Thanksgiving is in the books and now it's time for all the delicious leftovers.

From turkey sandwiches, to turkey tetrazzini, to home made turkey potpies, leftover turkey recipes are one of the highlights of the Thanksgiving holiday. However, K-State Extension Wildcat District SNAP-Ed Agent Katherine Pinto says don't hold on to those leftovers too long.

The end of November also means the beginning of holiday party season. Christmas parties and New Year's Celebrations bring fun with friends and family, but they can also bring lots of food and drink. Pinto says that cutting back in some areas can help with eating healthy during this time of year.

the Center for Disease Control suggests staying active with moderate physical activity, choosing smaller portions of foods you really like at parties, and to focus on the social parts of parties instead of the food to have a healthier holiday season.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says bah-humbug to a festive semi-truck driver.

A K-H-P Trooper recently cited a driver for the display of holiday lights that adorned the front of the big rig's cab. The decorations included blue and red lights similar to those used by emergency vehicles in the state.

A spokesperson for the K-H-P says the law in Kansas is quite clear whenm it comes to lights on the front of vehicles. They can only be clear headlights and amber signals in order to avoid any confusion by other drivers on the road. The purpose is to keep everyone on the roads safe.

K-H-P says the driver did not mean to do anything wrong, but was cited for unauthorized additional lighting.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is asking Kansas lawmakers to fund a new facility for the state's top police agency.

The headquarters for the KBI are currently located in Topeka, a former junior high school building. KBI Director Tony Mattivi says the current building lacks space for necessities such as an evidence processing room, kennels for K-9 officers, or equipment lockers. He adds that the building also does not meet several federal safety and security requirements.

The KBI is asking the Kansas Legislature to approve nearly $100 million to build a new facility. There is also a separate request for $1 million for cybersecurity upgrades at the agency.

The City of Independence welcomes a new police officer to the force.

Police Chief Dustin Stafford introduces I-P-D's newest officer to the force at a recent Independence City Commission meeting.

Officer Clayton is a native of Wellington, KS, and has relocated to southeast Kansas in order to be closer to family. Stafford says Clayton brings a sense of duty to his new position.

Shortly after his introduction, Clayton was sworn in as the City's newest officer.

The spirit of Thanksgiving was alive in southeast Kansas yesterday as many volunteers helped serve a free community Thanksgiving dinner.

The meal in Independence was hosted by Bobby Hise and VFW Post 1186. Through their efforts and the kindness and generosity of many volunteers, 647 meals were served at yesterday's dinner.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Coffeyville also hosted a community dinner yesterday. Volunteers at the church helped many members of the Coffeyville community by providing a delicious meal along with fellowship and friendship for the holiday.

Police in Pittsburg arrest a suspect in a fatal shooting that happened on Wednesday evening.

Authorities were called to the scene of the shooting the day before Thanksgiving where they found 29-year-old Fedor Lee Warren Lomax inside an apartment and suffering from a gunshot wound. Lomax was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries. An investigation revealed that the suspected shooter was 26-year-old Kevin Hukill, who had fled the scene.

Hukill was eventually located at another residence, hiding in the attic. After a brief stand off, Hukill eventually surrendered to police without incident. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a drug charge from Crawford County. Pittsburg Police added charges of 2^nd-degree murder, felony interference with law enforcement, and felon in possession of a firearm.

The City of Emporia is expecting big crowds this weekend as the city plays host to the state championships for high school football in Kansas' three largest classes.

The state championships for classes 4A, 5A, and 6A will be played today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday) at Emporia State University. More than 20,000 people are expected to descend upon the city of Emporia this weekend to enjoy the games. The class 6A championship game will be today at 2, with class 4A to be played at 1pm tomorrow and class 5A at 7.

Class 1A, 2A, and 3A will be played this weekend at Hutchinson Community College, while 8-man and 6-man championships will happen in Greensburg.

A Tuesday evening accident on US-75 in Bartlesville leaves one person injured.

The accident occurred around 6:30 on Tuesday evening between a 3/4-ton pickup truck and a car at the intersection of US-75 and West 1100 (eleven hundred) Road. The injured party was transported to a hospital via personal vehicle for evaluation.

The accident caused the roadway to be closed for nearly an hour to allow emergency crews to clear debris and ensure the area was safe.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Assisting with the emergency response were  the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Emergency Management, Bartlesville Ambulance, and fire departments from Copan and Dewey.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation announces a delay in an upcoming highway repaving project in Bartlesville.

The resurfacing of US-60/Adams Boulevard from US-75 west to the city limit had been scheduled for completion next year. However, due to funding issues, ODOT has moved the project back to 2027. ODOT, which owns and maintains all state highways in Oklahoma, says inflation is to blame for the delay.

ODOT says project dates listed in its Eight-Year Construction Work Plan are considered tentative and are subject to available funding and other factors. Construction costs have increased 60% since 2022.

Officials say ODOT maintenance crews will continue making repairs as deemed necessary until a contracted project begins.

An inmate who walked away from an Oklahoma prison earlier this week is back in custody.

36-year-old Archie Eagle escaped from the Jim E. Hamilton Correctional Facility in Hodgen on Tuesday evening. Eagle had been serving a five-year sentence for attempted first-degree burglary and second-degree burglary in Kay County.

Eagle was located on Wednesday and is now back in custody.

Cherryvale's new city administrator has just started on the job, and he says he's looking forward to being an advocate for the city.

Michael Hall was hired as city administrator earlier this month and has officially been in his position just over a week.

Hall previously worked in the Air Force and moved from Texas to the Coffeyville area about three-and-a-half years ago. Family ties were part of what brought him to the area, but he says a vision for the future was the other part.

Hall believes that Cherryvale and cities in Montgomery County don't have to settle for the status quo.

Hall says his door is open and he's looking forward to working with the city's leadership and community volunteers to write the next chapter of Cherryvale's history. A link the the full interview with Hall is available HERE.

The search for a missing southwest Missouri woman is now a homicide investigation.

Police in Barry County, MO, have been looking for 24-year-old Aspen Lewis of Exeter since Monday, when she was reported missing by her boyfriend, 23-year-old Aaron Malone. After questioning Malone about the woman's disappearance, investigator noticed inconsistencies in his story. Authorities met with Malone on Tuesday and asked him to help them locate Lewis. He agreed that he would take them to her.

Lewis' body was found in a wooded area in the Shell Knob, MO, area.

Malone was taken into custody and is being held without bond. He faces charges of 2^nd degree murder, abandonment of a corpse, and tampering with evidence in the case.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Barry County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate.

Good news for area anglers.

The City of Coffeyville has announced that LeClere Lake has been fully stocked with trout thanks to a grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Trout season in Kansas begins Sunday, December 1^st and runs through March 31^st.

For more information from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, go here.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded the boil water advisory for Montgomery County rural Water District #2C-A.

The original order was issued on November 22 due to a water line break. Laboratory testing samples collected from Montgomery Co. RWD #2C A indicate no evidence of bacterial contamination. All other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.

Governor Laura Kelly announces federal funding for organizations to provide services to victims and survivors of crime.

Three of the sixty-five agencies set to receive funding are in southeast Kansas. In Pittsburg, the Children's Advocacy Center will receive $29,000 and The Safehouse Crisis Center will get $115,000. Hope Unlimited in Iola is also set to receive nearly $90,000.

Kelly says the money gives organizations the ability to continue providing the assistance crime victims and survivors deserve as they stabilize their lives, navigate the criminal justice system, and regain a sense of safety and security.

The funding comes from the federal Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance grant program. 

The Independence Historical Museum and Art Center will be bustling with Broadway tunes this Saturday night.

The Museum is hosting a Karaoke night and silent auction to benefit the Independence Children's Summer Theater. Organizer Jennifer Lasater says the show will feature past performers in the children's theater performing songs from past shows.

The evening will also feature a silent auction with lots of interesting items up for bid. Lasater says all the evening's proceeds will help cover production costs for the Children's Summer Theater.

Doors open at 6:30 and the show begins at 7 on Saturday night. Tickets are available at the , $10 for adults and $5 for students. The Independence Historical Museum and Art Center is located at 8^th and Myrtle Streets in Independence.

It's Thanksgiving Day and the biggest decision to make besides which chair is the most comfortable for watching football is … how long can I leave the food out before putting everything in the fridge?

K-State Extension Wildcat District SNAP-Ed Agent Katherine Pinto says, you'll be okay if you follow the two-hour rule.

Pinto adds that leftovers shouldn't be left in the fridge for more than a couple of days.

Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze them in covered shallow containers so they cool quickly. The turkey should also be portioned to ensure quick cooling in the refrigerator.

 The city of Caney is no stranger to water leaks, most of which lead to water advisories or boil orders. The latest leak, a twelve inch line on the north side of town happened yesterday, however, it was caught before any water pressure was lost.

 Mayor Josh Elliott says the process to recognize the leak started early.

 Elliott says Public Works was able to fix the leak without shutting off water to the town. He says the entire department goes above and beyond on a daily basis.

 There are no advisories or orders because of Tuesday's water leak.

Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power and the City of Coffeyville are warning citizens to proceed with caution when driving along Willow Street this holiday weekend.

The traffic lights at the intersection of 8^th and Willow will be flashing red in both directions, which indicates a four-way stop at that intersection. However, the lights at 9^th and Willow will be flashing red for drivers heading east-west on 9^th Street and yellow for those traveling north-south on Willow Street. Drivers on 9^th Street should come to a complete stop before entering the intersection.

C-M-P-L urges drivers to exercise caution through the holiday weekend and until the situation changes.

A Vera, Ok, man faces felony charges after allegedly pointing a gun at another person.

20-year-old Evan D. Ramsey faces a Felony charge after he allegedly pointed a firearm at a family member.

Court documents show that the incident occurred yesterday morning and that Ramsey allegedly pointed a gun at the victim, and when officers arrived on scene he threatened self-harm.

Police were able to de-escalate the situation and get Ramsey to lower the weapon he was holding.

Ramsey was then taken into custody and transported to the Washington County Jail in Bartlesville. Ramsey faces a $25,000 bond and will appear in court on December 6.

A 30-year-old Bartlesville man is facing a felony child abuse charge after allegedly hitting a juvenile with a cord.

Jose Baltazar Bran Ramos appeared in Washington County District Court on Tuesday for his initial appearance. Photos of the victim's injuries allegedly show several large bruises and a marking that matched the looped-shape of a cord. Ramos was arrested by Bartlesville police last Thursday on suspicion of child abuse.

 Ramos' bond was set at $50,000. His next court date is December 6.

An animal cruelty case that has been working its way through the court system in Montgomery County draws to a conclusion.

That was the report to the Montgomery County Commission this week by County Administrator Jonathan Booe. The case dealt with nine dogs and several horses that were seized over the summer due to mistreatment. Because the animals were evidence in the case, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office was responsible for their care. Booe says the Sheriff's Office and the County Attorney's Office split the $18,000 initial price tag to care for the animals.

At this week's commission meeting, Booe reported that the case had reached a resolution. The final cost to the county would be another $13,000. Booe tells commissioner Robert Bever that, even though restitution was required in the case, it would cover only a portion of the final cost for caring for the animals.

The final cost for caring for the animals was nearly $32,000.

Nearly eighty million Americans and almost one million Kansans will be hitting the road today to travel for Thanksgiving

Shawn Steward with Triple-A Kansas says, if you're driving for the holiday, to expect a lot of traffic.

Steward also reminds drivers that, if you plan on consuming alcohol, to hand the keys to someone else.

Law enforcement agencies across the state of Kansas will also be out in force this holiday. They will be checking speed and also making sure all vehicle occupants are buckled up. The Kansas Highway Patrol reminds motorists to wear their seat belts and obey the speed limit to help ensure everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

A woman and two young children are dead in what Delaware County, OK, authorities are calling an apparent murder-suicide.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office says 38-year-old Alisia Pena of Tulsa along with her two children, ages 5 and 7, were found inside an SUV on OK-85 just east of Ketchum early Saturday morning.

All three victims had sustained gunshot wounds. Investigators believe Pena shot her young son and daughter before turning the weapon on herself. The gun was found inside the vehicle. The Delaware County Sheriff's Office is investigating what brought Pena to the area because she does not appear to have had any family or other contacts nearby.

The state of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation announced Tuesday a tentative agreement to amend and extend their motor vehicle tag compact, reaching a deal that benefits both Cherokee Nation citizens and Oklahomans alike.

The agreement remains tentative pending the approval of the Council of the Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Legislature’s Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations, which are expected before the end of the year.

“Our goal throughout this process has been a compact that continues to benefit Cherokee Nation citizens, Oklahoma communities, and ensures our tribe continues to serve and provide for our citizens,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. “The new compact is a government-to-government agreement that will protect the rights of our citizens and ensure we can continue to provide essential funding for public schools, roads, and law enforcement agencies. I am grateful for the good faith negotiations from our partners in Oklahoma and the support of the Cherokee people for this fundamental exercise of our self-determination and government interests.”

"We’re all Oklahomans and we all drive on the same roads and bridges. It’s important that we’re all contributing to the things that make us a top ten state,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “I appreciate the cooperation of Cherokee leadership to reach an agreement, especially as it pertains to the ability to collect tolls on our turnpikes.”

The 10-year tentative Cherokee Nation and state of Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Tag Compact proposes to include the following provisions:

• Cherokee Nation continues to operate its seven tag offices for tribal citizens to purchase Cherokee Nation tags. Cherokee Nation citizens who live outside the Cherokee Nation will have the flexibility to utilize state tag offices or Cherokee Nation tag offices, although they will be subject to payment of fees and taxes provided by the Compact.?
• Cherokee Nation will share driver information for PlatePay billing and easy accessibility by law enforcement. As part of the compact agreement, the Cherokee Nation will pay a $2 million PlatePay fee over a three-year period and all outstanding toll fees assessed through Nov. 30, 2024, for Cherokee plates will be waived in exchange.
• Consistent with the previous compact, Cherokee Nation will continue to upload registration information to OLETS for public safety purposes. 
• The five counties with portions outside the Cherokee Nation (Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, Muskogee and Mayes counties)—commonly known as the expanded jurisdiction—will move from the previous compact model to the new at-large model. Over the next four years, all at-large vehicles tagged under the previous compact will be exempt from Oklahoma renewal requirements and can continue to register with the Cherokee Nation. Following this period, at-large Cherokee citizens will have the option to renew at a state tag office or at a Cherokee Nation tag office. 
• Additional funds Oklahoma secures from taxes and fees associated with vehicles principally garaged outside the Cherokee Nation will be expended consistent with Oklahoma law for infrastructure, education, and other public purposes. The Cherokee Nation will continue to receive a remittance from at-large tag sales and related rebates.
• The Cherokee Nation will continue to allocate funds each year from the sales of Cherokee Nation car tags for public schools, road improvements, and law enforcement, as more specifically outlined in the compact.

As with previous motor vehicle compacts, the term of the tentative agreement will be 10 years and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. 

A two-vehicle crash in Cherokee County leaves an Illinois man injured.

25-year-old Ahmed Ahmed-Modji sustained minor injuries yesterday evening when he struck another vehicle on US-400 after that car failed to yield the right of way. Modji was traveling southbound on K-7 near the city of Cherokee when a 2024 Volkswagon Atlas driven by 56-year-old Leah Clapp of Caulfield, MO, failed to yield. Clapp was traveling east on US-400 at the time.

Modji was taken to Pittsburg Mercy hospital for treatment. Clapp was uninjured.

The Parsons Police Department reports a new rental house scam circulating via social media.

P-P-D has recently taken reports of rental home ads placed on social media. When officers called the number listed in the ads, a male answered the phone and claimed to be the owner. The suspect then requested fees and deposits ranging from $80 to $900. Officers then contacted the actual owners of the homes listed in the ads and discovered that none of them are currently for sale or rent.

P-P-D asks anyone who has been a victim of this scam to make an in-person report at the department or to call 620-421-7060.

Officers are continuing to follow up on these crimes.

We'll see highs in the mid 50s today for the four-state area, but temperatures are expected to plummet this afternoon, setting the stage for a chilly Thanksgiving.

A cold front is expected to move through southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma around noon today, including Coffeyville and Bartlesville. The cold front will move through east central Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas around 3 p.m. Lows tonight will be below freezing for the entire area, and highs tomorrow will only be in low to mid 40s. Temperatures will stay below average through this weekend behind another cold front on Saturday.

An Oklahoma man is alive and well thanks to the quick-thinking efforts of an OKC Police Officer.

On November 10, police were called to a bridge over the Oklahoma River for a welfare check on a man who appeared to have fallen asleep on the edge of the bridge.

Body cam footage shows the officer arriving and approch the sleeping man. Just as the officer reached him, the man rolled over and off of the bridge. The Quick-thinking officer responded by reaching out and catching the man by the hood of his sweatshirt and saving him from falling into the water below. A passing jogger helped the officer pull the man back onto the bridge.

The man was uninjured in the incident and the officer gave him a ride home, returning him to his family.

To see the body cam video go here

The Coffeyville City Commission approves four street improvement projects. Director of Engineering Thomas Osborn says one of those projects will start next week.

Osborn says the rest of the projects will start in 2025.  Osborn says about three to four miles of total work is being done. This is being paid for by the money collected from the half-cent sales tax, which was once again voted for earlier this month.

Coffeyville Area Community Foundation announces the success of this year's Match Day.

Collectively 284 donors contributed $518,519.19 in just 24 hours, which will benefit 33 local nonprofits and community initiatives. Executive Director Sam Kudrick says they are overwhelmed by the generosity of the donors who continue to give to this community.

Match Day prizes awarded to nonprofit organizations include the Midland Theater Foundation for the most dollars raised, Coffeyville Historical Society, for second most dollars raised, the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation for third most dollars raised and the Coffeyville Community College Foundation received the award for largest percentage increase from the previous year. 

The Osage County, OK, Commission meets with a brief agenda before the Thanksgiving holiday.

There was an acknowledgment letter stating that District Two was getting a 2024 Chevy pickup on a state contract for just over $47,500. District Two Commissioner Steve Talburt says the truck is a needed addition.

The Commission approved the payment of an invoice to Higgins Construction for facilities inspections. They also acknowledged payment from bond proceeds, which went to Higgins for $11,000.

In other business, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the town of Avant so there will be a place for the nutrition department to serve meals.

As Kansans look forward to the coming holiday season, state legislators are looking forward to the 2025 Legislative Session.

For District 15 state Senator Virgil Peck, that means a focus on taxes. Peck is the Vice-chair of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee. Peck says the recent meeting of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group projects an increase in state revenue from income taxes.

The group also expects the Kansas economy as a whole to experience modest growth as inflation stabilizes. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group is made up of representatives of the Division of the Budget, Department of Revenue, Legislative Research Department, and one consulting economist each from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University. It meets twice a year to make projections regarding the Kansas economy and financials.

Independence Police make arrests in separate weekend incidents.

On Friday evening, officers were called to a disturbance in the 1000 block of West Locust. After an investigation, officers arrested 40-year-old Ashley Ellis of Fredonia. Ellis had been charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Interference with Law Enforcement, Aggravated Assault, and Domestic Battery in the incident.

On Saturday night around 11pm, officers responded to reports of an assault in the 800 block of West Main Street. There, they took 29-year-old Kameron Michael Prouse of Independence into custody. Prouse faces multiple charges including Aggravated Assault, Use of a Deadly Weapon, and Criminal Threat.

On Sunday, officers responded to the intersection of Penn and Oak Streets for a report of a hit-and-run accident.

A woman faces charges of falsifying her name after an alleged larceny incident in Bartlesville in August.

25-year old Zeniah Nanaeto faces Larceney of merchandise, a misdemenor, and false personification after she allegedly shoplifted at Bartlesville's Atwood store on August. 24. On the day of the incident, Nanaeto allegedly used her sister's name instead of her own when she was arrested.  

Bartlesville Police confirmed Nanaeto's actual identity after receiving a call from the woman's sister, who lives in California. Nanaeto is currently free on a $15,000 bond. Her next court appearance will be December 20.

More than 800,000 Kansans are expected to hit the roads this week for the Thanksgiving holiday just as the first cold blast of winter weather covers the state.

For those doing some holiday driving, it's important to make sure your vehicle is ready for the change in temperatures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests making sure all the lights on your vehicle are in working order, including, headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and emergency flashers. For those towing a trailer, check those brake lights and turn signals as well. Make sure your vehicle is full of de-icer wiper fluid and that wiper blades are in good shape.

Before you begin your trip, make sure you have weather-related items such as ice scrapers, jumper cables, and flash lights in your car. Also include a first-aid kit, extra warm clothes, cell charger, extra food, water, and needed medicine.

Plan your route and check weather conditions before departing on your trip. Avoid distracted driving and always buckle up to enjoy a safe holiday trip.

A suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Joplin.

The incident occurred just before 7pm on Sunday evening when Jasper County Deputies were called to a residence just north of Joplin. As deputies arrived, 60-year-old Michael Antwiler stepped out on his porch, carrying a shotgun. Antwiler then fired a shot at a deputy. The deputy then returned fire, striking Antwiler. Antwiler was then taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 8:30pm.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been called in to investigate and the deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

No other injuries were reported.

A fire on Sunday evening destroys a northeastern Oklahoma home.

Fire crews were called to a residence near Peoria, OK, about 12 miles east of Miami early Sunday evening. When they arrived, they found a mobile home fully engulfed in flames. Occupants of the mobile home attempted to remove items from the home. Firefighters say they were fortunate to have escaped without injury.

Units from the Peoria Fire Department, Quapaw City Fire, and Quapaw Nation Fire and EMS were able to bring the blaze under control after about three hours of work. Several items near the home were destroyed as a result of the fire. No injuries were reported.

For the first time in a long time, the majority of topsoil moisture in Kansas and Oklahoma is listed as adequate.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, topsoil moisture in Kansas is now listed at 72% adequate, with 62% of subsoil moisture listed adequate.

Topsoil moisture in Oklahoma is listed 58% adequate, with subsoil at 55%. All are improvements from last week.

On the crop front in Kansas, winter wheat is ahead of the five-year average at 96% emerged. Condition is rated 46% good in Kansas and 42% good in Oklahoma.

Now's the time to start thawing those Thanksgiving turkeys. USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline's Meredith Carothers says not to just leave it out on the counter all day to thaw.

For those with questions about preparing a Thanksgiving meal, the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline number is 888-MPHOTLINE or 888-674-6854. Questions can also by asked online at ask.usda.gov. The hotline will be staffed Thanksgiving day from 8:00am to 2:00pm.

At least seven hours of sleep a night is the recommended amount for adults.

Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health Program Project consultant Tawnie Larson says good sleep reduces health concerns and improves cognitive abilities.  Larson says it is important to get into a routine to encourage good sleep.

Larson says not getting enough sleep can be dangerous. She says sleepiness accounts for the highest number of single vehicle off road accidents.

The Montgomery County Commission approves the purchase of an automatic gate for the County Public Works yard.

The yard contains gasoline pumps that allow county vehicles to fill their gas tanks at a lower price than at a commercial gas station. All county vehicles are fueled at this location, with the exception of Sheriff's Department cruisers because the gates to the yard are only open during normal business hours. County Administrator Jonathan Booe says allowing Deputies to fuel their vehicles during off-hours will save the county a considerable amount of money.

The new, automatic gate will allow deputies quick access and will only cost the county $13,500.

In other business, Booe also told commissioners that a public town hall meeting for the RAISE grant will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Several street repaving projects in Independence are running smoothly.

That's the word from City Engineer John Garris. At the most recent Independence City Commission meeting, Garris reported on two projects funded by City Connecting Link or C-CLIP grants. Garris says the first of those on East Main Street is nearing completion.

Garris also told commissioners that a second C-CLIP project planned for 10^th Street between Main and Laurel has been programmed by the Kansas Department of Transportation and is progressing through the system. C-CLIP projects are funded by state and federal funds with the purpose of improving the state highway system.

For those traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday this week, Triple A says be patient, as large crowds hit the roads.

Triple-A estimates that nearly 80 million people will be traveling by car or by plane this week. Those numbers are up by nearly two million people as compared to last year Shawn Steward with Triple-A Kansas says, highways in the Sunflower State will also be busy.

The busiest travel times this week are expected to be Tuesday and Wednesday evening and then again on Sunday evening as travelers return home. Steward suggests avoiding those times if possible. However, the roads won't be the only means of travel seeing a lot of traffic this Thanksgiving. Steward says airports will also be busy this year.

Steward says the important thing for travelers to remember this time of year is to be patient and remain cautious to ensure everyone has a fun, safe Thanksgiving holiday.

A fire late last week leaves a Cherokee County home destroyed.

Fire crews were called to the scene in Lowell, KS, early last Thursday evening. A thick plume of smoke was visible from several miles away and when, crews arrived on scene, they found the small home fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, but the home was a total loss. Two residents were displaced by the blaze, but no injuries were reported.

Crews from Baxter Springs Fire, Cherokee County Ambulance, and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to the call with Galena Fire and Columbus Fire and Rescue assisting.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Kansans applying for unemployment benefits will now be able to do so more easily online due to the new online system for unemployment insurance benefits.

Governor Laura Kelly announced on Friday that the new system is now up and running. Kansans applying for unemployment benefits will see self-service options so they can file online and at their own pace. Employers will find enhanced reporting capabilities and an improved interface. The new system also features better security measures in an attempt to decrease fraud.

The State Department of Labor pushed to replace the old system that has been in use since the late 70s. The old system was plagued by slow processing times and technical glitches, while struggling to keep up when the number of claims increased. These problems often led to delays in benefits and frustration among those making claims.

Claimants must set up an account with the new system and can find FAQs, tutorial videos, and other resources at dol.ks.gov/unemployment/overview.

USD 503 Parsons schools receive a mini-grant to help district students acquire personal hygiene products.

The $1,000 grant was donated by the Parsons Area Community Foundation to the Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry last week. Care Cupboard will be able to purchase hygiene products to give to the school district to have on hand for students in need who may not have the financial resources to purchase them. Prior to receiving this grant, nursing staff and many teachers at Parsons High School and Middle School purchased items themselves to have some handy should a student need something.

Students will be able to get free products from Parsons Schools, The Care Cupboard Pantry, and the Parsons Public Library at no cost.

Police in Noel, MO, have arrested a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run.

53-year-old Gloria Trejo has been taken into custody in connection to the accident that killed 59-year-old Michael Pruden on November 2nd. Pruden was walking in the area of South Kings Highway and Hall Ridge Road when the accident occurred. McDonald County Deputies responded to the scene after emergency calls reported a man lying in the ditch.

A piece of a lens was located near the scene and the serial number from the part was used to match it to a 1992 Ford F-150. Trejo had a pick up matching the description. When investigators asked her about the incident, Trejo said she thought she had hit a deer and returned to the site to make sure. When she saw the victim was a person, she panicked and left the scene.

Trejo was taken to the McDonald County Jail in Pineville, MO, where she faces charges of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death. She is being held on a $2,000 cash-only bond.

The Montgomery County Commission is set to hear public comments regarding the county's recent application for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE grant.

Area residents who would like to comment on the grant application will be able to do so during the public comment portion of today's meeting. The purpose of the RAISE grant which comes through U.S. Department of Transportation is to help local governments improve travel infrastructure.

Commissioners will also hear a report from Kenneth Fecke with Community Corrections and Juvenile Services on year-end goals outcomes, plus an update on Public Works projects from Brandon Beurskins.

Today's meeting begins at 9am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The meeting is open to the public.

Several area communities will be holding Christmas parades as we start the month of December. The Coffeyville Christmas Parade is coming up on Friday, December 6^th at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Sonshine 98.9. The Caney parade has been moved from its usual spot and will now be held on Saturday, December 14^th at 7 p.m. A full list of area parades is available below:

Monday, December 2^nd

Pittsburg, KS – 6 p.m.

Tuesday, December 3^rd

Joplin, MO – 6 p.m.

Wednesday, December 4^th:

Oswego, KS – 7 p.m.

Columbus, KS – 7 p.m.

Neodesha, KS - 7 p.m.

Thursday, December 5^th

Girard, KS – 6 p.m.

Fort Scott, KS – 6 p.m.

Chanute, KS – 6:30 p.m.

Vinita, OK – 6:30 p.m.

Parsons, KS – 7 p.m.

Friday, December 6^th

Coffeyville, KS – 6 p.m.

Rogers, AR – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 7^th

Picher, OK – 10 a.m.

Riverton, KS – Noon

Baxter Springs, KS – 2 p.m.

Commerce, OK – 3 p.m.

Galena, KS – 4 p.m.

Cherryvale, KS - 5 p.m.

Pawhuska, OK – 5:30 p.m.

Miami, OK – 6 p.m.

Bartlesville, OK – 6:30 p.m.

Sedan, KS – 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11th

Chetopa, KS - 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 12^th

Ochelata, OK – 6 p.m.

Friday, December 13^th

Altamont, KS – 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 14^th

Lenapah - 11 a.m.

Edna, KS – 2 p.m.

Jay, OK – 2 p.m.

Dewey, OK – 5:30 p.m.

Bentonville, AR – 6 p.m.

Nowata, OK – 6:30 p.m.

Caney, KS – 7 p.m.

If you have an addition to this list, please contact us at 620-251-3800 or news@kggfradio.com

 The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Caney public water supply system.

 The advisory was issued because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.  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 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 man behind the regional success of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Blockbuster has died.

Fugate Enterprises announced Friday that founder James Larry Fugate has passed away.

Fugate began his journey into business ownership in January 1974 by purchasing two Pizza Hut locations in Coffeyville and Independence, and a Taco Hut in Independence. Fugate soon built a business empire, rapidly expanding Pizza Hut locations across small towns in Southeast Kansas before branching into other states, including Kentucky, California, Tennessee, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Missouri and Colorado. By 1988, Fugate opened his 100th Pizza Hut restaurant, becoming one of the largest independent franchise owners with over 200 locations at his peak.

In 1985, Fugate diversified into the video rental industry under the Major Video brand, transitioning these stores to Blockbuster in 1991. He ultimately operated 45 Blockbuster stores across four states. Additionally, he ventured into Taco Bell in 1987, opening his first location in Wichita, Kansas, and expanding across multiple states. By 1999, Fugate managed 50 Taco Bell locations, a number that has grown to 76 across Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kentucky.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin a survey in Altamont the first week of December.

This is for shoulder improvements on U.S. 160, starting at the south junction with U.S. 169 and continuing east to Gartner Avenue in Altamont. Surveyors will gather information necessary for a detailed design of the proposed improvement. The length of the survey is 16.2 miles on the existing highway alignment. Weather permitting, the survey should be completed by April 2025.

Activities include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine the locations of existing features within the corridor. A member of the survey crew will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property. Anyone with questions can contact KDOT Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.

Law enforcement agencies across Kansas will be taking part in the “Thanksgiving Safe Arrival” traffic enforcement campaign through the end of the month.

The campaign will focus on occupant protection, which means everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up or the appropriate booster seat. Shawn Steward with Triple-A Kansas says, it's a good time to start buckling up.

Steward adds that Triple-A anticipates a near-record number of travelers on Kansas roads next week. The Kansas Highway Patrol reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt. K-H-P says that buckling up is your best defense in case of a crash.

A boil water advisory has been issued for Montgomery County Rural Water District #2-C-A.

The advisory affects customers whose billing number begins with #1-0. Customers in the affected area should boil water for at least one minute prior to consumption or use bottled water instead. Dispose of ice cubes from trays and automatic ice makers and disinfect dishes and food preparation surfaces prior to use.

The advisory was issued due the possibility of bacterial contamination following a major line break.

Kansas Congressman Ron Estes speaks out in support of efforts to limit the ability of tax-exempt organizations to finance terrorist groups.

The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act - H.R. 9495 – received unanimous, bipartisan support from the House Ways and Means Committee in September. Estes says the bill does two things: the first of those is to strip tax-exempt status from organizations that support terror groups such as Hamas.

Estes says the measure would also extend the ability of the Internal Revenue Service to extend beyond one year the grace period on taxes for those held in foreign countries.

The bill has also passed in the House, with fifteen Democrats joining all but one Republican.

Estes represents the 4^th Congressional District in Kansas, a position he has held since 2017.

It is a story of resiliency for the town of Barnsdall, OK.

A little more than six months ago, an EF-4 tornado ripped through the town, tearing homes off their foundation and uprooting trees from the ground in which they were planted. 

Their motto from the beginning was Barnsdall Strong. As Osage County Emergency Manager Jerry Roberts explains the progress that has been made, it's a motto the town is living up to.

Areas of Bird Creek near the city had been filled with debris since the storm came through in early May. Last month. some much needed rainfall fell in the area. Roberts says the heavy rain actually helped with the clean up.

While the rebuilding begins, Roberts says neighborhood roads don't need any more heavy equipment on them. Therefore, he said re-surfacing will probably be one of the final things that is done. Roberts says crews are making repairs where they can.

The EF-4 tornado struck Barnsdall on May 6^th.

The Independence City Commission reauthorizes an ordinance for Industrial Revenue Bonds for Textron.

Commissioners gave their approval for the ordinance at last night's meeting. Bond Attorney from the firm Gilmore Bell Sarah Steele attended the meeting via teleconference. Steele says this is the 21^st time the bonds have been reauthorized since their inception in 1996.

The purpose of the bonds is to allow Textron to make improvements at the Independence facility. General Manager of the Independence Textron facility Paula Schabel says the bonds will be used to make some much-needed changes.

Schabel told commissioners that the changes would allow work to proceed without the need to move airplanes in the process.

The next Independence City Commission meeting is set for December 12^th.

Newly constructed restrooms for pre-schoolers at a Pratt elementary school are causing a backlash among parents.

Some of those with children in the class say the restrooms provide little privacy for their children. The restrooms in question have a boys' side and a girl's side that each include three toilets separated by short dividers but that have no doors.

Pratt School Superintendent Tony Helfrich says the restrooms were designed with input from teachers who say pre-K students often need help with personal care. The design is intended to allow adults to assist children with dressing and undressing when taking care of restroom needs.

Parents with students in the classroom have started an online petition to change the bathrooms that has gathered more than 1,000 signatures so far. However, the district says it has no plans to change the layout.

Authorities in Altamont release the preliminary cause of death for the victim of the recent fire.

Preliminary autopsy results indicate that 61-year-old Edward Escolas died due to smoke inhalation during the November 14 fire at his motorcycle repair shop on South Huston Street. Fire crews were called to the scene around 10pm on the 14^th, where they found the shop fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews from eight different communities responded to a call for mutual aid in battling the blaze. The State Fire Marshal's Office says the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board awards $2.5 million in grant money to 14 counties, two cities, and two school districts yesterday to help curb the state’s opioid crisis.

Included in those entities receiving funds are Osage County and the City of Ponca City. Osage County will receive one of the two largest grants of $300,000. The money will fund treatment and recovery programs, opioid abuse education and strategies to decrease the supply of narcotics across the state. Board chairman Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the grants are designed to help communities address Oklahoma's opioid crisis.

The Cherokee Nation is celebrating the grand opening of a new early childhood care center in Nowata.

A ribbon cutting took place on Tuesday at the new Head Start Center in Nowata, which is a $7.3 million investment in the community. The center is a 9,300-square-foot facility that will provide comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent-involvement services to low-income families with children ages 3 and under. The new facility features a storm shelter, commercial kitchen, new early Head Start classrooms and a playground with a shade structure and an eco-green roof.

Funding for the Nowata Head Start Center was provided by the Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act, which was reauthorized by Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. with support from the Council of the Cherokee Nation earlier this year. The legislation doubled the tribe’s investment in Head Start construction from $40 million to $80 million to replace or rehabilitate all of the tribe's Head Start centers with new, state-of-the-art facilities.

The Stage 1 Water Watch for the City of Coffeyville is lifted.

The water watch applied 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 City was notified by the Kansas Department of Agriculture that natural flows have increased due to rain in the Verdigris River Basin. Since sustained natural flows are expected to continue, the City lifted the water watch.

Getting home took a long time for a dog named Sedona.

Lost in Texas over two years ago, Sedona's family had moved to Colorado. But they never gave up looking for their beloved dog. Her family continued their search for Sedona, checking lost pet forums and humane society websites. Then, a few days ago, they checked the website of the Carthage, MO, Humane Society and there she was... up for adoption, under the name Elaine.

The family drove 12 hours to arrive in Missouri yesterday to reclaim Sedona.

The dog was a little unsure at first, but after hearing her owner's voice and a few simple commands he had taught her, she immediately knew him. Now, Sedona and her family are happily reunited after two long years. The Carthage Humane Society reminds pet owners not to give up on lost pets, because you never know where they might turn up.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a stream advisory for an unnamed tributary and Big Hill Creek from County Road 5300 Cherryvale, South to the Oklahoma State line in Montgomery County that was issued on Nov. 18.

The stream advisory was the result of a soybean oil wastewater spill at the Bartlett Grain Cherryvale soybean processing facility.

KDHE has deemed the stream safe for human contact and livestock use. 

The City of Fredonia selects two people to take over interim duties as City Clerk and City Treasurer.

At last night's city commission meeting, commissioners approved the appointment of Deputy City Clerk Suzanne Pekrul to take over City Clerk duties and City Administrator Evan Bolt to serve as Interim City Treasurer. Both positions were open due to recent resignations. The City plans to begin advertising today to hire a part time treasurer on a permanent basis. The commission also approved the closure of streets in the downtown square at 4:30pm on December 4 for the city Christmas Parade.

Residents of Fredonia have recently received mailers from the city regarding a lead water line survey.

City Administrator Even Bolt says the city is required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency to send out the notices until city officials know what materials make up various water line.

Bolt explained that the city is looking for the types of materials that make up water lines between the meter and the customer's home. He says it may take some time to make the determination for the entire water system, but that people should not be worried about the safety of their water.

Many other area cities have also been asked to reply to lead line surveys. Anyone with questions should contact their local government.

A 14-year-old Garden City middle school student is arrested following an alleged threat against Kenneth Henderson Middle School.

The student was taken into custody on Monday following an investigation, during which the student tried to strike a police officer. The student was taken to the Southwest Kansas Juvenile Detention Center in Garden City and faces charges of aggravated criminal threat and assault on law enforcement.

The Independence City Commission will meet today for their second regular meeting of November due to Thanksgiving falling on their normal meeting day next week.

Commissioners will tackle a brief agenda that includes the possible adoption of a new city ordinance authorizing the issuance of the City's Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds. There will also be an update from public Works on various projects around the city.

Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and is available online via the city's website.

A 77-year-old Ponca City man is arrested in connection to a 1969 Nebraska cold case murder.

Joseph Ambroz was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on Monday at his home in Ponca City. Ambroz has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Mary Kay Heese in Wahoo, Nebraska, nearly 55 years ago.

Heese was reported missing on March 25, 1969, after she didn't show up for dinner after school. She was later found stabbed to death in a ditch. Investigators at the time thought she got into a car driven by someone she knew. Evidence suggested she may have run from the car, only to be chased down, overpowered, and killed.

Authorities in Saunders County, Nebraska, have not said what led to Ambroz's arrest, but Heese's body was exhumed in September, and the County Attorney's Office says evidence taken there helped lead to the arrest.

Ambroz will be extradited to Nebraska for trial.

Mary Kay Heese

Ninety-nine members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives took their oaths of office Wednesday in the State House chamber.

The oath of office was administered by vice-chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Dustin Rowe. Two members were unable to be sworn in yesterday. One of them took their oath on Monday, while the second will be sworn in at a later time to be determined.

The House will consist of 81 Republicans and 20 Democrats. Seventeen of those will be serving for the first term.

The full Oklahoma House will officially convene for an organizational day on January 7, and the First Session of the 60th Legislature reconvenes on February 3.

The former City Manager of Liberal in western Kansas is arrested and faces charges of rape.

Deputies from the Seward County Sheriff's Office arrested Russell “Rusty” Varnado on Tuesday afternoon. Varnado was arrested on a warrant from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for rape, sexual battery, and lewd and lascivious behavior.

The KBI was asked to assist in the investigation in August when the initial allegations arose. Varnado is accused of one count of rape stemming from an incident that occurred in March. He is also accused of sexual battery against a different woman for sexual touching without consent and also for exposing himself to the same woman in August. Varnado was serving as City Manager in Liberal when both incidents occurred. The city terminated Varnado's employment contract on September 29.

Varnado made his first appearance in a Seward County courtroom yesterday, where his bond was reduced from $250,000 to $100,000. His next court appearance is set for December 2.

The City of Sedan takes another step toward a major repaving project.

At this week's Sedan City Council meeting, Brian Boettcher with B-G Consultants was on hand to discuss preliminary planning for the project. Boettcher says the next step is the actual design process.

Sedan is set to receive $1.2 million in a City Connecting Link Improvement Program or C-CLIP grant. The federal and state-funded program provides funding to cities to improve the state highway system. City Clerk Raven Darnall says the city will have to pay the costs first before being reimbursed by the program.

The payment of just over $98,000 to B-G Consultants for the preliminary engineering fee was unanimously approved by the the council.

Agents at K-State Research and Extension's Wildcat District are regrouping after a fire in downtown Altamont affected their office.

Last week, a fire destroyed a motorcycle shop and claimed the life of one person. The extension office located at 524 Huston Street shares a wall with the shop and sustained some damage. Livestock Production Agent Wendie Powell, who is based out of the Altamont office, says an engineer will be looking at the building to determine the extent of the damage. Powell says for now, they're moving operations to the Methodist Church.

Powell says the phone number for the office will not be changing, but it will take a few days to get their phones hooked up in the new space.

In the meantime, Powell says to call the Independence office for questions at 620-331-2690.

Photo by Melvin Dowty

Despite recent rain drought has still hit the State of Kansas hard during 2024.

Senator Jerry Moran says 79% of the acres of Kansas have been under some form of drought, most of it severe.  Moran says this is as dire a circumstance that he can see in his time in trying to address the saving of rural America.  

According to the Drought Monitor, Montgomery, Wilson, Chautauqua and Elk Counties are all considered to be in the abnormally dry category. Parts of Labette County are in the abnormally dry to moderate and severe drought. Most of Cherokee County is in the severe drought category.

The Kansas Department of Transportation begins work tomorrow west of Neodesha.

KDOT starts their resurfacing project on U.S. 75 from U.S. 400 east to the Neodesha city limits. Flaggers will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone. Brief delays can be expected. A vehicle width restriction of 12 feet and length restriction of 70 feet will be in effect during the daylong resurfacing operation.

Updates on the project can be seen at kandrive.gov.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the State Pardon and Parole Board to deny clemency for a convicted child killer.

Kevin Ray Underwood was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2006 murder of 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin. Underwood lived near Bolin in the same apartment complex in Purcell, OK, and confessed to FBI agents and police detectives that he had murdered the girl and tried to decapitate the body in an attempt to fuel his fantasies of cannibalism. He was sentenced to death in the case in 2008. Underwood is scheduled for execution on December 19.

Drummond called Underwood a “deeply evil monster” and called the death penalty “the only appropriate punishment in the case.”

The clemency hearing is set for December 4.

The wife of a newly elected Sedgwick County Commissioner lands in a bit of legal trouble following the recent election.

The Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that a charge of electioneering had been filed against Meghan Blubaugh. Blubaugh is the wife of Jeff Blubaugh who was recently elected to the Sedgwick County Commission.

The District Attorney's Office states that Meghan Blubaugh unlawfully and knowingly attempted to persuade or influence eligible voters at a polling place on October 29.

Electioneering is a Class A misdemeanor that bans that kind of influence within 250 feet of a polling place. The law also forbids wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election.

Blubaugh's first court appearance is set for December 17.

A crash in Tulsa County claims the life of a Skiatook man.

39-year-old Alex Hillyard was killed Monday evening when he lost control of his vehicle on a wet roadway on State Highway 11. Hillyard was attempting to pass another vehicle when the accident happened. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Hillyard was pinned inside his vehicle for nearly two hours before being freed by the Skiatook Fire Department.

An upcoming Christmas concert in Parsons brings holiday cheer for a good cause.

A Main Street Christmas Concert featuring the Duke Mason Band is coming up on Saturday, December 7. Admission to the concert is free, but in the spirit of giving to others, a freewill offering will be taken to help benefit the Parsons Police Department's "Shop With a Cop" Program.

The Shop With a Cop Program is designed to provide children in need the chance to purchase holiday gifts for themselves and their family members when they might otherwise go without. It also gives kids the chance to have a positive interaction with members of law enforcement.

The concert begins at 7pm on December 7 at the Parsons Municipal Auditorium.

The long-awaited fate of a low-water crossing bridge in northeast Montgomery County may soon be known.

Brandon Beurskins with Montgomery County Public Works says the county will take a look at the bridge in the coming weeks.

The bridge has been closed for much of this year and the detour put in place by the county left area residents with a much longer route to US-169 than many found acceptable. In April this year, more than 25 residents from the area attended a Montgomery County Commission meeting to voice their anger and concern to commissioners about the bridge closure, Those citizens have been waiting for answers since that time. Commissioner Robert Bever says it's the duty of the county government to keep those citizens in the loop.

Montgomery County hopes to have an answer on the issue by the end of the year.

The City of Fort Scott has plans to kick off the holiday season with the opening of a unique holiday attraction.

The city plans to unveil a new, synthetic ice skating rink in the Gathering Square Pavilion on December 6^th as a part of their Christmas on the Bricks community celebration. The new attraction cost around $50,000 to put in place and is paid for by fundraising and donations through the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber hopes the new rink will bring visitors to the city for the holiday season and help support downtown business by bolstering economic activity. The skating rink does not use any real ice which means the Chamber plans to use it for several years to come.

The synthetic skating rink will make its debut during the first weekend of December and will available throughout the holiday season.

A three-vehicle crash near Junction City leaves one man dead and a woman seriously injured.

The accident occurred just before 5pm yesterday on US-77 in west central Junction City. A 2021 Subaru Outback driven by 45-year-old April Kulczyk of Junction City was traveling northbound on US-77. The Subaru crossed the center line and struck a 2009 Infiniti driven by 21-year-old Kaleb Jones-Bradford of Ponca City. The collision caused the Infiniti to enter the ditch after striking a guard rail. In the meantime, the Subaru continued along the highway where it then struck head-on a 2019 Ford Fusion driven by 56-year-old Bradley Linton of Enterprise, KS.

After this second collision, the Fusion came to rest in a ditch while the Subaru came to a stop in the northbound lane.

Linton suffered fatal injuries while Kulczyk was seriously injured and taken to Stormont-Vail in Topeka. Jones-Bradford was uninjured.

The City of Caney remains under a boil water advisory after failing a water test.

The boil water advisory originally issued on November 6^th will stay in effect for the City of Caney water supply for at least a while longer. The city delivered six water samples for testing on November 14. Of those samples, one failed to meet the requirements to be cleared of possible bacterial contamination. The city plans to flush hydrants today and sample the water again for testing.

Caney water customers are reminded that the boil water advisory says water should be boiled for at least one minute before consumption, dispose of ice from trays and automatic ice makers, and disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces.

The boil water advisory will remain in effect until rescinded by the KDHE.

The appointment of two interim city officials will be on the agenda at tonight's Fredonia City commission meeting.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the appointment of an Interim City Clerk and an Interim City Treasurer. Both vacancies were caused by resignation. Commissioners will also hear an update on the condemnation of several properties around the city. Other planned business includes a discussion of street closures for the December 4 Christmas Parade and a purchase of wire for the electric department.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Fredonia City Hall at 100 North 15^th Street. The meeting is open to the public.

A new farm bill has been introduced in the United States Senate. Syngenta's Mary Kay Thatcher says there may not be enough time to pass the farm bill this year.

Terrain's John Newton says farmers and ranchers need certainty going into a new growing year.  The House of Representatives' last day in session for 2024 is December 19^th and the Senate's is December 20^th. 

Independence City Manager Kelly Passauer announces the appointment of the City’s new Chief of Fire and EMS.

Aaron Cook currently serves as a fire captain and paramedic in the department and brings more than 22 years of experience in firefighting and emergency medical services to the role. Cook will take over for Shawn Wallis, who retires in December after leading the department for the past eight years. Passauer says Cook has big boots to fill as he succeeds Chief Wallis.

Cook is a two-time recipient of the Paramedic of the Year award with the Independence department and has also received multiple lifesaving awards with both the Independence and Cherryvale departments. Cook says he values clear communication and collaboration, and he is very excited to put his skills and experience to work in this role.

The Rural Energy for America Program or REAP provides grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small business for installing renewable energy systems in their place of business.

The program can provide grants for up to 50% of the total cost of the project. The funds can be used for renewable energy types such as biodiesel and ethanol, wind, and solar. Daniel Zywietz of SEK Solar says the program is an excellent way for small businesses to save money.

Zywietz says there are some eligibility requirements for qualify for the program.

To learn more about the REAP program, go here.

The Pawhuska City Council agrees to give the City Manager a raise.

At the most recent city council meeting, it was decided to give City Manager Jerry Eubanks a $25,000 raise. This comes after Assistant City Manager Carol Jones announced her resignation. 

Eubanks says he was sad to see Jones leave.

The decision to give Eubanks that raise came at a special city council meeting on Friday evening.

Late last week, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters sent an e-mail to all Superintendents across the state saying that enrolled students were to watch a 90 second video sent to all kids and then to send the video to their parents.

In the video, Walters prays for students across the state and announces the creation of a new department within the State Department of Education. Walters says the goal of the new department is to protect the religious liberty of all students.

This new sector is called the Department of Religious Liberty and Patriotism.

A Dewey police officer is honor for his life-saving efforts.

At this week's Dewey City Council meeting, Dewey Police Jimmy Gray honored Officer Talbett LeMaster for saving a residents life earlier this year. Here is Chief Gray says Lemaster's quick action helped a Dewey resident survive a serious wound.

In other action,  the council approved the purchase of two used vehicles and upfitting for $44,000 for the Dewey Police department. The funds were from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Dewey City Council meets every 1st and 3rd of every month at Council Chambers at Dewey City Hall.

Officials from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are looking for the person who shot a deer and left in a north central Kansas state park.

The buck was found near the Glen Elder Dam inside Glen Elder State Park on Sunday morning. Officials note that hunting is legal in the park, but that hunters are required to check in and check out through an online system.

Anyone with information about who shot the deer should call the Glen Elder state Park Game Warden at 785-243-0553

There was a major shake-up at last night's Independence Community College Board of Trustees meeting.

Long-time board member Valerie DeFever submitted her resignation from the Board at last night's meeting. After serving on the Board for nearly a decade, DeFever says she leaves knowing the Board and the college are doing well.

DeFever cited personal and family reasons as the motivation for her departure. The Board will now begin the search for an individual to replace DeFever on the Board. They currently plan to review any applications they receive for the open position in hopes of making a decision at their December Board meeting. This would allow the new member to begin their new duties in January.

In other business, the most recent audit of the school's finances came back clean, while President Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo reported that the new HVAC systems in the Fine Arts and Academic buildings have been installed and are up and running. Sadhoo also told the Board that a campus sewer line had collapsed and is set to be repaired during the Thanksgiving break.

The Buckeye Street project in Coffeyville is on schedule.

That was the word from Montgomery County Public Works at this week's County Commission meeting. Commissioner Mike Cordray asks Brandon Beurskins with Public Works if the recent rain has been a problem.

Beurskins also told commissioners that his department has plans to examine a low-water bridge north of Cherryvale after the Thanksgiving holiday. The bridge has been closed for most of the year after being found to have structural issues. Public Works will remove parts of the bridge to determine if it can be repaired or replaced, though there is the chance that the structure will be closed permanently

Below are the rainfall totals from the last 48 hours:

KGGF Coffeyville Studios: 2.02

Independence CoCoRaHS Station: 1.77”

Altoona Mesonet Station: 1.79”

Howard Mesonet Station: 1.22”

Erie CoCoRaHS Station: 1.84”

Sedan Mesonet Station: 1.21”

Parsons Mesonet Station: 1.56”

Oswego Mesonet Station 2.27”

Cherokee Mesonet Station: 2.24”

Foraker Meseonet Station: 1.27”

Copan Mesonet Station: 1.50”

Nowata Mesonet Station: 2.37”

Talala Mesonet Station: 2.19”

Vinita Mesonet Station: 2.54”

Miami Mesonet Station: 2.33”

Fire crews were called to a Neosho, MO, residence around 8pm on Saturday night to find the home fully engulfed in flames.

While firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze quickly, the structure suffered severe damage.. The occupants of the home were able to escape safely though some pets did perish in the fire. No firefighters were injured. Three people were displaced by the fire.

Crews from Redings Mill Fire Protection District, Neosho Police, Neosho Public Works, and Newton County Ambulance all assisted with the call.

An accident involving a light pickup and a semi late Monday night leaves a Blue Mound woman dead.

54-year-old Melany Felt was killed when her vehicle crossed the center line on US-169, five miles south of the junction with US-54 and struck a tractor-trailer driven by 53-year-old Christopher Keathley of Parsons. Keathley attempted to avoid colliding with the smaller truck by veering onto the right shoulder, but the two vehicles collided on the shoulder.

Keathley complained of pain following the accident and may have sustained minor injuries.

The accident occurred just before 10pm last night.

The City of Nowata announced on Monday that the  EPA and DEQ are working in conjunction with all public water supply systems in the State of Oklahoma to gather data by conducting a Lead Service Line Inventory. The City of Nowata said in a press release that they have completed their inventory report, which had a great deal of unknown service line materials. 

If your service type was unknown, you will receive a letter in the mail that looks like the one pictured on their website. 

Residents are asked to carefully read it  to be able to determine your service line material. You are asked to report your service line material to City Hall by calling 918-273-3538. The City says they will then update the inventory list and submit any changes necessary in our report to the State.

If you have any questions, please call the City of Nowata  at 918-273-3538, and you can also check out the the EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/lead. 

The four dogs involved in a Friday morning dog attack in Bartlesville have been euthanized.

Bartlesville Police confirm that the four dogs taken into custody following an attack on several people have been put down and their remains have been sent for testing. B-P-D says it is continuing to investigate the incident and assures the public that officers understand their concerns. Public safety remains the department's top priority

B-P-D encourages residents to report any stray or aggressive animals by calling 918-338-4001.

An early morning crash claims the life of a Humboldt man on Monday.

Around 4:30 yesterday morning, 57-year-old Eric Guenther was traveling near the intersection of 800^th Road and Delaware Street just west of Humboldt when his vehicle went into a spin for an unknown reason. As a result, he struck a Ford Ranger driven by 53-year-old Steven Yost, also of Humboldt. The two pickup trucks struck head on. The Ranger then caught fire and burned.

Both men were taken to nearby hospitals. Guenther was pronounced dead at the hospital. Yost was admitted to be treated for serious injuries.

The Dearing Fire Department responds to a vehicle fire.

Yesterday around 4:30, the department was dispatched to 3593 County Road 1675 just south of Dearing. Upon arrival, crews started attacking the fire that was consuming the vehicle. The vehicle was not occupied and the fire was extinguished without issues.

Kansas Department of Health and Environmenthas issued a stream advisory for an unnamed tributary and Big Hill Creek near 4208 County Road 5300 Cherryvale, Kansas, South to the Oklahoma State line in Montgomery County.

The stream advisory is a result of a soybean oil wastewater spill at the Bartlett Grain Cherryvale soybean processing facility near 4208 County Road 5300, Cherryvale, Kansas.

The advisory has been issued because potential elevated contaminants may be present in the unnamed tributary and Big Hill Creek. If you live or have activities near this stream, do not enter the stream or allow children or pets to enter the stream.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment will rescind the advisory once secondary (wading) contact has been deemed safe.

The Osage County Commission approves the purchase of new hog and sheep pens at the Osage County fairgrounds.

The commissioners reviewed the three quotes they received to replace the existing pens. They decided to go with the highest bid of $86,328 because they were the brand they already use and they will match up with the already there pens.

In other business, District One purchased a sheepsfoot roller bomag for just over $145,000. The commission approved an estimate from All Lit Up Electric for just over $6,000 to repair an electrical panel in District One.

Cherryvale Elementary places in the top three in a weekend chess tournament in Columbus.

Lincoln Central finished second place out of nine other schools that competed this past Saturday. There were 11 players from Cherryvale who competed in the K-8 section out of 56 total players. Three team members medaled in the top 25. Jet Tracy finished fifth, with five points, Graig Edwards 11^th place with four points and Tripp Vincen 25^th place with three points. In the unrated group, Tyson Ecret finished 5^th.

Other team members that competed were Cheyanne Whinery, Cheroke Whinery, Adelaide Jones, Gabriel Ohlrich, Colten Tuggle, Ari Hosier and Autumn Ecret. 

Bartlesville Police responded Friday morning to a report of a pack of dogs attacking several people.

"At approximately 10:30 this morning (Friday, November 15), the Bartlesville Police Department was called to the 500 block East 12th Street in reference to a pack about four believed to be pit bulls attacking numerous people. Officers have since contained those. Those dogs will be taken in for quarantine and three people have been transported to the hospital for medical treatment,"Bartlesville Police Deputy Chief Andrew Ward. 

"One of the dogs did charge one of our officers and he did discharge one round but the dog was still alive at the moment," he said.

The Montgomery County Commission met today and completed the canvass of the results of the November 5^th general election.

Commissioners considered the transfer of $700,000 in ARPA funds for Economic Development Incentives. Commissioners also discussed the cost to the county for burying unclaimed bodies from the county coroner's office. Brandon Beurskins with Public Works also updated the commission on the south Buckeye Project, which is on schedule despite the rain and other delaying issues. He also said the county has plans to determine the fate of a low-water bridge on County Road 6200. Crews will be able to examine the bridge soon after Thanksgiving.

Labette County prepares for the holiday season with Giving Tuesday.

Parsons Community Foundation Executive Director Becky Dantic spoke before the Altamont City Council at their latest meeting. Dantic says the focus of the community foundation is to promote local improvement through grants to charitable organizations.

Dantic says the money raised goes back in to the local community.

This year's Giving Tuesday is set for December 3 from 7am to 7pm at the Cardinal Event Center on the campus of Labette Community College.

A 19-year-old Pawhuska man was killed in a car accident early last Wednesday morning on OK-99 about 3 miles north of Osage.

The accident happened around 4:30 when William Greene was involved in a single vehicle crash and was ejected from his vehicle. Soon after the initial accident, a Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by 43-year-old Travis Smith of Mannford struck both Greene and his vehicle. Greene was pronounced dead at the scene. Smith was treated for minor injuries and later released.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

A Bartlesville man faces terrorism charges after allegedly making threats against the Bartlesville hospital.

33-year-old Joshua Luellen has been charged with one felony count of Terrorism Hoax after he allegedly called St. John Jane Phillips Hospital on the evening of September 23^rd and made threatening remarks to the operator. During the call, Luellen is accused of telling the operator that he had a gun and that staff should be careful when leaving the hospital.

Bartlesville Police traced the number back to a residence, where Luellen allegedly made a comment about the hospital and said that they had almost cost the lives of one of his children in after a misdiagnosis.

Luellen was arrested and taken into custody where he is being held on a $2,500 bond.

 The Kansas Highway Patrol warns drivers to pay close attention to deer crossing Kansas Highways.

 Deer/vehicle collision numbers are on the rise, with the KHP reporting 25 such crashes over a 24-hour period last Thursday. Those numbers do not include reports taken by local police departments, sheriff’s offices, or parks and wildlife officers across the state. There were more than 650 people injured in deer crashes in 2023 with 7 fatalities. Shawn Steward of Triple-A Kansas says the human toll can be terrible, but with more than ten thousand accidents with vehicle damage, the monetary cost can be high as well.

Deer are commonly on the move around dawn and dusk, so drivers should be especially alert during those times. Caution should also be taken in areas deer are commonly found, such as wooded areas or locations with deer crossing signs. Use your high beams at night and be aware that deer often travel in groups, so if you see one, there are likely more around.

Anyone involved in a collision with a deer that results in personal injury or property damage of more than $1,000 is required to report the accident to local law enforcement. Failure to report any traffic crash is a misdemeanor and may result in a suspension of driving privileges.

To remove a deer carcass or any part of a carcass, requires a salvage tag, which can be provided by KHP trooper, deputies, or Kansas Department of Wildlife game Wardens.

 There will be no charges filed against two officers who shot and killed an unarmed Salina man in July.

 Saline County Attorney Jeffery Ebel has said his office will not charge the Salina Police Officer and the Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper after a review of the facts of the case in the July 24 shooting death of Jesse Wray.

On July 24, officers from the Salina Police Department arrived to take Larry Wray Junior into custody on a warrant, when one officer saw Jesse Wray inside a detached garage and pointing a gun at him. Jesse Wray also had a warrant for his arrest, so police retreated and called for backup.

After a brief stand off, smoke began coming out of the garage and the door opened. A woman then exited the garage with her hands up. Wray attempted to flee on foot and appeared to be armed. Officer fired on him, but did not strike him. Wray then fled again, coming face-to-face with a KHP Trooper and an SPD Officer. They fired four shots, killing Wray.

An investigation revealed that the fire had been intentionally set. In the remains of the fire, investigators found a BB gun revolver.

Ebel said that while body cam footage showed Wray did not have a gun in his hands, his gesture and body position would lead any reasonable person to believe a gun was being raised and pointed at the officers.

 A Wichita man is set to stand trial in December after he allegedly left his 11-month-old baby near a Wichita highway in July.

 Vincent Perez faces charges of aggravated battery and aggravated child endangerment after the baby girl was spotted by motorists, alone in a canal between the lanes of I-135 in south Wichita on July 23. Police found the child naked, sunburned, and covered in mud. The child was taken to a hospital for treatment and was also found to be covered in bruises.

Court documents state that Perez had also tried to suffocate the child while at a friend’s house the day before.

The trial is set to begin on December 16.

The results of the 2024 General Election have been canvassed in Chautauqua County.

The commission met this week to review provisional ballots and write-in ballots from the November 5th election. County Clerk Niki Collier says there were multiple reasons for provisionals this election cycle.

Commissioners looked at the 25 total provisionals and after discussion, Commissioner Rodney Shaw made the motion to approve a select number of them.

There was a 59% voter turnout in the county, with more than 2,500 total registered voters and just over 1,500 ballots cast. Additional items of business included an update from the county Public Works Department.

 The Montgomery County Commission will meet today in Independence.

 On today's agenda is the canvass of the results of the November 5^th general election. The canvass is the official counting of election results. Commissioners will also hear from County Administrator Jonathan Booe regarding a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE grant. The RAISE program comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation and provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. Booe is also expected to discuss a transfer of American Rescue Plan or ARPA funds. ARPA funds are federal dollars provided during Covid-19. There will also be an update from Brandon Beurskins with Public Works.

Today's meeting will be held at 9am in the lower level of the judicial Center in Independence. It can also be viewed online via the Montgomery County Facebook page. The meeting is open to the public.

Rain continues to fall in the four states, and a flood watch is in effect for northeast Oklahoma.

The watch is in effect now through 6 p.m. tonight for Osage, Washington and Nowata Counties and areas to the south. Widespread rainfall up to three inches is expected, with more than four inches possible locally.

A wind advisory is also in place today for eastern Kansas, northeast Oklahoma and western Missouri. The advisory will be in effect for Kansas from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. with south winds 20 to 25 gusting to 45 mph.

There is also a marginal chance of severe weather this afternoon, mainly for southcentral Kansas and northcentral Oklahoma. Large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and a few tornadoes are all possible. There is a marginal risk of severe weather for the entire four-state area, but the main threat remains west of Coffeyville.

Money donated during Coffeyville's Match Day passes last year's matched total.

In 2023, Match Day saw $414,004.99 raised, including the $100,000 match. In 2024, before the matching money is added, $414,584.21 was raised from 683 donations. Coffeyville Area Community Foundation Director Sam Kudrick says this speaks volumes to how generous people are.

All 33 nonprofits received at least one donation with the Midland Theater Foundation receiving the most at 99. The Midland had almost $132,000 donated to them, with ten other nonprofits receiving over $10,000. The full list on what each nonprofit received can be found here. The money donated this year puts the total community impact of Match Day since 2013 over two million dollars.

 A traffic stop near Parsons leads to a police chase and the arrest of the suspect.

 The incident began around 11pm last night when a Parsons Police Officer attempted a traffic stop on a white Chevy pick up with no registration. The driver attempted to flee the scene and then to hide from the officer by turning off the truck's lights.

As the suspect fled east out of Parsons, several officers from multiple agencies joined the pursuit. Stop sticks were deployed and deflated the vehicle's tire, but driver continued to flee. Officers attempted to slow the pursuit by boxing in the vehicle, but the suspect hit a Labette County Sheriff's patrol car and continued to flee until veering off the road and into a ditch. Officers were able to remove the suspect from the vehicle and place her under arrest.

39-year-old Marsha Evans of McCune was taken into custody and faces multiple felony charges including Felony Fleeing and Eluding, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving While Intoxicated, and Aggravated Battery on a Law enforcement Officer. She faces a total of 17 charges in the case.

 Authorities in Oklahoma say an inmate has escaped from the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft.

 ODOC says 46 -year-old Deadrea Broadstone walked away from the facility around 2pm yesterday. Broadstone is serving a 10-year sentence for carrying a firearm after a felony conviction in Tulsa County. Officials say the public should not approach Broadstone and anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts s should call 9-1-1.

The Eddie Warrior Correctional Facility is a minimum security prison that houses more than 900 female inmates. It is located southeast of Tulsa.

 A Wichita man was in a Sedgwick County courtroom yesterday to face arraignment on 54 counts of crimes against children.

 45-year-old Nathan Wayne Anderson was originally arrested in February 2023 and is now set to stand trial on multiple charges including 13 counts of rape. The alleged crimes are said to have taken place between 2006 and 2014.

A status hearing for a jury trial is scheduled to be held on December 8. Anderson is currently being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $2 million bond.

 The Independence City Commission approves a new city ordinance that would reduce the minimum number of monthly meetings from two to one.

 At last night's commission meeting, the measure was approved by a unanimous vote. Commissioner Dean Hayse says it's a good move going forward.

Mayor Tim Emert says the City Commission still plans to schedule two meetings per month because they have the option of not holding the second meeting of the month.

In other business, commissioners voted to hold a Public Hearing for the abatement of a house at 713 Washington Street on January 23^rd. Assistant City Manager David Cowan told commissioners that the interior of the house had been destroyed by squatters.

Commissioners also approved a measure that would allow city employees to attend classes at ICC at no cost. The agreement between the city and the school is based on a similar deal between Labette Community College and the City of Parsons. The purpose of the arrangement is to allow the city to offer the classes as an additional benefit to prospective city employees.

The next Independence City Commission meeting will be held next Thursday, November 21, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

 The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a woman in the city of Clearwater.

 Clearwater Police were called to a residence in the city located about 15 miles southwest of Wichita yesterday morning. There they found the body of 45-year-old Melina Hinkle in her home. Also at the location, officers found an acquaintance of Hinkle, who had placed the 9-1-1 call. The Clearwater Police Department then requested that the investigation be taken over by The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Investigations Division.

An autopsy had been scheduled for today in order to determine the cause and manner of death.

 The City of Independence will begin neighborhood leaf pick up on Monday.

 The city has been divided into 15 different zones and city crews will be picking up leaves between Monday and late February. Pickup is contingent on weather conditions and the condition of city equipment.

Residents are reminded that leaves should be placed by the curb but not in the street as the loose leaves can pose hazards for vehicles and pedestrians. Leaf piles should also be placed within 5 feet of the curb, otherwise the vacuum will not be able to reach them. Avoid leaving anything but leaves in the piles. Debris such as brush, rocks, and weeds may damage equipment. If pick up crews notice debris, they will not pick up the leaves.

Bagged leaves and bulky pick up can be scheduled by calling 620-332-2507.

 A late afternoon crash near Ottawa in Franklin County leaves one person dead and two others seriously injured.

 The accident occurred around 4pm yesterday when a Mercury Grand Marquis driven by 83-year-old Milda Caleb of Ottawa was traveling eastbound on K-68 about 4 miles west of the City of Ottawa. Caleb attempted to make a left turn on to Indiana Road, but failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Her vehicle was struck by a westbound Hyundai Accent driven by 38-year-old Thomas Harmon of Pomona. Harmon was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident and died as a result of his injuries. Caleb was taken to KU Medical Center with serious injuries while a passenger in her vehicle, 53-year-old Lester Caleb, also of Ottawa, was taken to Advent Health. He also sustained serious injuries in the accident.

 The Montgomery County Public Works Department is warning drivers not to move barricades that block an unsafe bridge.

 The bridge in question is on a county road between Roads 4900 and 5100 in the northeast part of the county. The low water bridge was closed earlier this year because it was found to be structurally unsafe.

Residents in the area voiced concerns at the time that the detour put in place by the county was too long and posed a hardship to the citizens who lived in the area. The county was reluctant to say the bridge would be repaired due to the substantial cost involved. Commissioners did say they would take a closer look at the foundation of the bridge to see if it could be saved. Brandon Beurskins with Public Works says the county has not yet been able to make a determination on the future of the bridge, so, for now it must remain closed.

Montgomery County Commissioner Larry McManus says he has received complaints about residents in the are being ticketed for moving barricades that block access to the bridge.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office will be ticketing anyone who is caught moving barricades.

 Governor Kelly announces a new round of KDOT cost share program projects including one in Coffeyville.

 KDOT will be spending nearly $6 million on seven transportation across the state. Coffeyville Public Works Director Jim Wright says one of those projects will be some needed work on 8^th Street.

The City of Coffeyville says the total funds involved are up to more than $900,000. the area due for work will be from US-166 to Elm Street. The mill and overlay will be part of a larger project that will include waterline replacement.

A new kind of rodeo experience is on the way this weekend in Pawhuska.

A company called Ticket Play Entertainment is introducing a free-to-play game that lets spectators engage with events alongside competitors. While the company is initially focusing on rodeos, it expects to expand to all types of sporting events.

To introduce their program, they’re hosting a Rodeo and Cowboy Horseback Mounted Shooting event on November 15th and 16th at the Osage County Fairgrounds in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Admission tickets for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting is $10 at the gate or $8 in advance noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Rodeo tickets are $15 at the gate and $12 in advance. Kids 12 and under are free.

Students in the Coffeyville FFA Chapter are selling tickets, and they say each sale benefits the chapter.

For more information, reach out to the Coffeyville FFA Chapter on Facebook. Tickets are also available from FFA members in Pawhuska, Barnsdall, Copan and Caney.

**UPDATE: 12:20pm The victim in the fire has been identified as 61-year-old Edward Escolas of Altamont. The Kansas State Fire Marshal and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation have been called in to assist in the investigation.

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 ** UPDATE: 9:20am -- Reports indicate that fire crews from Coffeyville, Edna, Bartlett, Parsons, Mound Valley, Chetopa, Oswego, and Columbus responded to the fire. The K-State Wildcat District Extension Office has also posted on their Facebook page that their Altamont Office located at 524 Huston Street will be closed until further notice. One fatality has been reported.

Photo by Melvin Dowty

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 Breaking news this morning from the City of Altamont

 Early morning reports indicate a large structure fire overnight in the City of Altamont.

Huston Avenue between 5^th and 6^th Streets in downtown Altamont was closed as of 5am today. The Labette County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that emergency crews had the area blocked off and restricted. Drivers are advised to avoid the area. So far, there has been no information released as to the extent of the damage or if there were any injuries. Altamont Police and Fire would only confirm that crews were dispatched to the area.

The City of Altamont also advises citizens that the fire response may also mean that residents may experience little to no water this morning. Residents are asked to limit water use at this time.

This is a breaking news story and more details will be provided as they are released.

 The Oklahoma Department of Transportation alerts drivers of upcoming pavement testing.

 ODOT says State Highway 10 will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers controlling traffic between US-59 and SH-25 in Grove in Delaware County, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Monday and Tuesday.

 Drivers should use extra caution in the area and expect minor delays.

 The project is weather permitting.

With just under seven hours left to donate, Match Day 2024 has already exceeded last year's total. As of 5:00 pm, just over $400,000 has been raised. Coffeyville Area Community Foundation Director Sam Kudrick says this is such a big day for Coffeyville.

Match Day continues to grow each year not only in the amount of money donated but also in the nonprofits that can be donated to. Kudrick says they added seven more this year bringing the total to 33.

Thanks to the Bernard and Effie Jo Wade Family Foundation, the Pratt Family Charitable Fund, the Dr. David and Lynn Bumgarner Family Trust, and the Patterson Family Foundation, $100,000 in matching funds is available. Last year's total with the matching money was over $414,000.

 The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission appoints a new director of the Missouri Department of Transportation.

 Ed Hassinger will take the reins of the state agency. Hassinger has a degree in civil engineering and has worked for MoDOT for over 40 years. Hassinger says he will focus on safety, workforce development, and project efficiency in his new position.

He takes over after the previous director Patrick McKenna resigned in September after nearly nine years in the position.

 Two people from Minnesota are killed in a Monday crash on the Kansas Turnpike near Derby.

 The Kansas highway Patrol says 78-year-old Thomas Reller and 28-year-old Ocatvia Reller of Zumbrota, Minnesota, were killed in the early morning crash on I-35.

The accident happened when one of two semi trucks traveling together struck a deer and then struck the center median. The second semi pulled onto the shoulder where it was struck by the Rellers' Chevy SUV. The drivers of the two semi trucks, 45-year-old Tasheba Peavy and 47-year-old Shanna Coleman both from Houston, were hospitalized following the accident.

 The Osage County Commission agrees to help fund a search and rescue dog.

 At this week's meeting, commissioners discussed the issue of funding a search and rescue dog for the Green Country Fire Department. The estimated cost to the county would be around $5,000. Commissioner Charlie Cartwright says the cost is worth the benefit.

The commission agreed to use ARPA funds to assist the fire department in procuring the dog. The animal will also  be able to assist the Osage County Sheriff's Office.

In other business, the commission selected Ramsey System Services to conduct the repair of the heat and air system and at the Osage County Health Department.

The Osage County Commission will hold its next meeting at 10 am next Monday at the fairgrounds.

 The Pawhuska Fire Chief reports to the City Council on the effects of a recent grass fire.

 At this week's meeting, Fire Chief Lloyd Arnce gave a report following the fires that rolled through Osage County in October. Arnce said the estimated value of the loss was around $100,000 and added that two firefighters had to receive treatment at the hospital. He says things could have been a lot worse.

The fire is estimated to have burned nearly 4,000 acres of land. However, more than 30 structures were saved and only one home was lost. Arnce added that there were a few abandoned structures and some non-functioning vehicles that were lost in the fire as well.

 Several Washington County Sheriff deputies respond to a Tuesday morning call in Copan.

 Washington County Sheriff investigators and the Special Operations Team were in Copan to serve a search warrant on a suspect in an on-going investigation. In the process of serving the warrant, Sheriff Scott Owen says deputies arrested the suspect, Raymond J. Turner.

After taking Turner – who is also known as Raymond J. Conley – into custody,  deputies found a firearm and drug paraphernalia. Conley is a convicted felon.

Owen says Conley was taken without incident to the Washington County Detention Center where additional charges may be filed based on the investigation.

 The Independence City Commission will convene tonight at 5:30 for its regularly scheduled meeting.

 The Commission will have a full agenda before it this evening. Agenda items include the introduction and swearing in of a new Independence Police Officer, the consideration of an agreement with Independence Community College for a reduction in fees and tuition for city employees, and a discussion of several unsafe structures in the city. The consent agenda will include approval of the closure of streets for the Eisenhower Thanksgiving Parade on November 26 and the approval of the City's Urban Boundary at the request of the the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The Commission will also consider adopting an ordinance to reduce the number of Commission meetings per month from two to one.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30pm in the Commission Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will also be available online via the city website.

 There will be a fundraiser for the Harvey family in Caney this Saturday.

 Tom and Alexis Harvey, owners of the Safari Zoological Park in Caney, lost their home in a fire on October 23. the blaze was started by a propane tank and then spread to a guest cabin and then to the couple's home.

The fundraiser is a come-and-go event at the Zoological Park. Guests can meet-and-greet the animals on site and pose for pictures as well. There will also be free hot dogs and water available.

The fundraiser runs from 11:30am to 2pm on Saturday.

 A man in Smith County in north central Kansas is sentenced to serve seven presumptive life sentences in prison for convictions of child sexual abuse.

 Colter J. Ducote was sentenced on October 31 after being convicted on seven counts of violations of Jessica's Law. Ducote was convicted by a Smith County jury in August. The case was investigated by the Smith County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Child Victims Unit beginning in July 2023.  The victim was 11 years old when she reported the abuse by Ducote beginning at the age of six.

In Kansas, Jessica's Law increases the consequences for sex crimes against minors. The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered by a registered sex offender in 2005. The mandatory minimum sentence is 25 years-to-life on each of the seven counts of conviction. Ducote will be required to serve two of the counts consecutively for a mandatory term of 50 years-to-life.

A new bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives called the Farm Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act or the FARM Act.

This bill would provide emergency relief to crop growers as a result of low prices in 2024. K-State and Washburn Law Professor Roger McEowen says farmers' payments would be based on what they planted for the year.  McEowen says there would be about $20 billion allocated to the FARM Act.  

McEowen says there are payment limitations on the max amount of money that a producer can receive. He says this depends on if it is an individual, an LLC or a general partnership. An LLC could receive up to $125,000 and a individual whether in a general partnership or not could receive up to $175,000.

 Miami, OK, Mayor Bless Parker is named to the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors.

 Bless Parker is in his second term as Mayor of Miami and was first elected in May of 2020. was a finalist for the OML Mayor of the Year award in 2023 and 2024. He was also awarded the “2023 Impact Award” by the Miami Regional Chamber of Commerce and received the Ottawa County Boys and Girls Club “2023 Champion for Kids Award.” Parker has also served on the Mayors Council of Oklahoma Board of Directors since 2022.

Parker said he is honored by the appointment and called O-M-L and important resource for Oklahoma cities and towns. Parker will represent District 1.

 There will be a free community Thanksgiving dinner served this Saturday in Galena.

 All are welcome to stop by Galena High School at 702 East 7^th Street on Saturday to pick up a free, hot Thanksgiving meal. The dinner is provided by local area churches, businesses, and civic organizations. Food will be served from 4:30 to 6pm on Saturday.

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating should contact Tara at 417-529-9198.

 Students from the Parsons High School Drama Department will take to the stage this weekend in a production of Emma: A Pop Musical.

 The musical is a modern adaptation of the Jane Austin novel Emma and follows the story of a high school student who plays matchmaker for her own classmates, but ends up getting distracted from finding her own happiness. The show features songs from iconic female singers like Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, and Cyndi Lauper.

Show times are Thursday and Saturday at 7pm with a Sunday matinee at 2pm. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased at the door. All performances will be at the Parsons Municipal Auditorium.

 Police in Wichita release the names of five people killed in a shooting that occurred in the southern part of the city on Sunday.

 The victims have been identified as 67-year-old Anthony Stickney, 66-year-old Donald Dodge, 55-year-old Terry Meyer and 39-year-old Alan Young. Police were called to the Stickney residence around 5:45 Sunday evening.

Investigators believe all four men were shot and killed by 42-year-old Joshua Stickney who then turned the gun on himself. Authorities say all five men knew each other and that Anthony Stickney was Joshua's father, while Meyer was his step-father. Both Dodge and Young were reportedly friends and neighbors of the shooter.

W-P-D believes the act was not random and continues to investigate to determine what led to the shooting.

 A 42-year-old motorcyclist from Pittsburg is dead following an accident in Neosho County.

 Brandon Eastwood was traveling southbound on US-59 just southwest of St Paul around 1:30 yesterday afternoon. After safely passing another vehicle, Eastwood lost control of his 2014 Victory motorcycle. He was ejected and killed when his bike veered onto the shoulder of the roadway. Eastwood was wearing eye protection but was not wearing a helmet when the accident occurred.

 Representatives from a Colorado-based energy company make a proposal to Montgomery County for a facility located near Liberty.

 Business Development Director for S-M-T Energy of Boulder, Colorado, Chris Poole appeared via Zoom call at yesterday's Montgomery County Commission meeting.  Poole was on hand to discuss the specifics of a proposed Battery Energy Storage System or BESS Facility. Poole says the storage cell would help supply additional energy to the power grid through Evergy.

Poole told commissioners that the proposed battery cells are lithium iron batteries that would sit on concrete pads on 5 acres near Liberty. Poole says this is not the only facility in the works in Montgomery County.

The company had also approached the city of Independence with a similar proposal but decided against the project due to zoning issues.

 The Director of USD 445 English for Speakers of Other Languages or E-S-O-L program tells the school board that the need for the program and the services it provides has increased.

 At this week's USD 445 School Board Meeting E-S-O-L Director Lisa Stockton that the program serves nearly 300 students in the Coffeyville school district and that the need for those services has increased over the past four years. The E-S-O-L programs serves students in Pre-K through 12^th grades whose primary language used at home is something other than English. Stockton told the board that the district serves the needs of students in 10 different languages and that the number of students in Coffeyville schools in need of services has grown by nearly 100 students in the past four years.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of three new custodians, four Virtual Teachers of Record for Roosevelt Middle School, and an assistant boys basketball coach at Field Kindley.

The next USD 445 board meeting will be December 9^th.

 Chronic absenteeism is decreasing in Parsons schools.

 That was the report from USD 503 Assistant Superintendent Jeff Pegues at this week's school board meeting. Pegues told the board that a district task force created two years ago has been identifying reasons for student absenteeism and has helped Parsons schools make improvements in those areas. Pegues said the district improved by 5% compared to the overall improvement of only 2% across the state. Daily attendance in the district was behind the state the last three years, but is now tied with the state average. He noted that younger students have shown a lot of improvement in attendance but that incentive programs need to be added to improve attendance numbers among students at Parsons High School.

The School Board also approved the purchase of a new school bus at the cost of $149,000.

 A Harper Man missing since August has been found deceased.

 73-year-old David Reese was first reported missing on August 3^rd. He was last seen driving his white Chevy Silverado pickup truck around that time and authorities issued a silver alert for him.

Reese's truck was finally located on Sunday in a dry creek bed in rural Barber County. Human remains found nearby have been identified as those of David Reese. The Barber County Sheriff's Office along with the Harper Police Department have been looking for Reese during the past few months and had conducted grid searches in the area where his truck was found. However, heavy vegetation near the creek bed limited visibility until recently, when Reese's truck was revealed. Authorities say the vehicle appears to have been wrecked.

The investigation is ongoing.

 The Low Income Energy Assistance Program opens in Kansas on Monday, November 18, 2024.

 The Kansas Department for Children and Families says Kansans in need of assistance with winter heating bills can begin applying for help starting next week. The program provides a one-time per year benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating costs, whether the home is heated with electricity, natural gas, propane, or other home heating fuels. In 2024, over 40,000 Kansas households received an average benefit of $645.

To qualify, households must have an adult at the address responsible for the home's heating costs. Applicants must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit received varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel, and utility rates.

DCF and partnering energy companies are planning in-person events to help Kansans submit their LIEAP applications. For a schedule of in-person LIEAP application events, visit dcf.ks.gov. Kansans applying for LIEAP should have with them their identification, proof of income for all adult household members, copies of heating utility bills (gas, electric, propane, etc.), and a copy of their rental agreement if living in subsidized housing (a complete list of required information can be found in the FAQ document). Partnering energy companies, Atmos Energy, Black Hills Energy, Evergy, Kansas Gas Services, and Midwest Energy, may attend LIEAP application events in their service areas.

Applications can be accessed online at dcf.ks.gov? by clicking the “Apply for Services” button on the top right side of the website. LIEAP applications will be accepted beginning Nov. 18 until 5 p.m. March 31, 2025.

2025 Income Eligibility Guidelines

A fundraiser for the warming center in Coffeyville will be held this weekend.

Touch of Life Ministries opened a warming center for the Coffeyville area last year, and they're holding a fundraiser for the center on Saturday, November 16th.

Soup, crackers or bread and dessert will all be available in a drive-through event in the King Food Saver parking lot in Coffeyville from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  A $10 donation is suggested.

All proceeds will support the warming center, which is located in the old Lowell School building at 9^th and Cedar.

The Coffeyville City Commission approves the purchase of a 2025 Spartan Fire Truck from Feld Fire for the Fire Department.

Fire Chief Mike O'Connor says this will replace a truck that is 25 years old.  City Manager Ben Brubaker says they looked at several different options before deciding on the new fire truck.

The cost of the fire truck was just over $742,000. In other business, the commission approved a proposal for engineering services for the Levee Improvement Project.

The Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation spoke to the Nowata Chamber of Commerce during their November meeting.

Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. says there is a need for housing in the area and it is his commitment to address that.  Hoskins also made the announcement during the meeting that the Cherokee Nation is taking over the operation the Claremore Indian Hospital.

Enrollment for Spring 2025 courses at Coffeyville Community College opens Monday.

Spring Semester classes begin on Wednesday, January 8^th. For those looking to get a jump start, enrollment is currently open for Fall Intersession classes, which begin on Monday, December 16^th.

A link to view course schedules and available classes can be found here. CCC's Student Success Team is available for anyone who needs help enrolling.

 Montgomery County Commissioners hear about a proposed Battery Energy Storage System or BESS Facility that may be coming to the county.

 Business Development Director for S-M-T Energy of Boulder, Colorado, Chris Poole appeared via Zoom call at today's Montgomery County Commission meeting. Poole was on hand to discuss the specifics of a proposed BESS facility that may be coming to the Liberty area. Poole told commissioners that their battery cells would provide additional energy for Evergy and would have little impact on the environment. Poole stated that the company currently operates 10 functioning BESS facilities in Texas and that the proposed Liberty facility would the company's first venture in the state of Kansas. He added that S-M-T Energy is pursuing a similar facility in the city of Dearing.

Commissioners also heard from Brandon Beurskins with Public Works regarding a road closure in northeast Montgomery County due to an unsafe bridge. Beurskins stated that the bridge has not yet been fully evaluated for safety and added that Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputies would be ticketing any drivers who move the barricades to cross the bridge and avoid the detour.

 Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Independence will hold a Christmas Market this Saturday.

 The market will feature crafts, baked goods, a cookie table, and a raffle. There will be a silent auction until 1pm and a chicken noodle lunch will be served from 11am to 1pm. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for kids 12 and under, with carry-out available.

The Christmas Market runs from 8am to 1pm on Saturday at Saint Andrew Catholic Church at 420 East Myrtle in Independence.

 A Kansas Veterinarian recently treated a dog for an unusual ailment.

 Staff at the Hodes Veterinary Clinic in Rose Hill say Henry, a 3-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, came into the clinic for an unrelated exam. During the check-up, the dog's owner told the vet that the animal's breathing had been different lately. Because of his breed, staff checked the dog to make sure his heart was not enlarged.

But they weren't quite ready for what the x-ray revealed.

Though the dog was not showing any signs of digestive distress, the x-ray showed the dog had swallowed dozens of hair ties. The veterinarian took the dog into surgery and removed 75 hair ties from Henry's stomach.

Staff at Hodes Veterinary report that Henry is now able to breathe easily and say they hope the hungry dog will stick with treats from here on out.

 Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating the death of a man found last week inside a pick up truck near Derby.

 The man has been identified as 54-year-old Shane D. Watts of Wichita. Watts was discovered last Wednesday in a heavily wooded area near the Arkansas River Canoe Launch. Authorities say Watts showed no signs of trauma to his body and that the investigation will continue pending an autopsy and toxicology report.

Anyone with information about Watts is asked to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Investigations Division at 316-660-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

The investigation into the cause of Watts' death remains ongoing.

 Game wardens in Oklahoma are looking for a suspect in the illegal shooting of a deer in Mayes County.

 Officials say the deer was shot with a rifle on part of the Mid-America Industrial Park in Pryor on Saturday.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Game Warden Kody Moore in Mayes County at 918-857-4802

 USD 447 Cherryvale seeks to improve district oversight on athletic and activities fundraisers and donations.

 At this week's USD 447 School Board meeting, Board member Jonathan Booe asked the question “When school groups raise money for that organization or activity, where does that money go?” Superintendent Travis Githens says, most of it goes through the district's accounts.

Githens stressed that no mishandling of funds is suspected. Athletic Director Kandra Smith added that a lot of those funds go to pay for things the school district is not allowed to pay for, such as camps or personalized gear. Smith says the district does need to provide more oversight for accounting reasons.

Board members agreed that the schools needed to provide more oversight on the outside accounts for the reason that the handling of those funds might look bad.

 One person is injured after a vehicle crashes into a garage on Monday afternoon in Derby.

 Emergency crews responded to a call of a car slamming into a duplex in a residential neighborhood. Sedgwick County dispatchers confirmed that one person was transported to the hospital in critical condition following the incident.

 A father and son in Oklahoma are both dead after trying to rescue a female relative from flood waters near Haskell late last week.

 Authorities say 54-year-old Lloyd Eubanks and 27-year-old William Eubanks were both swept away by floodwaters after trying to save a family member from swift water over a low water crossing. The daughter/sister of the the victims went into the water first and her brother William tried to save her. Their father Lloyd then went into the water after both of his children. The two men managed to get the woman to a log in the water and she was able to escape. She then called 9-1-1, but her brother and father had been swept into the waters of Coal Creek. Their bodies would be recovered later downstream.

Muskogee County Emergency Management Officials remind people not to cross flood waters as it takes only 6 inches of water to sweep a person off their feet.

 The Coffeyville Area Community Foundation is hosting Match Day 2024 on Thursday.

 Match Day is a one-day event to encourage donations to 26 local non profit organizations. In Coffeyville. Donors will be given an opportunity to select the nonprofit organizations they wish to support.  Donors will receive a form listing all participating nonprofit organizations. When donors make a contribution, the donation leverages a match. 100% of the donation given by the donor will be available to the nonprofit organization immediately and the match leveraged will go to the nonprofit's endowed fund to help sustain the organization for years to come.

Contributions may be made by check or cash onsite at 8^th and Beech Street, via mail in, and by credit card online.  Last year's Match Day garnered more than $400,000 for local charitable groups that went to help the Coffeyville community. You can catch interviews with participating organizations throughout the day Thursday on the Mighty 690 KGGF

 The Montgomery County Commission will meet today due to the Veterans Day holiday.

 On today's agenda will be Matt Debo with Environmental Health and Zoning and Chris Poole to discuss SMT Energy and the BESS Project. Also on the agenda are Casey Brown and Scott Christianson with SEK-CAP Transportation. Commissioners will also hear an update ion Public Works from Brandon Beurskins and a report from County Administrator Jonathan Booe.

Today's meeting begins at 9am in the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. It is open to the public.

Leadership at South Coffeyville Public Schools is addressing recent low test scores on state report cards.

At last night's meeting, Elementary Principal Karla Bauer filled the board in on the state report cards that have been released, which grade each school in the state. Bauer says neither school is where they want them to be, and explains that some missing data appears to be skewing the results.

Bauer and Business Manager Jade Dolan say they have found out if a student transfers to Kansas, the state can count that as a drop-out unless special steps are taken because they fall off the Oklahoma records. Bauer says scores at the elementary side are showing some improvement, with lower chronic absenteeism and higher attendance than the statewide average. The scores come from the ACT Test on the high school side and standardized reading, math and science tests at the elementary school.

 Deputies with the Allen County Sheriff’s Office are looking for leads regarding a recent theft near Iola.

 The suspects are accused of stealing ten straw bales from a residence located just southwest of the city. The missing straw bales were part of a holiday display that had been taken down and were temporarily being stored on a pallet.

Local Crime Stoppers programs are non-profit organizations led by citizens against crime. Some Crime Stoppers programs offer cash rewards of up to $1000 to persons providing anonymous information, leading to the felony arrest of criminals and fugitives.

Allen County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $1000 for information that leads to the resolution of this or any other felony crime.

The owners of the straw bales say they have little hope of recovering their property, so anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a mobile tip using the Crime Stoppers P3 app or message the Allen County Shierff’s Office Facebook page.

 The Parsons City Commission hears an update on the Tri-City Airport from the new airport manager.

 Airport manager Dylan Vitt addressed the commission at the latest meeting. Vitt says the airport provides an important function for the community.

Vitt says the airport has decent air traffic and that the sale of aviation fuel is a good source of income for the city.

Vitt added that he is exploring grant options from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Kansas Department of Transportation to fund future improvements to the facility.

 Police in Wichita are investigating a shooting in the south central part of the city in which five people have been left dead.

 Officers responded to a call near the intersection of Southeast Boulevard and East Harry Street around 6pm Sunday night, November 10, 2024. When they arrived, they found a man inside a home, dead of an apparent gunshot wound. Further investigation revealed three more victims, also dead from gunshot wounds. A fifth victim was also eventually found in another nearby residence.

Police say they do not know when the shootings occurred, but they do believe all five victims knew each other and that four of the victims were killed by the same shooter. They believe that the shooter then took his own life.

W-P-D says there is no danger to the public and that they believe there are no other injuries.

Anyone with information on the killings should contact 9-1-1.

 The billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn announces plans to boost his ownership share in CVR Energy.

 Icahn announced Friday that Icahn Enterprises or I-E-P had submitted a proposal to boost its stake in CVR Energy from 66% ownership to 81% ownership. He plans to purchase 15 million additional shares of the company at a price of $17.50 per share to do so.

CVR Energy operates the Coffeyville refinery that produces 115,000 barrels-per-day as well as another refinery in Wynnewood (pronounced Winnie-wood), OK.

To fund the transaction, Icahn also announced he would halve I-E-P's dividend payout to 50 cents per share.

CVR recently suspended its third quarter dividend, contributing to its 45% share price drop for the year through the end of last week. However, CVR stocks rose 6% in Friday after Icahn's announcement.

 The City of Independence celebrates veterans over the weekend during its 8^th Annual Veterans Day of Honor.

 Festivities kicked off early Saturday morning in downtown Independence. Events included a veterans breakfast at VFW Post #11-86, a patriotic rock hunt, and a car show. The afternoon was capped off with the Veterans Day Parade.

In addition to the downtown activities was the Memorial Tribute that took place at Veterans Freedom Square at Riverside Park. The tribute began with a welcome to those in attendance.

The opening welcome was followed by a reading of the names on the Veterans Memorial. The event concluded with the Fallen Soldier Cross Presentation.

Cherryvale also held their Veterans Day Parade today. The event was followed by a lunch at the Cherryvale Community Center. Local sixth grade students performed a special program during the lunch.

Coffeyville will honor its veterans today at 11am at the American Legion, located at 811 West 12^th Street. The Program will feature keynote speaker Dr. Bill Lyons of Oral Roberts University.

Veterans Day flags are up today at Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville. They will need volunteers to help take them down this afternoon. If you or your organization would like to help, they will start taking down flags at 4pm.

 A suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants in three states is captured and in custody.

 The Quapaw Nation Marshal Service announced last Monday that they were searching for 27-year-old Andrew Lee Ramos. Ramos was wanted on felony warrants in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. The suspect was known to frequent the Commerce, OK, area and had ties to Pittsburg, KS.

Authorities say Ramos is now in custody but they have not released any other details his arrest or any crimes he allegedly committed.

 The Coffeyville City Commission will meet tomorrow night for their regularly scheduled meeting.

 On this week’s agenda will be the approval of an agreement with BG Consultants for platting and stormwater evaluation services for 100 acres of land recently purchased by the city. There will also be a discussion about the installation of new fire alarm systems for the Emergency Services Building and for the 3rd floor of City Hall. Also on the agenda is the construction of a rodeo office at the fairground for the Interstate Fair and Rodeo.

Any citizens who wish to address the Commission may also sign up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting.

The Coffeyville City Commission meets tomorrow night at 6:30 in the Commission Room at 102 West 7th Street. Meetings are broadcast live on Cox Cable Channel 13 and streamed over the internet on the City’s website.

 A Bartlesville man crashes his truck through a brick wall and escapes with only minor injuries.

 The 85-year-old driver sustained a scalp wound but refused medical treatment following the Saturday incident. The man was also traveling with several dogs in the back of his pick up truck. The animals were also uninjured in the crash.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

 An 18-year-old Erie woman is injured after being struck by a vehicle on US-400.

 Jozlyn Clift was standing on the shoulder of US-400 about 3 ½ miles northwest of Fredonia just after 11pm last night. Clift was standing near a disabled vehicle with no lights on after striking a deer. As she stood on the roadside, Clift was struck by a 2018 Ford F-150 driven by 30-year-old William Pingleton of West Plains, MO.

Clift was taken to Fredonia Regional Medical Center where she was treated for minor injuries.

 The Allen County Sheriff’s Office is looking for suspects in the killing of a cow in mid-October.

 The incident occurred about 6 miles southeast of La Harpe sometime around October 17. Authorities say the death of the British White heifer named Lucille was not caused by another animal or by natural causes.

The owners of the cow are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of those involved.

Anyone with any information regarding this case, whether they want to be eligible for a cash reward or not, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a mobile tip using the Crime Stoppers P3 app.

Photo courtesy Allen County Sheriff's Office

 The Oklahoma State Treasurer's Office announces the relaunch of the Agricultural Linked Deposit Program.

 This program offers low-interest loans to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses, helping them reduce financial strain, expand operations, and invest in their future. The program partners with local community and agricultural banks to assist farmers and ranchers secure funding to use on operational expenses, refinancing, or expansion.

Oklahoma farmers and ranchers can get more information by contacting their local lender or the Linked Deposit Department at 405-522-4212

New guardrails are coming to U.S. 166 east of Niotaze.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, a guardrail replacement project is expected to start on Wednesday on 166 about three miles east of Niotaze between the Montgomery and Chautuaqua County line continuing east to U.S. 75.

Temporary signals will direct one-lane traffic through the work zones and drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less. Weather permitting, the road work should be finished by mid-March 2025. KDOT awarded B & B Bridge Co. of St. Paul the $480,116 construction contract. KDOT urges motorists to stay alert and follow posted signs in all work zones.

 Donna's Pet Food Pantry in Parsons is having a nail trim fundraiser tomorrow .

 Dogs and cats can get their nails trimmed by professionals for only $7 per pet. All proceeds will go to help Donna's Pet Food Pantry purchase dog and cat food for the hungry pets of Parsons. Each month Donna's Pet Food Pantry gives out over 400 pounds of dog food and more than 300 pounds of cat food.

All dogs must be on leash and all cats must be in carriers. The event runs from 1 to 4 tomorrow at 1500 South 29^th Street in Parsons.

 The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Ramona Police Department are asking for the public's help in locating the suspect in a recent grand larceny.

 On Tuesday around 4:40am responded to a theft at the American Bank of Oklahoma near the intersection of Wyandotte Avenue and Caney Valley Place.

When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the ATM had been pried open and around $38,000 had been stolen. Surveillance footage of the crime shows one suspect driving a 2004 gray GMC Yukon. That vehicle was left on the scene and had been reported stolen from Broken Arrow. The suspect then fled the scene in an unknown vehicle. 

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Ramona Police Department at 918-536-1242

 Downtown Parsons will be dressed for the holidays this year thanks to some new downtown Christmas lights.

 The new lights come to the city courtesy of SEK Point of Pride. Rod Landrum spoke on behalf of the group at this week's city commission meeting. Landrum told commissioners that the group has plans to install new soft white LED Christmas lights on the front of the buildings downtown. The first phase of the plan will cost $49,000 and the group has already raised more than half of those funds. The light project will then be completed in the second phase for another $22,000. Landrum says the plan is to leave downtown Parsons looking good for the holidays.

Downtown businesses and others helped by donating to the project. The city commission also agreed to add $23,000 in city tourism funds for the lights as well.

 A Missouri woman who bought a handbag in a Kansas City thrift store found a little something extra with her purchase.

 When Carlie Goss looked inside her new, second-hand bag, she found a jewelry pouch with a golden wedding band inside. Now, Goss hopes to find the family of the ring's owner. Goss believes the ring is a woman's wedding band. The ring has the named Heinz and the year 1932 engraved on the inside. Goss purchased the bag and the ring at the Savers thrift store in Kansas City, Missouri. She has shared her story on social media in her effort to find the owner of the ring. Goss says she thinks the ring was donated by mistake, and that if she had done something like that, she would be grateful to get the family heirloom back.

 A Kansas fisherman has landed a huge flathead catfish after fishing in the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita.

 Keith Severns of Wichita said his fisherman's intuition told him he might land a big one when he threw his line in the waters of the Arkansas River early Monday morning. Severns said the fish put up a ferocious fight but he finally landed the 40-pound monster. He then called his son to take a picture of him with the fish, before releasing it back into the muddy waters of the Arkansas. Severn says he knows big fish like that have defied countless hooks and he respects the animal enough to want to see it live out the rest of its potential.

The record flathead catfish caught in Kansas weighed in at 123 pounds and was caught at Elk City Reservoir in 1998 by Ken Paulie of Caney.

 Damage survey teams from the National Weather Service in Tulsa have concluded their examinations of tornado reports from across the area on Monday and have confirmed there were four tornadoes that affected northeast Oklahoma. Three of them were rated EF-1 and the other tornado was an EF-2.

 One of the EF-1 tornadoes touched down near Talala where trained weather spotters reported seeing tree limbs down in that vicinity. The other EF-1 tornadoes were reported in the Sperry and Siloam Springs area. The EF-2 tornado was reported near Lake Tenkiller.

 More details are coming out following the death of a 17-year-old boy in state care earlier this week.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Department for Children and Families are both investigating the teenager's death. The boy was being held at the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City when he was found dead in his room on Tuesday morning. Authorities at the facility say the boy was a runaway and had been placed in state care for allegedly violating court orders. The boy reportedly had no physical or mental health issues and was not considered high-risk. Staff at the facility say the boy declined physical therapy before going to bed on Monday night. The next morning, he was dead. An autopsy was performed on Thursday, but the results have not yet been released.

Several state lawmakers are asking questions about the juvenile's death, such as, why was he at a facility in Junction City when there are others closer to his home in Dodge City. State legislators say there will likely be hearings on the Kansas juvenile justice system when lawmakers convene for the 2025 session in January.

 Two 14-year-old Cherryvale girls are injured in a traffic accident in Montgomery County.

 The two juveniles were stopped at the intersection of US-169 and County Road 4800 just south of Cherryvale around 4:15 yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. They were in a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan and entered the intersection and failed to yield the right-of-way to an oncoming northbound tractor-trailer. The semi-truck attempted to avoid the collision by veering into the southbound lane. The Dodge struck the semi in the trailer.

Both teenagers were taken to Labette Health for treatment for their injuries. The driver of the semi truck – 33-year-old Braden Harvey of Burlington – was uninjured.

 A 30-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman are arrested in southwest Missouri in connection to a string of vehicle thefts in the area.

 The two were taken into custody after Carl Junction Police and Newton County Sheriff's deputies found them in possession of stolen property. The arrests come after at least five reported thefts from vehicles in the the city of Carl Junction on October 18. The stolen property found in possession of the suspects included several items known to have been taken from the vehicles.

The names of the suspects have not yet been released.

Multiple rounds of rain are expected today through early Saturday for the four states.

The Coffeyville area could see between one and two inches of rain, while areas closer to Tulsa could see local amounts up to three inches. Additional rainfall on top of recent rains may increase flooding concerns into the weekend. Showers are expected to wrap up by early tomorrow morning.

Parsons Curious Minds Discovery Zone is hosting a Touch-a-Truck event this weekend. Executive Director Mandi Campmier says this is the fifth year of the event and is bigger and better than ever.

Campmier says the event will start at 10:00am and go until 2:00pm at Marvel Park on Saturday.

Campmier says this event is great for community involvement and allows the kids to get a hands on look at cop cars, ambulances, fire trucks and many other vehicles.

All contributions to the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation on Match Day will be matched not once, but twice.

In addition to the match by the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation, Windsor Place At-Home Care will be matching all donations dollar for dollar. Executive Director of Windsor Place At-Home Care Monte Coffman says they are pleased to support the new CRMC Primary Care Clinic, which will strengthen and help sustain Coffeyville’s future healthcare.

Windsor Place At-Home Care has pledged up to $75,000 for this matching challenge. All funds donated on Match Day will help CRMC finish the Build for the Future campaign that will fund the new CRMC Primary Care Clinic. The total cost of the Primary Care Clinic is $7.5 million. The project is currently 92% funded and needs about $566,000 raised to fully fund the project.

Montgomery County residents get free admission to this weekend's Coffeyville Community College football matchup against Independence Community College.

John Hufferd with Flags of Honor says they will sell raffle tickets for three different prizes before and during the first half.  The money raised from the raffle will go towards their Court of Valor Project and Veterans Memorial. Money can also be donated to Coffeyville's Flags of Honor during Match Day next Thursday.

 A Wichita man is dead after being hit by his own car while he was allegedly trying to steal a furnace filter.

 The incident occurred around 10:15am yesterday in the parking lot of the Westlake Ace Hardware store at the corner of Douglas and Hillside in Wichita.

Wichita Police say the 69-year-old man exited his van in order to get the filter, but left the vehicle in drive. The van then lurched forward and pinned the man against a fence. Employees at the hardware store called 9-1-1, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

His name has not yet been released.

 The City of Independence is set to honor veterans this Saturday at their 6^th Annual Veterans Day of Honor.

 The city has been preparing for the celebration by dressing up the downtown area. Chamber President Lisa Wilson says residents and visitors may have noticed the downtown displays.

Other activities on Saturday include the Veterans Memorial Tribute at Riverside Park at 10:30am, the Heroes and Hotrods Car Show at Auto Zone starting at noon, and a free community hot dog lunch starting at 11am at the VFW. The Veterans Day Parade will begin at 2pm downtown and the day will be capped off with Comedy Night with Copenhagen Bandit at the VFW at 8pm.

 Two Missouri poll workers lose their lives in floodwaters on their way to the polls on Tuesday morning.

 The Missouri Highway Patrol says a 70-year-old male and a 73-year-old female were found deceased on Tuesday morning after their vehicle was washed from the roadway by floodwaters on state Route H near Beaver Creek. The two were on their way to work at a polling location in central Missouri around 4:30 on Tuesday morning. Wright County Clerk Loni Pederson confirmed to the Associated Press that the two victims were poll workers. Pederson called their deaths a tragic loss and stated that the two were dedicated citizens who valued fair and honest elections.

Three individuals from two other vehicles were also caught in the floodwaters but were able to escape and swim to shore.

Photo Courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a juvenile at the Northeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City.

 The KBI was called in on Tuesday to investigate the death of a 17-year-old boy from Dodge City.  The teen had been at the detention facility since early August as a result of a child in need of care case.  Detention Center personnel found the boy unresponsive just before 7am Tuesday and began life-saving measures. Geary County EMS arrived on the scene and continued efforts to resuscitate the boy while en route to an area hospital. However, the boy was pronounced dead around 7:40am. An autopsy has been scheduled.

By statute, the KBI investigates the deaths of prisoners in the custody of Kansas jails and prisons, and juveniles in state, county, or city custody, unless the person who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.

The investigation is ongoing.

It was a record setting Election Day in Wilson County, with citizens lining up at the polls to cast their votes.

The county shattered the record for highest voter turnout for an election, breaking the previous mark by more than 15%. County Clerk Kayla Busch says the numbers were through the roof in several categories.

People were lined up before 7 a.m. on Tuesday to participate in Election Day. Busch says she received some help from some area students.

Over 3,700 total ballots were cast, with more than 1,200 early voteers and 248 mail in ballots so far. The county commission will sort through the provisional ballots during next week's meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. in Room 101 of the County Courthouse.

 Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond urges Oklahoma residents to watch out for contractor fraud in the wake of last weekend’s severe weather.

 Drummond says the weeks following damaging storms and tornadoes are a common time for property owners to fall victim to frauds.

 Six counties have been declared a State of Emergency, and agents from the Office of the Attorney General will be in those areas posting notices and educating residents on avoiding scams. 

 Some tips on avoiding contractor fraud are to ask for referrals from people you know and trust, interview several contractors and take the time to carefully review your options. Obtain written proposals that accurately cover all aspects of your project, and use caution if asked for a substantial up-front payment or cash payment.  

 To file a complaint against a contractor,  call the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit at 1-833-681-1895. 

 The Kansas Corporation Commission is looking for public input on the upcoming launch of the Kansas Home Rebates Program.

 The program is designed to help Kansas households lower energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes. The Kansas Home Rebates Program was established by the Inflation Reduction Act and has allocated $105.6 million dollars to help lower energy costs for low to moderate income households.

As part of the planning process, the KCC is planning to hold several engagement sessions with Kansas utility companies, contractors, other State agencies, and the community in order to tailor the program to meet the needs of Kansans.

Kansans can visit the KCC website for information on how to participate in the engagement sessions, learn more about the Home Rebates program, track the status, and find answers to frequently asked questions.

 Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announces clemency for seven individuals serving sentences in Kansas prisons.

 Kelly made the announcement yesterday (Wednesday) that she would pardon or commute the sentences of seven individuals following independent reviews by the Prison Review Board, the Kansas Department of Administration, and the Governor’s legal team. Kelly granted pardons to Jose Arellano, Stephen Gontz, Jeffery Gronewaller, James Valentine, and Scottie Way while also commuting the sentences of Deshaun Durham and Lauren Holle.

The Kansas Constitution grants the Governor the authority to grant clemency. Governor Kelly took into consideration numerous factors to determine if the commutations and pardons were warranted, including but not limited to: the nature of the offense, harsh sentences, impact of the crime on victims or survivors, demonstration of rehabilitation, criminal history, absence of disciplinary issues in prison, positive achievements and growth while incarcerated, and the ability to contribute to society following release.

To learn more about the clemency process in the State of Kansas, go here.

The bowling alley in Cherryvale reopens today.

Cherry Bowl Lanes has been closed for the past couple of years, but thanks to new owners Micah Walker and Devin Philbrick, the lanes will be up and running tonight.

Walker says it's taken a lot of work, but he's excited to provide another entertainment option for Cherryvale.

Walker says their hours will be 11 a.m. to midnight Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to midnight. Cherry Bowl Lanes is located at 101 N Olive Street in Cherryvale.

Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power will have a planned power outage tomorrow.

Electric customers on Home Circle and the north side of the 1900 block of West 6^th Street will experience an outage between 8:00am and 1:00pm tomorrow as linemen work on replacing deteriorating primary poles and primary line.

The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce is hosting their Holiday Open House this Sunday.

Chamber President Candi Westbrook says this started as a day to encourage people to shop local but it's about much more.  The Holiday Open House from noon until 4:00pm on Sunday. 

The list of participating businesses are:

The Coffeyville Public Library

Pink Flamingo Boutique

Green Acres

Jan L's

Nichols Hitching Post

Olson's Ace True Value

Maple Street Meat Market

SEK Area Agency on Aging

Hersh's

Hillcrest Golf Course

Factory Connection

Coffeyville Feed and Farm

Coffeyville Brown's Shoe Fit

Nutrition Ville

Kisha's Mary Kay

 The City of Sedan is now a Purple Heart City.

 City Clerk Lana Robinson made the proclamation at a special ceremony at last night's Sedan City Council meeting.

Robinson notes that the designation pays tribute to local soldiers who paid the ultimate price.

To become a Purple Heart City a municipality must have at least one Purple Heart recipient who is either living or deceased, issue an official proclamation, and recognize National Purple Heart Day on August 7.

The Purple Heart is the country's oldest military medal, established in 1792 by George Washington to honor soldiers for their bravery and courage. In 1932, it was changed to recognize those wounded or killed in action.

 A traffic stop on Monday night in Dearing leads to a drug seizure and an arrest.

 Just before 9pm on Monday, Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 1991 Toyota pick up truck just north of Dearing. During the stop, a K-9 Officer conducted an open air sniff and indicated the presence of drugs.

Deputies searched the vehicle and discovered more than a pound of methamphetamine that was later found to be mixed with fentanyl. They also found syringes, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. Deputies arrested the driver, 69-year-old Donny Ray Sumner of Wayside.

Sumner was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and faces multiple charges including distribution of opiates.

 Independence Community College will host a health and wellness event in conjunction with Indy Connect coming up in December.

 The event is a workshop called “Sourdough & Gut Health” and will be led by wellness enthusiast Desiree Johnson. It will be held on December 3^rd from 3pm to 4:30 at ICC West.

Attendees will get tips for improving digestive health while working on their own loaf of sourdough bread which they can then finish at home. They will get instructions for completing the bread along with some sourdough starter to take home.

All supplies will be provided, but participants are asked to bring their own mixing bowls. The workshop is free to attend, with a maximum capacity of 20 participants to ensure a personalized and engaging experience. Spots are expected to fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged.

For more information or to sign up, visit this link.

 The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Caney public water supply system.

 Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water. Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker. If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

 The advisory took effect today and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.

 KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.  Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination. 

 Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announces a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

 The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is looking for public input on their 25-year Long Range Transportation Plan.

 The purpose of the plan is to create strategies and goals by setting long-term priorities for the future of Oklahoma transportation. The plan will encompass various modes of travel and commercial freight movement, including highways, passenger and freight rail, public transit, cycling and pedestrian pathways, ports, waterways and airport access. ODOT will use the public's input to evaluate how to meet those needs and develop strategies and policies through the year 2050.

Oklahomans can submit their input at www.oklongrangeplan.org now through Friday, Dec. 20 as well as learn more about the plan’s development, access past plans and sign up to receive more information throughout the process.

 Authorities in Crawford County track down a stolen tractor in the middle of a tornado warning.

 The incident occurred on Monday evening as severe weather rolled through the Pittsburg area. A tornado warning was issued and in the middle of that warning, employees from Heritage Tractor on Highway 69 reported that an individual had stolen a tractor from their lot. Deputies located the slow-moving vehicle as it traveled northbound on the highway and returned it to the dealership. The suspect in the theft was identified as 34-year-old Adam Covington of Nevada, MO.

Covington has been booked into the Crawford County Jail on charges of felony theft.

 Washington County voters approved changing county liquor laws to allow establishments to sell liquor, wine and beer by the drink from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.

 According to unofficial results from the Washington County Election Board, the measure passed with 56% of the vote on Tuesday.

The issue was brought to light on New Year's Eve last year, which fell on a Sunday. Restaurants, bars and casinos in Washington County were unable to allow patrons to celebrate the New Year at midnight because of a prior law which prohibited alcohol sales by the drink on Sundays before noon or after midnight.

Voters approved the change Tuesday to establish serving times as 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week, instead of having the exception on Sundays.

Proponents said the change will allow Washington County establishments to be on the same page as all surrounding counties with alcohol service on Sundays and would allow bars and restaurants to complete fairly with retail sales of alcohol at grocery stores, convenience stores and liquor stores.

 Area Republicans fared very well on the ballot in yesterday's election.

 In the race for Kansas Senate District 15, Virgil Peck defeated Jerry Reeves with 20,517 total votes to Reeves 7,749. state Representatives Ron Bryce and Doug Blex also won re-election as they were both unopposed in yesterday's race.

There was a very close race for Caney City Council Ward 3, with Elizabeth Burch edging out Debora Wood 86 to 78.

The Coffeyville Sales Tax Question also passed. The Yes votes totaled 1,509 votes while the No votes were 864.

In other area elections, Billy Tomasi defeated incumbent Danny Smith for Crawford County Sheriff, while Brian Henderson defeated Russ Harper for Sheriff of Cherokee County.

 A Sycamore man is injured in a single-vehicle accident in Wilson County.

 53-year-old Scott Plisek was seriously injured yesterday when his vehicle left the roadway and went into the ditch. Plisek was driving a 2007 Chevy Impala eastbound on US-400 near the intersection with 600 Road or about 3 ½ miles north of Neodesha when the accident happened. Plisek's vehicle rolled after leaving the roadway and came to rest in a field. He was taken to Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha for treatment for his injuries.

 Emergency crews are responding to an early morning accident involving a car and a deer.

 The accident is in the 4300 block of County Road 2600 north of Coffeyville, just west of Cedar Bluff camp and occurred around 5:45 this morning.

There is a possible injury in this accident, so drivers are advised to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to attend to any victims.

A new group has been formed for those interested in the arts in Coffeyville.

The Coffeyville Art Collective is a new initiative to develop programming around the Midland theater, and all are welcome to be a part of the group.

The CAC will meet tonight at 5:30 at the Midland Theater to continue planning CAC events. This meeting is for all people interested in participating in this year's radio play production in December. This year's radio dramas are Dalton Radio Skit and “The Speckled Band,” adapted by Pete Walterscheid, directed by David Beck and produced by James Copeland. 

The Radio Play casting call for speaking parts and supporting roles in the two productions will be this Saturday, Nov. 9 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM, also at the Midland. These productions are a collaborative effort among the Midland Theater Foundation, KGGF Radio, and CAC. All are invited to spread the word and invite your friends.

A crack sealing project will start soon on K-99 in Elk and Greenwood counties.

The Kansas Department of Transportation expects to begin the project tomorrow from U.S. 160 north for 18.6 miles to U.S. 400. Flaggers and a pilot car will guide one-lane traffic through the work zone. Drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less. Weather permitting, the road work should be finished by early December. KDOT awarded the construction contract to Pavement Pros of McPherson for $73,825.

Here are the rainfall totals from recent rains over the previous six days:

KGGF Studios: 5.61”

Cherryvale: 4.56”

Howard: 3.41”

Chautauqua: 7.05”

Peru: 6.79”

Havana: 6.6”

Sedan: 6.05”

Oswego: 4.90”

Parsons: 5.31”

Bartlesville: 4.85”

Vinita: 7.82”

Miami: 6.54”

State Senator Virgil Peck keeps his seat in the Kansas Statehouse.

Peck defeated democratic challenger Jerry Reeves by a wide margin. Peck attended Derek Schmidt's watch party in Independence, and he says he thinks the area will be well represented with Schmidt winning the 2^nd Congressional District.

Peck says his priorities include working to lower taxes as he continues to represent southeast Kansas.