It's New Year's Eve and that means lots of people will be out and about tonight, celebrating the end of 2025 and welcoming in 2026.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reminds everyone to have a safe and fun New Year's. Trooper Jodi Clary says a few helpful hints can ensure you have a great evening.
K-H-P also reminds drivers to be on the look out for intoxicated pedestrians.
Two people are arrested oin multiple charges following the service of a search warrant in Allen County.
Allen County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant Tuesday at 1120 Arizona Road, approximately four miles southwest of Humboldt. During the execution of the search warrant, alleged drug items were discovered. That discovery led to a second search warrant being obtained and the arrest of two brothers.
29-year-old Daniel K. Berthot was taken into custody and faces charges of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 30-year-old Andrew S. Berthot was also arrested on multiple charges including Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Aggravated Internet Trading in Child Pornography, Promoting Obscenity, and Breach of Privacy.
Both men were taken to the Allen County Jail in Iola where they await official charging from the County Attorney’s Office.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.
Residents of Pleasanton turn out for a parade in memory of a slain 13-year-old boy.
The streets of Pleasanton were lined with residents and the streets were full of vehicles Tuesday evening in memory of 13-year-old Airen Andula. The boy was said to love cars and had a large collection on Hot Wheels.
Andula was found deceased in Bates County, Missouri, last week after he went missing on December 22. A Pleasanton man Damon Leonard has been arrested in Missouri in connection to the case. He has been charged with abandonment of a corpse, desecration, interference with law enforcement, and having a vicious dog at large. He currently awaits extrdition to Kansas.
The case is under investigation by the Kansas City Kansas Police Department.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is inviting Kansans to start the new year by enjoying a First Day Hike tomorrow.
First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on New Year’s Day. K-D-W-P's Mike Blair says it's a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family.
Tomorrow's First Day Hike at Elk City State Park begins at 9am. Hikers should meet at the trailhead on Timber Road.
Paticipants should bring water, snacks, weather appropriate clothing, and hiking shoes. Other optional gear includes binoculars, a hiking stick, and a camera. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
For a complete list of First Day Hikes at Kansas Parks, go here.
The Kansas Highway Patrol releases its Christmas Holiday Activity Report for 2025.
The report shows an increase in both DUI arrests and speeding citations issued over the reporting period as compared to the past two years. For 2025, K-H-P troopers arrested 27 suspects for DUI as compared to 7 in each of the two previous holiday seasons. Troopers also issued a total of 769 speeding citations this year, against 227 last year and 370 in 2023.
The report also indicated 809 motorists assistance calls this year. There was only one fatal crash this holiday season. The wreck was non-DUI related.
The reporting period for the holiday ran from 6pm on Christmas Eve through midnight on Sunday, December 28th.
The City of Bartlesville names an acting police chief as the current chief takes a leave-of-absence.
B-P-D Chief Kevin Ickleberry is taking a leave-of-absence and a deputy chief will step into his role while he is away. Deputy Police Chief Troy Newell has been named acting police chief. Newell is a veteran police officer with 20 year of experience. He has served as a former K-9 handler and longtime member of the Bartlesville Police Department command staff. He has served as deputy chief since 2023.
Newell will serve as Acting Police Chief until Ickleberry returns.
Two people are arrested in Independence for domestic battery in separate incidents.
On Saturday, officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of West Laurel Street a round 5:15am after receiving a 9-1-1 hang up call. Following an investigation, police arrested 18-year-old Kenai Castorena of Independence. Castorena was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and faces a charge of domestic battery.
I-P-D responded to another incident on Sunday in the 400 block of North 4th Street. That call led to the arrest of 38-year-old Eric Hooks Jr. on charges of domestic battery, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, criminal threat and child endangerment.
All suspects are presumed innocent.
Coffeyville Fire fighters respond to a structure fire at a Coffeyvile home.
The call came in just before 9pm on Monday as Coffeyville fire crews were dispatched to the 100 block of West 2nd Street. Units arrived on scene to find a large 2-story house with heavy fire involvement to the 2nd floor of the home. A pumper truck arrived to knock down the large body of fire to allow firefighters to enter the structure to search for occupants and to continue battling the flames from the inside of the structure. The fire was eventually brought under control and extinguished. The home was unoccupied at the time the fire occurred and no injuries were reported.
Multiple agencies including Coffeyville PD, CRMC EMS, Dearing, South Coffeyville, Liberty, Tyro and CVR fire departments all provided assistance.
The cause of the fire reamins under investigation.
Photo courtesy Coffeyville Fire
The City of Cherryvale is announcing a new customer portal.
The portal is available on the city website and allows customers to easily manage their utility accounts, monitor usage, view bills, go paperless and enroll in autopay or text-to-pay.
A link to the website is available HERE. Make sure you have your account number with you to register. If you have any questions, call the Cherryvale City Hall at 620-336-2776.
Take a look back at 2025 with the KGGF Year in Review.
Tune in to the Mighty 690 on New Year's Day to hear a recap of the top local news stories of the year at 9 and noon. We'll also have a recap of national stories from Fox News through 2 p.m. on KGGF. You can also hear a summary of local stories through the morning and midday on Classic Hits 104.1, US 98 and Sonshine 98.9. Our Year in Review Programming is brought to you by Bartlett Co-op, David W Barnes Funeral Home and Porter Drug.
**UPDATE: 70-year-old Robert Deatherage of Coffeyville succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Joplin's Freeman Hospital.
A Coffeyville man is seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident east of Independence.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash happened Tuesday just before 3 p.m. when 70-year-old Robert Deatherage of Coffeyville was driving a 2019 GMC Terrain eastbound on U.S. 160. His vehicle left the roadway to the right striking a culvert. The SUV continued eastbound across County Road 4500 before striking an embankment. It then rolled one time coming to rest on its wheels facing south in the east ditch of County Road 4500. Deatherage was taken to a Joplin hospital with suspected serious injuries. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
KGGF Text Alert subcribers were alerted to this crash when it happened. Stay in the know on breaking news, traffic and weather conditions by signing up here.
Local fire departments respond to a house fire last night.
Just before 9 p.m., the Coffeyville Fire Department was dispatched to the 100 block of South Walnut to a report of an active two-story structure fire.
Upon arrival, units found a home fully engulfed in flames. The home was unoccupied at the time. The fire was eventually contained and units were able to clear the scene after 11 p.m. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. Units from Coffeyville Resources, Dearing, Tyro, Liberty and South Coffeyville also assisted on the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A suspect is in custody in connection to the strike on a Neosho County Sheriff's patrol vehicle.
On December 26th, a patrol vehicle was parked off the roadway on a pasture access and was stuck from behind in a hit-and-run.
According to the Sheriff's Department, 48-year-old Jeremy L Borton of Buffalo, KS, was arrested for leaving the scene of a crime, failure to report, driving while suspended, no ignition interlock device, no liability insurance and aggravated battery. He was transported to the Neosho County Jail. Upon completion of the investigation, reports will be forwarded to the Neosho County Attorney's Office for review.
New charges are announced in the case of a 13-year-old Pleasanton boy who was found deceased in Missouri on December 22.
Detectives from the Kansas City, Kansas, police department say the new charges against 47-year-old Damon Leonard include interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large. Leonard, who is also a resident of Pleasanton, led police to the remains of 13-year-old Airen Andula in a Bates County Missouri ravine last week. He has also been charged with abandonment of a corpse in the case and additional charges are expected to be filed in Kansas.
Andula disappeared on the Sunday before Christmas after riding his bike to a neighbor's house to care for their animals while they were out of town.
K-C-K-P-D was called in to investigate the case as an outside agency.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announces that Kansas has been warded $221 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or C-M-S to support the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program.
The funding will strengthen rural health systems, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes for Kansans across the state. Kelly stated that funding award exceeds the base amount states allocated and reflects the quality of Kansas’ application. She added that funding for Kansas will go a long way in fundamentally changing the health care delivery system for rural communities across the state.
The funding is intended to strengthen rural health systems with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment serving as the lead agency. K-D-H-E will coordinate with key stakeholders, including the Rural Health Alliance, to ensure funds are distributed according to the approved framework and federal requirements, supporting projects focused on expanding primary and secondary prevention programs, securing local access to primary care, building a sustainable rural health workforce, enabling value-based care, and harnessing data and technology.
Osage County Commissioners review the findings of a three-year audit.
The review came at this week's commission meeting where commissioners attempted to ensure that the county was in compliance with the state auditor's office. Commissioners Steve Talburt says there were two major findings in the audit.
To correct these issues, the Osage County Commission has since adopted the personnel policy handbook that ACCO uses and created a committee to adopt policies and procedures that are consistent with Osage County.
Talburt says they just want to make sure they are doing everything correctly.
In other business, commissioners also approved the renewal of the contract for Tourism Director Mary Beth Moore, pending review by legal counsel.
The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects involved in a series of post office burglaries in Cherokee County.
The first break-in West Mineral on December 16th around 11pm when a white SUV was seen leaving the scene of the post office. Later that night in Weir, two suspects, also in a white SUV entered the post office around 11:40pm. They fled the scene traveling north on Jefferson Street.
On either December 16th or 17th in Scammon, that post office was also burglarized. Authorities are trying to determine the timeline of that break-in and asks anyone who uses the Scammon Post Office to help them narrow down the time frame.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy Chatfield with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office at 620-429-3992 or via email at chatfield@cherokeesheriff-ks.gov
Image courtesy Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
A Ponca City woman is injured in a single-vehicle crashin Ark City.
Police believe the woman – identified as Noelia Gallegos – may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Gallegos was injured yesterday morning just after 7am when her vehicle left the roadway and rolled, striking a fire hydrant. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and later discharged. The accident remains under investigation by the Ark City Police Department.
Fire officials are urging caution after a space heater is suspected of causing a house fire in Scammon.
The blaze began in the early morning hours on Sunday and rendered the home a total loss. Scammon Fire Chief Jason Spencer stated that, as temperatures fall, more people use the small heaters to stay warm. He added that space heaters should be used with care as they can malfunction and cause fires. There were no injuries reported in Sunday's fire.
The Nowata School Board votes unanimously to dismiss head football coach Chance Juby.
The move came at Monday's special meeting that was convened to confront the issue. School Board Clerk Tamara Maddux makes the motion for dismissal.
Juby was arrested in November and formally charged in Rogers County District Court on November 26 with the felony charge of engaging in prosititution within 1,000 feet of a school. Juby has served as the head coach of Nowata football from 2022-2025.
Juby will appear in court to face charges on January 26th.
The Kansas Corporation Commission announces two public hearings on Evergy's application for a proposed 133-miles electric transmission line that would run through areas of Chautauqua, Cowley, Sumner and Sedgwick counties.
The proposed line that would run through the four counties would begin at the Buffalo Flats Substation near Garden Plain, Kansas, in Sedgwick County and end at the Delaware Substation near Delaware, Oklahoma, in Nowata County. The public hearings will give Kansas residents the opportunity to ask questions and make public comments to the K-C-C about the project while learning more about what the venture entails. K-C-C staff and Evergy representatives will also conduct an open house before each hearing.
The first hearing will be Wednesday, January 7, at Sedan High School, 416 Elm Street in Sedan. The open house will begin at 3:30 with the hearing to follow at 6pm.
The second hearing will be on Thursday, January 8, in the Richardson Performing Arts Center at Southwestern College, 100 N. College St. in Winfield, . An open house will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Christy Room 201. Both are located in the Christy Administration Building.
Those unable to attend in person may participate virtually via Zoom. Registration is required by noon the day prior to the hearing. The Commission is also accepting written comments through 5 p.m. CST, January 23, 2026. To register to attend by Zoom or submit a written comment, visit https://kcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov/s/public-comments. In addition, the hearings will be broadcast live on the agency’s YouTube channel and will be available for later viewing.
Montgomery County discusses future road projects and efforts to fund them.
At Monday’s commission meeting, Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins told commissioners that the county would again pursue state grant money to complete the project on South Buckeye Street. He reported that funding would once again be available through the Kansas Department of Transportation High Risk Rural Road Program. Beurskins says the design and engineering has already been done on the project that would continue from James School to State Line Road.
If funded, the project would likely not begin until 2028. Other future long-term projects commissioners would like to see considered include Coffeyville’s Cline Road from the golf course north, and County Road 1300 in Caney from the Caney Valley Speedway north to Havana.
Local firefighters work an early-morning structure fire amid challenging cold-weather conditions.
Just after 2:30 this morning, Independence Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 500 block of North 13th Street for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a single-story residence with heavy fire showing through the roof. Strong north winds estimated at 20–30 mph made firefighting operations more challenging. Due to the wind conditions, the fire spread from the initial residence to a neighboring house to the south. Burning embers were also carried several blocks south of the original fire location. Water runoff also froze and caused icy road conditions and led to four firefighters slipping and falling. No serious injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
The fire is currently under investigation by Independence Fire-EMS in cooperation with the Independence Police Department. Dearing Fire, Cherryvale Fire, Cherryvale Rural and Sycamore Rural also assisted at the scene.
Photo: Independence Fire/EMS
The Caney City Council will meet in special session tonight at 6:30 at City Hall.
On the agenda is discussion and possible approval for Paynada to be used as the vendor for the City’s credit card processing. Discussion will also take place on a possible proposed budget amendment for FY 2025.
The meeting will take place at 100 West 4th Avenue, at the east entrance of the building. The meeting can also be viewed on the KGGF Facebook page.
Area emergency crews respond to a structure fire in Scammon.
The Scammon Fire Department responded to the call around 12:30 Monday morning. A call for mutual aid went out to Columbus Fire after the first units arrived on scene. C-F-D sent three units and 8 firefighters to help contain the fully engulfed structure. Crews were unable to save the structure due to difficult conditions including high wind and freezing termperatures. However, no injuries were reported.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the assistance of Copan Fire rescue a group of stranded hunters.
Swifly changing weather conditions on Copan Lake on Sunday left the group of water fowl hunters stranded in the water on the north end of the lake. Copan Fire deployed a rescue boat, located the group, and helped them retrieve their sunken water craft. The hunters were able to safely return to the Port of Osage Plains.
No injuries were reported.
Photo courtesy Copan Fire Department
A Rose, Oklahoma, woman is dead following a single vehicle accident.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that 29-year-old Lissa N. Hamm died Saturday afternoon when she failed to negotiate a curve on State Highway 82 north of Talequah. Hamm was driving southbound when her vehicle left the roadway, striking a fence and a tree. The accident occurred north of North Shiloh Road.
Lots of people are on the road this week as people travel home from their Christmas celebrations.
The Kansas Highway Patrol wants to remind all drivers to travel with care, especially as New Year’s Eve approaches. Trooper Otero-Hernandez of KHP-Troop P says planning ahead will help everyone arrive home safely.
Those traveling in Kansas can check road conditions with the KanDrive app or by visiting KanDrive.gov. Travelers in need of assistance can call *47 for the Highway Patrol or *582 while on the Kansas Turnpike.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks along with the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the illegal dumping of several deer carcasses.
The animal remains were discovered on Friday by a McPherson County Sheriff’s deputy in a ditch along Mohawk Road. Officials say the deer appear to have been legally harvested, but the disposal of the animals violates Kansas law.
Kansas statute prohibits the dumping of wild game carcasses in rivers streams, ditches, roads, or other public areas.
The incident remains under investigation.
Photo courtesy McPherson County Sheriff's Office
Firefighters in Neodesha once again turn into elves as they help Santa deliver presents to local homes.
In what has become a yearly tradition, Neodesha firefighters delivered Christmas presents to local homes on December 23rd. There was some concern among citizens regarding the tradition as to whether the Fire Department would be able to assist this year following a post made on Facebook, but firefighters and city officials came together in the spirit of the season to make sure Neodesha kids would get to experience the joy of having Santa deliver their presents on a fire truck.
The Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce announces its Board Chair for 2026.
Jeff Stewart will serve as the 2026 Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. In his new role, Stewart will help guide the Chamber through its 2026 Strategic Plan. The plan focuses on community image; tourism; economic and workforce development; and leadership. He will play a central role in advancing initiatives that support business growth, strengthen partnerships, and elevate Coffeyville’s regional presence.
Stewart brings more than 25 years of community leadership and business expertise to the role. He currently serves as Market President for Solutions North Bank.
An Ark City man is recovering from injuries sustained over the weekend after he fell while trimming trees.
The Ark City Fire & EMS Department responded to the scene in the 600 block of North C Street on Saturday afternoon. The 37-year-old man had been trimming trees in the area just after 4pm when he fell an estimated 30 to 35 feet from the tree. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his legs and lower back in the fall.
Responders took the victim to the nearby Fire & EMS station so he could be air-lifted via EagleMed to a Wichita hospital.
A five-year-old Park Hill, Oklahoma, girl is being credited with saving her family from a house fire on December 19th.
The family of five had gone to bed for the evening, but the five-year-old was still awake around 10pm when she saw smoke in the house. The girl woke her father and, thanks to her actions, all members of the family were able to safely escape the blaze. By the time, fire crews arrived on the scene, about half of the house was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, but the home was a total loss. Investigators believe the fire began in a woodstove in the living room.
Crews from the Keys Volunteer Fire Department in Park Hill responded to the call with mutual aid from Talequah Fire.
A GoFundMe has been established for the family.
Photo courtesy Keys Volunteer Fire Department of Park Hill, OK
Authorities in Neosho County are looking for the driver of a pickup truck involved in a Friday night hit-and-run accident on a county road.
The accident happened on 160th Road southeast of Chanute, about 7 miles from US-169. Neosho County Sheriff’s Deputy 35-year-old Cierra Riggs of Galesburg was in her patrol truck, parked on the eastbound shoulder of 160th Road when an unknown pickup approached. The driver went left-of-center and struck the Deputy’s patrol truck head-on. The vehicle then fled the scene, traveling westbound toward US-169. Deputy Riggs was taken to Neosho Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. She has since returned to duty.
Anyone with information about the other vehicle or driver is asked to contact the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office at 620-244-3888.
The Montgomery County Commission will meet today for their last official meeting of 2025.
On today’s agenda is the yearly update from the Cherryvale Chamber of Commerce. Commissioners will also discuss several resolutions dealing with the transfer of county funds. Two such resolutions will transfer funds $200,000 from the County Road and Bridge Fund to the Special Highway Fund and $400,000 to the Special Equipment Fund. A third resolution will authorize the transfer of $700,000 from the General Fund to the Employee Benefits Fund. Also on today’s agenda is the expected approval of a $26,000 expenditure to replace the server in the County Attorney’s Office.
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 week of Christmas yields several arrests for Independence Police in separate incidents.
On Sunday, December 21st, a call for a possible medical emergency led to the arrest of 19-year-old Brayden Beye. Beye faces charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.
On Christmas Eve, I-P-D was called to the 700 block of north 10th Street around 1:30am for a report of an attempted burglary. Officers arrived on the scene, and following an investigation, arrested 43-year-old Nathan Matthews of Independence on charges of DUI. On that same day, around 10:30pm, officers received a report of a female asking for help in the 500 block of south 17th Street. After investigating the reports, officers arrested 28-year-old Aaron Theel on multiple charges including domestic battery, criminal threat, and endangering a child.
Officers also responded to a two-vehicle, non-injury car accident on Christmas Day.
All suspects are presumed innocent.
USD 508 Baxter Springs announces a new after school meal plan for students that will begin in January.
The program will offer students a free super snack/supper before sending them home for the evening. The district plans to adjust bus schedules to allow students some extra time to enjoy their food. Buses will leave ten minutes later each day in order to accommodate the new program. The meal service begins on January 7th and will be available to all students who are interested.
The announcement was made by USD 508 Superintendent David Pendergraft
A Frontenac man faces charges of armed robbery after an incident at the Pittsburg Tractor Supply location.
The incident occurred around 8:40pm on Tuesday night when store employees say a man attemtped to leave the store without paying for merchandise. When staff confronted the suspect, they say he he showed a handgun and then left the store with the unpaid for items. The man was later identified using security video as a 32-year-old Frontenac man.
The suspect was located and taken into custody without incident. He was in possession of a firearm at the time of his arrest. The man is currently being held without bond in the Crawford County Jail.
With the holiday season upon us, budgets can get stretched a little thin.
Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson reminds area residents of several opportunities throughout the week for meals. She says several churches in Independence offers meals for anyone in need.
Wilson adds there is an additional meal each week at the Wesley Center.
The meals are free and available to anyone in need of a hot, home-cooked meal.
A suspect is in custody following a shooting in southwest Missouri earlier this week.
Authorities in Vernon County, Missouri , responded on Monday to reports of shots fired in the City of Montevallo, about 14 miles southeast of Nevada. When Vernon County Sheriff's Deputies arrived on the scene, they found a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, The man identified the shooter as 65-year-old Johnny Gransbury of El Dorado Springs, Missouri. Witnesses say the victim asked to borrow a chainsaw and gas money from Gransbury who denied the request prior to the shooting.
Gransbury was taken into custody and transported to the Vernon County Jail in Nevada, where he is being held without bond on felony charges of Armed Criminal Action, Assault and Unlawful Use of Weapon.
A Rogers County man is dead in a single vehicle accident early Christmas morning.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that 27-year-old Matthew L. Lewis of Claremore was westbound in the 22,000 block of East 350 Road just before 2am Thursday. Lewis' vehicle then crossed the centerline and departed the roadway to the left where it then struck a tree.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident.
Bartlesville Police are searching for a suspect in a non-fatal shooting on Monday.
Just before 5pm Monday B-P-D responded to a possible shooting in the 3700 block of Woodland Road. When officers arrived on the scene they found an adult male suffering from a single gunshot wound to the leg. Officers immediately provided aid. EMS arrived on scene and took the victim to a Tulsa hospital. The individual is expected to make a full recovery.
Investigators say the shooting occurred following a verbal altercation that took place in the parking lot of a church. Bartlesville authorities utilized the Flock Camera System and observed the suspect’s vehicle leaving the city following the incident. The suspect has been identified as a tribal member.
B-P-D continues to investigate the case. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Bartlesville Police at 918-338-4001.
Authorities in Miami are asking for the public's help in locating a missing woman.
According to the Miami Police Department, 48-year-old Andonia Poly was last seen in Miami on December 23. She has mental health concerns and speaks limited English. Poly is described as a Pacific Islander female who is 5 feet 1 inch tall (5'1”) and weighs about 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone who thibnks they may have seen Poly or who might have information about her whereabouts, is asked to contact the Ottawa County Central Dispatch at 918=542-5585.
Touch of Life Ministries continues to grow their outreach in Coffeyville.
Operator Alicia Melton says they've had almost 150 guests at their Warming Center over the last year. Melton says in addition to the Warming Center they have also started doing community meals.
The Warming Center, which is located 501 East 9th Street, is open for anyone need a warm place to stay when temperatures are forcasted to be below freezing.
Crime in Coffeyville is down almost 65% over the last 10 years.
Police Chief Kwin Bromley says in 2014 Coffeyville experienced the highest crime rate per ca pita in the state at 87.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. Chief Bromley says when he took over as police chief he immediately implemented several strategies within the department to reduce crime.
The Coffeyville City Commission recently approved an agreement for patrol cameras, body cams and a drone to help aid CPD in their efforts to reduce crime.
Authorities in Linn County are investigating the death of a 13-year-old Pleasanton boy.
Police say Airen Andula disappeared on Sunday while riding his bicycle to a neighbor's house to feed their pets while they were out of town. When he didn't return home, his family reported him missing. As the search for andula was underway, 47-year-old Damon Leonard, also of Pleasanton, reported to police that he knew where the boy could be found. Leonard led investigators to a ravine in Bates County, Missouri, about 30 miles from Pleasanton.
Leonard was arrested and has been charged in Missouri with abandonment of a corpse. He is being held on a $100,00 bond pending extradition to Kansas, where he likely faces additional charges in the case.
Police have not released the cause of Andula's death.
A minimum-custody resident of the Wichita Work Release Facility is back in custody following a brief escape.
The Kansas Department of Corrections reports that 45-year-old Alex Emillano Jaramillo was placed briefly on escape status on Christmas Eve after he did not return to the Wichita facility from his night job the previous evening. Jaramillo was taken into custody yesterday morning, after surrendering to authorities at a local hospital. He was arrested without incident.
KDOC records show Jaramillo was set to be released on January 18, after serving time for violating his parole. His criminal history shows burglary, drug possession, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing law enforcement. He now faces the possibility of an escape from custody charge which could add an additional two to three years to his sentence.
Two southeast Kansas groups are among those set to receive funding from the State to boost economic development.
The funding comes through the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity in the form of Strategic Economic Expansion and Development grants. One area recipient is Woodson County Revitalization, which will receive just under $15,000 to create a system for Yates Center and the historic town square that reduces logistical challenges of sourcing and integrating adequate equipment, enhance capacity and quality of event sound.
The Madison Public Library in Greenwood County was awarded a $25,000 grant to cover the costs of renovating and updating library facilities.
Funding for the grants is provided through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions or TEFFI Development and Expansion Fund. The TEFFI Act was enacted in 2021 through bipartisan legislation to promote economic development throughout the state.
The grant announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland on Monday at an event in Yates Center.
The City of Coffeyville reminds citizens that the trash pickup schedule will be slightly different for the next week due to the holidays.
Instead of the normal pickup day of Friday, trash will be picked up on Saturday this week and next week due to Christmas and New Year's. The normal schedule will resume on January 9.
The driver who collidied with an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper's vehicle on I-40 Monday afternoon has died.
The accident happened around 12:30 on Monday afternoon as O-H-P Trooper Blades was sitting in his cruiser with emergency lights activated on westbound I-40 at Choctaw Road in Oklahoma City. The trooper was blocking the outside lane for a disabled semi as it was loaded onto a wrecker.
An F-250 truck hit the trooper’s patrol unit from behind, while the trooper was inside. The trooper was rushed to the hospital in stable condition. The driver of the other vehicle was also taken to the hospital with critical injuries. The driver succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon. The trooper was released from the hospital on Monday evening.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
City crews in Fredonia repair a water line break.
Crews were busy in the overnight hours repairing a mainline break near the intersection of North 18th and Jefferson Streets. The break was first reported early Tuesday afternoon and crews went to work quickly to restore water service to customers in the area in time for the Christmas holiday.
The break was repaired and water service was restored by 1:30 Wednesday morning.
The Kansas Highway Patrol seeks help from the public in identifying a commercial motor vehicle involved in a fatal accident near Liberal early Monday morning.
The vehicle is believed to be a light-colored semi truck that is possibly silver or gray in color. The vehicle hauling an over sized load that included a large steel cylinder. The vehicle was parked on the eastbound shoulder of US-54 just east of Liberal in foggy conditions. The vehicle was struck from behind by a pickup truck and then fled the scene after the accident. The crash claimed the life of 26-year-old Aaron Patton of Liberal.
Anyone with information on the truck is asked to contact Technical Trooper Clayton Tarpley with K-H-P Troop E at 620-276-3201.
An Independence man is injured in a two-vehicle accident.
The crash occurred Tuesday afternoon around 3:30 on US-169, just south of the US-160 junction. A 2015 Chevy Cruze driven by 20-year-old Cody O'Connell of Coffeyville was traveling northbound on 169 when it crossed the center line and collided with a Chevy S-10 pickup. O'Connell was uninjured in the crash, while the driver of the pickup – 57-year-old Jerald Bellm of Independence – received minor injuries. Bellm was taken to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The Parsons City Commission is considering its options when it comes to the maintenance and repair of vehicles in the City's fleet.
Mayor Verlyn Boulanger raised the issue after examining some of the City's expenses. He says he is concerned about the amount of money the City spends for auto repair.
City Manager Jeff Cantrell says he thinks another option might also be workable.
No action was taken on the matter since it was not an official agenda item, but commissioners may take up the item in the coming year.
The Montgomery County Commission is asked to approve a modification to a transfer station permit for Green Environmental Services.
Green's owner John Hafner appeared before the commissioner this week with th request. Hafner says his Earie-based company has been in business for many years when he decided a change was needed.
The company had prior approval from the commission as well as from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. However, Hafner says, they realized a modification to their permit was needed when they examined a structure on some recently purchased property.
The commission unanimously approved the modification.
The Coffeyville City Commission approves a ten year agreement with a company for a public safety camera bundle for the Coffeyville Police Department.
Police Chief Kwin Bromely says the bundle inlcudes cameras for the police cars, interview room cameras, a drone and body warn cameras for officers. Chief Bromely says the bundle includes software that combines multiple camera views.
The ten year agreement is with Axon Enterprises, which is a public safety technology company providing an integrated ecosystem of hardware, software and sensors for law enforcement, military and civilians. Bromley says CPD is already using Axon tasers.
Santa looks to have clear skies and warm temperatures as he delivers gifts to most the United States.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says despite the stormy start to the month weather wise looks look to clear up for Christmas Eve. Rippey says for some of the northern states Santa might have to call in some backup.
Kids can track Santa as he makes his rounds delivering gifts through the NORAD Santa tracker. Updates can also be heard on the Mighty 690 KGGF.
For those looking for something to do with their real Christmas tree after the holiday, K-State has an option for them.
Fisheries and Aquatics Extension Specialist Joe Gerken says Christmas trees can be repurposed beyond holiday décor. Gerken says there are some steps to get a tree ready to be placed in a pond.
Gerken says to remove any ornaments or anything else man made from the tree. He also warns about using any trees that have been sprayed with fire retardants or color or scent sprays.
The Coffeyville Fire Department responds to a Coffeyville apartment complex.
Last night around midnight, smoke was reported in one of the apartments across the street from Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville.
Upon arrival, firefighters observed heavy black smoke coming out of one of the units. Responding units were able to deal with the source of the smoke, and minimal external damage to the unit was observed, other than some smoke damage. No injuries were reported.
The Coffeyville City Commission will meet tonight with several city ordinances on the agenda.
There will be second readings of an ordinance that would allow outdoor dining at downtown business from April through October as well as for the ordinance that would eliminate the $5 fee for rummage sales.
Commissioners will also discuss several proposed ordinances for the purchase of public safety cameras for the police department and software purchases for the electric utility department. There will also be a discussion on city water rates.
Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 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 Coffeyville YouTube channel.
A suspect is in custody following a police chase early yesterday (Monday) morning in Crawford County.
Crawford County Sheriff's deputies along with officers from the Pittsburg Police Department attempted a traffic stop around 2:30am. However, the driver of ths suspect vehicle fled with law enforcement in pursuit. Officers had difficulty keeping track of the suspect vehicle due to low visibility. The suspect eventually abandoned the car and fled on foot. Officers chased the 26-year-old man and eventually caught him. The suspect was tasered before officers were able to arrest him.
The man faces two counts of fleeing and eluding, driving while suspended and interference with law enforcement. His name has not yet been released.
Montgomery County approves a contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation for the replacement of a bridge located northwest of Bolton.
Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins says the winning bid for the project on County Road 2500 came in less than expected.
The only part of the project that would need to be covered by the county would be $3,000 for plaques attached to the bridge. Beurskins says the plaques would include the date built and names of the commissioners and would be optional.
Beurskins also informed commissioners that a request for bids would go out to purchase a new trailer to replace one that had been stolen earlier this year from a job site.
The Nowata School Board will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss the employment of head football coach Chance Juby.
Juby was arrested in November in Rogers County and charged with the felony count of engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a school.
According to the meeting agenda, Superintendent Mindy Jo Englett and Juby will both provide evidence and receive questions from board members. The board will enter into executive session for further discussion and immediately following will vote on the superintendent's recommendation to dismiss Juby.
Monday's special meeting begins at 6pm in the Nowata High School Commons Area, located at 707 West Osage Avenue.
Bartlesville Police officers respond to a possible shooting.
Just before 5pm Monday B-P-D responded to a possible shooting in the 3700 block of Woodland Road. When officers arrived on the scene they found an adult male suffering from a single gunshot wound to the leg. Officers immediately provided aid. EMS arrived on scene and took the victim to a Tulsa hospital.
The Bartlesville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the incident. Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to contact the Bartlesville Police Department.
Authorities in Seward County are looking for a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash.
The accident happened early yesterday morning, just after 6am on US-54 just east of Liberal. A 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by 26-year-old Aaron Patton of Liberal was traveling eastbound on 54 when he crossed onto the the right shoulder and collided with another vehicle parked there in the fog. Patton was fatally injured in the crash. The driver of the second vehicle fled the scene before notifying law enforcement of the accident and has not yet been identified.
Anyone with information on the unidentified driver is asked to contact the Kansas Highway Patrol. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Coffeyville City Manager Ben Brubaker receives a state award for excellence.
Brubaker received the Early Career Excellence Award from the Kansas Association of City/County Management or K-A-C-M. The award was established in 2013 and recognizes early career local government professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership. Recipients must be within their first five years of work in local government.
Brubaker has been Coffeyville's City Manager for just over 18 months, having joined the City in early 2024. He was presented with the award earlier this month at the K-A-C-M conference in Emporia.
A pro sports team announces it's plans to move across the border into Kansas.
In a joint press conference, the Kansas City Chiefs and Governor Laura Kelly announce the plans for the team to move to Kansas in 2031. Governor Laura Kelly says in her seven years as governor she has gotten to make some really big announcements but none bigger than this. Governor Kelly says Kansas is not a flyover state but a touchdown state. She says the economic impact will be massive.
The project will be financed through a public-private partnership, 60% public to 40% private. The public portion is funded through STAR bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund. Both of these funds were established specifically for this purpose and to ensure that there will be no new state taxes and no impact on the state budget. The Chiefs will make the move to Kansas in 2031.
Three are arrested in Parsons in separate incidents over the weekend.
Yesterday, Parsons Police officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 2200 block of Belmont Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a woman and her child outside the residence. During the investigation, a man inside the home became confrontational and resisted officers as they attempted to detain him. Police say the suspect repeatedly reached toward his pocket, where officers later recovered a loaded .40-caliber handgun. The man, identified as Tyler Powell, was taken into custody. Charges submitted for review include domestic battery, child endangerment, multiple counts involving law enforcement officers and assault.
Earlier yesterday, officers responded to reports of a man damaging homes with a brick in the 3100 block of Southern Avenue after fleeing from a care facility. Officers used a Taser to stop the suspect after he refused commands and posed a danger to the public. After additional damage reports and concerns for public safety, the suspect was arrested and taken to the Labette County Jail. Charges include aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property and interference with law enforcement.
On Friday, officers investigated a theft after a citizen reported seeing a man drop a donation box while running through a field near Queens Road. The box was later confirmed stolen from a local hotel. Through surveillance review and community tips, the suspect was identified and arrested the same day. Charges include aggravated burglary, theft, criminal damage to property and interference with law enforcement.
The Wilson County Commission tackles an updated trash disposal agreement and tree removal.
At last week's regular meeting, the commission discussed out-of-county trash disposal from Green Environmental hauled to the transfer station, which was not a part of Kevin Starbuck’s original contract fee. A motion was made by Commissioner Miller to amend the landfill contract of $25.00 per ton for out-of-county trash disposal that is transferred to Allen County Landfill, effective January 1st.
A motion was also made to accept an estimate from Falling Tree Services for $6,000 for tree removal on the courthouse lawn. County Coordinator Kris Marple says there are problems with several of the trees.
The commission also heard reports from the road and bridge department and the health department. Holidays were also approved, meaning the courthouse will close early at noon on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond renews his call for a poultry litter settlement following a sweeping court order requiring company cleean up.
A federal court judgment recently held five major poultry companies responsible for phosphorus pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. The order carries major consequences for the industry and underscores the need for negotiations. The ruling requires the companies Tyson, Cargill, George’s, Simmons and Cal-Maine to fund decades of cleanup under oversight of a court-appointed special master, imposes strict limits on poultry waste application, and holds the defendants jointly liable for remediation, monitoring and related costs, including a $10 million evergreen fund and $350,000 in penalties. Drummond emphasized that a strong poultry industry and clean water must coexist, urging the companies to choose negotiation over years of costly litigation.
Drummond also noted that a settlement could ensure watershed cleanup while providing flexibility, certainty and continued support for Oklahoma farmers.
The City of Independence took some time to recognize the efforts of city employees on Friday during the annual employee appreciation luncheon held at Memorial Hall.
Twelve employees were recognized for their years of service, ranging from 5 to 35 years and several promotions were also announced. City Manager Kelly Passauer introduced the City’s “Core Values Awards,” a new recognition program honoring employees whose work reflects the city's values of Integrity, Commitment, Excellence, and Teamwork. This year’s winners were Zookeeper Katie Southworth for Integrity; Water/Sewer Department employee Dan Cranford for Commitment, Police Dispatch Supervisor Bridget Hammer for Excellence; and Deputy City Clerk Andrea Easley for Team Player.
The Louis Ysusi Cost Savings Excellence Award was also given out to recognize the thoughtful stewardship of public resources. This year’s winner was Park Maintenance employees Eric Johnson, for his efforts in facilitating the completion of the Riverside Park statue garden. The upgrade allows visitors to activate the water feature as needed, and completing the work in-house saved the City more than $10,000.
Photo: Eric Johnson receives the 2025 Louis Ysusi Cost Savings Award of Excellence. Courtesy City of Independence
Coffeyville Police with help from the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Kansas and Walmart help make Christmas a little brighter for many local kids.
On Friday, 93 local kids got the experience of shopping for gifts for their families through the Shop With a Cop program. Each child was given $50 and then partnered with a Coffeyville Police officer or firefighter to pick out Christmas presents for their loved ones.
Shop With a Cop is a nation-wide program that fosters positive interactions with community law enforcement and first responders to help create memorable experiences with local emergency providers.
Photo courtesy City of Coffeyville
The City of Neodesha adopts a formal social media policy for city-run accounts and city employees.
At the most recent city commission meeting, there was a discussion on the use of social media and what the proper channels were for making posts on behalf of the city. City Administrator Brogan Jones says the new policy will clarify social media use for employees.
Mayor Devin Johnson says the purpose of the new policy is to avoid some issues that have recently come to light.
In other business, commissioners also approved an amendment to the 2025 City budget.
Two Bourbon County Sheriff's Office vehicles are damaged after being struck during a traffic stop.
On Friday, two SUVs belonging to the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office were pulled alongside a roadway as deputies made a traffic stop. Another vehicle approached and struck both vehicles. There was minor damage done to the driver’s side of both SUVs, but no injuries were reported.
The B-C-S-O reminds all drivers to be alert, slow down, and move over for emergency vehicles in order to keep first responders and other drivers safe on the roads.
Photos courtesy Bourbon County Sheriff's Office
A small planes crashes on a highway north of Springfield.
The plane – a 2008 Cirrus Design Corp SR-22 -- made a crash landing in the northbound lanes of US-65 just north of the I-44 junction in Springfield around 1pm on Saturday afternoon. The plane departed earlier that day from Memphis en route to Olathe. The pilot of the plane had originally planned to make an emergency landing at the downtown Springfield airport but instead was forced by engine problems to make the highway landing. The plane’s landing gear and left wing were damaged but both the pilot and a passenger escaped without injury.
Wilson County Rural Fire responds to a structure fire in New Albany.
The call came in around 11pm on Saturday night. Fire crews arrived on the scene to find the home fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters battled the blaze and were able to fully extinguish the fire just before 3am. No one was known to be living in the house at the time the fire broke out.
The home was a complete loss, but no one was injured in the fire.
A 77-year-old man is killed while crossing US-77 on foot on Friday evening.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Thomas McHugh of Riley, Kansas, was crossing South on US-77 at the junction with US-24 near the City of Riley just after 6pm on Friday evening. A 1997 Chevy Lumina driven by 63-year-old Steven Williams of Green, Kansas, was traveling Southbound on U77 and struck McHugh in the southbound lane. McHugh landed in the Northbound lane of
US-77 where he was struck by a second vehicle, a 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by 20-year-old Jude Benson of Clay Center, Kansas.
McHugh was pronounced deceased at the scene, while Williams and his passenger 71-year-old Brenda Williams were both taken to a nearby hospital for possible injuries after complaints of pain. Benson was uninjured.
A 33-year-old Phillipsburg man is killed in a Saturday night accident northwest of Hays.
Cody Harmon died in a single-vehicle accident around 10:30 Saturday night when he lost control of his 2017 Ford Escape while traveling along J Road in rural Graham County about 30 miles northwest of Hays. Harmon’s vehicle entered the ditch south of the roadway and struck a tree.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
An Iowa woman is dead after a weekend accident in Seward County.
72-year-old Arlis De Weerd of Rock City, Iowa, died Saturday morning in a collision with a semi-truck on US-54 near the Love’s Travel Stop in Liberal. The accident occurred when the big rig driven by 41-year-old Emmanual Terrel Lee Jimmerson of North Las Vegas, Nevada, was pulling onto US-54 from the Travel Stop Parking lot around 8:20am. Jimmerson’s truck was struck by a west-bound F-350 hauling an RV trailer. The F-350 was driven by 73-year-old Stanley De Weerd, also of Rock City, Iowa. Stanely De Weerd was seriously injured and taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita
A Pittsburg man is dead after he is struck by a car while walking along a roadway near Pittsburg.
The accident happened just after midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 37-year-old Nicklas Thompson was walking in the roadway on South 260th Street about a mile and a half north of K-171, when he was hit by a 2020 Hyundai Elantra driven by 54-year-old Melinda Canet, also of Pittsburg. Thompson was fatally injured in the accident while Canet sustained minor injuries and was treated at a Pittsburg hospital.
The Montgomery County Commission will meet today for their next-to-last regular meeting of 2025.
On today’s agenda is the yearly update from the Independence Chamber of Commerce. Commissioners are also expected to approve the 2026 service agreement with Merchant McIntyre in addition to approving a contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation to replace a bridge on County Road 2500 northwest of Bolton. There will also be a discussion of vehicle quotes for the County Health Department and a transfer station modification permit with Green Environmental Services. County Clerk Ami Standridge and Director of Human Resources Ashley Hand will also appear to give their end-of-year reports.
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.
Local firefighters respond to a structure fire in Independence.
Sautrday morning just after 9:30, Independence firefighters were dispatched to a home in the 300 block of 12th street to a report of a structure fire.
Upon arrival, units found a single-story house with heavy fire on the front porch extending into the home. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack and successfully extinguished the fire.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Independence Fire Department in cooperation with the Independence Police Department.
The Independence Fire Department was assisted by Independence Rural Fire, Dearing Fire, and the Cherryvale City and Rural Fire Departments.
Lead photo: Independence Fire/EMS
Bottom Photo: Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography
The City of Neodesha has approved and executed an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with Labette Health to enhance and stabilize emergency medical services for Neodesha and the surrounding area.
Under the new partnership, Labette Health will manage day-to-day EMS operations on behalf of the City of Neodesha while maintaining local EMS presence as well as the Neodesha EMS identity. Operations will continue out of the current facility.
Funding for the partnership will come from the city's portion of the countywide 1% EMS sales tax. The agreement also includes a 90-day termination clause, providing the city flexibility should the partnership ever fail to meet community expectations.
Wilson County had wanted the city to consider making a deal with Fredonia EMS, but city officials said they had only received a brief outline from that group.
The agreement was approved at the Neodesha City Commission's December 10th meeting.
An Oswego man faces criminal charges following a fire at his residence.
Oswego Fire and Police responded on Sunday to reports of a house fire in the 600 block of Merchant Streeet. While working to extinguish the fire, emergency crews saw illegal activity inside the home. When the blaze was out, a search warrant was executed on the home, revealing drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons, and stolen property. A 61-year-old man was arrested at the scene. The suspect's name has not been released pending formal charges.
Christmas is just around the corner and that means everyone can get in the spirit and enjoy some festive lights.
The City of Coffeyville boasts one of the favorite light displays in the area. Coffeyville Chamber President Candi Westbrook wants to know if you've had the chance to visit.
The residents of Evergreen Drive in Coffeyville have decorated their block once again for a great drive-through experience. To find Candy Cane Lane, turn north from 1st Street on North Park Boulevard or Willow Street, then turn onto New Street. From there, you'll see the lights of Candy Cane Lane on the north side of the street.
Six people in Osage County are safe from a house fire thanks to the efforts of a quick-thinking deputy.
On Tuesday morning, Osage County Shierff's Deputy Andrew Summerlin was patrolling western Osage County near Skiatook when he noticed an orange glow on the horizon. Summerlin investigated the glow and found a residence in flames. The quick-thinking deputy entered the burning home and was able to get all six occupants out safely along with their pets. None of the residents were injured. Summerlin was treated for smoke inhalation.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Skiatook Fire Department and Country Corner Fire Department all responded to the call.
Deputies in Osage County are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred earlier this week.
Late Monday evening, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call in the southern part of Osage County. When they arrived on the scene, they found one individual on the floor of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound. They rendered first aid to the victim, but the 24-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene. It was later discovered that the victim, identified as Cody Teel, had been recently released from prison, came to the residence and caused a disturbance. At that time, Teel showed a firearm and was shot by the 9-1-1 caller.
The shooting remains under investigation as the Osage County Attorney's Office reviews the case. No arrests have been made.
The Sedan City Council proceeds cautiously on a roof repair project at City Hall.
At this week's meeting, council members considered three bids for the project. Bidding on the project began last spring and council member Pam Koerner says before the project is awarded, the City should check to make sure the bid totals are still current.
One of the bids was dated from May. The measure had been tabled at the previous council meeting to allow members to gather more information. Council member Kathy Miller proposed tabling the motion again to ensure the bids were correct.
The motion was tabled until January 6th. In other business, council members voted to approve the sale of a small city-owned lot to Trader Vick's, LLC, for $3,000.
A former Washington County, Oklahoma, detention officer faces charges of domestic assault.
According to a press release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, 31-year-old Kolten Brown was taken into custody yesterday after investigators developed probable cause for arrest on complaints of domestic abuse by strangulation and feloniously pointing a firearm. A warrant was issued with bond set at $50,000.
Following the arrest, Brown was terminated from his position with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, where he had been employed since July 2022. Brown is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on December 19th
The Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce announces its Class of 2025 graduates.
Leadership Coffeyville's Class of 2025 includes ten individuals from various Coffeyville businesses and organizations. The mutil-week course trains attendees in community development, while exploring Coffeyville's strengths, and building the skills they need to make a lasting impact on the community. Participants learn through hands-on experiences, behind-the-scenes tours, and meaningful discussions focused on community leadership, civic engagement, economic development, education, healthcare, and quality of life.
The 2025 Graduates will be recognized in a ceremony at the Coffeyville Country Club on January 15th. Alumni and community members are welcome to attend. Dinner is $20 per person, and advance registration is required through the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Leadership Coffeyville Class of 2025 includes:
Paula Closs, H&R Block
Lashon Lawrie, Medicalodges
Kelli Bauer, Coffeyville Community College
Alexis Ragen, Coffeyville Regional Medical Center
Wade Welch, USD 445
Dawn Eike, John Deere
Lindsey Caldwell, Coffeyville Chamber/Live Healthy MG
Zach Baker, John Deere
Brent McDaniel, City of Coffeyville
Emily Lewis, Live Healthy Montgomery County
Rachel Renfro, Community National Bank & Trust
Amanda Gates, Coffeyville Community College
Kyle Bell, City of Coffeyville
Angie Stevens, City of Coffeyville
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issues a statement following President Trump's rescheduling of marijuana.
Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order to speed up the rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule One drug to the less severe Schedule Three. Following the President's order, KBI Director Tony Mattivi issued the following statement: “Rescheduling is not the same as legaliztion. The cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana-derived THC products remains illegal under state and federal law, and the KBI will continue to enforce existing laws.
The marijuana products sold today are highly potent and pose a direct threat to public health. Rescheduling will allow qualified scientists to conduct reliable research on the long-term impact on the human brain of the use of high-concentration THC products. We believe this will conclusively prove the connection between marijuana use and mental health disorders, especially in children and teens.”
Mattivi added, “Marijuana products remain just as illegal today as they were yesterday. The KBI will continue our efforts to protect Kansans, especially Kansas children, from those who sell these illegal and dangerous products.”
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investgating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday in Leavenwoth.
Around 3:30 Thursday afternoon, Leavenworth Police were called to local bank branch after receiving reports of an armed individual. Officers arrived on the scene to find a man wearing a trench coat and a surgical mask who was armed with a rifle. The man was identified as 24-year-old Andrew Hutchinson of Leavenworth.
Hutchinson initially complied with officer commands but then fled on foot through an alley behind the bank. Officers gave chase and one fired at the suspect, striking him. The rifle was secured and officers gave first-aid to the suspect until EMS arrived. Hutchinson was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. He is expected to recover from his wounds.
Agents from the KBI are investigating the shooting, and will then present their findings to the Leavenworth County Attorney's Office to determine what, if any, charges will be filed.
The Coffeyville Fire Department responds to a couple of small grass fires during today's high winds.
This afternoon around 3:40 p.m., firefighters were called to the intersection of 6th and Lewis and were quickly able to contain a small grass fire. Coffeyville Regional Medical Center EMS also responded to the scene. No other damage was reported.
The Coffeyville Fire Department also responded to the Tree Dump to control several small fires within the area.
Photo: Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is assessing the damage to six county bridges above the Will Rogers Turnpike after the are hit by an oversized truck.
Beams on the bridges in Mayes and Rogers County were damaged by the illegally over-height truck on Tuesday afternoon as it traveled eastbound between Claremore and Vinita. Six bridges between State Highway-266 near Verdigris and east of State Highway-28 near Vinita were damaged and four of the county road bridges have been closed until repairs can be made. The Will Rogers Turnpike remains open in each direction, but nightly lane closures will occur when repair work begins.
It is illegal for trucks taller than 14 feet to travel the state highway system without permits and approved routes. The bridges damaged Tuesday range from 14 feet and 11 inches to 15 feet and 4 inches in vertical clearance, well above the legal limit.
The bridges hit include:
E. 530 Rd. - closed between S. 4130 Rd. and Lakeway Rd.
S. 4220 Rd. - closed between E. 460 Rd. and E. 470 Rd. east of Claremore
N. 429 Rd. - open between E. 390 Rd. and SH-28
N. 4300 Rd. - closed between E. 380 Rd. and W. 390 Rd.
N. 4310 Rd. - open
W. 370 Rd. - open
A Kansas C-B-D shop files a lawsuit against the State of Kansas in the aftermath of October raids.
The owners of the Hanging Leaf in McPherson (mick-FUR-son) are suing Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mativi. The store owners say the products that were seized by the KBI in an October raid were legal and they would like to have them back. The plaintiffs point to a 2018 farm bill that says any product below 0.3 percent (three-tenths percent) in delta nine THC is legal. The Hanging Leaf claims its product were under that limit.
The KBI says its search warrants were reviewed and signed by a judge, giving them the authority to seize illegal merchandise.
Area shops that were included in the October raids by the KBI include Indy Vapes on North Penn Avenue in Independence and Sedan One Stop in Sedan.
Officials from the Andover, Kansas, Public Schools are praising a school bus driver for her calm demeanor after a bird flies into her windshield during a school trip.
Officials say Melissa Prock was transporting the Andover High School girls basketball team to a game on Tuesday afternoon when a Canada goose struck the bus windshield when the vehicle was traveling at highway speeds. The impact caused the glass to shatter, affecting Prock's ability to see. However, the driver remained calm and was able to guide the bus to a safe location.
The members of the girls team transferred to the boys' bus and continued on to the game. No one was injured in the incident.
Photo Courtesy USD 385 Andover
The City of Parsons looks to support quality of life as part of economic development.
At the most recent meeting of the Parsons City Commission, Director of Economic Development Jim Zaleski asked commissioners to transfer funding from the general fund to economic development. Zaleski says this will help improve transparency for taxpayers.
Zaleski says this is part of an effort to give people a reason to enjoy the amenities Parsons has to offer.
In other business, commissioners discussed options that the city could take to help decrease costs of routine maintenance and repairs for vehicles in the city's fleet, including sending out bids for work or hiring more mechanics. No action was taken on the issue.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announces the date for her upcoming State of the State address on January 13.
Kelly announced that she accepted the invitation from Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins to deliver her remarks to a joint session of the Kansas Legislature. The purpose of a governor’s State of the State address is to report on the condition of the state and outline priorities for the future. In the speech, Governor Kelly is expected to review key accomplishments of her administration over the past year and to propose her policy goals for 2026. The State of the State address sets the tone for the legislative session. It also serves to inform the public, guide lawmakers, and build support for the governor’s agenda.
Kelly will address the joint session of the Legislature at the beginning of the 2026 Legislative session. State lawmakers return to Topeka on January 12.
A wind advisory is in effect today for Kansas and southwest Missouri.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory today with a red flag warning going into effect in southeast Kansas from 10am to 6pm. Wind gusts could be as high as 50 mph with winds increasing in intensity in central Kansas. The windy conditions also increase the risk of grass fires across the area, with southeast Kansas in the very high category of fire danger.
Residents are asked to use caution and properly discard of cigarettes and smoking devices, keep vehicles off of dry grass, and avoid activities with open flames or that create sparks.
Blowing dust may also cause a hazard for drivers. The Kansas Department of Transportation briefly closed I-70 in both directions between Goodland and Colby this morning due to the danger and decreased visibility caused by blowing dust.
The legal battle over a mural on a Salina business continues on appeal.
The City of Salina is appealing a recent ruling by a federal court that the Cozy Inn can finish painting its mural on the exterior of the restaurant. The city ordered the project to stop in 2023, saying violated local sign rules. Owner Steve Howard then sued the city in 2024 with the help of the Kansas Institute for Justice. A federal judge ruled in Howard's favor in the case in November of this year.
An attorney for the City says the cost of the appeal will not exceed another $70,000. The city has already spent around a half million dollars on the lawsuit.
A big Christmas celebration is on the way tonight in Fredonia.
The 92nd Annual Community Christmas Pageant will be performed tonight in Bateman Gymnasium. The program will begin at 7 p.m.
The program is under the musical direction of Theresa Fischer, Aaron Jeffries and Matt Fischer, and theatrical direction by Barb Baker.
Admission is free, however, donations are welcome to help with the cost of costumes, scenery and sheet music. Those unable to attend can view the live stream of the program on the USD 484 YouTube Channel. A link is available HERE.
Photo: USD 484
The USD 445 School Board approves sending out a bid for the demolition of the FKHS Charlesworth Swimming Pool.
At tonight's special meeting, a motion was made to send out the Request for Proposal for pool demolition to see what the involved costs would be. This action does not mean the pool will be demolished. Rather, it allows the board to move forward with information gathering to make a decision on the facility in the future. Included with the motion was a planned meeting with Board President Jason Barnett, Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll and Friends of the Charlesworth Pool Committee Member Ryan Thompson.
The next scheduled board meeting will be on Monday, January 12th.
For more details on last night's comments, see this story.
The busy holiday season can have people feeling tired and rundown.
K-State Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Extension Agent Chelsea King says for those turning to caffeine for the pick me up should limit how much they consume in a day. King says there other things people can turn to besides caffeine to help them feel more energized.
As the year winds down, focusing on healthy routines may help keep energy levels steady.
For those looking for a way to give back this holiday season, helping local animals is one option. Coffeyville Friends of Animals Becky Barnhart says they could use donations at the shelter.
Barnhart says an Angel Tree has also been setup on the first floor of Coffeyville's City Hall. Anyone can go by and pick up a pet tag that has a wish list of items on it and give it to a shelter pet this season. Donations can be dropped off until the end of the year.
A UPS driver is dead after his truck is struck by a B-N-S-F train near the City of Burrton in Reno County.
The accident occurred Tuesday at the rail crossing near US-50 and Woodberry Road. When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they discovered a heavily damaged UPS truck. EMS removed the driver from the truck and began life-saving measures, but the man succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene. There were two B-N-S-F employyes on the train who were uninjured. No names have yet been released.
The Reno County Sheriff's Office, Burrton Fire & EMS, Reno County EMS, and the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the call.
The investigation continues into the cause of the crash.
A search warrant served on an Arma residence leads to the arrest of two individuals.
Deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff's Office along with the Pittsburg Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant on a home in the 200 block of West Jefferson Street in Arma Tuesday morning. During the search, officers located suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine. Items used in the distribution of those substances were also found.
As a result, police arrested 41-year-old Terrance Ragsdale and 30-year-old Kimberly Ann Porter. Both were taken to the Crawford County Jail in Girard where they await formal charging.
The Wilson County Commission will meet today for their regular weekly meeting.
Today's meeting will include reports from County Coordinator Kris Marple and Road & Bridge Director Kary Tatum. Commissioners will also hear from Wilson County Health Department Administrator Amy Lell.
Today's meeting begins at 9am in Room 101 of the Wilson County Courthouse in Fredonia. The meeting is open to the public.
The Neodesha City Commission will meet tomorrow afternoon for their regular bi-weekly meeting.
The commission usually meets on Wednesday but has changed its schedule slightly due to the Christmas holiday. Business for tomorrow's meeting will include a hearing for an amendment to the 2025 budget and amendments to the Personnel Policy Manual.
Tomorrow's meeting begins at 4pm at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
The Joplin Police Department is currently on scene of an officer involved shooting.
Preliminary information says the officer tried to pull a suspect over on a possible DUI charge near 50th and Main Street in south Joplin. The suspect then fled toward the Falls area at speeds of almost 100 miles per hour, then turning back and heading once again toward 50th and Main. Police officials say the suspect rammed an officer's vehicle, then a shot was fired by the officer.
The suspect sustained minor injuries and was transported to a Joplin hospital.
The names of the officer and suspect have not been released.
Sheriff's deputies in Tulsa County had quite a chase on their hands Monday afternoon when they attempted to catch an escaped kangaroo.
The mobile marsupial was discovered loose on the roadway near 171st Street South in Tulsa. Deputies responded to the scene, but were met with frustration as they attempted to corner the animal. With the agility of an NFL running back, the kangaroo managed to evade and elude until her owner arrived on the scene to assist. The roo – named Martha – was safely captured and returned to her home.
Tulsa County deputies were glad to see the animal safe at home and to have a chance to sit down and catch their breath.
For a link to watch the video of the chase, see the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page
Photo courtesy Tulsa County Sheriff's Office
The fate of the FKHS Charlesworth Natatorium remains uncertain after Tuesday night's special USD 445 board meeting.
After an extended discussion regarding a proposed agreement from the Friends of the Charlesworth Pool, a motion was made to move forward with a request for proposal to demolish the pool, which did not receive a second and died on the floor. Since no decision was made, the next steps for the facility, which has been closed since February of 2024, still need to be figured out.
At the special meeting, Board Member Cindy Price went through the timeline of events between the groups. Price says Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll received a proposal from the group on Monday, and the changes between the district proposal and the community group's are significant.
School board members examined the proposed agreement and highlighted several concerns they had, some of which included a 20-year initial term of the agreement, with automatic 5-year renewals, saying that a long-term binding agreement limits the discretion of future boards. Board members also expressed concern over language that the district would be responsible for pool repairs over the estimated $2.4 million price tag, in addition to complete financial disclosure as outlined between a private entity. The group's proposed agreement also states that Community Committee funds must be refunded if the facility is closed for more than 30 consecutive days. Board members also had issues with granting unrestricted access to the facility by committee members, in addition to mutual consent being required for modifications to the pool itself.
Board Member Darrel Harbaugh says he thinks the divide between the board and the committee boils down to a lack of trust.
Harbaugh says he has several problems with the proposed agreement by the group.
Harbaugh says if the pool can't be saved, he thinks the committee is to blame.
Board Member Matt Jordan says the lack of trust between the two groups has gone both ways.
Jordan says he feels the board has been lied to about the group's LLC status.
Price says the district was made aware of the group's lack of LLC status on Friday, December 12th.
According to the Kansas Secretary of State's Office, the Friends of the Charlesworth Swimming Pool, LLC was founded on Monday, December 15th. Although it's unclear if the wording appeared on previous documents, there was no mention of an LLC in the minutes of the November 25th Coffeyville City Commission meeting, where a letter of commitment was approved for a loan of up to $600,000 to the group. Further review of the audio from the meeting shows Community Committee Spokesman Ryan Thompson did mention the LLC in his comments to the commission.
In an interview with KGGF, Thompson says the main purpose for setting up the LLC was for the agreement with the district, and he thinks there may have been some confusion on the topic.
Thompson says he was disappointed with the comments made at the meeting.
Thompson says he's optimistic that an agreement can still be ironed out.
The district's summary of the Community Committee's proposed inter-local agreement says that it “Creates long-term shared governance expectations, operational constraints and financial triggers that materially limit Kansas Board of Education statutory authority.”
District documentation says that the USD 445 memorandum of understanding “Preserves full Board of Education control, limits risk exposure, and confines the agreement to a defined renovation purpose.”
The full interview with Thompson can be heard here.
Police in Iola are looking for a suspect in a suspicious device found in the city on Sunday.
Authorities say a possible chemical bomb was discovered in a ditch near Cottonwood and Buchanan Streets. The device was rendered inert by Kansas Highway Patrol bomb technicians.
Iola police say they have identified a suspect but that the individual remains at large.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Osage County is looking to increase enforcement on utility permits as the number of fiber optic firms and other companies installing underground lines increases.
At this week's meeting, commissioners stressed the importance of utility companies obtaining permits through the proper channels. Commissioner Steve Talburt says a recent encounter with a company brought the issues to light.
Talburt said both districts one and three stepping up enforcement on utility companies in light of their disregard permit applications.
Nowata County Commissioners discuss an ongoing road agreement.
At this week's meeting commissioners approved a road use agreement that has been the topic of discussion for several weeks. Commissioner Brandon Wesson says an important part of the agreement is determining primary roads.
In other business, commissioners announced the hiring of Alexandria Dennison as the new county commission secretary.
This was the last Nowata County Commission meeting of 2025. Commissioners will meet next on January 5th.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announces over $1 million for apprenticeship programs across the state.
Kelly made the announcement Monday that the program will include more than $535,000 for 12 Kansas businesses to support apprenticeship programs that attract and retain workers. The program includes more than $500,000 in local matching funds to bring the total workforce investment to over $1 million. Among grant recipients was Allen Community College in Iola that was awarded just over $58,000 to develop a building maintenance and plumbing program.
Administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, the grants support Registered Apprenticeship programs through training, outreach, staffing, partnerships, and administrative costs, including funding for five small businesses that did not require a match. One local business receiving grant funding is Plumb Crazy Plumbing in Independence to create residential plumbing apprenticeships.
Kansas now has a record 4,010 active apprentices and has improved its national apprenticeship ranking from 47th in 2020 to 29th in 2024, as the funding expands high-wage, high-demand programs statewide.
The Montgomery County Commission approves a new monitoring system for use at the county jail.
At this week's commission meeting, Montgomery County Jail Administrator Chad Dunham explained the benefits of the Guardian R-F-I-D program. Dunham told commissioners that the system would help with tracking inmates, understanding their medical needs, and ensuring routine checks are completed and recorded. He says the system can be installed at no cost to taxpayers.
Data entered into the program goes to a web-based system that can be kept for a specified amount of time. Dunham says the system can also be used to record interactions with inmates, which is especially important in the case of threats or violence.
Commissioners approved the purchase of the system on a unanimous vote.
The Sedan City Council will meet tonight and consider bids for a roof repair project at City Hall.
The bids for the project were originally discussed at the November 18th meeting, but council members opted to table approval until this week to allow them to gather more information on what work needed to be done and whether the City's insurance would cover it. A decision is expected tonight.
The Council will also discuss a contract for the sale of city property and the reimbursement of Chamber of Commerce Tourist Funds.
Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Sedan City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City's Facebook page.
Parsons Police help local kids experience the joy of Christmas giving.
On Sunday, the Parsons Police Department hosted its 8th Annual Shop with a Cop, marking the largest event in the program's history. This year, 39 local children were given the opportunity to experience the joy of the holiday season through a special day of shopping alongside first responders. Children were paired with first responder shoppers from the Parsons Police Department, Parsons Fire Department, and Altamont Fire Department, reinforcing positive relationships and creating lasting memories.
The Shop with a Cop event was made possible through the support of the Parsons Elks Lodge, who also provided lunch for the participating children. The event is made possible through community-driven fundraising efforts such as the Annual Duke Mason Christmas Concert and the Guardians of the Greens Charity Golf Scramble. Combined with numerous individual donations, these efforts allowed the department to generate over $16,000 in support of the 2025 event.
The Parsons Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to all donors, volunteers, partner agencies, and citizens who helped make the 2025 Shop with a Cop event a record-breaking success.
Photo courtesy Parsons Police Department
A big tradition in Fredonia is coming up this week.
The 92nd Annual Community Christmas Pageant will be performed on Thursday, December 18th, in Bateman Gymnasium. The program will begin at 7 p.m.
A dress rehearsal will also take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. Admission is free, however, donations are welcome to help with the cost of costumes, scenery and sheet music.
A Parsons man is arrested after an investigation into a domestic violence incident.
Parsons Police officers took a report Saturday around noon from an adult female victim who said a domestic dispute at a residence escalated into physical violence, including strangulation, threats of serious harm, and property damage. Several children were present during the incident. Officers documented visible injuries.
Later that afternoon, police located 34-year-old Joseph Wayne Zenk at a local business and took him into custody. Zenk was arrested on suspicion of multiple domestic-violence-related offenses, including domestic battery, aggravated battery, criminal threat, and child endangerment. Additional charges related to strangulation are under review. Formal charges will be determined by the Labette County Attorney’s Office. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details are being released at this time due to the involvement of juveniles.
The Caney City Council will meet tonight with a light agenda before the holidays.
Tonight, council members will receive and approve the results of the Caney Fire Department elections held on December 1st. Also up for consideration will be the composition of the Zoning and Planning Board and a discussion of the holiday schedule for 2026. Approval is also expected for cereal malt beverage licenses for several local vendors and for the City’s credit card processing contract.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:30 on the east end of the building at 100 West 4th. The meeting is open to the public.
The City of Independence makes a year-end amendment to its budget.
City Clerk David Schwenker says the change will affect several departments.
Schwenker says the amendment was needed due to unexpected expenditures in those departments.
The change will not affect tax collections.
Coffeyville Community College announces that the school is opartnering with Pittsburg State University to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Technology Management degree.
The new program will provide CCC graduates a pathway from an Associate of Applied Science or other technical associate degree into a fully online bachelor’s program. The degree program builds on hands-on technical training and prior learning gained through community colleges, apprenticeships, certifications, or on-the-job experience, the 60-credit program can be completed in as little as two years while working full time. Graduates will be prepared for roles including project manager, operations manager, production supervisor, or technical director, as well as for further graduate study in technology management or applied leadership.
The course work is designed with working professionals in mind.
The Altamont City Council discusses the possible plans for US-160 along with insurance options for City employees at its most recent meeting.
The Kansas Department of Transportation held an informational meeting in Altamont last week to get input on the proposed project for US-160. Altamont City Administrator LeeAnn Myers attended the meeting on behalf of the City. Meyers says KDOT is still in the information gathering stage of the project.
KDOT is considering several changes to the stretch of US-160 from Altamont to US-169, with the possibility of adding shoulders, widening driving lanes, and removing curves. Myers says the state agency’s plans are still flexible when it comes to what the final highway will look like.
In other business, council members heard on update on options for health insurance for City employees and also heard input from several employees who were in attendance. The next Altamont City Council meeting will be on December 29.
A house fire in northeast Oklahoma last Thursday leaves two people dead.
Fire crews arrived on the scene around 2pm Thursday afternoon to find the residence in the 8000 block of South 590th Road in Commerce fully engulfed in flames. Two people lost their lives in the blaze. The victims have been identified as 30-year-old Nikki Tipton and 72-year-old Benny Green. Both were reportedly in the upstairs of the residence when the fire broke out. Two other occupants were able to safely escape the home.
Authorities believe the fire started in the chimney system or in the chimney flue.
The incident remains under investigation.
Coffeyville police officers and firefighters once again brave the winter weather to take donations for local kids in need.
For the second week in a row, C-P-D and Coffeyville Fire were out taking donations to help Coffeyville children this holiday season. Officers and firefighters were at Wal-Mart on Saturday for their 10th annual Fill-A-Cruiser/Fill-A-Firetruck events. Shoppers stepped up to help out by donating warm clothing for kids and teens, personal hygiene product, and even food and toys to help make the holidays better for area kids.
A big thank you to all who donated and to our local first responders for all their effort in making Christmas wishes come true for local families.
The Fredonia Arts Council honors a local couple for their years of service and dedication.
The Fredonia Arts Council has awarded the 2025 Joan Bayles Service Award to Kent and Gyla Marr. The couple was chosen based on their dedication to promoting the arts and their service to the Fredonia Arts Council through various committees. Gyla Marr also has served as the administrator of the Arts Council and Fredonia’s Stone House Gallery for five years. She retired in May of 2024.
The Marrs were presented with their award at the recent Sounds of Christmas community concert in Fredonia.
Photo courtesy Fredonia Arts Council. Pictured: Gyla and Kent Marr, their daughter, Haylee, and Kay Caniglia, president of the Fredonia Arts Council.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issues a drought watch for counties in eastern Kansas.
Kelly signed a proclamation on Friday afternoon proclaiming 43 counties in the eastern third of the state in a drought watch. Counties included in the watch are Montgomery, Wilson, Labette, Elk, Cherokee, Crawford, Bourbon, Allen, Woodson, Greenwood, and Butler. The proclamation was issued following a recommendation from the Director of the Kansas Water Office Connie Owen.
Counties in a watch status have conditions that indicate the rising probability of a water shortage. It is important for residents in counties under the watch to monitor conditions and be mindful of water usage. This proclamation shall remain in effect for those counties identified until rescinded by a proclamation ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.
Here is a list of all of the counties now under the drought watch:
Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Cherokee, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Franklin, Geary, Greenwood, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewell, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, Woodson, Wyandotte.
Coffeyville’s native son Jake Long and his team roping partner Andrew Ward bring home a World Championship in the National Finals Rodeo.
Long and Ward came away champions over the weekend in Las Vegas. The week saw a difficult battle for the pair amongst the world’s best after having dropped to 6th in the standings early in the competition. Heading into the 10th round, Long and Ward would have to be in top form to win and then marked a 3.9 second run. The duo would finish with an aggregate time of 44.0 seconds, a full 5.7 seconds ahead of second place.
Long says winning the world championship is an indescribable feeling.
Montgomery County Commissioner Mike Cordray and Coffeyville Chambers Candi Westbrook and Wyatt Starnes say it's great to see someone with Coffeyville ties achieve greatness at this level.
It was Ward's sixth trip to the National Finals Rodeo and his first world championship, and Long's 15th NFR appearance and his first gold buckle.
Shelter pets at a Labette County animal shelter will have a little brighter holiday season thanks to some area students.
Seventh graders from Altamont Grade School visited the Proud Animal Lovers Shelter in Parsons on Friday, bringing season’s greetings to the animals there. The students took treats, pet food, toys to help brighten the lives of animals waiting to find their forever homes.
The Proud Animal Lovers Shelter, known as PALS, has been serving the Parsons are since 2010 as a no-kill, state-licensed facility. PALS is located at 24052 Meade Road in Parsons.
Photo courtesy USD 506
A 19-year-old Columbus girl is dead following a single-vehicle crash near Baxter Springs.
Meredith Wagner died early Saturday morning when her Chevy Blazer overturned and ejected her from the vehicle. The accident happened on US-400, about 2 miles east of Baxter Springs. Wagner was traveling westbound around 6am when her SUV left the roadway to the left. She then overcorrected, causing the Blazer to veer right and leave the road again. At that point the vehicle overturned. Wagner was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Montgomery County Commission will meet today as they begin to close out the 2025 calendar year.
On today’s agenda is the yearly update from the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce. Commissioners will also get an end-of-year report from Merchant McIntyre, the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm that assists local governments in securing federal grants, appropriations, and funding for programs and projects. Representatives from the County Department of Corrections and Public Works will also appear before the commission today.
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.
Multiple departments control a structure fire in Coffeyville.
Yesterday around 2 p.m., the Coffeyville Fire Department, along with Dearing and South Coffeyville responded to a structure fire in the 800 block of West 5th in Coffeyville.
A wall around a wood-burning stove caught on fire, and firefighters were able to extinguish it, but some damage to the wall took place.
There was no other loss or injury noted on scene. Firefighters were assisted by CRMC EMS and the Coffeyville Police Department.
Photo: Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography
A new quilt shop opens in downtown Coffeyville.
The Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for The Thistle Quilt Shop on Friday after the store's soft opening earlier in the week.
The new store has a wide variety of fabrics, creative tools and advice available.
The store is located at 120 W 9th Street and is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Photo: Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce
Andrew Ward and Coffeyville's Jake Long manage to stay in the money yesterday at the National Finals Rodeo.
The team ropers tied for 6th place with 8.8 seconds and earned just under $3,000. They remain in second place in the average, although the gap between first place is widening at just under a 7 second difference behind Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres.
The NFR wraps up today in Las Vegas.
The Coffeyville School Board is expected to make a decision on the FKHS Natatorium next week.
After several delays, another special USD 445 Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 16th at 3 p.m. On the agenda is board action to send out the “request for proposal” for the demolition of the FKHS Natatorium.
A request for proposal is a formal document used to detail a projects scope for vendors or contractors. Nothing is on the agenda regarding repairing the facility. This special meeting comes after a number of meetings regarding the facility and fundraising efforts by the Friends of the Charlesworth Swimming Pool, LLC. The group says they've raised $1.6 million towards repairing the roof and HVAC systems. The school board recently voted to commit $800,000 towards either repairing or demolishing the building.
Tuesday's meeting will take place at the district office and is open to the public.
Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power is receiving statewide recognition for excellence in safety and reliability.
The Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma, known as MESO, has awarded Coffeyville’s electric department first place in its annual Electric Operations and Reliability Competition in the Cities Over 10,000 Population category. The department earned top honors for workplace safety after its 35-member team logged more than 65,000 work hours in 2024 without a single reported incident.
Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power was also recognized for system reliability, posting an Average System Availability Index of 99.99% percent, a measure of how consistently customers have electric service. MESO officials praised the department’s commitment to training, preparation and safe work practices, calling it a model for public power utilities across the region.
Coffeyville’s City Manager is being recognized at the state level for his leadership and service.
City Manager Ben Brubaker was honored last week at the Kansas Association of City and County Management Conference, where he received the Early Career Excellence Award. The award, established in 2013, recognizes early-career local government professionals who demonstrate strong leadership, innovation, and a commitment to public service. Eligibility is limited to KACM members serving as interns or within their first five years in local government.
Brubaker has served as Coffeyville’s City Manager for just over 18 months. During that time, city officials say he has provided steady leadership, promoted a team-focused approach, and shown a strong commitment to moving the community forward. The Early Career Excellence Award is considered one of the highest distinctions for emerging local government leaders across Kansas.
Cherryvale will participate in Wreaths Across America Day this weekend.
Local resident Crystal Hardin is organizing this first-time event in Cherryvale. Hardin says she's been able to secure 156 wreaths for this year’s observance.
The wreaths will be placed on veterans' tombstones on Saturday. About 30 of the 156 wreaths have been sponsored by individuals who wish to have the wreaths placed at specific grave sites.
Prior to the placement of wreaths on military grave sites, a brief ceremony will be held to commemorate the event on Saturday at 11 a.m., and the public is welcome to attend.
A western Kansas county has plans to sue the State of Kansas over mishandled sales tax revenue.
Morton County, located in the extreme southwest corner of the state, approved a county-wide sales tax in 2015 in order to support the county hospital in Elkhart. However, because of a clerical error on the ballot, voters actually approved a general sales tax instead of one specifically designated for health care services. As a result, the Kansas Department of Revenue directed to funds to Morton County municipalities. The cities then spent the money.
Over the past nine years, Morton County took on debt in an attempt to cover the $1.8 million shortfall at the hospital. The state legislature fixed the problem earlier this year in order to give the facility its intended funding, but Morton County wants to be reimbursed for the money its missed during the past decade.
Morton County has not yet officially filed the suit.
A 36-year-old Pittsburg man is recovering at an Overland Park hospital following a stabbing incident on Wednesday evening.
Police say the man was stabbed at a Pittsburg apartment complex on Wednesday evening following an altercation. Officers were called to the 600 block of South Broadway around 9:30pm where they found the injured man. Doctors say the man's injuries were non-life-threatening.
Police have identified a suspect in the case, but no arrests have been made.
St. Andrews in Independence will be hosting a free Community Christmas Dinner in Independence on Sunday.
Organizer Barry Beurskins says all are welcome to enjoy a meal and fellowship.
Beurskins adds that the meal will be dine-in, but carry-out and delivery options are also available.
The Christmas meal will be held from 11 to 1 on Sunday at the St Andrew Parish Center at 420 East Myrtle in Independence.
Elk County Emergency Management and Elk County Rural Fire receives a donation to purchase some much needed equipment.
The funding comes from a grant from the Kansas Pipeline Association and will allow the Rural Fire Department to purchase two new portable gas meters. The meters play an important role in fighting fires because they are used to detect hazardous atmospheres during emergency responses. The meters are an essential tool for firefighters because they are used to detect flammable gases and vapors. They help first responders determine whether an environment is safe to enter and whether ignition sources must be controlled.
The donation will help keep firefighters and victims safe during emergencies.
Photo courtesy Elk County Emergency Management
The Utility Billing Office for the City of Coffeyville will close early today for an annual tradition.
The Billing Office will close at noon today to allow staff to participate in the annual holiday luncheon. Following that festive tradition, staff will finish the afternoon in a required yearly training session. This training is essential to improving customer service, strengthening processes, and ensuring continued efficient resident support.
The Office will resume normal hours on Monday.
Montgomery County is inviting residents to visit the county Facebook page and vote on their favorite design for the new “I Voted” stickers.
The sticker design contest was open to students in Montgomery County and they were asked to design an “I Voted” sticker for use in the 2026 elections. The choice is down to two finalists in the High School Category. There are two ways to vote for the winning design: the first is to visit the County's Facebook page and comment your vote on the original post. Votes can also be emailed to the County Clerk's Office at mg co elections at mgcoelections@mgcountyks.org .
Voting will be open through Monday and winners will be announced on Tuesday.
The City of Independence seeks citizen input on the fate of a beloved structure.
At last night's city commission meeting, several more structures were slated for Public Hearings in the condemnation process. Among those was the building at 500 North Park Boulevard also known locally as the Girl Scout House. The building was the long-time meeting place for Girl Scout and Brownie Troops in Independence and, therefore, has significant sentimental value for many. However, since the 2007 flood, the structure has fallen into disrepair. Assistant City Manager David Cowan says the building is in terrible shape.
A Public Hearing for the structure was set for February 26. Cowan says, the City would like to hear resident input on the Girl Scout House before that date.
Also at last night's meeting, commissioners discussed a similar issue with the ARCO Building. The current owner of that structure has promised to make improvements to save the building but has not yet made any repairs. Commissioners agreed to extend the window for the repairs until June, but agreed that if nothing was done by summer, that condemnation efforts and possible demolition would resume.
Photo courtesy City of Independence
Andrew Ward and Coffeyville's Jake Long are holding on to second in the average at the National Finals Rodeo.
In round seven, the team roping duo tied for 6th place at 3.9 seconds with a payout of just under $3,000.
In round eight yesterday, they placed 6th again with 5.5 seconds and just under $6,000.
The two are sitting at 31.3 seconds over seven rounds, now tied with Clint Summers and Jade Corkill and behind Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres with 28.7 seconds.
The NFR continues today and tomorrow in Las Vegas.
Wilson County emergency crews respond to a grass fire. The incident happened along Highway 47, just east of Fredonia. The call came in around 2:15pm, and county units were able to contain the fire quickly.
Officials are reminding motorists to use caution during dry conditions. Drivers are urged not to throw cigarettes from vehicle windows, and those pulling trailers should ensure that chains or other equipment are not dragging and creating sparks. With grasses now in their dormant stage, the risk of roadside and pasture fires remains high. Authorities say simple precautions can help prevent future incidents.
The Neodesha City Commission approves the interlocal agreement with Labette Health.
After serious consideration and some contentious meetings with Wilson County, Neodesha signs an agreement with Labette Health for EMS services. Wilson County had wanted the City to consider making a deal with Fredonia EMS, but city officials stated they had only received a brief outline from that group while Labette offered a complete plan. Commissioner Ed Truelove says all they got from Fredonia was a set of bullet points.
Commissioner Duane Banzet had close ties to the Neodesha Fire Department and says the decision is heartbreaking for him.
Banzet added that he understand the commission must do what is in the best financial interests of the City. The Commission approved the agreement on a 2-0 vote. Commissioner Banzet abstained from the vote.
Montgomery County will replace a bridge on a county road northwest of Bolton.
The final approval for the project for the bridge located on County Road 2500 was given at this week's county commission meeting. Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins says there isn't a firm start date for the replacement, but that work is set to begin sometime in the first six months of 2026.
County Road 2500 will be closed in the area throughout construction since the project is a complete bridge replacement. Beurskins says the contractor anticipates 95 working days for completion once the project begins. Detours will be marked.
Police in Chetopa are investigating an incident in which a vehicle crashed into an apartment building.
Authorities say the incident occurred Wednesday evening around 9:30pm. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a vehicle that had collided with and entered into an apartment unit. After hitting the building, the driver then reversed through a ditch and into the apartment parking lot. The collision caused significant damage to the structure, but no injuries were reported. The building has been secured until all the damages can be assessed.
Chetopa Police continue to investigate the incident.
A Tulsa man faces a felony firearm charge in Bartlesville.
52-year-old Otis Hines, Jr. was charged on Tuesday with possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, authorities stopped Hines on Monday for allegedly speeding and failure to use a turn signal. Authorities allegedly located a firearm between the driver’s seat and the center console upon approaching the vehicle. Hines has been previously convicted of multiple felonies in Washington County since 2000.
He faces additional misdemeanor charges of transporting an open container of an intoxicating beverage, driving with a suspended license and speeding.
Hines will be back in court on December 19th. His bond was set at $50,000.
There will be a planned power outage tonight in the City of Pawhuska.
The planned outage has been scheduled to allow work crews to disconnect and then reconnect a secoind transformer at a new substation. The power in Pawhuska will be turned off at 11pm tonight. Crews plan to restore power by 5am on Friday morning.
Christmas is quickly approaching and for those who haven't yet put up a tree, The Independence Historical Museum and Art Center has an event for you.
The Independence Museum will be auctioning off fully decorated trees this Saturday. The Museum's Jill Warford says there will be lots going on at the museum.
Warford adds that there will be another great reason to come to the event.
The event runs from 2 to 5 on Saturday at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center at 123 North 8th Street. Admission is free.
The Independence City Commission will meet tonight in what will be its final meeting of the year.
The condemnation of dangerous and unsafe structures will be the primary topic of discussion at tonight's meeting. Among the buildings to be considered for condemnation is the Old Arco Building at 10th and Myrtle. A public hearing will be held to determine if the City will move forward in the process, but commissioners are expected to adjourn the public hearing on the structure until June. Public hearings will also likely be scheduled for February 26th for twelve other properties.
The Commission will also be asked to approve a mill and overlay project for a runway at the Independence Airport.
Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 in the Commission Room at the Independence City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City's website.
Two people are injured after a driver fails to yield at a stop sign south of Pittsburg.
The accident happened just before 2pm Wednesday when a 2011 Toyota Prius driven by Frank Merrifield of Pittsburg failed to yield at a stop sign on 520th Street. As he crossed the intersection, Merrifield's vehicle collided with a 2024 Chevy Trax driven by 30-year-old Megan Green of Baxter Springs.
Both drivers suffered minor injuries and were treated at Pittsburg's Mercy Hospital.
Oklahoma's largest farm show starts today in Tulsa.
Over 400,000 square feet of exhibits will be on display at the SageNet Center at Expo Square. More than 350 companies will be featuring a full line of displays, including tractor, sprayer, tillage, harvest equipment, cattle management products and more.
Ron Hays will be on hand today, broadcasting the KGGF midday farm shows live on The Mighty 690 at 11:30 and 12:30. Today's broadcast is brought to you by American Edge Products, RV Cattle Company, Bartlett Coop and Romans Outdoor Power.
The Tulsa Farm Show runs today through Saturday. Admission is Free.
The Coffeyville Community College Columbus Technical Campus celebrates the ribbon cutting for their Powersports Technology Program.
The event was held at the Hatfield Building in Columbus. CCC recently leased the facility from owner Jay Hatfield to serve as the home for this new program. The Powersports Technology Program prepares students to service, maintain and diagnose a wide range of vehicles, including ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, side-by-sides and outdoor power equipment. Students will gain hands-on experience in a professional-quality shop equipped with diagnostic scanners, lab scopes, digital multimeters, tire machines, tire balancers and other industry-standard tools.
The program supports CCC’s mission to address regional workforce needs through modern, career-focused technical training. Leasing the Hatfield Building provides CCC with the space and infrastructure required to deliver hands-on instruction and increase access to high-demand technical programs in the Columbus region.
A groundbreaking is held at the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons for an underground nuclear reactor project.
Several questions arose from the public after this announcement was made last week. Deep Fission CEO Liz Muller says they want to hear from the people and answer all of their questions. Head of the Great Plains Industrial Park Board Bob Woods says they refer to Deep Fission as their egg, when it comes to supplying power at the park.
The project is part of the Department of Energy's new Reactor Pilot Program. The reactor would operate at a depth of about one mile underground. The depth provides many benefits, including reduced surface construction costs normally associated with nuclear power plants. Each reactor will generate up to 15 megawatts of electric power.
A semi carrying a load of cattle crashes into a train near Cherryvale.
Yesterday at around 11:50am, Montgomery County Sheriff deputies, Cherryvale Fire and EMS, Cherryvale Rural Fire and the Cherryvale Police Department responded to a report of a tractor-trailer and train injury accident. The incident happened on Highway 169 at the railroad crossing just north of Cherryvale. First responders located a 2004 Peterbilt transporting a load of cattle. The vehicle, driven by 67-year-old Kenneth Wilkerson of El Dorado, had collided with the 22nd railcar of a WATCO and SKOL train.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the railroad crossing lights and safety arms were fully activated at the time of the crash, and that Wilkerson failed to stop. Wilkerson sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a regional hospital for treatment. The Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the scene and is assisting the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation, which remains ongoing. Several cattle were safely removed from the trailer and transported to their intended destination. Some animals did sustain significant injuries as a result of the crash.
The Pride of Caney will look a little different during competitions and marching season next year, as the purchase of new uniforms were approved Monday during the regular session meeting of USD-436. The meeting was held at the new weight room at the high school.
Superintendent Blake Vargas says the uniforms will have the school's primary colors, red and blue, with a little white trim and silvers buttons, instead of gold. An example uniform will be made and presented to the board for final approval, with the new uniforms in the hands of students by next year.
The new weight room was created by renovating space vacated by the ag and tech departments when they moved to CV West. Strength and conditoning coach Tell Wyrick says the room is already showing its benefits, with room to grow as well.
Vargas says he's excited to have USD-436 families see the payoff of many years of hard work.
A presentation was also heard from the Kansas Historical Society concerning Caney Memorial Stadium. We'll have more information on the possibilities of tax credits for renovations or refurbishing of the stadium later this week on our KGGF family of stations.
An Arkansas woman is dead after being struck by a car while trying to help a dog in the middle of a busy street.
The accident occurred around 7:15 on Monday evening in Rogers, Arkansas. Police say 65-year-old Jayne Cochran was sitting in the northbound lane of traffic attending to a dog when she was hit and killed by an SUV. The driver of the SUV was found to not be at fault in the accident. Police add that the dog is not alive, but it is unclear if the animal was already dead when the accident occurred.
A small plane makes an emergency landing in Marion County.
The incident occurred around 2pm Tuesday near the City of Peabody, According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the plane experienced engine failure during the flight and the pilot was forced to land the aircraft. The plane was carrying one passenger, described as an individual who had expressed interest in obtaining a pilot's license.
The plane landed in an open field. No one was injured and there was no damage to the plane or to the property. The cause of the emergency is under investigation by the FAA and the NTSB.
Police in Cowley County are investigating a suspicious package discovered Tuesday in downtown Winfield.
Cowley County Sheriff Dave Falletti says his deputies located what is being called unclaimed property near the Cowley County Courthouse in the 1500 block of Winfield's Main Street yesterday morning. The Wichita Bomb Squad was called in and retrieved the item. As a precautionary measure, the area near the courthouse was evacuated until the device was removed.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Kansas Department of Transportation unveils updates to it KanDrive app.
KDOT has announced some new features in the KanDrive app that allows drivers 24 hour access to highway and weather conditions across the state. The new features include alerts for high winds and slow-moving vehicles, expanded work zone and detour updates, and new reporting features through Apple Car Play and Android Auto. KanDrive can be accessed online at Kandrive.gov and through the app which is available through the App Store or Google Play.
The William Inge Center for the Arts at Independence Community Colleges announces the 2026 Inge Festival honoree.
Qui Nguyen has been chosen to be honored at the 43rd William Inge Festival in April. Nguyen is an Emmy Award–winning writer, filmmaker, and playwright who recently received a 2024 Kennedy Center College Theatre Festival Gold Medallion Award. Nguyen's credits also include work Marvel Studios, Netflix, AMC, SYFY, and PBS. He is the writer of Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, which earned a 2022 Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. He is also a member of the Writers Guild of America.
Nguyen will be honored at the 43rd Annual William Inge Theatre Festival in Independence. The festival runs April 23-25, 2026.
There will be a free community Christmas Dinner this Sunday in Cherryvale.
The meal will feature a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The entire community is invited to attend, but senior citizens and those who have no one to share the holidays are especially encouraged to enjoy a home-cooked meal.
The dinner takes place on Sunday from 11 to 1 at the St. Francis Xavier Parish Center at 202 South Liberty in Cherryvale.
For more information or to learn how to set up meal delivery for homebound individuals, contact Phil 620-205-8210 or Debbie 620-205-8209
The Neodesha City Commission will meet today and discuss several proposed ordinances.
The first up for consideration in the 2025 Standard Traffic Ordinance. The City Commission routinely reviews and updates its traffic regulations by incorporating the latest edition of the Standard Traffic Ordinance published by the Kansas League of Municipalities. This allows the City to maintain a comprehensive and standardized set of traffic laws. Similar consideration will be given to the Uniform Public Offense Code Ordinance. Commissioners will also discuss the ECA Calculation procedure to adjust monthly utility billing based on fluctuations in the cost of wholesale power.
Also on today's agenda is the interlocal agreement with Labette Health and a possible policy regarding social media use.
Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at the City Hall in Neodesha. The meeting is open to the public.
Coffeyville's Jake Long and team roping partner Andrew Ward of Edmond, OK, fall in round 6 at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
For the first time at this year's event, the team did not have a qualifying run, causing them to fall to third in the average at 21.9 seconds in five rounds.
Above them in second is Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres with 19.9 seconds over 5 rounds, and Clint Summers and Jade Corkill are in first with 25.5 seconds over 6 rounds.
There's still some time for the team to make up some ground as the NFR continues through Saturday in Las Vegas.
If you're looking for some Christmas cheer this year in Coffeyville, look no further than Candy Cane Lane.
While you won't find it on any street sign, the residents of Evergreen Drive in Coffeyville have decorated their block once again for a great drive-through experience.
All are invited next Saturday, December 20th to enjoy the lights, plus hot chocolate and candy canes. There is also a box available to mail letters to Santa. Organizers say they'll make sure the Grinch doesn't get any of the letters.
To find Candy Cane Lane, turn north from 1st Street on North Park Boulevard or Willow Street, then turn onto New Street. From there, you'll see the lights of Candy Cane Lane on the north side of the street.
The Coffeyville City Commission votes to eliminate the fee and permit for garage sales. City Clerk Melissa Carter says the permit process is unnecessary.
The commission unanimously votes to approve the amendment to the ordinance requiring a permit, which had been in effect in Coffeyville since 1970.
A semi vs train accident is reported early this afternoon near Cherryvale.
The accident was reported today at the rail crossing north of Cherryvale on U.S. 169. Traffic is being diverted through Cherryvale as first responders deal with the situation. This is a developing situation. More information will be shared as details become available.
The Mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, resigns amid controversy over the status of his citizenship.
Joe Ceballos resigned from his position yesterday in light of investigation by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach into Ceballos' citizenship. Kobach's office announced last month that Ceballos would be prosecuted for three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury. A report from the Department of Homeland Security says Ceballos obtained a green card in 1990 and applied for U.S. citizenshiip in 2025.
Ceballos' resignation was effective immediately.
The Miami Police Department assists the FBI, IRS, and DEA in a joint investigation that yields 14 indictments for drug conspiracy.
The indictments were handed down in Novermber by a federal grand jury that alleges 14 individuals from Oklahoma, Texas, and Mexico of conspiring together to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. If found guilty of the charge, the suspects could face no less than 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10 million fine. Several of the accused face additional charges of possession and distribution.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz.
Those charged include:
• Jerry Lee Grist, age 66, of Atoka, Oklahoma;
• Tommy Blake Mccary, age 74, of Wright City, Oklahoma;
• Meagon Rashel Box, age 39, of Atoka, Oklahoma;
• Leslie Gale Bellettini, age 67, of Coalgate, Oklahoma;
• Shawnda La Dawn Russell, age 55, of Ada, Oklahoma;
• Glenn Roger Hyde, age 65, of Ada, Oklahoma;
• Jeffery Lance Deaver, age 56, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma;
• Jesus Martin Olivares Vasquez, Sr., age 58, of Mexico;
• Dean Dewayne Henslee, age 52, of Idabel, Oklahoma;
• Angie Eulalia Nunez, also known as Angie Farrell, age 51, of Durant, Oklahoma;
• David George Nunez, age 56, of Durant, Oklahoma;
• Raymond Erwin Welch, age 57, of Dallas, Texas;
• Willa Margarette Wear, age 47, of Atoka, Oklahoma; and
• Clifford Eugene Berry, age 61, of Atoka, Oklahoma.
In addition to federal Drug Conspiracy charges, Jerry Lee Grist and Dean Dewayne Henslee each face additional charges for Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine; Leslie Gale Bellettini faces additional charges for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine, and for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine; and Angie Eulalia Nunez and David George Nunez each face an additional charge for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine.
Government offices in Osage County continue their move to their new offices in the Osage County Courthouse Annex.
During a brief meeting Monday, District Three Commissioner Charlie Cartwright says some county offices will be closed as the move continues.
The Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska will be closed next Monday from 11:45am to 1:30pm for an employee appreciation luncheon.
The Nowata County Commission approves an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
At this week's meeting, commissioners approved a $1.8 million supplemental and modification agreement for County Road NS 413 over Hickory Creek about 3 miles north of Lenepah. Commissioner Troy Friddle says the agreement is the result of a collaborative effort.
In other business, the board tabled discussion of a road use agreement and an agreement with Natural Resources Conversation Service.
The Nowata County Commission meets every Monday at 9am at the Nowata County Annex.
The Montgomery County Commission is considering its options after it was recently discovered that the county's new software system will not be able to perform as expected.
For the past two years, the county has been in the process from switching computer systems from Comtech and Edmunds Govtech. The new system was set to “go live” in the next few weeks. County Administrator Jonathan Booe says he joined a recent teleconference with Edmunds and received some startling news.
This would mean that the new software system would not be able to perform a core function of what the county does. Booe says, in all of the meetings the county has had with the new company, this was the first time the issue had come up.
The county's current contract with Comtech does not expire until April, which means they could decide to stay with that program. Commissioner Robert Bever noted that he wants the county to consider legal action against Edmunds for breach of contract.
Kansas broadband receives federal approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the $166.6 million final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment or BEAD program.
The move will advance efforts to deliver high-speed internet to more than 26,000 eligible homes and businesses across the state. Kansas’ plan details a comprehensive implementation strategy, reflecting collaborative negotiations with federal and industry partners. Leaders emphasized that this approval marks a major step toward connecting every Kansas community with modern broadband infrastructure.
The approved plan includes private contributions of $61.3 million and achieved a 63% reduction in federal allocation. The approval means Kansas Broadband can move into the next phase of implementation which includes finalizing contracts, ensuring compliance, and supporting subgrantees—aiming for groundbreaking in the second half of 2026 as the state advances toward future-ready connectivity.
The City of Coffeyville is extending its leaf pickup program through the end of December.
Residents can take advantage of the City's free leaf removal service by scheduling a pickup through the city website. Requests can be submitted as many times as needed during the month. After submitting a request, city crews will be by within 1 to 2 business days to pick up leaves.
Leaves should be raked into piles within 5 feet of the curb and should be free of debris like rocks and large sticks and branches. Pick up will occur Monday through Friday between 7am and 2pm. To submit a request for pick up, go here.
An Altoona woman is dead following a head-on collision on US-400 in Crawford County.
The accident occurred around 2:45 yesterday afternoon about 4 ½ miles west of K-7. A 2015 Nissan Altima driven by 38-year-old Eric Meyers of Des Moines, Iowa, was traveling eastbound on US-400 when he crossed the center line of the highway and collided head-on with a 2001 Dodge Dakota driven by 68-year-old Carol Sharp of Altoona. Sharp was taken to Joplin's Mercy Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
Meyers was taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg with serious injuries.
A 44-year-old Leon man is injured after a single-vehicle accident in Cowley County.
Allen Anthony Clark sustained minor injuries yesterday morning when his semi truck struck a utility pole and overturned. The accident occurred as Clark was traveling eastbound on US-160 near the intersection with 31st Road, about five miles west of Winfield.
Clark was taken to an Ark City hospital for treatment.
The Parsons Public Library invites residents to Eat, Read and Be Merry this Thursday with a free soup lunch.
Guests will have the choice of potato bacon, chicken & wild rice, or veggie soup. Dine-in and take-out are available, but tickets are limited. RSVP in person at the library or by calling 421-5920. You can also register online at parsonslibrary.org.
The lunch takes place from 11 to 1 on Thursday at the Parsons Public Library located at 311 South 17th Street.
Coffeyville's Jake Long and team roping partner Andrew Ward of Edmond, OK, are narrowly hanging on to first place in the average score at the National Finals Rodeo.
The duo fell to 9th place in round five yesterday with a time of 5.7 seconds. While they were not able to earn a payout, their average time is 21.9 seconds over the five rounds, just above Clint Summers and Jade Corkill with 22 seconds.
The NFR Continues through Saturday in Las Vegas.
The final weekly crop progress report for the growing season from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service has been released.
In Kansas, winter wheat is doing well, with only 5% rated poor or very poor, 25% reported fair, and 70% either good or excellent.
Pasture and range condition are doing well, with 59% either good or excellent. Cotton and sunflower harvest is wrapping up but is behind last year and the average.
The Labette County Commissioners are receiving a number of questions after the announcement of the nuclear project in the county. Commissioner Tom Barrett says the questions they're being asked are legitimate.
Last week, California-based Deep Fission, Inc. announced plans to pursue a full-scale commercial project following a successful test of a small modular pressurized water reactor that will be placed one mile underground. The project will be constructed at the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons, with a groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow from 2:00 to 4:00pm starting at the Cardinal Event Center in Parsons.
A decision on the fate of the FKHS Charlesworth Natatorium in Coffeyville is moved back again.
Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll says more time will be needed to review the agreement and $1.6 million raised by the community pool committee.
At the board's special meeting last week, $800,000 was approved for either the repair or demolition of the pool. The special meeting will be next Tuesday, December 16th at 3 p.m. at the district office.
In other business, the board voted to approve a moisture scan of the Community Elementary School roof at just under $6,000 to identify sections in need of replacement, as the roof is more than 20 years old and in need of repair.
Nearly 800 people attend the Duke Mason “A Main Street Christmas Concert” in Parsons and over $4,000 is raised.
The Parsons Police Department says this year's fundraising total has reached almost $17,000, which means dozens of children in Parsons will enjoy a holiday shopping experience with local law enforcement officers. Chief Robert Spinks says Parsons continues to show that when they come together, they can create real and lasting impact. He says the support they've received ensures that many young people in the community will experience holiday joy and positive engagement with our officers.
Shop with a Cop is this Sunday. The annual event is not only about gift-giving, but also about connection, compassion, and the joy of helping others. Each year, officers express their appreciation for the opportunity to brighten a child's holiday and build relationships that strengthen trust between the police department and the community.
The purchase of new band uniforms is on the agenda tonight at the regular session board meeting of Caney USD-436.
The new uniforms are a culmination of several weeks of study between students and school officials; the current uniforms are almost 30-year old.
Also on the agenda is the approval of an additional Jr. High basketball coach and high school custodian, and a Kansas Historical Society Presentation is listed in discussion items.
The meeting will take place at the new weight room, located inside the high school at 601 East Bullpup Boulevard. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm.
Coffeyville's Jake Long is having a good year so far at the National Finals Rodeo.
In round one, Long and partner Andrew Ward earned second place in team roping with a time of 4.2 seconds.
In round two, Long and Ward split a three-way tie for second place with 4.1 seconds.
In round three, the team placed fifth with a time of 4 seconds.
For round four, both stayed up top, taking third place and a time of 3.9 seconds.
Long and Ward are currently on top in the average with a time of 16.2 seconds. So far, the team has a total payout of just over $76,000.
The NFR continues through Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Independence USD 446 School Board will meet tonight and discuss turf replacement options at Shulthis Stadium.
The topic tops the list of new business items for board members at tonight's regular monthly meeting. In other business, board members will consider the renewal of administrator contracts for 2026-27, and will also hear updates from Superintendent Jason McAfee regarding mill levy certification, the USD 446 Hall of Fame, and the Board of Education Appreciation Dinner coming up in January.
Tonight's meeting will be held at 7pm in the Library at Independence High School. The meeting is open to the public.
Former residents of Picher and Cardin Oklahoma came home for the annual Christmas parade in Picher on Saturday.
Both communities are within the Tar Creek Superfund Site and were bought out by the federal government over 15 years ago due to lead contamination from mining in the area. While no one lives in the towns anymore, a special event is held each year as a homecoming.
Hundreds lined U.S. 69 through Picher with local first responders and organizations from surrounding towns participating, including the Wyandotte High School Marching Bears.
Former Picher Resident Amy Conrad, who now lives in Fairland, says she looks forward to this event every year.
Conrad says she wants people to know that Picher is a special place for the people who grew up there.
KGGF also owes credit to Picher, as the station started there in 1927. The Picher-Cardin Parade takes place every first Saturday in December at 10 a.m.
One man is injured in a two-vehicle crash in Crawford County.
The accident occurred Sunday afternoon just after 2pm as the two vehicle were both traveling south on US-69 near the junction with K-126. A 2007 Chevy pickup truck driven by 28-year-old Benjamin Jones of McCune rear-ended another vehicle and then struck a tree. Jones was taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg with serious injuries.
The driver of the second vehicle was uninjured in the crash.
The USD 445 Coffeyville School Board will meet this afternoon with the fate of the Field Kindley natatorium once again on the agenda.
Listed under action items for today's meeting is an entry to schedule a special board meeting this month to discuss the natatorium. Dr. Craig Correll says the district did not receive an agreement for pool funding from the community group working to save the pool until late Friday, so the district needs more time to assess the situation before a decision can be made.
Also on today's agenda is the possible request for proposals for a roof overlay project at Community Elementary as well as contract extensions for principals and vice-principals at Field Kindley, Roosevelt Middle School, Community Elementary, and the Early Learning Center. Two assistant superintendents are also up for renewal.
Today's meeting begins at 4pm at the District Office. The public is invited to attend.
The USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer School Board will meet tonight with the main focus of business selecting a contractor for the installation of HVAC equipment at Lincoln-Central.
Board members will select from four electrical contractors and three mechanical contractors to do the installation work on the elementary school building located in Cherryvale. The HVAC installation is expected to take place in the summer of 2026.
In other business, board members will hear renewal information for insurance for both workers compensation and property and casualty insurance. The Principals from the district schools will also provide updates on current happenings in their respective buildings.
Tonight's Cherryvale School Board meeting begins at 7pm at Cherryvale Middle/High School, located at 700 South Carson. The meeting is open to the public.
An Idaho man is dead following a helicopter crash on Friday in Mayes County, OK.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 56-year-old Emanuele Tsikoudas of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was killed on Friday morning after the helicopter he was piloting crashed near the Neosho River. Authorities say the aircraft took off from the Mid-America Industrial Park Airport in Pryor just before 8am to assist GRDA with line work in the Sportsmen Acres area. Witnesses say the helicopter was hovering normally and then suddenly flipped and dove nose-first into the ground. The pilot was the only person in the copter and was the only person injured in the crash.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The City of Miami ushered in the Christmas season with its official tree lighting ceremony and Christmas parade.
On Friday night, Miami residents braved the chilly weather to gather for the community tree lighting ceremony. Mayor Bless Parker served as emcee of the ceremony. He says this year’s tree is 46 feet tall and next year’s will be even taller.
Community members then counted down to the lighting of the tree.
Miami residents then enjoyed the Miami Christmas Parade on Saturday afternoon.
Photo courtesy City of Miami
The Independence Historical Museum and Art Center will get into the Christmas spirit this Wednesday night with a holiday concert by the IHMAC Singers.
The Museum’s Jill Warford says the group will perform a variety of holiday favorites.
The performance begins at 7pm Wednesday at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center at 123 North 8th Street. Admission is free.
Coffeyville Police Officers and Firefighters collect donations for area kids in need.
The local first responders were out on Saturday at the Coffeyville Dollar General location for the 10th Annual Fill-A-Cruiser/Fill-A-Firetruck event. Officers and firefighters were collecting donations of basic household items, warm clothes and blankets, and clothing for those less fortunate this holiday season. Coffeyville residents stepped up to help and make a big difference in the lives of their neighbors. C-P-D and Coffeyville Fire will also be out this coming Saturday at the Coffeyville Wal-Mart from 10 to 5 to collect more items and raise funds for local kids in need.
Photo courtesy Coffeyville Fire Department
An Independence man is seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash near Parsons.
The accident occurred around 3:30 Friday afternoon on Southern Avenue just west of US-59. 43-year-old Charles Cooper was driving a box van westbound on Southern Avenue when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a curb. Cooper was injured when he was ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to Labette Health for treatment.
The Montgomery County Commission will meet today and discuss approval of the Local Disaster Recovery Plan.
County Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson will appear before the commission to present the plan. The plan includes an overview of recovery operations, outlines the roles and responsibilities of both individuals and agencies, and explain coordination mechanisms and funding recovery.
Also on today’s agenda will be quarterly reports from Rural Fire Chief Michael Smith and I-T Director Jason Clubine. Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins will also be on hand to discuss a construction agreement for the Bridge 527A project for the arch bridge over Onion Creek, northwest of Bolton.
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 Sedan City Council approves repairs to the Police chief's cruiser and discusses options for updating the council meeting agenda.
At their most recent meeting, council members heard a report from City Clerk Lana Robinson. Robinsin says the patrol cruiser of Chief Kirk Richardson is in need of a new fuel pump.
The council approved the expenditure on a 5-0 vote. In other business, Robinson suggested that the council consider making some changes to the meeting agenda that is posted for the public. Robinson says she'd like to model the changes after the agenda's posted by Caney and Independence.
Council members agreed to place the issue on the official agenda for consideration at the December 16 meeting.
Another Coffeyville Christmas Parade is in the books, with around 60 entires in this year's event.
The parade lasted almost an hour as crowds packed downtown Coffeyville. KGGF staff broadcast the event live on Sonshine 98.9 as well as Facebook Live, courtesy of Windsor at Home Care and Coffeyville Public Schools, Tractor Supply, Gold and Silver of Coffeyville and People's Choice Credit Union.
Upcoming parades for Saturday, December 6th include:
Picher, OK – Saturday, December 6th – 10 a.m.
Bluejacket, OK - Saturday, December 6th - 11 a.m.
Quapaw, OK – Saturday, December 6th – Noon
Riverton, KS – Saturday, December 6th – Noon
Galena, KS – Saturday, December 6th – 4 p.m.
Cherryvale, KS – Saturday, December 6th – 5:30 p.m.
Miami, OK – Saturday, December 6th – 6 p.m.
Baxter Springs, KS – Saturday, December 6th – 6 p.m.
Fredonia, KS – Saturday, December 6th – 6 p.m.
Disney, OK - Saturday, December 6th - 6 p.m.
Bartlesville, OK – Saturday, December 6th – 6:30 p.m.
Sedan, KS – Saturday, December 6th – 6:30 p.m.
Pryor, OK - Saturday, December 6th - 7 p.m.
A full list of area parades is available here.
Parsons, KS, will be the site of a planned pioneering nuclear energy project.
California-based Deep Fission, Inc. has announced plans to pursue a full-scale commercial project following a successful test of a small modular pressurized water reactor that will be placed one mile underground.
The project will be constructed at the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for Tuesday, December 9th.
Deep Fission is participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program, an initiative designed to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies through a streamlined regulatory pathway under the Atomic Energy Act.
The project is part of the Department of Energy's new Reactor Pilot Program. The Deep Fission Borehole Reactor 1, with a minimum diameter of approximately 30 inches, will operate at a depth of approximately 1 mile. The extreme depth provides many benefits, including reduced surface construction costs normally associated with nuclear power plants. Each reactor will generate up to 15 megawatts of electric power.
For comparison, the steam turbine at Coffeyville's downtown power plant produces up to 38 megawatts, and each of the three engines at the new power plant at the airport produce 18.7 megawatts. If this plant is successful, larger ones could be in the works.
Deep Fission Co-Founder Liz Muller says the gravity reactor is designed to deliver safer, faster and dramatically cheaper energy.
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland says his department will support Deep Fission's efforts as they prepare to demonstrate their project and integrate transparent community engagement.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran is also heralding the effort, saying he supports lower energy rates for Kansans.
You can learn more about the project here.
A holiday tradition continues tomorrow night as the Parsons Chamber of Commerce, Labette County Tourism and the Parsons Municipal Auditorium present the Duke Mason Band in concert at the auditorium.
Duke Mason says the free concert is one of the band's favorite shows every year.
The family friendly show is nothing but Christmas songs, with special guests featured throughout the night. Mason says the community always steps up to help their neighbors.
A free will offering will be taken during the Saturday night show, which starts at 7:00 at the Municipal Auditorium in Parsons. For more information, visit parsonsauditorium.com.
An accident involving a cattle hauler prompts the closure of OK Highway 10 near Wann.
The incident occurred around 3:30 Thursday morning. Washington County Undersheriff Jon Copeland says the vehicle overturned in the roadway.
Copeland says many departments and people helped gather the nearly 100 cattle that were in the truck.
Copeland added that some of the cattle were killed in the accident.
An Oklahoma woman from southern Washington County faces 60 counts of animal cruelty after sheriff's deputies report multiple malnourished animals.
Sharron Lee Adams was arrested on Wednesday after Washington County Sheriff's deputies observed several malnourished dogs on and around her property on North 3944 Road. Deputies also found 2 deceased cats outside her home and five more in a freezer, The surviving dogs were rescued by the Oklahoma Animal Alliance.
Adams appeared yesterday in Washington County District Court for a probable cause hearing. Special Judge Jared Sigler found probable cause for arrest and set bond at $50,000. Adams will appear in court again today where formal charges are expected to be filed.
Bartlesville firefighters are called to a small fire at a Bartlesville restaurant.
Crews were called to the scene at Weeze's Cafe at 328 Dewey Avenue yesterday afternoon following reports of a minor fire. Deputy Fire Chief Barry Campbell says crews were able to handle the fire quickly.
The restaurant was closed briefly due cleanup from the fire.
Firefighters from Coffeyville Fire and Dearing Rural Fire are called to a structure fire just south of Coffeyville.
The call came in just after 9pm Thursday night when crews from both departments were called to a residence on South Overlook Drive near the intersection of James School Road for a working attic fire.
Coffeyville crews arrived first on the scene and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. Dearing Rural Fire then arrived and assisted with putting out hotspots. Units from South Coffeyville, Tyro, and Liberty Fire Departments were called for mutual aid, b ut were canceled en route. The residence was occipied when the fire began, but all were able to safely escape the structure.
The cause of the blaze was determined to be an electrical wire inside an attic wall. No injuries were reported.
Photo courtesy Dearing Rural Fire
Police in Independence are investigating reports of burglary and assault in two separate incidents this week.
The first incident occurred on Tuesday, when I-P-D officers were called to the 2000 block of West Main following reports of burglary. Officers began an investigation into thefts which occurred at the storage units located on West Laurel Street. The investigation remains ongoing as investigators attempt to determine a suspect or suspects in the case.
The second incident happened on Wednesday morning when officers were called the 200 block of West Chestnut Street after reports of a criminal threat. A juvenile suspect was taken into custody and faces charges of Assault & Battery, Criminal Threat and Criminal Damage.
The Caney Police Department and Caney EMS announce their partnership with Santa Claus to deliver letters to the North Pole this holiday season.
Caney residents with children who would like to send a letter to Santa can do so by dropping them in the special mailbox located outside Dispatch inside the Caney P-D building. Letters dropped in the locked mailbox will be delivered to Santa By Caney Police.
Letters will be delivered to Santa on December 20 and parents are reminded to include their child's name and return address on the letter to Santa can write back. Caney Police Chief Ike Dye and Caney P-D are excited to help Caney's kids this Christmas season.
The Allen County Sheriff's Office is looking to spread some holiday cheer with Adopt-a Grandparent 2025.
The program is designed to help elderly Allen County residents who have no family to spend their holidays with by matching them with a person who would like to “adopt” them. The adopter will then be able to purchase gifts for their person and give them a nice holiday surprise.
Those who would like to submit the name of a person to be adopted must do so by December 13 and include a list of their needs and wants. Recipients must be residents of Allen County. Gifts should be purchased, wrapped, and labeled with the recipients name and then returned to the Allen County Sheriff's Office in Iola for distribution.
Those wanting to submit a name for adoption or to adopt a person should contact the A-C-S-O by email at sheriff@allencosheriff.org or send them a private message via Facebook.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly orders flags throughout the state to be flown at half-staff on Sunday in honor of National Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day.
The flags are to remain at half-staff from sun up to sundown on December 7, the 84th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Kelly called the events that unfolded on December 7, 1941, an immense tragedy that claimed the lives of many courageous service members and that the day is a time to reflect on the past, pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and honor the brave men and women who have fought to defend our country at that time and those who continue to do so.
The Parsons City Commission approves just over $17,000 for the installation of a new shelter house at Parsons Lake.
At this week's meeting, commissioners approved the release of restricted lake funds to pay for the project. The Parsons Lake Advisory Board has contracted with Bates Welding and Fencing of Oswego to install the 30 X 30 all-steel structure on the existing concrete pad located near the main boat ramp. Commissioner Tom Shaw says he pleased to see the project take shape.
Shaw and fellow Commissioner Leland Crooks both agree that Parsons Lake is a great resource for the area.
Parsons Lake is located a few miles northwest of the City. The year-round recreational area draws visitors from across the region.
The Coffeyville Christmas Parade happens tonight in downtown.
Before the parade, children can meet Santa and get some cookies starting at 4:30 at the Midland Theater. The parade itself starts at 6 p.m., and will be broadcast live on Sonshine 98.9, courtesy of Windsor at Home Care and Coffeyville Public Schools, plus Tractor Supply, Gold and Silver of Coffeyville and People's Choice Credit Union.
The parade will also be live-streamed on the KGGF / KUSN / KQQF Facebook page.
Downtown Caney was busy with activity during last night's Christmas parade.
Residents enjoyed food trucks and local businesses open downtown before the parade, and the Caney Valley Historical Society was open, offering free refreshments to parade attendees.
Around 60 entries were entered in this year's parade, which was broadcast on US-98, courtesy of Romans Chevrolet and Skyway Honda. The full parade can be viewed here:
A Claremore man is in custody following an hours long police standoff in Rogers County.
Authorities say the suspect Anthony Todd Space was arrested outside his home yesterday following a five-hour standoff. The incident began around 7am with the report of a suspect shooting at a woman. The victim was able to safely escape from the residence as law enforcement surrounded the home.
Later, news crews were gathered at the scene when a man approached them and asked what was going on. When the standoff was explained and the suspect was described, the man replied that he thought he was probably the suspect.
Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton stated that about an hour before Space was arrested, that law enforcement was uncertain if he was still inside the house.
Space was taken into custody without incident and the case remains under investigation.
A 16-year-old Holcomb boy is arrested in connection to a Tuesday bank robbery.
Just before 1pm on Tuesday Holcomb Police and Finney County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a bank robbery at Equity Bank in Holcomb, located about 5 miles west of Garden City. Witnesses reported that the suspect was armed and wearing a mask and hed fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect was located in the bank parking lot and taken into custody.
The suspect faces multiple charges inclduing Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Assault. The investigation remains ongoing.
An Osage County man is seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident while trying to light a cigarette while driving.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Johnathan Kilmer, of Osage, was driving on New Prue Road near Pony Express Pass when he slowed his vehilce while attempting to light a cigarette.
As Kilmer applied the brakses, his vehicle veered left causing him to lose control. The vehicle crossed the center line and left the roadway, where it then struck a steep embankment and rolled several times.
OHP continues investigating the crash.
A Coffeyville woman is involved in a three-vehicle crash in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.
The accident occurred just before 5pm on Tuesday evening on State Highway 10 about 8 miles east of Miami. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 69-year-old Charita Kizzire of Coffeyville was westbound on Highway 10 when an eastbound vehicle slowed and was rear-ended by another vehicle towing a trailer. The trailer then crossed the center line and struck Kizzire’s vehicle. The driver towing the trailer sustained undisclosed injuries. Kizzire was not hurt in the accident.
The crash remains under investigation by the O-H-P
Several southeast Kansas lawmakers will conduct listening tour stops across the area on Tuesday.
State Senator Virgil Peck along with Kansas House members Ron Bryce, Doug Blex, Dan Goddard, and Ken Collins will make several stops across their districts next week to get input from their constituents in the run up to the 2026 Legislative Session. The lawmakers will also address several of the issues they expect to be up for consideration this session when lawmakers return to Topeka in January.
The tour will begin at Hersh's in downtown Coffeyville at 10am on Tuesday. From there, the tour will visit High Road Coffee in Independence at 11:30, the City Council Room in Cherryvale at 1pm, the Wall Family Center in Parsons at 2:15, and the Neosho County Courthouse in Erie at 3:45. The tour will wrap up with a stop at Cardinal Drug in Chanute at 5pm.
Senator Peck says more dates and times may be added to the tour and will be announced when they are confirmed.
The location and times of the tour stops are as follows:
Coffeyville – Hersh’s, 123 W. 9th, 10:00–11:00
Independence – High Road Coffee, 107 E. Main, 11:30–12:30
Cherryvale – City Council Room, 123 W. Main, 1:00–1:45
Parsons – Wall Family Center, 2605 Main, 2:15–3:15
Erie – Neosho County Courthouse, 100 S. Main, 3:45–4:30
Chanute – Cardinal Drug, 103 E. Main, 5:00–6:00
November tax revenues for the State of Oklahoma are up.
According to the Oklahoma State Treasurer's Office, the increase in total revenue of $17 billion over the past 12 months showed a 1.3% increase from lat year. State Treasurer Todd Russ stated that the recent report showed a nearly 8% increase in sales and use tax receipts, indicating string consumer confidence heading into the holiday retail season.
All other tax sources fell in November, including the largest drop of 56.2% in the gross production tax on oil and gas. Unemployment in Oklahoma held steady at 3.1%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
Russ added that with federal economic data for November delayed due to the government shutdown and the Fed's recent rate cut, the state will continue to keep a close eye on national trends.
A nationwide grant program from Main Street America and American Express aims to help the growth of small businesses during the holiday season.
That's the word from the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce. The $20,000 grants from the Amex Shop Small Grants Programmust be used to help small businesses grow, innovate, and support their communities. Grant funding must be spent between April and September 2026. Small business owners may apply for the funding through January 16. Grant recipients will be notified in March.
Those interested in applying can find more information here.
The Kansas Department of Transportation announces the approval of bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in southeast Kansas.
The projects approved for funding include the replacement of eleven miles guardrails on US-166 in Cherokee County at a cost of $1.9 million. That project was awarded to Klaver construction Company of Wichita.
Also approved in November was a bridge replacement project over Little Canville Creek on US-59, just south of the junction with K-39 in Neosho County or about 15 miles east of Chanute. That project went to Bridges, Inc., of Newton, for just over $3,5 million.
Several cities in southeast Kansas will show their Christmas spirit tonight.
The Caney Christmas parade will start at 7 p.m. in downtown Caney, and KGGF staff will broadcast the festivities on US-98 and live video on the KGGF / KUSN / KQQF Facebook page. There are almost 70 entries in this year's parade. Our broadcast is brought to you by Skyway Honda and Romans Chevrolet.
The City of Parsons will also hold its Christmas parade tonight. Mayor Verlyn Boulanger says several downtown streets will be closed off to accommodate the festivities.
Additional parades tonight include Girard and Fort Scott at 6 and Vinita and Chanute at 6:30.
The Coffeyville Christmas Parade will also be broadcast tomorrow, starting at 6 p.m. on Sonshine 98.9. For a full list of parades, click this link.
The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards is coming up next month.
Chamber President Candi Westbrook says they have the top three candidates for each category. Westbrook says the winners will be announced during the Chamber Dinner on Friday, January 23rd.
The event starts at 6:00pm in the East Gym of Nellis Hall on the Coffeyville Community College campus.
The first of two Fill-A-Cruiser and Fire Truck events is this weekend.
Coffeyville Police Chief Kwin Bromley says they started this event in 2015 and it has grown a lot over the last ten years. Chief Bromley says the biggest change they've made over the last ten years is partnering with Coffeyville Fire Department and USD 445.
Saturday CPD will be set up at the Coffeyville Dollar General from 10:00am to 2:00pm and then next Saturday, December 13th they will be at the Coffeyville Walmart from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
The Wilson County Commission has approved a bridge project worth over $100,000 in the county.
That's the latest from the first December meeting of the commission, in which Road and Bridge Director Kary Tatum spoke with commmissioners regarding the Big Sandy bridge on 2100 and Harper Road. The commissioners unanimously approved a $102,000 motion to finish repairs to the bridge.
Tatum also discussed the county's need for a water truck. He says it will provide needed resources to continue ditching projects at the level of quality that is expected.
The commission elected to delay the purchase of the truck until the new year. The county commission will not meet next week, due to a convention in Wichita, and will next meet on December 17th at 9 a.m. in Room 101 of the courthouse in Fredonia.
The Nowata City Commissioners approves a purchase requisition for a gear box and clarifier at the water plant.
The move came at this week's meeting. The plant clrifier is a large tank that uses gravity to remove suspended solids from water and wastewater. The process involves the slow movement of water through the tank, allowing heavier particles to settle at the bottom as sludge, while cleaner water moves to the next stage. Water Plant Operator Jerry Jackson says the plant's current clarifier has been having some problems.
Clarifiers are essential for both preliminary and secondary treatment, as they separate solid waste before biological treatment and remove the biomass produced during secondary treatment. The clarifier will be purchased through IBT Industrial Solutions for approximately $11,500.
An accident Tuesday morning involving the rollover of a semi truck carrying thousands of pounds of hydrochloric acid causes road closures near McPherson .
The truck was carrying 34,000 of the acid when it overturned at the intersection of Kansas Avenue and the Old 81 Bypass around 9am. The truck rolled while attempting a turn onto US-56. Emergency responders and hazmat crews closed the nearby roadways and evacuated structures, thinking it was possible that thousand of gallons of the chemical could have spilled. As clean-up continued, crews learned that only about 20 gallons of the acid actually spilled.
The driver of the semi was uninjured in the accident.
Two people are injured following a single-vehicle accident on Monday in Cowley County.
The Cowley County Sheriff's Office says the accident occurred on K-15 just west of the City of Udall. Deputies responded to the area after receiving reports of a vehicle driving recklessly in the area. Deputies discovered a vehicle in the ditch after it had apparently left the roadway and struck a bridge. A 52-year-old Wichita man and a 39-year-old Winfield woman were both injured in the crash and taken to nearby hospitals.
The names and conditions of the victims have not yet been released and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Montgomery County Commission approves a resolution to make purchasing equipment less burdensome for Rural Fire.
Rural Fire Chief Michael Smith appeared before the commission last week to request the resolution that would permit purchases from approved websites without prior approval from the commission. County Administrator Jonathan Booe says he and Smith discussed the time-sensitive nature of such purchases.
The new resolution provides guidelines for making purchases, including the source of the funding and spending limits for types of equipment. Booe says Rural Fire will still be required to inform commissioners of their purchases.
The resolution was approved on a 2-0 vote. Commmissioner Phil Clubine was absent from Monday's meeting.
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 to 7 pm.
Crews from the Independence Fire/EMS Department respond to a possible structure fire.
The call came in around 4pm Tuesday afternoon and firefighters were dispatched to a residence on East Birch Street. Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke throughout home, but no flames. The cause of the smoke was discobvered to be an exercise ball that had rolled onto a floor furnace and melted. Firefighters used a positive pressure fan to remove the smoke from the residence.
There were no injuries and the only property that was damaged was the exercise ball.
Photo courtesy Independence Fire/EMS
The State of Kansas will officially start getting into the Christmas spirit today.
Governor Laura Kelly will light the Kansas Statehouse Christmas tree this morning at 10am in an official lighting ceremony. The annual tree-lighting ceremony has become a traditional feature of the holiday season in Kansas. Each year, the tree is placed and decorated by volunteers, with last year's tree colors of rose and gold chosen by Governor Kelly. The ceremony will take place in the rotunda of the Kansas Capitol building in Topeka and the governor is expected to deliver brief remarks.
The tree will remain up through the Christmas season and can be viewed by citizens during normal visiting hours.
A youth entrepreneurship competition is coming to Independence in February.
The Innovative Business Resource Center and Life Skills Academy will host the Youth Entrepreneur Challenge at Memorial Hall in Independence in February. The challenge invites students to pitch their business ideas and showcase them to the public in a trade show format. Students will also compete for $2,500 in cash prizes and receive guidance and mentoring through out the process of preparing for the challenge. The competition is open to all Montgomery County students in 7th through 12th grade. The business application deadline is February 17 and the challenge will take place on February 24th at the Civic Center. The challenge is free to enter for individuals or for teams of up to four students.
The Kansas highway Patrol reports only one fatal car accident over the Thanksgiving holiday.
That accident occurred in Finney County late on Thanksgiving night when a pedestrian was struck while walking along a roadway west of Garden City. The number of speeding citation was up slightly from last year with I,162 citations written. K-H-P also issued 28 child restraint citations and arrested 19 individuals suspected of D-U-I. Troopers were also called to provide assistance to 882 motorists.
The reporting period for the Thanksgiving holiday ran from 6pm on November 26 through midnight on Sunday. The complete report can be seen here.
Bartlesville Firefighters respond to a morning house fire in the 400 block of Creek Avenue. Deputy Fire Chief Barry Campbell says they got paged to the fire at 8:35am yesterday morning.
Fire crews also responded to an outdoor fire on Sunday on Princeton Drive and were able to extinguish the flames with only minor damage to the home. Campbell says during the colder months, firefighters respond to more house fires.
Campbell says residents should change batteries in their home's smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on a regular basis.
One person is dead and another seriously injured following a head-on crash in Allen County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened at around 5:30pm yesterday on Highway 169 about half a mile east of 1150th Street. KHP Troopers report a 2015 Ford F-150, driven by 58-year-old Jerri Linn Francis of Chanute, was traveling southbound when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a northbound 2019 GMC Sierra on the northbound shoulder.
Francis was pronounced dead at the scene and was taken to Countryside Funeral Home. The driver of the GMC, 19-year-old Charles Edward Rogers II of Iola, was transported to Wesley Medical Center with suspected serious injuries.
Local units respond to a structure fire in Fredonia.
Early this morning around 4 a.m., units from the Fredonia Fire Department and Wilson County Rural Fire responded to a structure fire within the city limits of Fredonia. An interior attack was made and units found a large fire and a collapsed roof. Units then began a defensive attack to protect surround structures. Occupants were able to get out safely. Firefighters will continue to check on the location today for hot spots.
Photo: Wilson County Rural Fire
A discussion item during last night's regular session meeting will lead to a special session of the Caney City Council tonight to approve an SRF loan for the water connection to the city of Coffeyville.
The most talked about option of three is the 20-year loan for $4.3 million at an interest rate of 3.1%. The first payment of the loan would not be due until 2029, and city officials say that time would be spent finding more state and federal grant funding to offset the cost of the project, as well as finding loans with lower interest rates to reduce costs associated with the loan.
Tonight's meeting is scheduled for 6:30 at the east entrance of City Hall, 100 West 4th Avenue in Caney.
A southeast Kansas woman involved in a June shooting at a Girard apartment complex will not see jail time for her role in the shooting.
41-year-old Demitra Durden reached a plea deal in connection with the shooting at the Maple Tree Apartments. She was sentenced to 18 months of probation in Crawford County. Durden pleaded no contest in October to one count of interfering with law enforcement.
When officers arrived, they found 36-year old Anaun Sams with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The three other suspects charged in this case, Rickey Burns, Sr., Rickey Burns, Jr., and Cody Hammonds, are all scheduled for court appearances this month.
Despite slowing down to very low speeds, multiple accidents were reported throughout southeast Kansas last night, as snow moved through the area, causing roads and bridges to freeze.
Multiple accidents occurred at the railroad overpass on U.S. 169 just south of the Coffeyville Municipal Airport, including a truck that ended up upside down between lanes of traffic.
The westbound lane of US 166 at the overpass just west of Coffeyville was closed for a time due to an accident. An accident was also reported in Independence at the railroad overpass on West Main, while multiple accidents were reported on U.S. 400 between the U.S. 75 Junction and Neodesha.
Highway officials remind residents that elevated surfaces will freeze sooner than highways, and they ask that motorists reduce speed and be aware of the presence of black ice during while traveling during winter weather events.
Those who receive KGGF text alerts were able to receive accident information first. To stay updated on severe weather and local traffic conditions, sign up for text alerts on our website, kggfradio.com, powered by Equity Bank.
The Parsons Area Community Foundation is hosting its match day during Giving Tuesday.
From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., donations will be accepted at the LCC Cardinal Event Center at 1306 Main Street in Parsons.
There are 24 different organizations and $40,000 in matching funds available. For a link to donate and check live totals throughout day, see this link.
After previously voting it down, the Cherryvale City Council approves an updated ordinance related to public nudity.
After it was added to last night's meeting agenda, council members approved the ordinance, which prohibits a person knowingly or intentionally being nude in public. City Attorney Seth Jones says he added language to account for individuals with mental illness.
Violation of the new ordinance will be a Class A misdemeanor.
A key player in a potential reconstruction of the Charlesworth Swimming Pool at Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville has backed out of the project.
At a special meeting of the USD 445 School Board on Monday, district leadership shared that the facilities services company, Navitas, informed the district that they would no longer be involved in the project after multiple remarks directed at them from the community group working to save the pool. Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll says this is unfortunate.
The pool is one of the only competition-size pools in the area, and was closed in February of 2024 when a filter failed. Structural issues were then discovered during the summer of 2024 when contractors went to set new air conditioners on the roof. Since then, significant community support has been shown, and a community group says they've raised the $1.6 million needed to add to the district's $800,000 to rebuild the roof.
Navitas has been involved with prior upgrade projects at the district, and Board Member Cindy Price says this news is disturbing and a setback to the project.
Price says this issue has been very taxing on her.
Price says she thinks part of the issue goes back to a bond that was not passed in 2020 that would have provided more money for projects like this. In addition, she called attention to the Concerned Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility, who were against tax increases for the district and circulated a petition to call for a vote on increasing the mill levy to pay for district repairs.
Board Member Darrel Harbaugh says it would be nice to fix the pool, but he has some concerns about the building going forward.
Harbaugh says if the pool is reopened, its use will remain the same unless something changes.
Board Member Matt Jordan says he feels like the school board is being portrayed as the villain in this story.
The board approved $800,000 that can be used either for rebuilding the pool or demolition. A new contractor will be needed to provide updated information regarding the cost to rebuild the roof now that Navitas is out of the picture. A decision on the fate of the pool is expected at the next school board meeting next Monday, December 8th at 4 p.m. at the district office.
Multiple accidents are being reported all over the KGGF listening area during the early evening.
The railroad overpass on U.S. 169 just south of the Coffeyville Municipal Airport is very slick, and multiple accidents have occurred at that location, including a truck that ended up upside down between lanes of traffic. Despite slowing down to very low speeds, vehicles continue to spin out of control.
The westbound lane of US 166 at the overpass just west of Coffeyville was closed as of 7 p.m. due to an accident.
An accident has also been reported in Independence at the railroad overpass on West Main.
Multiple accidents have been reported on U.S. 400 between the U.S. 75 Junction and Neodesha.
Use extreme caution if you must cross any elevated surfaces, and consider delaying travel if possible.
To stay updated on severe weather and local traffic conditions, sign up for KGGF text alerts HERE, powered by Equity Bank.
Photo: multi-vehicle accident on 166. Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography
Trout season is now officially open at LeClere Lake.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks started the 2025–2026 trout season, which will run through March 31st. Last week, LeClere Lake was stocked with 360 rainbow trout weighing almost 300 pounds. The fish were supplied by Crystal Lake Fisheries in preparation for the opening of the season.
For those planning to fish at LeClere Lake, a Kansas fishing license is required for residents ages 16 to 74 and for all non-residents age 16 and older. In addition, a trout permit is required from December 1st through March 31st to fish at the lake. Fishermen are reminded to check current trout limits, license requirements, and permit rules before heading out.
The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce cancels their monthly event for December.
The Chamber is canceling December's Business Over Breakfast, which was scheduled to take place Wednesday. Chamber President Candi Westbrook says with so many businesses working hard to wrap up the year, including the Chamber, they are pressing pause on this week’s event. She says December tends to be a busy month for everyone, sponsors, speakers and attendees, so they’re taking this time to allow you to focus on what matters most before year-end.
Westbrook reminds residents that the Chirstmas Cash giveaway is going on now and the Christmas Parade is this Friday. Business Over Breakfast will be back in the new year on January 7th.
The Coffeyville Friends of Animals Shelter are creating a new partnership with the City of Coffeyville. CFA Board Director Becky Barnhart says there has always been some partnership but it was very hands off.
City Manager Ben Brubaker says this partnership isn't the city taking over but enhancing what CFA already does. Barnhart says CFA is excited about this new partnership with the City.
Brubaker says one of the other things the City will be enhancing through this partnership is the dog licensing program. He says this should help with dogs who have gotten lost be returned to their rightful owners.
A fire in Diamond, Missouri Saturday afternoon damages a home and business, causing the closure of a highway.
A little before 4 p.m. Saturday, a fire was reported on the north side of town, along Highway 59. Firefighters arrived to both structures full engulfed in flames. Portion of the home and business were destroyed.
Highway 59 around the area had to be closed as firefighters used hydrants across the road to battle the blaze.
The Granby/East Newton and Neosho Rural Fire responded in assistance the Diamond Fire Department. Diamond Police, Newton County Ambulance and Newton County Deputies were also on scene.
No injuries were reported.
The city of Caney will receive an update on SRF funding for the Coffeyville supply line during tonight's regular session meeting.
Also on the agenda is discussion of the demolition of the structure at 203 North State Street, discuss of the third quarter treasury report and the Christmas parade route. The purchase of new Police vehicles in 2026 using capital outlay funds and the Planning and Zoning Board will also be discussed.
The Caney City Council meets on the east side of City Hall the 1st and 3rd Monday each month at 6:30. Tonight's meeting is also available to view on the KGGF Facebook page.
A four-year-old Afton girl dies after being shot in the chest with a handgun.
According to Afton Police Chief Earnie Shelby, officials believe the shooting was accidental, but the incident is under investigation.
Because of weather conditions, the girl had to be taken to a Miami hospital instead of the use of a life flight helicopter.
Afton Superintendent Jay Bowen says school and community counselors will be available to Afton students all week.
A man in Miami, OK, faces charges of stealing copper wire following a Thanksgiving morning arrest.
A Miami Police officer spotted 48-year-old Charles Reeves walking out of an alley way around 4:30 on Thanksgiving morning. The officer recognized Reeves as having an outstanding warrant and made contact with the suspect. During the arrest, officers found wire cutters, a folding saw, bolt cutters, and even tree-climbing gear with spikes. An investigation of the alley in which Reeves was discovered revealed a utility pole with a 70 to 80 foot section of utility cable hanging from it. Authorities say Reeves claimed he had used the equipment to trim some branches at home. Officers later discovered a burn pit with previously burned wire at his home.
Reeves was arrested on the outstanding warrant and also charges for copper theft, and theft of burglary tools and paraphernalia. He also remains a suspect in a previous copper-theft investigation.
The City of Coffeyville Cold Weather Rule goes into effect today.
The Cold Weather Rule is designed to help safeguard households during periods of freezing temperatures. 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.
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A discussion on public nudity is back on the agenda after a proposed ordinance was voted down at the last Cherryvale City Council Meeting.
Two individuals will speak on the issue at tonight's meeting. Nothing has changed regarding public nudity rules in Cherryvale after a proposed ordinance prohibiting it was tabled and eventually voted down by one vote. Also on the agenda is a resolution to approve next year's holiday calendar. There will also be a workshop for the comprehensive plan ahead of the meeting at 5 p.m. The regular meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Cherryvale City Hall, and the public is welcome to attend.
The Montgomery County Commission will meet today and approval of a resolution to set guidelines for the purchasing of equipment in online auction by Rural Fire is expected.
Rural Fire Chief Michael Smith addressed the commission at last week’s meeting about a resolution to allow his department to purchase equipment from online auctions without previous commission approval. The purpose of the proposed resolution is to establish purchasing limits and procedures on reputable online. County Administrator Jonathan Booe will present the Purchasing Resolution for commission approval.
Also on today’s agenda is a representative of Holmes-Murphy on insurance policies for county employees. County Appraiser Melody Kikkert will also be on hand to follow up on her report from last week.
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 Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Cash Giveaway continues now through December 17th.
Chamber Director Candi Westbrook says there will be at least $1,750 given away during the event that encourages local shopping.
Westbrook says the more businesses you shop at, the greater your chances are.
You can earn one entry for every $25 spent at a participating local business. A video with all the participating businesses listed is available on the Coffeyville Chamber Facebook page.
The first snowfall of the year for the area is expected today.
According to the National Weather Service, snow will spread eastward across the area this morning and afternoon. Peak snowfall for southeast Kansas will be between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Snow is expected to shift east into Missouri after 5 p.m.
A winter weather advisory has been issued for Sedgwick, Butler, Greenwood and Woodson Counties and areas to the north and west through 6 tonight. An advisory is also in place for most of northeast Oklahoma through noon.
Montgomery County and areas to the south will likely see less than an inch of snow. Accumulation is expected north of Eureka, where there could be between 1 and 2 inches of snow. North central Kansas is expected to receive up to 4 inches.
Labette County is encouraging residents to sign up for a new alerting platform after the previous one was compromised.
According to Labette County Emergency Management, the CodeRed alerting platform used by the County to send emergency alerts was recently compromised and has been discontinued. They have now fully transitioned to the OnSolve Crisis24 emergency alerting system.
Most existing subscriber data was safely transferred, including all registrations through March 2025.
A link to re-register is available HERE.
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