Here is a list of upcoming parades across the KGGF listening area.  If you have a parade to add to the list we may have missed, please email it to news@kggfradio.com or call 620-251-3800.

Pittsburg, KS – Monday, December 1^st – 6:30 p.m.

Joplin, MO – Tuesday, December 2^nd – 6 p.m.

Neodesha, KS – Wednesday, December 3^rd – 6 p.m.

Oswego, KS – Wednesday, December 3^rd – 6 p.m.

Columbus, KS – Wednesday, December 3^rd – 7 p.m.

Fort Scott, KS – Thursday, December 4^th – 6 p.m.

Girard, KS – Thursday, December 4^th – 6 p.m.

Chanute, KS – Thursday, December 4^th – 6:30 p.m.

Vinita, OK – Thursday, December 4^th – 6:30 p.m.

Caney, KS – Thursday, December 4^th – 7 p.m. (Broadcast on KUSN 98.1)

Parsons, KS – Thursday, December 4^th – 7 p.m.

Coffeyville, KS – Friday, December 5^th – 6 p.m. (Broadcast on KQQF 98.9)

Rogers, AR – Friday, December 5^th – 6:30 p.m.

Picher, OK – Saturday, December 6^th – 10 a.m.

Bluejacket, OK - Saturday, December 6th - 11 a.m.

Quapaw, OK – Saturday, December 6^th – Noon

Riverton, KS – Saturday, December 6^th – Noon

Galena, KS – Saturday, December 6^th – 4 p.m.

South Coffeyville, OK – Saturday, December 6^th – 5:30 p.m.

Cherryvale, KS – Saturday, December 6^th – 5:30 p.m.

Miami, OK – Saturday, December 6^th – 6 p.m.

Baxter Springs, KS – Saturday, December 6^th – 6 p.m.

Fredonia, KS – Saturday, December 6^th – 6 p.m.

Disney, OK - Saturday, December 6th - 6 p.m.

Bartlesville, OK – Saturday, December 6^th – 6:30 p.m.

Sedan, KS – Saturday, December 6^th – 6:30 p.m.

Pryor, OK - Saturday, December 6th - 7 p.m.

Chetopa, KS – Wednesday, December 10^th – 6:30 p.m.

Ketchum, OK - Thursday, December 11th - 6:30 p.m.

Altamont, KS – Friday, December 12^th – 7 p.m.

Edna, KS – Saturday, December 13^th – 2 p.m. (Craft fair 8 – 3)

Jay, OK – Saturday, December 13^th – 2 p.m.

Dewey, OK – Saturday, December 13^th – 5:30 p.m.

Kansas, OK – Saturday, December 13^th – 5:30 p.m.

Grove, OK – Saturday, December 13^th – 6 p.m.

Nowata, OK – Saturday, December 13^th - 6 p.m.

Noel, MO – Saturday, December 20^th – 6 p.m.

The first snowfall of the year for the area is expected on Monday.

According to the National Weather Service, light to moderate snow will spread across the area on Monday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Snow accumulation is mainly expected across central and northeast Kansas. Coffeyville areas along the Kansas-Oklahoma line have a lower chance of seeing snow accumulation, but snowfall chances increase further north of Montgomery County.

Independence Fire and EMS are hosting their annual Stuff the Ambulance event today, tomorrow, and Sunday from 10 AM – 2 PM at the Independence Walmart,

They're collecting new toys and monetary donations to help make Christmas special for kids in the foster care system.

If you’re in a position to give, organizers say even the smallest contribution can make a huge difference in a child’s holiday.

 A three-vehicle collision yesterday afternoon on US-169 near County Road E 16 injures four people.

 The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says traffic was stopped for a seperate crash when a southbound vehicle driven by 77-year-old Maudie Dye of Nowata struck a car driven by 24-year-old Preston Rogers of Lenapah, pushing it into a third vehicle driven by 39-year-old Santiago Jaimes Serrano of Tulsa.

 All three drivers were injured, as well as a passenger in Rogers’ vehicle. All were wearing seatbelts.

 A former Goodman, Missouri Police Chief and McDonald County Sheriff's Deputy faces charges of stealing livestock.

 25-year-old Samuel Townsend was charged with two felony counts of theft or stealing two registered black Angus bulls from a location in Goodman, then taking them to the Joplin Stockyard and selling them for over $5,500.

 Authorities also say Townsend allegedly contacted the Joplin Stockyards when he found out about the investigation, asking them to stop payment and change the name on the payment check.

 Townsend was the chief of police in Goodman in 2023, but resigned in August of 2024 after losing his bid for McDonald County Sheriff.

Townsend initial court appearance is scheduled for January 7^th.

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

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

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

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

The City of Independence welcomes its newest police officer.

Dane Blumer was recently sworn in to serve the citizens of Independence. Police Chief Dustin Stafford says Blumer has always been the kind of person who wants to help others.

Blumer graduated from the Police Academy in October. Here, he takes the oath of office.

With his training complete and his badge on his uniform, Blumer now begins his patrol on the streets of Independence.

The controversy surrounding EMS services in Neodesha continues despite recent meetings between the City and the County Commission.

The City of Neodesha has been looking for a solution that would allow it to continue to provide EMS services to its citizens. The City Commission appears ready to commit to an agreement with Labette Health to provide those services despite recent objections from the Wilson County Commission and Fredonia EMS. At this week's City Commission meeting, Neodesha residents were once again on hand to voice their concerns. One man says he thinks there should be more unity in Wilson County and that the City should partner with Fredonia.

Another citizen says he takes the opposite view.

The City says Fredonia was given an opportunity, but Labette Health presented the more complete plan. Mayor Devin Johnson says, that's what happened, despite what others may say.

Currently, the agreement is under review by Labette Health. City Administrator Brogan Jones told the commission that they may have the agreement back as soon as next week.

While Thanksgiving has passed, local charities are now shifting their full attention to helping people during the Christmas season.

Earlier this month, Touch of Life Ministries and Gorham's Handyman Service served 107 people with a free chili feed. Now, the group is planning another meal for Saturday, December 13^th from noon to 4 p.m. at 501 E 9^th Street in Coffeyville.

Organizer Jessica Gorham says they plan to serve turkey and noodles, rolls and dessert. Donations needed include cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup and egg noodles. They're also looking for boxes of brownie mix for dessert. Anyone who wishes to donate can call 620-333-4615.

Many city offices around the area, including the City of Coffeyville, will be closed today due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Residential trash service normally picked up on Fridays in Coffeyville will not be picked up today either.

Trash will instead be collected tomorrow morning. Coffeyville residents are asked to have their polycarts at the curb by 5 a.m. tomorrow to ensure a timely pickup.

Anyone with questions should contact Waste Connections, 877-336-3161 or email customerservice5029@wasteconnecitons.com.

The Coffeyville Police Department is approved to take part in a federal program through U.S. Immigration and Customs.

The Coffeyville Police Department has been approved to participate in the federal program under ICE’s Task Force Model, which grants specially trained officers limited authority to assist with federal immigration enforcement only in specific situations, such as when an individual already in CPD custody has an ICE detainer.

Police Chief Kwin Bromley and City Manager Ben Brubaker stressed that the program will not change CPD’s community-focused approach, does not involve proactive immigration sweeps, and will not affect how officers respond to calls for service. Instead, it allows CPD to legally hold individuals with existing ICE detainers and collaborate with ICE when federal immigration law intersects with local criminal investigations.

City officials emphasized that the initiative is rooted in public safety, protects due process, and maintains equal treatment for all Coffeyville residents, with a continued commitment to transparency.

A Holcomb farmer is indicted by a federal grand jury for filing a fraudulent crop loss insurance claim.

The indictment came from a grand jury in Wichita against 54-year-old David L. Mongeau. Mongeau faces two counts of making a false statement and 17 counts of bank fraud or attempted bank fraud. The indictment alleges that Mongeau filed a false claim for crop loss and then received payment after failing to disclose thousands of bushels of wheat that he reported as ruined.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating the case. Prosecution will be handled by an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Area residents are invited to Independence today to enjoy a new walking trail and get in a little exercise before Thanksgiving dinner.

The 2025 Turkey Trot happens this morning in Riverside Park. The family-friendly run/walk takes place on the new Verdigris Vista Trail. Lacey Lies with the City of Independence says it's a fun way to fit in a little exercise on the holiday.

Check-in begins at 9:30 tomorrow morning at the trail head located near Miss Able's Snack Shack at Riverside Park. The trail is stroller accessible and dogs on leashes are also welcome. The Turkey Trot begins at 10am.

Violent crimes rates across the state of Kansas fell in 2024 and the City of Coffeyville shows a similar trend.

Coffeyville Police Chief Kwin Bromley says there are several reason behind the drop in crime rates.

The overall crime rate in Kansas for 2024 fell 7% from 2023. Murders dropped by 25% and burglaries fell by nearly 19%. Bromley says crime rates are ranked from highest to lowest, noting that all cities have improved in the past year.

Bromley adds that there are some simple tips people can follow to avoid crime this holiday season. Those include securing your home and vehicle by locking doors and windows, ensure that dark areas and entrances have outdoor lights that are turned on after dark or are activated by sensors, and keep trees and shrubbery trimmed so they do not conceal doors and windows.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Toronto public water supply in Woodson County.

The original advisory was issued because the City could not maintain the minimum chlorine residual throuhgout the entire system, outting the system at risk for bacterial contamination. Recent laboratory testing of the City of Toronto water supply showed no contamination and the K-D-H-E has determined that all conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.

The City of Coffeyville Cold Weather Rule goes into effect on Monday.

The Cold Weather Rule is designed to help safeguard households during periods of freezing temperatures. From December 1 through March 1, the City will not discontinue electric service to any residential customer if forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate temperatures will drop below 32°F within the following 24 hours. This ensures residents are not left without electricity when weather conditions may pose health and safety risks. The Cold Weather Rule Policy works in conjunction with the City’s existing utility ordinances and includes requirements for customers to remain in good standing.

A link for the full ordinance that includes complete details on rights, responsibilities, and exceptions under the Cold Weather Rule Policy can be found at this link.

For questions about billing or payment options, contact Utility Billing at: 620-252-6100.

Food is a big part of the holidays but the food isn't for everyone or everything. Coffeyville Friends of Animals Becky Barnhart says to watch what is being fed to pets.

Barnhart says to have treats out so they can be given to the pets instead of scraps off of a plate. She says to also watch out for dogs who might get anxious around a larger group of people.

Coffeyville's Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring bells at King Food Saver and Walmart leading up to Christmas.

Organizer Joe Brooks says those interested should give him a call.  Brooks says in addition to the bell ringers they will have small counter kettles setup in businesses around town.

Brooks says anyone who needs community service hours can get them by ringing the bells outside of those two businesses. He says if they have the volunteers they'll ring every day excepts Sundays until Christmas. Brooks' number is (620)870- 9261.

Police in Salina, Kansas, are looking for suspects in a pair of recent thefts from ATMs.

The thefts occurred over the weekend at two Bennington State Bank branches in Salina. The first happened on Saturday evening around 8pm and the second on Sunday afternoon around 1pm. The thieves were seen on surveillance video driving a white Lincoln passenger car. The license plate was visible, but had been reported stolen from another vehicle just prior to the first theft.

The thieves got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. The crime is thought to be connected to a similar theft that occurred recently in Wamego.

The investigation into the crimes remains ongoing.

Photo courtesy Salina Police Department

There are several road construction projects set to get underway next week in Miami.

On Monday, December 1, Steve Owens Boulevard will be closed to through traffic starting at 7am. The street will remain clsoed through the evening hours on Tuesday to allow B-N-S-F Railroad to complete repairs to a crossing in the area.

On Wednesday, December 2, US-69A/Mushroom Farm Road will be closed at 7am through Thursday evening for a similar project.

Detours will be marked. Drivers are asked to use caution in the area or find an alternate route.

The City of Humboldt is getting some help in repairing their water system from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

KDHE is providing nearly $13 million in loans to help the city revitalize its water system, including the rehabilitation of the city water treatment plant, the recoating of three storage tanks, upgrades to the distribution system, and the installation of new meters with an automated reading system.

Completion of the project will help ensure safe drinking water for the long-term future for the City's 964 water customers.

The financing was made possible through KDHE with joint funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, using the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund. Since 1997, the Fund has provided more than $1.5 billion to Kansas municipalities to finance drinking water infrastructure.

The Montgomery County Treasurer's Office announces that the final round of property tax statements were sent out to residents this week.

The statements were mailed on Monday so residents should expect to receive them sometime this week. The first half of property taxes are due on December 20. That date falls on a weekend this year, so payments will be accepted on Monday, December 22, without penalty. Payments sent by mail must be post marked by December 22^nd to avoid late fees.

In-person payments can be made at both the Independence Office at 217 East Myrtle or at the Coffeyville Office at 128 West 8^th during regular office hours, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm, though the Independence Office is closed during the noon hour.

Payments can also be made online through the State of Kansas payment portal. 

Those with questions should contact the Montgomery County Treasurer's Office at 620-330-1100.

The Thanksgiving holiday will prompts some changes to the trash pickup schedule in Fredonia.

The City of Fredonia says Thursday trash puckup routes will move to Monday, December 1 and asks that residents south of Washington Street to have trash at the curb and ready for pickup by 7am on Monday morning.

Local business scheduled for Friday pickup will have their trash collected either on Saturday or on Monday.

Anyone with questions should contact the Fredonia City Hall.

Area residents are invited to Independence tomorrow to enjoy a new walking trail and get in a little exercise before Thanksgiving dinner.

The 2025 Turkey Trot happens tomorrow morning in Riverside Park. The family-friendly run/walk takes place on the new Verdigris Vista Trail. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says it should be a nice day for a pleasant trip down the new trail,

Check-in begins at 9:30 tomorrow morning at the trail head located near Miss Able's Snack Shack at Riverside Park. The trail is stroller accessible and dogs on leashes are also welcome. The Turkey Trot begins at 10am.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will hold an open house in Altamont on proposed improvements to US-160 in Labette and Montgomery Counties.

There will be no formal presentation at the event, but citizens will be able to view project exhibits to learn more about the proposals. Project staff will also be on hand to answer any questions. The proposed improvements to US-160 are still in the discovery phase. This is the point in the project where planners gather essential information to help determine where and what should be built, why it should be done and whether or not the project is viable. None of the proposed projects are currently funded for design or construction. Public input received during the open house will help KDOT determine what will be done.

The project's goal is to improve US-160 from Gartner Avenue in Altamont, west to US-169. Possible improvements include widening the driving lanes, improving existing curves, and adding shoulders.

The open house will be held at the Altamont City Park Building and Community Center on Thursday, December 11, from 5 to7 pm.

The Neodesha City Commission is set to take action on a proposed agreement with Labette Health for EMS services in the City.

The issue has been an ongoing source of contention between the City and Wilson County. Today's meeting will give city commissioners the opportunity to either approve or deny the agreement. Also on today's agenda is the consideration of bids for the surface prep and painting of the City pool as well as the renewal of health insurance for city employees.

Today's Neodesha City Commission meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

The City of Cherryvale announces the holiday schedule for trash pickup this week.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, trash trucks in Cherryvale will not run their regular route tomorrow. Those with a normal Thursday pickup day will have their trash collected on Friday instead. To ensure a timely pickup, residents are asked to have their trash at the curb on Thursday evening, because trash routes will begin at 2am on Friday morning.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and that means lots of people will be busy cooking a turkey for the big family gathering.

The Wilson County Rural Fire Department reminds residents that more fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. With the popularity of turkey fryers, fire department across the counttry respond to more than 1,000 fires a year involving turkey fryers. According to the National Fire Protection Association, deep fryers cause an average of 5 deaths, 60 injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage each year.

Wilson County Rural Fire has a few tips to ensure a safe, fire-free Thanksgiving. Keep yopur turkey fryer outside and a safe distance away from any building or wooden structures. Do not overfill the fryer with oil. Do not place a frozen or partially thawed bird in the oil and never leave a fryer unattended while cooking. And keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

Following a few safety tips can make sure everyone has a safe and fun Thanksgiving holiday.

The Coffeyville City Commission approves a $600,000 loan to a community group to aid in the potential repair of the USD 445 Natorium roof.

At this week's meeting, the Friends of the Charlesworth Natorium spoke to the commission asking for not only support in this project but also financial help. Group Representative Ryan Thompson says they've raised around one million of the estimated $1.6 million needed for their part in the project.  The estimated total cost of the project is $2.4 million, with the school district agreeing to pay the estimated cost of demolition at around $800,000. Mayor Deborah Maples makes the motion for approval of the loan.

The money for this loan comes from a fund set aside for economic development, which has about $1.2 million in it. The USD 445 school board is likely to make a decision on the natorium at their December 8^th board meeting. The district has been considering the option of roof repair since finding out the condition of the roof when new HVAC units were being installed earlier this year.

The suspect in a Bartlesville stabbing now faces felony charges.

21-year-old Malachi Walker was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The incident happened last Friday night at Westside Pub. According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Walker stabbed the victim after an argument turned physical over a game of pool. Walker admitted to authorities the he stabbed the victim.

He will appear in court again on December 5^th at 9:00am and his bond is set at $50,000.

A Pawhuska man is charged following an officer-involved shooting that left two Osage County deputies injured.

44-year-old William Francis Copple was charged in Osage County District Court with two counts of shooting with intent to kill and one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm. His bond is set at a million dollars.

The charges stem from a standoff on November 12^th at a home in Pawhuska. Police say Copple barricaded himself inside the residence, threatened officers, and later opened fire when law enforcement entered the home. Two deputies were shot but are expected to recover. Copple suffered a minor injury before being taken into custody.

The City of Independence fall leaf pick up is underway.

The City's curbside program began last week and is slated to continue through February. Pick up dates and times depend on location as the City has been divided into 15 different zones. This week's pick up area is zone 2, located south of Main Street between 12^th and 17^th Streets.

Citizens are reminded that leaves should be left in piles no more than 5 feet from the curb and should be free of debris, including brush, rocks, bricks, or other miscellaneous items.

A map of the pick up zones and a schedule can be found at this link.

The Neodesha City Commission is set to take action on a proposed agreement with Labette Health for EMS services in the City.

The issue has been an ongoing source of contention between the City and Wilson County. Tomorrow's meeting will give city commissioners the opportunity to either approve or deny the agreement. Also on tomorrow's agenda is the consideration of bids for the surface prep and painting of the City pool as well as the renewal of health insurance for city employees.

Tomorrow's Neodesha City Commission meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

Osage County, Oklahoma, is starting to see the pay off from tourism spending.

At this week's commission meeting, County Tourism Director Mary Beth says online ads are picking up.

Commissioner Charlie Cartwright says he's seen some of the online ads.

The Osage County Commission meets every Monday at the Osage County Fairgrounds in Pawhuska.

This Thanksgiving will likely see a record number of Americans on the road and in the skies.

Triple-A predicts 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home this week. That number is 1.6 million more than last Thanksgiving and is a new overall record for travelers during the holiday season, surpassing even pre-Covid numbers. Shawn Steward with Triple-A Kansas says many of those travelers will be on the nation's highways.

Steward says those numbers mean that roads may be more congested with heavier traffic than in years past.

The good news for Kansans is that gas prices have fallen slightly to a state-wide average of $2.72 a gallon for regular unleaded.

Triple-A expects around 6 million people are expected to travel by air this week, though there may be fewer people traveling by plane this week due to the recent disruptions in air travel caused by the federal government shutdown.

An Iola woman is dead following a Sunday evening crash.

The three-vehicle accident occurred around 6pm Sunday night on Old US-169 just south of Iola.

According to the Allen County Sheriff's Office, a 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by 76-year-old Deana Foster was northbound on the highway when it went left-of-center and side-swiped a southbound Jeep Wrangler. The Silverado continued and then struck a 2024 Honda HR-V. This second collision caused the Silverado to leave the roadway and overturn, trapping Foster inside the vehicle.

EMS was able to extract Foster from the truck and transport her to a nearby hospital. She was later transferred to a hospital in Kansas City, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The driver of the Jeep was uninjured in the crash while the driver of the Honda refused medical treatment at the scene.

The Montgomery County commission has a discussion on a county-wide sales tax during the public comment portion of this week’s meeting.

A resident from the southern part of the county asked Montgomery County Commissioners if they were planning any action on a county sales tax. Commissioners stated there had been some discussion on the matter. Commission Chair Mike Cordray says they want to proceed cautiously on the issue.

County Administrator Jonathan Booe says the county must take care to balance financial needs with those of taxpayers.

Only a handful of Kansas counties do not have a county-wide sales tax and Montgomery County has only done it a limited number of times to raise funds for a specific purpose. Commissioner Robert Bever says, if the county opts for such a tax, he would like to see the funds go to the Sheriff's Office or the Road and Bridges.

Since the discussion was not an agenda item at yesterday’s meeting, no action was taken. However, commissioners said they plan to take up the issue officially in January.

There will be some changes to the trash collection schedule for Coffeyville this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

The City of Coffeyville Offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday. In observance of the holiday, residential trash collection will run on Saturday, November 29. Residents are asked to have their polycarts at the curb by 5am on Saturday to ensure a timely pickup.

Anyone with questions should contact Waste Connections, 877-336-3161 or email customerservice5029@wasteconnecitons.com

Harvest continues to wrap up across Kansas, with most corn and soybeans harvested.

That's according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, which also reports that winter wheat is 70% emerged in southeast Kansas, compared with the statewide average of 90%.

Pasture and range conditions across the state are rated 8% poor or very poor, 30% fair, 54% good and 8% excellent.

The Coffeyville Community College Technical Campus received a special visit today from Senator Jerry Moran.

Senator Moran was in Southeast Kansas today making stops in Coffeyville, Sedan, and Howard. He says he was excited to see the work that CCC has put into the Commercial Driver's License Program.

With the help of funding, CCC was able to add a state-of-the-art truck simulator for students in the program, that allows them to gain hours behind the wheel in a variety of scenarios and conditions. Moran says that was one of the highlights of the visit.

Senator Moran also received a tour of the auto shop lab, as well as receiving updates from multiple members of the Coffeyville Leadership Team, including President Dr. Marlon Thornburg, and Vice President for Career and Technical Education Heather Pollet.

A teacher at a local technical school is arrested and charged with felony counts of sexual battery and being in possession of child sexual abuse material.

Sean Edwards was arrested after a student disclosed a relationship between Edwards and another Tech School student to a school resource officer. An affidavit states the disclosing student completed a written witness statement describing the relationship between Edwards and the juvenile. The student described inappropriate touching, kissing, finding reasons to be alone together on school grounds and going to non-school functions after hours.

According to authorities, both the student and Edwards had their phones seized and a search warrant was issued to search the phones. The search revealed that they had been communicating over the phone and there was evidence of a sexual relationship. An affidavit states Edwards was in possession of child sexual abuse material on his phone. Edwards posted a $100,000 bond and is due back in court on Friday, December 19^th.

The Bartlesville Police Department is investigating a stabbing.

Friday evening, BPD officers were called to the scene at the Westside Pub in the 1800 block of SW Frank Phillips Boulevard at around 7:20pm. Officers at the scene found a man with a stab wound to the abdomen.

Police say the suspect remained at the scene and was detained without incident. The victim was taken to a Tulsa hospital for treatment. The Criminal Investigations Division is continuing to review the circumstances of the attack. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bartlesville Police at 918-338-4001.

One is dead in a fatality crash in Wilson County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened just before 1:00am, about 10 miles northwest of Fredonia.

Early this morning a 2023 Ram Promaster van, driven by 32-year-old Bradley Plec of Graniteville, South Carolina, was traveling westbound when it crossed the center line into the eastbound lane. An eastbound 2016 Volvo semi, driven by 50-year-old Sergiu Ionas of Morton Grove, Illinois, moved toward the shoulder and braked, but the vehicles collided head-on near the eastbound shoulder.

Plec was ejected and died at the scene. The report notes it is unknown whether he was wearing a seatbelt. Ionas was transported to Fredonia Regional Hospital with possible injuries after complaining of pain. He was wearing a seatbelt.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday night in Basehor.

Deputies in from the Leavenworht County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of threats against an individual around 10:20 Friday night. The victim descibe the suspect's vehicle as a white Honda SUV. The SUV was soon located nearby. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled. As deputies pursued the Honda, multiple shot were fired from the vehicle. The chase ended when the suspect's vehilce collided with another car. A male passenger then exited the vehicle and fired on deputies again before fleeing on foot. The female driver identified as 29-year-old Mariah Huggins of Kansas City, Kansas, was taken into custody at the scene.

The male suspect continued to flee, breaking into a nearby residence, before he was found hiding in a truck bed and arrested. He has been identified as 33-year-old Andrew Amundson of Leavenworth. Both suspects have been booked into the Leavenwiorth County Jail on outstanding warrants. Additional charges stemming from this incident are expected.

One Leavenworth County Sheriff's deputy was injured in the chase when he crashed his patrol cruiser. That deputy was treated for his injuries and released.

There will be a fun event happening tomorrow at the City Library in Howard.

Residents of all ages are invited to stop by the library and take part in a cookie decorating activity. Those in attendance will be able to decorate a pumpkin cookie just in time for Thanksgiving. The event happens from 4:30 to 5:30 tomorrow at the Howard City Library, located at 126 Wabash Street

Charges against the teen driver involved in the crash that killed 60-year-old Galena resident Gary LaTurner in 2023 have been dismissed.

The Cherokee County Attorney’s Office released a statement on the case on Friday. The statement indicates that an investigation by the Kansas Highway Patrol found that LaTurner had been walking in the roadway when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Rocco Joseph, who was a juvenile when the accident occurred in August 2023. The driver was found not to be liable in the collision.

Following the accident, the teen notified his father 54-year-old John H. Joseph. John Joseph prevented his son from taking further actions to alert authorities. He was prosecuted and found guilty of criminal interference in the investigation and sentenced to 12 months probation last week.

U.S. 400 northwest of Fredonia is shut down this morning at the K-39 junction.

According to a KDOT worker, the highway has been shut down since 1 this morning due to a fatality accident.  Drivers should avoid the area and use an alternate route.  Stay tuned for further information as details become available.

Downtown Independence was packed with people last night for the annual Holiday Open House and Parade.

This year's parade lasted about 40 minutes and featured a wide variety of entries, including the Independence High School Band playing Christmas favorites.

KGGF Staff broadcast the parade on Sonshine 98.9, and a video of the parade is also available below.  The broadcast was brought to you by Schenck Insurance, Dave's Body Shop, Independence Overhead Door, Advanced Physical Therapy, Mr. Reid's Workshop, Cherry Bowl Lanes and Muffin Tops Bakery.

Upcoming parades include the Caney Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 4^th and the Coffeyville Parade on Friday the 5^th. Both will also be broadcast on air and on Facebook live.

The City of Independence and the Ad Astra Trails Collective will be hosting a run/walk on the new Verdigris Vista Trail on Thanksgiving morning.

Lacey Lies from the City of Independence says it's a great way to enjoy some fun family fitness before the Thanksgiving meal.

The 2025 Turkey Trot begins at the Verdigris Vista Trailhead located near Miss Able’s Snack Shack in Riverside Park. The path is 2.3 miles along the newly opened Verdigris Vista Trail and follows the former Interurban train path to Wells Drive. From there, the natural surface hiking trail travels along the banks of the Verdigris River before looping back to the park.

The event is not a race, but is designed for a casual, family-friendly walk or run on Thanksgiving morning. The trail is stroller-friendly and dogs on leashes are welcome, too.

Check-in begins at 9:30 and the Turkey Trot begins at 10 on Thursday. Participants are advised to wear weather-appropriate clothing and good shoes and bring a water bottle. To register, follow this link.

A minor child is injured following a two-vehicle accident Friday in Crawford County.

The accident occurred just after noon on US-69, just south of K-47 between Frontenac and Arma.

A pickup truck was traveling westbound on 610 Avenue and failed to yield to traffic on US-69. That failure caused a 2021 Honda Pilot to leave the roadway of US-69 and strike a fixed object. The driver of the Honda 41-year-old Jennifer Kim of Olathe was not injured. However, a 13-year-old female in her car sustained minor injuries and was taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg. Two other passengers in the Honda were also uninjured.

Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriff's Office

The Dearing Fire Department works a single-vehicle accident south of Dearing.

Yesterday, just before 3 p.m., Dearing Fire and Coffeyville Regional Medical Center EMS were dispatched to a truck that went off CR 3900 south of Dearing. There were no injuries reported and the impact to traffic in the area was minimal.

Photo: Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography

The Altamont City Council closes a bridge south of the City.

The closure of the bridge located on Meade Road between 13,000 Road and US-160 occurred after an inspection report of the bridge was released by the Kansas Department of Transportation. According to KDOT, the bridge was originally built in 1910 and was found to be structurally deficient.

The bridge is to remain closed until further notice. Drivers in the area are asked to plan an alternate route.

A weekend fire destroys a family-owned hardware store in Eureka.

Reports of a fire at S&L Hardware at 1518 East River Street in Eureka came in just before 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Fire crews from the Eureka Fire Department arrived on the scene to find the structure fully engulfed in flames with heavy smoke coming from the building. The blaze was brought under control and extinguished but there was considerable damage to the building. The State Fire Marshal believes the cause of the fire was electrical in nature.

Assisting on the call were the Greenwood County Fire Department, Greenwood County Sheriff's Office, Greenwood County EMS, Evergy, Atmos, and the American Red Cross.

A 57-year-old Elsmore man is injured following a Friday morning crash in Neosho County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says Glen Alan True was southbound on US-59 just south of Rooks Road just before 7am. His 2021 Jeep Wrangler left the roadway to the right and then struck a private driveway embankment. The collision caused the Jeep to go airborne and then roll multiple times. True was taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment.

An Altoona woman is dead after being struck by a train while walking across the railroad tracks.

21-year-old Angel Stephens suffered fatal injuries on Saturday afternoon when she was hit by a train while crossing the railroad tracks near Commercial and 7th Street in Altoona. Stephens was walking west along 7th Street around 3pm when she stepped onto the tracks and into the path of a northbound Union Pacific train. Investigators from the Kansas Highway Patrol says they believe Stephens did not hear or see the train before attempting to cross the tracks.

The Montgomery County Commission will meet today and discuss a resolution to set guidelines for the purchasing of equipment in online auction by Rural Fire.

Rural Fire Chief Michael Smith will appear before the commission today to take part in the open discussion. The purpose of the proposed resolution is to establish purchasing limits and procedures on reputable online sites such as Purple Wave and Gov Auctions without having to ask for commission approval for each purchase.

Also on today’s agenda will be quarterly reports from Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Phelps and from County Appraiser Melody Kikkert. There will also be a presentation from a representative of Holmes-Murphy on insurance policies for county employees.

Today’s meeting begins at 9am in the Commission Room on the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the County’s website.

Elk Falls sees a record attendance at the 30^th annual Outhouse Festival.

While not everyone cast a ballot, organizers say a total of 1,200 votes were tallied. A total of 23 decorated outhouses were available to tour this year, and the winners include a third-place finish by “Little Potty on the Prairie” by first-timers Karen Anderson of Howard and Geneva Triboulet of Grenola. Second place was “Tiki Pee Pee” by Karen Tuffley from Topeka. First place was won by Natalie and Travis Spruell of Farmington, New Mexico and their entry, “High Plains Floater.”

The annual outhouse tour takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving in Elk Falls.

The Christmas season kicks off this weekend in Independence.

Director of the Independence Chamber of Commerce Lisa Wilson says there will be lots of stuff to do in downtown Indy on Sunday.

The Independence Christmas parade will also be on Sunday at 5:30 and will be broadcast on Sonshine 98.9, KQQF, with live video on the KGGF Facebook page, courtesy of Schenck Insurance, Dave's Body Shop, Independence Overhead Door, Advanced Physical Therapy, Mr. Reid's Workshop, Cherry Bowl Lanes and Muffin Tops Bakery.

The suspect in a Eureka Springs double homicide is dead by his own hand in an Oklahoma jail.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Department in Arkansas, says they were informed by officials in Oklahoma that 56-year-old Travis Lee McConnell hanged himself in his jail cell. McConnell was a suspect in the deaths of 77-year-old Joy Willmeth and 71-year-old Robert Willmeth. The couple was found shot to death in their Eureka Springs home last week. McConnell was the couple's son.

McConnell was also a suspect in a first-degree assault in Lawrence County, Missouri, on November 12^th. In that incident, the suspect allegedly fired a gun at a woman and told her he had killed people in Arkansas.

McConnell was arrested in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, earlier this week and was being held in the Pittsburg County Detention Center in McAlester on a felony DUI warrant from Missouri when he took his own life.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the circumstances surrounding McConnell's death.

Google announces the company's plan to build two new data center in Muskogee County, Oklahoma.

Google data centers are large facilites for storing computer systems and other infrastrcture that runs the company's online services. They store, process, and manage data for products like YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, and other cloud services.

The new data centers will be located near Summit and Council Hill.

The expansion is part of $9billion in intvestment in Oklahoma, with the aim of expanding the company's operational scope in support of the state's burgeoning tech and energy sectors.

Authorities in Salina are investigating the recent discovery of a body found in a wooded area in the city.

Salina Police were called to the location near the Salina Family YMCA Thursday morning just before 11am. Police say the deceased individual was found in a dry creek bed in a wooded area not far from the recreational facility.

The body appeared to have been in that location for several days. No foul play is suspected, but an autopsy will be conducted.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been released, pending notification of the next of kin.

One person is dead and a teen is injured following a car accident near Great Bend.

The accident occurred just before 9pm on Wednesday night when a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by 72-year-old Mark DeWald of Great Bend crossed the center line on K-96 and collided head-on with a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by a 17-year-old. The pickup then caught fire.

DeWald was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 17-year-old sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Great Bend hospital for treatment.

The Barton County Sheriff's Office says DeWald may have had a medical incident before the crash occurred. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

The Independence City Commission gets an update on the start of a public works project.

At Thursday's meeting, City Engineer John Garris updated commissioners on the Beech Street culvert replacement project. Beech Street has been closed between Crescent and 13^th for several weeks following the collapse of the culvert. Garris says the repairs likely won't begin until the new year.

The area will remain closed to traffic until the project is complet out of concern for safety.

In other business, the commission also set the date for public hearings on seven derelict properties in the City for the February 12 meeting.

The next Independence City Commission meeting will be December 11.

Authorities in McDonald County, Missouri, identify the suspect in a officer-involved shooting that occurred last weekend.

Authorities say 32-year-old Dylan Martinez is the man who engaged in an exchange of gunfire with an off-duty deputy on Sunday morning in Powell, Missouri. The deputy was at home when he noticed an unknown vehicle parked in his driveway. As the deputy was waiting for an on-duty law enforcement officer to arrive, Martinez approached him and the car.  When the deputy identified himself as a member of the McDonald County Sheriff's Department, the man began to back away. He then produced a gun and fire at the deputy, striking him in the leg. The deputy returned fire, hitting Martinez.

Martinez was taken via Air Ambulance to a Joplin hospital and then transferred to Springfield, where he remains in critical condition. The deputy has been placed on administrative leave as the shooting is investigated

The McDonald County Sheriff's Office says Martinez was in the area where the shooting occurred because he had a prior relationship with an individual in that location and that the relationship ended in a hostile manner. Martinez is also currently a suspect in an arson investigation in Bentonville, Arkansas, where he attempted to burn the other individual’s vehicle.

The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the Allen County Rural Water District #15.

The original advisory was issued on November 18^th  because of possible contamination due to a loss pf ressure duruing a hydrant upgrade. Laboratory testing of the water supply showed no contamination and the K-D-H-E has determined that all conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.

A Bartlesville man is facing a felony charge after allegedly throwing a rock at a vehicle.

19-year-old Markell Scott was charged with throwing an object at a motor vehicle. Scott also faces misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.

According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Scott threw a rock at a moving vehicle and shattered the driver’s side window. BPD says when they approached the vehicle they smelled alcohol and Scott admitted to possessing marijuana. Officers located various drug paraphernalia, marijuana and Xanax.

Scott has multiple pending felony charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm. He will appear in court again on December 5^th and has an aggregate bond between each pending charge set at $500,000.

Deadlines are coming up for a couple of Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce related events. Chamber President Candi Westbrook says tomorrow is the last chance to submit a nomination for the Chamber Dinner Awards.

Westbrook says the link to submit those nominations can be found on their Facebook page or nominations can be called in the Chamber office. Coffeyville's Christmas Parade is coming up on December 5^th. Westbrook says parade entries are also due tomorrow.

Entries into the parade can be called into the Chamber office at (620)251-2550. Westbrook says their Christmas cash giveaway begins the day after Thanksgiving.

The final numbers for Coffeyville's 2025 Match Day are in with over $600,000 in donations being received.

Coffeyville Area Community Foundation Executive Director Sam Kudrick says she feels like saying thank you just isn't enough to say.  Kudrick says when you add the matching funds it brings the total to $730,511.12.

You can view how much organization received under the leaderboard tab at givematchgrow.com. This year's funds pushes the total economic impact of Match Day since 2013 to almost three million dollars.

Wilson County will extend the current agreement for EMS services in Neodesha, with negotiations for the future to continue up until July.

That's the latest from this week's commission meeting, which began with county commissioners entering executive session for 30 minutes with the county attorney. Commissioner Jerry Scott made the motion to take no action at this time.

A number of Wilson County citizens were present at the meeting to voice opinions on the issue. One individual says he's disappointed with the lack of collaboration between the county.

In earlier discussions, the commission asked the City of Neodesha to receive multiple proposals for long-term plans for reliable EMS service. Scott says there has been misinformation spread in recent weeks as well.

Neodesha City Administrator Brogan Jones was present on behalf of Neodesha. He says Fredonia never issued a full proposal to consider.

Following a rejected motion of approving the one-cent sales tax to Fredonia Hospital, the commission elected to extend the current model by a 2-1 vote. Commissioner Andrew Miller says, in the end, it was about what's best for constituents.

The commission will meet next on December 3rd at 9 a.m. in the Wilson County Courthouse in Fredonia.

A Salina restaurant owner wins a federal lawsuit that will allow the business to finish painting its mural.

A federal judge has sided with Steve Howard, owner of the Cozy Inn, in his dispute with the City of Salina over a mural on the exterior wall of his restaurant. The issue began in November 2023 when Howard hired an artist to paint a mural featuring a UFO and flying hamburgers on the wall of the restaurant. A few days later, the city notified him that he would not be able to finish the mural because the City considered it a sign and not artwork. Howard filed a lawsuit against the City in 2024.

The mural has been left unfinished for the past two years as the case made its way through the courts. Now, a judge has ruled that the City cannot determine if a display is a sign or artwork based on its content.

Howard says, he is excited, at long last, to be able to finish his mural.

A Joplin dentist is sentenced for his role in a fatal hit-and-run accident.

54-year-old John H. Joseph the Second was sentenced to 12 months of probation for criminal interference in the investigation of the accident that killed 60-year-old Gary LaTurner of Galena. In August 2023, LaTurner was walking along K-66 west of Galena when he was struck and killed. Police say the driver of the vehicle was Rocco Joseph, John Joseph's son. The younger Joseph has also been charged in the case.

Authorities say John Joseph was charged because he returned with his son to the scene of the accident and then left again, without reporting the crash to police. The Cherokee County Attorney's Office state that while the Kansas Highway Patrol's investigation determined that the juvenile driver involved in the initial impact was not criminally liable for the collision itself, John Joseph's actions in the aftermath of the accident obstructed the investigative process and the driver’s duty to report, and warranted felony prosecution.

Rocco Joseph is scheduled for a hearing in his case on November 24.

Drivers on US-75 in Osage County, Kansas, experienced some disruptions to travel yesterday afternoon when construction equipment hit an overpass.

Authorities say the an excavator was being hauled on a trailer when the boom arm struck the overpass of South Merrill Road, near Melvern Lake, about 25 miles southwest of Ottawa. The boom went through the overpass, piercing the roadway above. Traffic on US-75 was limited to one lane of traffic until the accident could be cleared. The bridge on South Merrill Road remains closed.

The Osage County, Kansas, Sheriff's Office says the four officers shot during a weekend domestic violence call are doing well but have a long road of recovery ahead.

Osage County Deputy Christian Moran, Corporal Clayton Hartpence, K9 Deputy James Cason, and Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Adam Ellis were injured by gunfire while responding to a call for service at a residence just north of the City of Carbondale last Saturday morning. All four officers were taken to the hospital for treatment. One was treated and released. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the two remaining hospitalized deputies shot have been released from a Topeka hospital. Trooper Ellis remains hospitalized in stable condition at KU Medical Center in Kansas City.

The Osage County Sheriff's Office and the KHP say that donations will be accepted to help the officers as they recover.

Donations can be made out to the Osage County Sheriff Support Fund, and dropped off or mailed to:

Lyndon State Bank

PO Box 518

817 Topeka Ave

Lyndon, KS 66451

Gift cards, snacks, and other helpful items may also be mailed or delivered to:

Osage County Sheriff’s Office

PO Box 639

131 W 14th St

Lyndon, KS 66451

The Kansas Highway Patrol has established a monetary fund for Trooper Ellis and his family. Donations can be made at this link. Choose “Kansas Trooper’s Foundation” and write "Ellis" in the "Other Comments" box. 

Photos courtesy  Osage County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol

The Independence City Commission will meet this afternoon on a special day and time due to their regular meeting date falling on Thanksgiving Day.

Commissioners will entertain a light agenda with most of today's business devoted to the setting of public hearing dates for dangerous and unsafe properties in the city. Also under consideration will be a conditional use permit for upper-story multi-family units in the old Mercy Hospital building at 811 West Laurel.

Today's meeting will begin at 3:30 in the Commission Room at City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City's website.

A Crawford County woman in injured in a crash after swerving to avoid several deer in the road.

28-year-old Sherry Naples of Frontenac was traveling north on North King Free Highway just east of Frontenac around 7:30 Wednesday night when she observed several deer approaching the roadway from the left ditch. Naples swerved, crossing the center line and the southbound lane. Her vehicle went into the west ditch and rolled. Her 2007 Honda Civic came to rest on the driver's side.

Naples sustained minor injuries and was taken to Pittsburg's Mercy Hospital for treatment.

The Sedan City Council considers issues facing the downtown area.

At this week's meeting, a Sedan resident raised the issue of improper lighting and the need for bulb replacement in the street lights on Main Street. City Clerk Lana Robinson says she contacted Caney Valley Electric about the issue last spring and was told it would cost the City $9,000.

In other considerations concerning downtown Sedan, Police Chief Kirk Richardson says there will be a slight change to the route for the Sedan Christmas Parade on December 6.

In other business, the council received three bids for a roof replacement at City Hall. The issue was tabled until the next meeting.

Elk Falls will celebrate 30 years of outhouse festivities this weekend.

Coming up this tomorrow and Saturday, the small town of Elk Falls will be flush with excitement during the annual Outhouse Tour.

Organizer Jane Fry says what began as a quirky community idea to bring visitors into town has grown into a beloved Kansas tradition.

Fry says visitors should stop at the headquarters downtown to purchase a button and a ballot for $1.

There will also be 30-year T-shirts to mark the occasion. A craft show will be held at the Elk Falls Gym both days from 9 to 5, plus lots of homemade food all over town. The 1872 Keefe Homestead will be open for tours, and Elk Falls Pottery will be open as well. Several garage sales will also take place all over town.

Saturday's Entertainment includes live bands and a classic car show. It all happens in this weekend in Elk Falls.

Parsons Police respond to a shooting and fight in the 200 block of McKnight Drive.

A 911 caller reported a man firing several shots before being tackled. Officers arrived to an active fight, separated those involved and recovered a handgun with no ammunition remaining. Police say the incident began inside an apartment where several people confronted Jesse Graninger during a domestic dispute and prevented him from leaving. Graninger escaped and was pursued outside, where he fired multiple shots during a struggle. He was detained and treated for injuries. One adult male reported possible injuries.

Detectives recovered additional evidence from the home, including an airsoft pistol and a loaded shotgun. After interviews, investigators determined two people were the primary aggressors in the assault on Graninger. One adult male was arrested for aggravated battery. A juvenile male was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, criminal restraint and criminal use of a weapon.

Graninger was released after police confirmed he was legally allowed to possess a firearm. Detectives are still working to identify another adult involved.

Coffeyville Community College's Red Raven Holiday is coming up at the end of this week.

Event Coordinator Haylie Bagwell says the event is from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday.  Bagwell says Red Raven Holiday is a great opportunity for the students to interact with the community.

Bagwell says there will also be four performances of A Charlie Brown Christmas by the CCC Theatre Department. Those showings are at 5:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:00pm and 8:00pm in the Spencer Rounds Theatre.

A police pursuit starts in Labette County and ends in Crawford County.

Shortly after 11:00pm, the Crawford County Sheriff's Office was notified that the Labette County Sheriff's Office was in pursuit of a red Chevrolet HHR eastbound on Highway 400 entering Crawford County.  As the pursuit entered the city of Cherokee, one of the deputies successfully deployed a tire deflation device.  The suspect attempted to elude law enforcement, but was stopped when another deputy conducted a Tactical Vehicle Intervention maneuver.

There were no injuries reported and no damage sustained to any law enforcement vehicles. The driver, who was suspected of committing multiple crimes in Labette County, as well as having active felony warrants for his arrest, was identified as John Edward Logan.  He was turned over to the custody of the Labette County Sheriff's Office.

There will be an opportunity for job seekers in Coffeyville tomorrow.

Melissa Johnson with the Montgomery County Action Council says the Job Fair will happen at Coffeyville's Walter Johnson Park.

Johnson says the event is open to anyone looking for a job. 

The Pathways to Employment Job Fair takes place tomorrow afternoon in Coffeyville.

A Eufala man faces charges of possessing a stolen vehicle in Washington County.

36-year-old Jeffrey Warren was charged yesterday with possession of a stolen vehicle, related to a stop in Dewey last Friday. Warren is alleged to have been in possession of a stolen vehicle that was parked at a Dewey convenience store. The vehicle in question was reported stolen in Nowata.

Warren also faces a misdemeanor charge of knowingly concealing stolen property. His next court appearance will be on December 5. He was given a bond of $25,000.

A McCune man is sentenced to more than six years in prison for the 2023 killing of his grandson.

70-year-old John Fox was sentenced on Monday in a Crawford County courtroom for the 2023 shooting death of his grandson 28-year-old Ian Fox. Fox was sentenced to 74 months in prison after he entered a guilty plea in September to voluntary manslaughter and criminal discharge of a firearm. As part of his plea deal, the main charge of second degree murder was reduced to manslaughter. After his release, Fox will also spend an additional 36 months under supervised release and he will also be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

The City of Parsons continues its efforts at clearing the city of dangerous and unsafe structures.

City crews have been in the process of demolishing derelict and run down buildings in the City. At this week's Parsons City Commission meeting, City Manager Jeff Cantrell says the crews have been doing a great job.

Cantrell also acknowledge the recent repair work on Main Street and gives a little mea culpa for his role in the late start of the project on Monday morning.

The Parsons City Commission meets on the first and third Monday each month at 6pm in the Commission Room in the Parsons Municipal Building.

**UPDATE: Kaidence Raney's mother reports she has been found safe

The Chanute Police Department is looking for a missing teen who was last seen in the Coffeyville area.

Police say 15-year-old Kaidence Raney has been missing from her Chanute home since Friday, November 14. Raney is described as being 5 feet four inches tall and 125 pounds with blonde hair with a grey/blue streak. She is also said to have both sides of her nose pierced and a bruise around one eye due to a recent piercing attempt. Kaidence is known to have mental health concerns and was last seen in the Coffeyville area.

Anyone with information about her disappearance or whereabouts is asked to contact Chanute Police at 620-431-5768 or to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 785-296-4017.

A Bartlesville man is facing a felony charge after allegedly stealing tires and other items and selling them online.

19-year-old Brandon Inman was charged yesterday (on Tuesday) in a Washington County courtroom with two counts of grand larceny, knowingly concealing stolen property and unlawful use of a computer.

According to Bartlesville Police, Inman and two other suspects stole tires and tool boxes from a Bartlesville alleyway. The total value of the merchandise is more than $7,000. Two of the tool boxes were later identified as being advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Inman met authorities at a Dewey convenience store and was taken into custody.

His next court date is set for December 5^th. Inman's bond was set at $10,000.

The 30^th Annual S.E.K. Bikers Toy Run is coming up this Saturday in Coffeyville.

Participants should bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Kings Cash Saver Parking Lot on West 11^st Street in Coffeyville at noon this Saturday. Following the toy run, there will be a free chill feed at the Coffeyville American Legion. This will include an auction and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds go to the Salvation Army Coffeyville Service Volunteers and stays local to help people in the Coffeyville community.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment rescinds the boil water advisory for Woodson County Rural Water District #1 and Wilson County Rural Water District #9.
 

KHDE issued the original advisory on November 13 due to possible contamination due to a water line break in the City of Yates Center water supply system. Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the Woodson County Rural Water 1 and Wilson County Rural Water 9 distribution systems indicate no evidence of bacterial contamination. All other conditions that placed the systems at risk have been deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.

The Dearing Fire Department is reminding anyone with a fireplace to make sure it's cleaned and inspected before winter.

On Sunday just before 8 p.m., Dearing firefighters were dispatched to a home south of Dearing to investigate a hot chimney wall. The fireplace had not been used for several days. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to find the hottest spots on the chimney and used chains down the chimney to break up any buildup. They eventually had to remove the insert and sprayed water from the top and bottom to put out the burning buildup inside the chimney.

Photo: Dearing Fire Department

The bond election for South Coffeyville Public Schools fails by just one vote for the second time in a row.

Exactly 100 more residents voted this time than during the last bond attempt at 363, with 217 voting in favor and 146 against the $1.4 million bond issue.  In order to pass, the bond needed a super majority or 60% of the vote. Despite more voting yes than no the bond fell just shy of the 60% at 59.8%. One more yes vote or one less no vote would have seen the bond passed.

Had it passed, South Coffeyville would have used the money for repairs to the roof, windows, sidewalks, brick siding and HVAC on school buildings. The money was also planned to go towards a storm shelter for the community. The official vote tally still needs to be certified by Nowata County.

Coffeyville Public School's superintendent is the first-ever recipient of the Dr. Cindy Lane Advocacy Award.

USD 445 Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll says he is humbled and honored to receive this award.  Dr. Correll says this adds to the list of recognition the district has received over the last several years, from a Principal of the Year winner to the Blue Ribbon Status for Parents as Teachers.

Dr. Correll was chosen for this award based on his leadership in initiatives such as expanding early learning and advancing whole-child support in the district.

Neosho County Community College unveils updated athletic center named after a Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher.

Former Neosho Baseball Player and MLB Pitcher Matt Strahm and his wife Megan's contribution made the new Strahm Family Strength Center a possibility. Head Baseball Coach Steve Murry says this idea came from the Strahm family.

The project focused on renovating the college’s Wellness Center on the Chanute Campus with upgraded equipment and improved training facilities for student-athletes and the broader campus community. Strahm, who graduated in 2012, credits the college for playing a pivotal role in his baseball journey.

Police in Sapulpa are investigating the fatal accident involving two pedestrians that happened late last night.

Authorities say two men were walking along State Highway 66 just after 8pm last night when they were hit by a southbound truck. One of the vitcims later died at a Sapulpa hospital while the other man was taken to a hospital in Tulsa.

The driver remained on the scene after the accident and is cooperating with the investigation. Police say the man told them he did not see the pedestrians because it was dark.

The names of the victims have not yet been released.

A southwest Missouri Sheriff's deputy shoots an armed man while off-duty.

The incident happened on Sunday in Powell, MO, about 20 miles southeast of Neosho in McDonald County. The deputy was at home when he noticed an unknown vehicle parked in his driveway. He learned the vehicle had been reported stolen in Texas following a check of the license plate and VIN. As the deputy was waiting for an on-duty law enforcement officer to arrive, a white male approached him and the vehicle. When the deputy identified himself as a member of the McDonald County Sheriff's Department, the man began to back away. He then produced a gun and fire at the deputy, striking him in th leg. The deputy returned fire, hitting the suspect.

The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The deputy was treated and released. He has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is under investigation. Neither man's name has been released.

The Person of Interest in a northwest Arkansas double homicide is found deceased in his jail cell.

U.S. Marshals arrested 54-year-old Travis Lee McConnell in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, on Friday. McConnell was a person of interest in the double homicide investigation into the deaths of 77-year-old Joy Willmeth and 71-year-old Robert Willmeth who were found shot to death in their Eureka Springs home last week. McConnell was taken to the Pittsburg County Jail in McAlester where he was found deceased in his cell on Sunday. The Oklahoma State bureau of Investigation is investigating the manner of cause of the suspect's death.

McConnell was the son of the two homicide victims.

Photo courtesy McDonald County Sheriff's Office

The Coffeyville Public Library will be hosting an online safety class for senior on December 2nd.

Coffeyville Are Chamber President Candi Westbrook says it will an informative seminar for those who are concerned about being safe on the Internet.

The class is intended for those 55 and over, but all ages are welcome to attend. The seminar is part of TechWise, a grant-funded project led by Greenbush that promotes practical tips and strategies to assist older Kansans with their personal technology and the ever-changing technology that is part of day-to-day life. The project is supported by a grant awarded to the State of Kansas by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The class will be held at the Coffeyville Public Library on December 2nd from 10 to 11am and is free to attend. Coffee and refreshments will be served.

Independence Community College loses a long-time administrator to retirement and a Board of Trustees member to resignation.

Both departures came at last night's Board of Trustees meeting. Vice President for Human Resources Lori Boots asked trustees to approve her early retirement. College President Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo says Boots will remain in her position through June 2026.

Trustees also accepted the resignation of Board member Jeri Hammerschmidt. Hammerschmidt was up for reelection this November and did not retain her seat. No reason was given for her departure, which was effective when the Board accepted her resignation.

                     Photos: Lori Boots (left) Jeri Hammerschmidt (right) courtesy Independence Community College

The Coffeyville School Superintendent is honored with a state award.

USD 445 Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll has been awarded with the Cindy Lane Advocacy Award from the Kansas School Superintendents Association. Correll is the first ever receipient of this award, named for Kansas educator and Parsons native Dr. Cindy Lane. The award honors leaders who champion students, strengthen public education, and advocate for Kansas kids . Correll was chosen based on his leadership in intiatives such as expanding early learning in the district and advancing whole-child support in USD 445.

Correll was presented with the award last week at the Kansas Superintendent of the Year Gala in Wichita.

Photo: Dr. Cindy Lane and Dr. Craig Correll. Courtesy USD 445

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is stressing the importance of seat belt use as the holiday travel season begins.

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays, with that comes an increase in crashes. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind everyone to always buckle up. Starting on Saturday and running through Thanksgiving weekend, sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County will join law enforcement agencies across the state in emphasizing the importance of seat belts. During that time, drivers can expect to see increased law enforcement presence on local roads during the statewide Thanksgiving Safe Arrival campaign.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure in your vehicle.

The right fit matters:

• The shoulder belt should lay flat across the middle of the chest and away from the neck

• The lap belt should fit across the hip, not stomach

• Never put the seat belt behind the back or under the arm

• Children should be properly restrained in car seats according to weight, age and height

For more information on seat belts go to www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts.

Kansas Works will be hosting a virtual job fair this week.

The job fair will occur online on Wednesday from 8am to 5pm and will be accessible through any digital device. The event is designed for jobseekers who are unable to attend in-person job fairs during the standard work week. Those seeking employment will be able to fill out applications, chat live, and interview virtually with participating employers. Training videos, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in are also available through the job fair online portal. Participants are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.

Registration is required. For more information or to register, go here.

Montgomery County completes the canvass of the November general election.

County Clerk Ami Standridge along with county commissioners and representatives from the Democrat and Republican parties completed the official tally of votes at toady's commission meeting.

Commissioners also got an update on the issues of delinquent oil and gas taxes from County Administrator Jonathan Booe. Booe told commissioners that all parties with delinquent taxes will soon be receiveing a letter from the county. He says those that do not pay after that, will be sent to collections.

Booe added that the county contracts with the firm Butler & Associates of Topeka for collections. The firm will keep 30% of any fees collected through their agency with the rest going back to the county.

Another bond vote for South Coffeyville Schools is coming up today.

Superintendent Daryl Pruter says this $1.4 million bond will address some much-needed repairs that will only get worse and more expensive with time.

Pruter says if the bond passes, the district would like to build a storm shelter that would not only keep students safe but would also be available to the community after school hours.

If the bond passes, the average homeowner with a market-value property worth $68,000 would see a projected monthly increase of $6.29 over the 10-year bond. Pruter says there is a very small difference in the cost between the last bond attempt and this one.

Polls will open a week from today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at South Coffeyville City Hall.

The City of Cherryvale is in uncharted waters after an election error.

Current Ward Two Council Member Norman Johnson inadvertently filed in the incorrect ward and ended up with the most votes in both wards one and two. At last night's Cherryvale City Council Meeting, Johnson explained that he did not confirm that the information he received from the election office was correct when he filed.

On election day, Montgomery County Clerk Ami Standridge issued a statement saying that she was not allowed to remove Johnson's name after the filing deadline. Yesterday, the Montgomery County Commission certified the election results, and city and county officials are working to figure out the legal implications. Cherryvale City Attorney Seth Jones says he has reached out the the Kansas Secretary of State for guidance. Jones says there may be a couple of different options to explore, but he's confident something can be worked out by the time the new seat starts in January.

In other business at last night's meeting, a proposed nudity ordinance failed by a vote of 3-2.  Council members also heard a prospective engineering report on expanding the sewer system to accommodate the new industrial park and economic corridor.

Coffeyville Community College unveils the Linda Moley Academic Center for Excellence.

CCC Board of Trustees Chairman Becky Barnhart says this room has to mean a very great deal to Linda Moley.  President Dr. Marlon Thornburg says Moley served CCC in different over the course of 25 years.  Former CCC President Moley says it is a privilege to have her name associated with this room.

The Academic Center is located on the second floor of the Graham Library on the CCC campus.

Over 100 volunteers show up for round two of the Coffeyville Proud Beautification Initiative.

City Clerk Melissa Carter says volunteers showed up from multiple organizations.  Carter says they tackled several projects around town.

The city shared a video on Facebook recapping some of the volunteer work and asking those volunteers what makes them “Coffeyville Proud”. A link to that video can be found here.

The 2025 city and school general election ballots are canvassed for Labette County. Clerk Gena Landis says after the canvass there was a tie for the Labette City mayor.

John Collins was the name drawn to serve as mayor. After the unofficial results, there was a tie for the second and third seats on the Parson City Commission. Landis says after some hand votes were counted and some mail in ballots were received the tie was broken. Leland Crooks received 495 and Verlyn Bolinger received 493, so Crooks will get the four year term and Bolinger the two year term.

A link to the final results can be found here.

The Independence Community College Board of Trustees will meet tonight as members prepare to accept the resignation of both a member of the school administration and a board trustee.

On tonight's agenda is the expected acceptance of the early retirement of Vice President for Hunman Resources Lori Boots. Trustees are also expected to accept the resignation of Trustee Jeri Hammerschmidt. Hammerschmidt was up for re-election this November and did not receive enough votes to retain her seat. Her resignation will go into effect November 18, 2025.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 in the Fab Lab building on the ICC main campus. The meeting is open to the public.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Osage County, Kansas, just north of the City of Carbondale, that left one suspect deceased and multiple officers injured..

Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol Colonel Erik Smith says four law enforcement officers were injured and the suspect was killed in the incident.

The suspect has been identified as 22-year-old Stephen M. McMillan. McMillan’s 77-year-old grandfather was also injured in the gunfire. Two of the deputies underwent surgery and are reported in good condition, while the third was treated and discharged from the hospital. The KHP Trooper and McMillan’s grandfather are both expected to make a full recovery.

The KBI is investigating the shooting as it does in all officer-involved shootings.

The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the killing of an elderly couple at their home near Eureka Springs.

On Friday, deputies from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office were called to the couple’s home on Highway 62 just east of Eureka Springs for a welfare check. There they discovered the bodies of 71-year-old Robert Willmeth and 77-year-old Joy Willmeth. Both appeared to have been the victims of gunshot wounds. Their remains have been taken to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock in order to determine the cause and manner of death.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department says they currently have a suspect in custody in the case.

The Altamont City Council approves the annexation of Idle Hours Lake.

The move came at the council’s most recent meeting. The issue had been tabled for more than a year while city officials examined their options and considered the opinions of local residents on the matter. The move by the Labette County Commission to implement county-wide zoning last year prompted the City to consider the annexation. City Attorney Robert Myers says the county commission is ready to consider approval of the annexation.

The Labette County Commission will meet today at 9am on November 17 in Oswego to consider the resolution.

In other business, council members announced that Schwab Eaton will be available on Thursday, December 11, at 6:00 PM before the regular Council meeting, to answer questions regarding the KDOT Transportation Alternatives Sidewalk Project.

The City of Coffeyville has a new online web portal to make applying for licenses and reporting concerns easier.

The Portal is through web application GovWell, a site with the aim of helping local governments to provide better service to their citizens. The new portal will allow Coffeyville residents to take care of several types of tasks from their phone or computer. Through GovWell, you will be able to apply for new contractor licenses or renew existing ones, apply for building permits, and report code enforcement concerns.

Anyone with questions or in need of assistance can contact the Building and Code Department. To get started, follow this link.

Units from Wilson County Rural Fire respond to a weekend grass fire.

Fire crews were called to the scene in rural Wilson County just east of Altoona on Saturday afternoon. Responding firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. There were no injuries or property damage reported.

Photo courtesy Wilson County Rural Fire

Representatives from the Grand River Dam Authority release the identity of a man found last Thursday in the waters of Grand Lake near Cowskin Bridge.

GRDA says the deceased man has been identified as 29-year-old Roger Griffith of Jay, Oklahoma. No other details have been released.

Fisherman discovered the body last Thursday after reportedly seeing a hand protruding from the water. GRDA divers were in the water for about an hour before they were able to recover the remains.

The investigation into Griffith’s death remains ongoing.

A western Kansas woman is dead after being run over by her own vehicle on Friday morning in Edwards County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 44-year-old Rebecca Oberley of Kinsley, Kansas, had stopped her vehicle on US-50 about 30 miles northeast of Dodge City after striking a deer around 6:30 Friday morning. Troopers say Oberley had exited her vehicle to check for damage, but left the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder in reverse when she did so. Oberley then apparently tripped and was run over by her vehicle, suffering fatal injuries.

A 14-year-old male passenger in the car was uninjured.

The Montgomery County Commission will meet today and conduct the official canvass of the November 4th General Election.

Montgomery County Clerk Ami Standridge will appear before the commission today to conduct the canvass. The purpose of the canvass is to ensure the accuracy of the election results and to officially certify the outcome before sending the results to the office of the Kansas Secretary of State.

Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins will also be at today’s meeting to request a bid for chemicals and pipe for his department as well as to discuss the High Risk Rural Roads program. County Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson will also present the Local Disaster Recovery Plan for approval by commissioners.

Today’s meeting begins at 9am in the Commission Room on the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the County’s website.

The Labette County High School Grizzlies football team makes school history as they advance to the semi-final round in the Kansas State High School 4A Football Playoffs.

The 9-2 Grizzlies took down Ottawa on Friday night 28-14 to advance to the semi-final round. LCHS is having their best season ever under first-year head coach Bradley Argabright. They will host 6-5 Bishop-Miege from suburban Kansas City on Friday night for a chance to play for the state title.

Photo courtesy USD 506

Drivers in Parsons will find some new road work beginning in that city today.

Starting today, the eastbound lane of Main street in Parsons will be closed between 17^th and 18^th Streets. No time line is given for the estimated completion of the street repairs, but city crews will be working to finish the project as quickly as possible. While the lanes are closed, drivers are asked to use extra caution in the area or find an alternate route.

The City of Neodesha decides to wait on Wilson County before making a final decision on EMS services.

The City Commission has been considering an interlocal agreement with Labette Health to provide EMS services for the City. The Wilson County Commission has stepped into the decision, questioning why the City did not consult with the County or with Fredonia EMS. Last week, the County tabled a decision on whether or not to allow Neodesha the flexibility to make an agreement with Labette. Neodesha Mayor Devin Johnson says the process has been frustrating.

Commissioner Ed Truelove and City Adminstrator Brogan Jones both attended the recent County meetings. Truelove says it's important for Neodesha to be able to make it's own decisions.

Commissioner Duane Banzet says he thinks it's important to keep the lines of communication open with the county.

Commissioners voted to table the interlocal agreement until after the County makes a decision on Wednesday.

The Cherryvale City Council will meet tonight to continue discussion on a proposed ordinance.

At the last regular meeting, council members tabled a discussion on a proposed ordinance prohibiting public nudity to allow more time to review its language.

The council will also hear an update on the economic corridor from Midwest Engineering Services, discuss boundaries and schedule a workshop for the comprehensive plan.  Tonight's meeting starts at 6 ap.m and the public is welcome to attend.

Touch of Life Ministries hosts a free community meal provided by Gorham's Handyman Services.

On Saturday, volunteers handed out a total of 107 meals to community members at 501 East 9th Street. Additional sponsors for the meal included Nichols Hitching Post, Sonic Drive-in and B's Snacks and Stuff.

Touch of Life provides a street ministry in the summer and operates a warming center when temperatures are below freezing. Organizers are currently working to provide 70 Christmas dinner boxes for those in need this year. If you know someone in need or would like to apply for a box, contact Nola at 620-988-8205 by December 1st. Those interested in helping out Touch of Life can also contact them on Facebook.

Photo: Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography

For the second time in program history, the Independence High School Marching Band has been crowned the best small school band in the state of Kansas.

The Bulldogs competed with dozens of other bands from around the state in Topeka. Band Director Erin Shelton says a large number of schools qualify to compete for the championship.

IHS swept the Kansas Bands Association small school championships, winning awards for music, visuals, general effect, color guard, drumline, and front ensemble. Shelton says it takes a community effort to accomplish a season like this one.

Section leaders and drum majors for the championship IHS Marching Band were present at the November school board meeting of USD 446, receiving recognition from the board and the community.

*photo courtesy of Brian Shelton of IHS Band*

A pair of USD 446 educators have been nominated by the district for representation in the Kansas Teacher of the Year Awards.

Kindergarten teacher Mary Swearingen has been chosen as the Early Education nominee, serving as a teacher for over 20 years at Eisenhower Elementary. She says it's truly a special feeling to be recognized at this level.

As the secondary education nominee, the district has selected IMS teacher Whitney Woodward. She says the district has changed her and her family's life.

To qualify for nomination, teachers must have five years of experience in classroom and be recognized as respected and innovative leaders who inspire students. Both Swearingen and Woodward will complete an application for the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award, with semifinalists to be announced in early 2026.

Coffeyville's Parents as Teachers is awarded the Blue Ribbon Status for the second time. Coordinator Leslie Herkleman says this is an endorsement by the Parents as Teachers National Center.

Blue Ribbon Status is reviewed every five years and this is the second time in a row they have received this status. Herkleman, who recently took over as coordinator, says it does feel good to receive this in her first year.

Herkleman says, for those unfamiliar with Parents as Teachers, they look at themselves as a school readiness program.  For those wanting more information or to get involved with Coffeyville PAT contact them at (620)251-1147.

The Nowata High School football coach is arrested in Catoosa during a human trafficking sting operation.

Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Chance Juby was arrested yesterday evening after walking into a multi-agency human-trafficking sting operation in Catoosa. According to a probable cause affidavit, Juby responded to an online advertisement on a site commonly used for solicitation. The ad was part of an undercover law-enforcement effort targeting attempted commercial sex transactions.

Investigators say Juby arrived at a hotel across from Catoosa Public Schools, where he met with an undercover agent posing as a potential victim. Officers then took Juby into custody on a complaint of felony solicitation of prostitution within 1,000 feet of a school or church.

In a post on Facebook, Nowata Public Schools says they are aware of the situation and Juby has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues. NPS says the safety of their students is the top priority.

USD 446 has been recognized for their educational efforts, with the district receiving a letter of numerous areas of excellence from the Kansas Department of Education.

The district received four total recognitions from KSDE as a part of the Kansas Star Program. Superintendent Jason McAfee says a few of these categories are for the district's growth is for alternative forms of learning.

Additional items of business at the November board meeting was an accreditation update from Kellie Puderbaugh, as well as recognizing the district's Teacher of the Year candidates, Mary Swearingen and Whitney Woodward.

There will be a Hogs For Humanity Community BBQ Sunday afternoon at Riverside Park in Independence.

The group hopes to feed more than 300 community members. Organizer Ryan Gilchrist says he and his wife Adrienne Frazier and their friend Starrlight Wilson decided to organize the event as a way to give back to the community.

The group hopes to feed more than 300 people. Gilchrist says there will be some great BBQ on the menu.

The meal will take place on Sunday at 1pm at the enclosed 4-H building and is free of charge.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation of a body found recently at Grand Lake near Grove.

Officials say the body was found yesterday morning near Highway 10 and East 250^th Street Road in the area of Cowskin Bridge and the Elk River arm of Grand Lake.

Authorities have not yet determined the identity of the body as the investigation continues.

A leak of anhydrous ammonia at the Holiday Inn Express in Weatherford, Oklahoma, leaves multiple people hospitalized.

The leak occurred around 10pm on Wednesday night night at the Holiday Inn Express at 1311 East Main Street in Weatherford, a city located about 70 miles west of Oklahoma City. Thirty-four patients were taken to Weatherford Regional Hospital, with five transferred to Oklahoma City hospitals for a higher level of care. Dozens more were treated at three on-site treatment facilities. Reports indicate 14 officers were exposed to the gas with five sustaining chemical burns to their airways.

Responding emergency crews say the leak originated from a tanker truck parked behind the hotel. The public has been asked to avoid the area around the hotel until clean up can be completed.

The City of Parsons is asking residents to do their part in keeping the City and the City's' water clean.

Pet waste left on the ground can wash into the City storm water system and can eventually flow back into local creeks, rivers, and streams. Waste can carry harmful bacteria and pollutants that can impact water quality and the environment. The City reminds residents and visitors to City parks to pick up after their pets by using pet waste stations located in the parks.

For more information, follow this link.

The City of Neodesha will be holding a roundtable meeting for the owners of rental properties in the City.

The Rental Property Roundtable will be held next Tuesday, November 18^th, at 7pm in the Commission Room at City Hall. Topics of discussion at the meeting will include rental registration, operator registration, and standards for rental properties. There will also be a discussion of the formation of a Neodesha Landlord Alliance. Long-term, residential rentals will be the main focus of the meeting, but commercial rental owners and short-term rental owners are also invited to attend.

The City asks for those who wish to attend to RSVP to Neodesha Building Inspector Tommy John. If more people plan to attend than will fit in the commission room, the meeting may be moved to the Civic Center.

RSVP to Tommy John by calling 620-325-2828 ext 158 or email tjohn@neodeshaks.org

The City of Independence is continuing its efforts to reduce the number of dangerous and unsafe structures in the city.

At Thursday's city commission meeting, public hearings were held on the progress on two properties. One homeowner appeared before the commission to give an update on his renovation efforts and commissioners approved a 90-day extension to allow for more work to be done. Assistant City Manager David Cowan says that he has a list of 29 properties that he will present 10 at a time to begin the condemnation process.

Two properties in the 800 block of West Chestnut Street drew particular attention from Commissioner Tim Emert. Both properties are currently owned by Hannah's House ministries and have been in disrepair for several years. Emert says he would like the City to pursue action against the owners.

Commissioners voted to move forward with the condemnation process on a total of 8 properties with more to come during the next few meetings.

In other business, commissioners also heard from a citizen during the public comment portion of the meeting. The citizen asked commissioners to consider an addition to current pet ordinances that would limit the number of cats that can legally be owned.

Students from Parsons High School will show off their musical and acting talents this weekend as they stage a production of Footloose: the Musical.

The musical is based on the 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon in which a teen moves to a small town where dancing is banned. The story follows the main chracter Ren who leads his classmates in a fight for the right to dance and express themselves. The musical features music from the movie soundtrack.

Performances will be at the Parsons Municipal Auditorium tonight and tomorrow at 7pm with a Sunday afternoon matinee at 2. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased at the door.

Photo courtesy USD 503

An Edna woman is injured in a collision with a semi in Cherokee County.

The accident occurred around 1:30 Thursday afternoon at the intersection of US-166 and 5^th Street in Chetopa. 81-year-old Sharon Triebel was northbound on 5^th Street and failed to yield at a stop sign. Triebel's 2020 Honda HR-V then struck a 2016 Kenworth that was westbound on US-166. Triebel was taken to Joplin's Mercy Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the semi 66-year-old Ricky Robertson of Quapaw, OK, as well as a minor child in Triebel's vehicle were both uninjured in the accident.

The Coffeyville FFA Chapter will hold a pancake feed tonight in the CCC Tech Campus building across the street from the high school.

Chapter Vice President Cavin Schaplowsky says each plate is $10 and includes two raffle tickets.

The event starts tonight at 5 p.m. The raffle drawing will be at 7:30, and all prizes must be picked up before 8.

The Coffeyville City Commission approves a construction project for walkways at the tennis courts.

Director of Parks Jarrod Powers says they received three bids for the project.  Powers says the parks staff recommends going with the local company despite it's bid being slightly higher than the low bid.

In other business, the commission approved the submission of two grant proposals for a Trail Solar Lighting Project.

There's under seven hours left to donate for Coffeyville's 2025 Match Day and last year's donation total has already been surpassed.

Donations can be made online at givematchgrow.com until midnight. Coffeyville Area Community Foundation President Scott Tatman says they've seen a great turnout for in person donations.  Tatman says it's good to see the youth of Coffeyville getting involved in donating.

As of 5:30pm, over 600 donations have been made totaling over totaling almost $600,000, which doesn't include the $110,000 in matching money. This passes the $400,000 that was raised through 5:30pm last year.

An Independence man is facing felon in possession of a firearm charges in Washington County.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 26-year-old Christopher Lewallen was pulled over after driving across the center line without a signal. Troopers say when they approached the vehicle, they discovered a bag of marijuana in the passenger seat. Lewallen allegedly admitted to possessing a firearm and one was confiscated after a search of the vehicle.

According to the OHP, Lewallen was convicted of aggravated rape of a child under 16 in 2011 and in 2016 for forcibly entering a residence to commit a sex crime. He will appear in court again on December 5^th at 9:00am and his bond is set at $25,000.

 There is good news for those who use Highways 75 or 166 just north of Caney.

 The Cheyenne Creek bridge project, started in October 2024, is now open to two-way traffic.

 KDOT says striping was completed yesterday, and both sections were reopened to traffic.

 The bridge was replaced one half at a time at a cost of $3.8 million.

 The USD-436 now has a school resource officer, after the agreement between the district and the Caney Police Department was approved in their most recent meeting.

 Superintendent Blake Vargas says the SRO is vital for more than just school security.

 Although SRO Missy Hockett will have an office in the high school, her schedule includes time in all school buildings.

 Funding for the SRO is provided through grant funding for three years.

 In other business, discussions continued on Caney Memorial Stadium. School officials hope to have more information on core samples taken from the structure in the near future.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Yates Center and Woodson County Rural Water District #1. Also included in the adivosory are The City of Vrigil in Greenwood County and Wilson County Rural Water District #9 public water supply systems.

Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water instead. Dispose of ice cubes from trays and automatic ice makers. If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

 Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled, but supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested.

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure due to a water line break in the City of Yates Center water system.

The McDonald County Health Department in southwest Missouri says a local dog has tested positive for rabies.

Health officials say the dog likely contracted the disease from a skunk in the northwest part of McDonald County. The results of the rabies test has been confirmed by the Missouri State Lab. Wild animals account for nearly 90% of all rabies cases. Authorities say homeowners should make sure that all pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and to avoid contact with wild animals, especially bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks, since they are primary carriers of rabies. The incubation period for domestic animals is three to six weeks.

Once symptoms appear in an animal, rabies is fatal.

A Humboldt man is dead after being hit by a train in Allen County.

Allen County Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene on 4000 Street just east of US-59 southeast of the City of Mildred just before 8am yesterday. They discovered the victim identified as Dustin Vanatta deceased beside the railroad tracks. The man's vehicle was found parked nearby.

Investigators say it appears that Vanatta drove to the tracks, exited his vehicle, and then stepped between the rails where he was struck by a southbound Union Pacific train.

The incident remains under investigation.

Tax revenues for the State of Oklahoma in October are up.

That's the word from State Treasurer Todd Russ. October revenues icnreased 4.4% from October 2024. Much of the increase was driven by gains in sales and energy sectors. Sale tax revenue totaled $582 million with another $85 million coming from oil and gas taxes. So far this year, Oklahoma has collected just over $17 billion for state coffers.

Oklahoma’s unemployment rate remains low at 3.1%, compared to 4.3% nationally. Despite uncertainty surrounding the federal shutdown, the labor market has slowed in job gains. The Federal Reserve made its October rate cut using the latest available public and private sector data, aiming to support continued employment stability while keeping inflation in check.

Russ stated that steady revenues, responsible budgeting, and strong employment are helping keep Oklahoma on firm financial ground.

To view the complete October 2025 Tax Revenue Report, follow this link.

The Cherryvale School Board is making of wishlist of possible projects in the school district.

At the most recent meeting of the USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer schools, Superintendent Travis Githens asked board members to consider what things they would like to see happen. Githens says everything is on the table.

Board members were provided with a list of past and current projects on district facilities to give them ideas as to what has been done in the past. Githens says he would like to meet with board members to dicsuss their ideas and have a list ready to discuss at the next board meeting.

The December meeting for the Cherryvale School Board is set for December 8 at 7pm. The pubklic is invited to attend.

A Copan woman faces felony charges over a stolen vehicle.

36-year-old Danielle Curtis was charged  yesterday in a Washington County courtroom stemming from an incident in which Curtis is though to have attempted to buy a vehicle. The owner says Curtis' offer was turned down, but that the vehicle was later found parked at her residence. Bartlesville Police say a second stolen vehicle was also found in the same location.

Curtis will appear in court again on December 5. Her bond has been set at $25,000.

Two Osage County, Oklahoma, Sheriff's deputies are shot during a police standoff at a Pawhuska home.

Yesterday  afternoon around 2:30, the Pawhuska Police Department responded to a domestic assault and battery incident that possibly involved a dangerous weapon. The suspect had barricaded himself inside the home and allegedly made verbal threats to officers. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office was then called in for assistance.

After a standoff lasted several hours, deputies made entry into the home in an attempt to arrest the suspect. Upon entering the residence, the suspect began firing at deputies who then returned fire. Two deputies were wounded in the exchange and taken to a nearby hospital. The suspect was also injured. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the officer involved shooting.

The Independence Fire Department responds to a vehicle fire in the G & W parking lot.

Crews were called to the scene yesterday afternoon around 4:15. Upon arrived, they found an SUV with a small fire under the hood that extended into the passenger compartment. The fire was quickly extinguished.

No injuries were reported and the fire was determined to be accidental in nature.

Members of the Neodesha High School FFA Chapter earn high honors at the Southeast District Leadership School in Girard.

Students displayed off their leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while competing in FFA Opening Ceremonies and Parliamentary Procedure events. Students learned officer parts, presented their prepared parts to jugdges, and led mock meetings that challenged their debating skills and knowledge of parliamentary procedure.

The NHS Chapter took 2^nd place overall with the Parliamentary Procedure Team taking second place and earning a slot in the state competition.. The Chapter Leadership Team also placed 2^nd, with the Intermediate Ritual Team taking 6^th and the Chapter Ritual Team placing 9^th.

Congratulations to the Neodesha FFA students for their work and success.

The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects, including a bridge repair project in Woodson County.

KDOT has approved the funding to repair a bridge over Owl Creek on US-75 about three miles north of Yates Center. The $560,000 project was awarded to B & B Bridge Company of St. Paul. B & B Bridge was also awarded an $81,000 contract for grading an resurfacing on RS-173 from K-126 to 570^th Avenue in Crawford County.

The bids were awarded on October 22 in Topeka.

Coffeyville Community College will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Linda Moley Academic Center for Excellence on Monday afternoon.

The new Academic Center for Excellence is named for former CCC President Linda Moley and offers a modern, student-focused environment designed to foster academic achievement through tutoring, sensory, and academic resources.

Linda Moley served CCC for 25 years and became the school's first female president in 2011. She also held multiple leadership roles, including Athletic Director, Dean of Students, and Executive Vice President of Student Services and College Relations. The ribbon-cutting will celebrate both former President Moley’s lasting impact on the institution and CCC’s ongoing mission to provide modern, high-quality educational resources for its students.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 3:30 Monday afternoon on the second floor of the Russell H. Graham Library on the CCC main campus. The community is invited to join CCC students, faculty, and staff in celebrating this special dedication. Light refreshments will be served.

The Independence City Commission will meet tonight and continue the business of addressing the problem of unsafe structures in the City.

At tonight's meeting, there will be public hearings on three structures deemed dangerous and unsafe. Commissioners are also expected to set public hearing dates for eight additional properties. Also on tonight's agenda is a resolution to authorize the sale of property to Textron Aviation and the additional sale of three lots in the Jefferson Subdivision to First Step Builders. Contracts for HVAC work at Memorial Hall and a sewer replacement project at 1^st and Birch Streets will also be awarded.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 in the Commission Room at City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City of Independence website.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's office will conduct training today in Cherryvale.

Today (November 13th) from 9 a.m. until after lunch, the Sheriff's Office will be training in the Cherryvale area. There is no emergency, but there will be a large police presence.

***UPDATE: Wichita Police report that Curtis Vines has been located and is safe as of 4:45pm on 11-13-25

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issues a silver alert for a missing Wichita man with dementia.

Wichita Police are asking for the public's assistance in locating 68-year-old Curtis Vines. Vines was last seen yesterday morning around 9:45 in the 6000 block of East Ironhorse, near 29^th Street North and Woodlawn in Wichita. Vines s a white male who is 6 feet tall and weighs around 175 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and blue jeans. He is believed to be on foot.

If you see Curtis Vines, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316)-268-4111.

Hours are extended the next two days for sign ups for Coffeyville's Salvation Army Community Service Volunteers Christmas Assistance Program. Montgomery County Cordinator Joe Brooks says those who want to sign up will need to bring some information with them.

Brooks says for tomorrow sign ups will be from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 7:00pm and then on Friday sign ups are from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Sign ups are at the Salvation Army Office at 102 West 12^th Street.

The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Cash Giveaway starts later this month.

Chamber President Candi Westbrook says they'll be giving away almost $2,000 during the month of December.  Westbrook says several local businesses are participating in the giveaway.

A $250 giveaway will be on December 4^th, a $500 giveaway on December 11^th and the final $1000 giveaway will be on December 18^th. Entries can be earned starting November 28^th.

A Neodesha man has sentenced to serve over two years in prison in an elder abuse case.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says 49-year-old Travis Wayne Hann was sentenced to serve 27 months in prison for felony mistreatment of an elderly person. Hann pled guilty to the charge in August in Montgomery County District Court. In 2022, Hann befriended the victim and over a few months was able to gain access to the victim’s finances. During this time, he made several unauthorized financial transactions.

At sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Gossard denied Hann’s motion for probation. In addition to imposing a prison sentence, Gossard ordered Hann to pay $44,188 in restitution to the victim.

Parsons is looking for ways to bring the community together with the help of a non-profit group called the American Advocacy Initiative.

The group is in creatign neighborhood associations in Parsons to discuss issues and find ways to solve them. City Commissioner Leland Crooks says such group can be a big help to the City.

The groups hosts all ward meetings on the third Thursday of each month. The next meetings will be held on November 20^th and December 18^th. For more information, call or text 682-398-4041.

Tomorrow is Match Day in Coffeyville.

Match Day is a one day opportunity for donors to increase their giving to local nonprofit organizations. Sam Kudrick with the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation says donating to your favorite organization is easy to do.

Kudrick says donations made tomorrow will be eligible for a match.

Contributions are tax deductible. Catch interviews with participating organizations tomorrow throughout the day on the Mighty 690 KGGF. Help keep Coffeyville a great place to live and work on Match Day tomorrow.

Pittsburg High School was placed under full lockdown for an hour yesterday following what turned out to be an erroneous report of a weapon on campus.

A release from USD 250 stated that the lockdown began around 3:45pm after reports of a person outside the school building with a weapon. The report came near the end of the school day and several busses with students had already left campus. Those that remained were stopped and the students were moved to a lockdown location inside the school. Pittsburg Police then arrived and began a search of both the interior and exterior of the building. The reported individual was identified as a student and was confirmed not to be in possession of a weapon.

The lockdown was lifted at 4:25pm.

The ByHeart Company issues a recall of two batches of Whole Nutrition Infant Formula over botulism concerns.

The company issued the recall voluntarily after it was notified by the Food and Drug Administration of an ongoing investigation into reports of a recent outbreak of infant botulism. Infant botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness that presents a serious threat to the health of infants which occurs when the botulism spores are ingested and colonize the intestinal tract, producing botulinum neurotoxins in the infants. Affected babies can show symptoms such as constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, sluggish pupils, low muscle tone, difficulty nursing and swallowing, weak or altered cry, generalized weakness, and respiratory difficulty.

ByHeart was notified by the FDA of an estimated 83 cases of infant botulism that have been reported nationwide since August 2025. Of these, the FDA also noted that 13 infants received ByHeart formula at some point, but has not identified a direct link between the formula and the illness.

The recall applies to two batches of the ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. Consumers who have purchased ByHeart infant formula from the identified batch codes should immediately discontinue use and dispose of the product. If you’ve discarded any formula from the following batches, ByHeart will replace those cans at no cost.

The voluntary recall applies to the following two batches of ByHeart infant formula:

• Batch Code: 251261P2, Use by: 01 Dec 2026
• Batch Code: 251131P2, Use by: 01 Dec 2026
• UPC: 5004496800
• Product Image : See below

The batch code and use by can be found on the bottom of the can.

No other ByHeart batches are impacted by this voluntary recall.

If your infant is experiencing symptoms related to infant botulism, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

If your infant is experiencing symptoms related to infant botulism, contact your health care provider immediately. To report an illness or adverse event, you can:

• Call an FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator if you wish to speak directly to a person about your problem.
• Complete an electronic Voluntary MedWatch form online.
• Complete a paper Voluntary MedWatch form that can be mailed to the FDA.

If any parents have questions please contact our experts at hello@byheart.com. For more information visit byheart.comExternal Link Disclaimer or call 1 (833) 429 - 4327

The Neodesha City Commission will meet this afternoon and is expetced to approve an agreement with Labette Helath for EMS services.

The City has been considering its options for emergency services for quite some time. The issue has even been a topic of discussion between the city and the Wilson County Commission. Approval for the agreement similar to arrangements the health care provider has with Independence and Cherryvale is expected to come at today's meeting.

Also on today's agenda will be actoin on several structure in the city that have been deemed dangerous and unsafe.

Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at City Hall in Neodesha. The public is invited to attend.

One person is dead and another seriously injured following a rollover accident in Mitchell County.

The accident occurred around 11:20 yesterday morning on K-181 just south of Beloit. A passenger vehicle attempted to pass a semi truck in a no passing zone. As the car passed, the semi truck failed to maintain its lane and crossed the center line. The passenger car then left the roadway and when it reentered, collided with the semi. The semi truck then went into the ditch and rolled. The driver of the semi 52-year-old Ronald Dubbert of Hebron Nebraska was seriously injured and taken to the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit. 84-year-old Mary Dubbert of Tipton, Kansas, was a passenger in the semi and suffered fatal injuries. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the passenger vehicle 69-year-old Brian Christianson of Hunter, Kansas, was uninjured.

A Copan woman is facing felony charges of assault stemming from a July incident.

35-year-old Rashell Hodge was charged on Monday with aggravated assault and battery following an altercation with another individual on July 29. During the altercation, Hodge is accused of striking the victim multiple times. The victim was then transported to a nearby hospital for treatment for a broken orbital bone and cheekbone.

Hodge will appear in court again on December 19. She posted a $10,000 bond.

A Dewey man is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing a car and eluding police.

40-year-old Steve Smith was charged on Monday with unauthorized use of a vehicle, eluding and vehicle theft. Smith also faces a misdemeanor charge of larceny of merchandise from a retailer in a separate matter.

Smith along with a second suspect is accused of taking a machine auger from the Bartlesville Lowe's location on October 9. The merchandise is valued at $799. He also faces charges in the theft of a vehicle on October 27.

Smith will appear in court again on November 21. His bond is set at $9,000.

Residents across the four-state area were treated to a rare sight in last night's sky as the aurora borealis or northern lights were visible in the northern sky.

The geomagnetic phenomenon is rarely visible this far south, but, due to a powerful burst of energy from the sun, the display could be seen as far south as Texas and Florida. The coronal mass ejections or CME's reached the Earth in what the Space Weather Prediction Center called a severe geomagnetic storm. The storms occur when the solar wind rushes through the Earth's magnetosphere, causing charged particles to interact with gases in the atmosphere. This interaction causes the northern lights that ripple across the sky in green, red, and yellow hues.

Submit your own pictures of the aurora by emailing news@kggfradio.com

Photo by Jake Garris (Douglas County, KS)

Photo by Jake Garris (Douglas County, KS)

Nowata County Commissioners continue to discuss ongoing improvements at the courthouse.

The commission discussed pipe replacement at the jail. Commissioner Troy Friddle says they have to consider the cost of replacing copper pipes.  The quote the board received for the pipe replacement was $32,300.

Theft, especially shoplifting, increases during the holiday season.

Coffeyville Police Chief Kwin Bromley says it's one of the biggest crimes that is a deciding factor in driving up Coffeyville's crime rate.  Bromley says if a business wants a sign to reach out to the police department.

Bromley reminds shoppers to also be careful and not leave purses or wallets unattended and make sure items in cars aren't in plain view.

There will be a Hogs For Humanity Community BBQ this Sunday at Riverside Park in Independence.

The group hopes to feed more than 300 community members. Organizer Ryan Gilchrist says he and his wife Adrienne Frazier and their friend Starrlight Wilson decided to organize the event as a way to give back to the community.

The menu will include pulled pork along with various sides, desserts, and drinks. Gilchrist says they are still accepting both monetary donations as well as supplies.

The meal will take place on Sunday at 1pm at the enclosed 4-H building and is free of charge. 

For more indormation, contact Ryan Gilchrist 620-779-1282, Starlight Wilson 620-779-0770, or Adrienne Frazier 620-330-2070. Each can also be reached via the embedded links to their Facebook pages.

A Rose Hill woman is sentenced to 18 years in prison for her role in the death of her 6-year-old adopted daughter.

50-year-old Crystina Schroer was sentenced yesterday in a Butler County courtroom for the killing of Kennedy Schroer. The child was found buried in the backyard of the Schroer home in September 2024.

During her August trial, Butler County Attorney Darrin Devinney stated that Crystina double-bagged the girl's body in trash bags, dug a hole in her property and buried her in the back yard. Crystina was found guilty of second-degree murder, child abuse, making a false writing, and theft in the case.

Her husband 53-year-old Joseph Schroer entered a plea of no contest in October to two counts of aggravated endangering of a child in the case. He is set to be sentenced on December 3^rd.

A Kansas non-profit group is helping out residents in Alaska following an October typhoon that left 22 remote coastal communities devastated.

Jeremy and Nicole Sheffler operate a non-profit called Cow Team 6 that they formed after Hurricane Helene hit the southeast U.S. last year. The organization donates food and supplies to victims of natural disasters. Now, Cow Team 6 is working to supply remote Alaskan villages with thousands of pounds of beef.

The affected communities that rely on subsistence hunting and fishing lost their supplies of fish and other foods they had stored for the coming winter. The Shefflers say they need to raise $50,000 in order to purchase the beef and then transport it to Alaska. The couple hopes to have the supplies ready to send in the next two weeks.

To donate to Cow Team 6, follow this link.

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens are looking for the public's assistance in finding a suspect in the case of an illegally killed deer in Clark County.

The animal was discovered in the area of County Road I and County Road 10, or about 30 miles south of Dodge City. Wardens suspect the deer was killed with a rifle on Thursday night or Friday morning last week and then left in a field.

Authorities are looking for anyone who might have observed suspicious activity in the area or anyone with information about the illegal shooting to contact the Kansas Game Warden (620) 450-7194 or call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843. Tips may remain anonymous.

A resident and a dog escape uninjured from a Columbus house fire.

The fire occurred just before 2am yesterday morning. Crews from Columbus Fire-Rescue, along with Baxter Springs, Scammon, and Lola Fire Departments responded to the scene on East Sycamore Street to find a home fully engulfed in flames. Authorities say there was very heavy smoke coming from the home and flames were visible coming from the structure's roof. Fire crews remained on the scene for nearly three hours until the blaze was completely out. A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire was a wood stove in the garage.

The residence was a total loss, but no injuries were reported.

The Montgomery County Commission will return to holding Tuesday meetings following a Monday holiday in the morning instead of the evening.

County Administrator Jonathan Booe says the move was originally made due to requests by citizens to hold evening meetings to make it easier for those who work to attend.

For the past year, the commission has held such Tuesday meetings at 6pm. However, the change resulted in only two more people attending commission meetings. Commissioner Mike Cordray says he had hopes that more citizens would attend.

Commissioner Phil Clubine adds that the evening meetings meant extending the workday for county employees.

Commissioners unanimously approved moving the start time of Tuesday meetings back to 9am.

In other business, the commission also approved a two-year contract extension for County Administrator Jonathan Booe.

The Humanities Project from Coffeyville Community College welcomes one-woman show Lojo Russo to the Spencer Rounds Theater.

Lojo Russo has been making music along the muddy waters of the Mississippi since she first picked up a guitar at the age of ten. With a self-taught approach to music Russo has developed a unique understanding of genres and songwriting. Russo has played a range of instruments in a range of musical styles. From her days playing in jam, Celtic, blues and folk bands around the Twin Cities in Minnesota she defined and refined her own writing and music style. These days Lojo Russo makes her home in Iowa where she still lives along the mighty Mississippi writing, creating, and performing her free-spirited blend of rhythm & roots at home, around the Midwest, and the country.

Russo will perform tonight at 6:30 on the CCC Campus. Admission is free.

Another bond vote for South Coffeyville Schools is coming up next week.

Superintendent Daryl Pruter says this $1.4 million bond will address some much-needed repairs that will only get worse and more expensive with time.

Pruter says if the bond passes, the district would like to build a storm shelter that would not only keep students safe but would also be available to the community after school hours.

If the bond passes, the average homeowner with a market-value property worth $68,000 would see a projected monthly increase of $6.29 over the 10-year bond. Pruter says there is a very small difference in the cost between the last bond attempt and this one.

Polls will open a week from today on November 18^th.

A Wilson County family is killed in an early morning crash in Wilson County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash happened just before 6:00am on Highway 400 at Granby Avenue, about a mile north of the Highway 75 and 400 junction. Troopers say a 2019 Hyundai Sonata was westbound on Granby Avenue when it failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by a northbound 2025 Peterbilt truck.

The driver of the Hyundai, 21-year-old Adam Brooks and two passengers 21-year-old Kylie Brooks and 2-year-old Kohen Brooks were killed in the crash. No one in the car was wearing their seat belts. The driver of the Peterbilt, 59-year-old Marvin Lea, of El Dorado, was not injured.

A GoFundMe has been established to help the family.

Multiple departments respond to a structure fire north of Coffeyville.

Monday afternoon around 4:20 p.m., the Coffeyville and Dearing Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire about three miles north of Coffeyville on CR 4550. Crews found a fully-engulfed storage shed towards the back of the property. No one was injured and there was no other damage to the property. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire crews were assited by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Coffeyville Regional Medial Center EMS.

Photo: Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography

A light agenda for the USD 445 Board of Education sees a number of positions filled in the district.

Kamryn Hensley was hired as a teacher assistant for the Early Learning Center. Jill Thompson transferred from In School Suspension supervisor to a teacher assistant and Brianna Wells transferred from being a teacher assistant to In School Suspension supervisor for Community Elementary.

A number of supplemental positions were approved for Field Kindley High School. Will Owens for the National Honor Society, Wesley Kimmel as an assistant boys swim coach and Bryce Gillespie and Scott McFall were hired as assistant baseball coaches. At CES, Susan Lunt, LeAnn DeSilva and Starla Wells were all hired for Educational Leadership B - Student Intervention Team.

The Labette County Commissioners vote to approve funding for mental health services for the county jail.

The Labette Center for Mental Health Services has been providing some services without funding but would like to expand their services. Executive Director Matt Atteberry says they are asking for $40,000.  Atteberry says a very significant number of inmates have issues with substance abuse, mental illness or both.

The funding will come from the money received from the opiod settlements. The commission unanimously approved the funding, which will begin on December 1^st.

A full room of representatives from the City of Neodesha, Fredonia EMS, and Labette Health, were on hand to continue discussing options surrounding the Neodesha EMS service.

Neodesha City Administrator Brogan Jones and Neodesha City Commissioner Ed Truelove spoke to Wilson County commissioners about recent discussions. Jones says they have a verbal agreement with Labette Health.

Labette offers similar assistance options to both Cherryvale and Independence. CEO Brian Williams says this situation will only be resolved with a collaborative effort.

Sides disagreed for nearly an hour of discussion, with no immediate action taken. County Commissioner Jerry Scott says the chain of communication had missing links.

All parties agreed to table the issue, with a vote expected on this week's agenda in the county.

The city of Parsons will hold a community Veterans' Day parade tomorrow.

Parsons Mayor Verlyn Boulanger says some downtown streets will be closed off tomorrow morning.

All verterans are welcome to participate in the parade, by walking, rolling, or riding on the provided floats. Line up will begin at 8:30am at Crawford and Central.

There will also be a Veterans' Day presentation at Parsons Middle School beginning at 8:05. The public is invited to attend. All veternas are also invited to a apecial tahnk you meal from the Elks Club at noon at 105 Main Street.

Traffic on 400 is shut down between Fredonia and Neodesha due to an accident.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reported just before 8 a.m. that the accident occured earlier this morning.

Traffic is being re-routed through Neodesha at this time. Drivers will need to allow extra time or use an alternate route.  KDOT expects the road to be open today before noon.

Photo: Brett Trotter

The Sedan City Council approves the expenditure for sewer pipe in order to have some on hand in case of emergency.

Sedan Public Works Superintendent Caleb Ironsyde was at the most recent meeting and informed council members about the recent emergency sewer repair on Main Street. Ironsyde says the project turned out to be more complicated than first thought.

Ironsyde says the repairs were made, but this likely won’t be the last time it happens.

Ironsyde told the council that the pipe cost for that project would be around $1,200, not including contractor fees. The council then approved just over $3,500 to have pipe on hand for future repairs.

Citizens in Independence mark Veterans’ Day with a solemn ceremony in Riverside Park.

A crowd of people gathered at Veteran’s Freedom Square on Saturday to honor those who served in our nation’s military. Those assembled were led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Cub Scout Pack 4 and were then welcomed by members of VFW Post 1186.

Following the reading of the names, the VFW Auxiliary announced the winners of the Patriot’s Pen Essay contest. The Auxiliary’s Kathy Shepard says many local students wrote their best patriotic essays for the contest.

The winner of the contest was Lucy McAffee, who then read her essay to the group. Shepard also awarded the 2026 Voice of Democracy Essay prize to Malaya Miller, who also read her essay aloud. Veterans’ Day activities were rounded out later in the afternoon with a parade in downtown Independence.

Atmos Energy is taking comments and holding a public hearing ahead of a proposed rate increase.

The natural gas provider is requesting a net revenue increase in base rates of $19.1 million. If approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission, the average monthly residential bill will increase by about $9.12 per month, or 11%.

Public comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. on January 20^th, 2026, at kcc.ks.gov or by calling 1-800-662-0027. A public hearing will take place in Overland Park on the KU Edwards Campus on Tuesday, December 2^nd from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting will also be streamed on YouTube. More information is available here.

The public is invited to the Veterans Day Dedication Ceremony tomorrow in Coffeyville.

The Coffeyville Veterans Memorial Park Association will dedicate the city-donated land that will eventually become the Coffeyville Veterans Memorial Park Memorial. The site will be created to honor all those who have served our nation. Tomorrow’s ceremony will include the raising of the construction site billboard and dedication flower pot along with the setting of the placement marker for the 30-foot flag pole and a wreath placement. The event will feature comments by Coffeyville Police Chief Kwin Bromley and other guests.

Tomorrow’s ceremony begins at 10:30 at 2000 Woodland Avenue in Coffeyville. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Governor Laura Kelly will be in Pittsburg tonight as she finishes off her People’s Budget listening tour. Kelly began the tour on October 9 in Salina, with the purpose of hearing directly from Kansans about citizen priorities for the budget ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

Each January, Governor Kelly presents a balanced budget proposal to the Kansas Legislature that outlines investments in education, health care, infrastructure, public safety, and other key areas. This past year, the Kansas Legislature disregarded Governor Kelly’s budget proposal, opting to craft its own budget. The 2026 session begins on January 12.

Kelly will speak tonight at the Frisco Event Center at 6pm. In partnership with the Kansas Food Bank and Harvesters, Governor Kelly is encouraging Kansans attending the town hall events to bring non-perishable, non-glass food items to give back to local communities.

Area residents who wish to attend must RSVP to the event. A form to RSVP can be found here.

The Board of Education for USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer Schools will meet tonight to discuss capital improvement projects in the district.

Board members will discuss and review projects of various district facilities, ranking them in order of priority while detailing progress made on current projects such as the renovations to the stadium at Logan Park and outdoor classrooms at Lincoln Central and Thayer Acres as well as ongoing, routine maintenance. There will also be the opportunity for consideration of the research and development of future projects.

The meeting begins tonight at 7pm in the library of Lincoln Central Elementary at 401 East Main in Cherryvale. The public is invited to attend.

The USD 445 School Board will meet this afternoon in Coffeyville.

The Board will entertain a light agenda that includes the approval of several hirings, resignations, and transfer of district employees. Board members will also hear reports on Child Nutrition and comments from central office staff.

Today’s meeting begins at 4pm at the District Office at 615 Ellis Street. The meeting is open to the public.

The USD 446 Independence Board of Education will meet tonight.

On tonight’s agenda will be the approval of the Request for Proposal publication for the HIS roof project and a discussion of the superintendent evaluation process. The Board is also expected to accept the resignations of six district employees including that of Eisenhower Elementary 1st grade teacher Trisha Baker.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 7pm in the library at Independence High School. The public is invited to attend.

A Columbus teen passes away following an October car accident.

16-year-old Quinn Lloyd was seriously injured on October 30th when he was thrown from the hood of a car. He was taken via a Medflight helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Springfield, where he succumbed to his injuries on November 4. Lloyd was a junior at Columbus High School and played football for the Titans. He was also an organ donor. Lloyd was laid to rest on Saturday.

A GoFundMe has been established for his family.

The City of Columbus reports it is making progress on restoring the City’s utility billing and financial systems.

The City has closed its offices on multiple occasions in an attempt to restore those systems. The last closure occurred last Wednesday through Friday. City officials now say they have made significant progress on the issue, stating that they were able to process billing statements for November utility bills. Customers can expect to receive those later this week. The due date for those bill will be November 30 and no late fees will be charged this cycle.

Starting today the City of Columbus will be able to accept utility payments via check, cash, and credit card. The online payment portal will be re-activated as well. City Hall will also return to normal hours and will be open from 8am to 4:30.

The Neodesha Food Pantry will hold a community food drive this Saturday.

Those who would like to contribute can drop off non-perishable food items at the Neodesha G&W, located at 612 Main Street. The food pantry is requesting canned fruits and vegetables, dry pasta, rice, cereals and oatmeal, canned soups, peanut butter and condiments. Items can be dropped off at G&W from 10am to 2pm Saturday.

For more information, call 620-605-0962.

The Montgomery County Commission will meet today and hear quarterly reports from several different departments.

Director of Environmental Health and Zoning Matt Debo will update the commission on the workings in his department. Kenneth Fecke will also appear before the commission to report on Juvenile Community Corrections while Dennis Webb will report on the status of Adult Community Corrections.

 There will also be a discussion on Resolution 24-128, which moves County Commission meetings to Tuesday nights when Monday is a holiday. The original resolution was adopted last year in hopes it would allow more citizens to attend commission meetings. There will also be an executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.

Today’s meeting begins at 9am in the Commission Room on the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the County’s website.

Sign ups are next week for Coffeyville's Salvation Army Community Service Volunteers Christmas Assistance Program. Montgomery County Cordinator Joe Brooks says those who want to sign up will need to bring some information with them.

Sign ups are Monday, November 10^th to Friday, November 14^th at the Salvation Army Office at 102 West 12^th Street. On Monday, signups are from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, then from Tuesday through Friday sign ups will be from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm except for Thursday when they will take sign ups until 7:00pm.

The Second Annual Boys and Girls Club Magic Basketball Clinic is coming up next weekend.

The clinic is on Sunday, November 16^th from 3:00pm to 5:30pm in the Community Elementary School gym. The cost of the clinic is $20 and those who signup early will receive a free club t-shirt. The coaches putting on the clinic include Ronnie Davis, Steve Turner, James Newton, Jake Horner and Paul Austin.

A link to register can be found here.

The Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation receives a gift from CVR Energy and The Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Kansas.

These two organizations worked together to host the annual CVR Charity Golf Classic in September. Proceeds from the tournament will support both The Boys & Girls Club youth programs and the CRMC Foundation.

The $3,000 gift will benefit the CRMC Foundation’s Care N Share fund. This fund is designed to assist CRMC cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. The Care N Share Fund provides free gas cards, medicine co-pays and treatment related supplies to cancer patients in need.

 The chance to take a test drive to benefit the Caney Police Department ends soon.

 Today and tomorrow, the Caney Police Department invites citizens to take a test drive at Romans Chevrolet in Independence. For every test drive, Romans will donate up to a total of $500. Chief Ike Dye explains the process.

 Those wishing to participate should mention the Caney Police Department and the Chevy First Responder Program.

A 12-year-old boy in Wagoner County, OK, is being hailed for his bravery after he saves three others from a burning UTV.

Roman Goodnight was driving his two siblings and a friend across the family farm to the school bus stop on an October morning. Nothing was unusual about the trip until the boy turned off the UTV. When he did that, the machine burst into flames with the four kids still inside. The 12-year-old directed his younger brother and sister to get out of the vehicle and then turned to help their friend, who was stuck inside. Roman helped the girl get free and escape the fire. None of the children were injured in the incident.

Roman Goodnight will be recognized for his bravery at the next Wagoner County Commission meeting.

Two people are arrested in Jay, Oklahoma, following a raid of an illegal marijuana processing business.

Agents from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Marijuana Enforcement Team served a search warrant on Truly Heightened Cannabis yesterday in Jay. Law enforcement seizedmore than 45 pounds of processed marijuana, 50 pounds of concentrate, and 20 pounds of edibles. The business was the subject of the raid due to operating without an active OBN Registration.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office assisted in the operation. The names of the individuals taken into custody have not yet been released as the investigation continues. More arrests are possible in the case.

A Carthage man who has been missing since October 20 is found deceased.

Auhtorities say 87-year-old Hugh Berry of rural Carthage was found deceased around 9:30 Thursday morning by Jasper County deputies. Berry was last seen leaving his rural Carthage residence on foot on October 20. Since that time, search and rescue teams have been searching for the missing man. Human remains believed to be those of Mr. Berry were discovered at an undisclosed location.

Authorities say that foul play is not suspected in the case.

There will be lots of Veterans' Day events tomorrow in Independence.

One of the major events will happen at the Veterans Freedom Square at Riverside Park. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the Memorial Presentations will begin at 10:30am with the reading of the names represented at the Veterans' Memorial.

Wilson says the event will continue with other presentations, including recognition of the winners of the Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen Essay Contest.

Following the ceremony, there will be an Honor Walk to mark the opening of the Verdigris Vista Trail at the park.

Events kick off tomorrow morning with a Veterans' Appreciation Breakfact at 7am at VFW Post 1186. There will also be a car show in the Auto Zone parking lot from noon to 1:30, a free community lunch at the VFW at 11am. Attendees can also enjoy the Military Exhibit at the Independence Historical Museum. The day of events will be capped off with the Veterans' Day Parade at 2pm.

The City of Coffeyville Public Works Department continues to make progress on the current project at Woodland Avenue and Buckeye.

When the City recently completed the Rails-to-Trails path in the area, the City became aware that the trail was very close to the roadway. To help protect walkers, cyclists, and drivers, the roadway was moved five feet to the north, and new curb and gutter were installed along the section. The next step in the project is to install a series of short, sturdy posts known as bollards along the new curb line. The bollards will create a safe separation between vehicles and trail users, while helping to manage vehicle traffic and prevent accidental vehicle access to the trail.

The purpose of the improvements is to make the trail safer and more user-friendly.

The project is funded through a Community Development Block grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce with a 50% match from the City of Coffeyville.

A Neodesha teen is seriously injured when his UTV collides with a pick up truck.

The accident occurred Thursday afternoon around 4pm at the intersection of US-75 and 200 Road. The 15-year-old male was driving a 2019 Polaris Ranger UTV eastbound on 200 Road, just south of Neodesha. When the boy attempted to cross the intersection with US-75, he struck a pick up truck. The teen suffered serious injuries and was taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for treatment. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, he was not wearing a safety device at tht time of the accident.

No one in the pick up truck was injured.

The Kansas Corporation Commission approved a unanimous settlement creating a Large Load Power Service or L-L-P-S rate plan for electric customers using more than 75 MW of peak power.