Today is all about spreading kindness and fostering community in Independence.

The annual Love Independence Day provides an excuse to give back and help others in the community.

Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says no act of kindness is too small.

Wilson says ideas for today include leaving a note for a coworker or neighbor, paying for someone's coffee or meal, holding the door open, picking up litter, or just sharing a compliment. While there will be several organized projects in Independence, Wilson hopes that people in other cities will be inspired to spread kindness today as well.

Severe weather is possible this weekend for the four-state area.

For Saturday, the best chances for severe weather will be south of Tulsa, with all modes of severe weather possible. Much of the KGGF listening area, including southeast Kansas, has at least a “slight” risk of severe weather. The strongest storms are mainly possible between 4 p.m. and midnight, with timing expected a little later for northeast Oklahoma.

For Sunday, there is a greater chance of severe weather for Kansas, although the forecast remains highly dependent on the timing of the weather and the condition of the atmosphere tomorrow afternoon. Storms are expected to develop over western Kansas and track northeast, with timing mainly expected after dark. Stay tuned to KGGF for additional updates and severe weather coverage if needed.

Changes are coming to a local newspaper.

Coming up next Saturday, the Wilson County Citizen building will be sold along with its contents, but the paper will continue operation.

Sun Group Auctioneer Keith Beaumont will be performing the auction and says there are a lot of antiques in the sale.

Beaumont says there will be a familiar car as part of the auction.

According to the Citizen, the paper's number will remain the same and publication will continue as normal. Employees will be working out of their homes instead of the office. The sale will be Saturday, May 2^nd at 9 a.m. at 406 N 7^th in Fredonia. A link to the sale bill is available HERE.  The Citizen has been in operation for 156 years.

The Coffeyville Police Department steps up police presence in the search for impaired drivers.

Officers increased patrols on Monday night, with a special emphasis on finding drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Between 8pm and midnight on Monday, Coffeyville Police made a total of 33 traffic stops. No impaired drivers were found, though officers did issue 30 traffic warnings and 6 traffic citations. Officers arrested 6 individuals for possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, outstanding warrants, driving without a license, and driving while suspended or revoked.

The program was funded by a grant awarded to the Coffeyville Police Department by the Kansas Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in an effort to keep impaired drivers off of Kansas streets and highways.

Residents of Enid are cleaning up after a tornado injures at least 10 and causes damage at Vance Air Force Base.

An Enid Resident tells FOX 25 in Oklahoma City what he saw when the storm started to form.

A relief center volunteer says there's been a lot of damage from the storm.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Still says he's spoken with Enid's local leaders and will continue working with them as they assess the damage and identify needs. A tornado emergency was issued yesterday as the storm came through town.

The Independence City Commission considers a change to city policy on sidewalks.

At Thursday night's meeting, commissioners discussed a citizen complaint about a broken sidewalk in the 400 block of South Penn Avenue. The complaint came from a resident who uses a motorized scooter and had an accident while driving on the sidewalk, claiming that the route was not in compliance with the American s with Disabilities Act. City policy has long been that homeowners are responsible for the repair of the sidewalk in front of their homes. However, the City recommended the condemnation of non-compliant sidewalks with the City providing a cost-share initiative in which the City would cover 50% of the cost. Commissioner Scott Smith says he has no problem with changing the city's policy.

Mayor Dean Hayse says the City should proceed with caution due to the issue of unforeseen consequences.

The commission tabled the issue until the May 14^th meeting.

The Neodesha City Commission discusses the issue of late-arriving City utility bills.

At this week's meeting, Mayor Devin Johnson raised the issue of city utility customers receiving their bills late, sometimes after the past due date. Commissioner Duane Banzet says he's had similar issues.

Commissioners held a lengthy discussion on the matter. Part of the problem was identified as the way the U.S. Postal Service handles postcard billing and where mail from Neodesha is sorted. Neodesha's mail is transported to Kansas City for sorting instead of Wichita, which can extend the time it takes to arrive at its destination. The City has also recently switched billing software and is still working out the kinks in the new system. Banzet says the City may need to pursue other options in the near future.

In the meantime, any citizens who receive their bills late should contact the City.

The Kansas Department of Transportation announces an extension of the project on the railroad overpass in Coffeyville.

KDOT says the work schedule for repairing and improving the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad bridge over 11^th Street in Coffeyville has been extended for up to two more weeks. The completion date is now set for mid-May, weather permitting. Work will continue to take place on the weekends, with a detour in place. 11^th Street will remain open during the week.

The crash of a small airplne near Chanute leaves two people injured.

The accident that injured the pilot and a passenger in a fixed wing single engine aircraft occurred just before 3pm on Thursday. The pilot – identified as 43-year-old John Von Fange of South Carolina – lost engine function while in the air just southwest of Chanute and attempted an emergency landing at the Chanute Airport. Due to cloud cover, Von Fange missed his approach and opted to land in a nearby field instead. The aircraft went into a nose dive as it crossed US-169 north of the City and flipped, landing on its top. The plane slid as it hit the ground, causing the plane to flip again into an upright position.

A passing motorist witnessed the crash and drove through a fence, into the field, using his vehicle to stop the plane. The aircraft then flipped a third time before coming to rest in a line of trees near the intersection of US-169 and 240^th Road.

Von Fange and his passenger were both treated for minor injuries at Neosho Memorial Hospital. The driver of the car was uninjured.

Thunderstorms yesterday caused at least one confirmed tornado northwest of Emporia, bringing damage to the area.

The National Weather Service plans to survey damage tracks today. KVOE Radio in Emporia reports that a cluster of storms crossed over Lake Kahola early in the evening, dropping a tornado that damaged at least 13 units, damaged an Airbnb, demolished four garages and flipped four boats. No injuries were reported.

Tornado touchdowns were also reported near Dunlap and Bushong. It is too early to say whether those were the same tornado or different ones.

Storms also brought heavy rain and was responsible for egg to baseball-size hail in Marion County.

Photo: Chase County Sheriff's Office

Two students at the Coffeyville Community College Technical Campus earn top honors at a recent state competition.

The students competed at the Kansas SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference. Rylan Allen of Neodesha took first place and a gold medal in the individual carpentry competition. Fellow student Isaiah Webster of Caney Valley High School earned second place and a silver medal. Both are students in CCC's Construction Technology program.

The individual carpentry contest challenged students to build a framed structure based on plans provided shortly before the competition began. Competitors were evaluated on measurements, accuracy, craftsmanship, safety, and a written knowledge assessment.

Allen’s first-place finish qualifies him to represent Kansas at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference that will take place in early June in Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to the student honors, Coffeyville Community College also received the SkillsUSA Quality Chapter Award, earning bronze recognition for growth and increased participation in SkillsUSA activities.

Photo Construction Technology program instructor Clint West (l) and Rylan Allen (r)

The Kansas Department of Labor announces it will begin sending out notices of benefit overpayment as part of a modernization of the Unemployment Insurance system.

Overpayment occurs when individuals receive more unemployment benefits than they are eligible to receive.  State officials say this can be caused by a variety of reasons, including changes in eligibility, reporting discrepancies, or claim adjustments. Many of these overpayments are tied to historic claims, including benefits issued during pandemic-era programs or due to limitations in the previous system.  Recipients receiving notices from the state have previously been notified of the overpayment through a manual process.

Those who receive a notice of overpayment have several options, including paying the balance in full, establishing a repayment plan, or requesting a waiver. Anyone in need of assistance with overpayments should contact the KDOL.

For assistance with overpayments, contact KDOL at (785) 296-3609, visit dol.ks.gov/unemployment/overpayments, or email KDOL.repayagree@ks.gov.

###

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for Bourbon County RWD #2C.

The original advisory was issued on April 15^th because of possible contamination due to a water line break. Laboratory testing of the Bourbon County RWD #2C water supply showed no contamination and the K-D-H-E has determined that all conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.

The Boil Water Advisory is still in effect for the City of Uniontown public water supply system.

The Caney City Council is looking for a new member.

The Council is currently looking to fill a vacant seat for Ward 2. To be considered for the seat, individuals must be a Ward 2 registered voter. Interested parties should contact Caney Mayor Josh Elliott as soon as possible.

A Pittsburg man is seriously injured after being struck by a train.

The accident occurred Wednesday morning just before 4am when 33-year-old Dorian Rossback was struck by a train from the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad line near Jefferson and Stillwell Streets in Pittsburg. Rossback received severe injuries during the accident, and was taken to Joplin's Freeman Hospital for treatment. He was listed in stable condition and is expected to recover.

There were no other injuries reported.

Wilson County Rural Fire responds to a call of an ATV in flames.

Fire crews were called to the scene just north of Fredonia around 1:15 Wednesday morning. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. The ATV was a total loss, but no injuries were reported.

Photo courtesy Wilson County Rural Fire

The 43^rd Annual William Inge Theatre Festival continues today in Independence.

Today's events include a Director's Cut performance at ICC and the Inge Lecture at the ICC Library at Noon. New Play Lab Readings will take place at noon and 2:30. The highlight of the evening will be a performance of the play Living Dead in Denmark at 7pm at the Inge Theater. The play is an action-horror sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet, where a zombified King returns to reclaim his throne five years later.

All events are free to attend. The Inge Festival concludes tomorrow.

Area farmers' markets will get underway soon.

Most area markets start for the season next weekend, but today, there will be an early edition of the Fredonia Farmer's Market from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 402 N 8^th St.

Current and potential vendors are encouraged to set up at the market, and new vendors will receive an information packet. Only homemade or value-added products within a 50-mile radius of Fredonia are allowed.

The Coffeyville Police Department is hosting a drug take back event this weekend.

Police Chief Kwin Bromley says unused medication can be dropped off at the station.  Bromley says people may not realize how many unused medications the or someone they know might have.

The event is tomorrow from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Independence residents are also able to drop off old medicines in the lobby of the Independence Police Department. Enter through the doors on the south side of City Hall.

***** Update 10 p.m. *****

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the four-state area through 4 a.m.

IN ARKANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 4 COUNTIES

IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

BENTON                CARROLL               MADISON              
WASHINGTON AR         

IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 15 COUNTIES

IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

CHEROKEE              MUSKOGEE              OKFUSKEE             

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

ADAIR                 CRAIG                 CREEK                
DELAWARE              MAYES                 NOWATA               
OKMULGEE              OTTAWA                ROGERS               
TULSA                 WAGONER               WASHINGTON OK        

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BARTLESVILLE, BENTONVILLE, 
BERRYVILLE, CLAREMORE, EUREKA SPRINGS, FAYETTEVILLE, GROVE, 
HUNTSVILLE, JAY, MIAMI, MUSKOGEE, NOWATA, OKEMAH, OKMULGEE, 
PRYOR, ROGERS, SAPULPA, SPRINGDALE, STILWELL, TAHLEQUAH, TULSA, 
VINITA, AND WAGONER.

***** Update 9 p.m. *****

The tornado watch for southeast Kansas has now been extended until 11 p.m. for the following counties:

Butler, Cowley, Allen, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Wilson, Woodson.

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ANDOVER, ARKANSAS CITY, AUGUSTA,
CEDAR VALE, EL DORADO, EUREKA, FREDONIA, GRENOLA, HOWARD,
HUMBOLDT, IOLA, LONGTON, MADISON, MOLINE, NEODESHA, ROSE HILL,
SEDAN, WINFIELD, AND YATES CENTER.

***** Update 6 p.m. *****

A tornado watch is now in effect for Osage county in Oklahoma and areas to the west through 11 p.m.

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

After a break in the weather, severe storm chances are once again possible for the area tonight.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch through 9 p.m. for counties in Kansas along the state line, including Chautauqua and areas to the north and west.  Wilson County is also included in the watch, although Montgomery County is not. 

Storms are expected to develop between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m., with timing for southeast Kansas largely expected between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m.  Up to 2 inch hail, 60-70 mph winds and a few tornadoes are all possible.  Stay tuned to KGGF for additional severe weather updates if needed.

The suspect in a Monday morning shooting in Dewey makes his first court appearance.

20-year-old Stephan Tre Powell, of Dewey, made an appearance in Washington County District Court in Bartlesville on Wednesday afternoon. Powell was arrested on Monday after reportedly shooting 20-year-old Chance Smith.

Powell has a bond set in the amount of $200,000 and will possibly face felony charges in the case during his next court appearance on Friday.

A convicted sex offender is facing additional felony charges in Oklahoma.

48-year-old Bradley Fluegel, of Sedan, was charged yesterday (on Wednesday) in Washington County with failing to register as a sex offender and entering a safety zone around a park as a sex offender.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Fluegel was allegedly residing in a tent near a park area. Authorities approached Fluegel and discovered he was registered in Kansas as a level three aggravated sex offender in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Fluegel was allegedly not registered in Oklahoma.

Fluegel will appear in court again on May 1^st. His bond is set at $50,000.

A Washington County jury awards a woman more than $2.7 million in damages after she fell from a stage during a ceremony at a Bartlesville hotel.

Plaintiff Tina Greer was inducted into the Bartlesville Sports Commission Hall of Fame during an event at Hilton Garden Inn in 2022. While Greer was being inducted along with her teammates from the 1982 College High School softball team, she reportedly stepped backward and fell off the stage. The fall resulted in a complex leg fracture just above Greer's ankle.

Attorneys representing Greer filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging negligence against the Bartlesville Sports Commission, the Hilton Garden Inn and a vendor who installed the stage and back curtain. The sports commission and the vendor were later dropped from the lawsuit.

Following a March 2026 trial, jurors found the hotel was negligent, resulting in a $2.6 million award for actual damages  and $150,000 in punitive damages. The case had been sealed from public view until recently. The damage award is the largest tort judgment in Washington County history.

Attorneys representing the Hilton Garden Inn filed a motion this week, requesting a new trial. They claim Greer's attorneys made prejudicial statements, which tainted the case. They also claim jury misconduct, as one of the jurors may have personally known Greer.

The court has not yet ruled on granting a new trial, a move that would vacate the damage award.

The proposed sports betting bill in the Oklahoma legislature fails to pass the Senate.

The proposed bill failed to pass on Wednesday by a 27-21 vote. House Bill 1047, proposed by Representative Ken Lutrell and Senator Bill Coleman, would have authorized in-person wagering at tribal casinos and created a framework for legal sports betting in Oklahoma. The measure has gained support from state universities, a supermajority of tribes with the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The bill needs just four more votes to pass legislation. The bills' authors Lutrell and Coleman have announced a plan to move forward with a new version of the bill. Senator Coleman has captured the bill, meaning he has three days to reconsider the vote.

Oklahoma is one of 11 states without mobile or in-person sports betting.

The Sedan City Council chooses a new bank for certificates of deposit held by the City.

At this week's meeting council members had offers from two area banks. Mayor Kathy Miller opens the bids and shares the rates during the open meeting.

Council member Angela Evans says the decision is easy to make.

The council voted unanimously to move all seven of the City's CDs to Howard State Bank for the next year.

In other business, the council approved an agreement with the Sedan Fire Department to allow for the filling of their water trucks from City hydrants and tabled a motion regarding the fish feeders at the City lakes until the May 5^th meeting.

The Coffeyville Police Department will be taking part in the 30^th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday.

This nation-wide event allows citizens to dispose of both prescription and over-the-counter tablets, capsules and patches. Coffeyville Chamber President Candi Westbrook says it's the best way to get rid of old medicine.

This free event allows for the disposal of medications safely and anonymously. Westbrook says, if you can't make it this weekend, you can still safely get rid of medications.

Medications can be dropped off at the Coffeyville Police Department on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. For other collections sites, visit DEATakeBack.com

The Independence City Commission will hear the results of a recent community survey at tonight's regular meeting.

Mackey Smith with Vickrey Leadership Solutions will attend tonight's meeting virtually to review feedback from focus groups and the recent citizen survey as part of the preparation for the City's Community-Based Strategic Plan. Commissioners will also discuss the approval of a 20 minute parking stall in the 300 block of East Main and will consider an ADA complaint related to accessibility access regarding a sidewalk on South Penn. The City will also administer the swearing in of two new police officers.

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

A Galena man is arrested and faces charges of possessing child pornography.

According to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, on April 15^th deputies received a tip from another law enforcement agency that a child in Cherokee County was being solicited by an adult male. During the investigations of the allegations, detectives identified a 20-year-old suspect and obatinaed a search warrant for a Galena residence in relation to the case. The suspect – Jason Curtis Long of Galena – was arrested and faces charges of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Exploitation of a Child, and Internet Trading of Child Pornography.

Long is currently being held in the Cherokee County Jail in Columbus, where he awaits formal charging in the case.

The Neodesha City Commission will meet today to entertain a light agenda.

Up for discussion at this afternoon's meeting will be the appointment of a 31^st Judicial Representative, the hours of operation of the City Pool, a proclamation for National Volunteer Fire Week and the yard abatement. Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at the Neodesha City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

UPDATE: According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the driver of the semi - 43-year-old Eleni Tenaya of Hurst, TX - failed to obey a traffic sign for no through traffic and drove off the roadway to the right. Tenaya then overcorrected and overturned the semi, blocking both the northbound and southbound lanes of K-7. Tenaya and a passenger in her truck both sustained minor injuries and were treated at a Girard hospital.

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office reports a semi truck has overturned on K-7 just north of Girard.

The incident occurred around 7am this morning. Emergency crews are on the scene and the road currently appears to be closed. Drivers should find an alternate route.

Authorities have not yet released any information on the status of the driver.

Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriff's Office

Two men are in custody in western Kansas following a violent assault.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Wichita Police Department have arrested 31-year-old Colin M. Welch and 54-year-old Jeffrey T. Diederich, both of Wichita, in connection to an incident that occurred last December in Edwards County City of Belpre.

The two are charged in a sexual assault and battery of an adult victim. Welch faces charges of  attempted first-degree murder, rape, aggravated battery and criminal threat, while Diederich has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder.

Both suspects were booked into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility.

Photo: Colin M. Welch (left), Jeffrey T. Diederich? (right)

The victim in a Monday morning shooting in Dewey is identified.

Dewey Police have identified the victim as 20-year-old Chance Smith. Police officers discovered Smith suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Monday morning when they responded to a report of gunfire near the intersection of 9^th Street and Creek Avenue. Smith was transported by Bartlesville EMS to Jane Phillips Medical Center and later transferred to a hospital in Tulsa for surgery. He is currently recovering from his injuries.

Police have arrested a suspect in the case.  20-year-old Stephan Tre Powell of Bartlesville is currently being held in the Washington County Correctional Facility on charges of shooting with intent to kill, reckless conduct with a firearm and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. Police have not identified a motive in the shooting.

The Independence Historical Museum and Arts Center Singers have been practicing this spring in preparation for tonight's concert.

The volunteer choir will perform modern songs that the audience will recognize and enjoy. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the group has put a lot of effort into their music.

The IHMAC singers will perform tonight at 7pm at the museum, located at 123 North 8^th Street. Admission is free.

The Nowata County Commission considers roads and compensation in districts two and three at this week's meeting.

Commissioners tabled the county certification map and county action report due to confusion of compensation regarding roads in those districts. Commissioner Brandon Wesson discusses the issue with Commissioner Troy Friddle.

Commissioners also reviewed a section of the county's road use agreement. No action was taken.

In other business, the board approved an area permission letter from Nowata EMS but dropped a proclamation from the same entity. Nowata EMS was seeking to be the sole provider for emergency medical services for the county, the item was dropped from the agenda.

The commissioners also approved a revised version of the county's drug and alcohol testing policy. The Nowata County Commission meets every Monday morning at the Nowata County Annex in downtown Nowata.

The Parsons City Commission gives its approval to increased funding for a local charitable house painting group.

At this week's meeting, commissioners heard from Doug Baty with Paint Parsons. The group is a community volunteer project that provides exterior home painting for elderly, disabled, and low-income residents. Baty told the commission that rising costs have increased the need for more funding to be able to complete their projects. He says the group has done this many times before in Parsons.

Commissioners gave the group $8,000 in funding the last time a request was made. However, Baty stated that the group now needed a total of $25,000 to complete its work. Commissioner Tom Shaw says he thinks a increase in funding is in order.

The Commission approved an expenditure of $12,000 to support the work of Paint Parsons.

A road construction project by the Kansas Department of Transportation begins on K-99 in Elk and Greenwood counties.

A surface recycle and chip seal pavement project is underway on K-99 between US-400 and Moline. Road crews will conduct the project in small sections along the roadway and will restrict the driving lane to 11 feet in the work zone.

Flaggers and a pilot car will guide travelers where crews are actively working. Travelers can expect brief delays of up to 10 minutes. The highway will reopen to traffic after the workdays conclude. The project is expected to be complete by mid-June.

For current road conditions, visit kandrive.gov or call 5-1-1.

The Coffeyville City Commission will begin a discussion on water rates and the future of the City's water system at next week's commission meeting. 

Over the past year, the City of Coffeyville has been examining the costs associated with the treatment of the water supply and the way that resource is delivered to customers. The purpose of next week's meeting will be to provide information to the public on options the City may take on the issue while allowing community members to voice their thoughts on the matter.

Discussion topics will include the current condition of Coffeyville’s water infrastructure, long-term system needs, and the financial considerations required to continue providing safe, dependable water to residents and businesses. Like many communities, Coffeyville faces increasing costs tied to aging infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and day-to-day operations.

Next week's meeting will be held on Tuesday night at 6:30pm. The public is invited to attend the meeting in person at City Hall to be part of the the discussion. The meeting is also available to view online for those who cannot attend but who want to hear what City leaders have to say on the subject.

Coffeyville's Municipal Airport is set to receive state funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation Division of Aviation for improvements at the City's airfield.

Coffeyville has been awarded nearly $400,000 through a Kansas Airport Improvement Program grant. The money will be earmarked to reconstruct the pavement on the hanger approach. Governor Laura Kelly announced the grants yesterday (on Tuesday) as part of $18.3 million in funding for 53 airport projects across the state in an effort to improve the state's aviation network.

Other southeast Kansas airports receiving funding through the program include the Parsons Tri-CIty Airport that will receive just over $500,000 for a taxiway project and the Oswego Municipal Airport, which will get $270,000 for runway preservation. Airports in Chanute and Eureka will also receive grant money for airports in those cities.

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development announces $16.3 million in new grant funding is now available to assist in building networks in rural parts of the state.

The funding comes from the Broadband Acceleration Grant or BAG program through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program. The BAG program aims to provide high-quality, reliable broadband access throughout the state, prioritizing unserved areas, economically distressed communities and areas of compelling need.

Since the program was launched in 2020, Kansas has invested $31.3 million in broadband grants to communities and businesses across the state. Over the last five years, high-speed internet has been delivered to more than 12,000 homes and businesses in 37 counties. The effort also relies on contributions from local communities through an additional $38 million in matching funds.

The state will accept applications for the grant from April 27 through June 12.

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

The original advisory was issued on April 18^th  because of possible contamination due to a waterline break. Laboratory testing of the City of Fort Scott water supply showed no contamination and the K-D-H-E has determined that all conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.

The boil water advisory remains in effect for Bourbon County RWD #2C and the City of Uniontown.

An Oklahoma Sheriff's Deputy is killed in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect.

LeFlore County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas ‘Walker’ LeMay was killed Sunday during a police standoff that began as a welfare check. Authorities say multiple agencies were called to a property near the City of Wister around 11am on Sunday morning. As officers approached the residence, the suspect opened fire, striking both LeMay and a Wister police officer. LeMay was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the injured officer was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is expected to recover from his wounds.

The alleged shooter later surrendered to police and has been identified as 36-year-old Edgar Lara. He is currently being held I n the LeFlore County Jail in Poteau.

A suspect in a Monday morning shooting in Dewey is in custody.

According to Dewey Police Chief Jimmy Gray, the shooting was reported just before 6am yesterday morning, when Bartlesville dispatch received multiple calls of gunfire near Ninth Street and Creek Avenue in Dewey. An officer responding to the scene found several people in the street, including a man with multiple gunshot wounds, The victim was transported by Bartlesville EMS to Jane Phillips Medical Center and later transferred to a hospital in Tulsa for surgery.

The suspect in the case was later identified as 20-year-old Stephan Tre Powell of Bartlesville. Powell was arrested yesterday afternoon and  is currently being held in the Washington County Jail on charges of shooting with intent to kill, reckless conduct with a firearm and possession of a firearm while committing a felony.

Independence Community College launches a new internship program for students.

At last night's Board of Trustees meeting, Senior Internship Program Developer Whitney Lanning explained the program for trustees. The program is funded through an Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity or EPIIC grant through the National Science Foundation. Lanning says interested students must meet several requirements for the program.

Lanning says another part of the program is to build relationships in the community.

The program launched in March and has already received several applications from students. The college hopes to use the internship program to help students explore actual work environments and to develop business contacts in their chosen fields of study.

The Humanities Project from Coffeyville Community College  welcomes singer/songwriter Aspen Black to the Spencer Rounds Theater.

Black is a singer/songwriter, cowgirl poet, multi-instrumentalist, educator, author, artist, and award-winning horse woman. Her Eastern Western Cowgirl CD won the 2015 Rural Roots Music Commission Female Country-Western CD of the Year. Black is a Top-Five finalist for Western Music Association Female Poet of the Year, a Top-Five finalist for W-M-A Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year, a Top-Five finalist for W-M-A Poetry Book of the Year, and overall winner of the singing contest at the 2016 National Traditional Country Music Association Festival.

Black will perform tonight at 6:30 in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC campus.

Baseball fans can get enjoy a Saturday full of fun and history this weekend in Independence.

The Independence Chamber is sponsoring a celebration of the 96^th anniversary of the first game played under lights in organized baseball played at Shulthis Stadium in Independence. Events begin at 9:30 at Riverside Park with a baseball hike along the Verdigris Vista Trail . There will also be a Basebal History Walk at 10:30 at Shulthis Stadium. From 11 to 1, attendees can enjoy free rides on the train and the carousel as well a free mini golf and face painting.

At 12:30, local historian Ken Brown will present a discussion of the link between the City of Independence and America's pastime at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center.

It all happens Saturday in Independence.

Additionally, today at 4:15 there will also be a special first pitch ceremony before the Baseball game between IHS and Fort Scott at the Central Park Sports Complex.

A Columbus man is in custody following the service of a search warrant in Cherokee County.

Police arrested 38-year-old Michael Swain on Monday following the service of a search warrant on his residence in rural Cherokee County near Columbus. The warrant was part of an ongoing narcotics investigation that led Cherokee County detectives to discover methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia at the residence.

Swain has been booked into the Cherokee County Jail in Columbus where he faces charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Aggravated Endangerment of a Child.

The Sedan City Council will meet tonight and continue the discussion on CDs for city finances and the City bulk water station.

On the agenda for old business is the bid opening from banks for CDs and an update on the bulk water station. The water station has had a leaky valve that the City has been making an effort to replace. Other items of old business include a firearm policy for retiring police officers, the fire department's use of hydrants, and lake feeders. Council members will also hear the March financial reports and consider a memo of understanding with USD 268 and the Sedan Recreation Committee.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Sedan City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and is also available for online viewing via the City's Facebook page.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a Do Not Drink Warning for the City of Sylvia public water supply system located in Reno County.

KDHE officials issued the advisory on April 17 because of a loss of pressure due to a water line break.

Customers should not drink water, or use it to prepare food or adults, chirldren or infants. Due to the presence of nitrates in the water, even boiled water is not safe to consume. Water is safe for bathing and flushing toilets.

This warning for the City of Sylvia will remain in effect until further notice.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon Co RWD #2C, and City of Uniontown public water supply systems located in Bourbon County.

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

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

KDHE officials issued the advisory on April 18 because of a loss of pressure due to a water line break.

 The advisory will remain in effect until further notice. This advisory does not affect those customers of city of Fulton nor those of city of Prescott.

The Montgomery County Commission considers the establishment of a County Equipment Reserve Fund to pay for major purchases.

At yesterday’s meeting, County Administrator Jonathan Booe proposed establishing the fund that would move unused, budgeted money not spent during the fiscal year into the account designated for future use. The money in this fund would not be levied. Commissioner Robert Bever says it seems like just moving the money around.

Booe told the commission that both Public Works and Rural Fire already have separate funds that work this way. He says, from an accounting perspective, the money is spent.

Commissioner Mike Cordray says the fund would allow all departments to make large purchases without being an extra burden on county taxpayers.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the establishment of the County Equipment Reserve Fund.

In other business, commissioners received the bids for two firms interested in developing the County Comprehensive plan and Zoning regluations. No action was taken in awarding the contract this week to allow commissioners time to review the details of the proposals.

The Independence Community College Board of Trustees will meet tonight for their regular monthly meeting.

Trustees have been at work over the past weeks in their search for a new president for the school. The selection committee has narrowed the field of candidates to three people: Dr. Richard DeShields, Dr. Isaias McCaffery and James P. Arnold. The finalists will visit campus during the next few weeks and will attend meet-and-greet events during those visits with the first event slated for this Thursday at 11:30am at the ICC Fab Lab.

At tonight's meeting, trustees are expected to entertain an agenda with the usual slate of school business.

The meeting begins at 5:30 tonight in room 104 of the Fab Lab building. The meeting is open to the public.

Two men are seriously injured in a Sunday night crash in Cherokee County.

The accident occurred around 10:15 last night on K-7, just south of the City of Scammon. 50-year-old Larry Overman of McCune was attempting a left turn off of K-7 into a private driveway when he failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Overman's Toyota Tacoma pickup truck collided with a 2009 Totyota Camry driven by 20-year-old Trey Daniels of Morris, Oklahoma.

Both men were taken to Joplin's Freeman Hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

A new U.S. Army munitions plant is expected to bring new jobs to southeast Kansas.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted in Parsons earlier this month by Major General John T. Reim with plans to produce around 100,000 artillery shells every month. The new $36 million investment by the Army is aimed at strengthening the nation's ammunition supply, by expanding production capacity and improving supply chain resilience.

The plant was built via a partnership with the Philadelphia-based firm Day & Zimmerman and signifies the 13^th production or modernization ribbon-cutting in the service's expansion campaign. The new facility is expected to bring around 200 jobs to the Parsons area as production scales up.

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

The original advisory was issued on April 15^th  because of possible contamination due to a loss of pressure in the system. Laboratory testing of the City of Humboldt water supply showed no contamination and the K-D-H-E has determined that all conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.

The City of Independence along with USD 446 is partnering with several local organizations to celebrate Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie.

The celebration takes place tomorrow afternoon just prior to the baseball game between IHS and Fort Scott. Craig Null with Celebrate Independence – America 250 says the celebration will honor the City’s rich baseball tradition.

The three baseball players with ties to Independence who will be honored are: Jerry Webster, (who played minor league ball for the Dodgers), George “Rusty” Burns, a 1936 graduate of IHS who had a very promising career that was put on hold by World War II, and Toby Cook, another IHS graduate who spent 14 years as Vice-President of Community Affairs and Publicity for the Royals. Null says the purpose of the ceremony is to honor the City’s connection to America’s pastime.

The ceremony begins at 4:12 tomorrow at Crossland Field at the Central Park Sports Complex in Independence.

A Bourbon County Commissioner is facing two misdemeanor charges in connection to an incident that occurred on October 25 during early voting for the 2025 election.

Mika Milburn-Kee has been charged in Bourbon County with one count of interference with the conduct of public business in public buildings and one count of disorderly election conduct. Milburn-Kee was running for office at the time the incident occurred. According to witness statements, on that day, she entered the office of a county official and refused to leave. She is also accused of standing closer than three feet to a table being used by the election board without permission or authority.

Milburn-Kee will face the charges in court of April 29.

The Caney City Council is set to meet tonight with several annual spring time items on the agenda.

Council members are expected to approve the applications for cereal malt beverage licenses for the Fourth & Live concert and for Mayfest. They will also discuss the dates for the upcoming city-wide yard sale. Council members will receive a quarterly progress report on the C-D-B-G Housing Revitalization Grant and discuss and consider the sale of the State Street shop.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:30. Members of the public who wish to attend are asked to enter City Hall on the east end of the building.

Crews from several area fire departments respond to a structure fire in the City of South Mound.

Crews from the Galesburg Fire Department and the Saint Paul Mission Township Fire Department were called to a report of a house fire on Saturday in South Mound, or about 7 miles northeast of Parsons. Upon arrival, firefighters found a two story house with smoke and flames visible. Crews worked quickly and were able to extinguish the blaze. The structure sustained significant damage, but no injuries were reported.

Photo courtesy Galesburg Fire Department

The City of Coffeyville is looking for volunteers to help with tomorrow's Streambank Clean-Up at LeClere Park.

The event is an opportunity for residents, families, and local organizations to come together and help protect the City’s waterways while keeping one of Coffeyville’s most loved parks clean and enjoyable for everyone.

Supplies will be provided by the City and volunteers can come and go as needed. Streambank clean-ups play an important role in protecting water quality, preventing pollution, and preserving the natural beauty of Coffeyville’s outdoor spaces.

Clean-up begins at 1pm tomorrow. Volunteers are asked to meet in the main parking lot, located on the south side of the park.

The Girard Public Library will be hosting a presentation on coins this afternoon, April 20.

The workshop is called Common Cents and will be given by coin collector and appraiser Dave Sorrick, who runs In God We Trust, LLC, in Mindenmines, Missouri. Attendees will learn how to sort coins like a dealer and get tips on how to profit from current trends in Lincoln cents as well as other hard U.S. currency. Collectors are invited to bring their collections and have them sorted by denomination.

The hour-long workshop will begin this afternoon at 1:30 at the Girard Public Library.

The City of Sedan announces the hiring of a new police chief.

The City has named William Tunstall as their new chief of police. He takes over for former chief, Kirk Richardson, who announced his retirement in February. Tunstall was sworn in during a Saturday afternoon ceremony at the Sedan City Hall.

Outside of law enforcement, Tunstall has been a basketball official at the high school and collegiate level. He also helped voice Field Kindley High School football and basketball games on KQQF from 2022-2024. KGGF will have an exclusive interview with Chief Tunstall coming up this week.

The Montgomery County Commission will hear details on the Requests for Proposals for two projects the county is pursuing.

At today’s meeting, County Administrator Jonathan Booe and Assistant County Administrator Kory White will be joined by Environmental and Zoning Director Matt Debo to review the RFPs for the Comprehensive Plan & County-Wide Zoning regulations. The County will look to select a planning consultant firm that will design the new regulations. County Appraiser Melody Kikkert will also be on hand to review RFPs for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geospatial Services. Booe will also discuss a resolution to create a County Equipment Reserve Fund for the purpose of funding the acquisition of Equipment and vehicles as well as technology supplies such as computers and software.

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 City of Sedan announces the hiring of a new police chief.

The City has named William Tunstall as their new chief of police. He takes over for former chief, Kirk Richardson, who announced his retirement in February. Tunstall brings a number of years of experience in law enforcement. He started in 2008 with the Coffeyville Police Department, then in 2010 he joined the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office until 2022. He joined the 14^th Judicial District as a Court Services Officer before taking on a role as a Parole Officer with the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Outside of law enforcement, Tunstall has been a basketball official at the high school and collegiate level. He also helped voice Field Kindley High School football and basketball games on KQQF from 2022-2024. KGGF will have an exclusive interview with Chief Tunstall coming up next week.

Independence Community College announces three finalists in its search for the school’s next president. Following a national search, the candidates include Dr. Richard DeShields, Dr. Isaias McCaffery and James P. Arnold.

Dr. DeShields brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education and currently serves as Vice President of Student Engagement, Athletics and Auxiliary Services at Miles Community College. Dr. McCaffery is a longtime ICC professor, with more than 25 years of experience at the college and a background in academic leadership and faculty service. He was also recently elected to the ICC Board of Trustees. Arnold currently serves as Vice President of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Athletics at Columbia College, where he oversees multiple departments and focuses on enrollment growth and student retention.

ICC says the finalists were selected for their experience in higher education leadership, student success and community engagement. The finalists will visit campus April 23^rd, April 30^th, and May 7^th, with community meet-and-greet events set for 11:30am in the Fab Lab on each date. ICC says selecting the next president will help shape the future direction of the institution.

The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce invites the public to a Legislative Wrap-Up event on Monday, May 19th.

The event begins at 5:30pm at Coffeyville Reawakening, located at 115 West 9th Street.  State Senator Virgil Peck and State Representative Ron Bryce will provide a recap of the 2026 Kansas legislative session.  The update will cover key decisions, policies and legislation that could impact local businesses and the Coffeyville community.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a Q-and-A session with both lawmakers.  

Chamber President Candi Westbrook says the event helps keep residents informed and connected to state-level decisions.  The Legislative Wrap-Up is open to the public.  For more information, contact the Coffeyville Chamber or visit coffeyvillechamber.com.

The Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce names USD 445 Assistant Superintendent Lora Stalford as the 2026 Woman of the Year.

The announcement came during yesterday's Women in Business Conference. The award recognizes leadership, professional achievement and a commitment to supporting women in business across Montgomery County. Stalford was selected from a group of nominees for her work in education and community involvement.

At Coffeyville Public Schools, she focuses on literacy, curriculum development and expanding access to learning opportunities for students. She is also recognized for mentoring educators and supporting the growth of women leaders. Stalford serves on the Coffeyville Community College Board of Trustees and is involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Kansas and Rotary, along with other community efforts.

Multiple units respond to a two vehicle accident in Montgomery County.

The Coffeyville Police Department and EMS along with the Dearing Fire Department responded to the accident at the intersection of County Road 2600 and County Road 3900. The incident was reported at around 10:30am. There were injuries reported in the accident. One of the vehicles was partially blocking the road but has been moved.

KGGF will provide more information as it becomes available.

The Speaker of the Oklahoma House Kyle Hilbert says Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. will not be invited back to the house floor.

According to lawmakers, the controversy stems from comments Hoskin made in support of Medicaid expansion during the Cherokee Nation Legislative Day at the state Capitol. Oklahoma Republican leaders are advancing two Medicaid proposals to go before voters. One would move the expansion of the program from the State constitution to state statute. This would give state lawmakers more control over changes. The other proposal would keep expansion in the Constitution, but would allow lawmakers to reduce spending if federal funding declines.

A statement fro the Cherokee Nation defended Hoskin's remarks, calling them timely and appropriate.

Speaker Hilbert stated that the decision to ban Hoskin was based on concern about political speeches being given on the House floor.

Two people are injured after a jet ski explosion in Haysville.

Authorities say the incident occurred around 4:15 Thursday afternoon at a residence in Haysville, located just south of Wichita. Emergency crews arrived on the scene to find a jet ski in flames and an injured adult and child nearby. Both victims were transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

A 14-year-old Great Bend boy is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a teenage girl.

The body of 14-year-old Rubi Perez was found on April 9^th near a city park in Great Bend. The juvenile suspect in the case was arrested soon after and was formally charged with first-degree murder earlier this week. A detention hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday. The suspect's name has not been released due to his age.

Perez was reported missing on April 8^th after attending a class at Holy Family School in Great Bend. She was an 8^th grade student at Great Bend Middle School.

A focus on housing is paying off for Independence.

For the past few years, the City has made an effort to increase the number of housing units available for rental and purchase. Officials have also placed an emphasis on rehabbing and refurbishing older houses. Director of Independence Housing Authority April Nutt says the City is starting to see the results of that work.

Independence Mayor Dean Hayse says the City has a lot to offer new residents.

In addition to the renovations of older homes in the City, new developments are in the works downtown to turn the Professional Building into apartments and a 3-D printed home is planned for north 10^th Street.

Independence Blight to Redevelopment Map

The Kansas Department of Transportation is looking for comments from the public to help update the Kansas State Freight and Rail Plan.

KDOT is looking for assistance in updating the State Freight and Rail Plan, which will focus on safety, system management, and economic vitality. The Kansas State Freight Plan has some of its most noticeable impacts in southeast Kansas, especially in rural areas, because these regions depend heavily on moving bulk goods, like agriculture, mining materials, and energy products. over long distances. Among items forconsideration are upgrades to rural connectors that link farms, grain elevators, and small industries to highways and reducing bottlenecks on routes leading to corridors like US-69 and US-400. If local roads are in poor condition, it slows down everything and raises costs for farmers and small businesses.

KDOT will be accepting public comments online through May 1^st. To make a comment, follow this link.

The City of Parsons is preparing to do some spring cleaning.

Love Labette week kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, April 18, and Parsons will help show their pride with a Spring Clean Up. Director of the Parsons Area Chamber of Commerce Liza Cochran says the City will provided roll off dumpsters to help residents beautify the community.

Those dumpsters will be placed in the Old Larry Allen parking lot, at 15^th and Morgan, 29^th and Briggs Bump Out, and at the west side Rec Center parking lot. Certain items are not allowed in the dumpsters, so residents are asked to follow posted guidelines. Cochran says the Chamber hopes to foster some friendly competition between local civic groups.

The City is also offering a free bulk items drop off at the City Tree Dump on April 18 and again on April 25^th from 7am to noon. To drop off bulk items, you must bring either a City of Parsons Code Enforcement letter or a City water bill.

Anyone with questions should contact the City at 421-7020.

Tornado Watch Issued

 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 130 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN KANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 17 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL KANSAS

CHASE MARION

IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS

BUTLER COWLEY HARPER
HARVEY SEDGWICK SUMNER

IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS

ALLEN CHAUTAUQUA ELK
GREENWOOD LABETTE MONTGOMERY
NEOSHO WILSON WOODSON

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ANDOVER, ANTHONY, ARKANSAS CITY,
ATTICA, AUGUSTA, BEL AIRE, CEDAR VALE, CHANUTE, COFFEYVILLE,
COTTONWOOD FALLS, DERBY, EL DORADO, EUREKA, FREDONIA, GRENOLA,
HARPER, HAYSVILLE, HILLSBORO, HOWARD, HUMBOLDT, INDEPENDENCE,
IOLA, LONGTON, MADISON, MARION, MOLINE, NEODESHA, NEWTON,
PARK CITY, PARSONS, PEABODY, ROSE HILL, SEDAN, STRONG CITY,
VALLEY CENTER, WELLINGTON, WICHITA, WINFIELD, AND YATES CENTER.

*Original Story*

Severe weather is possible this evening across southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.

Up to two-inch hail, damaging winds and locally heavy rain are all possible, including a few tornadoes before 9 p.m. Storms could start as early as 1 p.m. along the Kansas Turnpike and work their way to the southeast through midnight. Storm timing for Montgomery County is expected between 6 and 10 p.m. KGGF will provide severe weather coverage tonight if needed.

Coffeyville Community College hosts a workshop aimed at helping seniors feel more confident using everyday technology.

The Technology for Seniors class was held March 27^th and focused on practical skills like using smartphones, email and social media platforms such as Facebook. The free session was led by Brandi Beeson, with help from student volunteers who provided one-on-one assistance throughout the workshop. Participants were encouraged to bring their own devices and questions, creating a hands-on learning environment tailored to individual needs. Student volunteers worked directly with attendees to troubleshoot issues and guide them through common tasks, helping build comfort with digital tools.

Organizers say feedback from participants was positive, with many appreciating the patience and support provided by the students. While no additional sessions are currently scheduled, the college says it hopes to offer similar workshops in the future.

The Kansas High School Rodeo Association makes a stop in Coffeyville this weekend.

KHSRA State Secretary Suzan Adams says these events help participants get recognized by college coaches.  Adams says this is their fifth year coming to Coffeyville.

Adams says the weather won't effect the rodeo and it will go on rain or shine, but there could be delays for lightning. The rodeo starts at 10:00am on Saturday and 9:00am on Sunday at the Coffeyville Fairgrounds at Walter Johnson Park.

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center now has new equipment to help treat newborns with jaundice, thanks to a grant from the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation.

Hospital officials say more than 80 percent of newborns develop jaundice, also known as hyperbilirubinemia. While common, the condition can be serious if left untreated, especially in premature infants. At CRMC, babies are closely monitored after birth. If jaundice is detected early, treatment typically involves placing the infant in a bilibed for phototherapy, with most cases improving within about 24 hours.

The hospital used a $3,000 grant from CACF, along with additional funds, to purchase a new Skylife Phototherapy System. The updated equipment replaces a bilibed that had been in use for more than 15 years.

The Fredonia City Commission revealed its first-quarter reports at this week's meeting. Police Chief Tyler Decker reveals the crime stats from the first three months of 2026.

179 total cases were generated from over 1,000 calls for service, including thefts and burglaries. In 15 theft cases, 14 were from gas stations.

On the road, 354 traffic stops resulted in 83 citations, a 23 percent rate.

Fredonia's first quarter saw 10 narcotic violations, nine of which led to felony arrests. There were also five search warrants issued that led to felony drug busts.

Chief Decker applauds the police department for their efforts to begin the year.

Also, as part of the quarterly report, the Fredonia Treasurer announces that it passed a self-audit. City Administrator Evan Bolt says it was a large hurdle to clear.

Bolt says it was the first full year he and City Clerk Suzanne Pekrul had to work on reorganizing the city's finances.

The Midland Theater will open to the public this weekend for prom photos.

This Saturday, students attending area proms are welcome to stop by and take photos inside the lobby and ballroom in addition to outside the building.

Midland Board Member Denise York says it will be a come-and-go event.

The Midland will be open this Saturday from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and donations will be welcome. Coffeyville, South Coffeyville and the High School Rodeo will all be hosting prom events this weekend.

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office along with multiple local, state and federal agencies team up to conduct compliance checks on registered offenders in Crawford County.

Officers conducted the check on Tuesday on 193 offenders who are required to register due to violent, sexual or drug offenses. Of those, fourteen were placed under arrest for violations of the Kansas Offender Registration Act. Another fourteen were found to be non-compliant. Charges will be submitted to the Crawford County Attorney's Office for review.

Assisting in the compliance checks were officers from police departments in Pittsburg, Frontenac, Arma, Girard, and Cherokee, along with the Pitt State Police, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals.

The City of Altamont continues to weigh its options regarding a major repair project for the City's sewer system.

The Altamont City Council has been considering taking out a $2.6 million loan through the Kansas State Revolving Fund to pay for the work. At their most recent meeting, council members heard from Ben Coltrane with Midwest Engineering about the potential loan. He says the rate for the 30-year loan would be 3.36%.

The State Revolving Fund is a set of low-interest loan programs that help communities pay for water infrastructure projects. These funds are “revolving” because repayments from earlier loans are reused to finance new projects over time. The programs are administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with funding support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

No action was taken on the issue as council members continue to gather information before making a decision on the loan.

The City of Independence announces that the brush yard will be open for the next few mornings for Independence residents cleaning up after the recent storms.

The brush yard will be open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8am to noon for those needing to dispose of downed tree limbs and branches after the recent thunderstorms. To schedule a visit outside of those hours, call 620-714-0460.

Residents can also use SeeClickFix to request brush pick up from the City.

• Brush and limbs must be in front of the residence near the curb.
•  Brush piles left in the alley will not be picked up.
•  Brush and limbs must be neatly placed in a pile no larger than 8 feet long x 4 feet wide x 4 feet tall in the front of the house by the curb but not in the street.
•  Brush piles are required to be at least 4 or more feet away from any obstructions such as; buildings, fences, vehicles, mailboxes, trees/shrubbery, gas & water meters, fire hydrants, utility shut off valves, utility line markers, electric poles, guide wires, phone boxes, sign posts, and lawn decorations.
•  If the pile contains any trash, tires, lumber (treated or not treated), or anything other than natural brush and unprocessed wood, the person who filed the work order will be notified and the brush will not be removed until the material is removed by the property owner/representative.
•  Each property is allowed 1 pile per month. Brush placed on City property will be considered illegal dumping.

To access SeeClickFIx, follow this link.

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford introduces legislation aimed at clarifying federal retirement pensions for federal law enforcement.

The Oklahoma Republican is joined in the legislation called the Retirement Annuity Supplement Clarity Act by Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman. The bill aims to fix how the Office of Personnel Management calculates retirement annuity supplements for federal employees, especially law enforcement officers dealing with settlement agreements that split those benefits.

The Retirement Annuity Supplement Clarity Act confirms that the Office of Personnel Management can follow court orders that divide a federal retiree’s annuity supplement. It also restores payments to retirees who left service on or before June 30, 2016, if their supplement was later reduced or recalculated—even when the original court order didn’t mention splitting the supplement or explicitly said it shouldn’t be divided. In other words, affected retirees get back money they lost due to those retroactive changes. The bill also forgives any overpayments that may have been made to former spouses as a result of those recalculations, so they don’t have to repay the funds.

Lankford stated that Law enforcement officers are protecting Americans at the southern border and around the country, adding that they should be able to focus on their mission instead of bureaucratic decisions complicating their retirement calculations.

An Independence man is facing a felony charge in Washington County after allegedly threatening to kill people at a Bartlesville hospital.

59-year-old Marty Brown was charged yesterday with terrorism hoax.

According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Brown allegedly made a phone call to a Bartlesville hospital on January 22 and then threatened to kill people at the hospital. Police say Brown made the verbal threat and then immediately hung up the phone.

Brown will appear in court again on May 1^st. His bond is set at $10,000.

The Attorneys General from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri join a coalition of AGs from 45 states urging the U.S. Department of Labor to adopt a new rule requiring pharmacy benefit managers or PBMs to be more transparent about how they set prescription drug prices.

About 136 million Americans receive health care coverage through their employer. Many of those plans include prescription drug coverage that is managed by pharmacy benefit managers or PBMs. They negotiate rebates with drug manufacturers, decide which drugs are covered and determine what patients pay. However,  the employers who hire them to manage their health plans have little visibility into how PBMs make money or why drug costs change. A proposed rule would require PBMs to disclose twice a year how they generate revenue and give employers the right to audit them.

In a letter to the Department of Labor, the coalition urges the adoption of two additional protections. First, they ask the Department to clarify that the rule does not override existing state PBM transparency laws. Second, they ask the Department to commit to coordinating enforcement with state attorneys general, including by referring potential violations of state law to their offices. Oklahoma's Attorney General Gentner Drummond along with Kris Kobach of Kansas and Catherine Hanaway of Missouri have signed onto the letter.

Currently, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted provisions to regulate PBMs.

To read the letter. follow this link.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Humboldt public water supply system located in Allen County.

Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water instead. Dispose of ice cubes from trays and automatic ice makers. If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears. Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled, but supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested.

KDHE officials issued the advisory on April 15 because of a loss of pressure in the system.

 The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

Severe storms brought large hail and damaging winds to the KGGF listening area yesterday afternoon and evening.

Multiple rounds of severe storms came through the area, with up to ping-pong-ball-size hail reported west of Coffeyville and near the Cherryvale area. Power outages were also reported in Cherryvale. Large hail also impacted the Chetopa area in addition to St. Paul.

Tomorrow will bring another round of severe weather for the four-state area, with southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma in the “enhanced” risk of severe weather, which is a level 3 out of 5. All modes of severe weather are possible, including large hail, damaging winds, a few tornadoes and locally heavy rain. KGGF will provide severe weather coverage as needed.

Listener Submitted Photos:

Lead Photo: Stan Pierson, Cherryvale

Loran Osborne, outside Bible Baptist Church, Coffeyville

Severe weather moving through Southeast Kansas causes power outages in the area.

Evergy is reporting outages in Cherryvale and and Saint Paul effecting hundreds of customers.  While power has been restored to some customers more outages in the area continued to be reported.

There is no timetable on when power will be fully restored.

Coffeyville Community College gives students a boost as they approach the end of the spring semester.

On April 1^st, CCC hosted a Over the Hump Midweek Bash, a hump day-themed event aimed at helping students stay on track, with a a unique twist. Live camels were brought to campus by Camels Unlimited, giving students the chance to literally get over the hump. In addition to the camel rides, the event connected students with key campus resources. Departments including Student Life, Financial Aid, the Business Office, Advising and Student Health Services were on hand to help with everything from tuition payments and graduation applications to academic check-ins and support services.

About 175 students participated throughout the day. CCC Vice President for Student Services Ryan McCune says the event offered students a chance to take a break, reconnect with campus services and refocus as the semester wraps up. College officials say events like this are designed to keep students engaged, supported and on track to finish the semester strong.

The City of Coffeyville is working to improve how residents receive communications during power outages.

Over the next couple of weeks, the city will be introducing a new outage communication system designed to make reporting outages and receiving updates easier.

Coming up Thursday the 16th at 8:10, city staff will participate in a live call-in radio show where they'll walk through what’s changing and answer your questions. To ask a question during the program, just call 620-251-3800 or email in questions ahead of time to news@kggfradio.com.

A line of thunderstorms that moved across northeastern Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, and northwest Arkansas leaves a trail of damage and power outages.

Damage to buildings was reported in the Muskogee area in Oklahoma, caused by strong winds and a possible tornado. Nearly a thousand people were without power overnight and early this morning in the area. Other power outages were reported in the Adair and Wagoner areas.

In northwest Arkansas, about 2,000 people were without power in Benton and Washington counties.

Storms in southeast Kansas were less severe, bringing lightning and heavy rains. A lightning strike in Independence caused a house fire around midnight with no injuries reported. Coffeyville received a total of about ¼ inch of rain.

Coffeyville Community College holds a spring blood drive and exceeds its donation goal.

CCC and the American Red Cross held the drive on April 2^nd on the college's main campus. The blood drive set a goal of collecting 24 units but surpassed expectations with a total of 28 units collected. With each unit having the potential to save up to three lives, the donations from this event could help save as many as 84 lives. The drive also saw strong participation, with 38 registered donors, including 11 first-time donors.

The drive also served as an educational opportunity for students from CCC’s Coffeyville Technical Campus RN Nursing Program, who assisted with donor registration, observed the blood collection process, and helped with event setup and cleanup.

The success of this year’s event reflects growing community engagement, with higher participation than previous CCC blood drives.

A Bartlesville man is facing a felony charge after allegedly breaking a sprinkler inside the Washington County Correctional Facility with a spork.

19-year-old Logen Fairchild was charged on Monday with injuring a public building. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Fairchild allegedly broke the sprinkler in his cell on February 6^th.

Fairchild was being held in the facility after he was charged in January with five counts of lewd or indecent acts or proposals to a child under 16.

Fairchild will appear in court again on May 1^st. His bond in the new charge is set at $5,000.

The City of Sedan is preparing to select a new Chief of Police.

Members of the Sedan City Council have been working behind the scenes as they prepare to choose a new police chief. The City has been in search of a new top cop since the resignation of Kirk Richardson in late February. Richardson's retirement along with the resignation of another senior officer had called into question whether or not Sedan would continue to have its own police force. Council members briefly considered turning over law enforcement for the town of about 1,000 residents to the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department. However, public response urged the City to maintain its own force.

Earlier this week, members of the Sedan City Council met in executive session to conduct interviews with several candidates for police chief. The Council will hold a special meeting tonight at 5pm to make a final decision.

Crews from the Independence Fire Department are called to an early morning house fire.

Firefighters responded to the call just after midnight on the morning of April 15. Units arrived at the structure at 1208 West Myrtle Street to find a 2-story home with significant smoke showing. A second alarm brought additional crews from Independence Rural Fire and Dearing Rural Fire. Firefighters on the scene set about an interior attack and were able to bring the blaze under control. The fire was eventually extinguished with no injuries reported.

The cause of the fire was determined to be a lightning strike.

Photo courtesy Independence Fire/EMS

The USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer Board of Education names Chad Knight as interim superintendent.

The move came at Tuesday's special Board of Education meeting, Board President Gina Booe calls for the vote.

Knight is the current principal of Cherryvale's Lincoln Central Elementary. He was selected to replace Travis Githens, who was relieved of his duties by the school board at a special meeting held last week. The board gave no time frame concerning Knight's interim role.

The Board voted unanimously to name Angela Edwards as interim principal at Lincoln Central. Edwards teaches sixth grade at the elementary school.

The Pawhuska City Council votes to put a hold on a proposed data center in the City after the plan draws protests.

The initiative from Buckley Brothers Holdings, LLC, was placed on hold at Tuesday's meeting after residents staged a protest against the project. Protest Organizer Isabella Sanchez-Goodman says there were lots of questions that needed to be answered about the proposal.

Nine people spoke at the meeting, prompting council members to deny sending a load letter to the holdings company that would have allowed the project to move forward. Pawhuska Mayor Steve Tolson says there were just too many unanswered questions to approve the letter.

Protesters also submitted a petition against the data center that included more than 400 signatures. The City Council also voted 3-2 to place a moratorium on the project until the end of this year. The proposed data center would have been built next to Indian Camp Elementary School.

**** Update *****

A tornado watch has been issued for the following areas through 9 p.m.:

KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ALLEN                BOURBON             CHEROKEE
CRAWFORD             LABETTE             MONTGOMERY
NEOSHO               WILSON

OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAIR                ATOKA               BRYAN
CARTER               CHEROKEE            CLEVELAND
COAL                 CRAIG               CREEK
DELAWARE             GARVIN              GRADY
HUGHES               JEFFERSON           JOHNSTON
LINCOLN              LOGAN               LOVE
MARSHALL             MAYES               MCCLAIN
MCINTOSH             MURRAY              MUSKOGEE
NOWATA               OKFUSKEE            OKLAHOMA
OKMULGEE             OSAGE               OTTAWA
PAWNEE               PAYNE               PITTSBURG
PONTOTOC             POTTAWATOMIE        ROGERS
SEMINOLE             STEPHENS            TULSA
WAGONER              WASHINGTON

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

While storms largely didn't pan out last night for the Kansas side of things, another slight chance of severe weather is on the way tonight.

Large hail up to ping pong ball size, damaging winds up to 65 mph and locally heavy rain are all possible across the four-state area, with timing expected between 1 and 9 p.m.

In addition, a better chance of storms is on the way Friday evening, with much of the area already in the “enhanced” risk of severe weather. Stay tuned for updates and severe weather coverage if needed on The Mighty 690.

The Bartlesville Fire Department and multiple other crews respond to a fire at the Bartlesville Industrial Park.

The fire broke out last night near lithium battery recycler Blue Whale Materials.

Bartlesville Deputy Fire Chief Barry Campbell says the fire was contained to a storage yard.

No injuries were reported and the main Blue Whale facility was spared from the blaze. Campbell says the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Coffeyville City Commission approves a change to the hours of operation of all-terrian and utility-type vehilces with the city limits. The new hours are extended to 10:00pm from May 1^st to August 31^st.

City Manager Ben Brubaker says the original hours were put into place because of safety concerns.  Commissioner Mike Golden says having an ordinance at all feels like over regulation to him.

After some back and forth discussion, the motion made by Commissioner William Kendall was seconded and voted 4-0 to approve the change. The full list of requirements and ordinances for ATVs and UTV for Coffeyville can be found at the City's website.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office are planning a sobriety checkpoint later this month.

The checkpoint is scheduled for Saturday April 25^th in Cherokee County, with the goal of removing impaired drivers from the road. Master Trooper Dakota Smith says taking one impaired driver off the road today can help ensure a family gets home safely tomorrow. Checkpoints are designed to reduce crashes by identifying drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs and encouraging compliance with state laws.

Nationwide, more than 11,000 people die each year in alcohol-related crashes, accounting for about 30 percent of all traffic fatalities. Authorities say those crashes are about three times more likely to happen at night. Drivers are asked to plan ahead and expect possible delays.

Two Men and a Truck's Movers for Moms campaign is underway. Bentonville's Two Men and a Truck is Partnering with the Havenwood House for the third straight year. Office Manager Tenesha Wright says there are two ways to donate items.

Wright says every Two Men in a Truck participates in this event nationwide with other drop off locations in Tulsa, Wichita and Springfield. Donations for Movers for Moms can be made through the end of the month and donations will be dropped off in time for Mother's Day.

With the threat of tornadoes and severe weather in the area, B the Light Mission announces it will open to provide shelter for those in need.

Officials say the Mission is offering a safe place for anyone seeking refuge as storms move through the region. Community members who need shelter are encouraged to come directly to the facility.

Residents are urged to stay weather-aware and take necessary precautions. For assistance or more information, contact B the Light Mission at (918)288-0009.

Prior to tonight's city council meeting in Pawhuska, a protest will be held in front of the Constantine Theater regarding the possibility of a data center coming to Pawhuska. The data center would be located next to Indian Camp Elementary School.

Protest Organizer Isabella Sanchez-Goodman says she hopes they are able to convince the council to put a moratorium in place through the end of the year that would prevent any construction on the data center.  Pawhuska Resident Johnathan Parks says he is not against new businesses coming to Pawhuska, he just wants to make sure the right businesses are coming.

Leading up to the protest, a petition got 441 signatures showing their opposition to the data center. The protest will be at 4:30pm, with the meeting starting at 5:30pm.

An historic building in Independence has a new owner and a chance to be restored, offering new life to a long-neglected piece of the city’s past.

The building at the corner of Park and Locust Streets known as the Girl Scout House, has been around almost as long as the City of Independence itself. The structure was originally built in 1872 by the Church of the Epiphany and eventually ended up as the meeting place for local Girl Scouts. The building sustained serious damage in the flood of 2007 and was added to the list of structures condemned by the City last spring. A movement began to save the well-known landmark. Among those looking to save the Girl Scout House was Historic Preservation & Resource Commission member Ken Brown. At this week's Commission meeting, Brown reported on the status of the building. He says a local woman has purchased the building.

Brown says, despite the flood, the building is still in salvageable condition.

Plans for the structure include moving the building to an adjacent lot and rotating the front door so that it faces Park Street.

The Coffeyville Salvation Army Service Volunteers' Salad Luncheon is coming up today.

A wide variety of salads will be available from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Coffeyville First Baptist Church.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. There will also be a variety of items for sale in the country store during the event. Proceeds will benefit the needs of Coffeyville.

The USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer School Board will hold a special meeting tonight to select an interim superintendent.

That announcement came at the end of last night's regular school board meeting. Board President Gina Booe calls for the motion to set the meeting.

The district is in need of an interim superintendent after former superintendent Travis Githens was relieved of his duties at a special meeting held last week.

Tonight's meeting will begin at 6:30 in the library at Cherryvale Middle/High School. The meeting is open to the public.

The Coffeyville City Commission will Consider expanding the hours for the operation of ATV during the summer months.

At tonight's meeting, commissioners will consider amending the city ordinance regarding operation ATVs and UTVs in the City. The amendment would extend the hours of operation for those vehicles to 10pm from June 1^st through August 31^st.

Other items up for discussion at tonight's meeting include the purchase of a dump truck for Public Works as well as the purchase of five mowers for the Parks Department. Commissioners are also expected to approve electrical safety improvements at the Fairgrounds.

Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 in the Commission Room at Coffeyville's City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City of Coffeyville YouTube channel.

Osage County Commission considers equipment for area fire departments. 

At Monday's meeting, it was determined thata Rock Fire Department will be getting a new tanker truck for just over $96,000. Additionally, the Black Dog Fire Department could receive 15 sets of bunker gear, as the Board signed a resolution to advertise for bids. Commissioner Steve Talburt explains that process.

The Osage County Commission will meet again next Monday.  

The Nowata County Commission meets for its regularly scheduled meeting .

At Monday's meeting the board discussed a proclamation and permission letter from Nowata emergency services. The proclamation is to make Nowata EMS the sole provider for medical services in the county. District Three Commissioner Troy Friddle and County Clerk Kay Spurgeon discuss the agreement.

The issue was tabled until next week's meeting.

In other business, commissioners also discussed improvements to the county courthouse, and approved a resolution donating $100 to the sheriff's office. The commissioners also tabled items regarding the county certification map and county action report, and as well as a discussion of the county's drug and alcohol testing policy.

The Nowata County Commissioners meets every Monday morning at 9am at the Nowata County Annex,

The City of Howard reports an increasing problem of vandalism at a local park.

Several incidents of vandalism have recently been reported at Jackson Park on the east side of the Elk County town. Officials say the theft of toilet paper from the park restrooms has been occurring faster than it can be replaced. Another incident saw several items of food stolen from the food pantry and placed in commodes in the restrooms. Authorities are looking for suspects in the incidents, but say, if the vandalism does not stop, the City will no longer be able to keep the restrooms open to the public.

The 43^rd William Inge Theatre Festival begins next week in Independence.

The three day festival will include a variety of free workshops hosted by guest artists experienced in creating performances in community settings. The workshops are open to any member of the community who is interested in learning more about theater and the performing arts.

April 24^th will feature a session from Texas-based theater maker Andrew Roblyer, who will lead actors through improvisation and rehearsal, demonstrating how directors and actors shape and evolve their work together.

Local writers may be interested in attending a play writing workshop on April 25^th. A variety of short workshops will be held on April 23^rd covering topics such as musical theatre, puppetry, Shakespeare, stage combat, and acting. There will also be two performances of the play Living Dead in Denmark on Saturday, April 25, at 7pm and on Sunday, April 26, at 2pm.

For more information visit www.ingecenter.org or call 620-332-5492 for more information.

Drivers near the Barlett soybean plant south of Cherryvale will be seeing some changes to road signs as a major road project gets underway in the next month.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will be installing turn lans and widening the roadway on US-160, just south of the Bartlett facility. That stretch of road will be closed to traffic from US-169, east to the railroad tracks while work is underway. Montgomery County Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins says this will prompt some changes to county roads in that area.

Changes will include a four-way stop at the intersection of 4400 and 5500. The speed limit in the area will also be lowered to 30mph. The changes will be in place through the duration of the project. Beurskins says, KDOT will take several months to complete the work.

The project is expected to begin some time in the next 30 days.

***** Update 9:22 p.m. *****

The tornado watch for Allen, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson Counties has been cancelled.

In Oklahoma, the watch has been cancelled for Osage Washington, Nowata and Creek Counties.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the following counties through 4 a.m. Wednesday:

OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAIR                CHEROKEE            CLEVELAND
CRAIG                CREEK               DELAWARE
GARVIN               HUGHES              LINCOLN
MAYES                MCCLAIN             MCINTOSH
MUSKOGEE             NOWATA              OKFUSKEE
OKMULGEE             OTTAWA              PONTOTOC
POTTAWATOMIE         ROGERS              SEMINOLE
TULSA                WAGONER             WASHINGTON

***** Update 3:23 p.m. *****

A tornado watch has been issued through 11 p.m. for the following counties:

 KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ALLEN                BUTLER              CHASE
CHAUTAUQUA           COWLEY              ELK
GREENWOOD            HARPER              HARVEY
LABETTE              MARION              MONTGOMERY
NEOSHO               SEDGWICK            SUMNER
WILSON               WOODSON

OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ALFALFA              BECKHAM             BLAINE
CADDO                CANADIAN            CLEVELAND
COMANCHE             COTTON              CREEK
CUSTER               DEWEY               GARFIELD
GARVIN               GRADY               GRANT
GREER                HARMON              JACKSON
JEFFERSON            KAY                 KINGFISHER
KIOWA                LINCOLN             LOGAN
MAJOR                MCCLAIN             NOBLE
NOWATA               OKLAHOMA            OSAGE
PAWNEE               PAYNE               POTTAWATOMIE
STEPHENS             TILLMAN             WASHINGTON
WASHITA

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Anyone in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.

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

Severe weather is possible tonight and tomorrow across the four-state area.

According to the National Weather Service, storms bringing large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and locally heavy rain could impact the area tonight between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Storms are also possible tomorrow between 2 p.m. and midnight. Both days will bring a “slight” level 2 out of 5 risk of severe weather. Stay tuned to The Mighty 690 for severe weather coverage if needed.

After 107 years of ownership by the Walterscheid family, Isham Hardware is being sold.

According to owner Jane Walterscheid Catone, known to many as “Dinger,” Isham Hardware was founded in 1870 and has operated continuously from its original location ever since. It is the oldest hardware store in the state of Kansas and has been owned and operated by only two families throughout its history—the Isham family and the Walterscheid family.

According to Catone, Clinton “C.C.” Starnes will take over ownership of the business. Starnes has strong connections to Coffeyville and plans to move to town along with his wife Chelsea and their four children.

Over the next several weeks, there will be a transition period as maintenance takes place. Catone thanks John Johnson who has kept the store running and plans to remain with the business.

Isham Hardware has been in continuous operation for 156 years and played a key role during the Dalton raid on Coffeyville.

Multiple communities in northeast Kansas have had damage after tornadoes and severe storms last night.

According to the National Weather Service, a tornado was reported in Ottawa, with a tornado warning was issued around 7:30 last night.

Officials say the storm caused structural damage to several buildings. Three people are reported to have minor injuries at a home with significant damage east of Ottawa in Franklin County. According to the city, there were no injuries or fatalities reported within city limits. Last night, the majority of town was without power, with USD 290 cancelling school today.

Two tornadoes were reported west of Ottawa and north of Paola, in addition to tornadoes reported east of Mound City and near Blue Mound in Linn County.

The USD 445 Board of Education receives an update on the continued growth and change of the Child Nutrition program. Director Casey Worden says a big change was in the language from calling it food service to child nutrition.

One change that was made was transitioning from place and bake to speed scratch cooking. Worden says students now have more freedom of choice and can serve themselves picking which foods they want to eat.

Worden says the department has received recognition locally, statewide and nationally including receiving the Kansans Can Best Practice – Serve Local Foods Award.

The Labette County Commission meets in two executive sessions during this weeks meeting.

Before the executive sessions, the commissioners met with Parcom's Paul Schibi to discuss phone system updates for the Judicial Center and Annex. Schibi presented the commission with a three year contract, but County Counselor Brian Johnson wanted to review the contract before it was voted on by the commission so no action was taken.

The commissioners then met in executive session for security reasons with Labette County Sheriff Darren Eichinger on jail repairs. After that executive session, the commission then met with County Appraiser Melody Kikkert in executive session for discussion of non-elected personnel.

Volunteers from the Montgomery County Farm Bureau, the Local Health Equity Action Team and the Wildcat Extension District are working together to support local families through a container garden project.

Saturday, volunteers delivered nearly 40 garden tubs to families in Independence. The effort is aimed at helping provide access to fresh produce and encourage home gardening. The group is now planning a similar delivery event in Coffeyville this coming Saturday and is looking for additional volunteers. Anyone interested in helping can call (620)330-1687 to sign up.

The sound of the championship auction call from Coffeyville Stockyard Auctioneer Blaine Lotz.

He competed in the first ever League of Their Own Championship in Checotah, Oklahoma winning $25,000. Lotz says auctioneering is in his blood.

Fellow Coffeyville Stockyard Auctioneer Justin Dodson finished second in the competition winning $15,000.

The USD 446 Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting tonight.

On the agenda will be the expected acceptance of the resignations and retirement of five district employees. The Board is also expected to approve the hiring of staff for Kids Crew and for summer school classes.

Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm in the Library at Independence High School. The meeting is open to the public.

The Independence Historic Preservation & Resource Commission will meet today and discuss ongoing project including the Girl Scout House.

The historic building that currently sits at the corner of Park and Locust dates to the 1870s and the early days of the City of Independence. The building was originally built to house the Church of the Epiphany, but was later used by the Daughters of the American Revolution and then by the Girl Scouts. The building was abandoned after it sustained severe water damage in the flood of 2007 and has been in disrepair since that time.

This spring, the City of Independence began condemnation procedures against the building, but an effort to save the historic structure is underway. This is expected to be part of the discussion at today's meeting.

The meeting of the Independence Historic Preservation & Resource Commission begins at noon today in the Veterans Room at Memorial Hall. The public is invited to attend.

The USD 445 Coffeyville School Board will meet tonight to entertain an agenda that looks forward to the next school year.

Items for consideration at tonight's meeting include several action items for the purchase of materials and curricula for use in the coming years, including Math, Reading, Social Studies, and Spanish. Board members will also discuss the renewal of the student information system Infinite Campus and are expected to approve and adopt the 2027-2028 school calendar.

The Board is also expected to approve the hiring of an elementary teacher for Community Elementary and a language arts teacher and biology teacher for Field Kindley.

Today's meeting begins at 4pm at the USD 445 District Office. The public is invited to attend.

Isolated storms are possible this evening for southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.

According to the National Weather Service, an isolated thunderstorm can't completely be ruled out, although activity may struggle to develop across the area. If storms develop, there could be activity between 5 and 10 p.m., with large hail, damaging winds and a brief tornado all possible. Stay tuned to The Mighty 690 for coverage if needed.

A landmark fiber internet project is underway in Wann between Atlas Broadband and the Oklahoma Broadband Office.

Executive Director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office Michael Sanders says the project is life-changing.

The $1.5 million project between Atlas Broadband and the Oklahoma Broadband Office was funded through federal grants awarded by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. The project in Wann is part of a major expansion effort from the Oklahoma Broadband Office to connect more people with faster internet.

Sanders says many will benefit from this expansion.

In Wann, the project will bring high-speed fiber internet to 80 homes. Wann Mayor of Wann Mike Stainbrook says this could spur economic growth.

The celebration for the historic project was held on Friday afternoon.

Law enforcement department across the area are celebrating the voice behind the badge during this National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Police dispatchers answer 9-1-1 calls and are the first point of contact in moments of crisis. Every call they answer, whether routine or life-threatening, requires professionalism, compassion, and split-second decision-making that can make all the difference. Independence Police Department’s Dispatch Supervisor Bridget Hammer says this week is about taking the time to recognize the efforts of these heard, but unseen, public servants.

They handle high-stress situations, gather essential information, and make quick decisions that can mean the difference between life and death. Celebrating this week reinforces the importance of supporting telecommunicators, ensuring they have the training, resources, and recognition they deserve.

Holy Name Catholic School will close at the end of the current school year.

According to a letter from Wichita Bishop Carl Kemme, the decision is due to staff shortages.

Wichita Diocese Catholic Schools Superintendent Janet Eaton, Father Drew Dellasega and Interim Principal Daria Jerauld have been working over the past several moths to recruit to and secure teachers, but Kemme says they have not had success in their efforts.

USD 445 Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll says any school closing in town makes an impact on the area.

Correll says the district is prepared to help Holy Name students if they wish to transfer to transfer to USD 445.

For the past four months, the school has searched for a principal and two teachers, which is over half of the professional staff required. Kemme says he wants to be very clear that no one is to blame for this dilemma, as there were more than 1,700 certified openings in most fields of education in Kansas in 2025.

Kemme says he will work closely with Holy Name Leadership on the use of the building, sponsorship of parish students in other Catholic schools, and the future of school endowments.

The City of Neodesha is in the process of making some improvements to a popular city park.

At the most recent meeting of the Neodesha City Commission, there was a discussion about the stem wall at Stadium Park. The movement of blocks from the wall has been an ongoing issue at the location. Commission Ed Truelove says, not only is it troubling, but it can also be a safety hazard.

City crews are currently working to remove and improve the current stem wall. The upgrades will enhance the safety, durability, and overall quality of the park. Residents are asked use caution in the area and follow any posted signage while work is in progress.

Commissioners also heard a presentation from Dan Reidemann of the Lawrence-based company 19th Century Restoration regarding the possible renovation of the Norman No. 1 oil derrick. Reidemann says any work on the structure would be done with the intent to preserve the original, historic well.

Commissioners agreed to move forward with the project and asked Reidemann to provide a cost estimate for the work.

Pets owners in Independence will have the chance to have their pets spayed or neutered from free this month.

The AWOL Animal Shelter along with Dr. Hailey Mueller are offering a free spay and neuter clinic in honor of Love Independence Day on April 25th. The clinic will take place at ICC West, located at 2615 West Main Street from 6am to 4pm. Cats and dogs will undergo the procedure for no cost.

One of the biggest reasons to have a pet fixed is to reduce pet overpopulation. Unplanned litters can contribute to millions of homeless animals every year. Many of these animals end up in shelters, and sadly, not all are adopted. Spaying and neutering helps prevent accidental litters and reduces the number of animals in need of homes. It is a responsible choice for both the pet and the community, helping prevent suffering and supporting public health.

The event happens on April 25th. The service is open to Independence residents only and an approved application and appointment are required. For more information, contact AWOL at 331-7931

The City of Sedan will be celebrating Chautauqua County’s unique landscape at this weekend’s 2026 Annual Redbud and Barn Quilt Tour.

Redbud trees are known for their vibrant purple-pink spring blooms and heart-shaped leaves, while barn quilts are large, painted wooden or aluminum panels featuring a, usually geometric, quilt pattern displayed on barns or rural buildings. The barn quilts honor heritage, celebrate community, and add artistic beauty to the countryside. The first redbud tour was held in 1961 in Sedan and Cedar Vale.

This year’s trail features more than 80 barn quilts along three different trails. Maps can be obtained for the self-guided tour at the Kurtis Art Plaza, located at 202 South Douglas. They will also be giving out redbud tree saplings.

The Redbud and Barn Quilt Tour happens this Saturday and Sunday in Sedan.

The Executive Director of Four County Mental Health in Independence announces his retirement.

After 37 years of service to southeast Kansas, Greg Hennen is retiring. Hennen joined Four County in 1989 as an outpatient therapist and helped transform the mental health organization from a small provider to a regional behavioral health system. During Hennen’s time at Four County, the organization went from just 26 employees to nearly 400 staff that now serves five counties across the area.

Deputy Director Steve Denny will now take over the role of Executive Director. Denny has been with Four County since 2005 and has been responsible for overseeing clinical services, crisis care, and the clinic’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Model.

Photo courtesy Four County Mental Health

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office seizes its third clandestine methamphetamine lab in 2026.

Last Thursday, March 9, deputies from Cherokee County along with the Galena Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant on a residence on East 24th Street in Galena. During the search, law enforcement found evidence associated with manufacturing and possession of methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia, and items identified as stolen property. Four men were arrested at the scene. They have been identified as 41-year-old Danny Watkins and 58-year-old Doug Ashley of Galena; and 51-year-old Kevin Poindexter and 49-year-old Stanley Watkins, both of Joplin. The case remains an open investigation and additional arrests and charges are expected.

In addition to the three labs seized this year, Cherokee County Detectives have also served eight narcotic search warrants in the last month.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office encourages anyone with information or with concerns about illegal drug activity to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 429-3992.

A Coffeyville man is one of three people seriously injured in a Friday morning car accident in Crawford County.

27-year-old Kenneth Dodson was injured just before 10 on Friday morning when he failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn off of K-171 south of Pittsburg. Dodson’s car was struck on its passenger side by a 2013 GMC Sierra driven by 82-year-old Gary Huneycutt of Garfield, Arkansas. Also injured was a passenger in the Sierra, 44-year-old Edgar Amaya of Bella Vista, Arkansas.

All three men were taken to Pittsburg’s Mercy Hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

The Montgomery County Commission will hear details on several action items from Public Works at today’s meeting.

Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins will appear before the commission at today’s meeting to discuss signage for an unofficial detour on County Roads 4400 and 5500. He will also request permission to sell one of the County’s backhoes and to obtain bids for chemicals for use by his department. County Administrator Jonathan Booe will be on hand to request approval for an Audit Engagement Letter from the CPA firm Jared, Gilmore & Phillips from Chanute.

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 Independence Fire Department responds to a weekend structure fire.

On Saturday just after 7:30 p.m., Independence Firefighters were dispatched to 308 S. 8th for a structure fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a single-story garage fully involved with extension to a privacy fence and the neighbor's garage.

The initial garage was a total loss and the neighboring garage had damage to the north side and ceiling joists. There were no injuries associated with the fire. According to the department, the fire is believed to have started from a cooking grill left briefly unattended.

Photo: Independence Fire-EMS

Former Nowata Head Football Coach Chance Juby is sentenced after pleading guilty to engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a school.

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

On Friday, Juby received a two-year deferred sentence. He must surrender his teaching license during the period and complete 120 hour of community service, plus monthly drug screenings.

Juby is no longer employed with Nowata Schools.

The Coffeyville Police Department is investigating a stabbing that leaves two people injured.

Officers responded around 12:45am Wednesday morning to Pete’s Truck Stop for a report of two stabbing victims. CPD says the incident happened in the 200 block of West 12^th Street, and the suspect left the scene before officers arrived.

Following an investigation, police identified 24-year-old Mickell R. Luster of Coffeyville as the suspect. Later that same day, officers located Luster near 8^th and Cline and took him into custody. CPD says they are recommending charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated endangering a child.

***** Update *****

160 is now reported to be closed at the intersection.  Drivers will need to find an alternate route.

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

A semi rollover is reported on US 160 east of Independence.

This accident was reported before 10:30 this morning at the intersection of US 160 and CR 4900, east of Independence.  First responders from Independence are on the scene, with mutual aid being requested from additional local departments.

Drivers should avoid the area while first responders work the scene.  Additional details will be released as available.

Tomorrow is the official park opening at Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell in Independence.

Area residents are invited to join in the family friendly fun. Independence chamber President Lisa Wilson says there is lots going on at the park.

There will also be food vendors and concessions available. It all happens on the Oval at Riverside park tomorrow.

Three people are dead following the crash of a rideshare vehicle in Rogers County.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the driver, 32-year-old Marissa Smith of Bartlesville and her two passengers 66-year-old Randy Meeks and 47-year-old Griffin Parker, both of Jenks, died Thursday evening after colliding the SUV they were traveling collided with a semi on County Road 41-60 near the intersection with US-412, just west of Inola. Troopers say Smith stopped at a stop sign but then failed to yield before turning onto the highway.

No one in the semi was injured.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signs into law a bill that creates the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority Act.

The bill enables the construction of a sports facility and related infrastructure for a National Football League franchise team to play its home games and extends the Sales Tax and Revenue or STAR Bonds program.  In December, Governor Kelly and the Kansas City Chiefs announced that an agreement has been reached to build a domed stadium and a mixed-use entertainment district, as well as a new team headquarters, training facility, and mixed-use development in Kansas.

The Kansas Sports Facilities Authority Act establishes the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority to govern the stadium and practice facility.  The authority will consist of 11 voting members who are Kansas residents with relevant education, training, and experience. Those members would include the Kansas Secretary of Commerce. The governor, the president of the State Senate, speaker of the State House, the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, and the team would each get to appoint one member to the group. The mayors of the two cities where the team’s facilities are located would also be entitled to appoint a voting member to the authority, which could be themselves, as long as the city participates in a STAR Bond project.

The agreement is a public-private partnership that includes a $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, which will open at the start of the 2031 NFL season, and a new Chiefs headquarters and training facility in the City of Olathe in Johnson County.

The Independence City Commission approves a bid for the installation of new trees in the downtown area.

At this week's meeting, commissioners approved a bid from Green Meadows of Pittsburg to complete Phase I of the project. Park, Zoo and Cemetery Department Director Scott Patton says the project solves a problem that has been an issue for some time.

Mayor Dean Hayse says he would like to more pre-planning regarding the downtown trees in the future.

The approved contract was for $21,400. the cost includes the cleaning of the existing tree wells, installing drainage, and planting the news trees. The old trees will be removed by the City.

The Humanities Project from Coffeyville Community College  welcomes folk and bluegrass duo Dusty James and Abalone Pearl to the Spencer Rounds Theater .

Dusty James and Abalone Pearl like to mix up the music, playing pop acoustic and traditional tunes, Americana and Beatles and original songs. They bring a variety of stringed musical instruments, swapping off banjo, mandolin, guitar, dulcimer and harmonica. James is a also champion flat-picker who has been awarded third place in the guitar competition at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival in Winfield.

The Midwestern duo brings a festive rhythm and a down home twang to familiar songs, alongside melodic original tunes and lyrical ballads. The pair adds a dash of humor to their range of musical talents.

James and Pearl will perform Tuesday night in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC campus.

Authorities in Great Bend are investigating the murder of a 14-year-old girl.

On Wednesday evening, officers from the Great Bend Police Department responded to a report of a missing girl. 14-year-old Rubi Perez was last seen while attending a class at Holy Family School. Police investigated multiple leads but were unable to locate the missing girl.

On Thursday morning, a body was discovered behind a large dirt pile near Veterans Memorial Park. The female was determined to be deceased and was positively identified as the missing teen. Investigators and Officers processed the crime scene, conducted interviews, and executed multiple search warrants. A 14-year-old juvenile male was identified as a suspect in the case. He was arrested and transported to the Barton County Detention Center where he faces charges of 1st Degree Murder.

The suspect's name has not been released and the investigation remains ongoing.

Wilson County Rural Fire is called to the scene of a controlled burn.

Units were dispatched to a location southwest of Fredonia on Thursday to the site of controlled burn. The owner of a neighboring property called for emergency services after becoming concerned that the flames might spread to their property. Firefighters conducted a back fire to prevent the blaze from jumping the line.

There was no damage to property and no injuries were reported.

A two-vehicle accident accident near Riverton leaves a Missouri woman with serious injuries.

The accident happened around 7am on Thursday on US-69 Alternate near the intersection of Southeast Eldon Road, just north of the City of Riverton. A 2021 GMC Yukon driven by 29-year-old Kelsa Walton of Riverton had stopped at a stop sign on Eldon Road, but then failed to yield to oncoming traffic, causing a collision with a 2003 Dodge Neon. The driver of the Neon, identified as 18-year-old Alice Carpenter of Mindenmines, Missouri, suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for care.

No other injuries were reported.

One person is injured following a single-vehicle accident in Bourbon County.

The crash occurred around 5pm Thursday in the 200 block of West 23^rd Street in Fort Scott. A 2013 Ford Mustang was westbound when it left the roadway and struck a driveway culvert. The impact caused the vehicle to spin and resulted in the injury of a passenger in the car, identified as 19-year-old Chloe Shoemaker of Spring Hill, Kansas.

Shoemaker was taken to Fort Scott's Freeman Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

Coffeyville's Friends of the Animals Shelter and Coffeyville Community College's Phi Theta Kappa are partnering to offer Cookies and Cuddles next week.

CFA Board Director Becky Barnhart says they'll have some of the shelter dogs on campus for the event.  The event is Wednesday, April 15^th, from 9:00am to 11:00am on the lawn north of the CCC Student Union. Students will need to sign a waiver before interacting with the shelter dogs.

The City of Coffeyville provides an update on work being done along 11^th Street.

According to the Public Works Department, JKS Construction completed five storm inlets on the north side of 11^th Street last week. Crews are expected to resume work this week, weather permitting, as they shift to the south side of the street to replace three additional inlets.

Once that portion of the project is finished, one final inlet remains to be replaced at the intersection of 11^th and Spring, just east of Walnut. The City says the project is part of continued efforts to improve local infrastructure and thank residents for their patience during construction.

Several announcements were made at this week's Wilson County Commission meeting, including the closing of a low-water bridge west of Chanute.

The closure is due to flooding from recent rainfall and will close the bridge on K-39 between Wichita Road and Yale Road. According to Road and Bridge Supervisor Kary Tatum, the bridge will likely need to be replaced, County Coordinator Kris Marple says.

The commission also made a motion for the Road and Bridge department. They approved spending $32,000 on a new side-dump pivot bucket. The device attaches to a pay loader, and the County expects to start using it to lay asphalt in May.

They also passed a new dust control policy. It places a priority on roads, and was heavily inspired by the latest policy done in Montgomery County, Marple says.

Finally, a motion was passed to reappoint Scott Carson for the 31^st Judicial District Community Corrections Juvenile Advisory Board. Carson is also the principal of Iola High School.

The commission will not meet next week, on April 15.

The USD 447 Board of Education votes to remove Travis Githens as superintendent.

The decision came during the board’s meeting last night, where the vote was unanimous to end the contract with Githens, effective immediately. In a message to district families, Board President Gina Booe says the district is now focused on determining both short-term and long-term leadership plans. Those decisions are expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

No additional details about the decision were released, citing employee privacy and confidentiality laws. District officials say day-to-day operations will continue, and families with questions are encouraged to contact their student’s teacher or principal.

The Altamont City Council will meet tonight and hear recommendations regarding the State Revolving Fund loan for sewer repairs.

Council members will hear from Midwest Assistance Program Project Manager Austin Masters who will present a summary of the rate analysis for Phase One (I) of the project. Masters is expected to recommend the City move forward with a $2.6 million loan from the State Revolving Fund on a 30-year term while continuing to pursue less expensive financing.

The Council will also hear reports from City Manager LeeAnn Myers and from the City's Police and Fire Departments.

Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at 407 South Huston Street in Altamont. The meeting is open to the public and is also available for online viewing via the City's FaceBook page.

The Independence City Commission will meet tonight with housing and downtown beautification on the agenda.

At tonight's meeting, commissioners will consider adopting an ordinance amending the minimum housing standards for the residential rental inspections and adopting the HUD National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate or NSPIRE standards. The City Code Enforcement Office enforces the Minimum Standards for Rental Properties and administers the program using HUD Housing Quality Standards. HUD has updated these standards to the NSPIRE, which are currently in effect.

Commissioners are also expected to award the bid for Phase One (I) of downtown tree replacement. This phase will replace all of the tree in the 100 blocks surrounding the intersection of Penn and Main. The project will clean the existing tree wells, installing drainage, and planting the news trees.

There will also be consideration of a bid proposal to repair the septic system in the Park Office at Riverside Park.

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.

The City of Parsons is hosting a Kids Party in Park Day tomorrow.

The City's youngest residents can enjoy a day of fun at Parsons Forest Park. Activities will include train rides, sack races, and other fun games. There will also be a photo booth and SEK Princesses. The event is sponsored by the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program and Head Start.

Kids 5 years of age and younger are invited to join the fun tomorrow from 11 to 2 in Parsons.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is proposing a state level plan aimed at addressing the issue of property tax relief for Kansas taxpayers.

In Kansas, the majority of property taxes are levied at the local level, including by cities, counties, and school districts. These taxes pay for services such as police and fire protection, road maintenance and public schools. In recent years,  increased valuations and rising costs have placed an undue burden on property owners across the state.

Kelly's has proposed a three step plan. The plan’s first step is passing Senate Bill 378, which would grant a one-time $250 vehicle tax credit to all vehicle owners upon registration. The credit would be funded using surplus money from the budget stabilization fund, providing immediate financial relief in Fiscal Year 2027. Because it is a one-time measure, it is designed to avoid long-term impact on the state’s reserves.

The second part of the plan establishes a state-funded pool to support cities and counties that maintain responsible budget growth, recommended at no more than 3 percent annually. The fund would start with a $60 million deposit and grow by 2 percent each year, with eligible local governments receiving distributions based on population and assessed value. This approach aims to fairly allocate resources while encouraging fiscal discipline across both rural and urban communities.

The third part of the plan would increase the property tax exemption for the 20-mill school levy from $75,000 to $150,000 of a home’s appraised value. To maintain full funding for public education, the state would offset the lost revenue with transfers from the State General Fund to the School District Finance Fund.

Kelly has urged state lawmakers to consider her tax reform package as the 2026 Legislative Session comes to a close.

A northeastern Kansas man faces charges for child sex crimes.

Agents from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested 39-year-old Dennis D. Dees of WaKeeney yesterday (Wednesday) morning on twenty-one charges of sexual exploitation of a child. Last Saturday, the WaKeeney Police Department requested the KBI investigate a case involving solicitation of a minor. The WaKeeney Police Department was initially contacted by the St. Croix Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin about the case. During the investigation, evidence of illicit material was discovered on electronic devices belonging to Dees.

The suspect was booked into the Thomas County Jail in Colby. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

The investigation is ongoing.

The City of Sedan continues its search for a new Police Chief.

At this week's City Council meeting, council members agreed to set a date to interview a candidate for the position as they continue to receive and review applications. The City has been in search of a new police chief since Kirk Richardson announced his retirement in late February. City Clerk Lana Robinson says she would like the City to present Richardson with a gift for his retirement.

The Council approved the gift along with guidelines for future retiring officers. In other business, Council members were asked to approve repairs to the City's bulk water station. Robinson says a valve on the station is broken.

The Council approved the expenditure of $3,525 to Vernon Manufacturing of Gypsum, Kansas, for the repairs. No time line was given as to when the station will be back in full working order.

Officials in Cherryvale are working on a way to fund a needed sewer lift station replacement.

At this week's meeting, Ben Coltrane of Midwest Engineering addressed the council regarding city projects, including the lift station. Coltrane say replacement costs are estimated at $538,000.

Cherryvale City Administrator Michael Hall says this is a project that has to be done.

Hall says they'll have to fund the project through a loan, grant or a combination of the two. The city had hoped to have an incoming data center fund the project through a private-public partnership that did not end up coming to fruition.

Another sure sign of spring is on the way. It's time for park opening at Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence.

This Saturday from 11 to 3, there will be activities for the whole family. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says there will be free face painting plus a wide variety of activities.

Wilson says all activities besides the concessions stand are free. It all happens this weekend in the Riverside Park Oval in Independence.

A Bartlesville man is facing 24 misdemeanor charges in an unauthorized purchase investigation.

37-year-old Peyton Ropp was charged with 24 counts of obtaining merchandise by false pretenses. According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Ropp identified himself as a representative for an organization in Eastern Osage County at a Bartlesville O'Reilly's. Ropp made 24 purchases at the O'Reilly's, totaling almost $6,000, and charged the purchases to the business' accounts. The purchases were made from September to October 2025.

Multiple representatives from the organization reported to authorities that Ropp has never worked for the business and was not authorized to make the purchases. Ropp is currently facing felony charges in Washington County for first-degree forgery and identity theft in separate matters. Ropp will appear in court again next Wednesday at 9:00am. His bond is set at $10,000.

The News On 6 weather team is hosting the Severe Weather Awareness Expo this weekend.

Chief Meteorologist Travis Meyer and the Oklahoma Weather Experts will be at Woodland Hills Mall Saturday from 11:00am to 2:00pm. The team, heard locally with weather updates twice an hour every hour on KGGF, KUSN, and KQQF, will be available to meet the public, along with storm trackers and Osage SkyNews 6 pilot Dustin Stone.

Visitors can find them inside the mall on the lower level near JCPenney, and also check out the SkyNews 6 helicopter and storm tracker vehicles outside near the food court entrance. The event is free and open to the public at Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa.

*Photo Courtesy of the News On 6*

A community health seminar focused on blood pressure awareness is coming to Coffeyville later this month.

Dr. Garrett Koehn will present “Take Control of Your Blood Pressure” on Thursday, April 23^rd at the CRMC Primary Care Clinic. The session will focus on understanding high blood pressure, often called hypertension, and the risks it can pose if left untreated, including heart disease, stroke and kidney problems.

The seminar is designed to help people better understand their numbers and provide simple, practical steps to improve overall health. The free event is from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, but registration is required. To reserve a spot, call (620)252-2201.

Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power continues to receive national recognition for both reliability and safety.

The utility earned honors from the American Public Power Association for dependable electric service and strong safety practices in 2025. The recognition reflects ongoing work across the department, including system planning, maintenance, outage response and daily field operations.

City officials say reliability and safety go hand in hand in delivering consistent electric service to the community. They also note safety remains a priority shaped by past experiences, reinforcing the importance of proper procedures and responsibility in the field. CMLP says it remains focused on providing dependable service while maintaining a strong safety culture.

A Missouri man faces numerous charges in Crawford County after being arrested for using stolen financial cards.

On the morning of Tuesday, April 7, 2026, deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff's Office responded to Chicopee, located just southwest of Pittsburg, for a report of a vehicle burglary. During the investigation, the deputy learned that the victim's financial cards were used at a couple of businesses in Pittsburg. The deputy responded to one of the businesses and was able to get security footage of the suspect.

Later that day, one of those establishments contacted law enforcement when the suspect returned and attempted to use a financial card that didn't belong to him. The suspect was stopped at the location and identified as Charles Anthony Haddad of Lamar, Missouri. He was taken into custody, and more financial cards and other stolen property belonging to other victims were located. Haddad was also in possession of a handgun.

Haddad was transported to the jail, where he is currently being held on 14 counts of criminal use of a financial card, 3 counts of vehicle burglary, and 1 count of criminal possession of a weapon.

The Neodesha City Commission will meet today with several items of new business on the agenda.

At today's meeting, commissioners will hear a presentation from the Lawrence-based company 19^th Century Restorations regarding a possible renovation of the derrick. Commissioners will also discuss the donation of Jaws of Life equipment and the hours of operation for the City pool. There will also be a request for the use of Riverwalk Park along with three proclamations.

Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at the Neodesha City Hall. The meeting is open to the public. A recording of today's meeting will also be available for viewing on the City of Neodesha FaceBook page.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office receives grant funding for the purchase of crime scene technology.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach was in Independence yesterday (on Tuesday) to present $15,000 in grant funding to the M-C-S-O to be used for the purchase of high tech equipment for fighting crime across the county. Kobach says the grant is funded through the former $100 fee for concealed carry permits in the state.

Deputy Chris Bishop gave a demonstration of a virtual training device for taser use. Bishop says the device helps deputies learn how to use the device without using up equipment.

Deputy Ty Lupardus says the high tech training device allows deputies to receive training that is critical in the field.

Deputies also drones and several devices used in remote operations.

Story Photo: Captain of Corrections Chad Dunham (left) discusses the use of technology with Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (middle) as Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade (right) looks on.

Deputy Chris Bishop demonstrates virtual taser training

Several area high school students are nominated for theater awards for outstanding achievement.

The Music Theatre of Wichita Jester Awards recognize outstanding achievement in Kansas high school musical theater by honoring students and schools in categories like production, performance, and technical design. This year, the Independence High School production of The Addams Family Musical received 17 total honors and nominations, including Outstanding Overall Production. Students Ryan Sandon was recognized as Lead Performer as Gomez Addams, while Brynlee Taylor and J.P. Tharp were honored as Supporting Performers.

Other area students to receive recognition include M.J. Ashen from Labette County High School for Lighting Design and Jaden Nash also from L-C-H-S for Sound Design.

These students will join others from 51 high schools across the state for the 24^th Jester Awards on May 3^rd in Wichita.

To see the complete list of 2026 Jester Award nominees, follow this link.

Residents in Cherryvale and Coffeyville may notice what appears to be an increased police presence in those cities today.

There is no need for alarm as the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office along with area police departments will be conducting training exercises throughout the day. Training signs will be placed in the area in order to inform residents about the police activity.

Officials remind residents that the exercises are routine and designed to ensure officers are prepared to respond effectively to emergencies.

Firefighters in Wilson County respond to a report of a burning vehicle on US-400.

The initial call came in just before 6pm Tuesday night. Crews from the Neodesha Fire Department and Wilson County Rural Fire responded to the scene where they found a vehicle on fire, just north of the City of Neodesha. Neodesha Fire knocked the fire down while a county unit assisted with traffic control in the area. The vehicle was a complete loss, but no injuries were reported.

Photo courtesy Wilson County Rural Fire

Oklahoma voters went to the polls Tuesday to vote in various school board and special elections.

In the race for the school board seats, in Nowata County, incumbent Margie Learned beat challenger Robert Parrish by five votes, winning 150 to 145. In Chelsea, challenger Debbie Hoskins defeated incumbent Larry Copeland the 2^nd (II) by a total of 275 votes to 142. In the Copan school board election, Tasha Hollopeter earned 87% of the total votes cast to defeat David Weatherspoon.

Chelsea Public Schools also placed an $800,000 bond issue for new school buses and transportation equipment on the ballot. Oklahoma state law requires a 60% majority to pass a school proposition. The Chelsea proposition failed by 28 votes, garnering only 53% of the 415 votes cast.

In South Coffeyville, voters approved a 1.5% sales tax.

Election results will be made official on Friday.

The Oklahoma State Treasurer’s Office releases the March 2026 State Tax Revenue Report, showing increases not only for last month, but the year as well.

 Total monthly collections reached $1.4 billion, up 18.7% from February and 7.2% higher than March 2025. Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma collected $17.3 billion, an increase of 2.9%, compared to the prior year.

 Following a strong finish in December, revenue growth moderated in January and February before strengthening again in March. The 12-month ending revenue growth increased to 0.55%, up from 0.04% in February, and has remained positive for seven consecutive months, signaling improving momentum in the rolling annual total and supporting a firmer outlook heading into the spring.

 Income Tax collections were down by 4.7%,  with mixed performance between individual and corporate receipts. Gross Production Taxes were down 8.6%,  though they are rising month-over-month as energy activity improves. . Motor Vehicle Taxes were up 5.1%. Sales & Use Tax was up more than 10% down 2.7%, signaling continued strength in consumer spending.

 Oklahoma's Unemployment rate was 3.6%, compared to 4.3% nationally.

State Treasurer Todd Russ stated: “March reflects renewed momentum in Oklahoma's economy, with broad-based growth across major revenue sources and a strengthening outlook. The rolling 12-month total continues to improve, reinforcing the state's fiscal stability.”

To read the full report, follow this link.

Independence Community College in partnership with the Independence Amateur Radio Club will host a Ham Radio Technician-level class this summer.

The class will be June 9th – 12th, offering community members the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge in amateur radio communication and earn their entry-level license.

The four-day course will take place from 6:00–9:00 p.m. each evening in Academic Building  Room 200 and is open to the public. Class size is limited to 15 participants, and all required books and materials will be provided.

Amateur radio offers a unique and reliable form of communication that operates independently of internet and cellular networks. Participants will learn how to connect with others around the world, explore technical aspects of radio operation, and develop valuable communication skills.

A link to register for the class is available here.

Contact the club for more information here: 

www.n0id.org/contact-us

The Bartlesville Police Department identifies the victim in this morning's homicide.

The deceased male victim has been identified as 31-year-old Christopher Elijah Richardson. The investigation remains active and ongoing. At this time, no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the BPD Criminal Investigation Division.

The Nowata County Commission will hold a special meeting tomorrow morning at the Nowata County Annex.

The commissioners will properly adjust meeting minutes to display Michaela Lowe as the appointed Nowata County Treasurer. Lowe is replacing Rachel Marrs for the position, who announced her resignation during the board meeting on March 16^th. Her resignation is effective on Friday.

Lowe filed for candidacy for Nowata County Treasurer and is running unopposed. Tomorrow's meeting begins at 9:00am.

A Caney woman is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing money from multiple elderly victims.

52-year-old Marcella Freed was charged with three counts of financial exploitation of the elderly. According to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, Freed was a business manager for a Bartlesville rehab and health facility. Between April 2024 and June 2025, she stole over $21,600 that was supposed to be deposited in the facility's account. Freed received about $18,000 that was meant for residents' bills from April 2024 to April 2025. In September 2024, Freed named herself an appointed trustee of a resident's Medicaid Income Pension Trust and redirected $3,142 into her personal account.

Her account history showed purchases on Etsy, Hey Dude Shoes, government payments and various restaurants and businesses in Kansas. Freed will appear in court again on May 1^st at 9:00am. She posted a $9,000 bond.

The Bartlesville Police Department is investigating a homicide following a stabbing incident.  BPD Captain Travis Martinez says officers were responding to a call this morning and upon arrival found an adult male dead at the scene.

Two men, who were at the scene, were taken to the police department for questioning. Authorities have not released any names at this time, and the identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The investigation remains active, and anyone with information is asked to contact BPD.

The Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026 scholarships.

Each year, the foundation awards financial assistance to students pursuing careers in the medical field, including nursing, radiologic technology, lab work and paramedic programs. Among the scholarships available are the Best Family Medical Scholarship and the Barry and Carol Phillips Nursing Scholarship. The Best Family Scholarship supports students entering a variety of healthcare fields, while the Phillips Scholarship is focused specifically on nursing students.

The goal is to help students complete their education and eventually return to work in rural communities, where healthcare workers remain in high demand. Applications are available online through the CRMC website, and must be submitted by May 31^st.

The Sedan City Council will meet tonight and entertain several items of business.

On the agenda is a discussion of the bulk water station, the resignation of a City employee and fish feeders at the lake. Today'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 of Sedan FaceBook page.

Voters in Oklahoma head to the polls today for general school board elections and other special elections across the state.

Nowata County has three school board seats up for election. For Nowata Public Schools, incumbent Margie Learned is challenged by Robert Parrish.

Chelsea Public Schools has one school board seat up for election and a proposition as well. Incumbent Larry Copeland the Second (II) is challenged by Debbie Hoskins. Voters in Chelsea will also be asked to approve an $800,000 bond proposal. The bond would be used to purchase school buses and transportation equipment.

The City of South Coffeyville is putting a 1.5% sales tax increase proposition in front of voters.

Some Nowata County voters will be able to vote in Copan's school board election, where incumbent Tasha Hollopeter is challenged by David Weatherspoon.

Polls are open from 7am to 7pm today.

Summer is just around the corner and that means swimming pool owners will soon be filling up for the season.

The City of Neodesha is offering a new sewer adjustment for residents filling swimming pools. To request an adjustment, pool owners will need to complete the Pool Filling Sewer Abatement Form with residence information, pool size, and filling dates. All sections of the form must be completed and the form must be approved before any adjustment can be applied. Forms are available at the Neodesha City Hall at 14-07 North 8^th Street.

Anyone with questions can contact City Hall.

The Parsons City Commission discusses the purchase of new vehicles for the police department.

At this week's meeting, commissioners considered the purchase of three vehicle for the Parsons Police Department. Mayor Kevin Cruse says the purchase price seems like a good deal.

Each vehicle has less than 30,000 miles and will be outfitted to be used as detective vehicles, not patrol cars.

In other business, commissioners also approved a resolution proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and then heard an update from Parsons Chamber Director Liz Cochran.

The Independence Masonic lodge will host a breakfast fundraiser this Saturday.

The all-you-can-eat breakfast will feature biscuits & gravy, pancakes, sausage and eggs for just $10. Kids 10 and under eat free with a paid adult. Dine-in and carry-out are available.

It all happens Saturday from 7 to 11am at the Independence Masonic Lodge at 2000 West Laurel. All proceeds support local charities and operations.

The City of Caney has issued a boil water advisory for part of the city following a water shut off.

The advisory is for Caney water customers south of 9^th Street to 11^th Street. Residents in that area should boil water for at least one minute prior to consumption or food preparation or use bottled water instead. The advisory was issued by the City of Caney as a precaution until water samples can be tested.

The Kansas Department of Transportation begins a mudjacking project on bridges in Allen, Greenwood, Neosho, and Wilson counties.

Mudjacking is a process that improves the transition from the road to a bridge by using by using polyurethane foam to raise and level concrete bridge approach slabs and highway/shoulder panels. The project begins today at six locations across the four counties including on US-75 west of Neodesha, on the Fall River Bridge on US-400 near Fall River, on the Fall River B Ridge on US-54 near Eureka. Work in Allen County will occur in two locations on US-169, the first being just south of the US-54 junction and the second located four miles north of K-39. In Neosho County, construction will occur on K-47, west of St. Paul.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zones and may be guided by a pilot car in some locations. Drivers can expect brief delays, with Saturday work possible.

The project is expected to be completed by mid-April.

The Montgomery County Attorney’s Office opts out of a recent wage study and the use of the County Personnel Manual.

That was the word from County Administrator Jonathan Booe at this week’s commission meeting.  Booe says that the County Attorney can make that decision based on a ruling from the Kansas Attorney General.

This will allow the County Attorney’s Office to set its own pay scale for employees.

In other business, commissioners approved the purchase of a skid unit for Rural Fire for just over $92,000 from Emergency Vehicle Resources of Claremore. Also approved was the purchase of a $338,000 grader and a $158,000 backhoe for Public Works.

Members of the public show up during the discussion on a data center project that fell through in Cherryvale.

At last night's meeting, Cherryvale City Administrator Michael Hall explained the background on the company that was looking at occupying an industrial site in Cherryvale. Hall says data centers have gotten a bad name because of past behavior.

Hall says while HyperDatagrid was unable to reach mutually acceptable terms with the party controlling the land sale for the project, he thinks attracting another data center would be a benefit to the city.

As part of any potential partnership, Hall says a requirement for any incoming company will be to partner on city projects. HyperDatagrid was prepared to fund $5.9 million worth of projects, including a sewer line extension and lift station, swimming pool reconstruction, rec improvements and grant matching fund assistance.

During yesterday's meeting, members of the public spoke out against having a data center in Cherryvale, including a back-and-forth between the mayor.

The property management company plans to continue to work to attract a new industry under the direction of the City Council.

Multiple departments respond to a large grass fire north of Dearing.

Around 4:30 yesterday afternoon, Independence Rural Fire responded to a grass fire near the intersection of CR 3900 and 3200. Mutual aid was provided by Dearing, Tyro, Coffeyville, CVR, Liberty, Cherryvale and Sycamore Fire.

Several acres burned, but there was no report of additional loss of property or injury.

Photo: Frank Shedden, SnapWild Photography

A Caney man is facing multiple felony charges after after an incident in Bartlesville.

45-year-old Robert Martin Jr was charged with kidnapping, pointing a firearm, possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, committing a felony with a firearm with a defaced ID number and domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor. According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Martin Jr spray painted the firearm to cover the serial number and pointed it at the victim. He did not let the victim leave the residence and threatened the victim. The victim's 2-year-old child allegedly witnessed the incident.

Authorities spotted a large scratch mark on the victim's left leg. Martin Jr is facing additional felony charges in a separate matter. He was charged in September 2025 with endangering others while eluding a police officer and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He will appear in court again on April 17^th and his bond is set at $500,000.
 

It was a busy start to the month of April for the Chanute Police Department.

On April 2^nd, officers arrested 35-year-old Cheyenne Patton in the 100 block of South Santa Fe Avenue on an active Neosho County warrant. Patton was also booked for felony interference with law enforcement and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

On April 4^th, officers conducted a traffic stop near Cherry Street and Garfield Avenue, arresting 29-year-old Christian Lee for DUI, speeding, no insurance, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container. Later that same day, officers responded to the 300 block of South Allen Avenue, where 30-year-old Keith Koester was arrested on allegations of domestic battery and abuse of a child.

The Labette County Historical Society makes a budget request to the Labette County Commission.

Last year the Commission gave $35,000 to the Historical Society to be split among the five museums in the county, which was an increase of $5,000 from the previous year. Historical Society's David Hubbel says instead of a set dollar amount they would like to see a quarter of a mill allocated to them.  Historical Society's Betsy Kuntz says the money the five museums receive goes a long way to keeping them operational.

No action was taken on the request. Budget season is about to start and the commissioners want to see what all of the budgets will look like before making a decision.

The Nowata County Commissioners vote to end the county-wide burn ban two days early.

District Three Commissioner Troy Friddle and Nowata Fire Chief Jason Goodell say this week creates favorable weather for burning before dry conditions return.

The burn ban was put in place on March 25^th. This also ends the City of Nowata's burn ban. Washington County also voted to end their burn ban, which was set to expire on April 14^th. 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks have issued a public health advisory due to blue-green algae.

The warning has been issued for Frontenac City Lake's southeast pond in Crawford County and King Lake in Lyon County. Lake Afton in Sedgwick County is also under a warning. The warning means that a harmful algae bloom is expected or currently present in the water. Water from the lake is not safe to drink for pets or livestock and should never be consumed by humans. Contact with the water should also be avoided. Fish caught in the lake may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.

The advisories will be lifted when cell densities and toxin concentrations dissipate to levels below the Watch level. For more information, follow this link.

The Humanities Project from Coffeyville Community College  offers a taste of Americana as it welcomes the Oregon Trail Troubadours to the Spencer Rounds Theater .
 

The Troubadours feature two Humanities Series favorites, Daniel Neihoff and Lyal Strickland, joined by two musical friends, Rachel Laven and Dillon Hasten. The Troubadours ask that you imagine joining them around the campfire after a long day on the trail, as they regale you with stories and songs from their lives and characters that have crossed their path. Follow along with their journey as they ford rivers, hunt for their dinner, and stave off hunger and disease.

The Oregon Trail Troubadours will perform tomorrow night at 6:30pm in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC campus. Admission is free.

Tax receipts for the State of Kansas in March come in below estimates.

The total tax receipts last month came in at $577.1 million. That number is 10.7% or nearly $69 million below estimates. Receipts were also 9.5% lower than March 2025. Both individual income and corporate taxes fell in March, driving the lower-than-projected numbers. Individual taxes were $3.7 million or 1.3% below expectations while corporate taxes dropped even more. Those receipts were negative $23.5 million or 158% below estimates and 147% less than a year ago.

Governor Laura Kelly stated: “Missing revenue estimates by nearly $69 million in March and by over $175 million cumulatively since the last Consensus Revenue Estimates in November is concerning. This reckless, irresponsible approach to budgeting is not smart and it is not fair. I hope that future Legislative Leadership understands that the people expect them to be good stewards of Kansas taxpayers’ dollars and that means working until the job is done right, even during election years.”

Riverside Park in Independence will hold official opening this Saturday.

The yearly bash will feature free face painting and crafts for the kids. The miniature train and carousel will be open and offering free rides as well.  Food vendors will be set up on the oval and Miss Able’s Snack Shack will also be open for drinks and treats.

The Riverside Park Opening runs from 11 to 3 on Saturday, April 11.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of McCune public water supply systems located in Crawford County.

Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water instead. Dispose of ice cubes from trays and automatic ice makers. If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears. Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled, but supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested.

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure due to a water line break.

 The advisory went into effect on April 5^th and will remain in effect until further notice.

The second child injured in last week's shooting in Ellsworth County has died.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced that the 8-year-old boy injured in last week's shooting in Brookeville, about 20 miles west of Salina, passed away late Friday night from his injuries. The boy was critically wounded on March 28^th when another child found a loaded, unsecured shotgun, picked it up and fired twice. The boy was struck as well as a 5-year-old girl who was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office are investigating the shooting.

Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence has a new face that’s ready to be seen.

Zoo officials say they have recently acquired a 7-month-old female llama named Go-Go. Go-Go has just completed her quarantine period and has been introduced the Carley the Llama and alpacas Sparkle and Bobby. Go-Go can now be seen in her habitat at the zoo.

Ralph Mitchell Zoo is also now operating on summer hours. The zoo is now open between 9am and 7pm through October.

Photo courtesy Ralph Mitchell Zoo

The Caney City Council is set to meet tonight with a lengthy agenda up for discussion.

One of the major items in front of the Council tonight is the beginning of the condemnation process on 12 properties in City. Council members will also discuss and consider a time extension for the Community Development Block Grant for the Coffeyville Supply Line project as well as approving the purchase of a new Public Work facility. There will also be a discussion of the audit from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:30 at the Caney City Hall. Any members of the public who wish to attend are asked to enter through the doors on the east end of the building.

The Montgomery County Commission will consider details of bids for several pieces of large equipment at today’s meeting.

Public Works Director Brandon Beurskins will appear before the commission at today’s meeting to present bids the county has received for the purchase of a grader and a backhoe. Also on the agenda is Building Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Phelps who will discuss cameras at the County Barn. County Administrator Jonathan Booe and Assistant County Administrator Kory White will also be on hand to go over details of a wage study.

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.

Students and community members celebrate the ribbon cutting of the school's new ag building.

Last Wednesday, the Chanute High School Agricultural Program marked a milestone with the opening of the brand-new James and Jean Cooper Animal Science Building. Many were in attendance, including U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Representative Derek Schmidt.

According to the district, this new facility opens the door to hands-on learning like never before by giving students the opportunity to work directly with live animals in a safe, modern, and purpose-built environment.  Construction started on the building last June.

Photo: USD 413

The Fredonia Police Department addresses concerns about the use of electric scooters on city roadways.

Police Chief Tyler Decker says the department has received multiple complaints about careless operation. He says officers have also responded to several incidents both locally and in other communities that have resulted in serious injuries. Decker says existing city ordinances regarding electric scooters have been in place since 2004, and the department’s role is to enforce those rules in the interest of public safety.

He emphasizes the goal is education, not punishment, and says officers are not looking to impound scooters but instead want to ensure riders understand how to operate them safely and within the law.  Decker encourages parents and riders to review city ordinances and have conversations about safe practices. 

The Wilson County Commission announces details on their upcoming primary elections at this week's meeting.

The following positions will be voted on in the August 4 election: U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives 2^nd District, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Insurance, State Representative 13^th District, State Board of Education 9^th District, and more local positions as Wilson County Clerk Kayla Busch lists.

Each of the primaries has just one candidate. The Wilson County voting system will also be revamped with a $3,600 grant that will go toward ballot security bags, ballot-transmitting carts, and a new computer for ballot counting.

A female pedestrian is injured after being struck by a car in Osage County, Oklahoma.

The accident occurred yesterday. 68-year old Teresa Lumpkin was driving her vehicle on State Highway 97 near Sand Springs when she she observed oncoming traffic flashing their brights. 

A report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol states Lumpkin thought she had her bright lights on when she saw 62-year old Kathy Murray in the middle of the road. Lumpkin attempted to hit her brakes, but was unable to stop in time before hitting Murray. 

The extent of Murray's injuries are unknown.