with a short introduction by Walter Cronkite. We hope you can tune in this special broadcast tomorrow starting at 6 on The Mighty 690!
Crews from the City of Fredonia will be working on a major water line repair in the city today.
Repairs will be made to the water line near Polk and 7th Street to decrease water loss. Customers in that area can expect reduced water pressure while work is underway. Starting at 8am, water will be shut off along Polk Street between 6th and 8th Streets. Service will resume once the repairs are complete.
The Washington County, OK, Commissioners extended the county-wide burn ban until November 11th.
Emergency Management Director Kary Cox says the ban will continue as long as the extremely dry conditions remain
Washington County Sheriff Scott Owen says since the burn ban was enacted on October 14th, his deputies have issued a few citations and warnings to county citizens for violating the ban.
Unless conditions change, outdoor burning will continue to be banned until Nov. 11 — with the exception of grilling or outdoor cooking as long as the cooking is done on a hard, fireproof surface that is at least 10 feet by 10 feet. Welding is also allowed as long as there is a person on fire watch with the means to extinguish any flames.
A fire that started Tuesday afternoon near Wynona, OK, and spread toward the Pawhuska area is still causing issues for fire crews, but as of 9:15 p.m. Tuesday evening, the forward progress of the fire had been stopped.
Osage County Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts said progress had been made, but they are by no means out of the woods.
Near Skyline Drive and the old golf course, which has been closed for several years, is where crews were able to stop the fire from moving forward. Roberts says they are working to prevent the fire from spreading.
Roberts said no injuries have been reported and that one trailer house that had been abandoned has been destroyed by the blaze.
The Montgomery County project on South Buckeye Street in Coffeyville is back on track after hitting a few snags last week.
The repair project which has closed South Buckeye Street just south of the Coffeyville city limits had some minor delays last week caused by the need to determine the location of several utility components. Brandon Beurskins with Montgomery County Public Works says the main issue was quickly resolved.
A similar issue was thought to exist with a rural water line. That also turned out to not be a problem. The original timeline of the Buckeye project was set at 100 working days. Beurskins says the project is now back on track.
The unseasonably warm weather and dry, windy conditions continue to cause wildfires across the four-state area.
In southwest Missouri, volunteer firefighters have been mobilized to help battle the fifteen-hundred-acre Sugar Fire in Mark Twain National Forest. Firefighters along with the U.S. Forest Service have set up containment areas in hopes of protecting homes and structures in the area. So far, no buildings have been lost to that fire.
In Lawrence County, MO, between Joplin and Springfield, two fires this week located 16 miles apart, stretched rural fire departments to their limit in battling the blazes.
Northeast Oklahoma has likewise been battling the fire threat with a large fire near Pawhuska and another near the city of Delaware.
In Kansas, Montgomery County Emergency Management reports the Dearing Fire Department has been responding to an average of seven fire calls per day, while Wilson County fire crews assisted with a call in Neosho County on Monday. Wildfires have also been active this past weekend in Butler, Sumner, and Sedgwick Counties.
Most counties in the listening area, including Montgomery and Labette, have instituted burn bans in hopes of limiting the chance of fires. The forecast for the Coffeyville area today includes a likely chance of rain, but high winds may still be a factor.
Joplin Police raid an illegal gambling operation, seizing equipment and cash, and arresting two men and one woman.
The raid happened last Wednesday when detectives from J-P-D served search warrants on a Joplin business called Spin Hitters. Detectives seized 47 gambling machines, business documents, and cash from the establishment.
Three citizens of the country India in the U.S. on temporary visas were taken into custody. Arrested were 24-year-old Ashish Ashish, 22-year-old Pooja Rani, and 23-year-old Gurjeet Singh. All three face charges of Felony Promoting Gambling. Officers requested they be held with no bond, but they were granted a $2,000 cash bond, which each posted.
Their next court date is set for November 6th.
Five Kansas hunters are rescued after being trapped by wildfires.
The five people were hunting in two separate groups in the Melvern Wildlife Area of Osage County south of Topeka on Sunday. The hunters became trapped in the area after they were surrounded by two large wildfires.
Osage County Game Warden Tanner Houck along with K-9 Officer Rip were in the area searching for hunters when they discovered the tracks of the groups. K-9 Rip was able to located both groups and lead them out of the burning brush and smoke to safety. A vehicle was also removed from the path of the fire. No injuries were reported.
The game warden and the public lands manager are investigating the cause of the two fires.
Photo courtesy Kansas Wildlife and Parks
The KGGF Severe Weather Team is Activated and monitoring the situation. Tune to KGGF 690 for live updates.
***** Update 4:35 p.m. *****
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 695 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS
ALLEN
GREENWOOD
NEOSHO
EUREKA, FREDONIA, GRENOLA, HOWARD, HUMBOLDT, INDEPENDENCE, IOLA,
LONGTON, MADISON, MOLINE, NEODESHA, PARSONS, SEDAN,
AND YATES CENTER.
In Oklahoma, the watch will go until midnight for the following counties:
. OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE CRAIG CREEK HUGHES LINCOLN MAYES NOWATA OKFUSKEE OKMULGEE OSAGE OTTAWA PAWNEE POTTAWATOMIE ROGERS SEMINOLE TULSA WAGONER WASHINGTON
***** Original Story *****
Severe storms are expected this evening in the four-state area.
Hail up to golf-ball size, winds up to 80 mph and tornadoes are all possible today. An area including Bartlesville, Coffeyville, Chanute west to Winfield and areas north are included in the highest risk area. Timing for areas west of Coffeyville is between 5 and 9 p.m., while storms are more likely for southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma between 8 p.m. and midnight. The National Weather Service says It's unknown if discrete storms which could produce larger hail will form, or if storms will develop into a line, which would cause higher wind gusts. A few brief tornadoes embedded within a line of storms is possible tonight. KGGF will provide severe weather coverage today and tonight as needed.
Nowata County Emergency Management is warning anyone in the path of the Delaware fire to safely get out of the area.
They say there is not an evacuation order in place but this fire is moving fast and is being driven by wind. For those who need to evacuate from the Delaware Fire, the Delaware Community Center will be open.
Election officials in Neosho County say ballots in that county have been fixed after initially leaving off some judicial races.
The Neosho County Clerk's Office says a printing mistake caused judges not to be included on the ballot and that the error was not caught until the second day of early voting. This means that those who voted on the first day of early voting as well as those who received advance ballots were not able to cast their votes for the judicial races.
The Clerk's Office has created an addendum ballot that contains only the previously omitted races. Those ballots have been mailed to people who voted before the mistake was caught. County Clerk Heather Elsworth stated that the addendum ballots contain ONLY the races that were left off and that absolutely no one will be voting twice.
Elsworth says the mistake has been corrected and that those correct ballots are now being used.
The letter from the Neosho County Clerk's Office can be seen here.
Authorities have released the name of a woman who died Saturday after walking into a running airplane propeller at an airfield in Derby.
Amanda Gallagher was a Wichita photographer who was at Cook Field in Derby on Saturday taking pictures of a sky-diving group when she inadvertently backed into the running propeller of an airplane. Gallagher was taken to a nearby hospital but did not survive her injuries.
Gallagher also worked as a stagehand in the city and helped set up many concerts in downtown Wichita.
Friends say they plan a large celebration of life in Gallagher's honor by displaying her photography at Century 2 in the coming weeks.
A Hutchinson woman is dead after her vehicle is struck by a suspect fleeing police in an allegedly stolen vehicle.
The accident occurred just after noon yesterday after Wichita Police noticed a van that had been reported stolen parked in a Walmart parking lot. Police requested the help of the Kansas Highway Patrol Air Division to help follow the vehicle after it managed to escape the parking lot. The van had two flat tires after running over police spike strips.
Police did not follow the vehicle in their cruisers, but the K-H-P tracked the van by air. The van eventually stopped and two suspects fled the vehicle on foot. The other suspect – identified as 24-year-old Katelyn Barrioz of Wichita – allegedly stole another vehicle and continued to flee. In the process, she struck another vehicle head-on. The driver of the other vehicle 43-year-old Mandy Buckwalter was pronounced dead at the scene.
Barrioz sustained minor injuries and was taken to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. Wichita Police say she will be arrested and taken to jail when she is released from the hospital.
Discussions during the most recent Osage County, OK, Commission meeting grow heated.
During the public comment portion of yesterday's (Monday's) meeting, former commission candidate Bud Beaston presented commissioners with photos of the Osage County Courthouse annex. Beaston said the pictures showed that construction on the courthouse annex was not structurally sound. District Two Commissioner Steve Talburt, who defeated Beaston in the June primary, says Beaston is not qualified to make that determination.
The man overseeing the courthouse construction Dalton Higgins says the project has been done to appropriate specifications.
The Osage County Commission will meet again next Monday at the Osage County Fairgrounds in Pawhuska.
Most counties in southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma are currently under burn bans due to the lack of rain and ongoing drought conditions.
The recent windy weather has also led to extreme fire danger in the area. Nowata County Emergency Management Director Laurie Summers says current conditions warrant extreme caution.
Dry, windy conditions are expected to continue today, but the weather forecast suggests the possibility of rain in the next few days.
A high-speed chase through Bartlesville on Saturday afternoon ends in the arrest of the suspect.
Bartlesville Assistant Police Chief Andrew Ward tells our sister station KWON in Bartlesville that the vehicle in question was reported stolen in another jurisdiction.
Ward said that there were no injuries or damage to other vehicles or property during the pursuit.
The name of the suspect has not yet been released.
Students in Nowata will be using distance learning today due to water issues in the city.
Nowata city officials informed the Nowata School District yesterday that the town will be without water for a portion of the day today. As a result, the school district has opted to make the day a distance learning day. Students will need to check their online classrooms to view their assignments.
As of yesterday evening, all extracurricular activities are scheduled to continue, but coaches will be in contact with the students if the situation changes.
A Dewey man faces charges of felony DUI in Washington County, OK, stemming from a Saturday incident.
39-year-old Michael Cornelius was allegedly discovered by police on Saturday night asleep in his car in a lane of traffic on a Bartlesville street. Officers say Cornelius showed behaviors such as red eyes, slurred speech, and struggled to keep his eyes open during field sobriety tests. A search revealed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his possession.
Cornelius was arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail where he is being held on a $25,000 bond. His next court appearance is Friday.
Early voting in Oklahoma for the general election begins tomorrow.
Oklahoma voters who wish to take part in in-person absentee voting can do so starting tomorrow.
Hours for early voting are from 8am to 6pm tomorrow through Friday and then from 8am to 2pm on Saturday. No reason is needed to vote early, but voters must provide proof of identity when checking in at their early voting site. Early voting sites are not the same as polling places. Each county has at least one early voting site; however, some counties may have more than one location.
All voters will be voting on presidential electors and State Corporation Commissioner. There are also two state questions on the ballot and judicial retention. Some voters may also have congressional, legislative, county, and/or local elections on the ballot. Voters with questions should contact their County Election Board or the State Election Board for more information.
Accepted Forms of Identity: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voters/proof-of-identity.html.
Early Voting Locations: https://hosting.okelections.us/earlyvote.html
Sample Ballot: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.html
OK Voter Portal: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.html
List of Elections: https://hosting.okelections.us/electionlist.html
The state of Kansas is teaming up with KANcycle to celebrate the 4th Annual Mobility Week next week.
To take part in the free ride campaign, use the Movatic app available for both iPhone and Android, use the promo code “MobWeek24,” and start riding.
As a part of the celebration, KANcycle is offering free rides on all KANcycle bicycles next week. Coffeyville is one of ten cities in Kansas with KANcycle bike stations. The two stations are located on the CCC Campus near the administration building and at 8th and Walnut.
To take part in the free ride campaign, use the Movatic app available for both iPhone and Android, use the promo code “MobWeek24,” and start riding. To end the ride, simply reverse the process.
OCCK is committed to providing transportation services to the general public, seniors, and persons with disabilities, through a variety of programs. For more information about OCCK, Inc., visit www.occk.com.
For more information about KANcycle, visit www.kancycle.org.
For more information about Mobility Week activities across the state of Kansas, visit www.ksrides.org.
Wilson County Fire crews assist with a fire in Neosho County.
Yesterday around 2:30 p.m., Wilson County crews were requested by Neosho County for a reported field fire about one mile north and a mile west of the U.S. 169 and K47 junction. Wilson County assisted units from Chanute Fire, Erie, St. Paul, Thayer and Cherryvale. As crews were clearing the scene, they were then dispatched to a report north of Fredonia for a combine header fire.
Another Neewollah is in the books, and organizers want to thank all the volunteers who made this year's event possible.
With Independence's annual Halloween festival bringing in as many as 50,000 guests to a town of 8,400, more than 500 volunteers are needed to assist, and this year, both county amateur radio clubs from Coffeyville and Independence joined in to help.
On Saturday, club members from Montgomery, Labette and Chautuaqua Counties in Kansas in addition to Washington and Nowata Counties in Oklahoma were in place at 5 a.m. to provide traffic and safety service for the Grand Parade and Band Competition.
Hams are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as an Amateur Radio Service and help during times of local need and national emergencies when other radio communications are down. Amateur Radio Clubs regularly participate in radio communication networks, where a designated person acts as the controller to lead talk and discussion in an organized way. This is how the volunteers communicated at Neewollah for traffic and security, utilizing the Club’s radio equipment and their own two-way radios to keep things moving and to respond to situations that might occur.
Jason Kastler of Eagle Security directed the locations and duties of the teams, and says having the ham volunteers at critical points of traffic with the ability to instantly communicate situations to his team was incredibly helpful. He says Neewollah was impacted for the better because of the Radio Club volunteers and their skills.
To learn more about amateur radio and meeting times for both clubs, visit the Independence club website at www.n0id.org or the Coffeyville club website at www.coffeyvillearc.org.
Today will bring another day of high winds, but a change in the weather pattern is on the way.
Wind advisories are in effect for eastern Kansas, northern Oklahoma and far western Missouri today as winds are expected to gust between 45 and 55 mph. Strong but moister winds than yesterday will still support very high grassland fire danger. Several area counties including Montgomery County remain in a burn ban for this reason.
Tomorrow, scattered thunderstorms will be possible, with a chance of a few strong to severe storms between noon and 9 p.m. Hazards include quarter-sized hail and 60-65 mph wind gusts. KGGF will provide severe weather coverage tomorrow if needed. Another chance of rain is also on the way this weekend.
One week after resigning as the mayor of Caney, Josh Elliott has rescinded his resignation.
In a letter on the city website and through his Facebook page, Elliott cited unfinished business as his reason for his resignation withdrawal.
Elliott says some changes will be made, however, moving forward.
Elliott says he appreciates the support he has received in the last week and throughout his tenure as mayor. He reiterates the importance of working together as a city to move forward in a positive way.
A link to Elliott's letter to the city of Caney can be found here.
A Labette County Sheriff’s Office K9 officer will receive a donation of body armor.
K9 Benny will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s. The organization's mission is to provide these vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The vests are custom-fitted and NIJ-certified. Vested Interest in K9s has provided almost 6,000 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.
The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.
One week after announcing his retirement at the end of the latest city council meeting, Caney City Administrator Kelley Zellner continues the process of water and housing projects, while working to hand over the reigns to the next administrator.
Zellner says the position of city admin is not an old man's job.
Zellner says it was becoming clear to him that he needed to retire sooner than later.
Zellner says Caney is moving in the right direction, not only with their water situation and agreement with the city of Coffeyville, but with new and rehabilitated housing. He adds that those two issues were the ones he was asked by previous councils to help fix. Zellner wishes the next city admin the best of luck.
The complete conversation with Kelley Zellner can be found here.
***This interview was conducted before Mayor Elliott rescinded his resignation.***
Montgomery County issues a county-wide burn ban effective today through next Monday.
A lack of rainfall, drought conditions, and windy fall weather have led to an extreme fire risk in the county. County Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson says the ban was needed because of the multiple fires over the weekend.
The Dearing Fire Department has been responding to an average of seven fire calls per day. Undersheriff Christopher Williams was also at the meeting and told commissioners that the Sheriff's Department will be enforcing the burn ban and that violations will be considered a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by a citation. Whitson says the strain on area fire agencies is costly for the county.
The burn ban is effective as of today Monday, October 28, 2024, though there is rain in the forecast for later this week. If the county gets significant rain this week, the ban can be rescinded by County Commission Chair Mike Cordray. Otherwise, commissioners will consider whether to extend the ban or allow it to end next Monday, November 3.
Hundreds of people greeted Tyler Farr, as he performed “Redneck Crazy” and other hit songs during Saturday night's concert in downtown Independence.
Robbi Bell and 2 Steps Back opened the show, with the singing of the National Anthem performed by Courtlynn Rose, and the flag presented by Troops 4 and 41 of Independence.
Neewollah Generalissimo Lauren Ysusi calls the event a success and thanks the dozens of volunteers who were available for any job that needed to be done, ranging from taking tickets to helping with security.
Neewollah officials have already started the process of looking at entertainment options for Neewollah 2025.
There will be no school in Neodesha on Friday.
The reason? The Neodesha High School girls varsity volleyball team is headed to the 2024 3-A State Tournament. The Lady Bluestreaks beat Caney and Garden Plain in sub-state play over the weekend to take the sub-state crown and advance to the state tournament with a regular season record of 38 wins and only three losses.
The team will travel to Hutchinson Community College on Friday for the state tournament with games at 4:30, 6:30, and 8:30pm.
A man wanted in a Montgomery County animal cruelty case is arrested.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office had been looking for a suspect named Austin Watson in connection to an animal cruelty case in the county. The Sheriff's Office reports that Watson has been arrested in the case.
Officials have not stated what, if any, charges Watson may face.
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A Chanute man is seriously injured following a motorcycle/truck collision on Saturday.
57-year-old Kenneth Colston of Chanute was westbound on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on K-39 just east of Chanute late Saturday night when he struck a pickup truck attempting a turn in front of him.
Colston was taken to KU Medical Center for treatment.
The 17-year-old driver of the pickup was uninjured.
The City of Independence is trying to solve its issue of flooding in the basement of City Hall.
Assistant City Manager David Cowan says the issue is with the way the basement in the historic 1916 building is constructed.
At last week's city commission meeting, commissioners approved $25,000 to fix the issue. City Engineer John Garris says the proposed work should help control the current problem.
The next Independence City Commission meeting will be held on November 14.
A burn ban may be coming for Montgomery County.
County Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson will appear before the Montgomery County Commission to discuss the possibility of implementing a county-wide burn ban due to the lack of rain and on-going drought conditions. Multiple northeast Oklahoma counties are currently under burn bans as is Labette County.
Also at today's meeting, commissioners will hear from Melissa Johnson with the Montgomery County Action Council and Brandon Beurskins with Public Works.
The Montgomery County Commission meets every Monday at 9am in the lower level of the County Courthouse in Independence. The meeting is open to the public and is also available online on the Montgomery County Facebook page.
Four people are injured following a two-vehicle accident in Neosho County.
The accident occurred Sunday afternoon around 2:45, when a 2005 Chevy Impala driven by 19-year-old Gregory Lopez of Chanute was traveling northbound on US-169 about 5 miles north of Thayer. Lopez's car went left of center and struck an oncoming vehicle in the other lane. Lopez and one of his passengers 21-year-old Rylan McVey were seriously injured, while a third passenger 20-year-old Camden Hugo received minor injuries. Both passengers are also from Chanute. Lopez was taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin while McVey was transported to KU Medical Center.
The driver of the other vehicle 48-year-old Heather Craft of Fredonia was also seriously injured and was taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Several departments respond to another grass fire over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Dearing Fire Department along with other units responded to a fire in a soybean field on County Road 3700 just north of 3900 that was threatening structures. The fire was kept away from nearby buildings thanks to efforts by the firefighters and local landowners.
The Dearing Fire Department is now responding to upwards of seven calls a day. The department is asking everyone to think twice before starting an open flame. A red flag warning is in effect today from noon until 8 p.m. for much of the listening area including Montgomery County.
Photo courtesy Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography
A red flag warning has been issued for much of southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.
Ongoing dry conditions, warm temperatures and high winds today and tomorrow are prompting elevated grassland fire concerns. Montgomery, Wilson and Woodson Counties and areas west in addition to Osage, Washington, Nowata and Craig counties in Oklahoma are included in the red flag warning today from noon until 8 p.m. Winds out of the south at 20-30 mph are expected to gust 40-50 mph. Much of the area is also included in a wind advisory from noon to 7 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow. Any fires that start could be very difficult to control.
The City of Coffeyville is looking for citizen volunteers to fill several positions on various city boards.
The Juvenile Community Corrections Board has one vacancy for an unfinished term.
Starting January 1st, there will be two vacancies on the Planning Commission for residents who live within the city limits and one vacancy for residents who live outside of but within 3 miles of the city limits.
There will also be two vacancies for four-year terms on the Park Advisory Board.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, November 6th. Appointments will go to the City Commission meeting on December 10th.
Anyone interested in getting involved in the community and serving on one of these board can apply.
Police in Nevada, MO, say a recent traffic stop has resulted in a major drug bust and arrest.
Nevada Police stopped a suspicious vehicle driven by 41-year-old Avious Steadman of Nevada. A K-9 officer indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle and further investigation revealed over 600 fentanyl pills and two ounces of cocaine.
Steadman was arrested and taken to the Vernon County Jail on multiple felony charges including Trafficking Drugs in the 1st Degree and Delivery of a Controlled Substance.
Authorities in both Wichita and Tulsa are warning Kansans and Oklahomans of a new scam that has been circulating in those cities recently.
Police say the scam involves people asking for money to pay for funeral expenses for an 8-year-old girl who has supposedly died of leukemia. Police officers who approached some of the people asking for money, said they could not provide any photos of the child and said they had been asked by a friend to come to the city from another state.
Both Wichita and Tulsa Police say they have seen identical signs but with a different child’s photo. Law enforcement say this is a scam.
A woman is dead after walking into a running airplane propeller in Derby on Saturday.
The accident happened around 2:45 on Saturday afternoon at Cook Airfield in Derby. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call and say the woman was taking pictures when she walked into the propeller and was critically injured. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.
The name of the victim has not yet been released.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections announces a significant reduction in inmate-on-inmate violence in the state's prison system.
The O-D-O-C says there has been an overall 14% reduction in inmate assaults this year as compared to 2023 with a decrease of 52% in May and 45% in March. Corrections officials credit this drop to efforts to enhance safety and security through strategic population management, stricter enforcement policies, and the use of new technology.
O-D-O-C Executive Director Steven Harpe says that stricter penalties for the most serious offenses and dangerous behaviors has helped to make the prison environment safer for both inmates and staff.
Governor Laura Kelly joined officials from the Kansas Department of Corrections of Friday to celebrate the opening of the state's first substance use recovery and work release unit in Kansas prisons.
The new unit is located in the East Campus of the Lansing Correctional Facility and will serve as a comprehensive re-entry program to help provide inmates the life skills they will need to return to society after serving their time.
The 200-bed minimum-security program is designed to provide more than the usual 28-day program and will instead provide inmates with six months of classes to promote pro-social behavior and to instill good habits.
Governor Kelly stated that effective rehabilitation and recovery services are key to breaking the cycle of addiction and crime. The first residents in the program are expected to arrive at the new Lansing facility this week.
A new department store is set to open in Coffeyville
Bealls opening date is set for next Friday, November 8th. Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce President Candi Westbrook says there will be a ribbon cutting before the doors open to the public.
The first 100 people in the door at 9 a.m. will receive a gift card between $5 and $50.
Construction on the store has been ongoing over the summer. Bealls is located in the Coffeyville Plaza shopping mall near King Food Savers.
**UPDATE: The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office reports that Austin Watson has been arrested in the case.
The Montgomery Sheriff's Office is looking for a suspect in an animal cruelty case.
Austin Watson is wanted in connection with an animal cruelty investigation. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact Detective Will Wilkinson at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 620-330-1000.
Multiple Kansas units respond to a structure and grass fire in Oklahoma.
Yesterday afternoon around just before 4 p.m., the South Coffeyville Fire Department responded to the area of U.S. 169 and Road 3 to a report of a vehicle, structure and grass fire. A shop vehicle and around 35 hay bales were found on fire. Coffeyville Fire, the Wann Fire Department and Dearing Fire Department assisted with mutual aid. No one was hurt during the fire.
The City of Coffeyville issues a Stage One Water Watch.
The watch has been issued due to a lack of sufficient rain over the last several months as drought conditions have continued. In August, the City was notified by the Kansas Department of Agriculture that natural streamflows in the Verdigris River had fallen significantly. Due to this, the City has had to request additional water from Elk City Reservoir to meet their water use demands. The City has a Water Purchase Contract with the State of Kansas that guarantees a total amount of 500,000,000 gallons of water be stored and reserved for their use in Elk City Reservoir.
The City has used a total of 250,000,000 gallon. This water watch applies to Coffeyville residents and businesses as well as the Industrial Park, the Cities of Dearing and South Coffeyville, Montgomery County Consolidated Rural Water District 1 and 2, Montgomery County Rural Water District 14, Labette County Rural Water District 6 and Nowata County Rural Water District 7. The goal of this stage is to limit or eliminate non-essential water use including limitations on sprinklers, car washes, filling of swimming pools, the use of fountains and evaporative air conditioning systems.
A fundraiser is being organized for the owners of Safari Zoological Park in Caney who lost their home to a fire.
Late Wednesday night, a fire started from a propane tank on the property and spread to a guest cabin and then home of Tom and Alexis Harvey. Alexis' older sister Danielle Alonso, who is organizing the fundraiser, says while the family of four was able to get out safely, there's not much left of the house.
Making matters worse, Alonso says the Harveys had to drop their homeowner's insurance due to the high rates associated with having exotic animals on the property.
The goal is to raise $100,000 to help the family rebuild their home. The animals and the park buildings were undamaged, and the Harveys plan to be open tomorrow like normal from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
A link to the fundraiser is available HERE.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Olpe.
Customers should boil water for at least one minute prior to consumption, dispose of ice cubes from trays and automatic ice makers, and disinfect dishes and food preparation surfaces. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. The advisory will be in effect until it is rescinded by the KDHE.
City crews in Independence have been busy with various projects around the city.
City Engineer John Garris says work crews have been busy in the past couple of weeks.
Garris also says that the recent drought conditions in Montgomery County may mean Independence faces a water warning in the coming weeks if the hot, dry weather persists.
F-F-A members from across the country have gathered in Indiana this week for the 2024 National Convention and Expo.
Several members from area FFA Chapters have excelled at the convention. KGGF Farm Director Ron Hayes has the story from Indianapolis
Congratulations to Cecelia and all of the other area FFA members for their efforts this week and throughout the year.
A Wichita man is sentenced to 65 years in prison for the 2020 murders of his girlfriend and her 8-year-old daughter.
29-year-old Daniel Lopez was sentenced yesterday for the deaths of 24-year-old Mickayla Sorell and her daughter Natalya in March 2020. The two were found shot to death in a residence following a welfare check by police.
Lopez was named as a suspect the following day and arrested on April 10. He was initially charged with capital murder, but in June he entered a guilty plea to one charge of first-degree murder and one charge of second-degree murder.
The judge in the case sentenced Lopez to life in prison with parole eligibility after 50 years for the first-degree murder charge and 15 years for the second-degree murder charge. The sentences will run consecutively. Lopez must also pay $5,000 in restitution to the families for funeral expenses.
A Wichita man is headed to prison after being convicted of using obituaries to burglarize the families of the deceased.
According to prosecutors, 50-year-old Gary Garrett would scour online obituaries to learn about funeral time and then planned ways to steal from those homes while the families were at the funeral. Victims lost financial documents, guns, and electronics among other items stolen in the residential burglaries.
Garrett convicted by a jury in August. A District Court judge sentenced Garrett to more than 16 years in prison Thursday for his crimes.
The months from October to December are the most likely times for vehicle/deer crashes in Kansas.
The shorter fall days mean common commuter times happen at the same time deer are more likely to be on the move. Shawn Steward with Triple-A Kansas says the results can be deadly.
Tips to avoid collisions with a deer include being watchful when driving at dawn and dusk when the animals are most likely to be on the move, and reduce speed and be alert near wooded areas. Steward adds that it's always a good idea to wear your seatbelt.
If you do hit a deer, slow down and pull on to the shoulder. Turn on your emergency flasher lights and dial 9-1-1.
Members from the Parsons Historical Society ask the city of Parsons for permission to lay memorial wreaths in an historic Parsons cemetery.
A group of people from the historical society appeared before the Parsons City Commission at this week's meeting to ask permission to lay the wreaths as a part of the 2024 Wreaths Across America. Parsons Historical Society representative Johnna Gabbert says the wreaths would honor veterans.
Gabbert says the wreaths would serve as a fundraiser for the group while helping to beautify the city.
The Parsons City Commission unanimously approved the request.
An “exceptionally dangerous” fugitive is captured in Kansas.
The U.S. Marshals Office Fugitive Task Force along with the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office and the Larned Police Department have captured a wanted fugitive in Larned.
Authorities say the suspect was wanted on felony warrants out of Washington State for parole violations stemming from weapons offenses and robbery.
The suspect was tasered several times following a brief standoff. He was examined by EMS after being taken into custody.
Authorities in Rose Hill say they are continuing to investigate the discovery of a child's remains found buried in the backyard of a Rose Hill home in September.
Rose Hill Police Chief Taylor Parlier says the investigation now involves a geographical area outside of Rose Hill and the state of Kansas. The remains belong to Kennedy Jean Schroer who is suspected to have died in 2020 when she would have been six years old. Police say the child's adoptive parents have been responsive to investigators.
Police in Carl Junction, MO, are looking for information on a weekend incident that led to the death of a 21-year-old man.
Authorities received a 9-1-1 call just after 6pm on Saturday indicating that a man had fallen out of a golf cart at the Briarbrook Golf Course and was unresponsive. The victim was identified as Tucker Berry of Lockwood. Berry served as a firefighter for the Redings Mill Fire Department.
C-J-P-D are investigating the incident and ask that anyone who was near the golf course on Saturday and might have information about the incident to call 417-529-0897.
The Weir Civic Club is hosting a community Halloween party this Sunday in Weir.
It will be a chance for the kids to show off their costumes and take part in a costume contest. There will also be treats and drinks. Plus, everyone planning to attend can bring their carved or painted pumpkin to be judged. It all happens at 3pm Sunday in Weir.
Two Coffeyville women are in custody in Bartlesville after a brief police chase on Wednesday.
36-year-old Jessica Barnett and 44-year-old Rachel Inscho both face charges of shoplifting after allegedly stealing items from the Bartlesville Walmart. Authorities say the pair then fled the scene with police in pursuit. Inscho was named as the alleged driver in the chase, in which she is accused of reaching speeds of more than 100 mph and running a stop sign, where she nearly collided with another vehicle.
After Inscho and Barnett were arrested, Bartlesville Police found two capped syringes in the vehicle, one of which had a substance that later tested positive for Methamphetamine.
Inscho is being held on a $50,000 bond on charges of larceny, eluding a Peace Officer-endangerment, unlawful possession of paraphernalia.
As the passenger of the vehicle, Barnett was charged with unlawful possession of paraphernalia and larceny charges and is being held on a 25,000 bond. She also faces felony charges in Kansas.
Both will appear next in court on November 1st.
Pictured: Barnett, Inscho
Local fire departments were busy responding to a number of calls yesterday.
In the early afternoon, Liberty, Coffeyville and Coffeyville Resources responded to a grass fire within the county.
Then just after 3:30, multiple departments responded to a structure fire east of the Coffeyville Walmart on 5700 Road. Initial reports indicate one person had mild smoke inhalation.
Around 7:40, local departments including Sycamore Fire were called to a report of a garage fire at 3512 County Road 5250. Dry conditions have prompted an increase in the number of fires over the past several weeks.
Thousands packed downtown Independence for another night of Neewollah.
The Doo Dah Parade drew many as the adults took center stage walking down Penn Avenue. This year's theme was “Just Elfin' Around” and many participants dressed in Christmas or Disney attire. Parade updates were broadcast by KGGF staff on Greatest Hits 104.1.
Today the carnival will open earlier at 3 p.m. and go until 10, and the kiddie parade will start at 4 p.m. On the bandstand tonight is the CM Johnson Band at 5, Straight Away at 6:30, Tonganoxie Split at 8 and Martin & The Dead Guys at 9:30. It all happens in downtown Independence.
Two are injured in an accident involving a horse-drawn buggy.
The accident happened around 8:15am this morning on Highway 400 near the intersection of Highway 169. A 2023 Ford Escape, driven by Landin Rayne Knickerbocker was eastbound on 400 and struck the back of the buggy.
The impact caused significant damage to the buggy. The occupants, Elizabeth and Priscilla Schwartz were transported to Labette Health in Parsons with suspected serious injuries. Knickerbocker was not injured. Local law enforcement is currently investigating the accident.
The City of Coffeyville reports that Public Service crews are doing some shoulder repairs on 11th Street near Cline Road.
In order to complete the repairs, traffic on 11th will be down to one lane. The city anticipates the repairs should be complete by midday Friday, October 25.
KDHE has rescinded the boil water advisory for Wilson County Rural Water District #4.
Laboratory testing from both water supplies indicated no bacterial contamination. All other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
Area high school students are on the road this week for the National FFA Convention. KGGF Farm Director Ron Hayes reports from Indianapolis.
NHS' Tucker Leck is competing in Extemporaneous Public Speaking and has qualified for the semi-final round at the National Convention. He will learn today if he will advance to the National Final Four.
It's Neewollah week in Independence and the downtown area of the city is the place to be for the next few days.
Downtown Independence was filled with the sounds of families and kids taking part in fun and games in the parking lot of Community National Bank last night. It was the first night that the food trucks and carnival midway were open and festival goers filled the streets in search of their favorite Neewollah food while the kids played games and rode the rides.
The grown-ups will get in on the fun tonight with the Doodah Parade at 6pm. The carnival opens at 5 and free, live music on the bandstand begins at 6:30 in downtown Independence.
The battle over the fate of a Bartlesville landmark continues after the filing of a new lawsuit.
The owners of the Price Tower in Bartlesville have filed a lawsuit against the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy.
The New York Times first reported the new lawsuit on Tuesday. In this action, Cynthia Blanchard, Copper Tree and Green Copper Holdings claim the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy has interfered with the proposed sale of the Price Tower by claiming a preservation easement on the property.
The owners allege the easement has been “extinguished” when the nonprofit Price Tower Arts Center sold the building to them in 2023, something Blanchard and her attorney asserted in an August 2024 .
The lawsuit claims the conservancy is intentionally causing harm by attempting to enforce the easement, which the owners say no longer applies.
Blanchard and the ownership groups she oversees are asking for $75,000 in damages plus a punitive award.
The Independence City Commission holds its regular meeting at a different time due to Neewollah.
Commissioners made quick work of a full agenda at Wednesday night's meeting, including the passage of several new ordinances. Among those was an ordinance to regulate camping within the city limits. Assistant City Manager David Cowan says the city has been receiving complaints about people camping on public and private property in the downtown district.
Mayor Tim Emert asked what constituted camping and if the term was defined in the proposed ordinance. City Attorney Jeff Chubb says the measure clearly spells out what is and is not allowed.
The ordinance passed unanimously. Other ordinances passed at last night's meeting include changes to the zoning code to allow a communication antenna to be installed and a rezoning of a business area to residential.
The commission also authorized four parking spaces in front of the CRMC clinic on West Myrtle to be two-hour parking and approved two murals to be painted on the walls of Shulthis Stadium. The dates for public hearing for the condemnation of several houses in the city were also set for December and January.
**UPDATE: THE MISSING GIRL HAS BEEN FOUND SAFE
The Osage Nation Police Department is looking for a 16-year-old teen missing from Pawhuska.
Morgan Raper is considered a missing runaway, weighing 110 pounds, standing at 5-8 with brown hair and brown eyes. Raper was last seen wearing a t-shirt, sweatpants and no shoes at around 5 a.m. on Monday.
Anyone with information about the possible whereabouts of Raper is asked to call the Pawhuska Police Department at 918-287-4545 or the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 918-287-3131. She is thought to be in the Pawhuska or Hominy area.
The remains of a Winfield man are discovered following a fire at a Canadian motel.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating after human remains were found after a fire at the Driftwood Motel in Deer Lake in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The fire occurred on October 19 but the remains were not found until yesterday. The deceased man has been identified as 77-year-old Eugene Spoon of Winfield. Spoon was in Deer Lake for a moose hunting trip.
The RCMP says the fire is still under investigation and the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
An Osage County, OK, judge sentences a man with ties to organized crime to life in prison for ordering the 2021 murder of a fellow Irish mob member.
The sentence was handed down yesterday (on Wednesday) for Zachary Millard. Millard was convicted earlier this month for ordering the murder of Mitchell Roberts in September 2021. At the time of the murder, Millard was an inmate at the Dick Connor Correctional Center in Hominy.. Investigators say Millard used a contraband cell phone to orchestrate Roberts' murder.
Millard was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder charge, 30 years for burglary, one year for conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, and five years for gang-related offenses. The case was investigated by the Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stated that the case highlights the importance of keeping contraband out of the state's prisons.
Six co-defendants, also associated with the Irish mob, have already pleaded guilty to various charges related to this crime: Ryan Scott Luna, Jacob Kyle Shelton, Donald Tippy, Jr., Kacy Ray Delaney, Levi Dalton and Christopher Polhamus. The alleged shooter, Christopher Taylor, passed away before charges could be filed.
The recent death of an inmate at the El Dorado Correctional Facility is ruled a homicide.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Department of Corrections are investigating the death of 40-year-old inmate Brooks Vonthaer. Vonthaer was found unresponsive in his cell on Tuesday afternoon. Staff attempted live-saving measures, but Vonthaer was pronounced dead. Shortly after he died, correctional facility staff notified the KBI that his death was suspicious. Agents from the KBI say Vonthaer died from multiple fatal injuries.
A 34-year-old male suspect has been identified. He is an inmate at the facility and was Vonthaer's cellmate.
The investigation is ongoing. Once it is completed, findings will be presented to the Butler County Attorney’s Office for determination of charges. At this time, charges are pending.
The City of Barnsdall has put a burn ban in place across town until further notice.
The ban includes brush piles, burn barrels, fire pits and any open flames. The burn ban is in effect until further notice. Osage County is one of a handful of counties across the area that doesn’t have a full countywide burn ban in effect. However, Osage County Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts says the county is monitoring the situation closely.
A semi-truck accident on Ottawa Road in Neodesha is diverting traffic headed to Wilson County Medical Center.
A large semi truck is having an incident with its trailer and is blocking Ottawa Road access to the hospital from US-75. Those needing to get to the hospital will need to approach on Ottawa Road from the south. Officials say the accident will likely require a large crane to clear and it may take several hours before the road reopens.
***** Update 9:40 a.m. *****
Traffic flow has returned to normal
***** Original Story *****
Traffic along 400 east of the 169 interchange is backed up due to an accident.
An automobile versus horse and buggy accident was reported this morning around 8:30. Traffic just north of Parsons Tri-City Airport on 400 is slowed as first responders deal with the incident. Drivers in the area report two ambulances leaving the scene just before 9 a.m. This is a developing story, we'll have more details as they are available.
Text alert subscribers got this information first. Click Here to subscribe to KGGF text alerts, powered by Equity Bank.
Multiple agencies respond to a fire on the property of Safari Zoological Park in Caney.
Last night around 11:30, fire crews and EMS responded to 1751 County Road 1425 in Caney to a report of a fire. According to owner Tom Harvey, the fire started at a cabin on the property and then crossed over to their house. Harvey says they were able to get everyone out of the house and nursery alive except their pet cats, which were later found alive in the house and required oxygen. He says the cabin is completely gone and the house is mostly gone as well. Exploding propane tanks caused a delay for the firefighters working to save the house.
Harvey says they will work to rebuild their home a little at a time and are thankful that the animals are safe and the fire did not spread to other buildings on the property.
Parsons Police officers respond to a shots fired call.
A witness identified Charles Levi Miller as the suspected shooter. Officers discovered that Miller had his 4-year-old child with him at the time he fired the shot. Officers located the child in a garage near 31st Street and Broadway Avenue. Also found in the garage was a 17-year-old runaway from Sedgwick County along with a 20-gauge shotgun in a zippered gun bag. The shotgun matched the same gauge as the spent shell located near the scene of the incident.
The 4-year-old child was released back to their mother, while the 17-year-old was turned over to juvenile intake. Miller was arrested and is currently in custody on multiple charges. This is not Miller's first arrest in Parsons. On August 14th he was arrested for violation of offender registration and possession and again on October 13th for domestic battery.
Election Day is less than two weeks away, and the early numbers in Wilson County are promising.
It's been four days since the Early Voting period opened in the county. County Clerk Kayla Busch says they've seen a great turnout so far.
The numbers have increased even more since today's meeting, with now more than 315 total votes.
Additional items of business at this week's commission meeting was an update from Road and Bridge Director Kary Tatum on the status of a grater undergoing maitenance, as well as a report from Sheriff Jack Lucke.
The commission will meet next on October 30th at 9 a.m. in the Room 101 of the County Courthouse in Fredonia.
It started as a weekend for Caney Mayor Josh Elliott at a League of Kansas Municipalities meeting; it ended with an unplanned resignation with the Caney City Council Monday night.
Now former Mayor Elliott says he was hopeful as he left the LKM meeting, but that hope went away as the council meeting continued this past Monday with items on the agenda, especially the grocery store. Elliott says the hope was replaced with.... nothing.
Elliott says he has always tried to be available to residents.
Elliott says there is much more good in town than bad, starting with city officials and council members. He is confident that the good will continue and the bad will get better.
The complete conversation with Josh Elliott can be found here.
The Independence City Commission is set to meet for their regular meeting tonight.
The commission usually meets on Thursday nights, but tonight's meeting was moved to allow city officials and employees to attend tomorrow night's Neewollah Doodah Parade.
Tonight's meeting is expected to have a brief agenda. The meeting will begin at 4pm this afternoon in the city commission room at City Hall at 6th and Myrtle in Independence. The meeting is open to the public.
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Police in Wichita have taken a 9-year-old boy into custody after the child allegedly drove a stolen vehicle nine miles along city streets.
Wichita police responded to the call last week of an auto theft on the southeast side of the city. The stolen vehicle was tracked by an air unit, allowing police on the ground to follow the car without using lights and sirens. Officers were able to maintain a safe distance until the vehicle came to a stop. They were then able to approach the car and take the juvenile into custody. The child was safely returned to their guardians.
A man convicted in the 2005 killing of a Kansas sheriff is asking for a new trial.
A bench trial is underway this week for Scott Cheever who was convicted of killing Greenwood County Sheriff Matthew Samuels in January 2005 in Hilltop, KS. Cheever is currently seeking relief for claims of ineffective counsel in his original trial. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in 2007. He also received a 58-year prison sentence for manufacturing methamphetamine in the case. Cheever has been through a number of appeals since his conviction, including a 2016 appeal that reached the Kansas Supreme Court in which his death sentence was upheld.
The bench trial is expected to last through the end of this week.
The Osage County Board of Commissioners holds their weekly meeting and picks up tabled business from last week.
At last week's meeting Art of the Cowgirl event organizer Laura Teague asked the commission to waive fees for the event that was held earlier this month. Commissioners were unsure if those fees would be waived and tabled the issue. District Two Commissioner Steve Talburt and District Three Commissioner Charlie Cartwright discussed the issue at this week's meeting. Cartwright says a compromise would be a workable solution.
Teague's event The Art of the Cowgirl aims to celebrate and showcase the role of women in ranching and the western way of life.
In other business at this week's meeting, there was also an agreement signed that will allow for a school resource officer to be on the Wynona and McCord school grounds through the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year. There was one utility permit signed for District Three.
The Board of Osage County Commissioners will convene for its next regularly scheduled meeting at 10 a.m. next Monday for those interested in attending.
Dewey Police will receive grant money to help with the purchase of a new police car.
At this week's Dewey City Council meeting, the council approved the application for Financial Assistance through the Rural Economic Action Plan Fund or REAP for the Dewey Police Department. Dewey Police Chief Jimmy Gray says the $75,000 grant will be used to purchase a vehicle to replace one that has been decommissioned with engine failure.
The financial assistance toward the purchase of the vehicle was passed unanimously by the Dewey City Council. Also at the meeting, Dewey City Mayor Tom Hays gave a proclamation that making Dewey Purple Hearts City.
Dewey City Council meets the first and 3rd Monday of every month at the Dewey Council Chambers at Dewey City Hall.
The recent park curfew in Dewey appears to be making a difference.
In an effort to curb vandalism and make parks safer, The City of Dewey established a curfew for all city parks from 11 p.m to 6 p.m that began late August. Craig Patterson of the Dewey Police Department says that the curfew has been a positive change.
Patterson says that there will be signs in the parks in Dewey reminding the public of the ordinance in the coming days. The ordinance was also established to match Bartlesville's curfew policies at their city parks.
Authorities in southwest Missouri are asking for the public's help in locating a man wanted on multiple warrants.
Police in Jasper County, Missouri, are looking for information on the whereabouts of 35-year-old Jordan Romero of Joplin.
Police say Romero was out on probation for second-degree robbery when he failed to appear for a court date related to charges of theft of telecommunications equipment in June. Romero now faces warrants of first and second-degree robbery, receiving stolen property, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, and armed criminal action.
Anyone with information on Romero should contact Jasper County authorities at 417-359-9100 or their local law enforcement agency. Romero is considered dangerous.
Northeast Oklahoma has broken a new record for the driest 90-day period over the past century.
Oklahoma Mesonet reports the northeast Oklahoma area has only received, on average, 3.88 inches of rain over the past 90 days. That is more than 7 inches below normal.
The previous record for the driest 90-day period in northeast Oklahoma was 4.15 inches back in 1956.
The Nowata Mesonet site has the largest departure from normal rainfall in the state over the past 90 days. Nowata is 10.1 inches below normal.
Most counties in northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas as well as Labette County in Kansas are under burn bans due to the dry conditions.
USD 503-Parsons schools are recognized for excellence.
Parsons schools are being honored for their success in educating students at a high level of excellence through the 2024 Kansas-Can, Star Recognition Program. District offcials were notified of the award this week by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson. The district was awarded a bronze star in individual plans of study and a silver star in social-emotional growth.
The Kansans Can Star Recognition Program is designed to support the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation process by providing a level of recognition that helps districts identify where they want to focus their improvement efforts.
Superintendent of Parsons Schools Lori Ray called the recognition a big accomplishment and something Parsons can be very proud of.
The 83rd Queen Neelah is crowned in Independence.
The coronation took place last night at Memorial Hall in Independence as IHS senior Addison Cope was crowned the winner. Also recognized were first runner-up Alexis Brown and second runner-up D'Asia Jones. Awards were also given for nine other contestant categories including Miss Beauty Annie Renfro, Miss Talent Reece Eytcheson, and Miss Congeniality Aly Murphy. Other winners include:
Miss Originality - Callie Schlorholtz
Miss Interview - Aly Murphy
Miss Congeniality - Aly Murphy
Miss Photogenic - Tatum Littlepage
Miss Fashion - Lauren Lee
Miss Beauty - Annie Renfro
Miss Personality - Hadley Sasse
Miss Poise - Presley Schabel
Miss Talent - Reece Eytcheson
Neewollah festivities continue today as the food trucks and carnival midway open in downtown Independence. The Doodah Parade is tomorrow night at 6pm, The Kiddie Parade is Friday at 4, and the Grand Parade is Saturday morning at 11. The marching band competition happens at 1:30 Saturday afternoon at Riverside Park. The carnival and live music on the bandstand happen each night with the Tyler Farr concert on Saturday night.
Delays may be coming to Montgomery County's project on South Buckeye in Coffeyville. City Manager Ben Brubaker says the project continues to have issues come up. Brubaker says there's a best and worst case scenario.
The project started at the end of August and was expected to take 100 working days to complete, which would be in early December. In other business, the commission moved the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 24th to Thursday, December 19th.
Recent dry weather conditions in the area have increased the risk of fires. K-State Meteorologist
Chip Redmond says there are tools farmers should have on hand when operating machinery and precautions to take. Redmond says for precautions around the house avoid anything that would cause a spark.
For the counties where a burn ban is not in place, Redmond says to make sure any brush burns or recreational fires get fully extinguished. He says to run water through the ash completely soaking it and stirring while continuing to add water to cool the ash down.
The Kansas Department of Transportation announces the launch of a new comprehensive bus study aimed at enhancing public transportation across the state.
Anyone can take the brief online survey that asks questions about travel as well as about some basic demographic information. The feedback KDOT receives from the survey will help the agency shape the future of bus services in Kansas and meet the needs of residents and communities across the state.
Contestants vying for the title of Queen Neelah displayed their talents last night at the Talent Competition in Independence.
Each of the twenty Queen Neelah contestants took to the stage at Memorial Hall last night to show off a variety of talents. Of those, six contestants were selected to perform again tonight before the Queen Coronation.
Those who will perform tonight include (pictured) Reece Eytcheson, Addie Cope, Audrey Hoggat, D'Asia Jones, Lexi Brown, Tatum Littlepage.
The 83rd Queen Neelah will be crowned at tonight's ceremony. It begins at 7pm at Memorial Hall.
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A Barton County Sheriff's Deputy is injured following a traffic stop that turned into a chase.
The incident began around 4pm on Sunday when the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on a motorcycle without a license plate on a rural road southwest of Great Bend. The motorcyclist refused to stop and a chase began, continuing southwest into Pawnee County. After a 12-mile chase, the motorcyclist drove into a pasture where he lost control of the bike. While the Barton County Deputy attempted to subdue the suspect with the help of a Pawnee County Deputy, one of the deputies' vehicles set the field on fire.
After some resistance, the two deputies handcuffed the suspect and took him into custody.
The Pawnee County Deputy suffered second-degree burns and was taken to a Wichita hospital, where is expected to make a full recovery.
The Neodesha City Commission is set to meet for their regularly scheduled meeting tomorrow.
On this week's agenda is a public hearing for three structures in the city deemed dangerous and unsafe. Also up for consideration will be the purchase of a stair chair and Lucas device for mechanical chest compressions for patients in cardiac arrest for EMS. Commissioners are also expected to accept three letters of resignation from the Neodesha Fire Department.
The meeting will be held tomorrow at 2pm at city hall and will also be available on Zoom via the city of Neodesha Facebook page. The public is invited to attend in-person or online.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is called in by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office to investigate a homicide in Grove.
Authorities were called to the scene yesterday afternoon around 2:30 near East 250 Road and South 610 Road in Grove. There they found 32-year-old Jared Beach who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Medical personnel attempted to save Beach's life but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
After an investigation, deputies arrested 35-year-old Adam Cole of Baxter Springs in connection to the shooting. Cole was booked into the Delaware County Jail on charges of first-degree murder.
Montgomery County Commissioners approve a pair of expenditures for the County Sheriff's Office.
At yesterday's meeting, Montgomery County Undersheriff Chris Williams presented commissioners with two expenditures for approval. The first was a bill for the care of more than a dozen horses and dogs seized by the Sheriff's Office in July in an animal cruelty case. Williams says the animals were in poor condition and needed a lot of care to restore their health.
Williams told commissioners that the animals could not yet be adopted because they are evidence in the case, so the county must continue to pay for their care. Williams also presented the commission with a purchase the Sheriff's Reserves wanted to make. The request was for $11,000 (eleven thousand dollars) to purchase a utility vehicle from Roman's Outdoor Power. Williams says the purchase would be at no cost to taxpayers.
The commission also approved that purchase. In other business, County Administrator Jonathan Booe requested the early closure of the county courthouse on Friday for Neewollah. Commissioners approved the request to close the courthouse at 2pm. The Country Treasurer's Office and Auto Tag Office will also close at 1:30. There will be no titles processed after 12:30pm on Friday due to the early closure for Neewollah.
Officials in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, have extended the burn ban in effect for that county.
Due to extremely dry conditions and the increases risk of fire, the Ottawa County commission has extended the burn ban originally put in place on October 9. The original ban was set to expire Wednesday, but the new extension will leave the ban in place through November 6.
According to the ban, outdoor fires of any forest, grass, range crop, campfire, bonfire, trash fire, or any other fire that could cause a fire of outdoor wild lands is prohibited.
Outdoor cooking using natural gas or charcoal may be allowed under certain circumstances. There are also exceptions for welding under certain conditions.
A 25-year-old man is in the hospital after a weekend stabbing in southwest Missouri.
Police in Duenweg were called to the scene just east of Joplin on Saturday afternoon where they found the victim suffering from stab wounds to the leg and abdomen. He was taken to a Joplin hospital and is expected to survive his injuries.
Police located a suspect at a nearby residence and took that person into custody without incident. The suspect was taken to the Jasper County Jail and faces assault charges in the incident.
The City of Coffeyville has announced that Buckeye Street will be closed between 4th and 8th Streets tonight to allow the Kansas Rural Water Association to locate a water leak in that area.
The leak has been difficult to locate and the K-R-W-A will need to bring in equipment in order to find the exact location of the leak. This will require the closure of Buckeye from 4th to 8th Streets beginning at 10:30 tonight.
**Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the closure time would be 10:30 a.m. today. The correct time for the closing is 10:30 p.m.
An inmate at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility is found unresponsive in his cell.
Prison officials say 26-year-old Kevyn Lopez was found in his cell yesterday morning and was unresponsive. Staff attempted life-saving measures and contacted emergency medical personnel, but attempts to revive Lopez were unsuccessful. The cause of death is unknown pending an autopsy.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation along with the Kansas Department of Corrections are investigating the death.
Lopez was serving an 8-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter in Wyandotte County. He entered a guilty plea to the charge in May 2021.
The Hutchinson Correctional Facility is the third largest such facility in the state and has a capacity of nearly 1,800 inmates.
KGGF takes home top honors during the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Annual Convention held last night in Wichita.
In addition to 17 first and second place awards, the station was honored with the Tony Jewel Community Service Award for last year's Christmas radio drama.
KGGF Sales Executive Penny Coy was also awarded the Mike Oatman Excellence in Sales Award.
The awards were from more than 900 entries from across the state. KGGF is classified as a medium market station which is defined as counties with populations from 25,000 top 150,000.
Two more area counties are now included in burn bans.
Labette County in Kansas and Nowata County in Oklahoma were both placed under burn bans yesterday. The bans have been enacted due to drought, high winds and above-normal temperatures.
Oklahoma law places a 14-day limit on burn bans unless the commissioners meet again to extend the ban. Nowata County joins Washington, Tulsa, Craig, Rogers, and Mayes counties in enacting burn bans. The only Oklahoma county in the listening area that is not under a burn ban is Osage County. As of Monday, 30 counties in Oklahoma are under burn bans. Most of Arkansas is under a burn ban, including Benton and Washington Counties.
Many area fire departments were busy this weekend.
On Sunday starting at 12:45 p.m., Independence, Dearing, Liberty, Sycamore, Tyro Rural and Coffeyville Resources responded to a large grass fire southwest of Independence. As efforts were wrapping up with that fire, Dearing, Independence, Tyro and Liberty were dispatched north of Caney to help the Havana and Caney Fire Departments with another large grass fire. Then, Dearing and Independence were sent back to the Independence grass fire along with the Elk City Fire Department.
According to the Dearing Fire Department, several structures were threatened, but none were lost. Dry conditions continue to prompt burn bans in the four states, and even if your county is not included in a burn ban, local fire departments are asking everyone to be mindful of conditions before burning anything.
Three Caney officials resign during tonight's city council meeting.
Mayor Josh Elliott resigned, effective immediately, due to the stress level of the job and to spend more time with his family.
City Administrator Kelley Zellner resigned due to health concerns from a recent heart attack. His last day will be December 31st.
Former City Treasurer Amber Dean resigned after a work session last Wednesday. It was accepted by the council tonight. Dean cited persistent accusations and a negative environment as her reasons for leaving.
Council President Zach Ellison will take over the mayor's role for the time being.
This is a developing story. More information will be given as it becomes available.
Kansas legislators prepare for the upcoming session.
Lawmakers in Kansas have been spending their time since this summer's special session adjourned preparing for the 2025 session. In the interim, lawmakers usually spend their time meeting in special committees to discuss issues assigned to them by Legislative leadership or by statute. This preparation is a large part of being ready for the Legislature to reconvene in January. State Representative Ron Bryce says tax reform remains a big priority for him.
The regular session of the Kansas Legislature begins on January 13.
Neewollah week is underway in Independence.
Festivities kicked off over the weekend with the Chili Cook Off and Dessert competition in Riverside Park on Saturday. Residents and visitors alike turned out to sample the treats and enjoy the fall weather. Elf: The Musical also took the stage at Memorial Hall in three packed shows.
Tonight, the contestants vying to be crowned the 83rd Queen Neelah step into the spotlight. Neewollah Generalissimo Lauren Ysusi says the contestants are a great bunch of young women.
The talent show takes place tonight at Memorial Hall and the coronation will be tomorrow night. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the two events always draw a big crowd.
The food stands and carnival midway open downtown on Wednesday. For more information, visit neewollah.com.
A weekend accident near Baxter Springs claims the life of a Columbus man.
The accident happened just before 4 on Saturday afternoon just north of US-166 at the intersection of Southeast 20th Street and Southeast Greenlawn Road or about 7 miles northwest of Baxter Springs.
A 2018 Ford Explorer driven by 35-year-old Maryann Atkinson was traveling westbound of Southeast Greenlawn Road. Atkinson failed to yield at a stop sign while crossing Southeast 20th Street. Her vehicle was struck by a northbound 1996 Ford van driven by 37-year-old Charla King. A passenger in the Explorer 36-year-old Matthew Atkinson was killed in the accident. Maryann Atkinson was seriously injured and taken to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. King, along with four juveniles in her vehicle, received minor injuries in the crash.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks stops the sale of of the Senior lifetime Hunting and Fishing Pass.
K-D-W-P made the announcement on Friday that it would no longer sell the 10-year combination passes for Kansas residents ages 65 to 74 after discovering that the law authorizing such passes had expired. The licenses were commonly called a Senior Lifetime Pass because after a resident reaches age 75, they are no longer required to purchase Kansas hunting and fishing licenses.
K-D-W-P Acting Secretary Christopher Kennedy says that the passes that have already been sold will remain valid.
Annual senior licenses for Kansas residents ages 65 to 74 remain available at significantly discounted rates. The Resident Senior Annual Hunting License is $15; the Resident Senior Annual Fishing License is $15; and the Resident Senior Annual Combo license for hunting and fishing is $25.
Licenses can be purchased here.
Licenses can also be purchased in-person at these various locations across the state.
For more information on licenses, permits, and fees, go here.
Drivers in Iola are asked to be on alert for a change in traffic in the city.
Starting today, South Street between US-54 and Broadway in Iola will change to a one-way street. Drivers who use that street frequently are asked to take note of the change and adjust their driving habits accordingly.
Officials in Crawford County say ballots are secure after a car crashes into the ballot drop box.
The accident occurred around 6pm on Friday evening when a vehicle jumped the curb and struck the drop box located in the parking lot of the Pittsburg Judicial Center. The driver of the car was uninjured and stated that the glare of the sun caused the accident. Crawford County Clerk Lisa Lusker arrived at the accident site soon after the crash and took possession of the sealed ballots. The ballots were then taken to the Crawford County Courthouse.
Until the drop box can be replaced Crawford County voters are asked to drop their ballots at the Girard courthouse or drop them off in-person at the County Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday between 8 and 4. Ballots can also be returned by mail or taken to any early polling site in Crawford County.
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A southeast Kansas woman enters a plea of not guilty to murder charges in the death of a Labette County man.
47-year-old Kimberly Nibarger of Parsons faces charges in the April 2023 shooting death of 23-year-old Dakota Patton. Patton’s remains were found in a field in rural Neosho County on May 8, 2023. Authorities determined Patton had died of a gunshot wound.
Nirbarger’s husband Clint was also charged in the case and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges last week as part of a plea deal.
Kimberly Nibarger’s plea could mean her case could end up before a jury.
Both Nibargers were arrested in Taney County, Missouri, soon after Patton’s remains were discovered.
A juvenile student is under arrest in Neosho for allegedly posting a hoax threat against Neosho Junior High
The Neosho Police Department says the juvenile has been placed under arrest and referred to the Newton County Juvenile Office to face formal charges in the case. The incident began after a post was made on social media early last week that stated a shooting would take place at the school on October 16. Detectives who investigated the case determined that it was a hoax and that no real threat existed.
Neosho Police says that if the person in custody was an adult, they would be facing charges of making a terroristic threat.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office will be on the agenda at today's County Commission meeting.
Montgomery County Undersheriff Chris Williams will appear before the commission today with several items of business. First, is to request approval for the purchase of a utility-Terrain Vehicle for the Sheriff's Reserve. Williams will also discuss the final cost of housing animals seized by the sheriff's office in animal abuse cases. County Administrator Jonathan Booe is also on today's agenda.
Today's meeting takes place at 9am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The public is invited to attend.
Several fire departments respond to a brush fire in rural Montgomery County.
On Saturday around 12:40 p.m., Dearing, Coffeyville, South Coffeyville and Tyro Rural responded to a grass fire that was threatening nearby structures in the area of County Road 1675 and 4100 in southern Montgomery County. Through the collaborative effort of the responding agencies, the fire was contained and the structures were protected. According to the Dearing Fire Department, around 3,700 gallons of water was used on the fire.
Area firefighters respond to an early-morning structure fire in Coffeyville.
Saturday morning around 4:30, the Coffeyville Fire Department responded to the 713 W 10th for a structure fire. A detached garage was on fire, and the fire spread to part of the attic of the home. Firefighters brought the fire under control, and Dearing, Liberty and South Coffeyville assisted in putting out hot spots. Friends of a resident confirm there were no injuries associated with the fire. The cause is not known at this time.
A chance to properly dispose of medications is coming up tomorrow.
The Coffeyville Drug Take Back Day will be tomorrow from 9 until noon at the Coffeyville Police Department. Items accepted include unused or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, patches, ointments and pet medications.
Items not accepted include needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, lotions and liquids.
Dry conditions in northeast Oklahoma are leading to challenging fire weather conditions.
Yesterday around 2 p.m., the Dewey Fire Department was paged to a structure and grass fire near 3980 and 1100 Road. Upon arrival firefighters found a fully involved barn that had also started a grass fire. Brush trucks from Dewey, Copan, Wann, and Bartlesville arrived and put a quick stop on the wind driven grass fire.
The Dewey Fire Department has responded to over ten fires in the last 10 days due to the prolonged drought, and windy conditions.
A Parsons woman pleads not guilty to a 2023 murder.
23-year-old Dakota Patton was last seen on April 25, 2023. He was reported missing the day his vehicle was found in a field on Xavier and 20th Road in Neosho County, on May 8th.
Kimberly's husband Clint changed his plea to guilty earlier this week as part of a plea deal. Clint will be sentenced on December 3rd for the amended charges of intentional second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Because of Kimberly Nibarger's not-guilty plea, a jury trial could be requested.
A routine traffic stop early yesterday morning turns into a lot more for Tulsa Police.
The incident began around 4:30 yesterday morning when officers spotted a white Acura driving without headlights on. The driver was stopped, but he refused to give officers a license or proof of insurance.
TPD officials say the man made statements saying that there was no law saying he had to have headlights, and even while being detained, he said he could drive off any time.
The man held on to a small python during the 20-minute exchange with officers, even holding the snake during a brief vehicle chase, which led to a pursuit on foot.
The man, whose name has not yet been released, was found in possession of 92 grams of Fentanyl, Marijuana products, and nearly $5,000 in cash.
He has been booked on charges of Eluding After Former Conviction of a Felony, trafficking Fentanyl, Drug Possession After Former Conviction of a Felony, Obstruction and Resisting Arrest, Operating a Vehicle with No Headlights, No Driver’s License, and No Insurance.
Tulsa Police say the snake was unharmed and was released to the custody of the suspect’s friend.
***Photo courtesy of the Tulsa Police Department***
Neewollah kicks off this weekend in Independence.
Tonight will be the first performance of Elf the Musical in Memorial Hall at 7 p.m. Additional performances will also take place Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2.
Tomorrow, the 5K and 10K run and fun run will kick off with registration at 7 a.m. The chili and dessert sampling will begin at 11 a.m. and Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the public is invited to help judge.
Wilson says there are currently 16 entries for the chili cook-off and dessert competition. KGGF staff will be broadcasting live tomorrow from 10 to noon with a remote on 104.1 FM. All activities happen in the Riverside Park Oval.
On Sunday, besides the musical, it's also Neewollah Night at the Movies with free admission and popcorn at Independence Cinemas for the movie “Ghostbusters” starting at 7 p.m.
The Neosho, Missouri Police Department respond to an alleged threat at the junior high school.
Officers say two boys took a picture of BB guns; they were later edited and posted to social media by a 12-year-old girl. Investigators say the picture was captioned with a statement that a school shooting would happen Wednesday. Police determined the picture and caption to be a hoax.
All suspects have been identified. Charges of making a threat have been requested by NPD and sent to the Newton County Juvenile Office.
Several counties in Oklahoma and Arkansas are under burn bans.
According to the latest information from Oklahoma Forestry Services, Washington, Craig, Ottawa, Mayes, Delaware and Adair Counties in northeast Oklahoma are currently under county burn bans.
The majority of Arkansas is under a burn ban, including Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison Counties within the KGGF listening area.
There are no county burn bans in Kansas or Oklahoma at this time. Outdoor burning continues to be discouraged in the area due to dry conditions. The drought continues to spread, with more of Osage County, Oklahoma now included in extreme drought.
A Dewey woman faces two felony counts of child neglect after being arrested after a months-long investigation.
43-year-old Sabra Stevenson appeared in Washington County District Court yesterday on the charges.
According to court records, the investigation began on August 24th when police were called to an apartment complex in Dewey for a welfare check. A probable cause affidavit says police talked to Stevenson while a child was in the residence.
The Department of Human Services follow-up visit showed the child staying in a room in the apartment that was dirty and appeared to have fecal matter on the wall.
Dewey Police and DHS followed up on September 9th, where another home visit found more fecal matter in the apartment. Zachary Florence, who also lived at the residence, told officers that the child had not seen a doctor since 2019 or 2020.
Stevenson is being held on $50,000 bond; her next court appearance is scheduled for November 9th. A warrant remains for the arrest of Zachary Florence in the case.
Thursday’s Spooktacular was a resounding success.
An estimated over 2,000 people crowded into downtown Coffeyville for the annual Coffeyville Chamber’s annual event.
Costumed children as well as a few adults in costumes delighted in collecting treats from area businesses and organizations.
The KGGF booth even included a haunted house that people lined up to walk through before collecting a bag of popcorn for a treat at the end.
All that goes on during Halloween can be stressful for pets.
Coffeyville Friends of Animals Board Director Becky Barnhart says no matter how cute a pet looks in a costume you don't want to leave them in it for too long. Barnhart says the constant activity at the door, including knocking and ringing the doorbell, can stress a pet out.
Barnhart says to leave the candy out of the reach of any pets, especially chocolate from dogs.
The Midland Theater Foundation announces a $100,000 matching challenge from the Pratt Family Charitable Fund.
President Lisa Scheck says the family came to them wanting to find a unique way to do a matching challenge. Scheck says the Pratt Family has offered more than just monetary support to the Midland Theater.
Scheck says they hope to reach the $100,000 matching goal by the end of the year. A link for more information on how to contribute or to learn more about the Midland Theater project can be found here.
Today will bring high chances of fire danger today, with increased chances northwest of Montgomery County.
According to the National Weather Service, Southerly winds up to 50 mph combined with low humidity will create very high to extreme fire danger this afternoon and evening. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and become very difficult to control. An increased risk of fire is also possible in Oklahoma, mainly northwest of I-44.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says changes are coming to the testing process for a driver’s license.
Class F written tests for Missouri Driver's Licenses will soon be available in 20 languages, including a new sign language video version of the test.
The new system will provide a direct digital report to the Department of Revenue, which officials say will increase efficiency and deter license fraud.
Driver examination stations throughout the state will close at 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2024, and will be closed all day on November 8th to prepare for the upgrade. Normal operations will resume on the Tuesday after the Veterans Day holiday.
For more information, visit the MSHP website.
The topic of solar energy continues to be polarizing in Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma.
Almost 100 residents of Cherokee County met last night in Columbus to discuss the possibility of a solar energy farm in the county.
According to Cherokee County Commissioner Lorie Johnson, the 3,000 acres would begin around southeast 10th and Clem Road and move toward the Oklahoma state line.
Residents are encouraged to contact their commissioner with questions and concerns.
Voters in Washington County will vote in a couple of weeks on several items, including alcohol sales.
One of the questions on the November 5th ballot concerns whether or not to extend alcohol sales on Sundays in Washington County.
Commissioner Mitch Antle says the issue was brought up during New Year's Eve last year.
Antle says, if passed, establishments like bars and restaurants would be allowed to serve drinks from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week, instead of the exception on Sundays. He says the change would allow Washington County businesses to operate as businesses in surrounding counties.
Antle encourages all Washington County voters to let their voice be heard on November 5th.
Coffeyville FFA students place in an area horse judging event.
Students traveled to Severy, KS yesterday to compete in the Kansas Southeast District Horse Judging Contest.
Tylan Rosson, Avery Sells, Brody Foster, Sam Stukesbary, Bennett Thompson and Graham Leeds earned a 9th place team finish with Sam Stukesbary tying for 10th overall reason scores.
Chloe Mund, Cade Keller, Aubrey Battaglear, Lizzy Cook and Alek Plute received a top 20 finish with Chloe Mund tying for 8th overall reason score.
A fire yesterday in northwest Arkansas creates a smoke plume seen around the region.
Firefighters from Rogers, Springdale, Bentonville, Lowell, Benton County, Pea Ridge, Cave Springs, Prairie Grove and Little Flock responded around 3 p.m. to a fire at Marck Industries, which is a recycling business in Rogers.
One civilian was injured in the fire, but all employees of the plant were accounted for according to the Rogers Police Department.
The fire prompted a hazardous smoke warning for the area around 4:30 p.m., and the plume could be seen as far away as Fayetteville and Eureka Springs. The fire was contained by around 10 p.m. yesterday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Independence Fire-EMS responds to a house fully engulfed in flames.
The call came in just after midnight this morning to a fire in the 200 block of South Earl Street.
Upon arrival, a fully engulfed structure fire was observed, and a second alarm was requested. Firefighters report a partial collapse of the rear section of the structure.
Crews remained on scene for several hours extinguishing hot spots.
Independence Fire-EMS was assisted by Independence Rural, Sycamore Rural, Dearing Rural, and Cherryvale Fire-EMS.
Tonight is one of the biggest nights for Coffeyville trick-or-treaters outside of Halloween.
Spooktacular kicks off today at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Coffeyville. Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce President Candi Westbrook says this is a great event for families.
Westbrook reminds drivers that downtown streets near the chamber will be shut down this afternoon from 4 until at least 6 p.m.
After Spooktacular, Westbrook says Coffeyville Community College is holding a companion event.
Spookapalooza runs from 5 to 7 p.m. in the CCC square. Tonight's choir concert will start at 7 p.m. in the Spencer/Rounds Theater and feature special guest Terrence O'Brien.
A Washington County man was arraigned Tuesday on two felony cases.
35-year-old Shawn Stierwalt is being charged in two separate cases with 1st degree rape and domestic abuse after a felony conviction.
According to the affidavit, an argument Saturday between the victim and Stierwalt led to him holding the victim down on the bed with his knees on her arms while slapping and strangling her. He allegedly threatened to kill her during the assault.
The victim also stated Stierwalt hit her in the face multiple times and placed his hands around her neck.
Officers found three knives next to Stierwalt's bed. Officers also observed fresh cuts on the victim's face and arm bruises.
Examination of the victim showed signs of sexual assault and strangulation.
Stierwalt's bond was set at $100,000 in both cases; he was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.
Drought conditions continue in Northeastern Oklahoma.
Washington County has already adopted a burn ban and the discussion of adopting one in Nowata County continues. Emergency Management Coordinator Laurie Summers says she supports putting one in place.
Nowata and Washington County are both currently in extreme drought conditions.
A retiring member of the Altamont Fire Department is honored during their last City Council Meeting.
Mayor Richard Hayward presented a plaque to Keith Shaffer to show the City's appreciation for his years of service. Shaffer started with the Altamont Fire Department in 1978 and has decided to hang up his gear.
The City says thank you to Shaffer for his 46 years of dedication and service to their community and that he will be missed by many who had the pleasure of working beside him through the years.
Cedar Bluff Camp's Night of Fright is coming up the next two weekends.
Cedar Bluff's Chuck McFate says this is always one of their more popular events. McFate says Night of Fright is for all ages.
Proceeds from Night of Fright go towards making improvements to the Cedar Bluff Camp. Night of Fright starts at dark and goes until 11:00pm this Friday and Saturday and next Friday and Saturday.
Crickets are one of the more common home invaders during this time of the year. K-State Crop Entomologist Jeff Whitworth says the most annoying thing about crickets is the noise.
Whitworth says house crickets can survive year-round inside. Whitworth says the best control for crickets is any insecticide that has crickets on the label. He says to spray a six to 12-foot perimeter around the house and inside any cracks or crevices.
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The City of Moline is welcoming the fall season with a fun contest for residents and businesses alike.
The Great Pumpkin Display contest is sponsored by the Moline Chamber of Commerce and offers cash prizes for the top three pumpkin displays for both private residences and local businesses. First place is $60, second is $40, and third place will win $20.
Judging will take place on or after November 9th. The contest is open to all Moline residents and businesses.
Osage County, Oklahoma, Commissioners meet and hear a report from a weekend event.
The commission meeting convened yesterday in Pawhuska and commissioners heard about a weekend event aimed at keeping the western way of life alive for women. The report on the event called the Art of the Cowgirl was given by organizer Laura Teague. Teague says the second year of the event saw an increase in attendance for several of the offered workshops.
Teague asked the commission for a donation to help defray costs, but District Two Commissioner Steve Talburt was concerned that it might look like the Board was showing favoritism. The request was tabled until the next meeting.
In other business, The Board was going to consider taking action on a revised budget from the sheriff's office, an email from the state auditor's office prompted commissioners to request some time to review that email before taking action.
The Ark City High School boys basketball coach C.J. Jennings has resigned following allegations of inappropriate communications with a student.
When the allegations surfaced, Jennings was placed on administrative leave by USD 470 Ark City and also by USD 465 Winfield where he was employed.
The Ark City School board accepted Jennings' resignation at this week's meting.
The Ark City Police Department says there is no current criminal investigation in the matter but they are working closely with both school districts to address the situation.
A southwest Missouri woman is sentenced in federal court for her role in the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant Arkansas woman and her unborn child.
Amber Waterman of Pineville, MO, was sentenced this week to life in prison without parole in federal court. Waterman entered a guilty plea in July to kidnapping Ashley Bush in October 2022 in order to claim her unborn child. According to court documents, Waterman made contact with Bush using a false Facebook account, then lured her to a convenience store in Maysville, Arkansas, under the pretext of discussing an employment opportunity. The kidnapping eventually resulted in Bush's death as well as the death of her unborn child. Waterman and her husband Jamie then allegedly attempted to dispose of the bodies by burning them.
Jamie Waterman's case is still ongoing. His trial is scheduled to begin October 21 in Springfield.
Fire crews respond to a fire caused by a propane delivery truck.
The incident occurred Monday in McDonald County, Missouri, on Bear hollow Road near the Missouri/Arkansas state line. Crews from Bella Vista, Pineville, Pea Ridge, and Gravette Fire Departments responded along with Freeman EMS and the McDonald County Sheriff's Department. The propane truck carried an unknown number of propane canisters, which contributed to the severity of the blaze.
One person was injured and life-flighted to a burn center with serious injuries. No names have yet been released.
A man charged in the 2023 shooting death of 23-year-old Dakota Patton changes his plea to guilty.
34-year-old Clint Nibarger of Parsons appeared in a Neosho County courtroom yesterday to accept a plea deal in Patton's murder. As a part of the deal, Nibarger entered a guilty plea to the amended charges of intentional second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Both Nibarger's attorneys and the prosecution have recommended a sentence of 176 months for the first count and 117 months for the second count. The sentences would be served consecutively for a total sentence of 24 years in prison.
The charges are the result of the shooting death in April 2023 of 23-year-old Dakota Patton, whose remains were discovered in a field in rural Neosho County on May 8, 2023. Nibarger was reportedly the last person to see Patton alive after the two were seen at a gas station, arguing over a woman. Clint Nibarger and his wife Kimberly were arrested in Taney County, Missouri, shortly after.
Kimberly Nibarger is scheduled for a status hearing today.
Clint Nibarger will be formally sentenced in December.
Dakota Patton
Montgomery County gives its final approval for Industrial Revenue Bonds for the new Bartlett Soybean Plant.
Representatives from Bartlett were on hand at yesterday's Montgomery County Commission meeting to gather signatures from commissioners and to thank Montgomery County for its support. Vice President of Bartlett Grain Company Bill Webster says the facility is up and running.
Also at the meeting was an attorney from the law firm Gilmore Bell. Sarah Steele says the agreement between Bartlett and the county is in place.
In other business, commissioners also heard an appeal from a citizen regarding a neighborhood revitalization plan and signed off on a resolution from County Treasurer Nancy Clubine to void uncashed checks over three years old written by the county.
A single-vehicle accident yesterday morning in Bartlesville claims the life of one person.
The accident occurred near the intersection of Silver Lake and Nowata Place, when car car veered off the roadway and went airborne over a concrete culvert. Officers responding to the scene say the driver appeared to be experiencing a medical emergency. First responders removed the driver from the vehicle, which then caught fire. The driver of the vehicle later died.
The name of the victim has not yet been released pending notification of the next of kin.
A multi-county Grand Jury investigation in Oklahoma finds pervasive mismanagement and waste in the Governor's Emergency Educational Relief or GEER fund.
The Grand Jury probe found significant misspending of millions of dollars that were ear-marked to reduce the disruption students faced from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Grand Jury report found no criminal intent or purposeful corruption, the report characterized the handling of the grant money as irresponsible and indefensible.
Among the findings in the report released yesterday were preferential treatment for private schools and that certain families were allowed to apply before the official launch of public programs.
The Grand Jury offered several recommendations to address the issues found in its report. Among those recommendations are to improve the training of state employees and elected officials regarding recording keeping, fraud prevention, and conflicts of interest, as well as an establishment of written rules for any state agency receiving more than $10 million annually.
“While many of the issues revealed by our investigation were caused by ill-advised decisions by private individuals, the State bears the ultimate responsibility to account for its own misuse of federal funds. It cannot delegate or contract away this duty,” the report states.
Two search warrants served in Nowata County lead to the seizure of multiple marijuana plants and pounds of processed marijuana.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Marijuana Enforcement Teams served the warrants at JC King Garden in Nowata, and Zebra M Growers in South Coffeyville, seizing 21,360 marijuana plants and 518 pounds of processed marijuana.
OBN Spokesman Mark Woodward says the operation is part of an ongoing investigation against the farms for obtaining their OBN Registrations by fraud, using “straw ownership” schemes. By definition, a straw ownership scheme is a person who buys something on behalf of another person who has a legitimate or illegitimate reason why they can't make the purchase themselves.
Arrests are anticipated as this case moves forward.
The OBN was assisted by the Nowata County Sheriff's Office, the Oklahoma National Guard Counterdrug Office, the District #1 and District #3 Nowata County Commissioners Offices, Rogers County District #1 Commissioner Dale DeLozier, and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.
Anyone with information about this investigation or any other criminal drug activity can anonymously report it to OBN's tip-line at 800-522-8031 or sending OBN a Facebook DM.
The USD 436 focuses on the future in a set of community meetings.
Superintendent Blake Vargas says the meetings, set for today and tomorrow, will help the district set benchmarks for the future in the district.
Vargas says the biggest feedback he has received so far deals with student safety.
Vargas says if possible, the storm shelter would be available for all residents in the evenings and weekends during severe weather.
Caney district residents are encouraged to contact the superintendent's office with questions, ideas or concerns. More information is also available through their website.
Dry conditions in northeast Oklahoma prompt Washington County Commissioners to issue a 14-day burn ban.
The ban was issued at this week's commission meeting following a presentation from County Emergency Management Director Kary Cox. Cox says one reason for the ban was the existence of multiple fires over the weekend.
The ban was supported by all of the county's fire departments due to extreme drought conditions. Cox says the ban will prohibit all outdoor burning except for grilling, outdoor cooking, and welding.
This ban expires in 14 days, but Cox says it will likely need to be re-issued.
The Washington County Commission will revisit the issue in two weeks.
The 18th Annual Coats for Kids Motorcycle Coat run happens Saturday in Coffeyville.
Participants will gather at 11:30am in the parking lot of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church at 7th and Elm. The parade begins at 12:30. Donations of coats, hoodies, mittens, gloves and cash are welcome. The event is co-sponsored by the American Legion riders Post #20 and #138
Coffeyville Community College will be hosting their 2024 CCC Choir Festival on Thursday.
The event will feature performances from various area high schools to showcase their musical talent. CCC will also welcome special guest Terrence O'Brien, an accomplished performer who hails from Edna. O'Brien has performed in opera and musical theater in over 70 leading roles throughout the world. O'Brien will also perform as a part of the CCC Choir Concert that will happen Thursday evening at the Spencer Rounds Theater. CCC's Dr. David Wiggins says the public is invited to come out and enjoy the show.
The concert begins at 7pm.
USD 445 Coffeyville School Board hears updates from several district programs at last night's meeting.
Assistant Director of the Dr. Jerry Hamm Early Learning Center Megan Ward tells the board that recent changes to their lunch program has made a big difference for students.
The Board also heard from the Director of Coffeyville Parents as Teachers Leslie Ewy. Ewy says the program looks to provide a wide array of services to families with children from prenatal through kindergarten.
The USD 445 Board of Education meets on the second Monday of each month. The meeting is open to the public.
A man is dead after a morning excavator accident in Cherokee County.
Around 11am yesterday an excavator was unloading material off of a semi truck near the intersection of Southeast 90th Road and Southeast Wyandotte Road or about 10 miles east of Columbus. A piece of metal slipped from the excavator and fell from the opposite side of the trailer. The piece of metal struck the driver of the semi.
The victim in the incident is described as a 50-year-old male.
No names have yet been released.
The Board of Osage County Commissioners is convening today due to the Columbus Day holiday.
At this week's meeting in Pawhuska, there will be a discussion regarding the possibility of revising the budget for the sheriff’s office for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Laura Teague will also give a report on the Art of the Cowgirl.
There will also be a discussion to consider signing a certificate and order to the county clerk and county treasurer.
Tuesday’s meeting begins at 10 a.m. for those interested in attending.
A Bartlesville man faces charges of assault and battery after a weekend altercation with his spouse.
26-year-old Taber Adkins was arrested late Friday night after police responded to reports of a disturbance at his residence. Adkins had an apparent argument and physical altercation with his spouse where it is alleged that he grabbed the defendant by the throat. Adkins appeared in a Washington County Courtroom in Bartlesville yesterday to face charges in the case.
Adkins was taken into custody and is being held on a $25,000 bond. His next court appearance is November 9.
A man from the western Kansas city of Kinsley is injured in a single-vehicle accident in Cherokee County.
32-year-old Thomas Cunningham was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound on US-69 Alternate near Riverton on Saturday night when he entered a roundabout at the K-66 intersection. Cunningham failed to negotiate the curve of the roundabout, lost control of his bike, and laid the vehicle on its side. Cunningham was ejected from the bike in the crash. He was taken to Springfield Mercy Hospital with serious injuries.
Temperatures below freezing are on the way.
The first freeze warning of the season has been issued, and will be in effect from 1 a.m. tomorrow until 9 a.m. for much of the four-state area.
Most of Kansas and Missouri in addition to northern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas are included in the freeze warning. Temperatures in Coffeyville are expected to fall to 30 degrees early tomorrow morning. Sensitive plants should be covered or brought indoors to protect them from frost.
Big Boy No. 4014 arrived to a big crowd yesterday afternoon at the Union Pacific Rail Yard.
The steam locomotive is currently on its “Heartland of America Tour”, an almost two month tour encompassing a total of nine different states.
After Big Boy 4014 was retired from service in 1961, restoration began on the engine in 2013 and it returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Today's route will see Big Boy 4014 departing Coffeyville at 9:00 a.m., headed for Kansas City. Stops include Osawatomie, arriving at 2:15 pm. at the West Pacific Avenue Crossing, then departing at 2:45. It will stop for the night at Kansas City's Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, arriving at 6:45 pm.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Independence Police Department are looking for the public's help in identifying a pair of suspects.
The two individuals are wanted in connection to a string of shoplifting incidents in the area. The pair is thought to be from the Coffeyville area and have been observed in a red Dodge Journey. Anyone with information on the identity of the suspects is asked to contact IPD at 620-332-1700.
One position on the South Coffeyville School Board is up for election next year.
The school board general election is April 1st, 2025, and board position number five will be voted on. That seat is currently held by Mike Finney, who will seek reelection. Superintendent Daryl Pruter says there will be a special election if more than two candidates file.
Pruter says interested candidates must file the appropriate paperwork with the county. In other business, the board approved their meeting dates for next year, heard reports from school principals and toured renovation projects in the gym, weight room and locker rooms.
It's a free movie night in Sedan.
The Gregg Theater is showing an additional screening of Average Joe, which played twice earlier this weekend. The movie will start at 7:00pm, and thanks to a donation, admission is free. Concessions will be available, but they will not be free.
A link to the movie trailer can be found here.
Governor Laura Kelly announces funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in southeast Kansas.
The funding will help local communities create safer, more walkable and bike-friendly routes through the Transportation Alternatives Program.
The City of Altamont will receive $1.5 million for a pedestrian connections to school and food retail project, the city of Girard is set to receive $600,000 for Pedestrian Transportation Facilities to Connect Vital Services to Residents, and the City of Iola will get $4 million for the US-54 Multi-modal Project.
The competitive grant program is administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and provided by the Federal Highway Administration. It is currently the primary source of KDOT funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects statewide, including Safe Routes to School. The program also funds transportation projects of a historical nature and scenic and environmental projects, including Main Street beautification projects.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Allen County Rural Water District #15 public water supply systems located in Allen County.
The advisory was issued because of system maintenance that caused a loss of pressure. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the Allen County Rural Water District #15 indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
Residents of Cherokee County will be able to hear more about a proposed solar energy in the county tomorrow night.
The public hearing will allow residents of Cherokee County to ask questions and voice concerns about the proposed solar farm that is currently planned to encompass more than 3,000 acres in the county. Those in attendance will be able to give input on zoning, setbacks, and other regulations.
The forum will be held at the Columbus High School Auditorium at 123 South High School Street. It begins at 6:30pm tomorrow night.
Governor Laura Kelly announces an update to drought declaration for counties in Kansas.
Kelly signed the declaration Friday after many Kansas counties have seen drought conditions persisting across the state. The declaration places three counties in emergency status, 55 counties into warning status and 47 into watch status.
The three counties in warning status are Harvey, Reno, and Sedgwick in south-central Kansas. Most southeast Kansas counties have been placed in the warning category including Montgomery, Labette, Neosho, Chautauqua, Elk, Cherokee, Crawford, Cowley, and Bourbon counties. Counties in the watch category include Wilson, Woodson, Allen, Greenwood and Butler.
Through an agreement between the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in the emergency stage are eligible for emergency water use from certain state fishing lakes and some federal reservoirs.
With conditions expected to remain dry, Kelly stated that Kansans should pay close attention to their water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires.
Neewollah festivities get underway this week in Independence.
All the favorite Neewollah activities and events are just around the corner. Coming up in the next two weeks are the Queen talent show and coronation, the carnival midway and food trucks, live music on the bandstand, and the Tyler Farr concert on the 26th. Everything gets underway this Friday night with the first performance of the musical Elf. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says this year's stars Glen Price and Tori Kreusch put on a great performance.
Tickets are still available for all three shows. Other events this weekend include the 5K Run/Walk on Saturday morning and the Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Contest at Riverside Park.
As the fall weather brings cooler temperatures and shorter days, it's a good time to start thinking about immune system health before cold and flu season begins.
Medical researcher and nutritionist Dr. Michael Garko says it's a good time to cut back on alcohol and increase physical activity.
Garko says it's also important to get a good night's sleep.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say that those who don't get enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. Infection-fighting antibodies and cells are also reduced in those who don't get enough sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep per night, while teens need nine to ten hours and younger children may need 10 hours of sleep or more per night.
Three Independence men face drug charges after being arrested.
On Friday, October 4th, Independence Police were called to the 700 block of Washington Street just after midnight for reports of a person with a firearm. During the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for a residence on the 1000 block of North 9th Street. There officers arrested 41-year-old Jason Riedle, 37-year-old Dusty Lee Vaughn, and 44-year-old Aaron Mallott.
All three men face multiple charges including possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The B-N-S-F Railway crossing at US-54 in Fort Scott will be closed for repairs starting today.
The crossing will be closed to traffic until Wednesday, when the work is scheduled to be completed. Tour signs will be posted to guide drivers through the work until construction is finished.
The Montgomery County Commission will convene tomorrow morning for their regularly scheduled meeting due to the Columbus Day holiday
On this week's agenda is an appeal on a decision for neighborhood revitalization, a resolution of voided checks from County Treasurer Nancy Clubine and an update on county levy and values from County Clerk Charlotte Scott-Schmidt.
Tomorrow's meeting will begin at 9am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The Montgomery County Commission normally meets at that time and place on Mondays. The weekly meetings are open to the public.
The City of Sedan will hold a their regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council tomorrow night.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss approval of the Community Development Block Grant for the rehabilitation of the Sedan Public Library. This will be a public hearing and citizens are invited to attend the meeting to learn more about the grant and project and to make comments.
In order to accommodate everyone who might want to comment during the public hearing, tomorrow night’s meeting will be held at the 4-H building in Sedan. The meeting begins at 5:30pm.
Train enthusiasts won’t want to miss their chance to see Big Boy today in Coffeyville.
Big Boy No. 4014 will arrive mid-afternoon today at the Union Pacific Rail Yard on 14th Street and depart tomorrow morning at 9am. The steam locomotive is currently on its “Heartland of America Tour” that began August 28th in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and will end its journey on October 23 in Greeley, Colorado, traveling across a total of nine different states.
Big Boy No. 4014 was built for Union Pacific in 1941 and retired for service in 1961, traveling over a million miles in its 20 years of service. Restoration on the engine began in 2013 and it returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
For those wanting to see Big Boy, 14th Street will be blocked off for safety. Attendees are asked to park on the street and to avoid railroad property and, for safety purposes, to stay off of the tracks. Use caution and expect to encounter a lot of traffic.
The family of a 10-year-old Granby, MO, boy who died after being struck by a car launches a fundraiser to help in their time of need.
10-year-old Cooper DeShields was killed last Thursday when he was struck by an SUV while riding his bicycle home from an after-school program. Authorities say the boy failed to stop at a stop sign and rode into the path of the oncoming vehicle.
The accident has shaken the city of Granby and now the boy’s aunt has started a fundraising campaign to help the family in their time of need.
Two Columbus residents are seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident in Cherokee County.
The accident occurred around 4:30 Friday afternoon near the intersection of US-69 and Northeast 20th Street or about 2 miles east of Columbus. A 2010 Ford pickup driven by 45-year-old Vivian Hubbard of Columbus was traveling southbound on Northeast 20th toward US-69. Hubbard failed to yield at a stop sign as she crossed the highway and was struck by a 2023 Dodge Ram pickup driven by 44-year-old Joseph Huddleston of Galena. The impact caused Huddleston’s vehicle to overturn in a ditch while Hubbard’s truck came to rest in the roadway.
Both Hubbard and a passenger in her vehicle 47-year-old Joshua Doherty also of Columbus, sustained serious injuries and were taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin for treatment.
Huddleston was uninjured in the accident.
A Frontenac man faces charges of 2nd degree murder in a Friday night shooting in Frontenac
Police were called to a Frontenac residence around 8:15 on Friday evening where they found 39-year-old Jonathan Brewer of Frontenac unconscious. EMS was called to the scene and administered life-saving measures on the victim, but Brewer was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to agents from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, a preliminary investigation indicated that Brewer was involved in an altercation with 19-year-old Michael Simpson, also of Frontenac. Simpson is alleged to have shot Brewer during the argument.
Simpson has been booked into the Crawford County Jail pending formal charges.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Montgomery County Rural Water District 1C public water supply systems located in Montgomery County and the Chautauqua Co. Rural Water Districts 1, 3, and 4 located in Chautauqua County.
The advisory was issued because the water supplier could not maintain the minimum required chlorine residual. Failure to maintain required chlorine residual levels may put the system at risk for bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from these water systems indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
The boil water advisory for Chautauqua RWD 2, Elk County RWD 1, the cities of Grenola, Chautauqua, Peru, and Longton, continues, pending laboratory testing.
Big Boy will be making an overnight stop in Coffeyville on Monday at the Union Pacific rail yard.
For those interested in see the steam locomotive, the best place to view it will be from the right-of-way off Atlantic Street. The entrances to the rail yard on 14th Street will be blocked for safety, as the rail yard is still active for regular operations.
The City says to please use caution as a lot of traffic is expected. Big Boy will arrive mid-afternoon on Monday and depart on Tuesday at 9:00 am to continue the Heartland of America Tour.
Two people are in custody in Cherokee County following a theft from a Columbus storage unit.
The theft occurred on Tuesday when Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies responded to reports of a stolen four-wheeler. Deputies developed a suspect after an investigation and went to a residence north of Columbus on Thursday where they discovered the suspect and another individual riding the stolen four-wheeler. The suspects fled into a wooded area where they abandoned the ATV and continued to flee.
The two were eventually tracked to a residence in Oswego where they were arrested.
Taken into custody were 27-year-old James Jameson of Columbus and 34-year-old Whitney Polk of Oswego. Jameson faces charges of Possessing Stolen Property and Felony Interference with Law Enforcement while Polk is being held on allegations of Felony Interference with Law Enforcement.
Zoolloween happens tomorrow evening in Independence.
Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says it's a great time to Bring the kids out for trick or treating fun at Ralph Mitchell Zoo.
Wilson says it's a fun tradition in Independence.
Zoolloween runs from 5 to 7 tomorrow at Riverside Park.
The 6th Annual Hops Around Town Brewfest happens tomorrow in downtown Coffeyville.
There will be food trucks, a cornhole tournament and more. Coffeyville Chamber President Candi Westbrook says there will live music, too.
Westbrook adds that attendees can sample their favorite craft beers, wine, and drinks.
General admission tickets are $30 and VIP tickets are $50. It runs from 2 to 6 tomorrow in downtown Coffeyville.
The Longton Fall Fest happens this weekend..
There will be lots of family-friendly fun to be had tomorrow including a craft fair starting at 11am. There will be a cornhole tournament at 1, pumpkin painting at 2 and a kids power pull wheel race at three. The evening will be capped off with a bull blowout at the fairgrounds and live music at 9 from the Garrett Brown Band.
It all happens tomorrow in Longton.
The Parsons Police Department will soon have better security cameras in their police station and lock-up.
At this week's Parsons City Commission meeting, commissioners considered whether or not to upgrade the police security cameras. Police Chief Robert Spinks says the department's current cameras are very old and need to be replaced.
Spinks also says the $20,000 price tag for the new cameras and DVR will not come from the city's general fund.
The city commission voted unanimously to approve the camera upgrade.
This time of year marks the time that vehicle-deer collisions tend to increase and the Kansas Highway Patrol urges drivers to use extra caution on Kansas roadways.
Deer breeding season means deer on the move, especially at dawn and dusk. Shawn Steward with Triple A-Kansas says deer just often are not paying attention.
In 2023, there were more than ten thousand vehicle-deer accidents in Kansas. Of those, more than 600 involved injuries and seven were fatal. Steward says drivers should stay vigilant near deer crossings, wooded areas and other green spaces where deer hang out. If you see one deer, there are likely more nearby. Always wear your seat belt to reduce the risk of injuries or worse if you do happen to hit a deer.
Authorities in Pittsburg are investigating an apparent attack with a hatchet that occurred Wednesday in a city park.
Pittsburg Police and Crawford County EMS were called to the scene at the 23rd Street Bike Park around 4pm on Wednesday afternoon after reports of a woman being struck with a hatchet. The female victim was located in a wooded area of the park with a wound to her neck. She was taken to Mercy Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses say the attack occurred following an argument between the victim and another woman.
A 32-year-old Pittsburg woman was taken into custody by police. She is currently being held without bond and faces charges of felony aggravated battery.
No names have yet been released.
Grand River Dam Authority officials have identified the body found Wednesday morning in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.
The remains have been determined to be those of 39-year-old Harold Stroud of Tulsa. Stroud's body was discovered by two passersby in the waters of Tar Creek just northwest of the City of Miami.
G-R-D-A has requested the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in the suspicious death crime scene.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and Miami Police Department are also aiding in the investigation.
The City of Pawhuska, OK, has a new city attorney.
At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Pawhuska City Manager Jerry Eubanks informed council members of the change. Eubanks says Attorney John Heskett has resigned his position.
Heskett has served as Pawhuska city Attorney since early 2015.
A weekend car accident claims the life of a Barnsdall woman.
The accident occurred around 5:30pm last Saturday evening on State Highway 11 at County Road 2100 near Skiatook. 56-year-old Nancy Williams was killed after being ejected from her vehicle in the crash.
The 2010 Dodge Journey was being driven by a 15-year-old Skiatook female when the accident occurred. The vehicle veered off the roadway for an unknown reason and overturned several times before coming to rest in a pasture.
The juvenile driver was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa where she was evaluated and released. Williams was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident while the juvenile driver was.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
A two-vehicle accident involving a school bus happened Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Allen County.
A school bus was stopped at a construction area on westbound US-54 east of La Harpe just after 3pm Thursday when it was struck from behind by a 2007 Ford Taurus Driven by 18-year-old Zachary Sawyer of Burlington.
There were 31 students and 2 teachers on board the school bus when the accident occurred. There were no injuries reported.
Southern Montgomery County is now in extreme drought.
That's the latest from the U.S. Drought Monitor report, which puts southern Montgomery County in the D3 or extreme drought category, one step below the worst drought which is D4.
The drought situation in northeast Oklahoma has gotten much worse in just a week, with eight counties in northeast Oklahoma at least partially in D3. Extreme drought is also now extending to the southwest corner of Missouri and extreme northwest Arkansas.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says topsoil moisture continues to decrease in many area states.
K-State Research and Extension Wildcat District Crop Agent James Coover says the drought is making it difficult to plant winter wheat.
Coover says winter wheat can be planted into November, so there should still be time to get the crop in provided we get some rain. According to the Climate Prediction Center, the 8 – 14 day outlook calls for an above average chance of rain for Kansas and Oklahoma.
The Neodesha Fire Department quickly responds to a report of a structure fire.
The call came in at 3:17pm, and by 3:19pm firefighters were en route to the scene arriving at 3:21pm. Upon arrival, firefighters were met with heavy smoke conditions and requested additional alarms to ensure that off-duty personnel were available to assist. By 3:23, mutual aid from neighboring fire departments were also called in to provide further resources and support. At 3:27pm, firefighters removed the only occupant in the building and by 3:40pm they had been transported to Wilson Medical Center by EMS.
The fire was declared under control by 5:46pm, with the majority of units clearing the scene at that time. Some personnel remained on-site until the Kansas State Fire Marshal arrived to begin their investigation into the cause of the fire.
Fans of the indie film Napoleon Dynamite will get the chance to enjoy a screening of the movie and a live discussion with the movie's stars tonight in Miami.
“Napoleon Dynamite: A Conversation With the Stars” is tonight at the Coleman Theater in Miami. The cult classic movie that came out almost 20 years ago will be featured followed by a live, moderated discussion with the stars of the film: Jon Gries who played Uncle Rico, Efren Ramirez who played Pedro, and Jon Heder who played the Title Character Napoleon Dynamite.
Tickets are still available for tonight's show. They are $29 and $49 and are available via the Coleman Theater website.
Tonight's presentation begins at 7pm in Miami.
For a link for tickets, see the online version of this story at kggfradio.com
Breaking news …
Preliminary reports indicate a single-vehicle accident in the 2400 block of County Road 3900, or about two miles north of Dearing.
There is a possible injury involved with the accident, so drivers should avoid the area if possible or find an alternate route to allow emergency crews to respond.
The City of Fredonia is holding a meet-and-greet event tonight to introduce their new city administrator.
Residents are invited to the Fredonia Golf Club from 6 to 7 tonight to meet the new Fredonia City Administrator Evan Bolt.
Bolt is a Chanute native who has degrees from Washburn University and Wichita State University. He has spent the past several years working in government in Colorado. Bolt joined the Fredonia city administration almost a month ago and has been settling into to his new role.
Tonight's event will include refreshments and snacks and the chance for Fredonia residents to meet their new City Administrator tonight at the Fredonia Golf Club at 9711 Harper Road.
The City of Neodesha has been busy making improvements around town.
At this week's city commission meeting, City Administrator Brogan Jones updated commissioners about improvements that have been made recently in Neodesha. Jones highlights some of the many things the city has been working on.
Commissioner Duane Banzet says there are also some fun and interesting events coming up at the end of this month.
The Neodesha City Commission will meet again on October 23rd.
A Dewey man faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly pointed a handgun at a teen.
23-year-old Timothy Mayo appeared in Washington County Court in Bartlesville Tuesday to face charges stemming from an August 31st incident in which is he accused of brandishing a handgun at a 12-year-old boy. Mayo says the teen and a friend had been harassing Mayo's brother and denies a gun was involved.
Mayo was arrested Tuesday and posted a $15,000 bond. His next court date is set for November 1st.
The Independence City Commission is set to meet tonight for its regularly scheduled meeting.
On tonight's agenda is a discussion on possibly approving a loan from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to pay for sewer improvements and the possible awarding of a contract to build a pumping station related to the Big Straw water line project to the Bartlett plant.
The meeting begins at 5:30 this evening in the commission Room at City Hall in Independence. The public is invited to attend or to view the meeting online via the city's website at IndependenceKS.gov
A former superintendent of Nowata Public Schools has been arrested on suspicion of DUI after he crashed a vehicle owned by the current school district he works for.
Leon Ashlock, the current superintendent of Muldrow Public Schools, was arrested by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on Tuesday morning. Troopers say Ashlock hit a concrete barrier while driving a school vehicle on the Creek Turnpike in Tulsa around 10:45am. The Probable Cause Statement said Ashlock failed all his field sobriety tests and showed signs of impairment. Authorities said there were open and empty alcohol containers in the vehicle. He was arrested and taken to the Tulsa County jail.
Ashlock served as the superintendent of Nowata Public Schools from 2015-2018. He's held subsequent positions at Tahlequah and Cashion before being hired in Muldrow this school year.
Authorities in northeast Oklahoma are investigating the discovery of a body in Miami.
The remains were found north of the city of Miami yesterday near 22nd Northeast at the Tar Creek Bridge. Investigators from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department and the Miami Police Department are looking into the case, though the Grand River Dam Authority has jurisdiction in the case. G-R-D-A has requested the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Fifteen more defendants are indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to move drugs from San Bernadino, California, to Springfield, Missouri.
Those indicted include 34-year-old Stevie Logan, 36-year-old Daron Kelly, 34-year-old Damion Williams, 47-year-old Necole Jennings, 25-year-old Osric Edwards, 54-year-old Shawn Morris, and 37-year-old Rikkita Tolbert all of Parsons, 28-year-old Christuffer Roeder of Independence, and 27-year-old Kylei Sullivan of St. Paul. Those individuals along with six others were charged in an 18-count sealed indictment on October 1st. Those charges were unsealed and made public yesterday.
The federal indictment alleges that the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Greene, Jasper, and Newton Counties.
The original investigation began in January when a an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper found 100 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl pills hidden in a car on a car hauler at a truck stop in Oklahoma City.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Parsons, Kan., Police Department, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and the Labette County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has identified human remains found near Bengal, about 40 miles east of McAlester.
Investigators say the skeletal remains found in September in a wooded area northeast of Bengal are those of 25-year-old Tanner Armstrong McKosky. McKosky was reported missing on April 25, 2021, after he was last seen at a residence in Bengal.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is still working to determine the cause of death in the case.
Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.
The case remains under investigation by the O-S-B-I, the LeFlore County sheriff's Office, the Latimer County Sheriff's Office, the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, and the FBI.
The boil water advisory for the cities of Moline, Sedan, and Cedar Vale has been rescinded by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The original order was issued because the water supply systems could not maintain the minimum required chlorine residual, putting the water at risk for bacteriological contamination. Laboratory samples indicated no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.
The KDHE says the boil water advisory remains in effect pending testing for the cities of Peru, Longton, Grenola, and Chautauqua as well as for Chautauqua County Rural Water District 1, 2, 3, and 4, Elk County Rural Water District #1 and Montgomery County Rural Water District #1C.
Two people are in custody after an early morning drug bust at a Pittsburg apartment complex,
Pittsburg Police along with agents from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant Wednesday morning, October 9, 2024, at an apartment on West Forest Street in Pittsburg. One suspect was arrested on-site while a second suspect was arrested later at their place of employment.
Both individuals face multiple charges including felony possession and distribution of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine.
No names have yet been released.
Roadwork continues on U.S. 166 east of Coffeyville.
The Kansas Department of Transportation is continuing a resurfacing project on 166 from the east junction of U.S. 169 at Coffeyville east for 3.3 miles to the Labette County Line. Flaggers and a pilot car are directing one-lane traffic through the work zone during daylight hours, and drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less. Weather permitting, the work should be finished by late October. KDOT awarded the $1.1 million construction contract to Pearson Construction of Wichita.
The Wilson County Commission officially approve a 12-month moratorium moving forward.
The commission began this week's meeting by discussing whether a moratorium made sense for the county, in regards to commercial renewable energy projects.
Commissioner Casey Lair says he is concerned about how the moratorium will impact landowners.
The recent Sunflower Skies Solar Project is exempt from the ruling of this week's meeting. Commissioner Andrew Miller says he wants to make sure the process is done right.
The commission eventually agreed on the moratorium, with the focus being on revising the method in which the Zoning Board reviews and analyzes potential projects. There will be no meeting next week.
City crews in Miami are working to repair a major water main break.
The break was reported just after 8am this morning in the northeast part of the city. Officials say customers on Linden Lane, Maple Drive, and Elmwood Lane will experience little to no water pressure until repairs can be made. Crews are currently on the scene and repairs are expected to take about two hours.
The City of Columbus announces two open house events in order to give residents a chance to ask questions and give feedback on a draft version of the city's new comprehensive plan.
The comprehensive plan identifies potential growth areas in the city and lays out a plan for dealing with future increases in population and business.
City officials would also like to address rumors and misunderstandings surrounding city maps included in the draft version of the plan. One such map references a future planning boundary. That boundary represents an outer limit for future growth of the city and does not mean the city plans to annex portions of those areas.
The open house meetings are set for Thursday, October 24, and Thursday, November 14, from 5 to 7pm. They will be held at the Columbus Community Building at 320 East Maple Street. Both are come-and-go events.
A citizen of Afghanistan living in Oklahoma City is arrested in Oklahoma and is charged with conspiring to conduct a terrorist attack in the U.S. on election day.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced charges yesterday against 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi accusing him of providing material support for ISIS and attempting to obtain firearms ad ammunition to conduct a violent attack in the name of the terrorist organization. The FBI says as part of the plot, the defendant allegedly took steps to liquidate his family’s assets, resettle members of his family overseas, acquire AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, and commit a terrorist attack in the United States.
Tawhedi is charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and receiving a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, if convicted.
The case is being investigated by the FBI , with assistance from the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Moore, Oklahoma Police Department.
The USD 305 Salina Board of Education says it has taken action to terminate the contract of a middle school teacher after he allegedly sat on a 13-year-old boy.
The original incident occurred on September 6th at Salina South Middle School. The student had been doing bench presses and when he finished his exercises, witnesses say the 39-year-old male teacher then sat on the student. The boy then passed out briefly, and fell off the bench, cutting his head in the process.
The district placed the teacher on administrative leave and the Salina Police Department investigated the incident, forwarding their findings to the Saline County Attorney's Office. The Office declined to file charges in the cases, citing lack of criminal intent. Since most of the witnesses thought the incident was playful in nature.
USD 305 says the employee has the right to request a hearing. Final board action will take place at a USD 305 Board of Education meeting.
The Neodesha City Commission is slated to meet this afternoon for its regularly scheduled meeting.
This week's agenda includes resolutions dealing with blighted property and junked and abandoned vehicles in the city, a pole attachment agreement with KwiKom, and an agreement for the Safe Routes to School Program. Commissioners will also hear a presentation from the Kansas Municipal Energy Agency regarding large scale solar.
The Neodesha City Commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month at 2pm at City Hall.
Newly unsealed documents in a 2023 fatal hit-and-run accident in Galena reveal more information about the crash.
The accident that killed 60-year-old Gary LaTurner of Galena occurred in August 2023 on K-66 just outside of the city. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the Ford Raptor that struck LaTurner was driven by Rocco Joseph, who is now 18 years old. Joseph has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident in the case.
His father Dr. John Joseph II of Joplin also faces charges in the case. He has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident and contributing to a child's misconduct. Authorities claim that while Rocco was the lone driver in the accident, he and his father returned to the crash site 40 minutes after LaTurner had been struck. They say security camera footage also shows the pair examining damage to the Ford Raptor.
Court dates in the case have been moved back to later this month.
Two people are injured in a crash in Cowley County.
52-year-old Jaqueline Mahlandt of Atlanta, KS, was driving a 2020 Ram 2500 and traveling northbound on US-77 about 9 miles north of Winfield yesterday afternoon when her vehicle slowed behind a turning tractor-trailer.
73-year-old Jesse Crockford of Hutchinson approached Mahlandt truck from behind and did not notice the other vehicles had slowed. Crockford's F-150 rear-ended Mahlandt's truck. Both drivers sustained minor injuries. Crockford was taken to William Newton Hospital in Winfield for treatment.
The city of Independence says sanitation services are running behind schedule this week.
Due to some mechanical issues encountered by the sanitation department, sanitation crews having gotten a little behind schedule this week. Crews are at work to get things back on track and are in the process of catching up today. Sanitation pick-up is expected to be back on schedule by tomorrow.
The city thanks customers for their patience and understanding.
Another Native American Unity Gathering is in the books.
Organizer Kris Crane with Native American Fellowship, Inc., says this year's event in South Coffeyville was another success.
Crane says they estimate about 850 people attended this year's event, which featured dancing, drumming, storytelling and food. The annual event takes place the last Saturday of September.
A resolution to apply for a grant for a possible Community Center fails without a motion from the Coffeyville City Commissioners.
The CDBG Community Facilities and Services grant application would cover $800,000, with the city needing to supply the remaining $1.7 to $2.7 million. City Commissioner Don Edwards says his hesitation is on the money being needed for something else.
Vice Mayor Jim Faulkner asked if the resolution could be tabled to a later meeting. Director of Bonds and Grants Amber Dean says she needed the resolution approved during this meeting. A few members of the public spoke in favor of the Community Center and the commission spoke in favor of it as well. The consensus of the commission was that it was too much money and not the right time. The resolution failed without a motion.
The Dalton Defenders Days Marching Band Festival wrapped up earlier this afternoon.
During the festival, bands received feedback and instruction from some of the top band leaders in the area as they performed. Station Musician Chris Freund, who was live at the event, says this is a great opportunity for bands and each band member.
A dozen bands from Kansas and Oklahoma performed during the festival, which can be seen at the Red Ravens Sports Network YouTube Channel.
A historic military convoy will be making its way through Southeast Kansas next week. The Military Vehicle Preservation Association: History In Motion convoy is traveling old Jefferson Highway from the Canadian line to New Orleans. Convoy Commander Dan McCluskey says the convoy will be in Fort Scott and then will come through the Arma-Pittsburg-West Mineral area before continuing to Joplin.
On Monday there will be a viewing at the Franklin Community Park from 11:00am to 2:30pm and then at the Crawford County Historical Museum in Pittsburg from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. On Tuesday, the convoy will be at Big Brutus near West Mineral from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. Admission to Big Brutus will be free on Tuesday starting 3:00pm. McCluskey says there are 33 vehicles that are a part of the convoy including one international one.
McCluskey says the convoy travels at about 35 miles an hour. A link to follow the convoy's progress can be found here. More information about the MVPA can be found on their Facebook Page.
A Salina middle school teacher will not face charges in an incident that injured a 13-year-old student.
The incident in question occurred on September 6th in the weight room at Salina South Middle. A male student was using the bench press and when the boy finished his exercises the 39-year-old male teacher sat on him.
Witnesses say the student then passed out briefly and rolled off of the weight bench. The fall caused the boy to strike his head, which caused a cut. The teacher was placed on administrative leave following the incident.
The Saline County Attorney's Office stated yesterday that no charges would be filed because investigators were unable to establish criminal intent. Most witnesses reported that the action seemed playful in nature.
A southwest Missouri woman will spend the rest of her life in prison after being convicted of murdering her husband.
Dawn Renee Wynn was sentenced yesterday to life in prison without parole. Wynn was convicted in August of First Degree Murder in the shooting death of her husband Harold. Harold Wynn was found dead in the couple's fifth-wheel camper in November 2021. A second charge of Armed Criminal Action added another 15 years to her sentence.
Wynn will remain in custody until she is transferred to the Missouri Department of Corrections.
An evening road closure near Carthage is caused by the crash of a semi truck full of protein drinks.
Around 5pm last night, Jasper County, MO, authorities responded to reports of an overturned tractor-trailer on the MO-96 ramp to westbound MO-171. The trailer of the truck was loaded with 41,000 pounds of protein drinks that had to be unloaded before the truck could be righted.
The driver of the truck was injured and taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin for treatment. The extent of his injuries are unknown. Investigators say they are treating the accident as a DWI investigation.
Osage County, OK, commissioners give their approval to the County Tourism Director.
At this week's county commission meeting, Osage County Tourism Director Mary Beth Moore requested a contract renewal. Moore says there are several reasons why her contract needed an extension.
Moore also told commissioners that the tourism committee had completed the bylaws and that those had been sent to the district attorney's office for review. Legal counsel had since made some edits to those bylaws, but the tourism committee hadn't had an opportunity to review those changes.
The Commission approved the contract extension through the end of this year.
This week is National 4-H Week in Nowata County.
The proclamation was made at this week's Nowata County Commission meeting. 4-Her and Oklahoma Union student Joel leLacheur reads the proclamation at the meeting.
In other business at this week's meeting, The Board of Commissioners approved a donation from resident David Wesson, of $150 dollars towards the Nowata County Sheriff's Department.
The Nowata County Board of Commissioners meet every Monday at 9am at the Nowata County Annex Meeting room.
Tiny houses were the main topic of conversation in last night's Caney City Council meeting, with minimum size regulations bringing the most conversation.
Developer and real estate agent Valorie Dildine questioned the wording of language presented during the council workshop last week, citing the differences between short term stay rentals and hotels. She also questioned the five hundred square foot minimum for the housing.
City Administrator Kelley Zellner says there are many factors involved with tiny houses in the community.
After a lengthy discussion, the tiny house ordinance and the award of property from the land bank were tabled until the October 21st meeting, so more information could be obtained on the issue.
In other business, the council approved the purchase of eight SBCA's with tanks for the fire department, at a cost of just over $59-thousand dollars, and extended a contract from MTB Mowing for cemetery mowing through 2026.
Washington County Emergency Management is part of a team of other Oklahoma agencies sending personnel and assistance to Florida in preparation for Hurricane Milton.
County emergency Management Director Kary Cox says it's a multi-agency effort.
Cox says this team will has been assembled for a specific reason.
The Oklahoma team is on its way to Tallahassee as Milton has strengthened to a major Category 5 hurricane. They will be deployed for 14 days to provide Incident Management and Operations Support by covering planning, logistics, liaison, safety, operations and communications positions.
Montgomery County Commissioners conduct business in a brief meeting.
At this week's meeting, commissioners heard from County Appraiser Melody Kikkert about the purchase of a new vehicle for the Appraiser's Office. Kikkert gave commissioners several bids to choose from. She
Commissioners approved the purchase of a 2024 RAV-4 at a cost of $33,000. Also on this week's agenda was a slight change to a bridge repair project west of Bolton. Brandon Beurskins with Public Works says the change will bring the bridge up to current standards.
Commissioners approved that expense as well. In other business, a Montgomery County citizen spoke about a neighborhood revitalization project. Commissioners referred him to the County Appraiser's Office for help with his issue.
The City of Sedan is currently accepting items to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
The City says it has partnered with a Nebraska church in order to get much-needed items to those suffering in the aftermath of the storm. Anyone wanting to donate goods or money can drop it off at city hall in Sedan.
Anyone with questions can contact Lana Robinson at the Sedan City Hall at 620-725-3193.
Items needed:
With the weather dropping it will start to get colder and they are looking for jackets (all sizes), blankets, and sleeping bags.
water
Paper Plates
Wet Wipes
Disposable cups
baby food
dog food
batteries
diapers
instant food
shelf stable food
first aid items
medicines
feminine products
Hygiene kits: (these can be placed in gallon bags)
1-comb
1- 2 to 5 oz. bar of soap
1 hand towels
1 - 4oz stick of deodorant
1 - 4 oz shampoo
1 - unopened toothbrush
1 - 5 oz. toothpaste
If you would like to donate money you may do so online at any organizations of choice or drop it off at city hall. Lone Cherry Church has offered to take in monetary donations and get them to Samaritan's Purse for the Hurricane Relief.
Drivers in Coffeyville are reminded that parts of Cline Road will be closed today.
Atmos Energy will be repairing a main leak at First Street and Cline Road. In order to make the needed repairs, Cline Road will be closed north of First Street starting at 8:30am. Repairs are expected to be finished and the road reopened by 2:30 this afternoon.
Officials in Miami, OK, remind drivers in the area that Main Street in the city will be closed starting tomorrow.
Main Street in Miami will be closed starting tomorrow evening at 7apm and will remain closed through 7am on October 13 for the Route 66 Bull Bash Event as a part of Rodeo Miami. Downtown businesses will remain open with backdoor accessibility.
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approves nearly $9 billion in highway construction and safety projects in the newest edition of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's Eight-Year Construction Work Plan.
The repairs and improvements are slated to be addressed through the year 2032. The plan includes more than 1,500 total projects and nearly 4,000 miles of roadway repair. The plan will also address needed repairs on more than 600 bridges across the Sooner State.
The plan includes projects in Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, and Washington counties.
The State of Kansas responds to a request for help.
Governor Laura Kelly announced yesterday that the Kansas Division of Emergency Management received an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request from Florida for a swift water search and rescue task force in preparation for Hurricane Milton’s arrival. Kansas Task Force 2 was deployed Sunday night to Florida.
Kansas Task Force 2 consists of personnel from several emergency response agencies across the state including the Chanute Fire Department, Cherryvale Fire-Rescue, and the Neodesha Fire Department.
Their jobs will include to search for and rescue individuals, provide basic life support medical care, transport humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport, provide shore-based and boat-based water rescue, provide animal rescues, and support helicopter and urban search and rescue in water environments.
State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm stated that all Kansans can be proud of these men and women who have chosen to help.
The Dalton Defenders Days Marching Festival takes place today at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Coffeyville.
Dr. David Wiggins is organizing the event and says there will be a dozen bands performing and receiving feedback from some of the top band leaders in the region.
Wiggins says Coffeyville and Independence bands will be at the festival, but also says he likes to help out the smaller schools.
The public is invited to watch the performances today between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Veteran's Stadium. Admission is $5.
Here is the expected performance schedule:
Altoona Midway - 8:30 a.m.
Chouteau - 9 a.m.
Nowata - 9:30 a.m.
Oklahoma Union - 10 a.m.
Riverton - 10:30 a.m.
Field Kindley - 11 a.m.
Oologah - 11:30 a.m.
Independence - Noon
Belle Plaine - 12:30 p.m.
Vinita - 1 p.m.
Dewey - 1:30 p.m.
Caney - 2 p.m.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority is warning drivers of a scam.
The smishing scam involves receiving a text message stating a toll balanced is owed and to avoid a late fee to make a payment at a URL provided. The toll amount is normally a small amount by the late fees are around $50.
KTA says they never send unsolicited texts and never asks for payment over the phone. Always verify the link is accurate. For KTA, the main website is DriveKs.com.
Boy Big will be back in Coffeyville next week.
The World's Largest Steam Locomotive will make its way back into town next Monday night, before leaving the following morning at 9:00am. Before arriving in Coffeyville, Big Boy will leave McAlester at 9:00a, on Monday making a stop in Claremore from 1:15pm to 1:45pm. The train will pass through Nowata on its way to Coffeyville.
Big Boy started its nine state journey at the end of August in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This is the first time Big Boy has been in the area since 2019. After leaving Coffeyville the train heads to Kansas City, Missouri.
2024 Cleanup Coffeyville starts next week.
Dumpsters will be set up at the tree dump with extended hours of 10:00am to 6:00pm from Monday, October 14th, to Friday, October 18th, Saturday, October 19th, from 8:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday, October 20th, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. City Clerk Melissa Carter says proof of address is needed to drop off items at the tree dump.
Carter says there are items that can and can't be accepted. Anyone with any questions about Cleanup Coffeyville can call the Code Enforcement Office at (620)252-6006 or the City Clerk's Office at (620)252-6108.
Residents in Independence may have noticed an odd color in the water of the fountain at Riverside Park this weekend.
In an attempt to show their Bulldog pride, park employees attempted to dye the water orange. However, the dye wasn't as strong as they though and it turned the water yellow instead. The color should wash out on its own in a few days.
A head-on collision with a semi near Cherryvale claims the life of Parsons man.
The accident happened on US-169 about 5 miles south of US-400 late Saturday evening.
33-year-old Matthew Creed of Parsons was traveling northbound on 169 in a 2008 Toyota Scion when his vehicle crossed the center line into the path of an oncoming Freightliner driven by 52-year-old Lumomba Idlette of Fort Myers, Florida.
Both drivers attempted to avoid the accident by swerving onto the northbound shoulder where the two vehicles collided head-on. Creed suffered fatal injuries in the crash. The driver of the semi was uninjured.
USD 446 Independence is looking for volunteers to take part in their TeamMates Program.
The program began in 2022 and is a mentoring program for students in 3rd through 12th grade. The program is open to both girls and boys who can either be recommended for the program or they can nominate themselves. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the program needs both male and female adult mentors, but, right now, they are really in need of men.
Volunteer mentors will receive training. Wilson says, after that, it's a very easy and rewarding experience.
The purpose of the TeamMates Mentoring Program is help all students succeed and compete in a diverse society. To learn more or to volunteer, contact the Independence Chamber Offices at 331-1890 or go here to volunteer.
Hundreds of history buffs and aviation enthusiasts turned out to see the traveling Rise Above Exhibit featuring the Tuskegee Airmen and Women's Reinforce Service Pilots.
That was the sound of the P51C Mustang, The Alabama Rammer Jammer that was on display at the Coffeyville Municipal Airport this weekend. The display also included local connections to the Tuskegee Airmen because there were six in Montgomery County and one from Coffeyville and there were also several WASPs from the area as well. Those who attended said it was a very interesting exhibit.
The Rise Above Exhibit was brought to Coffeyville by the Aviation Heritage Museum.
An attempted traffic stop in Joplin on Friday night ends with a high-speed chase and an arrest.
Joplin Police attempted to pull over a driver suspected of Driving While Intoxicated on Friday night, when the driver fled. The SUV led police on a high-speed chase through the city, hitting speed in excess of 100mph.
After a nearly 20-minute chase, the driver abandoned the SUV an fled on foot. Using a K-9 officer, police were able to track the male suspect to a residence where he was taken into custody without further incident.
A fourth person has been arrested in the case of a missing Benton County, Arkansas, teenager.
The missing juvenile – identified as Sydnie Laney – was found and returned home safely early last week.
Four people have been taken into custody in the case. 34-year-old Kristen Tucker, 24-year-old Riley Fix, 30-year-old Brynhildre Underwood, and Joseph Bennett-Spears all face multiple charges in the case including Interference with Custody.
Tucker, Fix, and Underwood will make their next court appearance in Benton County on November 4 while Bennett-Spears will appear on November 12.
An Altamont man dies in a single-vehicle accident just west of Parsons.
30-year-old Spencer Gatewood was traveling eastbound on 24000 Road near Jackson Road just west of Parsons around 3:45am on Saturday morning when he failed to negotiate a curve. His 2019 Hyundai Elantra left the roadway and overturned in a pond.
Gatewood was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Montgomery County Commission will meet today for its regular monthly meeting.
On today's agenda is County Administrator Jonathan Booe with a letter of support for Resound. Commissioners will also hear end of the months reports from the County Clerk's Office and the Register of Deeds. Montgomery County Appraiser Melody Kikkert will also be on hand to discuss a new vehicle for that department. In addition to these items, neighborhood revitalization will also be discussed.
The Montgomery County Commission meets today at 9am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The meeting is open to the public.
The Coffeyville Fire Department once again earns a high rating for protecting the public.
Coffeyville Fire has maintained its Class 3 rating from the Insurance Services Office. The I-S-O rating is a Public Protection Classification number that ranges from 1 to 10 with 1 being the highest. Each year, over 40,000 communities are rated and only 15% of those reach a Class 3 or higher rating. In order to determine the rating, communities are examined for their emergency communications, fire department staffing and training, reliable water supply, and community efforts such as fire prevention codes, public education and safety codes.
Insurance companies use I-S-O ratings to determine premium rates for homes and business so a high rating can lead to savings for residents.
Coffeyville Fire Chief Mike O' Connor thanked Coffeyville residents for their commitment to making the city a safe place to live.
Another Dalton Defenders Days is in the books.
That was the sound of the 132nd anniversary of the Dalton raid on Coffeyville. Reenactors put together a special 9:30 performance to commemorate the Dalton gang's failed raid of two Coffeyville banks. Crowds gathered to watch the four total reenactments. In addition, many food and craft vendors filled downtown in addition to the sound of several performers. The car show had 73 entries, and the Coffeyville Amateur Radio Club set up a special event station to commemorate the event and made more than 140 contacts with stations around North America.
Photo Courtesy Snap Wild Photography
Tiny homes were the topic earlier this week in a workshop conducted by the city of Caney.
With building and lending organizations interested in bringing in tiny houses to Caney, City Administrator Kelley Zellner says the land being looked at, near the race track in the northwest side of town, would be a way to make sure zoning is properly addressed.
Zellner says tiny homes work with a set of different zoning regulations.
Zoning regulations are on the agenda for this week's city council meeting, set for 6:30 pm. Monday at City Hall in Caney.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Caney.
Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Caney indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
The advisory was issued because of a power outage resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system, prompting concerns about bacterial contamination.
The City of Caney is no longer under a boil water advisory.
Independence Community College officially begins its search for a new President.
Chair of the ICC Board of Trustees Dr. Cynthia Sherwood says the nationwide search comes at a pivotal time for the school.
A 15-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee has been formed to oversee the nationwide search. The Board hopes to select a new President by the Fall 2025 semester.
The next President will take over from Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo who was appointed as Interim President in April and has served in the role since that time. Sadhoo replaced Dr. Vincent Bowhay who resigned in February.
History buffs and aviation enthusiasts alike can enjoy the exhibit on display in Coffeyville this weekend as The CAF Rise Above Tuskegee Airmen WASPS Traveling Exhibit comes to the Coffeyville Airport.
The Exhibit tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots or WASPS and the obstacles they both overcame to be able to serve their country during the Second World War.
Lisa Brookover with the Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum says it was an important exhibit to bring to southeast Kansas.
Brookover says there is also a connection between the exhibit and Coffeyville and Montgomery County.
The exhibit that includes an immersive experience in a climate controlled semi-trailer as well and a P-51C Mustang plane will be on display at the Coffeyville Airport through Sunday.
A single word written on the dusty window of a car leads to the search for a possible kidnapper in Butler County.
A concerned citizen called 9-1-1 yesterday after seeing a vehicle on US-54 just east of Andover. Written on the rear window of the car was the word HELP. Butler County Sheriff's Deputies located the car in Augusta and pulled the driver over. During the traffic stop, deputies learned that a child had written the word on the dust-covered window as a prank and that there was no actual danger.
The driver was released.
An Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper is honored for his part in the capture of a Missouri kidnapping suspect in September.
Trooper Seth Hudson was recently honored as the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Trooper of the Month for an arrest he made on September 19. On that day, Hudson made a traffic stop on the Will Rogers Turnpike in which a passenger in the car turned out to be a suspect in an assault and kidnapping in Newton County, Missouri. The female driver of the car had reportedly been stabbed by the suspect and then forced to drive him to Tulsa.
Trooper Hudson took the suspect into custody and then transported the victim safely to a nearby hospital.
Residents and visitors to Coffeyville can step back in time tonight as Dalton Defender Days gets underway.
Activities get underway this afternoon at 4pm in downtown Coffeyville. Organizer Richard Elliott says there will be lots of things to do and see, plus the first of four reenactments tonight.
Tomorrow's 9:30am reenactment will take place on the same date and at the same time as the original raid 132 years ago. There will also be reenactments at 2:30 and 5pm tomorrow. Participant Billy Kolb says the reenactments can be very exciting to watch.
Dalton Defender Days commemorate the lives lost by brave Coffeyville citizens who defended the town during the original raid on October 5, 1892.
A Galena man faces charges following a domestic disturbance near Baxter Springs yesterday.
Deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office were called to the scene on a roadway outside of Baxter Springs around 4pm. There they found 27-year-old Justin Brown and his girlfriend who has allegedly been involved in an argument while in a car. When the vehicle stopped, the female exited the car and began walking. Brown reportedly chased her down, nearly striking her with the car. Brown then got out of the car and the two engaged in a physical altercation. Brown is then suspected of forcing the woman back into the vehicle and attempting to drive off.
Deputies took Brown into custody and transported him to the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Domestic Battery and Disorderly Conduct.
An inmate at the Wichita Work Release Facility dies in custody.
WWRF resident 44-year-old Joshua Degroot was found unresponsive at his workplace in the Wichita community yesterday. Coworkers discovered Degroot and began life-saving measures. EMS was called to the scene and continued to administer emergency aid but were unsuccessful. Degroot was pronounced dead at the scene.
His death is being investigated by the Wichita Police Department with assistance from the Kansas Department of Corrections. An autopsy is pending. Degroot was serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for two convictions of aggravated battery in Leavenworth County.
The WWRF is a minimum-custody work release facility with a capacity of 250 male residents. The purpose of the work release program is to prepare selected residents for release and to assist them in making a successful transition from the institutional environment back into society.
Oklahoma lawmakers are taking a closer look at the competition Oklahoma colleges face from colleges in neighboring states.
Led by Republican Representative Rick West of Heavener, the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee this week examined how Oklahoma colleges and universities can maintain a competitive edge against institutions from outside the state. West stated that, in many cases, the choice comes down to affordability.
A 2022 study showed that about 6% of Oklahoma students choose to attend an out-of-state school. Of those, 26% choose to pursue their college education in Kansas.
Lawmakers proposed several suggestions to help keep Oklahoma students at Oklahoma schools. Those include allowing greater flexibility to waive tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students, increasing operational funding to limit tuition and fee increases, increasing marketing funding, and expanding the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship tax credit to Oklahoma higher education institutions.
The Kansas Corporation Commission approves a settlement agreement in the Kansas Gas Service rate case.
Approval by the K-C-C came yesterday, October 3, 2024, in which the original $58 million rate increase requested by KGS was reduced to $35 million. The agreement means that residential customers will see an average rate increase of just under $4 per month or about $46 per year. The new rates will take effect on November 1.
In its March application to increase rates, KGS noted it had been five years since its last rate case and the company had invested $600 million in capital expenditures necessary to provide safe and reliable service to customers.
In testimony filed in support of the settlement approved today, KCC staff stated that the agreed upon revenue increase strikes the proper balance between KGS’ desire for reasonable assurances that it will meet its financial obligations and the need to keep rates as low as possible for customers while still providing reliable natural gas distribution service.
Police in Parsons enjoy a cup of coffee with citizens.
The Parsons Police Department marked Wednesday's National Coffee with a Cop Day by sipping some coffee and chatting with Parsons citizens. The event took place Wednesday morning at the McDonald's location on North 16th Street.
Several PPD officers and Chief Robert Spinks were on hand at the casual event to talk with residents and answer questions from kids and adults alike.
National Coffee with a Cop Day began in 2011 with the purpose of breaking down barriers between police and the citizens they serve.
Parsons Police say they plan to continue to hold Coffee With a Cop events and are considering holding them in the evening hours to allow more people to attend.
Above: Parsons Police Officer chats with a young family.
Inset: Chief Robert Spinks listens to comments from a citizen
Photos courtesy Parsons Police Department
Additional electric vehicle fast-charging stations are coming to area cities thanks to funding from the federal government.
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that nearly $7 million in federal funding will go to nine locations throughout the state as a part of the Kansas National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula program.
Locations in southeast Kansas where the new charging stations will be located include Casey's locations on US-400 in Baxter Springs and Parsons and the Pete's location in Severy. Funding for the stations must be matched with 20% coming from private or local funds. These three cities join other locations in Fredonia and Cherokee that were announced in January.
Governor Kelly called the project an investment to enhance Kansas infrastructure to help meet the needs of all who travel through the state.
The City of Fredonia welcomes its new City Administrator to his first commission meeting.
New City Administrator Evan Bolt attended his first city commission meeting last night. Bolt has only been on the job for a few days, but says he is happy to join the Fredonia team.
A native of Chanute, Bolt has spent the past several years working in city government positions in Colorado.
Much of last night's meeting was spent approving resolutions to add Bolt to the city administration. Bolt takes over for Interim City Administrator John Torline and replaces Wesley Young, who resigned in May to take a similar position in southeast Missouri.
In other business, the commission also approved a resolution to lower long-term fees at the city RV park from $600 to $450 per month. Commissioners also heard a presentation from a local man about various projects he would like to see done in Fredonia as well as other public comments.
Fire crews respond to a fire in downtown Moline.
Fire crews were called to the former legion building on Main Street in Moline yesterday for reports of a structure fire. The building had been converted to a private residence. Preliminary reports indicate that all occupants were able to safely escape the blaze, but that at least two pets were lost in the fire.
The blaze also prompted the city to cancel last night's city council meeting.
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Colleges and universities in Kansas see an increase in enrollment this fall.
According to a preliminary report from the Kansas Board of Regents, the state's universities, community colleges, and technical schools saw a general increase in enrollment for the Fall 2024 semester.
KU has the largest freshman class in school history, and its total enrollment hits the 26,000 mark. Kansas State's total enrollment for this fall is over 19,000 students with its largest freshman class since 2018, while Wichita State's enrollment is just over 17,000. Pittsburg State's student headcount increased slightly to 5,700 students.
Coffeyville Community College has also shown an increase of 2.7% while Independence Community College saw a 6.9% decrease. Labette Community College also saw a slight drop by 1.8%.
Total enrollment for all state institutions of higher learning is about 173,000 total students.
Authorities from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment remind Kansans to make sure to vaccinate pets after two recent cases of rabies in cats.
The two cases of rabies were reported in the past month in outdoor barn cats in Jewell County in northwest Kansas and Harvey County, north of Wichita. The two felines exposed other cats and multiple humans to the disease. The humans who were exposed have started treatment of post-rabies exposure drugs to prevent the development of the disease.
Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted to other animals and humans via bites or scratches. There have been a total of six rabies cases in cats in Kansas this year as well as several cases reported in wildlife.
The state agriculture department says all pets should be vaccinated for rabies, including strictly indoor cats and outdoor farm cats.
Tax revenues are up for the state of Oklahoma.
According to the State Treasurer's Office, tax receipts for September increased by $17 million over September 2023. That's an increase of 1.2% for a total of $1.49 billion dollars in tax revenue for the month.
The overall unemployment rate for the Sooner State decreased slightly over the summer, dropping to 3.4% from July to August. That is substantially less than the overall U.S. unemployment rate of 4.2%.
An Independence man faces multiple charges after an alleged fight.
Independence Police were called to the 400 block of South Earl Street on September 17 after receiving reports of a fight in the area. After an investigation, officers arrested 43-year-old Samuel Wesley McCulley of Independence.
McCulley faces charges of assault and battery, assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, criminal threat and criminal damage and trespass.
Area high school students will have a chance to get a taste of college life at the upcoming Junior/Senior Day at Independence Community College.
On October 18, juniors and seniors from area high schools can get a first-hand look at college life by interacting with faculty and touring the ICC campus. Students will also be able to visit the Fab Lab and will take part in a pizza lunch. There will also be a a student panel where current ICC students will share their experiences and answer questions. The event will conclude with door prizes and giveaways.
ICC Junior/Senior Day happens October 18 from 8:15am to 12:15pm.
For more information or to register, go here.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of West Mineral in Cherokee County.
Customers are advised to boil water for at least one minute prior to consumption, dispose of ice cubes from ice trays and automatic ice makers, and disinfect dishes and food preparation surfaces.
The advisory will remain in effect until it is rescinded by the KDHE.
A Claremore man was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in federal prison after admitting to sexually abusing a toddler.
26-year-old Brayden Kent Bull received the sentence in a Tulsa federal courtroom. He will also be under lifetime supervision following his release from prison. Court documents indicate that Bull admitted to filming the interaction and then posting it on social media. Law enforcement also found other explicit videos in Bull's possession.
Bull is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case .
Sample ballots are now available for voters in Kansas and Oklahoma for the November 5th general election.
Voters can download a sample ballot using the State Election Board’s OK voter portal or Kansas Voter View. Sample ballots can also be seen through local County Election Boards during normal business hours.
Sample ballots will also be posted outside every precinct polling place on Election Day, so voters can review them before casting their votes.
Here's the sound of last night's Field Kindley homecoming parade going through downtown Coffeyville.
School organizations participated in the parade including sports teams, the marching band and FFA to name a few. Homecoming royalty were also present in the parade. Our coverage of homecoming will continue the rest of this week with interviews at 10:30 on Sonshine 98.9, KQQF.
The Coffeyville City Commission holds a special meeting to approve a loan to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.
City Manager Ben Brubaker says this economic development loan will be utilized to support hospital operations. The commission voted 4-0 to approve the resolution authorizing the loan, with Anne Marie Vannoster absent from the meeting.
The P-K Festival happens this Saturday in Parsons.
Festivities get underway at 10am with arts and craft sessions at the Remnant Church. There will be an art show at the Carnegie Arts Center featuring works by John Hare as well as pop up galleries with work from Skip Smith and local artists. Live performances at 18th and Main will include the L-C-H-S Theater Department and the Viking Dance and Color Guard. There will also be a chalk walk contest, pumpkin decorating and many vendor booths.
It all begins at 10am on Saturday in downtown Parsons.
DNA provides a new link in the cold case of a child kidnapped in Arkansas 29 years ago.
6-year-old Morgan Nicks disappeared while playing with friends during a little league baseball in Alma, Arkansas, in 1995. This week, Alma Police officially named Billy Jack Lincks as a suspect in the case.
Police say they were able to locate the truck owned by Lincks in 1995, though it has been sold several times. The current owner allowed detectives to search the truck in July 2020. The evidence was processed at a facility in Texas. In September of this year, the lab reported that hair evidence found in the truck belonged to Colleen Nick, one of her siblings, or one of her children. Colleen Nick is the mother of Morgan Nick. Police believe this evidence indicates that the missing child was in Linck's truck.
The investigation continues though Billy Jack Lincks died in 2000. Morgan Nicks has never been found.
More information was presented to the Wilson County Commission, regarding a potential solar energy facility being built and operated in the county.
The Sunflower Sky solar project was initally discussed earlier this year, but the first application was rejected by the County Zoning Board.
Savion Director of Development Brianna Baca says the group has made adjustments to the original location.
The facility footprint would span 490 acres, with a power capacity up to 65 megawats. Baca says these immediate metrics also have the potential to expand with more time and resources.
No action was taken, as the Zoning Board wasn't present at the meeting. The commissioners will meet next on October 9th at 9 a.m. in Room 101 of the courthouse.
Fall is the peak season for deer-related car crashes, so it's important to be extra careful when driving.
Triple A Kansas' Shawn Steward says drivers should pay especially close attention when traveling in areas where deer like to hang out.
Call for help: If you hit a deer, pull over and call emergency services. In Kansas, you can call *47 (*HP) for a highway patrol dispatcher, or *582 (*KTA) for assistance on the Kansas Turnpike or 9-1-1.
The Nowata Marching Band had an excellent showing at the Vinita Marching Festival last Saturday, as the 'Marching Ironmen' placed first for the Hornet Class and was the Grand Champion for the overall competition.
It was the first Overall Grand Championship in the career of Band Director Jennifer Prince. The Marching Ironmen are back in action this Saturday at the Glenpool Blue and Gray Classic.
The open enrollment period of the Osage Nation Health Benefits package opened yesterday and will remain open through mid-December.
This plan will provide resources for eligible members within the Osage Nation, regardless of where they live. The applicant's age will depend upon what Osage Nation benefits a person will be eligible for. Individuals already enrolled don't need to re-enroll. For more information, call the Osage Nation Benefit Center at 833-406-0969.
Nowata County may soon partner with the City of Coffeyville on HAZMAT and emergency activation.
At this week's Nowata County Commission meeting, Emergency Manager Laurie Summers gave an update on changes coming in regards to HAZMAT and emergency activation in the county. Summers says that Nowata County will now have a partnership with Coffeyville to provide HAZMAT assistance in case of an emergency in Nowata County
The agreement is expected to be reviewed and signed by the Nowata County Board of Supervisors at their meeting next week.
In other business, commissioners approved an agreement for jail services in the Town of Talala. The cost that the County will charge is $43 a day a person at the jail.
The Board also approved the 2024 Sheriff’s Office Funding Program Agreement, which allocated $150,000 for the Nowata County Sheriff’s Office.
Osage County, OK, Commissioners hear about security options.
At Monday's Osage County Commissioners meeting, board members got a presentation about a presentation regarding a new video surveillance system. The hope was to have that installed in the courthouse and the new annex when it gets built.
Matt Clark, a security officer at the courthouse, said that this system is being used at the jail and they would like to get it installed in the courthouse before the annex is built.
Sean Hardani with Digi Security Systems said there are two proposals. He went over those proposals and gives his recommendation.
No action was taken by the Board.
The City of Sedan reassures the public about the recently issued boil water advisory from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
At yesterday's city council meeting, Sedan Public Works Director Jim Miller told council members that his department has been closely monitoring the water situation. Miller says they have put a plan in place.
Council Member Adam Clark says the work on the water comes from Public Wholesale Water Supply District 20 and not from the city.
The boil water advisory was issued this week and affects customers of P-W-W-S-D #20. In addition to the city of Sedan, the advisory affects the cities of Chautauqua, Cedar Vale, Peru, Grenola, Moline, and Longton as well as Chautauqua Rural Water Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4, Elk County Rural Water District #1 and Montgomery County Rural Water District #1C.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Neodesha Police Department, and the Wilson County Sheriff's Office make quick work in the case of human remains found last week in a pasture north of Neodesha.
The skeletal remains were discovered on September 24 and have been identified as those of 39-year-old Levi Ellis of Neodesha. KBI agents and officers from NPD developed a suspect in the case and issue an arrest warrant in the case.
Yesterday, October 1, 2024, officers from the Broken Arrow Police Department arrested 56-year-old Joseph Ferraro of Neodesha at a hotel in Broken Arrow.
Ferraro was booked into the Tulsa County Jail where he awaits extradition to Kansas.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for Allen County Rural Water District #15.
Customers are advised to boil water for at least one minute prior to consumption, dispose of ice cubes from ice trays and automatic ice makers, and disinfect dishes and food preparation surfaces.
The advisory will remain in effect until it is rescinded by the KDHE.
The Coffeyville City Commission will hold a special meeting tonight at 5:30.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a resolution to authorize an economic development loan to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center for $1.5 million. Financial assistance will support the continued efforts by CRMC to expand care through provider attraction, facility expansion, and employment creation opportunities in Coffeyville. The proposed loan would include a 4% interest rate and the facilities first payment to the city would happen in October 2025 and would run through 2030.
Tonight's meeting takes place in the Commission Room at City Hall on West 7th Street. The meeting is open to the public.
The Nowata Community Foundation is holding the 5th Annual Golf and Ghouls event, taking place at the Nowata Country Club on October 12.
The event is held in honor of G.L. Myers Jr., a former Golf Pro at Nowata Country Club. Since its beginning in 2019, , the G.L. Myers Jr. Golf Tournament, Dinner, and Auction has raised over $135,000, all of which has been reinvested into the Nowata community. Proceeds from this event have gone towards improving local infrastructure, supporting charitable organizations, and funding special community projects.
The day promises golf, community spirit, and a touch of spooky Halloween fun. It all happens October 12 at the Nowata Country Club.
Kansas tax revues are up for the month of September.
Governor Laura Kelly announced yesterday (Tuesday) that September tax receipts totaled $1.02 billion. That number is $8 million more than estimates. Total tax collections in the Sunflower State are up 3.2% from September 2023.
Kelly said that tax revenues align with monthly estimates and that the state remains committed to being fiscally responsible in restoring the state's financial health while providing Kansans with tax relief.
Continued drought persistence and development is expected across much of the four states through December.
Much of southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma is in the D1 moderate category of drought, with some pockets of D2 which is severe drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Northern Osage, Washington, Nowata, Craig and Ottawa Counties in Oklahoma are currently in the worst shape. According to the Climate Prediction Center, drought development is likely throughout the rest of Kansas, Oklahoma and western Arkansas through the end of the year.
In the near term, the monthly precipitation outlook favors below-normal precipitation with above-average temperatures. As winter wheat planting is 32% complete across the state, 58% of topsoil moisture in Kansas is listed as short or very short, while 62% of subsoil moisture is short or very short. A transition to La Niña is expected this fall through winter and early spring. La Niña sometimes favors warmer and drier conditions during the fall and winter across the four states.
The Independence Community College Foundation is hosting a Pirate Tailgate on Saturday, October 12th, as the Pirates take on Hutchinson Community College.
The game kicks off at 1:00pm, but the tailgate festivities will begin early with the ICC Foundation Tent opening at 12:00pm for lunch and drinks. Booster Club members get free entry, while the cost for non-members is just $10 per person. Admission includes drink tickets and lunch. Attendees can also sign up to become Booster Club members at the event.
ICC Foundation Executive Director Cody Oates says the Pirate Tailgate is a fantastic way for the community to come together, share some great food and drinks, and show their Pirate pride before the big game.
A Dewey woman dies in a two vehicle crash in Washington County.
The fatality crash happened at around 3:30am on US-75 two miles south of Bartlesville. A 1999 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 53-year-old Paula Zimmer was eastbound on West 2400 Road. A 2015 GMC Sierra driven by 57-year-old Brian Werts, of Bartlesville, was traveling southbound on US-75. Zimmer failed to stop at the stop sign. Wertz struck the Silverado on the driver’s side door rolling it onto its side. The truck departed the roadway right and struck a light pole. Zimmer was ejected about 40 feet from the point of impact.
Bartlesville EMS transported her to Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Medical Center where she was pronounced dead upon arrival due to injuries sustained in the collision. Werts refused treatment on scene.
Kansans wanting to apply to any of the state's colleges or universities can do so for free next week.
It's part of the Kansas Board of Regents Apply Free Days Program. Under the program, any Kansas resident regardless of age can apply to any of the state's seven public universities, 19 community colleges, six technical institutes, and 21 institutions that are part of the Kansas Independent College Association. Residents can apply without an application fee on October 7-9.
Application fees for certificates, associate's or bachelor's programs are waived, but not for graduate programs.
Authorities release the identities of two pedestrians killed in a train accident in Liberal over the weekend.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says 61-year-old Adam Flores was pushing 42-year-old Deanna Flores in a wheelchair when the two tried to cross the railroad tracks while the crossing arms were down and the warning signals were flashing. They were then struck by the train and killed.
Both victims were from Bangor, Maine.
The engineer and conductor of the train were not injured.
There are some major changes coming to personnel in Montgomery County.
At yesterday's commission meeting, an executive session was held near the end of the public meeting to address personnel issues. When the commissioners returned to open session, Mike Cordray announced the action the commission would take.
Until yesterday's announcement, the position of County Financial Officer had been held by Fred Gress. The commission has also started the search for an Assistant County Administrator. Current County Administrator Jonathan Booe asks commissioners to update the job description for the new position.
The position of County Administrator was just recently established. Booe is the first to hold the position and began in his new role in July.
In other business, Brandon Beurskins with Public Works informed commissioners about a bid for tires for graders and updated them on the Buckeye project in Coffeyville.
A Joplin man is sentenced to federal prison for using stolen mail to commit bank fraud.
28-year-old Aaron Blake pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and identity theft in February. This week, he received a sentence of three years and seven months from a federal judge in the case.
Blake's co-defendant 31-year-old Emily Anna-Lee Sturgis entered a guilty plea in July to charges of conspiracy and bank fraud. She currently awaits sentencing.
The U. S. Attorney's Office says Sturgis and Blake admitted to stealing mail from residential mailboxes and off of porches in Joplin in December 202 and January 2023. The pair then used the stolen information to open credit card and bank accounts under the stolen names.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark and was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Carthage Police Department, and the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.
A Neosho, MO, man faces formal charges after a camera was found in the girls' locker room at McDonald County High School last week.
53-year-old Rodger Copeland was arrested Friday in connection to the case. Copeland is a non-teacher employee of the McDonald County School District. Copeland worked as an overnight custodian and his image was captured on recordings analyzed by investigators. In a probable cause statement from the McDonald County Sheriff's Office, Copeland told police he had placed the camera in the locker room because he wanted to look at the girls because they were pretty and he was lonely.
Copeland faces charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Felony Possession of Child Pornography.
He is currently being held without bond in the McDonald County Jail.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for water supply systems that purchase water from Public Wholesale Water Supply District #20.
Those systems include: Chautauqua County Rural Water Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4; Elk County Rural Water District #1, and Montgomery County Rural Water District #1C. It also includes the Cities of Chautauqua, Cedar Vale, Peru, Sedan, Grenola, Moline, and Longton.
Customers should boil water for at least one minute prior to consumption, dispose of ice cubes, and disinfect food preparation surfaces.
The order took effect on September 30 and will remain in effect until rescinded by KDHE
As the city of Caney continues to be under a mandatory boil order, the city is now under a Stage One Water Watch, enacted yesterday afternoon by Mayor Josh Elliott.
City Administrator Kelley Zellner says the city has not had to release any reserve water from Timber Hill Lake, but to do so, some measures must be enacted.
Water levels are being kept at about sixteen inches below the top of the dam, so any precipitation that takes place will not cause the water to flow over the dam. Zellner says the river itself is in better condition than last year.
Zellner says the first release of water will take place when the water level drops to two feet below the top of the dam. That release could happen at the beginning of next week.
More numbers are in from this year's winter wheat crop in Kansas.
According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, production is estimated at 307 million bushels, which is up 53% from last year. The area harvested for grain totaled 7.15 million acres, up 24% from 2023. Planted acreage totaled 7.60 million acres, down 6% from a year earlier. The yield is 43.0 bushels per acre, up 8.0 bushels from 2023.
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