A 20-year-old Alabama woman faces charges for allegedly trying to sell a child in northwest Arkansas.

Amber Booth is accused of accepting compensation for adoption after accepting clothes and cash in exchange for her baby in November 2024. The charge is a Class C felony. Following her arrest, police say Booth told them she thought the woman who took the child agreed to a temporary arrangement, but later admitted to receiving several off-brand clothing items and $50 in cash for the child. She also stated that she signed an agreement to allow the woman to have temporary custody.

A guardianship case was opened in Washington County, Arkansas, on Monday in which the woman and her husband requested emergency custody of the child. On Wednesday, Booth's brother and sister-in-law, also filed for guardianship on the grounds that it would be better for the child to be in the care of family.

The guardianship case is set to be heard in court on Wednesday. Booth is expected to be in court to face her charges on March 19.

The Dearing Fire Department responds to a grass fire between Coffeyville and Dearing.

The call came in just before 5pm yesterday afternoon for reports of a grass fire in the 2300 block of County Road 4500. Crews had a difficult time reaching the fire due to muddy roads and field conditions. Additional resources from the Coffeyville Fire Department, CVR Fire, Liberty Rural Fire, and South Coffeyville Fire also responded to the scene. While there were several structures that were at risk from the flames, there was no damage to property and no injuries were reported.

Area fire departments remind residents that, even with the recent snow, vegetation is still dry and the recent high winds increase the risk of fire.

Photo courtesy Snap Wild Photography

The Independence City Commission approves a new master park plan that would improve accessibility and add amenities to Riverside Park and three other neighborhood parks in the city.

The plan was presented by Doug Pickert of Indigo Designs at last night's city commission meeting. Park staff and members of the park board have been working with the design firm for the past year to develop the new plan. Pickert says one of the big changes to Riverside Park would be a new piece of large equipment on the main playground.

The plan would also update and add amenities to parks at South 10^th and Edison, Coffeyville and Wald, and 19^th and Poplar. The total estimated cost of the project would be just over $3 million. Commissioner Dean Hayse says he thinks the updates would be a positive thing for the community.

The commission approved the new plan, though no timeline was given for the improvements.

Riverside Park Main Playground

Riverside Park Mini-Golf Course

Riverside Park Steam Locomotive Shelter

South 10th Street and Edison

Coffeyville and Wald

19th Street and Poplar

Clean-up efforts continue in Hutchinson following a gas line explosion in the city's downtown area last weekend.

A large portion of the downtown area remains closed almost a week after the incident occurred. Public works crews continue to secure gas lines and make needed repairs, though no timeline has been announced as to when the downtown area will re-open.

Most of the downtown area was evacuated last Saturday following reports of a strong odor of natural gas at one of the downtown businesses. Shortly after the Hutchinson Fire Department arrived on the scene, the gas line exploded. All occupants were able to safely escape the blast and no injuries were reported.

City officials stress that coordination between the city and utility companies will be essential in restoring the downtown area to full operation.

**UPDATE**

Police in Haysville are calling an early morning accident in which a car crashed into a house "suspicious."

The accident occurred around 12:30 this morning in the 6500 block of South A Street. Officers say the male driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene and that a female victim was discovered nearby, suffering from minor injuries. Gunshots were also reported in the area and shell casings were found in the vicinity.

No names have been released as officers continue to investigate the incident.

*ORIGINAL STORY

An early morning accident in south central Kansas leaves one person dead.

The accident happened around 12:30 this morning in the City of Haysville. Early reports indicate that a car crashed into a house in the 6500 block of South A Street. There is no word as to whether the deceased person was in the vehicle or inside the house. Sedgwick County dispatch indicates that at least one other person sustained serious injuries.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran is appointed chair of a major Senate subcommittee.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation recently announced that Moran has been selected to chair the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over both the F-A-A and NASA as well as the civil aviation and space policy functions of the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce and National Space Council within the Executive Office of the President.

Moran says his priorities on the Subcommittee include aviation safety, industry oversight, space exploration, and commercial space growth.

Chanute fire crews respond to an early morning structure fire in rural Neosho County.

The call came around 5am on Tuesday morning when the Chanute Fire Department was called to the 7600 block of 130^th Road for reports of a structure fire. When crews arrived, they found an attached garage fully engulfed in flames with the fire extending into the residence. Crews began to aggressively attack the blaze when conditions worsened and the roof collapsed. A call for additional help was made to all off-duty fire personnel and the Thayer Fire Department. With the help of the additional firefighters, the blaze was eventually brought under control.

All of the home's occupants were able to safely escape the fire, though it is believed that one of the family's cats perished in the blaze.

A former executive director of an Oklahoma company that provides living services for vulnerable adults is indicted on two felony counts of embezzling funds.

46-year-old Freedom Anderson worked as the executive director for Brightway Community Living and is accused of embezzling more than $15,000 from the organization between August 2022 and May 2024. The Multi-County Grand Jury indictment was unsealed yesterday and states that, during Anderson's time with Brightway, the company received state aid dollars to offer services, but instead, pocketed the money.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stated that when someone embezzles funds from the state's most vulnerable citizens, they are stealing not only money, but opportunity and dignity as well.

Brightway has multiple locations across the state of Oklahoma, including in the Tulsa and Bartlesville areas.

Members of the Coffeyville Kiwanis Club want to remind you not to cook breakfast tomorrow.

Instead, they'd like you to join them for their annual pancake feed fundraiser.

Sausage, a drink and all-you-can-eat pancakes will be served tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. a the First Baptist Church in Coffeyville. Tickets are available at the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce, at the door or from any Kiwanis Club member. Proceeds will go towards projects helping area children through the year.

The Coffeyville Friends on Animals Shelter has openings on their board of directors. Board President Becky Barnhart says board members will need to be able to volunteer at the shelter.

Anyone interested in joining the board or just volunteering can contact the Shelter or Barnhart. In addition to board members, the shelter is also always looking for donations, especially dog and cat treats.

In honor of March Madness, the Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum is hosting a Celebrate Basketball event.

Coffeyville Reawakening's Denis York says the event is Sunday, March 16^th.  The Aviation Heritage Museum is located at 2002 North Buckeye Street in Coffeyville.

The weather may be spring-like now, but a week ago, southeast Kansas travelers were hampered by a major snow storm.

While many residents stayed off the roads during the bad weather, city and county road crews stayed busy trying to keep roads clear of snow and ice. At this week's Montgomery County Commission meeting, Commissioner Mike Cordray thanked Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins for all the hard work his crews put in.

During snow storms, major roadways are given top priority and crews are later able to work on secondary streets and county roads. Crews often work extended hours during winter storms to clear roads and maintain road safety.

The Neodesha City Commission is set to move forward on a major project on Granby Street.

The project would involve Granby Street from US-400 to 8^th Street. Garrett Nordstrom with Governmental Assistance Services says it's a major project that would also have assistance from Wilson County.

Another part of the funding would come from a CDBG grant for job retention at Cobalt Boats since part of the project would fix an issue with an entrance to the Cobalt facility. Mayor Devin Johnson says the complete project will be a benefit for the entire community.

The commission voted unanimously to approve a contract with Western Associates to be the grant administrator for the Granby project.

A former student at the University of Arkansas is arrested after a more than 40 year long manhunt.

The U.S Marshals arrested 76-year-old Stephen Craig Campbell earlier this month in New Mexico. Campbell began his life on the run in 1982 after failing to appear in court on a charge of attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly planted an explosive device in a toolbox and left it at the doorstep of his estranged wife and her boyfriend. The woman opened the box and lost a finger in the explosion.

Campbell was able to elude authorities by assuming the identity of a man who was a fellow student with Campbell. Walter Lee Coffman died at the age of 22 in 1975. Both men were engineering students at the University of Arkansas.

Using Coffman's identity, Campbell obtained identification including a Social Security number and purchased property in New Mexico. Campbell allegedly received more than $100,000 from the Social Security Administration using Coffman's name.

His true identity was confirmed with fingerprinting. Campbell faces charges of misuse of a passport and faces up to 10 years in prison. Investigators are still considering additional charges.

A grass fire causes the closure of a central Kansas highway for several hours yesterday afternoon.

US-160 was closed for several hours yesterday afternoon due to smoke from grass fires near the Barber/Comanche County line to US-281 near Medicine Lodge. Sustained winds in the area were reported to be above 25 mph. Fire crews from neighboring counties were called in to extinguish flames. The highway was reopened when the fire was out.

The new Freeman Hospital location in Fort Scott names six people to its Board of Directors.

The new board includes local business leaders and other professionals, including Freeman Health System President and CEO Paula Baker, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Zafuta, and President of the Fort Scott Are Chamber of Commerce Lindsay Madison.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Advisor Don Doherty was elected Chairman of the Board. The board will oversee the new hospital's operations, financial health, care quality, and the overall direction of the facility.

Freeman took over the hospital last June after the facility closed in December 2023. Renovations have begun at the Fort Scott facility, which is planned to open sometime this spring.

KansasWorks is hosting a virtual job fair next week for those seeking employment in the manufacturing, aviation, and aerospace industries.

The job fair will be held next Wednesday, March 5, from 8am to 5pm. Job seekers will be able to fill out applications, chat live, and complete online interviews with participating employers.

The Virtual Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a job seeker training video, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in. Job seekers are encouraged to dress professionally, because employers might request a video interview.

Candidates can participate through any digital device. Registration is required.

To register, go here.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Oklahoma Senator James Lankford have joined with a pair of Democrat colleagues to introduce a bill to promote wildfire mitigation through wildlife grazing.

Lankford and Moran joined Democrat Senators Alex Padilla of California and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii in introducing the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act. The bill would  promote research on how grazing can support wildfire mitigation, fuels reduction and post-fire recovery. Several states have implemented pilot programs in which animals like goats and cattle,  have grazed on prescribed areas of land containing highly flammable grasses and shrubs to mitigate fire risk. These pilot efforts have successfully reduced vegetation that can fuel rapid fire growth.

This legislation is supported by the Kansas Livestock Association.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

A well-known Kansas health initiative celebrates its 25^th year.

This year marks the 25^th year for Walk Kansas, a health initiative that promotes personal health and well-being by helping its participants adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Kansas State Extension Specialist and State Leader of Walk Kansas Sharolyn Jackson says the program can help people get a jump start on healthier living.

Walk Kansas begins officially on March 30^th and runs through May 24^th. Jackson encourages people to participate in teams of four to six people and adds that forming a group with co-workers is a great way to socialize while reaching health goals.

While the program encourages people to participate as a team, individuals are also welcome to join the initiative. Another important part of health is healthy eating. Participants in Walk Kansas are also asked to keep tracks of the the foods they eat during the program.

For more information or to sign up to participate, go here.

A new master plan for Riverside Park and the approval of 2025 General Obligation Bonds for the Barlett plant waterline will be on the agenda for tonight's Independence City Commission meeting.

Commissioners will be asked to approve the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds for the 9-mile water line between Rural Water District #6 and the Bartlett plant with the understanding that Bartlett will reimburse the city for all costs including financing.

Commissioners will also discuss the approval of a new master plan for Riverside Park. The purpose of the new plan would be to improve accessibility to key areas of the park, including the playground, the mini train depot and putt-putt course, as well as for the big steam locomotive. The revisions to the plan would also help improve safety while adding amenities to the park.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 in the Commission Room at City Hall in Independence. The meeting is open to the public and is available for online viewing via the City's website.

A police chase in Crawford County ends in a crash.

Crawford County Sheriff's Deputies were in pursuit of a 2007 Buick Lucerne yesterday evening just before 7pm. The car was traveling westbound on Centennial Drive in Pittsburg and failed to negotiate a curve while attempting to get onto northbound US-69. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 37-year-old Jeramie Lewis of Joplin, received minor injuries when he struck two vehicles that were stopped at a traffic light at the on-ramp intersection. Lewis was taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg for treatment for his injuries.

None of the other drivers were injured.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a stream advisory for an unnamed tributary near Neodesha.

The unnamed body of water runs west of Water Plant Road to its confluence with Fall River. The advisory was issued after crude oil was observed in the water from an undetermined source. KDHE is working to contain the contamination and to locate its source.

Due to the possibility of contaminants in the water, those who live in the area or who have activities nearby are advised not to enter the water or to allow children or pets to enter the stream until further notice.

A Bartlesville teenager dies in a single vehicle crash in Osage County.

18-year-old Aden Grindle died late Monday night on County Road 3102, near Hudson Lake. Grindle was driving a 1995 Dodge 2500 pickup just before midnight when the crash occurred. Personnel from Osage Hills Fire Department and Bartlesville Fire Department responded and extricated Grindle from the truck. OHP says he was pinned in the truck for more than four and a half hours. Grindle was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers are still investigating the cause of the crash, but noted the road was icy and snowy at the time. Grindle was a student at Tri County Tech and an employee at Painted Horse Bar & Grille in Bartlesville. Donations are being accepted at the restaurant to assist with the memorial service.

Prescribed burning is an important part of maintaining agricultural land. KState Wildcat Extension District's James Coover says they are offering a Learn the Burn Workshop on March 7^th.

The workshop is free to attend and lunch will be included. RSVPs are encouraged so they can plan for the meals. RSVP by March 3^rd by calling the Wildcat Extension District’s Labette County office at (620)784-5337.

The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Conference is coming up in April.

Chamber President Candi Westbrook says their one day sale for tickets is this Friday.  Westbrook says the conference is educational and inspirational.

The Women in Business Conference is on April 17^th from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Westbrook says as they get closer to the event she will have more information about the speakers at the event.

The City of Nowata is looking for citizen input on the town's new water tower design.

The new tower will feature the city name and logo with the slogan “Seriously, though, there's water in here.”

The design is based on a new citywide promotional campaign developed with the branding agency Tucker Digital. The campaign is set to launch this spring. City officials stated via a FaceBook post that they hope the new campaign will unify the community and bring what they hope will be a positive wave of change to the City of Nowata.

Feedback will be accepted through Monday, March 3.

Anyone with questions or comments can email the city:  helpdesk@nowataok.gov

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are in Kansas this week, looking into a weekend explosion at a commercial building in the City of Hutchinson.

The explosion occurred on Saturday when a natural gas pipeline in downtown Hutchinson failed, causing a gas leak and eventual explosion. No one was injured in the incident, but investigators want to know why it occurred.

On Tuesday, N-T-S-B agents oversaw the extraction and securement of the failed pipe. The pipe will be shipped to Washington D.C. To the N-T-S-B materials lab for examination.

The N-T-S-B has made no public comment on the investigation, but a full report on the incident is expected within 12 to 24 months.

The Sunflower Skies solar project vote has been tabled again, this time for six weeks so the commission can discuss further information.

The commissioners reached the decision to delay the vote to the April 16th commission meeting after an executive session with County Attorney Brandon Cameron regarding legal consultation. Cameron says one of the items to discuss is a plan for potential flood damage.

Additionally, the project, if approved, would impact a number of county roads. Cameron says it's important to receive a better idea on the impacted areas.

Other items of business at this week's meeting included updates from Road and Bridge Director Kary Tatum, County Clerk Kayla Busch, and Sheriff Pete Kuhn.

 Recently retired Caney City Administrator Kelley Zellner has passed away.

 The passing was confirmed by the city of Caney on its website yesterday afternoon.

 Before serving at Caney, Zellner was the city manager at Fort Scott, a city administrator at Fredonia, Public Works Director at Valley Center and Police Chief in Conway Springs.

 No funeral arrangements have been released.

The Kansas Congressional Republicans vote in favor of a Continuing Resolution aimed at reducing the federal deficit and increasing spending on border security.

House Continuing Resolution 14 passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a narrow, party-line vote on Tuesday night. Congressman Ron Estes of the 4^th Congressional District says a failure to act on the measure would hit his constituents hard.

Estes says the bill had to be approved to keep taxes from going up for Kansans.

Estes was joined by fellow Kansas Republican Congressmen Derek Schmidt and Tracey Mann in voting for the resolution. Democrat Sharice Davids voted against the proposal. The total vote in the House was 217 to 215.

Nowata County Commissioners are anticipating spring weather.

At this week's commission meeting, County Emergency Manager Laurie Summers spoke about the issue of severe weather. Summers says this spring looks like it may bring a lot of rain.

Commissioners also discussed ongoing improvements at the Nowata County Courthouse. Commissioners say they must maintain their role in the latest round of funding.

The most recent improvements include PVC piping and cutting holes in the walls for further maintenance.

Commissioners also announced during the meeting that eight of the 10 voting precincts in Nowata County will be open for the upcoming elections on April 1. The top issues include Nowata bond issues and the Copan School Board election.

The Osage County Sheriff's Office comes to an agreement with area towns.

At this week's county commission, Undersheriff Billy Wakefield says that an agreement was ready for approval with the towns of Fairfax, Avant, Barnsdall, and Pawhuska.

Commissioners also signed a yearly agreement with the City of Hominy to provide the town with dispatch services.

The Osage County Commission meets each Monday at the fairgrounds in Pawhuska.

The Independence Community College Theater Department will stage a production of the musical The Theory of Relativity this weekend.

Director Paul Molnar says the story follows seven college students as they navigate the ups and downs of becoming adults. Molnar says the writers of the show based their story on interactions with young adults and their lives.

Molnar says the story is one that the cast was really able to relate to and understand.

Molnar says it's a story that will resonate with viewers of all ages. Performances will be Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm. All shows will be at the William Inge Theater on the ICC campus. Admission is free.

Firearm criminalists from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation collect firearm information for use in a national database.

The team was in northeast Oklahoma this week to collect firearm test fire for use in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network or NIBIN FastTrax Database. OSBI Supervisor and Technical Manager of Firearms and Toolmarks Kate Millar says the system is an important tool for law enforcement.

Millar says the database will help reduce crime in the state.

NIBIN is a national database and is operated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

A Missouri woman is arrested this week in connection to a fatal DWI crash that occurred near Carthage on Christmas Eve.

43-year-old Jennifer Maupin was also injured in the accident that claimed the life of 35-year-old Tou Xiong of Sarcoxie. The accident occurred on MO-59 just south of Carthage. Maupin initially refused to take a breathalyzer test, but after evaluation, she was arrested on Felony DWI charges and released to seek medical care.

Maupin was located in Marionville, MO, earlier this week and arrested. She was booked into the Lawrence County Jail in Mount Vernon, MO, on a $100,000 bond.

An Independence man is arrested in connection to a July 2024 shooting.

26-year-old Charles Deffebaugh was taken into custody yesterday on multiple charges including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated assault. The Montgomery County Attorney's Office first filed formal charges in the case on August 19, but sealed the case until Deffebaugh's arrest.

Court documents indicated that during the incident, Deffebaugh allegedly fired a gun at a man with the intention of killing him. The victim in the case was wounded and taken to a local hospital. Deffebaugh is also accused of firing his weapon at an occupied vehicle. The occupant of that vehicle was unharmed in the incident.

Deffebaugh is currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail in Independence on a $250,000 bond. His next court date is set for March 11.

Oklahoma officials reveal new Route 66 map in anticipation of the historic road turning 100 in 2026.

Officials gathered at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Monday to reveal the new map that will soon be available to travelers in the Sooner State. The cover of the bi-fold map features a motorcyclist traversing Route 66, symbolically having crossed the Bridgeport Bridge to pass by the 50s-era iconography of Stella Atom at Buck Atom’s in Tulsa, Pop’s in Arcadia and the Beckham County Courthouse in Sayre, among others. The map’s retro design features 20 unique stops along and near the route from Elk City to Miami. Drivers can use the state map to find roadside motels, attractions and diners along the historic highway.

Maps are free of charge and will be available statewide mid-Spring at any Tourism Welcome Center, The map can currently be viewed on the ODOT website.

The condemnation process has started on three more houses in Cherryvale.

At last night's Cherryvale City Council Meeting, three structures were deemed unfit for human habitation, including 722 E 3^rd St, 135 W Whelan St. and 210 E Main St. Fire Chief Joe Rexwinkle says many of these houses pose a danger to the community.

The city has been working on tearing down several unsafe houses each year and last night's action was an initial step in the process.

In other business, the council denied a cereal malt beverage license for Snak Atak on W 6^th after Police Chief Jimmy Holt cited evidence of problems other municipalities have run into with other stores allegedly operated by the same owner.

The council also discussed the possible development of some properties in the land bank with Shane Harris of Diamond Property Management. Harris is interested in building some 1,300-square-foot houses costing about $110 to $125 a square foot. The Council agreed that a bid should be written as the project is explored further.

The Osage County Jr. Livestock Show begins tomorrow and will run through Friday at the Fairgrounds in Pawhuska.

This is an opportunity for Osage County FFA students to showcase their animals and they hard work they have put in. The swine show starts tomorrow at 9:30am. The goat and sheep show starts after the swine show. There will also be swine, sheep and goat pee-wee showmanship after each show.

The beef cattle show starts on Thursday, with the heifer show starting at 2:00pm and the market steer show at 4:00pm followed by pee-wee showmanship. On Friday, the livestock judging contest will take place at 9:00am. The Ag mechanics contest will be at 10:00am, with an awards ceremony to take place at 6:30pm and the auction at 7:00pm.

The decision on the use of FLOCK camera systems in Bartlesville may go to the voters.

During a nearly three hour special workshop meeting, the Bartlesville City Council discussed the pros and cons of the automated license plate reader cameras. The system has been installed in 10 different locations within Bartlesville city limits. The discussion focused on if the cameras were either legal or ethical. City Attorney Jess Kane says there is pending litigation that may rule on the legality of license plate reader cameras, but as of yet, no decision would impact the use of the cameras in Bartlesville.

Ward 1 Councilor Tim Sherrick made a suggestion to let the citizens decide. Kane and City Manager Mike Bailey say it would come down to either an initiative petition, which would require 20% of the electorate in Bartlesville to sign for it to be put on the ballot, or it could also be done via an ordinance that would be referred to a public vote. No decision was made during the workshop.

A U.S. District Judge orders an Osage County man to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Patrick Starkey was sentenced for possession of an unregistered destructive device and a felon in possession of ammunition. Court documents show that the Osage County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a device that exploded in a mailbox in June. Starkey placed two explosives and notes inside a mailbox of an innocent third party in an attempt to harass his ex-wife. Court documents state FLOCK cameras helped identify Starkey as a suspect.

When a search warrant was executed on his home, explosives and ammunition were located that matched the devices used on the mailbox. Starkey admitted to committing the crimes. The Osage County Sheriff's Office investigated this case alongside the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Coffeyville Friends of Animals is currently operating at over maximum capacity.

CFA Board Director Becky Barnhart says they started a spay and neuter program last month that they hope will help with this in the future.  Barnhart says the process of participating in the program is very simple.

Another contributing factor to the shelter being over capacity is lost and unclaimed dogs. Anyone missing a pet can check the CFA Facebook page to see if their dog has been posted. They can also call the shelter at (620)252-6060.

Kansas lawmakers are discussing a measure that would allow residents to own a raccoon as a pet.

Lenexa resident Stephen Kaspar helped write the bill currently up for consideration. Kaspar recently testified before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Kaspar says he'd like to see the bill become Kansas law.

Several of Kansas' neighboring states have legalized the ownership of raccoons including Arkansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The current bill before the legislature would require potential owners to obtain a permit, complete a training course, and vaccinate their raccoons. It would also require owners to provide a room in their house for the animal. State Representative Doug Blex says the bill may face pushback from local governments.

It is unclear if legislators will take up the bill during the current legislative session. Lawmakers do have the option of taking up bills that are introduced in the current session but not passed during next year's session.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will host five open house events this week to present and get feedback on design options for US-69 in Crawford County.

Morning and afternoon meetings will be held tomorrow on the Pittsburg State campus. The first will be from 11 to 1 and the second from 4 to 6 in the Overman Student Center. On Thursday, there will be an event from 11 to 1 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac and from 4 to 6 at Northeast High School in Arma. A virtual open house will be held online Friday from 11am to noon.

The project is a highway corridor study to evaluate the current and future needs of U.S. 69 in Crawford County. The study limits are from the intersection of U.S. 69 and K-103 in Cherokee County, extending approximately 18 miles to E 650th Avenue north of Arma.

A metal shop building in Columbus is destroyed in an afternoon fire.

The Columbus Fire Department was called to the scene of a structure fire yesterday afternoon. Upon arrival, firefighters found a large, metal shop building on fire with heavy smoke and flames. Crews were able to quickly bring the blaze under control, but the contents of the building were deemed a total loss.

No injuries were reported.

Photo courtesy Columbus Fire and Rescue

The Home Rule Ordinance for Coffeyville Regional Medical Center and city street maintenance will be on the agenda at tonight's Coffeyville City Commission meeting.

Tonight, commissioners will hear the second reading of the Home Rule Ordinance that will transfer ownership of CRMC from the city to a corporation. The commission heard the first reading of the measure last month, with the assurance that the transfer would not change anything in the way the hospital currently operates. Also on the agenda for this week's meeting is the approval of a contract with Proseal Inc. for the application of an asphalt rejuvenator on various streets in the city. The commission is also expected to approve the submission of a USDA Rural Development Rural Business Development Grant application to establish a Revolving Loan Fund.

The meeting begins at 6:30 tonight in the Commission Room at City Hall and is open to the public. The Coffeyville City Commission Meeting can also be viewed online via the City of Coffeyville YouTube Channel.

Police in Galena have arrested a suspect in a burglary following a brief car chase.

On Sunday evening, Galena Police responded to a call from a citizen who reported that he was following a suspect who had attempted to break into his residence. Officers quickly located the vehicle, but when they attempted to pull over the driver, the suspect fled. A brief chase began that ended when the suspect crashed the vehicle in a field. The suspect then attempted to flee on foot but was quickly caught and taken into custody. The person was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and faces several charges, including felony stealing and fleeing from police.

The suspect's name has not been released.

Friday, March 7 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the April 1, Copan School, Town of Copan, Town of Ramona and Town of Ochelata Election, Washington County Election Board Secretary Yvonne House said Monday.

House said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 17 ½ years old are eligible to apply for voter registration. However, you must be at least 18 years old to vote.

Applications must be received by the County Election Board or postmarked no later than midnight, March 7. Applications postmarked after that time will be accepted, but will not be processed until after the April 1, Copan School, Town of Copan, Town of Ramona and Town of Ochelata Election. Applications may also be submitted to any motor vehicle agency that is also an official voter registration agency by the submission deadline. 

Applicants will be notified in writing when their application has been processed. Approved voters will receive a Voter Identification Card in the mail. Some may receive a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application was not approved. House said those who do not receive a response within 30 days of submitting their application should contact the County Election Board office immediately.

The Washington County Election Board reminds voters that applications must be approved by the County Election Board Secretary in order to vote.

Registered voters who have moved to Washington County from a different county or state will need to complete a new Voter Registration Application in order to be eligible for elections in Washington County. If you have moved within the county and need to update your address, you may make changes online using the OK Voter Portal or complete a Voter Registration Application.

Voter Registration Applications can be downloaded from the State Election Board website. You may also complete a form at your County Election Board. Most post offices, tag agencies, and public libraries have applications available upon request.

The Washington County Election Board is located at 401 S. Johnstone Ave., Suite 4. Regular office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, contact the Election Board at 918-337-2850 or washingtoncounty@elections.ok.gov.

A Dewey home is a total loss following a fire Saturday afternoon.

According to the Dewey Fire Department, the blaze occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of North Choctaw Street. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and fire were found at the house. Additional backup was called from the Bartlesville Fire Department, Copan Fire Department and Washington County Fire Department.

The homeowner was able to exit the home without assistance. No injuries were reported.

An Independence man faces a charge of felony child endangerment in Washington County, OK, after allegedly driving under the influence with a child in the car.

43-year-old David Elliott was charged yesterday with driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and child endangerment by driving under the influence and transporting an opened container of an intoxicating beverage in a Bartlesville courtroom.

The incident occurred on February 22 as  Elliott was allegedly driving on the southbound lanes of US-75. An officer from the Caney Police Department attempted to pull Elliott over for a traffic infraction. According to police, Elliott did not pull over until he had crossed the state line into Oklahoma, prompting the officer to contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office. A breath test administered by the deputy then allegedly showed Elliott was three times over the legal limit.

During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly found an open bottle of alcohol, several empty single-serve alcohol containers, and a minor child in the backseat.

Elliott will appear in court again on March 7. His bond is set at $20,000.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond adds a Tulsa murder suspect to the state's 10 Most Wanted list.

19-year-old Angel Ivan Ibarra is suspected to be one of two shooters responsible for the February 8 slaying of two teenagers and the wounding of two others that occurred in a Tulsa apartment complex. Investigators say Ibarra and alleged accomplice Christopher Atjun had targeted one of the murder victims. Atjun is currently in custody. The three other victims were not intended targets, according to police.

Agents with the Attorney General’s Office in conjunction with the Tulsa Police Department hope to bring Ibarra to justice. There is a reward of up to $8,000 available for information directly leading to Ibarra's arrest.

To see Oklahoma's 10 Most Wanted, go here.

The City of Cherryvale will hold a special Tuesday meeting tonight at 6 p.m. after a work session at 5 p.m.

On the agenda is the application for a cereal malt beverage license for a convenience store on 6^th Street that was tabled from the last meeting. The Council will also consider three resolutions regarding structures unfit for human habitation. Two executive sessions are also on the agenda.

The meeting will be held at city hall and is open to the public.

Another favorite fundraising feed is coming up in Coffeyville.

Kiwanis Pancake Day will be this Saturday, and President and event organizer

Jana Kastler says the money raised this weekend will support projects throughout the year.

Kastler says the meal on Saturday will include sausage, a drink and all-you-can-eat pancakes. Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. a the First Baptist Church in Coffeyville. Tickets are available at the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce, at the door, or from any Kiwanis member.

Coffeyville residents in the area of 4^th and 5^th Streets near Coffeyville Regional Medical Center will experience a planned power outage.

The outage will be in the 1400 block of West 4^th and 5^th Street between Buckeye and Lee Street tomorrow from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Distribution crews are working to transfer primary services in the area. 

Montgomery County will once again be helping area high schools with their after-prom activities.

Commissioners gave their approval to support local high schools after prom celebrations. County Administrator Jonathan Booe says it's something the county has done for years.

Booe says the usual contribution from the county is $250 to each school. He adds that several schools will receive the donation.

The donations will be distributed as the requests are received by the county.

Independence Community College honors three individuals with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award.

The award recognizes individuals who consistently demonstrate a commitment to serving others and making a positive impact in the community. Each year, ICC presents the award to one faculty member, one community member, and one student.

This year's faculty member winner was ICC's Men's basketball coach Jason Steadman. Steadman says he is proud to see what his players can accomplish.

The community award went to former Independence High School Band Director Don Farthing. Farthing says he was honored to receive the award.

The student award went to Tinevimbo Makurira. Makurira works on campus as a peer tutor, helping fellow students who need assistance with their classwork. ICC Student Life Manager Erica Cope called Makurira a natural leader with a bright future ahead of her.

Cope went on to say that all three individuals exemplify the values of Dr. King and that their selfless efforts can inspire everyone to strive for a more giving community.

ICC President Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo, Jason Steadman, Board of Trustees President Dr Cynthia Sherwood

Sadhoo, Don Farthing, Sherwood

Sadhoo, Tinevimbo Makurira, Sherwood

The Neodesha Historical Museum will hold a fundraiser this Saturday night.

Museum Director Rob Morgan says the evening will feature interesting entertainment and a great meal.

The evening will also feature a preview of the new museum display and a table decorating contest. Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase at Deb's Kitchen, Blessed Blossoms or by contacting Morgan at 620-714-0326. The event happens at 6pm Saturday night at the Civic Center in Neodesha. All proceeds benefit the Neodesha Historical Museum.

A Saturday morning fire destroys a Baxter Springs trailer home.

The Baxter Springs Fire Department was called to the scene in the 500 block of West 16^th Street in Baxter Springs around 10am on Saturday morning. There they found a single-wide trailer home fully engulfed in flames. A call for mutual aid was sent to the Galena Fire Department to assist in extinguishing the blaze. Fire crews worked quickly to douse the flames, but the home was a total loss. All occupants were able to escape the fire safely. However, two of the family's cats perished in the blaze.

A GoFundMe has been established to help the family.

Baxter Springs Police and EMS assisted on the call.

A Bartlesville man is facing felony charges after allegedly taking chainsaws, a gun and a lockbox from a residence.

20-year-old Tristan Wimberly was charged on Friday with grand larceny and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property.

According to Bartlesville Police, Wimberly stayed overnight at the residence where the items were allegedly taken. On January 7, police were advised that Wimberly allegedly took three Stihl chainsaws, a Taurus .357 magnum revolver and a lockbox. B-P-D says the total of the missing items is over $1,000.

Wimberly also faces misdemeanor charges for obstructing an officer and possession of a controlled dangerous substance for an incident on February 14 when he allegedly attempted to flee on a bicycle during a traffic stop.  When police found and searched Wimberly, he allegedly claimed he had fentanyl in his pocket.

Wimberly will appear in court again on March 7. His bond is set at $2,500.

A Hominy man is facing felony charges after allegedly bringing meth into jail.

71-year-old William Hargus was charged on Friday with possession of a firearm after a conviction of a felony and possession of contraband in jail or a penal institution.

According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Hargus was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over on a traffic stop. With K9 assistance, officers allegedly located a holster on the hip of Hargus and found a firearm underneath his seat.

While Hargus was being searched at the Washington County Jail, a deputy allegedly found a glass pipe and tested it positive for methamphetamine.

Hargus will appear in court again on March 7 at 9 a.m. His bond is set at $15,000.

The Montgomery County Commission will meet today for the first time in two weeks after last week's meeting was canceled due to weather.

On the agenda for today's meeting will be a review of health insurance benefits for county employees. The commission is expected to approve a contract with the Bukaty Companies of Kansas City for a consulting agreement. In new business, commissioners will consider donations to support After Prom activities for area schools. They will also discuss the purchase of a new water truck and a new dump truck for the Public Works Department while hearing an update on emulsion pricing for chip and seal projects.

Today's meeting begins at 9am in the Commission Room on the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The meeting is open to the public and is also available for viewing online via the County's FaceBook page.

A teenage boy is dead following a rollover crash early yesterday morning in western Kansas.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 16-year-old Augustus Riley was traveling eastbound on Road 9 in rural Seward County just before 2am yesterday. Riley failed to stop at a stop sign at the junction with US-83 and his 2009 Dodge Challenger became airborne. When the vehicle landed, it went into a side skid and entered the ditch where it rolled an unknown number of times before striking a power pole.

Riley was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Fort Scott woman is in custody after leading police on a car chase that spanned multiple counties.

29-year-old Taran Lapiere was taken into custody yesterday after leading police on a chase that involved two different vehicles, two counties, and a game warden. The chase began in Neosho County on Sunday as troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol began chasing a vehicle that refused to pull over for a traffic stop near 60th and Trego Road or about 4 miles south of the City of St. Paul. The chase continued into Crawford County where troopers followed the fleeing car into a field and across a creek before the suspect crashed the vehicle. The suspect then fled on foot and allegedly stole a U-T-V and continued to flee.

Deputies located the suspect in the area of South 20th Street and West 560th Avenue and tried to convince the woman to stop, but she continued to flee until the U-T-V became disabled. The suspect fled once again on foot. She was eventually located by K-H-P troopers and a game warden from Kansas Wildlife and Parks.

Lapiere was treated for injuries sustained in the crash at Labette Health in Parsons following her arrest.

The Kansas Turnpike Authority is issuing a warning about a new text scam that is circulating.

The K-T-A says the scam involves victims receiving a text that states the recipient has an outstanding toll that has not been paid. The text then gives a date that payment is due and says non-payment will result in the loss of the recipient's drivers’ license. A link is then provided.

K-T-S says it does not send unsolicited texts and that these are scams to steal personal information. To learn more about KTA scams, go here.

The ninth annual Inter-State Farm and Home Show is just over a month away.

The annual event features a wide variety of products of interest for rural and urban lifestyles. Organizer Tina Romine says there's something for everyone.

Romine says there are lots of new vendors including old favorites, and a few spots are still available for interested businesses and organizations.

Those wanting to learn more about reserving a booth can call KGGF at 620-251-3800.

For all visiting the show, parking and admission are free, and everyone who comes in the door gets a goodie bag filled with items, coupons and a show map. There will be $500 in cash given away each day of the show, and KGGF and KRIG Radio will be broadcasting live all weekend from the show. It all happens March 28^th and 29^th at Nellis Hall on the campus of Coffeyville Community College. A link to see the vendors at this year's show is available HERE.

A Saturday morning explosion caused by a gas leak in downtown Hutchinson causes the evacuation of nearby residents and gas outages in the city.

Around 9:30 Saturday morning, firefighters were called to the location of Steffen’s Auto Parts at Avenue E and Main Street in Hutch. Early reports indicated a strong odor of natural gas in the area. Soon after arrival, the building exploded. All occupants of the building were able to escape before the explosion and no injuries were reported.

Nearby buildings were also evacuated and the main gas line into the area was shut off to allow fire crews to extinguish the blaze caused by the explosion.

The Parsons Police Department is offering a new program for residents who are elderly, have chronic health issues, or other issues that might put them at risk.

The R You OK? Program is a free service offered to Parsons residents that provides scheduled, automated phone calls to the subscriber to make sure that person is doing okay. The program is intended to ensure the participant’s daily safety and wellness. Subscribers can chose the number of scheduled calls they wish to receive and also provide P-P-D with an emergency contact person. If the subscriber does not answer and the emergency contact also does not answer, P-P-D will conduct a wellness check on the subscriber.

The program is open to seniors who live independently, those with medical conditions, people who live alone, or anyone who might benefit from a regular safety check-in. The program is only open to those who live in the Parsons city limits.

For more information or to sign up, go here.

An Independence High School student earns a top honor from the National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society.

Matthias Coltrane has achieved the degree rank of Premier Distinction from the national speech organization. In order to achieve the rank, students must earn 1,500 points through their participation in speech and debate competitions, community service, and leadership activities. Less than 3% of N-S-D-A members earn this distinction before graduating from high school. The milestone recognizes the many hours Coltrane has spent preparing, practicing, and competing at the high school level.

Coltrane is a senior at Independence High School and he will be honored with red and silver honor cords at graduation in May.

Neodesha teacher Trenton Lowry is honored by the Kansas State Department of Education for excellence in teaching.

Lowry was awarded the Kansas Horizon Award on Friday at the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network or KEEN State Education Conference in Topeka. Lowry teaches instrumental for USD 461. The Kansas Horizon Award recognizes educators for their outstanding teaching skills in their first year of teaching.

The program is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Education and allows school districts across the state to nominate one elementary school teacher and one secondary teacher for the award, To be eligible, teachers must have completed their first year of teaching and have also performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves from other first year teachers.

Thirty-two total teachers were given the award this year.

The Independence Fire Department receives a donation from Molded Fiber Glass Companies and the Morrison Foundation.

The donation was for $25,000 to support the purchase of bunker gear for firefighters. Executives from MFG’s corporate office in Ohio were on hand for the presentation. IFD Chief Aaron Cook says the funds will be used toward new fire pants and jackets, ensuring that secondary sets are available at all times for firefighters on duty.

This allows the department to maintain extra gear in ready condition in the event primary sets are damaged. He says when firefighters return to the station following a fire, their gear needs to be immediately rinsed and placed in the gear washer, and the entire washing and drying process takes about 12 hours. This donation will help keep firefighters safe.

The winners of the inaugural Paint the Town Purple Decorating Contest are announced. As part of the Alumni Weekend festivities, area businesses were encouraged to decorate their storefronts and compete for credits on their electric bills.

Carter Automotive took first place with a “Nado Family Tree” display on their front window. Studio Blue took second with a “Tornado Warning” theme featuring a TV painted on their window. KGGF took third place with a radio-inspired “Sound the Siren” theme. First place received $100 off their bill, second place got $75 off and 3rd place was awarded $50.

Other businesses businesses that participated included: Cooperative Credit Union, the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce, Legacy Insurance, CrazyKooky Candles, Hersh’s and Nichols Hitching Post.

Carter Auto

Studio Blue

Studio Blue

KGGF

KGGF

Lawmakers in the Kansas House of Representatives exchanged harsh words during the discussion of a bill over whether or not to implement the NRA program Eddie the Eagle in public elementary schools.

Topeka Democrat Virgil Weigel was at the podium questioning Dodge City Republican Jason Goetz when a commotion broke out on the House floor. Here is the audio of what happened. The original audio has been enhanced because the argument occurred away from the microphones.

House Democrats say Representative Nick Hoheisel, who is a Republican from Wichita, confronted Wichita Democrat Ford Carr at his desk. Another Wichita Democrat John Carmichael says he heard the argument.

Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka called for a point of decorum that brought the debate to an end.

Representative Ron Bryce was on the floor of the House when the argument broke out. Bryce says those involved just let their tempers get the better of them.

Following the commotion, the House adjourned for two hours to give all involved some time to cool down. The lawmaking body then reconvened with no further incidents.

Photo: John Carmichael (D-Wichita) speaks on the House floor after the interruption

**UPDATE**

Fire crews in Parsons are called to a structure fire.

Just before 10am this morning, Parsons Fire, Parsons Police, and Labette Health EMS responded to reports of a building on fire in the 1900 block of Belmont Street. When crews arrived on the scene they found an apartment on the first floor of Belmont Towers in flames. Several residents were evacuated from the building due to heavy smoke. The fire was quickly brought under control. The building was determined to be structurally sound and safe. All residents were able to return to their homes.

No injuries were reported.

** BREAKING NEWS**

Parsons Fire, Labette Health EMS, and Parsons Police have responded to 1900 Belmont for a report of a fire. The fire was contained to one unit of 1st floor. Several residents have evacuated due to smoke. Parsons Fire is continuing to investigate any hot spots and getting smoke out of the building.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area and give emergency responders a safe area to work.

The recent winter weather has caused many events to be postponed and rescheduled. One of those events is the USD 445 Indian Education Program Meeting.

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place and February 19, but due to the recent winter storm, it has been rescheduled. The Johnson-O'Malley Parent Committee and the Title 6 Indian Education Parent Committee meeting will now be held on Wednesday, February 26 at 6pm in the library at Field-Kindley High School. The J-O-M meeting will happen first to be following by the Title 6 meeting.

The Parsons City Commission meeting grows heated during a discussion with the Labette County Sheriff over the cost to house inmates in the county jail.

Labette County Sheriff Darren Eichinger addressed commissioners during the public comment part of this week's meeting. Eichinger told the commission that the Labette County Jail would soon raise the daily cost of housing suspects arrested on Parsons city warrants from $50 per inmate per day to $100. commissioner Kevin Cruse asks Eichinger about the increase.

Eichenger said the increase was due to the Labette County Commission cutting $200,000 from the Sheriff's Department budget. Cruse says it isn't Parsons' job to make up the shortfall.

Parsons Mayor Verlyn Bolinger says the new price would be higher than any other area city pays.

Sheriff Eichinger stated that the reason those cities don't pay as much is because their inmates are often only in the County Jail for 24 to 48 hours and that they bill inmates for the cost of their stay. The discussion grew increasingly heated until Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks chimed in. Spinks says the issue is with the county.

The discussion ended with an understanding between commissioners and the Sheriff's Department that they needed to work together for the benefit of the citizens.

The Kansas Department of Commerce is making major changes to a grant program that funds a wide range of projects in Kansas communities.

The Community Development Block Grant or C-D-B-G program provides funding for projects that help low to moderate-income neighborhoods create improvements to their community. Past projects funded by the program include sidewalk repair, community centers, and youth job training programs. They are a common source of funding for projects in southeast Kansas communities.

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland says the overhaul of the C-D-B-G program was long overdue because the state was frequently forced to turn down worthy projects due to rigid deadlines and high local matching funds requirements.

The revamped CDBG – Community Facilities program opens the door for projects ranging from emergency sirens and ADA upgrades to new libraries and major park developments. The program will also transition from an annual competition to a rolling application process means that cities and counties can apply for funding year-round, receiving decisions in a matter of weeks rather than waiting months for a single funding cycle. The local match amount has also been reduced from 25% to a 10% match for small projects and a 20% match for large projects.

Toland said the changes to the program will make the process more flexible, fair, transparent, and focused on results.

The Coffeyville Police Department are warning residents of a new scam circulating in the area.

The scam involves a text stating that the recipient has a package available for pickup from the U.S. Postal Ser vice, but that the package was not delivered due to incorrect address information. The recipient is then directed to a Hotmail or Outlook email address to provide information.

C-P-D says this is a scam and to not give out your information.

C-P-D advises residents not to respond to text from unknown numbers or organizations and not to click on links in suspicious texts. Always be wary of texts that promise big paydays or tax refunds, those that threaten arrest, or ones that request personal or financial information.

A Sperry man is arrested after allegedly allowing three puppies freeze to death in his backyard.

Authorities in Tulsa County were called to the scene after a neighbor discovered the puppies along with their mother and three other living puppies. The neighbor took the living dogs home to warm them up and then called police. The owner of the dogs – identified as Troy Pierce – said he had last checked on the dogs the previous day. Police say the animals were left with only a dog house for shelter and nothing else to keep them warm.

The surviving dogs were taken into custody by Tulsa County Animal Control. Pierce was arrested for three counts of animal cruelty. He then bonded out of jail.

A Salina man faces multiple charges in connection to the deaths of two women discovered dead in a driveway of a home on Sunday morning.

35-year-old Preston Reyna has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 84-year-old Martha Velasquez Reyna and 64-year-old Rosalinda Reyna. Police say both women died Wednesday morning due to blunt force trauma.

Preston Reyna had previously served nine years in a Kansas prison on a second-degree murder charge from 2009. He is currently being held on a $5 million bond. His next court appearance is set for March 3^rd.

A small airplane on its way to a Fort Scott airport crashes in a field thirty miles from its destination.

The plane left the Northwest Arkansas National Airport in Bentonville, Arkansas, around 9:40 yesterday morning and was scheduled to land in Fort Scott around 11:30. the pilot – 42-year-old Matthew Evans of Indianapolis, Indiana, – says he believes the plane's fuel line froze in the cold weather, causing the crash. Evans was the only person on the plane and was uninjured in the accident.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and Linn County Sheriff's deputies, EMS, and Fire responded to the scene.

Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol

The weather is forecast to warm up over the weekend, but while the cold temperatures remain, be mindful of its effect on your pets.

Becky Barnhart with Coffeyville Friends of Animals says to keep a close eye on any outdoor pets.

Barnhart says, even indoor pets need supervision when they go outside in the cold.

Barnhart adds that if you take your dog for a walk in the cold, wash and dry their feet and stomach when you get home. This will remove any ice, salt, or other chemicals from their skin. It will also allow you to check for any cracks or redness between their toes.

Several southeast Kansas communities are set to receive grant money from the state to fund water projects and technical assistance.

The funding comes via statutes passed by the Kansas Legislature and administrated by the Kansas Water Office. The City of Humboldt was awarded $3 million and West Mineral will receive $664,000 from the water grant fund.

Two local Rural Water Districts were awarded grant funding for technical assistance. Montgomery #9 will receive $55,000 while Wilson County #4 will get $39,700. Parsons, Liberty, West Mineral, La Harpe, and Girard were also named as funding recipients.

The total outlay by the state for this round of grants was $26 million.

A Bill banning cell phone use in school is now law in Arkansas.

The “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act,” similar to legislation in Oklahoma requires strict phone-free policies in schools during the school day. As with the Oklahoma bill, exceptions are allowed to be made in the event of an emergency or for medical reasons. Senate lawmakers clarified that any devices such as tablets that were issued by the school would be exempt from the rule. The new Arkansas law is set to take effect during the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

Another bill signed into law yesterday will provide every public school student with one free breakfast for each school day regardless of their eligibility for a federally-funded free or reduced-price meal. The program will use federal funding and money from the state's food insecurity fund to provide the free breakfasts. Part of the fund will also come from money collected out of the taxes received from the sale of medical marijuana.

Sanders also signed a bill that will now allow for raw milk products to be sold at places outside of the farm where it came from, including farmers' markets. It requires each jug of milk that is sold to have a warning label on it stating that it is raw milk and will need to have contact information for the farm where the milk came from.

A man is arrested for 20 criminal charges in the Parsons Police Department Lobby.

According to the Parsons Police Department, yesterday, police officers were dispatched to the lobby of the Parsons Police Department to speak with 34-year-old Martinez Avery Tutt of Parsons regarding a protection from abuse order that had been served on him.

During the conversation, Tutt began making concerning statements and exhibited behavior suggesting he was under the influence of a substance. Officers asked if he was carrying any weapons, at which point he reached into a backpack and then lifted his shirt to reveal a pistol. Officers then quickly detained him.

Tutt was taken into custody, where he admitted to daily drug use and was also questioned about a separate criminal case earlier this month.

 As a result of the investigation, probable cause was established to arrest Tutt on charges including Criminal Use of a Weapon Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

In addition, Tutt is facing multiple charges stemming from domestic-related incidents earlier in the month, which have been referred to the Labette County Attorney's Office for formal prosecution and include three counts of rape, three counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated criminal sodomy and three counts of domestic battery

This continues to be an ongoing investigation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 620-421-7060.

An inmate at the Sedgwick County Jail in Wichita has died.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office states that a 43-year-old inmate at the jail has died following what authorities say was a suicide attempt. The male inmate was found unresponsive in his cell just before 7pm on Tuesday. On-site medical staff attempted life-saving measures on the man until EMS arrived to take the victim to a local hospital. The man was pronounced deceased thirty minutes later.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the death

The Sheriff's Office stated that the man had been at the jail less than 24 hours and that he was in custody on charges related to aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement.

This is the second death at the Sedgwick County Jail since January 1^st.

A bill that would amend the Arkansas law regarding the sale of raw milk has passed the Arkansas State legislature.

The current law in Arkansas only allows for the purchase of raw milk directly from the producer. The new measure would expand that to include farmers' markets and via delivery from the farm where the milk is produced. The bill covers goat milk, sheep milk and cow milk.

The legislation will no go to the Governor's desk and, if signed, will become law.

Former Oklahoma Governor David Boren has died.

Boren began his political career in 1967 when he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He served as the 21^st Governor of Oklahoma from 1975 to 1979 and later represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate. A conservative Democrat, Boren was the last member of his party to have held a U.S. Senate seat from Oklahoma. Boren left the Senate in 1994 to become President of the University of Oklahoma. He retired from that position in 2018.

He passed away at his home in Norman early on the morning of February 20, 2025, at the age of 83.

City Offices in Coffeyville will be open today as southeast Kansas begins to recover from a major winter storm.

The Utility billing office in Coffeyville is open today and Public Works crews continue to work on clearing city streets. Some areas may still be snow-packed and slick, so residents are advised to slow down and take extra time when traveling.

Republic Trash Services will not be running today. They will resume their regular schedule next week and will pick up any extra trash as long as it is bagged and at the curb.

Coffeyville Community College's Humanities Project continues next week with a performance by folk musician Ben Bedford.

Bedford is an award-winning folk singer and songwriter who has toured extensively in Europe and North America. His music has been likened to that of Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and Joni Mitchell. He has released six studio albums and his most recent effort Valley of Stars was released in 2023. Maverick Magazine calls Bedford a talented and inspired storyteller.

Bedford will perform Tuesday night at 6pm in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC Campus. Admission is free.

A Wichita man is sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for the death of a man whose body was discovered in the trunk of a car last year.

24-year-old Daitrez Birch was sentenced on Tuesday for the killing of Kyce Barnes. Barnes was found deceased in the trunk of a car in a vacant lot on the west side of Wichita last August. Birch entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder, aggravated battery and desecration of remains in December.

Two other people were charged with helping Birch conceal the crime. One of those defendants pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week to a year of probation. The other is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in April.

The Governor of Missouri signs an executive order banning the use of state funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at state agencies.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed the order this week that would eliminate DEI-based programs. The order says that State agencies must uphold the constitutional principle of equal treatment under the law and prohibits the use of DEI factors in hiring decisions. It also requires state agencies to complete a comprehensive review of existing contracts, programs, and policies within 90 days to ensure compliance with the order. State agencies will continue to enforce all laws that prohibit discrimination and ensure fairness for all citizens.

An afternoon fire destroys a Copan home.

Multiple crews from the Copan Volunteer Fire Department, Dewey Fire and Washington County Fire responded to a house fire yesterday afternoon on Falleaf Drive in Copan. Washington County Emergency Management Director Kary Cox says the mobile home was a total loss, but no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Security staff at Labette Health and Parsons Police Officers thwart an attempted kidnapping.

Around 6pm on Tuesday evening, officers from the Parsons Police Department responded to a report from Labette Health of a possible kidnapping in progress at the facility. When officers arrived on the scene they learned from the security staff at the hospital that a male suspect identified as 31-year-old Eric Matthews had been prevented from leaving the hospital with a newborn baby who had not been discharged.

Officers reviewed video surveillance footage and interviewed multiple witnesses, confirming that Matthews had attempted to leave the O-B Ward with a one-day-old infant without authorization. According to reports, a family member of the child confronted Matthews before he could exit the ward, stopping him from taking the baby. Hospital security then stepped in and held Matthews at the scene until law enforcement arrived. The family reported that they knew Matthews and that the man had a history of drug use.

Matthews was taken into custody and transported to the Parsons Police Lock-up where he is currently being held. He faces charges of kidnapping and child endangerment.

The extreme cold temperatures and recent heavy snowfall means that most area schools will remain closed today.

Closures include public schools in Montgomery, Wilson, and Labette Counties. Bartlesville and Nowata schools will go to distance learning today. Labette Community College, ICC, and CCC have also canceled classes for today. However, CCC basketball games scheduled for tonight at Nellis Hall will be played as planned.

Major roadways and highways are much improved today, but back roads and side streets may still be covered and hazardous. The Kansas Department of Transportation reports that crews are still working but slick spots remain, even on highways in southeast Kansas. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has made a similar report regarding roads in Oklahoma. Drivers are urged to proceed with caution.

KansasWork will host its first-ever online weekend job fair this weekend.

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland has announced the job fair will begin at 7:30 tomorrow morning and run through 9pm on Sunday. Job seekers and employers across the state of Kansas are invited to take part. The virtual job fair allows anyone searching for a position to fill out applications, chat live, and interview virtually with participating employers. For those looking for work, the Virtual Job Fair Portal will also offer helpful information such as job seeker training video, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in. Job seekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers might request to engage in a video interview.

Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodation by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event. Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. 

To register for the Job Fair, go here.

Record low temperatures continue through the remainder of the week, and it's important to keep your furry friends and their best interests in mind.

There are numerous factors that determine how well animals can handle cold temperatures, including age, health, regular exposure, and more. However, in temperatures this frigid, no animals should be left outdoors unless they have access to a well-insulated structure.

For trips outside or walks, consider shortening the distance and time, and look for opportunities to help pets stay active and exercising indoors. It's also important to consult your vet on if your pet could use any additional layers when making trips outdoors.

Finally, it's crucial to be prepared in the event of an emergency. With risks of power outage or loss of heat, make sure you have a pet care kit available in the event you need to leave quickly. Nobody enjoys sub-zero temperatures, but with the proper precautions, your furry friend will be healthy and happy come the spring weather.

Winter weather may be hanging around longer than most desire, but spring is around the corner and with it, a chance to play flag football.

Registration for spring flag football with the Caney Recreation Commission is currently open, with the deadline to sign up nearing on March 1st. There will be an optional free skills camp in Caney on March 1st, with practices beginning the week of March 10th, and games played on Saturdays in April.

The cost to register is $40 if registering to play for a Caney 1st-8th grade team, and a $200 fee for out of town players or teams. The recreation commission provides balls, fields, referees, and belts, and there are four different divisions: 1st and 2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, and High School.

For more information or questions, you can contact the CVRC at 620-306-6034 or emailing caneyrecreation14@gmail.com.

National FFA Week continues this week, and the state of Kansas is holding a Give FFA Day tomorrow.

The fundraiser has been put together by the Kansas FFA Foundation, and allows for various partners to help raise money for Kansas FFA, with the target amount $40,000. One of the donating partners is Mark Mayfield, a former National FFA President and Caney resident who now serves as a motivational speaker.

Mayfield says FFA has an impact on all types of people who get involved.

The challenge is for every dollar donated tomorrow by past state officers, Mayfield will match it up to $1,000. He says the growth of Kansas FFA requires more support now than ever.

For more information regarding Give FFA Day, or to donate, visit the link to the fundraiser HERE.

An opportunity for alumni of USD 445 Coffeyville Schools have an opportunity to connect and celebrate begins this weekend.

Alumni weekend begins on Friday night, with a Nado home basketball doubleheader against rival Chanute. Following the game, there will be an after-party held at Baggers Bar & Grill at 9:30 p.m., giving an opportunity to see friends and share stories.

On Saturday morning, Field Kindley High School will be having guided tours beginning at 10 a.m., for alumni to see the updated classrooms, renovations, and even some familiar hallways.

Saturday evening features the Alumni Dinner at Holy Name Gym, with cocktail hour beginning at 6 p.m. The dinner will commence at 7, featuring a special keynote address by FKHS alum and Commissioner of Education at the Kansas State Department of Education, Dr. Randy Watson.

Tickets for the Alumni Dinner are still available, and can be found HERE.

Blowing, powdery snow packed a punch on the four-states yesterday, and although the totals did not quite meet the higher exceptions as far as snow accumulation, the storm still caused plenty of travel disruptions. The Coffeyville area had a good chance of at least four inches, and that held true. Here's a list of snowfall totals around the KGGF listening area:

Coffeyville KGGF Studios: 4.5”

Sedan, KS: 3.6”

Yates Center, KS: 3.8”

Longton, KS: 4”

Neodesha, KS: 4”

Howard, KS:3”

Erie, KS: 3.1”

Iola, KS: 5”

Parsons, KS: 6”

Bartlesville, OK: 5”

Grove, OK: 4”

Joplin, MO: 6”

Bella Vista, AR: 4”

Decatur, AR: 5.5”

The upcoming Storm Fury on the Plains presentation in Montgomery County is being postponed.

After coordinating with Montgomery County Emergency Manager Rick Whitson, meteorologists with the Wichita National Weather Service office have moved tomorrow's planned spotter talk to Thursday, April 3rd. The talk will cover storm spotting basics and is relevant for anyone who wants to know more about severe weather. The presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall in Independence, again with a new date of April 3rd. A link to other county spotter talks is available HERE for Kansas and HERE for Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The winter storm has impacted much of the area in terms of closings and cancelations, including the Wilson County Commission.

Wilson County has canceled their scheduled meeting for this week due to the snow buildup and sub-zero temperatures, and will reconvene next week.

This decision also includes the impending Sunflower Skies Zoning project hearing, which had been tabled to this week's meeting, but will now be on the agenda during the meeting on February 26th.

The commission will meet next on February 26th at 9 a.m. in Room 101 of the County Courthouse in Fredonia.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is urging drivers to use caution today as the state starts to recover from the recent snowstorm.

KDOT says that most of the highways and roads in southeast Kansas remain covered with snow and ice today, though state and county crews are out working to get them cleared. KDOT advises those who don't have to be out and about to stay home and avoid hazardous driving conditions. If you do have to drive today, slow down and use extreme caution. If you find yourself following a snowplow, give the truck plenty of room and stay back about 200 feet or about the length of four school buses. And, remember to be patient.

To check local road conditions, visit kandrive.gov or use the KanDrive app. (Photo courtesy Kansas Department of Transportation. Photo shows US-69 south of Pittsburg on Wednesday morning)

A Pepsi truck cuts in front of a snowplow on Oklahoma's Turner Turnpike on Tuesday. 

Photo courtesy Oklahoma Transit Authority

The extreme cold temperatures and wind chills forecast over the next few days means taking extra precautions when spending time outside.

Dr. Ravi Johar of United Healthcare of Missouri reminds everyone to bundle up and keep your skin covered if you venture outside.

With the frigid temperatures comes the risk of hypothermia, which can occur when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Johar says if you plan to be outside, be aware of the warning signs that you are getting too cold.

Another factor to consider with the recent snowfall is over-exertion. For those planning to do some snow shoveling, Johar says you should be aware that exercise in cold weather can cause health problems.

Snow shoveling can cause increased heart strain and muscle injuries. People with existing heart conditions, Individuals with high blood pressure, Older adults, and People who are not regularly physically active should use caution

Members of the Kansas Congressional delegation are backing a proposal that would move the Food for Peace Program from the jurisdiction of U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID to the Department of Agriculture.

The Food For Peace program was out in place to reduce hunger and malnutrition in countries around the world. Senator Jerry Moran addressed the issue last week on the floor of the US Senate. Moran says the program is part of national security.

Moran says that by putting the program under the control of the USDA, it will be well-administered and continue to bring revenue to US agriculture.

Moran co-authored the bill with Senators John Hoeven of North Dakota, and Roger Marshall of Kansas, and Representative Tracey Mann of the first Congressional District of Kansas.

The President of Pittsburg State University announces his resignation.

Dr. Dan Shipp, who became the school's tenth president in 2022, is leaving to become president at Maryville University in St. Louis. Among Shipp's goals during his tenure at Pitt State was student recruitment, retention, and balancing the school's budget.

In a statement released by the P-S-U Board of Trustees, the Board thanked Shipp for his service to the school, citing his accomplishments such as increasing on-time graduation rates, increasing student financial aid awards, and decreasing student loan debt.

Shipp will remain in his current role through the end of May.

Another Republican has filed for the 2026 Oklahoma governor’s race.

Former Speaker of the House Charles McCall made the announcement Tuesday. McCall is the longest-serving House Speaker, first holding the position in 2016. He was term-limited in 2024.

McCall joins Republican Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Republican Leisa Mitchell Haynes in announcing their candidacy for the 2026 governor’s race.

The National Weather Service in Wichita extends the Extreme Cold Warning for southeast Kansas through noon tomorrow.

Highs today and tomorrow are expected to be in the low to middle teens with overnight lows dipping below zero. Blustery winds will cause wind chill factors as low as minus 25 degrees. Such conditions can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Early symptoms of frostbite include pain numbness and skin discoloration. Extremities including fingers, toes, nose, and ears are most commonly affected. If you begin to experience frostbite symptoms, move to a warm area and immerse the affected areas in warm water. More severe cases may require medical attention.

For those venturing outside, dress in layers, wear and hat, face mask and gloves.

Warming Centers are available in the area including Touch of Life - 501 E 9th St – Coffeyville, 1st United Methodist Church - Wesley Center - 200 S Penn – in Independence - No Pets allowed. Those with pets can warm up at the Independence City Hall - 811 W Laurel – with pets on leashes/in cages allowed, and at B The Light Mission 219 N. Virginia Ave., in Bartlesville

Two people in Independence are arrested on drug charges following a Valentine's Day traffic stop.

Around 10:30pm last Friday, Independence Police Officer Jacob Smith conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of 21^st and Oak Street. After an investigation, both driver – 19-year-old Iris Gutierrez and the passenger 21-year-old Javarie Bazques were arrested and taken to the Montgomery County Jail. Gutierrez faces charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia while Bazques is charged with distribution of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while under the influence, and interference with a law enforcement officer.

The Kansas Legislature votes to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto of a bill that would prevent doctors from performing surgical and hormonal treatments on children with gender dysphoria.

The Help Not Harm Act was vetoed by the Governor last week. Yesterday, the Kansas Senate voted 31 to 9 to override the veto, while the vote in the House passed by a single vote, 85 to 34. Representative Mark Schrieber of Emporia broke with fellow Republicans to vote against the override. Two other Republicans were absent and did not vote.

The winter storm has passed and area residents begin the process of digging out from the snow.

Area schools and municipalities that were closed yesterday will remain closed today, though Bartlesville Public Schools will move to distance learning today. Most city and county offices remain closed as well, but emergency services are still available.

Roads across the area remain hazardous and snow-packed, with drifting in some places. Snow plows and sand trucks are out and about as road crews from cities, counties and the state are working hard to clear the roads. Those who do need to be out on the roads today are advised to leave at least 200 feet between you and any road crew trucks for your safety and theirs. Drive with your headlights in the on position instead of relying on the automatic setting to improve visibility.

If you don't have to be out today, stay home and stay safe.

Snow continues to fall in the four-state area.  Roads across southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas are snow-covered, and blowing snow is reducing visibilities below 1 mile for almost the entire area, making travel difficult.  Here's a summary of snowfall totals as of 2:30 p.m.:

Coffeyville KGGF Studios: 3”

Independence, KS: 4.5”

Chanute, KS 1.5”

Cedar Vale, KS: 1.5”

Galesburg, KS: 3”

Saint Paul, KS: 2.5"

Joplin, MO: 3.5”

Neosho, MO: 3.5”

Locust Grove, OK: 1.5"

Bentonville, AR: 1”

Weather-related closings are available HERE.

The railroad work scheduled to begin today on US_75 in Neodesha is rescheduled due to the inclement weather.

The Kansas Department of Transportation says the start date for the project has been moved to next Monday, February 24. The Union Pacific Railroad will be installing a new crossing on US-75 or West Main Street in Neodesha and will also rebuild the existing Union Pacific Crossing as well as connecting to lines from the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad.

US-75 through Neodesha will be closed to traffic for the duration of the project, which is estimated to be four to six weeks. Drivers in the area will follow a detour along K-47 and US-400 to avoid the closure.

Independence Community College puts the possible welding program at the school on pause.

The ICC Board of Trustees agreed last night to wait another month before making a decision on the new program. The trustees heard a presentation by Project Manager Sean Clapp with Echelon Arch and Design. Clapp presented a mock-up of the proposed building that would house the welding program. The board then discussed the money that would be required to fund the program. President Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo, says told the Board that construction costs would be around $1.7 million. He says the school hopes to pay for much of that with grant funding.

Sadhoo told the Board that the cost to the school's budget would be around $1 million. Trustee Mark Lasater says he would like to see a better break-down of the numbers.

There was also concern among Trustees that federal grant funding might be less available due to actions taken by the federal government. The Board will revisit the issue in March.

The Zion Lutheran School and Preschool in Independence will hold a Chicken Noodle & Chili Fundraiser this Sunday.

The event will include a student talent show, silent and live auctions, and a raffle to win a ¼ beef, including processing, donated by Diamond R Cattle. The fundraiser runs from 4 to 6:30 Sunday evening at the Civic Center in Independence.

For raffle tickets, go here.

The public is invited on Saturday to enjoy a hearty breakfast and help support local youth in Parsons.

The Parsons Scouts will hold a biscuits & gravy breakfast from 7am to noon. Guests will have the choice of biscuits and gravy or a waffle plus a drink for $5.Waffle toppings of chocolate chips, strawberries, and whipped cream are available for $1. guests can also get 2 sausage patties for $1. Delivery is available for $1, but drinks are not included in those orders. Bake sale items will also be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit Parsons Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

It all happens on Saturday from 7am until noon at the Parsons Municipal Building.

The City of Neodesha Is taking part in a unique, nationwide program aimed at increasing the population and economic activity of the city.

Neodesha is taking part in the Make My Move program that offers financial incentives to workers to move to the city and work remotely. Incentives offered by the city to potential applicants include a 100% Kansas State Income Tax Waiver for the 2026 tax year, student loan repayment assistance, and a neighborhood revitalization plan for property improvements. Mayor Devin Johnson says the only monetary bonus offered by the city itself is a year-long pass to the Neodesha Splash Zone.

Johnson says most of the incentives are paid for by the Wilson County Medical Center, the Promise Fund, and USD 461. Johnson says the goal of the program is to increase Neodesha's population.

The Make My Move program allow potential applicants to browse cities and programs to find the location that best suits their needs. To see the Neodesha page on the program, go here.

A convicted murderer is back in custody after Salina Police find two women dead in the driveway of a Salina home on Sunday night.

Police say the two women were both victims of homicide, though their names have not yet been released. Authorities have arrested 35-year-old Preston Reyna of Salina in connection to the case. Records from the Kansas Department of Corrections show that Reyna served time for second-degree murder in the 2009 beating death of Nicholas Chavez Castro. Reyna was released from prison in 2018 and his post-release supervision ended in 2020.

Reyna now faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated kidnapping, and domestic violence.

As a major winter storm moves through the area, local communities prepare for the weather.

City crews in Coffeyville are ready to begin clearing snow from city streets as anywhere from 5 to 12 inches of accumulation is predicted. The Public Works Department in Independence says it has been preparing for this storm for the past week and has sand and salt ready to treat city streets.

The City of Neodesha reminds citizens that clearing large amounts of snow takes time and asks that residents be patient as city employees begin the work of clearing streets. The City of Cherryvale asks that residents give street crews, snowplows and trucks the right of way to do their work, and allow plenty of room between your vehicle and snow equipment.

Stay tuned to the Mighty 690 KGGF for up-to-date coverage of the snowstorm.

Multiple people are injured in a three-vehicle accident in Crawford County.

The accident occurred on US-69 about 1 ½ miles south of K-126 in Pittsburg. A 2015 Peterbilt driven by 47-year-old Sean Opalka of Kansas City was traveling northbound on US-69 when it rear-ended a 2012 Chevy Traverse driven by 38-year-old Jason Ewan of Joplin. The collision pushed Ewan's vehicle into the southbound lane where it struck a third vehicle, driven by 40-year-old Sarah Pitts of Girard. Both Ewan and Pitts sustained minor injuries in the accident and were treated at a nearby hospital. A 72-year-old male passenger in Pitts' vehicle also received minor injuries.

Opalka was uninjured in the accident.

This week is being officially recognized as FFA Week in the State of Kansas.

The Kansas State FFA officer team joined Governor Laura Kelly and other legislatures for the official proclamation signing recognizing this week as FFA Week in Kansas. Each year FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week.

Today is Day of Service, tomorrow is Alumni Day, Wednesday is Advisor Appreciation Day, Thursday is Give FFA Day and Friday is Blue Day. More information about National FFA Week can be found here.

The Midland Theater is hosting an open house for Alumni Weekend.

The event is this Saturday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and is in conjunction with the USD 445 Paint the Town Purple Alumni Weekend. Check out the renovations, learn about the next phase and enjoy live music in the ballroom. USD 445 Graduates Carla Herring and Dr. Ron Bryce will be playing the Barndollar baby grand Steinway piano, Herring from 1:00pm to 2:00pm and Dr. Bryce from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. From 2:00 to 3:00pm KUSN Morning Show Host and Nashville Musician Chris Freund will share his musical talents on the historic piano.

Concessions will be available including Midland popcorn. Be sure to check out the artwork in the front windows provided by students from the Early Learning Center and Community Elementary. This open house is for all and is not limited to USD 445 alumni.

The Allen County Sheriff's Office isn't looking for little green men, but they are looking for the person or persons responsible for making crop circles in a field over the weekend.

The circle that was made in a field on the Allen/Bourbon County line just a few miles north of the City of Bronson. Two other circles also appeared overnight on Saturday on the Bourbon County side of the line.

Anyone with information on the circles are asked to contact the Allen County Sheriff's Office.

If you know who did this, please send us a PM/DM via the Allen County Sheriff's Office FaceBook page, contact the Allen County 911 Center at 620-365-1437 and ask to speak with a deputy, contact Allen County Kansas Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or download and use the Crime Stoppers P3 Tips App at www.p3tips.com. Using Crime Stoppers, you can remain anonymous.

Hobbs State Park in northwest Arkansas receives a donation of 166 acres of land.

The land was purchased for $825,000 by the non-profit organization dedicated to improving the park Friends of Hobbs State Park. The group plans to officially transfer the land to the park at the end of February. One of the main reasons the group purchased and donated the land is to help safeguard Beaver Lake, which provides drinking water for the region in northwest Arkansas. It will also prevent potential development in the area.

Hobbs State Park is the largest state park in Arkansas and covers more than 12,000 acres in Benton, Carroll, and Madison Counties.

A pedestrian walking on the railroad tracks in Chelsea, OK, is hit and killed by a train.

The accident happened around 5:30 last night on 4^th Street just west of Route 66. Chelsea Police say they are unsure as to why the male victim was on the tracks. Traffic in the area was blocked for several hours last night as investigators cleared the accident.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

A 65-year-old man is dead following a weekend car accident near Jay in Delaware County.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says William Douglas lost consciousness as he was driving on Highway 20. He then crossed the center line and struck a Jeep Wrangler head-on. Douglas was declared dead at the scene while a passenger in his vehicle along the the 44-year-old driver of the Jeep and a 2-year-old girl were all taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol help citizens rescue a Corgi that was found wandering in traffic on I-70 over the weekend.

The lost pooch was in the eastbound lanes of the Interstate near Topeka where the posted speed limit is 70mph. The K-H-P Trooper helped some thoughtful motorists who were following the dog on the roadway in an attempt to catch it and keep it from getting hit. The dog was later captured and returned uninjured to its owners.

Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol

Southeast Kansas is preparing for a major winter storm that is forecast to hit the area beginning around midnight tonight.

Current forecasts from the National Weather Service predict that snowfall totals in Montgomery County will be between 5 and 12 inches. Independence City Engineer John Garris says city road crews are ready for the storm.

Temperatures this week are also forecast to be extremely cold with overnight lows dipping into the single digits and possibly even below zero. High winds are also a possibility. Garris says residents can assist area street crews by not parking on the street during the storm, avoiding travel on icy or snow-packed roads, and to be patient as road crews work to keep streets and roads clear. He adds that, if you don't need to be on the roads during the wintry weather, to stay home and stay safe.

The City of Independence reminds area residents to stock up on groceries, prescriptions, bottled water, and pet food ahead of the storm. Make sure you have extra warm clothes, food, and water in your vehicle. Check on elderly neighbors and loved ones and provide appropriate shelter for outdoor animals.

Independence and Cherryvale water customers who lose water service and suspect an issue other than frozen pipes can contact the city. 

Independence customers can call 620-332-2500 (daytime) or 620-332-1700 or 620-332-2515 after hours.

The City’s snow plan, including the snow route map, is accessible on the City's website: https://www.independenceks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2725/City-Of-Independence-Snow-Plan?bidId=

Cherryvale customers can call 620-336-2776 (daytime) or 620-336-2121 after hours.

For Coffeyville residents :

If you experience a water outage beyond suspected frozen pipes, please call 620-252-6150.

Lost Power? To report an electric outage, please call 620-252-6180.

View the City’s Snow Route Map: https://www.coffeyville.com/DocumentCenter/View/193/Public-Service---Snow-Routes?bidId=

The upcoming KOMA Cattle Conference originally scheduled for tomorrow in Parsons at the Southeast Research Center and Wednesday in Fort Smith, AR has been postponed due to upcoming weather. The event that includes presentations about research for cow-calf, stocker, feedlot, and forage managers will be rescheduled with a new date to be announced.

A Saturday morning car accident on East Main Street in Parsons leads to the arrest of the driver on DUI charges.

The accident happened around 9am Saturday morning when a passenger car veered off the roadway and struck a power pole. The driver was the sole occupant of the car and was uninjured in the crash. He was taken into custody for a suspected DUI.

A suspect in a fatal weekend shooting in Carthage is arrested in Galena.

The shooting occurred around 11:30 Saturday night. Shortly after, Carthage Police and Jasper County deputies responded to the scene where they discovered a 22-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. The man was taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin where he later died from his injuries. Police identified the suspect in the case as 19-year-old Elijah Hardee. Hardee was later arrested in Galena and has been charged with Homicide in the case.

A 27-year-old Quapaw man pleads guilty to having sexual relations with a minor.

Dylan Boyd entered the guilty plea to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor and Mission of a Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Offender in return for prosecutors dropping charges of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Threat or Force and Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

Court documents state that the Kansas Department for Children and Families contacted Quapaw police in July of 2022 after a juvenile reported to her therapist that she had been raped by someone she knew in November 2020. The documents go on to state that the incident occurred in Boyd’s mother’s trailer home.

Boyd could face a maximum of 13 years in prison for the offense.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports a Friday morning high-speed chase that began in Mayes County ends with a crash in Delaware County.

A lieutenant with the O-H-P had exited his vehicle and deployed stop sticks in the vehicle’s path. The suspect drove over the sticks and swerved hard before crashing into the Trooper’s truck head-on. The suspect was arrested. No law enforcement officers were injured. The status of the suspect is unknown.

A Cherryvale man is injured after his vehicle strikes a tree in rural Labette County.

The accident occurred just after 9pm on Saturday as 34-year-old Zachary Butler was westbound on 20000 Road. His 2004 GMC Sierra left the roadway at the intersection with Harper Road, about 5 miles northeast of Mound Valley. Butler sustained minor injuries when his SUV struck a tree. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

One man is dead and another seriously injured after a head-on collision Saturday night in Reno County.

The accident happened on K-61 about 20 miles southwest of Hutchinson around 7:30 Saturday night. A 2024 Ford F-150 driven by 68-year-old Martin McLaughlin of Romulus, Michigan, was traveling southbound on K-61 when it collided with a Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by 44-year-old Ryan Purchase of Ludington, Michigan. The big rig left the roadway and came to rest in the ditch while the pickup truck became fully engulfed in flames. McLaughlin was pronounced dead at the scene while Purchase was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Officers from the Parsons Police Department will be spreading kindness today on National Acts of Kindness Day.

P-P-D will distribute Walmart gift cards today to senior citizens through the Meals on Wheels Program. This initiative is made possible through donations received by community members to the Parsons Police Legacy Fund. Established under the Parsons Area Community Foundation, the Legacy Fund is dedicated to supporting community and youth programs such as Shop with a Cop, youth sports, and future scholarship programs as well as this year's National Acts of Kindness Day.

These programs work to foster the department's ongoing commitment to establishing and maintaining community connections and giving back to the community of Parsons. The program comes at no expense to taxpayers.

State lawmakers in Oklahoma are appealing the recent order by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission that approved a $120 million rate increase for customer of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

Court documents filed by Representatives, Tom Gann, Kevin West, and Rick West argue that Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett violated state ethics rules by participating in the case involving an attorney with direct knowledge of alleged criminal conduct by Hiett.

The petition also argues that the OCC failed to provide a required audit of PSO’s $1.1 billion of ratepayer-backed bonds issued after the February 2021 Winter Storm.  Extra charges to pay off those bonds are expected to appear on customers’ monthly bills for 20 years.

The O-C-C will meet tomorrow and its agenda will include a discussion about the OG&E rate case and possible votes to reopen the record “to determine whether discovery, further hearing, and/or additional testimony is necessary to address the issues raised.”

The OCC and PSO have 20 days to respond to Gann’s new appeal petition at the Supreme Court.

Read the pleadings in the new PSO rate case appeal at the Oklahoma Supreme Court here:

https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122861

Read the pleadings and orders in the original OG&E rate case appeal at the Oklahoma Supreme Court here:

https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=appellate&number=122735

The death of a 17-year-old boy at a state facility in November has been ruled an accidental overdose.

The boy died on November 5 at the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City. Staff at the facility reported that he had gone to bed the previous evening and been found unresponsive in his room the next morning. The teen had been living at the facility since August.

The final autopsy results indicated that the boy's death was caused by intoxication of a combination of drugs all of which had been prescribed to him. Obesity, asthma, and an enlarged heart were listed as contributing factors in his death. The manner of death was listed as accidental.

The Kansas State Child Death Review Board reviews all child fatalities that occur in Kansas, and will evaluate this case.

With tomorrow's winter storm incoming, area warming shelters are preparing for a long week ahead.

Touch of Life Ministries in Coffeyville is planning to be open 24 hours a day with all staff on site. Organizers say they've had nine individuals stay at the warming center last week and expect more this week. They're currently in need of the following donations to help others during the storm. Those include:

Dry macaroni and egg noodles

Shredded cheese

Shredded lettuce

Bell peppers

Potatoes

Paper plates and bowls

Coffee

Sandwich meat

Canned soups

Canned cream of mushroom soups

Taco sized flour tortillas

Spaghetti sauce

Canned tomatoes

Canned tomato sauce

Canned corn

Snack items like cheese crackers, popcorn, small bags of chips or cookies

Milk

Water flavoring packets

Paper towels

Donations can be dropped off at the warming center at 501 E 9^th in Coffeyville as staff is already on site.

With extreme cold temperatures on the way, you may want to give some extra thought to preventing frozen pipes.

Eddy Mason with Mason's Plumbing says your best bet is to be proactive.

For the long term, add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas. To prevent drafts, seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and at sill plates, where the house rests on its foundation.

Mason advises letting the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing. He also recommends checking for to make sure your tub or sink is not plugged to avoid a water overrun giving you a very wet floor.

Mason says to turn off the water at the main shutoff valve if a pipe has broken.

If you suspect a more serious problem, you may want to consider calling a plumber.

CLICK HERE for the latest weather-related closings and cancellations.  Submit a closing for your organization by emailing news@kggfradio.com.

***** Update 5:30 p.m. 2-18 *****

Periods of moderate to heavy snow will continue to affect southeast Kansas and the four-state area through 7 p.m. tonight.  Snow could come down as fast as 1 inch per hour.  Hazardous travel conditions are expected along with blowing and drifting snow.  Extreme cold continues with a low expected around 0 tonight and wind chills of -15 possible.

***** Update 6 a.m. 2-18 *****

Higher end snowfall estimates for the Coffeyville area are now slightly reduced, but 7 to 12 inches are still expected for the four-state area.  Snow will fall between now and midnight.  A winter storm warning and an extreme cold warning is in effect for the entire KGGF listening area.

***** Update 7:30 p.m. 2-17 *****

Expected snowfall amounts continue to increase, with now 9 to 14 inches of snow possible for the Coffeyville area.  The area with the worst storm impact has shifted south and is now largely centered around the tri-state area of Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.  Heavy snow is still expected to start across the four-state area by 6 a.m. Tuesday morning with near blizzard conditions possible.  Extreme cold temperatures will also be in place starting tomorrow night for much of the area, with a low around 0 degrees expected tomorrow night.

***** Update 6 a.m. 2-17 *****

The entire four-state area will be under a winter storm warning starting tomorrow morning and continuing through Wednesday.

The Coffeyville area now has a 95% chance of at least 4 inches of snow, and now a 60% chance of 8 or more inches. Current snowfall forecasts estimate there could be between 7 and 11 inches for Montgomery County and the surrounding area.

Light snow is expected to start after midnight tomorrow in southeast Kansas, transitioning to heavy snow by 6 a.m. tomorrow. The worst part of the storm should be between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Winds are expected to gust up to 30 mph tomorrow, which will cause snow to blow and make travel even more difficult. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

An extreme cold warning will be in place for the KGGF listening area as well starting tomorrow night. Air temperatures will fall below zero and wind chills will approach 20 degrees below zero through the end of the week.

***** Update 2-16 6:30 p.m. *****

Wind gusts are now expected during the winter storm on Tuesday, adding to expected difficult travel conditions.  Gusts in southeast Kansas are expected up to 30 mph which will combine with moderate to heavy snow causing drifting, blowing snow and reduced visibility.  Confidence remains high of the highest accumulations being in southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri.  The National Weather Service is encouraging all travel during the storm to be delayed if possible and to dress in layers if you must go outside.

A winter storm watch and an extreme cold warning will be in effect for the entire four-state KGGF listening area late Monday/early Tuesday morning through Tuesday night for Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and through Wednesday morning for southwest Missouri where a winter storm warning is in effect as well.

***** Update Sunday 2-16 10 a.m. *****

Snowfall chances continue to increase for the four-state area and especially for southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri.  The Coffeyville area now has a 90% chance of at least 4 inches of snow and a 50% chance of 8 inches or more.  Further north, the Chanute and Fort Scott area could see up to a foot of snow on the high side. 

***** Original Story *****

The latest from the National Weather Service indicates impactful snow will start Monday night after a more minor round of snow this weekend.  Current confidence is low on where the snow will fall, but current models favor the heaviest snowfall around Chanute, Fort Scott and east of Nevada, Missouri where 6 to 11 inches of snow is possible.  The Coffeyville area has about a 50% percent chance of seeing 6 inches of snow, with between 4 and 8 possible.  Snowfall forecasts at this stage are considered preliminary and will continue to be refined in the coming days.

Moderate travel impacts are expected for counties along the state line in southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma in addition to southwest Missouri.  Impacts should be more minor for northeast Oklahoma.  A winter storm watch will be in place for Kansas and Missouri while a winter weather advisory will include all of northeast Oklahoma.

Extremely cold temperatures will impact the area starting Tuesday morning and will continue at least through Wednesday night.  Air temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday night are expected to be below zero and wind chills in the Coffeyville area could push -20 Wednesday and Thursday. 

The National Weather Service reminds all in the listening area to make plans now ahead of the storm like making sure supplies and medications are on hand in addition to checking on relatives, making sure animals are taken care of and ensuring that pipes don't freeze.  KGGF will continue to update this story and provide information on any closings or cancelations.

This week's Cherryvale City Council meeting is being delayed.

According to City Clerk Karen Davis, City offices are closed for the President's Day Holiday on Monday. In addition, due to the prediction of a significant winter storm with snow and bitterly cold temperatures moving in on Tuesday, the council meeting normally scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. has been canceled. City leadership plans to call a special meeting on Wednesday, February 19th at 6:00 p.m., weather permitting.

The Girard Fire Department battles freezing conditions while fighting two structure fires.

The first incident happened around 2:30am yesterday, in the 400 block of W 650^th Ave, where GFD, along with the Sherman Township Fire Department, assisted the District 4 Fire Department. Despite cold temperatures causing equipment issues like frozen hose lines and trucks, the collaborative efforts of all three departments successfully prevented the house from catching fire. Crews remained on scene until about 7:00am.

Shortly after, at around 7:30am, GFD was dispatched to another structure fire in the 700 block of North Summit. Given that many personnel had been active since the early morning hours and some equipment was not fully restocked, mutual aid was requested from Frontenac Fire and Arma District 2 Fire. The cold continued to pose challenges, including water supply issues and equipment freezing. Firefighters executed an aggressive transitional attack, quickly knocking down significant flames from the exterior before moving inside to extinguish the remaining fire in the room of origin and attic space. Sherman Township Fire was later called in to provide additional water supply. The scene was cleared by 1:41pm, with no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians.

A former youth pastor in Shawnee, Kansas, pleads guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder after setting his house on fire to hide financial problems.

42-year-old Matthew Lee Richards was originally charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with the risk of bodily harm following the 2023 incident that burned down his family home. Police and fire crews were called to the scene on September 16, 2023, to find the Richards' home in flames. Police also found three victims – one adult female and two children - with stab wounds waiting outside the house. One of the children told officers that their father had stabbed them. The three were taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening wounds. Three other children sustained minor injuries.

Richards later told police that he had hidden the family's financial issues from his wife and that he expected them to be evicted from their home. He told investigators that he thought it would be better if they all died rather than deal with the trauma of learning the truth.

At the time of the incident, Richards worked for the Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee as a youth pastor. His sentencing is set for March 26.

A city meeting in the central Kansas town of Halstead grows heated during a debate over a proposed battery storage facility.

A Massachusetts-based energy company Concurrent is hoping to build a battery energy storage system or BESS in the city limits of the Harvey County town. The BESS units would use lithium-ion batteries to store enough electricity to power 200,000 homes for up to four hours. City residents showed up in force to voice their opposition to the facility. Most told city leaders that they were afraid the facility might pollute nearby farmland or cause adverse health impacts on residents.

Those in favor of the project stated that the project would help alleviate congestion on the power grid and would be available for the community during emergencies.

A similar proposal was made to communities in southeast Kansas last fall by S-M-T Energy of Boulder, Colorado. That company approached the City of Independence, which turned down the offer, as well as Montgomery and Labette Counties. The proposed site in Montgomery County included a possible facility near Liberty and another near Dearing.

The Independence City Commission approves an engineering agreement with L, S & A of Overland Park to investigate options for replacing the current HVAC system at Memorial Hall.

Assistant City Manager David Cowan says the city will have several options to choose from on how to replace the system, but that, whatever the decision, the work needs to be done. Cowan says it will be a costly project for the historic 1923 building.

Cowan adds that the current heating and cooling system was installed in 2006 and is close to complete failure. Commissioner Dean Hayse says the immediate need for the repairs is part of the cost.

The commission approved the expenditure of no more than $48,000 for the engineering firm to determine options for the repair work.

The Igloo Company has issued a recall for its 90-quart Flip and Tow Rolling Coolers over the possible danger of fingertip crushing or amputation.

The recall was issued by the company yesterday (Thursday) over concerns that the tow handle can possibly pinch the user's fingers against the cooler, posing the risk of crushing or amputation. Owners of the coolers can contact the Igloo company for a replacement product.

Igloo has sold more than a million of the 90-quart Flip and Tow Rolling Coolers in the U.S.

Contact the Igloo Company toll-free at 888-943-5182 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday,

Email at igloo90qt@sedgwick.com,

or online at www.igloo90qtrecall.expertinquiry.com or http://www.igloocoolers.com

To read the original recall, go here.

Work is set to begin on Tuesday on a Neodesha railroad crossing that will close US-75 through the city.

The Union Pacific Railroad will be installing new tracks at the crossing of US-75 or West Main Street in Neodesha. The work will connect lines from the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad with the Union Pacific tracks.

Beginning next Tuesday, February 18, US-75 through Neodesha will be closed to traffic for the duration of the project, which is estimated to be four to six weeks. Drivers in the area will follow a detour along K-47 and US-400 to avoid the closure.

The Oklahoma House overwhelmingly passes its first bill of the new legislative session.

The Bell-to-Bell, No Cell bill - passed Thursday - would prohibit the use of cell phones by students during the school day. The bill would require Oklahoma school boards to adopt policies prohibiting cell phone use on campus before the start of the next school year. Personal electronic devices, including smartwatches, are also included in the measure.

The legislation requires that any policy prohibiting cell phone use must also include a provision for emergency use, including items used for medical issues. The bill also leaves it up to the local district to decide how to implement the cell phone ban.

 The bill passed the House floor with a vote of 82-9 and will now move to the Senate for further consideration.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi agrees to a request from Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond to transfer a convicted murderer to Oklahoma so his sentence can be carried out.

George John Hanson was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1999 murder of 77-year-old Mary Bowles who was carjacked and kidnapped from a Tulsa mall. Hanson's accomplice then killed Jerald Max Thurman, who was at the scene and witnessed the crime that occurred near an isolated dirt pit near Owasso. Hanson has been serving a separate life sentence at a Louisiana federal prison for a bank robbery. Drummond requested the transfer on January 23.

Drummond asked the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to transfer Hanson to the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center before the next scheduled execution on March 20 so that he is eligible for the next available execution date, which likely will be in June.

Hanson was originally scheduled for execution in Oklahoma on December 15, 2022, but the Biden administration refused to transfer him back to Oklahoma.

A mix of light freezing rain, sleet and light snow is possible this weekend for southeast Kansas.

Early tomorrow morning through tomorrow evening, the area has a slight chance of at least a dusting of snow. Major winter weather is not expected, but patchy slick spots are possible. Further south, rain is expected instead of snow. Another round of snow is expected Monday night into Tuesday with daytime highs only in the teens and low 20s to start the week.

A Skiatook man faces a felony charge after defacing a VIN on a trailer.

40-year-old Brad Smalygo was charged with one count of removed, falsified or unauthorized identification. Smalygo was found in possession of a stolen trailer from Missouri.  BPD located the trailer with a defaced VIN and found black spray paint applied around the area of the bumper pull. Smalygo was in possession of tools capable of defacing a VIN.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Smalygo is a Tulsa County Sheriff's deputy. He will appear in court again on February 21^st at 9:00am and his bond is set at $5,000.

Independence residents are being asked to show their support of Independence High School every Orange Friday.

Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says it's a great way to show support for the community.

Bulldog Pride flags can be purchased at the Chamber Office at 616 North Penn for $42. Indy residents are asked to show off their orange Friday night as the Bulldog basketball girls and boys teams host cross-county rival Coffeyville-Field Kindley. Catch the live broadcast of the games at six tomorrow night (tonight) on your home for Field-Kindley sports, Sunshine 98.9 and on the Mighty 690 KGGF.

Some Neodesha residents may have experienced issues with their water recently.

The Neodesha City Commission addressed the problems at this week's meeting. City Manager Brogan Jones was asked about recent complaints about the yellow color of the city water. Jones says the city is aware of the issue and that state agencies have told the city that the color is not a health risk.

Jones says the city will be able to fix the issue, but they need to wait for warmer weather.

Those who still have questions or concerns can contact the city.

The Friends of Chautauqua County Animal Shelter will hold their annual meeting coming up on March 3^rd.

Area residents are invited to the meeting to hear the 2024 financial report, and the shelter's year-end review, and to learn about their upcoming plans for 2025. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments at the meeting.

The Friends of Chautauqua County Animal Shelter annual meeting will take place on Monday, March, 3^rd at 5pm at the Sedan Senior Citizen building. All are invited to attend.

The Coffeyville Police Department is asking the public for help in finding a woman who has been missing for over a year.

50-year-old Katherine Alcox was reported missing on Valentine's Day 2024 and said she might have been traveling to the area near Cushing , Oklahoma. C-P-D has been looking for Alcox for the past year and has used multiple resources in an attempt to find the missing woman. The department has used multi-jurisdictional search teams, cadaver K-9 search teams, drones, as well as employing a variety of other investigative techniques to follow up with every lead that was reported to law enforcement. Officers have been unable to locate Alcox and have run out of leads in the case.

C-P-D urges anyone who might have information on Alcox's whereabouts to contact the police department at 620-252-6160

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is seeking information regarding the suspicious disappearance of 48-year-old Daniel Looney.

On December 10, 2024, the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office received a missing persons report concerning Looney. He was last seen in the area of South 64th Street West and West Border Avenue in rural Muskogee County. The OSBI has been requested to assist in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017. You can also contact Muskogee County Dispatch at 918-577-6906.

The Coffeyville Community College Humanities Project continues its concert series on Tuesday with a performance by Lemuel Sheppard.

Sheppard is a folk musician and cultural ambassador who has earned accolades from the Kansas Folklore Society, the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, and Pittsburg State University, where he received an Outstanding Alumni Award. His career highlights include a performance at the Kennedy Center and composing the soundtrack for the PBS documentary Black, White & Brown, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Sheppard has performed for audiences worldwide, fostering cultural understanding through his music.

Lemuel Sheppard will perform Tuesday night at 6pm in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC Campus. Admission is free.

A former teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, is arrested for the second time in 2025 for alleged child sex crimes.

Deputies from the Benton County Sheriff's Office arrested 38-year-old Robert Beard on Tuesday. Beard was booked on 25 counts of sexually grooming a child and was given a $50,000 bond. Officers from the Rogers Police Department began investigating Beard in January after several former students of Beard came forward with allegations of grooming. All of the incidents are said to have occurred during the two years in which Beard was employed as a computer science teacher at the Arkansas Arts Academy. He was terminated from the position in July 2024

Beard was also arrested on January 24 by the Springdale Police Department for allegedly sexually assaulting a child.

The Independence City Commission will consider approval of an agreement to replace the HVAC system at Memorial Hall.

The commission will consider a proposal that would replace the current heating and cooling system in the historic building. The measure up for consideration would authorize the city to spend no more than $48,000 for the new system. The project would be included in the City's 2026 Capital Improvement Plan budget.

The commission is also expected to approve an agreement with the Sports Car Club of America to hold racing events at the Independence Municipal Airport in April and September and to agree to a contract with Bartlett to accept wastewater from the plant.

Tonight's meeting will begin at 5:30 in the Commission Room at City Hall and can also be viewed online via the City's website.

Kansas Lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it a crime to shine a laser pointer at a law enforcement officer.

Representatives from the Kansas State Troopers Association testified at a senate judiciary hearing yesterday. Association President Sage Hill says laser pointers are often associated with firearm aiming systems.

Hill says laser pointers can pose a major safety issue for law enforcement officers as they try to do their jobs.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 156, still has several hurdles to clear before it would be heard on the floor of the Kansas Senate.

An Altoona man is sentenced to more than 5 years in prison after being convicted of nine counts of child exploitation.

The sentence was handed down for 45-year-old Mickey Joe Callarman in a Montgomery County District Court this week. Callarman was arrested in February 2019 after law enforcement discovered pornographic images of an 8-year-old family member on a personal device belonging to Callarman. Court documents indicate that Callarman will also be required to register as a lifetime sex offender and complete a 24-month post-release supervision.

The sentence was the maximum allowed under Kansas law.

The snowfall totals are in from yesterday's snowstorm.

Overall, snowfall amounts were less than initially forecast, with most of Kansas seeing between 2 and 4 inches. In southeast Kansas and the Coffeyville area, 2 to 3 inches was observed. Chanute ended up with 1 to 2 inches, which was less than expected. The Wichita area received 3 to 4 inches, while it wasn't until Topeka that the totals pushed 4 to 6 inches. In Bartlesville, almost three inches of snow was reported, while up to ½ inch was reported further south and in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas.

Road conditions may still be iffy this morning as the four-state area digs out from the latest winter storm.

Yesterday's ice and snow combined with extremely cold temperatures overnight have left many roads in southeast Kansas treacherous despite the work of city, county, and state road crews. The KanDrive app from the Kansas Department of Transportation still shows major roadways in northern Montgomery and Labette Counties as partially covered. Drivers are urged to use caution on US-75 north of Independence and on Highways 160, 166, and 59 in Labette County. Major highways in western Elk and Chautauqua Counties and into Cowley County are also listed as partially covered.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says crews have been treating slick spots overnight in the Tulsa metro area and that slick spots may remain on highways and interstates, especially on bridges and overpasses.

Coffeyville Public Service crews continue to work on snowy and icy roads around town.

Crews have moved into the residential areas and will continue to blade and treat roads through the evening. They will be back out in the morning to blade and treat primary and secondary routes and intersections.

The city encourages anyone who has to get out to allow plenty of time to get to the destination, drive slowly and use caution.

A Bartlesville man is facing felony charges after stealing over $1,000 of merchandise from the Bartlesville Walmart.

55-year-old Michael James Jordan was charged with three counts of a pattern of criminal offenses on Monday. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Jordan has been an employee at Walmart for 27 years.

He stole on 18 different occasions from July 2024 to December 2024. He scanned items of a lesser value and replaced them with items of a higher value. Jordan will appear in court again on March 21^st at 9:00. His bond is set at $1,000.

The anticipated zoning decision in Wilson County regarding the Sunflower Skies solar project has been delayed due to the weather.

Commissioners have postponed the official decision on the issue to a future meeting, due to difficulties from both Savion and Evergy in attending this week's meeting, after the snow and ice from the winter storm.

The commission did hold a brief meeting this week and heard updates from County Coordinator Kris Marple, Road and Bridge Director Kary Tatum, County Clerk Kayla Busch, and Sheriff Pete Kuhn.

The next meeting will be February 19th at 9 a.m. in Room 101 of the County Courthouse in Fredonia.

The Neodesha City Commission will discuss the sale of lots from the Neodesha Land Bank at today's commission meeting.

The commission is expected to approve the sale of the lots located in the Timber Ridge area. Also on today's agenda is the possible purchase of new street lamps and disc golf equipment. There will also be a discussion of the Encore Energy Contract and a fleet agreement with Enterprise. Commissioners will also hear a citizen request for sidewalk replacement and a presentation from the Kansas Municipal Gas Agency.

Today's meeting begins at 2pm in the Commission Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and is available for online viewing via the City of Neodesha Facebook page.

If the recent blast of winter weather has you down, you might want to try some indoor fun at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center.

This Friday there will be free folk dancing at the museum. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the all-ages event is an evening of family fun.

Guests will be able to learn simple steps of traditional dances from around the world this Friday night at the Museum in downtown Independence. Refreshments will be served.

Early morning road conditions lead to a head-on collision in Cherokee County.

Two people were injured this morning after a driver lost control on the icy roads just north of Columbus. The accident happened just before 7am on US-69 when a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic driven by 20-year-old Kennedy Hosher of Olive Branch, Mississippi, crossed the center line and struck a 2014 Dodge Avenger driven by 57-year-old Shirley Young of Neosho. Both drivers were injured in the crash and were taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg.

Two passengers in Young's vehicle were uninjured.

A Salina man who was injured in a February 4 standoff with police is arrested after being released from the hospital.

29-year-old Manuel Johnson-Ponce was shot by police earlier this month after barricading himself and a toddler inside a Salina residence. Following the incident, Ponce was taken to the Salina Regional Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital earlier this week and was promptly arrested by agents from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He was then taken to the Saline County Jail where he was booked on a warrant  for three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, two counts of criminal threat, aggravated endangering a child, domestic battery, criminal restraint, and criminal trespass.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities in Sumner County are investigating what they say is a cockfighting ring near the City of Mulvane.

The Sumner County Sheriff's Office says the bust is part of a two-year, ongoing investigation that led to the search of a location in the 1000 block of 140^th Avenue North near the Kansas Star Casino around 5am yesterday morning. Officials have not said how many animals were involved or if any arrests have been made.

The Humane Society is assisting in the investigation. The Sumner County Sheriff's Office says it will release more details on the investigation at the end of this week.

Police in Wichita are investigating an attempted kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl.

The incident happened around 3:40pm on Monday as the girl was walking home from school. The girl's mother told police that two men in a maroon sedan approached the girl. The men made catcalls and attempted to pull the girl into their vehicle by grabbing her backpack.

The 14-year-old was able to flee and ran to a neighbor's house for help. The victim's family say the girl may have been targeted for the crime, reporting that she had received a series of unusual phone calls starting late last week and running through the weekend.

Wichita Police say the investigation is ongoing.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Ron Wade advises area drivers to proceed with caution this morning.

As the most recent winter storm moves across southeast Kansas and Montgomery County, Sheriff Wade encourages those who do not need to be out and about to stay home and stay safe. For those who do need to be on the roads, allow for extra travel time to account for the slick roads and streets.

The Kansas Department of Transportation KanDrive app shows that roads in southeast Kansas are listed as completely covered this morning. Snow showers are expected to continue through the morning hours, so drivers are advised that roads may be hazardous during the morning commute.

A truck hauling heavy machinery is involved in a fatal crash in northwestern Kansas.

The accident happened just before noon yesterday when a Super Duty truck driven by 51-year-old Terrence Blackwill of Norton was westbound on US-36 just east of US-83 or about 12 miles south of the Kansas/Nebraska state line in Decatur County. Blackwill lost control of the vehicle after locking up his tires, causing his vehicle to slide into the ditch. As the truck entered the ditch, it started to roll causing the trailer it was towing to detach. At that point, the heavy machinery on the trailer became unsecured and rolled as well. As the truck and trailer rolled, Blackwill was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoes a bill that would have banned medical care in response to gender dysphoria.

Kansas Senate Bill 63, also known as the Help, Not Harm Act would have prohibited medical intervention such as the prescription of puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery for children. The bill also prohibited the use of state funds to promote gender transitioning. Kelly called the legislation divisive and and infringement on parental rights.

This flu season appears to be one of the worst in nearly 15 years.

That's according to recently released numbers by the Centers for Disease Control. According to the CDC, last week saw the highest peak of doctor's office visits by people reporting flu-like symptoms since 2009. School children are often hit hard by the flu virus. Principal of Thayer Schools K through 8, Aaron Rehmert says they have seen a lot of students out sick this week.

Overall, 43 states have reported high or very high flu activity last week. The CDC reports that there have been at least 24 million flu illnesses so far this season, with more than 300,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths, including 57 children. Dr Michael Garko says there are some things you can do to increase your chances of staying well.

Ways to keep your immune system strong include eating a balanced diet, washing your hands thoroughly, and getting adequate sleep. Flu shots can also reduce illness, doctor's visits, and missed work and school, while making symptoms less severe.

Independence Community College announces the hiring of their new Sports Information Director.

Kaleb Jones comes to ICC after spending two and a half years in the College of Southern Idaho Athletic Department. Before that, he spent two summers in the front office and broadcast booth with the Portland Pickles Baseball Club in the West Coast League, and a year as part of the broadcast crew at Portland State University. As a former student-athlete, Jones played baseball for two years at Treasure Valley Community College, where he earned his Associates degree, and for two years at Concordia University, where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management.

Athletic Director Melissa Anderson says Jones' experience and passion for athletics will be a great asset to their athletic department and their student-athletes. Jones will be responsible for managing all aspects of media relations, including press releases, website content, social media and game day coverage.

 Learning to drive can be a challenging and nerve-wracking experience, especially in areas where fatal accident rates are higher than average. According to a new study by personal injury attorneys Foster Wallace, five-year data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was analyzed on drivers and pedestrians involved in fatal crashes in Kansas counties.

 Research shows between 2018 and 2022, Marion County recorded a rate of 22.07 drivers involved in fatal car accidents per 10,000 people; the highest rate in Kansas.

 However, Montgomery County has the second highest average for drivers in Kansas. 17.83 drivers were involved in fatal traffic collisions per 10,000 people between 2018 and 2022 - six times more than the rate of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Johnson County, Kansas’s safest county for drivers. In Johnson, just 2.92 drivers per 10,000 people were involved in fatal crashes between 2018 and 2022 - lower than any other county in Kansas.

 To avoid the risk of fatal crashes, drivers should plan their journeys in advance and leave plenty of time to eliminate last-minute rushing. It’s important to check weather and driving conditions before you head out. Make sure your vehicle is in roadworthy condition, check the brakes are working properly, and follow basic driving safety rules - no texting or other distractions, obey speed limits, and ensure you’re well-rested. 

A Roosevelt Middle School student wins $1000 for the second time in as many games.

During Field Kindley home basketball games the Nado Booster Club holds a fundraiser sponsored by Solutions North Bank for a Halftime Shooting Contest. Raffle tickets are sold for a dollar each or six for $5 and if your ticket is drawn you get 35 seconds to hit a layup, free throw, three-pointer and a half-court shot. RMS 8^th Grader Coltin Clark had the winning ticket during halftime of the Lady Nado game against Columbus. He hit the layup, free throw and three-pointer all in one attempt and had 20 seconds to hit the half-court shot. Clark missed the first half-court attempt and got the ball back with 14 seconds left on the clock.

One of Clark's friends had the winning ticket last Friday in the boy's matchup against Pittsburg. He chose Clark to compete in the competition for him where Clark hit the half-court shot. After that make, Clark says part of the $1,000 won would go to the friend and the rest would be saved to go towards a car for when he turns 16. The Nado have two home games left in the regular season so fans have four more chances to win $1000 for themselves.

A 31-year-old Wichita woman is arrested following accusations of sexual abuse by a former youth athlete.

Sedgwick County booking records show Savana King was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on charges of unlawful sexual relations, criminal sodomy, two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child. The arrest stems from recent allegations made by a now 18-year-old female who stated she was sexually assaulted by King when King was her softball coach. The assaults are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2024 when the victim was under age.

The case remains under investigation.

Three Colorado residents are in custody in Hamilton County in western Kansas after a traffic stop reveals the presence of drugs.

A traffic stop in the City of Syracuse on Saturday evening led to the arrests of 60-year-old Tony Jiron and 39-year-old Ashley Romero, both of La Junta, CO, as well as 44-year-old William Dunagan of Lamar, CO. A K-9 search of the vehicle revealed 44 grams of methamphetamine, 33 grams of cocaine, more than 200 fentanyl pills, and over $5,000 in cash.

All three were booked into the Hamilton County Jail on multiple drug-related charges.

The Nowata County Commission hears from the County Emergency Manager regarding a bill currently before the Oklahoma Legislature.

Emergency Manager Laurie Summers says the new house bill involves the [possible creation of a volunteer corps.

In other business, the commission continued the discussion of ongoing courthouse improvements, with this week's topic involving the exhaust vents in the jail and the possibility of shutting off hot and cold water for maintenance near the mapping office.

Commissioners also passed a motion to approve a right-of-way acquisition for Guy Engineering on a tributary on a bridge at Lightning Creek.

The Osage County Commission discusses mobile shelving for the County Clerk's Office.

At this week's meeting,  opening bids for mobile shelving for the new annex building were the main topic for debate.

There was one bid from Midwest Printing Company for nearly $180,000. The shelving would be used in the County Clerk's office and could have seen a reduction in price had the county used some of the shelving from the existing courthouse, but Dalton Higgins with Higgins Construction says he advises against using those shelves.

The commission voted to accept the bid. In other business,  the Board renewed a contract with Eagleview Pictometry for just over $188,000 to assist the County Assessor's Office. There were also two utility permits signed.

An Ohio man is in custody in Mayes County, OK, after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car..

A License Plate Reader or LPR alerted police in Pryor Creek of a stolen vehicle on US-69 yesterday morning. When officers attempted to pull the 2021 Dodge Challenger over, the driver fled at a high rate of speed, heading south to Chouteau and then west on Highway 412. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol eventually deployed stop sticks after the chase exceeded speeds of 160 mph.

The driver of the Challenger – 23-year-old Jacob Romanos of Columbus, OH – was taken into custody. A loaded firearm and stolen license plates were also found in the car. Romanos now faces charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony eluding, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He is currently being held in the Mayes County Jail in Pryor.

The USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer School Board says it needs more time to consider a proposal to switch all buildings in the district to LED lighting.

At last night's meeting, both Superintendent Travis Githens and Director of Maintenance

Marvin Hestand supported the proposal. Hestand says now is a good time to make the change.

However, Board member Robert John voiced his opposition to the measure that would spend nearly $300,000 to make the change in all of the district's buildings. John says he's concerned that the estimated energy savings from the move would not be enough to pay for the project.

After a lengthy discussion, the measure was tabled until next month's meeting to allow for more information to be gathered on the potential savings.

In other business, the Board also tabled the approval of new regulations from the Kansas Association of School Boards regarding how money earned through fundraising activities would be handled by the district. Board member Jonathan Booe wanted stronger language in the rules to ensure that all money would be directed to district-owned bank accounts.

Board members unanimously approved a measure that would move a possible replacement plan for the Cherryvale High School track from the proposal stage to the bidding stage of the four-stage process.

The next meeting of the USD 447 School Board will be on March 10^th.

A Lawrence County, Missouri, man arrested for shooting an Amazon driver with a pellet gun last week now faces a first-degree murder charge after the victim dies.

64-year-old Thomas Coy of Wentworth, MO, was arrested last week after allegedly shooting an Amazon driver in the head with a pellet gun. The incident caused the driver to crash her vehicle into an open field. When emergency crews took the woman to a nearby hospital, doctors discovered that she had been shot in the head.

Authorities say the victim – 23-year-old Jasmine Taylor – passed away from her injuries at Joplin's Mercy Hospital on Sunday.

Coy remains in the Lawrence County Jail.

A Bartlesville man is facing a felony charge for drug trafficking after police allegedly confiscated meth from his vehicle.

43-year-old Eric Hoffman was charged with one felony count of trafficking a controlled dangerous substance after he was pulled over for a traffic stop on February 8. A K9 officer was called for assistance and over 60 grams of methamphetamine were allegedly located in the vehicle along with various unlawful paraphernalia.

Hoffman also faces misdemeanor charges for unlawful use of paraphernalia and a defective vehicle.

His bond is set at $50,000.