The first court appearances for a man accused of escaping custody in Cherokee County are canceled.

28-year-old Terron Allen of Baxter Springs was scheduled to appear in Cherokee County Court on Monday morning to face charges of aggravated escape and aggravated criminal sodomy. Allen was being transported back to Kansas when Cherokee County Sheriff's deputies say he escaped from custody on September 21. He was recaptured on September 24.

The Cherokee County Attorney's Office has not yet set a new date for the hearing.

The City of Coffeyville will be holding a volunteer stream bank clean up at LeClere Park next Tuesday, October 6.

Participants can help pick up litter, remove debris, and clean along the stream banks to prevent pollution and protect water quality. The City will provide glove, grabbers, and buckets for the clean up. Those wishing to help should plan to meet at the main parking lot at LeClere Park on the south side at 1pm next Tuesday.

The 2027 general election is just over a month away, and the Nowata County Election Board has been busy with state-mandated live ballot testing.

Election Board Secretary Dave Neely was at this week's commission meeting to update commissioners on progress. Neely says the hand-count audit of August's primary election went well.

Neely also says the results of the live ballot testing were also excellent.

The general election will take place on November 3^rd.

A Pawhuska woman is facing a felony charge after an alleged assault on a jail employee in Bartlesville.

30-year-old Blake Cunningham was charged on Monday with assault and battery on a police officer. Cunningham also faces a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, authorities responded to Jane Phillips Medical Center after Cunningham allegedly refused to leave. Police say she got out of a vehicle that was taking her from the hospital, yelled at the person who picked her up, and returned toward the hospital entrance before allegedly resisting officers’ attempts to handcuff her. After being taken to the Washington County Jail, Cunningham allegedly attempted to elbow a jailer in the face.

Cunningham was allegedly intoxicated during the incident.

Cunningham will appear in court again on October 16^th. Her bond is set at $10,000.

The administration of Fort Hays State University announces that the school will close the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in December.

According to a statement issued this week by University President Dr. Tisa Mason, the museum will close on December 18 due to budget cuts. During the most recent legislative session, state lawmakers cut $2.4 million from the school's recurring base budget and also asked the school administration to identify an additional 10% administrative reduction.

Mason notes that the museum has not been financially stable for some time. On average, it spends about $1.3 million a year and generates about $470,000 in revenue from visitors, memberships, grants, and sales. Additionally, the building that houses the Sternberg Museum faces more than $20 million in deferred maintenance.

The university has stated that museum faculty and staff will spend the remainder of the year reviewing the collections and determining which specimens need to be retained for research and teaching.

Authorities in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, are investigating after a body is discovered in a river near Quapaw.

Police say the body was discovered on Saturday morning in the Spring River near Bicentennial Park about 4 miles east of Quapaw. The deceased male was turned over to the medical examiner's office as authorities try to determine the man's identity and cause of death.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The Kansas Department of Corrections and the Bureau of Land Management sign a five-year agreement to continue the wild horse and burro program at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility.

The agreement  allows wild horses and burros captured on public land by the B-L-M to be trained and cared for by staff and residents at H-C-F. The current agreement allows for K-DOC to maintain between 350 and 400 horses to be trained and cared for while seeking placement for the animals in private care. The program allows inmates to provide halter and saddle training for the horses and burros to make them suitable for ownership.

The program began in 2001.

Crime in Montgomery County is trending downward.

That's the word from County Attorney Melissa Johnson. She says the number of criminal cases in Montgomery County continues to drop, with her office on track to files charges in about 425 cases for 2026. That number is lower than in the previous year when the total number of cases topped 500. Johnson says drugs continue to drive crime numbers in the county.

The county has held five jury trials so far this year with another 25 scheduled to occur into 2027. Captain of Corrections Chad Dunham says a big reason the county has seen a decrease in crime is due to the county attorney's office.

The crime statistics are based on preliminary numbers. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will release the 2026 numbers in July of 2027.

The Wilson County Commission approves a bid for work on the heating and cooling system at the County Law Enforcement Center.

At their most recent meeting, commissioners approved a bid of $189,000 from Vic's Heat and Air in Fredonia. The funds will go to replace 19 HVAC units at the Wilson County Sheriff's Department in Fredonia. Commissioners also approved just over $66,000 for the Road & Bridge Department to repair a motor grader.

In other business, representatives from the Wilson Medical Center gave a presentation on the operational and financial matters of the hospital. They reported a strong financial turnaround in 2025, growing patient revenue, significant improvement in cash flow, and an improved bottom line.

The Wilson County Commission will meet again today at 9am at the county courthouse in Fredonia. The meeting is open to the public.

Highway 169 is back open after being closed last night in both directions at Talala due to a fire at a grain mill.

According to Rogers County Emergency Management, area fire departments responded to the mill on the north end of town. US 169 had to be closed to allow firefighters to run hoses across the highway. The road was reopened around midnight and fire departments were able to clear the scene. There's no word on any injuries or the extent of the damage, but structure appears to be mainly undamaged.

Photo: Rogers County Emergency Management

The two candidates for Kansas House District 11 make their case to voters during a candidate forum in Coffeyville.

Republican incumbent Ron Bryce and Democratic challenger William Kendall took part in the forum, giving voters an opportunity to hear from both candidates ahead of the November general election. Bryce has represented District 11 in the Kansas House since 2023. During his opening remarks, Bryce talked about his connection to Coffeyville and his time serving the district. He says when the moved back here he got involved with the community after purchasing some buildings downtown and opening new businesses.  Kendall is a Coffeyville City Commissioner and longtime Coffeyville resident. He says he's here to listen and work hard.

The candidates also answered questions during the forum on issues facing District 11 and the state of Kansas. KGGF News will take a closer look at both candidates later this week, with individual features on Bryce and Kendall. The candidate profiles begin with Bryce, coming up tomorrow followed by Kendall on Friday. A link to the full forum can be found here.

A Parsons man is arrested after a reported hit-and-run leads to a vehicle pursuit and foot chase.

The Parsons Police Department says Ronald Robert Paulie drove away from a crash on Main Street last Wednesday morning. Officers located his car on Crawford Avenue, traveling on the rim of a flat front tire. PPD says Paulie failed to stop, pulled into a driveway and ran through a residential yard. A Parsons Police sergeant used a Taser to take him into custody. EMS evaluated Paulie at the scene.

PPD says Paulie showed signs of alcohol impairment and was driving without a required ignition interlock device. A judge approved a warrant for a blood sample. Paulie was booked on suspicion of felony DUI, fleeing, felony interference and several other traffic offenses. The investigation continues.

Cherokee Casino South Coffeyville expands its hours beginning Thursday.

The casino will open at 10:00am and close at 4:00am, Monday through Thursday. It will open Friday at 10:00am and remain open through the weekend until 4:00am Monday morning. Cherokee Nation Entertainment Vice President of Gaming Operations Tony Nagy says the expanded hours will give guests more flexibility to visit throughout the week.

The Ramona casino is adopting the same schedule. Cherokee Casino locations in Fort Gibson, Tahlequah and Sallisaw also expand their hours beginning Thursday.

Caney Valley High School wins $5,000 and remains in the running for a $1,000,000 football field transformation.

The school was randomly selected through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights sweepstakes. 21 Kansas schools receive a combined $105,000. District Office Administrative Assistant Stacy Stapleton submitted Caney’s application to help preserve its historic stadium and improve safety and accessibility. Proposed improvements include ramp access, better seating, a dedicated visitor entrance and functional locker rooms.

The contest’s top 40 finalists will be announced October 8th, with each receiving$25,000. Public voting runs through October 25th to determine four division champions, each receiving $250,000. The grand prize winner will be announced November 12th, receiving $1,000,000 toward a football field transformation.

A Sedan High School sophomore earns championships at two livestock shows.

Lakyn Sutton and her heifer, Dolly, won Champion Fall Heifer Calf at the Kansas State Fair September 13th and at the Inter-State Fair and Rodeo. At the ISFR, Sutton also earned Champion Senior Showman and Champion Maine Heifer honors. Sutton says she appreciates the time and support her family and Dexter and Maddix Small of MAD Cattle Company put into helping her prepare.

She is an all-A honor roll student, president of Sedan FFA and Prairie Pride 4-H, and student council secretary. She also plays volleyball, basketball and softball. Mom Chelsea Dickens says she is proud of the work Lakyn puts into showing, school and her other activities. Sutton and Dolly return to the ring Friday at the Kansas Junior Livestock Show in Hutchinson.

The Nowata County Commission continues its work on its budget for the current fiscal year.

An an initial draft of the budget was approved in May, but the proposal was returned and it was determined that the county was short. Commissioners made multiple cuts to several departments to decrease the deficit.

During Monday's metting,  commissioners approved their second temporary three month budget appropriation. District 3 Commissioner Troy Friddle says there is a process for what funding can be used for the county payroll.

Nowata County Commissioners make $3,000 a month after receiveing a $300 raise earlier this year.

Firefighters in Dewey respond to an afternoon structure fire at a local residence.

Crews were called to the residential scene in Dewey on Monday afternoon around 33:30. Upon arrival on the scene firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the home's garage with possible extension into the attic. An aggressive attack quickly brought the blaze under control and kept the flames contained to the garage. No injuries were reported.

Crews from the Copan Fire Department and Bartlesville Ambulance Service also responded to the call.

Photo courtesy Dewey Fire

The Parsons Arts and Humanities Council will host a public exhibit by a local artist starting this weekend.

Artwork by Parsons native Jim Kutz will be on display at the Carnegie Arts Center in Parsons beginning on Saturday. Kutz studied Industrial Design at Pittsburg State University and later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute. He worked at the Parsons commercial printing company Sun Graphics for 36 years and worked as a draftsman, scenic painter, and graphic artist. The exhibition of Kutz's work will feature both public and personal pieces.

The display will be open to the public on Saturday from 10am to 2pm and then from Sunday through Tuesday from 3pm to 6pm at 117 South 17^th Street in Parsons.

Emergency crews in Elk County are called to the scene of an early morning vehicle fire in Howard.

The initial call came in around 5:30 this morning as a report of a cattle truck on fire near the intersection of K-99 and Washington in Howard. Traffic control was also requested in the area to assist with some school buses . The fire was successfully extinguished with no injuries to the driver or to the cattle reported.

However, crews remained on the scene to remove the burned vehicle and to retrieve the loose cattle that were freed from the truck by the driver.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office is offering a reward for a stolen trail sign.

The Department says there is a $500 reward for the arrest of the person or people responsible for the theft of a Cherokee Trail sign that disappeared recently from the northeast are of the county. The sign is bronw with white lettering that reads “Cherokee Trail Crossed Here, Arkansas to California.” There are also dates at the bottom of the sign.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office at 620-725-3108

A jury in Neosho County returns a guilty verdict in the first-degree murder trial of a Parsons man.

The jury returned the verdict last week in Erie in the trial of Clint Nibarger who was accused of the 2023 murder of Dakota Patton of Parsons in April 2023. The 23-year-old Patton was found deceased in a field in rural Neosho County shortly after he disappeared. An autopsy confirmed he had died as the result of a gunshot wound.

Both Clint Nibarger and his wife Kimberly faced charges in Patton's death. Clint Nibarger entered a guilty plea in October 2024 to charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. However, the court did not accept the plea, allowing the case to go to trial. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Kimberly Nibarger pleaded guilty in 2025 to charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and obstruction. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the case.

The Montgomery County tax sale is coming up on October 6^th.

For this year's sale, individuals interested in participating will be able to pre-register at the Montgomery County Treasurer's Office in Independence. Prospective bidders will be asked to present a valid driver's license and complete and sign a required affidavit. Individuals with delinquent taxes will not be permitted to pick up a bidder number or participate in the auction. Pre-registration is intended to make the morning of the Tax Sale more efficient. Individuals who do not pre-register should plan to arrive early on October 6th to complete the required registration process before the auction begins.

Those who purchase property at the sale will be able to pay using cash, a cashier's check or a personal check with a letter of credit from their financial institution. The letter of credit from the financial institution must be dated no more than one day prior to the sale date of October 6th.There will also be a $21 recording fee for each parcel purchased.

The Montgomery County Tax Sale will take place on October 6^th at Memorial Hall in Independence. The doors open at 7:30 and bidding begins at 9:30.

Property owners who have a property included in the Tax Sale have until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026, to redeem the property prior to the sale. Property owners with questions regarding the redemption process or the amount required to redeem their property should contact the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office as soon as possible and should not wait until the deadline.

Those with questions about the sale should contact the Montgomery County Treasurer's Office at 620-330-1100. Those with questions about the location of parcels should contact the County Appraiser's Office at 620-330-1050.

The Chanute Police Department says a federal grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old Georgia man following an investigation into alleged contact with a juvenile in Chanute.

Authorities say Cameron Blount of Savannah was investigated after police received information about the alleged contact. Detectives reviewed interviews and electronic evidence before requesting state charges.

Blount was arrested in Loganville, Georgia, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, and later extradited to Kansas.

Police say the investigation also indicated there could be additional victims in other states. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations were brought in to assist.

Federal prosecutors allege Blount traveled from Georgia to Kansas in February with the intent to engage in illegal sexual conduct with a minor. He is charged federally with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

State charges were dismissed following the federal indictment. Blount appeared in federal court September 23rd, and his jury trial is scheduled for November 16th.

The Greenwood County Sheriff's Office is launching an investigation into contraband in the county jail following an incident involving four inmates last week.

Authorities say four inmates at the Greenwood County Jail in Eureka experienced serious medical emergencies last Tuesday afternoon after ingesting an unknown white, powdery substance.

Deputies and medical personnel immediately began life-saving measures as the jail and the Greenwood County Courthouse were evacuated.

Responders say the inmates showed symptoms consistent with opioid exposure. They were given Narcan, which helped stabilize their conditions.

All four individuals were successfully treated, and authorities say the scene was declared safe about two hours later.

The City of Coffeyville asks Montgomery County for support in its pursuit of a state housing program.

Coffeyville City Manager Ben Brubaker was at yesterday’s (Monday’s) county commission meeting looking for support for the City to establish an Reinvestment Housing District or R-H-I-D. Brubaker says the establishment would help with the development of housing in Coffeyville.

Small towns often struggle with a severe shortage of quality housing because traditional development costs are too high for private builders to make a profit. An R-H-I-D helps solve this through specific financial mechanisms and community goals. The R-H-I-D would apply to three properties: the old fire station on 7th Street and two other nearby locations. The district captures up to 100% of the new, incremental increase in real property taxes generated by the new housing project. Brubaker says the extra tax revenue generated by the finished homes is sent back to the developer over a period of up to 25 years to reimburse them for infrastructure costs.

While no official action was taken, commissioners agreed to support Coffeyville in its efforts to establish the R-H-I-D.

A former Ramona police officer is charged with felony sexual battery after being accused of sexual assault while on duty.

According to an arrest affidavit, 67-year-old Gerald Garrison took the victim on a police ride-along Friday evening, then touched them inappropriately. The victim says a sexual act happened inside Ramona City Hall. Police Chief Daniel Blevins says Garrison was removed from duty when the department learned of the allegation Friday night. He was fired and arrested Saturday.

During an interview, Garrison initially denied the alleged sexual acts before saying they kind of made out. His bond was set at $25,000, with a condition that he have no contact with the victim. His next court date is October 16^th.

A dispute between campers at Marvel Park leaves one man injured and a woman under arrest.

The Parsons Police Department says they responded to the campground around 9:00am Wednesday morning. PPD says Anna Stemple struck a neighboring camper’s forearm with a large flashlight after he raised his arm to protect himself. Police also say she pushed another person and damaged the man’s vehicle with the flashlight.

The man was evaluated by EMS at the scene and released. Stemple was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the Labette County Jail on suspicion of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property.

Washington County's burn ban has been lifted effective immediately.

The burn ban has been in place since September 8^th. Emergency Management Director Kary Cox says there are precautions that citizens should keep in mind.  The National Weather Service is forecasting several rounds of rain towards the middle of the week, with totals of three to five inches possible across eastern Oklahoma.

Sheriff Scott Owen says his deputies issued citations for burn ban violations and several warnings were issued while the ban was in effect. He says there are still liabilities to consider should a fire get out of control.  The burn ban in Nowata County was lifted by the Nowata County Commission.

A criminal justice degree could be just one year away for some Coffeyville Community College graduates.

A new agreement with Newman University lets graduates transfer up to 60 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree. Newman may award up to 30 additional hours for training and experience, including police academy training, military service and professional certifications. Depending on the credits awarded, that could leave about 30 hours to finish.

CCC graduates admitted to the program receive a $20,000 Newman scholarship. Online and hybrid classes are available for students who are working while they complete the degree.

The Parsons Police Department is reminding bicycle, e-bike and e-scooter riders to follow traffic laws.

There have been two crashes in the past month and PPD says the riders involved were not following traffic rules. Riders must travel on the proper side of the road, stop at stop signs and obey traffic signals.

Officers are watching for violations and stopping riders. PPD says citations carry the same applicable fines as those issued to motorists. Police are also asking drivers and riders to watch out for one another.

Fall harvest season is here, and that can mean more farm equipment on roadways.

Wildcat Extension District Diversified Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Adaven Rohling says this will include tractors and other heavy equipment.  Most farm equipment is not designed to travel at highway speeds and may only travel 15 to 25mph. Rohling says it is important to slow down and have some patience with tractors and combines.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says to wait for a clear view before passing, and never pass in a no-passing zone. A farm vehicle moving right may be preparing for a wide left turn into a field or driveway.  Drivers should slow down when they see a slow-moving vehicle emblem and give farm equipment room to turn.

The Nowata County Commissioners have a regular meeting scheduled for today.

The commissioners will discuss two bids for county property, a federal emergency relief project for District Two from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation , the county road machinery and equipment revolving fund for the new fiscal year and 3-month temporary budget appropriations for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The board will also discuss dues for the National Association of Counties membership, improvements to the courthouse, the county certification map and county action report and hear an update from Emergency Manager Laurie Summers.

Monday’s meeting begins at 9am at the Nowata County Annex Meeting Room, on North Maple Street in downtown Nowata.

A 10-year-old Bartlesville child is injured after riding a bicycle into the path of a vehicle on a Washington County road.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 1pm Sunday afternoon on County Road Eastwest 1300, just east of US-75.

The OHP report says the child was riding north on an internal cemetery road when the bicycle entered Eastwest 1300 and struck a westbound vehicle driven by 76-year-old Myron Rohrs of Dewey.

Rohrs was not injured. The child was transported for treatment of injuries. The OHP report did not provide the child's condition or additional details about the injuries.

Dalton Defenders Days is coming up this Friday and Saturday in Coffeyville.

The event commemorates the October 5^th, 1892, raid on Coffeyville by the Dalton gang that left four members of the gang and four Coffeyville citizens dead. Dalton Defenders Days will feature reenactments of the raid along with live music and craft and food vendors.

There will be gun safety demonstrations at 5:45 on Friday and then again on Saturday at 9:45, 2:45, and 4:45. Raid reenactments will be at 6pm on Friday and then at 10, 3, and 5 on Saturday.

KGGF staff will be broadcasting live on both days. Dalton Defenders Days runs from 4 to 10pm on Friday and from 9am to 5pm on Saturday in downtown Coffeyville.

Oklahoma students are being encouraged to use their creativity to help keep the state clean and beautiful.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is accepting entries for this year’s Keep Our Land Grand Art Contest, formerly known as the Trash Poster Contest. This year’s theme is teamwork, with students asked to show how people can work together to prevent litter and take pride in their communities.

The statewide contest is open through October 30 to students in grades K through 12, divided into four grade categories. Artwork must be original, two-dimensional, and submitted on an 8-and-a-half-by-11-inch landscape sheet.

Last year, nearly 2,200 students from almost 200 schools participated, representing 67 Oklahoma counties.

Fourteen state winners will receive cash prizes and recognition at an awards celebration in March 2027. First-place winners in each grade category will receive $300, while second-place winners and the Postcard of the Year recipient will receive $200.

Entry drop-off locations are available in every county. More information can be found on the Keep Our Land Grand Art Contest website.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for Cherokee County Rural Water District #4.

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 Friday, September 25, because of a loss of pressure due to an equipment malfunction.

 The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

A vehicle pursuit that began in Missouri ends with the arrest of the driver.

The incident began on Saturday when the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a vehicle that had fled from law enforcement in Missouri. The vehicle involved was known to frequent Cherokee County and deputies quickly located the vehicle just north of the City of Weir. The driver initially stopped, but then fled again back into Missouri where he was stopped by the  Missouri Highway Patrol with a tire deflation device.

18-year-old Patrick Allen Kincaide of Pittsburg was taken into custody. He was booked into the Jasper County Jail where he faces multiple charges in both Missouri and Kansas.

The Altamont City Council makes quick work of a brief agenda at its most recent meeting.

City Administrator LeeAnn Myers reports that the City had been working to bring the new water meters online.

Myers adds that the City Public Works Department has also been working on gas meters.

In other business, the council also approved a street closure request from the Altamont Recreation Commission for the Halloween Boo Bash on October 25.

The City of Neodesha is making progress on its street paving project.

The City’s 2026 Pressure Pave Project is underway and has focused on high-traffic streets in Neodesha. Mayor Devin Johnson says it’s been a good move for the City.

Pressure Pave is designed to extend the useful life of existing pavement by sealing the roadway, improving the driving surface, and protecting the underlying street structure. This approach allows the City to preserve high-traffic streets before they deteriorate to the point of needing a much more expensive repair.

In other business, the City has also received a $25,000 grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce to be used for community marketing. City Administrator Brogan Jones says there are plans in the works to continue a recent national initiative on a local level.

The City recently ended its association with the national Make My Move program that worked with communities across the nation to assist in offering incentives for those willing to relocate.

Commissioners also appointed Cherilyn Hearn to serve on the Rankin Memorial Library Board.

A Woodson County man is dead after a weekend ATV accident.

56-year-old John Mattox of Leroy, Kansas, suffered fatal injuries on Saturday evening when his 4-wheeled ATV overturned on 200th Road, about 11 miles northeast of Yates Center. The accident occurred around 6:30pm near the intersection with Tadpole Road. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Mattox had just exited the ditch along the roadway when his vehicle overturned in the middle of the highway.

He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

The Montgomery County Commission is set to meet today with several quarterly reports on the agenda.

At today’s meeting, commissioners will hear from County Attorney Melissa Johnson and Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade. There will also be a request from Public Works regarding the purchase of a right-of-way.

There are three executive sessions planned today to allow commissioners to discuss confidential information related to a personnel matter.

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 Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of West Mineral public water supply in Cherokee County.

The original advisory was issued on September 24^th  because of possible contamination due to a water line break. Laboratory testing of the City of West Mineral water supply showed no contamination and the K-D-H-E has determined that all conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.

A candidate forum is coming up tomorrow for a local Kansas House District.

Republican Dr. Ron Bryce and Democrat William Kendall will participate in the forum hosted by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce and KGGF. Bryce is the current incumbent for District 11, while Kendall is currently service as a city commissioner in Coffeyville.

Kansas House District 11, covers eastern Montgomery County including Coffeyville.

The Forum will be Tuesday, September 29th, from 6 to 7 at the Windsor Event Center in Coffeyville. The public is welcome to attend the event in person. The forum will also be broadcast on The Mighty 690, KGGF. 

Coffeyville Public Schools issue a statement regarding an incident at Roosevelt Middle School.

According to a letter sent to parents this morning, school administration was made aware of information concerning a student that raised a safety concern at the school yesterday. School personnel contacted the Coffeyville Police Department and spoke with the student involved in the incident, who has been removed from school through suspension while the incident is investigated further.

Dr. Craig Correll says there is no indication of an immediate threat to students and staff. Correll adds that out of respect for student privacy and because the investigation is ongoing, he cannot provide additional details about the circumstances.

Correll says that in-place safety procedures were followed and asks parents to remind their children to always report anything that concerns them to a trusted adult.

Crews respond to an early-morning structure fire in Nowata.

According to the Nowata Fire Department, crews were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 800 block of South Pecan shortly before 1 this morning.

Upon arrival, crews found an abandoned residential structure fully involved in fire. Firefighters immediately initiated fire attack operations while providing exposure protection to neighboring residences.

Crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly and confine the fire to the original structure, preventing damage to the surrounding homes. A search of the residence confirmed that no occupants were inside.

A total of 25 personnel responded to the incident, including crews from Lenapah, Chelsea, the Northwest Fire District as well as Nowata EMS and Police.

Labette County Public Works will begin a paving project in Edna today.

Work will begin at 8am this morning and will affect West Myrtle Street from Edna Elementary to Delaware Street and East County Road 5000 to the city limits. On street parking will be prohibited in the area while work is underway and drivers are asked to use caution in the work zone. No completion date was given for the project.

A grain bin fire in the City of Piqua in Woodson County prompts road closures and an evacuation of the town.

The fire began yesterday morning inside a Piqua Co-op grain bin. As emergency crews responded to the fire, the bin was slowly drained of grain in order to avoid the stirring up of grain dust in an effort to minimize the risk of explosion. US-54 was shut down and nearby residents of Piqua were asked to evacuate for safety reasons. Fire crews from multiple area departments responded to the fire. No damage to nearby structures or injuries have been reported.

Photo courtesy Woodson County Emergency Management

The City of Nowata will hold a public meeting next week regarding the recent announcement of clean up at the city cemetery.

City crews have recently begun clean up at the cemetery in compliance with city ordinance. The current proposal is to remove decorative and miscellaneous items that do not comply with the ordinance. According to the City, the items currently being addressed for removal can obstruct the work of cemetery maintenance and mowing crews. The goal is to ensure crews can safely and effectively maintain the cemetery while following the ordinances that have already been established.

Nowata residents who wish to speak at the meeting will need to complete a request-to-speak form at City Hall. All request forms must be completed by the end of business on Monday. Speakers will be allotted 3 to 5 minutes. All requests will be considered by the Nowata Cemetery Board, though not all speakers will be given time to speak. Comments may also be submitted via email. All emails submitted to cemeteryboard@nowataok.gov will be reviewed and considered by the Cemetery Board. Responses will be provided after the September 30 meeting.

The meeting will take place next Wednesday at 10am at the Nowata Fire Station. Attendees should park on the west and south sides of the building. The City requests that no one park on the east or north sides of the building.

The Coffeyville Fire Department is set to receive grant funding to help with the purchase of vital safety equipment.

CFD has been awarded just over $229,000 in federal funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The money will be used to replace the department's aging Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. The equipment gives firefighters respiratory protection when responding to fires and other hazardous environments. The grant also requires a local match of $11,000.

The Independence City Commission approves a grant to improve a downtown building.

A Thursday's meeting, commissioners approved a $7,600 Downtown Independence Building Grant for the Community National Bank to help repair the stucco on the building of the bank's drive-thru on Penn Avenue. Bank representative Jim Kelly says the project will also include some work to the mural on the side of the building.

The total cost of the project is just over $75,000. Kelly says there will also be an addition to the ATM lane near the building.

The CNB drive-thru was built in 1979 and stands across the street from the historic main bank building that was built in 1916.

West Main Street in Neodesha will be closed until further notice.

The City of Neodesha announced the closure on Thursday after a semi truck damaged the Union Pacific railroad crossing on US-75 on the west side of the City. The Kansas Department of Transportation was notified and traveled to the site to assess damage. As of yesterday afternoon, a KDOT flagging crew was on the scene to guide traffic through the area.

Drivers should use caution in the area and find an alternate route if possible.

A fugitive who has been on the run in Cherokee County is back in police custody.

28-year-old Terron Allen of Baxter Springs was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon, September 24, around 3pm. Cherokee County Sheriff's deputies were called to a location in a rural part of the county following the report of a suspicious person. Allen was located on the scene and placed under arrest without incident.

Allen had been on the run since he escaped from custody on Monday night during transport near Columbus. Cherokee County deputies were bringing Allen back to Kansas from Alabama to face a charge of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy when the escape occurred. Allen now faces additional charges of Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Escape from Custody.

He is being held in the Cherokee County Jail in Columbus.

The 57^th annual Artist Alley is happening in Chanute tomorrow.

On Saturday, downtown Chanute will be filled with activity and arts and crafts booths. Breakfast will be served by the Masons at Elm and Highland tomorrow from 7 to 10:10, and there will be a classic car cruise-in from 8 to 1. A 5K will start at 8:15 and vendor booths will be open from 9 to 4.

There will also be camel rides and a petting zoo, plus the homecoming parade starting at 11. Music entertainment will take t the stage starting at 11. It all happens tomorrow in Chanute. KGGF staff will broadcast live from the event from 10 to noon on Classic Hits 104.1.

The 7^th Annual Native American Unity Gathering is coming up tomorrow in South Coffeyville.

Organizer Kris Crane says there will be activities for the entire family.

Crane says there will also be lots of free food available.

The gathering will be held at Native American Fellowship at 215 Oklahoma Street in South Coffeyville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow. Some seating will be available but attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. KGGF staff will also be broadcasting live from the event from 9 to 11 on The Mighty 690.

The Independence Lions Club is inviting the public to enjoy a spaghetti supper this Saturday, September 26th, to raise funds for the club’s numerous local projects.

The benefit supper will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church's Wesley Center at 6th and Maple in Independence.

A suggested donation of $10 will allow attendees to enjoy a plate of spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, bread and a drink.

The Independence Lions Club, which celebrates its 104th anniversary in 2026, has elevated its support for local projects. Most recently, the local club instigated a fund campaign to raise money for the replacement of a new walk-in freezer unit for the Community Access Center.

Other projects that receive support from the Independence Lions Club included the Independence Children’s Summer Theatre, Adopt-A-Family, American Red Cross blood drives, New Life Baptist Church’s Clothing Closet, Independence Recreation Commission, Imagination Library, Independence Historical Museum and Art Center’s annual youth art competition, Kiddy Land at Riverside Park, Independence High School music departments, IHS scholarships, and much more. 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of West Mineral public water supply system located in Cherokee 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 waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination. 

 The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

South Willow in Coffeyville will be closed through Saturday for repairs to the railroad crossing.

Starting today and continuing through Saturday, September 26th, the crossing on Willow south of 13th Street will be closed while repairs are made. Drivers will need to use an alternate route on Elm or Spruce while the crossing is closed.

A Bartlesville woman is facing a felony charge after allegedly leaving children without supervision while allegedly committing a separate crime.

27-year-old Dashanae Loomis was charged on Wednesday with child neglect, and also faces a misdemeanor charge of larceny of merchandise from a retailer. According to the Bartlesville Police Department, authorities responded to a reported theft at a convenience store during the overnight hours Wednesday morning. Loomis was found in possession of 15 alcoholic beverages that were removed by authorities. Authorities were then called to the Loomis residence. Loomis claimed that her three children were under the care of another individual. However, no individual was in the residence when authorities made contact. The children are ages five, four and two years old.

Loomis will appear in court again on October 16. Her bond is set at $15,000.

The Kansas Department of Transportation completes an overlay project in Sedan.

KDOT began work this week on the intersection of US-166 Business and K-99 or Main and School Streets. The project was originally slated to be completed on Friday, but the good weather conditions allowed work crews to complete the project early.

KDOT reports that maintenance work at the intersection is now complete.

Drivers in Labette County should be aware of a road closure east of Parsons.

According to Labette County Emergency Management, Udall Road will be closed from US-400 to 22000  through Sunday. The closure is to allow the transport of four large transformers through the area.

Drivers are asked to use an alternate route and to allow for extra travel time during the closure.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is looking for the owner of a wandering horse.

Authorities say the horse has been roaming loose for about a week just north of Coffeyville in the area of County Road 4350 and County Road 2600. The horse has been taken into custody and is currently being cared for, but the County would like to find its owner. Anyone who is missing a horse shoud contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and be able to describe the animal by sex and color, along with any distinctive markings the horse may have.

Osage County Commissioners approve a purchase for the Osage Cove Fire Department.

At this week's meeting, commissioners were asked to consider quotes for two heaters for the fire department building. County Purchasing Agent Reba Bueno-Conner provided details on the cost of the purchase. She says the purchase would be covered by funds from a Rural Economic Action Plan or REAP grant.

Commissioners approved the quote.

The Altamont City Council will hold its regular bi-weekly meeting tonight.

The City Council will handle a light agenda with reports expected from the Altamont Police and Fire Departments as well as from Public Works. Council members are also expected to approve a request for a street closure from the Altamont Recreation Commission for October 25^th in order to hold the Halloween Boo Bash event for local kids.

Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at the Altamont City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will also be available for online viewing via the City's Facebook page.

The Nowata County Election Board at work this week in preparation for the November election.

At this week's Nowata County Commission meeting, Election Board Secretary Dave Neely updated commissioners in preparation for the upcoming general election. He says they are making sure everything is in order.

The Oklahoma deadline to register to vote for the November midterm election is October 9^th.  Sample ballots for voters within Nowata County can be found through the Oklahoma Voter Portal.

The manhunt for a suspect who fled from custody in Cherokee County continues.

Authorities remain in search of 28-year-old Terron Allen who escaped from the custody of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department late Monday night. Allen fled on foot after slipping out of his handcuffs during transport near Columbus. Allen was being brought back to Kansas from Alabama to face charges of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy. Since his escape, Allen has been spotted twice in the Quaker area located about 3 ½ miles southeast of Columbus. Residents in that area are advised to keep their doors and cars locked until the fugitive is captured and to check any trail or security cameras for possible footage of Allen.

Allen is considered dangerous and anyone who thinks they see him should call 9-1-1.

The Independence City Commission will meet tonight and discuss several properties around the city.

On tonight's agenda, commissioners will consider awarding a Downtown Independence Building Grant for $7,600 to Community National Bank for the purpose of rehabilitating the stucco wall on the bank's drive-in. Part of the repair work will include rehabilitating the patriotic mural following the stucco repair.

Commissioners will also hold a public hearing for one property deemed dangerous and unsafe while setting a hearing date for a second property and rescinding the condemnation action for a third.

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

A tasty event is coming us this weekend at the Brown Mansion in Coffeyville.

The Coffeyville Historical Society and the Friends of the Brown Mansion are hosting “Meat at the Mansion” this Saturday at 6 p.m. in Coffeyville.

Organizer Darrell Detar says the goal of this fundraiser is to repair a specific room in the mansion.

There will be smoked pork and chicken available for just $20 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. Detar says there will also be some great entertainment.

Tickets can be purchased at the Dalton Defenders Museum downtown or the Brown Mansion at 2109 S Walnut.

Parsons Police help arrest two men wanted by agencies in Oklahoma and Kansas.

PPD says officers arrested 33-year-old Dalton Stringer in Parsons on an Ottawa County, Oklahoma, warrant alleging he used technology to solicit sexual communication or conduct with a minor. Stringer is being held at the Labette County Jail pending extradition.

Officers also arrested 18-year-old Hunter Maslen in Parsons. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office says Maslen was wanted on a warrant alleging sexual exploitation of a child, employment of a child under 14 and electronic solicitation. He was transferred to Crawford County custody.

The man found dead on school property in Longton is identified.

50-year-old Jason Barrager of Independence was found yesterday afternoon on the USD 283 campus. Elk Valley personnel discovered his body around 2:00pm and immediately notified law enforcement. The Elk County Sheriff’s Office requested help from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation around 2:30pm. Investigators say Barrager was alone on school property around 3:00am and did not leave the area. The KBI says his body had no obvious injuries. An autopsy will be performed, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities say there is no indication of foul play or evidence that students or the public are at risk. Superintendent Megan Gaston says the district provided investigators with requested materials, including available surveillance footage.

The Galesburg Fire Department receives a grant from a local Masonic group.

Fire officials have received $5,000 in grant funding from Masonic Lodge #117 located in Parsons through the Masonic Lodge Foundation. Galesburg Fire plans to use the funding to improve equipment, improving the departments ability to keep firefighters safe while continuing to serve the community.

Galesburg Fire officials say they have also received a grant to allow Fire Chief John Lilburn to attend the Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs Conference in Kansas City in October.

The Department has received nearly $265,000 in grants over the past three years.

Photo courtesy Galesburg Fire Department

Two Baxter Springs residents face drug charges in Cherokee County.

59-year-old Douglas Ashley and 52-year-old Rita Ashley were both arrested on Tuesday by Baxter Springs Police after the service of a search warrant on the Baxter Springs home. During the search, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and marijuana were located and seized. Both suspects were booked into the Cherokee County Jail in Columbus.

Douglas Ashley has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possessing prohibited weapons. Rita Ashley faces charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Photo: Douglas Ashley (left), Rita Ashley (right)

Independence Community College welcome the change of season from summer to fall with its third annual Pirate Harvest Festival.

The school welcomed local families to campus on Sunday to celebrate the first day of fall with an afternoon of activities, community connection and Pirate spirit. The event has become a way for students, faculty, and staff to engage with the Independence community in a fun way. It also gives students the opportunity to serve the community of which they are a part.

“We want our students to understand that being a Pirate means being part of this community,”said ICC Event Coordinator Kris Ferguson. “Events like this give them a chance to step outside of their normal routines, meet the families who live here and give back in a really hands-on way. At the same time, our community gets to know our students and see the energy, kindness and personality they bring to Independence.”

Students played a significant role in making the festival possible, from setting up and running activity stations to helping families navigate the event and cleaning up afterward.

US-75 in Neodesha will be closed today to allow the Union Pacific Railroad to make repairs to a rail crossing.

The highway or Main Street will be closed near 12^th Street from 7am through 11pm today. An official detour will be posted. Drivers are urged to use caution or to find an alternate route until repairs are completed.

The City of Parsons announces the permanent closure of the Marvel RV Park.

City Manager Jeff Cantrell says there were multiple reasons for the closure.

Cantrell says the old RV park was costly, but that there will likely be a new park coming sometime in the future.

The Marvel RV park will close for good at midnight on October 4^th. All vehicles and personal belongings must be removed from the park by October 5^th. Any campers or vehicle remaining after that date will be removed by the City.

The Neodesha City Commission will meet today and address the issue of dangerous and unsafe properties in the City.

At today's meeting, commissioners will consider resolutions for abatement on four properties and set public hearing dates for each. There will also be a proposal to deem a fifth property as an immediate hazard. Commissioners will also discuss the possible purchase of electric poles and make appointments to the Rankin Memorial Library Board.

Today's meeting begins at 4pm at Neodesha's City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will also be recorded for later viewing on the City's Facebook page.

Cherokee County authorities are still searching for a suspect who escaped from custody on Monday.

28-year-old Terron Allen of Baxter Springs slipped out of his handcuffs and fled from a Cherokee Sheriff's Deputy as he was being transported back to Kansas from Baldwin County, Alabama. Allen fled into a wooded area near Columbus and is still suspected to be in the Columbus area. He was reportedly seen on surveillance camera on Tuesday afternoon in the 1500 block of Southeast Messer Road.

Allen was taken into custody on a warrant for Aggravated Criminal Sodomy and is considered dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office at 620-429-3992. Anyone who thinks they see Allen should call 9-1-1.

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

The original advisory was issued on September 17^th  because of possible contamination due to a loss of pressure due to an equipment failure . Laboratory testing of the City of McCune 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.

Homecoming continues this week at Coffeyville Community College as students gear up for a game against Garden City.

Coming up Thursday, there will be a pep rally held in downtown Coffeyville. CCC Recruiter and Event Coordinator Haylie Bagwell says the public is encouraged to attend.

Tomorrow's pep rally will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The community engagement fair will also be today from 10 to noon in the upper level of the Graham Library, which serves as an opportunity for community organizations to connect directly with students and make them aware of services and opportunities offered in the area.

The City of Coffeyville will not raise the mill levy.  Finance Director Martin Cumings says the city had published a plan to raise its mill levy above the revenue neutral rate but that plan changed.

Cummings says the budget filed with the county clerk does not show every planned city expense and a more complete version will be posted on the city’s finance webpage. He says residents who cannot access it online can request a printed copy from the city.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating after a man was found dead on school property in Longton.

The Elk County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance around 2:30pm this afternoon. KBI agents and the agency’s Crime Scene Response Team responded to the Elk Valley USD 283 property. The KBI says there is no indication that students or the public are at risk. Superintendent Megan Gaston says all students and staff are safe and accounted for. She asks the community to avoid speculation while law enforcement investigates.

Authorities have not determined whether the death was accidental, a homicide, a suicide or due to natural causes. The man’s identity will be released after his next of kin are notified. The investigation remains ongoing.

Cherryvale is investigating inappropriate social media posts.

The City says posts and photographs circulating across several platforms, including certain government-affiliated pages, falsely suggest the content was created by its police chief or a member of his family. Officials are trying to determine where the allegations originated and who is responsible.

City Administrator Karen Davis says the content does not reflect the city’s values or professional standards. She says Cherryvale will not tolerate social media being used to falsely represent employees or spread divisive content, and will pursue appropriate steps to address the matter.

Nearly 3,900 marijuana plants are seized from a grow operation in Hulbert, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics says its Marijuana Enforcement Team and Cherokee County deputies served a search warrant at Californication Farm LLC on Highway 51. The warrant is part of an ongoing investigation into illegal cultivation and operating without an OBN registration. Agents say they seized 3,895 plants, 69.2 pounds of processed marijuana and a rifle. No arrests have been announced, but OBN says arrests are pending as the investigation moves forward.

The district attorney’s office, state agriculture officials and several other agencies assisted with the operation. OBN says its Marijuana Enforcement Team has seized more than 2.5 million illegal plants across Oklahoma since it began work in 2021.

A wellness fair is coming to Independence this week.

Health on Purpose Wellness Fair Organizer Kathy Shepard says blood work is available.  The fair also offers free balance, blood pressure and depression screenings. Shepard says a new service this year will help veterans.

The fair runs from 7:00am to 11:30am on Friday at the Independence Civic Center located at 410 North Penn Avenue. Admission is free. No appointment is needed for blood work, but participants should fast beforehand.

Changes are coming to Independence’s recycling drop-off.

Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Wilson says the city has narrowed what it can collect.  Wilson says changes have also been made to when recycling can be dropped off.

Residents who are unsure whether an item is accepted can check with the city before bringing it to the sanitation yard.

One is injured after a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 160 in Montgomery County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that 54-year-old Brandee Kirk, of Broken Arrow, was driving westbound at about 8:15am this morning when her Lexus struck a Toyota Camry that was stopped in traffic wating to turn left into a driveway. The Lexus then spun into the eastbound lane and struck a Freightliner truck.

Kirk was taken to Wilson Medical Center with suspected minor injuries. The Camry driver, 65-year-old Paula Marchant of Liberty, the truck driver, 42-year-old Kane Miller of Dewey, Oklahoma, and the passenger in the truck, 36-year-old Dylan Craft of Independence, were not injured. The crash happened about a tenth of a mile from County Road 4700.

Copan schools are briefly locked down following a report of a weapon on campus.

On Monday, during an investigation into a marijuana vape, a student admitted to having a gun in their vehicle. The student told authorities that the weapon had been left in the vehicle from the weekend. No threats were made and students were not in danger. The weapon was removed by Washington County Sheriff's deputies and the lockdown was lifted.

School officials say the student involved will not be on campus for the remainder of the school year.

Authorities in Cherokee County are searching for an escaped fugitive.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office says 28-year-old Terron M. Allen of Baxter Springs was being transported by sheriff's deputies on Monday when he slipped his handcuffs, exited the patrol vehicle and fled on foot.

Allen was in custody on a Cherokee County warrant. He was last seen in the 900 block of East Country Road in Columbus. Allen was wearing a white, button up short sleeved shirt and dark short.

Anyone who thinks they have seen Allen should call 9-1-1.

Three people, including one child, are seriously injured when a pickup truck collides with an Amish buggy near Fort Scott.

The accident occurred around 7:30 on Monday night on K-7 about 4 ½ miles northwest of Fort Scott. 60-year-old Carol Adamson of Fort Scott was traveling southbound on K-7 in a 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 when she approached a slower moving buggy on the roadway. The pickup then struck the buggy from behind. The three occupants of the buggy all suffered serious injuries. They have been identified as 65-year-old Christopher Yoder, 34-year-old Willard Yoder, and a 6-year-old female child, all of Fort Scott.

All three were taken to Freeman Hospital in Joplin for treatment for their injuries.

The Coffeyville City Commission will meet tonight and hold Public Hearings for both the revenue Neutral Rate and the 2027 budget.

City documents indicate that the 2027 budget will not exceed the revenue neutral rate of 23. 983 mills. The total budget is expected to be just over $122 million, an increase of around $19 million from the 2026 budget. Most of the reason for the increase is the addition of a new fund, an increase in operating costs for electric, planned spending of bond proceeds and adjustments in city payroll resulting from a 2025 wage study.

Coffeyville residents are invited to attend tonight's meeting and provide input during the public comment portion of the hearings. Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Coffeyville's City Hall. The meeting can also be viewed online via the City of Coffeyville YouTube channel.

The Montgomery County Commission approves an amendment to the county’s agreement with the Bartlett soybean facility

The change was made in order to recognize the realignment of the Bartlett facility into the processing plant and the refining plant. County Appraiser Melody Kikkert says the change does not affect any other part of the original agreement.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, commissioners accepted the resignation of Jason Niemier from his position as Director of the Montgomery County Health Department and authorized the search for an interim director.

Commissioners also made some changes to the public comment portion of the meetings, moving them from the end of the meeting to the beginning, while also instituting a 3-minute time limit for speakers.

The Caney City Council approves a series of expenses during last night's meeting, including payments for waste collection, electricity, personnel expenses and an invoice from Main Street Auto. 

In other business, the council approves a request from the Cub Scouts to block off the 100 block of North Fawn Street, between 4th and 3rd streets, for mobile races. 

The event is scheduled for September 26 and would require the street to be closed from 8 a.m. to noon, with hay bales placed along each side of the road. 

The next Caney City Council meeting will be on Monday, October 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Hyperscale Data Centers are interested in coming to Cherryvale.

At Monday's Cherryvale City Council Meeting, Jason Laurent from the Bevlaurent LLC addressed the Council regarding data center companies that are interested in building on the 65 acre site north of town that his company is acting as the broker for.

Laurent was not able to disclose the name of the companies interested, but says there are only about eight companies that develop data centers of this size, which typically contain a minimum of 5,000 servers, and could have some similarities to the current data center in Pryor, Oklahoma. Laurent says the data center would bring in about 300 permanent jobs to Cherryvale and an estimated revenue of $10 million per year in property and consumption taxes.

Laurent says if the project goes through, the data center interested in Cherryvale would be used for artificial intelligence training and inference.

One of the Council's first questions to Laurent was about water consumption. He says the project could start at 1 million gallons a day, ramping up to 6 million gallons a day.

The water would come from Big Hill Lake and would involve up to two 16-inch water lines to be installed from the lake to the site in Cherryvale where it would be processed. Laurent says this “open loop” system gives higher efficiency and that the water is evaporated, minus the salt and any treatment chemicals which are then re-introduced to the system. Laurent also says there would be on-site generation of electricity, made in part through the mass-production of hydrogen.

Laurent's main goal right now is to establish a baseline development agreement with the city, then approach prospective companies to work out things like noise level, water consumption and electricity use.

Cherryvale City Attorney Seth Jones says there are additional rules will need to be put in place even if the city allows the zoning of a data center.

Laurent says he thinks a project like this is important not only on a local level, but also on a global one.

Council Member Norman Johnson says he thinks it's important to gather as much information as possible before making a final decision.

Laurent says he thinks the data center and the community will both work well together.

While no vote on the matter was taken, the Council agreed to allow Laurent to work with City Attorney Seth Jones on a development agreement draft.  An agreement with a much smaller data center proposal for the same site fell through earlier this year.

Washington County’s bun ban will continue for another 14 days.

The County Commissioners voted to extend the ban as drought conditions continue, particularly on the northern half of Washington County. Washington County Emergency Management Director Kary Cox says he recommends extending the ban.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the northern half of the county is experiencing severe drought, which is the lowest level where a burn ban can be enacted. The southern half of Washington County is in a moderate drought area. The commissioners will revisit the burn ban next week.

The Nowata County Commissioners extend the county-wide burn ban an additional two weeks.

The commissioners decided to extend the burn ban due to a lack of county-wide rain. The item was brought up in emergency business after being inadvertently left off of the agenda the last two weeks.  With cooler temperatures and rain expected in the forecast, firefighters say they expect the ban will be lifted at next week's meeting.

In other business, the commissioners approved the beginning of the process for a bid on county property. County Treasurer Michaela Lowe says they've set the date for that.  The Nowata County Treasurer's Office is located at 229 North Maple Street in downtown Nowata. They can also be reached by calling (918)273-3562.

Coffeyville’s Imagination Library will honor Dolly Parton with Dolly Day later this week.

The event is on Friday, September 25^th, the date, nine-two-five, is a nod to her song “9 to 5.” Coffeyville Imagination Library Co-Chair Cathy Shald says Parton’s Imagination Library gives children books of their own and a chance to read with their families.

Shald says Dolly Day is from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Coffeyville Public Library.  New Imagination Library signups will also be available for children under five who live in the USD 445 district.

The Chautauqua County Commission discusses Evergy’s proposed transmission line through the county.

Commissioners discussed whether the revised route could follow an existing transmission easement near Cedar Vale. They say that could reduce the number of landowners affected, though the line might still need to move away from the easement where it passes close to houses. Commissioners also discussed burying portions of the line. They raised questions about the cost and whether requiring underground construction would go beyond the county’s role in reviewing the route.

The Kansas Corporation Commission ordered Evergy in May to reevaluate the eastern portion of its proposed Buffalo Flats to Delaware transmission line, which includes Chautauqua County. Commissioners say they had requested a tentative route map but had not received one. They expect Evergy to identify a new preferred route in October.

The Cherryvale City Council will meet tonight for its regularly scheduled meeting.

On the agenda is a request for funding from the Montgomery County Action Council with Executive Director Melissa Johnson.  Jason Laurent from Bevlaurent will discuss the purchase and development of city property. The company is the broker of a city property that is being considered for future industrial development, including the possibility of a data center.

In other business, the council is expected to schedule a hearing for the vacation of West 2^nd Street and discuss the possibility of purchasing properties at the upcoming county tax sale.

Today's meeting start at 6 p.m. at the Cherryvale City Hall and is open to the public.

USD 436-Caney School Superintendent Blake Vargas is named as a finalist for the 2027 Kansas Superintendent of the Year.

The award is given out annually by the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association and it meant to honor active, front-line school system leaders who demonstrate exceptional talent, vision, and dedication to public education.

Vargas has served as the superintendent of Caney schools since 2015. Vargas is a native of Dewey, Oklahoma, and attended Emporia State and Pittsburg State Universities. He is also a former school administrator in the Coffeyville School District.

Candidates for Kansas Superintendent of the Year are evaluated for their ability to demonstrate creativity and success in meeting diverse educational needs of students, for their ability to demonstrate and improve administrative knowledge and skills, for demonstrating strong communication skills, and by actively participating in their community.

Vargas is joined by fellow finalists Dr. Brent Yeager of USD 233-Olathe and Cindy Couchman of USD 313 Buhler.

The Caney City Council will meet tonight to handle a brief agenda.

The only item of new business to come before council members tonight is the closure of the 100 block of North Fawn Street between 3rd and 4th Streets on Saturday to allow for a Cub Scout event. Tonight’s meeting will also include a 15-minute executive session and then reports from various City departments.

There will also be a code enforcement workshop held before the meeting at 5:30.

Tonight’s regular meeting begins at 6:30 at the Caney City Hall. The meeting is open to the public. Those who wish to attend are asked to enter City Hall through the east doors.

The City of Nowata is offering a city firetruck as a raffle prize.

The Nowata Fire Department is raffling off a 1986 E-ONE ladder truck. The truck comes equipped with a 1,500 gallon per minute pump, a 100-foot aerial ladder, multiple ground ladders and various lights and sirens. The truck is fully functional though it is not currently certified for use as a fire apparatus.

The tickets are $100 apiece and a minimum of 200 tickets must be sold for the raffle to take place. Entries will be accepted until October 15th at 8pm. All proceeds benefit the Nowata Fire Department.

To purchase a ticket, follow this link.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is beginning a road construction project this week in Sedan.

Starting on Wednesday, the intersection of Main and School Streets will be closed in the westbound and southbound direction. There will be a pilot car to guide traffic through the construction, but drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes.

The construction is expected to be completed and the intersection reopened by Friday.

A Saturday morning car accident near Altoona leaves one woman injured.

78-year-old Vickie Lee Winans of Buffalo received minor injuries in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of US-75 and K-47 just before noon on Saturday. Winans was a passenger in a 2019 Nissan Rogue that was traveling southbound on US-75 when a second vehicle failed to yield at s stop sign on K-47. The Rogue struck the other vehicle on its passenger side and then overturned. Winans was taken to Wichita’s Welsey Medical Center for treatment.

Neither driver was injured in the accident.

City crews in Nowata will begin clean up in the Nowata cemetery today.

Crews will be removing decorations and other items that are in violation of the City’s cemetery ordinances. The ordinance states that “ the placing of curbs, trees, bushes, structures, benches, or statues around cemetery lots—other than the original markers or its replacement around or upon cemetery lots—is prohibited, except by the City Cemetery Caretaker."

According to the City, effort is consistent enforcement of the existing standards will allow cemetery crews to maintain the grounds more effectively and help ensure the cemetery remains a respectful, accessible, and well-maintained place. It is not intended to diminish the importance of honoring or remembering loved ones.

The enforcement decision was made by the City of Nowata Cemetery Board.

A Neodesha man is injured in a single-vehicle crash in rural Wilson County.

The accident occurred around 1:45 on Friday afternoon on 300 Road between Yale and Anderson Roads or about 7 ½ miles east of Neodesha. 41-year-old Jeremy Morris was traveling on 300 Road in a 202 Chevy Trax when he crossed the center line and left the roadway. The vehicle overturned, leaving Morris with minor injuries.

He was taken to Wilson Medical Center for treatment.

The Montgomery County Commission is set to meet today as they address a brief agenda.

On today’s agenda,  Director of Human Resources Ashley Hand will review the request for proposals for the upcoming Employee Health Fair. Commissioners will also hold a discussion regarding fuel and diesel cost predictions.

There is also an executive session planned to discuss confidential information related to an economic development project in the county. Another discussion is also slated to determine the next steps in the process of completing the County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning regulations.

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 Humanities Project from Coffeyville Community College  welcomes award-winning songwriter Rupert Wates to the Spencer Rounds Theater .
 

London-born musician Rupert Wates has been making music for nearly 30 years and in that time he has earned over 50 awards for his work. He plays an average of 120 shows a year across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. His music is an eclectic blend of acoustic folk music combined with elements of jazz, vaudeville, and cabaret. He has released twelve solo albums, each earning critical acclaim.

Wates will perform tomorrow night in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC campus. The concert begins at 6:30. Admission is free.

Photo by Randy Bradbury

A candidate forum is coming up later this month for the Kansas House District 11 which covers eastern Montgomery County including Coffeyville.

Republican Dr. Ron Bryce and Democrat William Kendall will participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce and KGGF. Bryce is the current incumbent for District 11, while Kendall is currently service as a city commissioner in Coffeyville.

The Forum will be on Tuesday, September 29^th from 6 to 7 at the Windsor Event Center in Coffeyville. The public is welcome to attend the event in person. The forum will also be broadcast on The Mighty 690, KGGF. Anyone who would like to submit questions in advance is welcome to do so by emailing president@coffeyvillechamber.org.

A band teacher at Labette County High School in Altamont earns a regional award for excellence.

Megan Gabehart has been named the Southeast Kansas District Outstanding Music Educator at the high school level. She serves as the band teacher at Labette County High School and Meadow View Grade School.

In order to be eligible for the award, a teacher must have taught for 8 to 10 years, be a member in good standing of the Kansas Music Educators Association and direct a music program that demonstrates consistency or shows notable improvement over time.

Gabehart will now represent the Southeast Kansas District at the state level, where her nomination will compete for the state award.

Photo courtesy USD 506

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly recognizes the actions of several first responders regarding a fatal car crash in June.

Governor Kelly presented the Governor’s Award for Valor to Kansas Highway Patrol Lieutenants Lindsey Murphy and Carson Nuss; Kansas State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm; and Kansas City, Missouri, Police Officer Yul Bean earlier this week for their actions, following a fatal crash on I-70 in Wabaunsee County on June 5.

The actions of the officers saved the lives of a 7-year-old child and 45-year-old Jason Webb of Cheboygan, Wisconsin. Webb was driving a semi truck that crossed the center line and struck another vehicle, causing both vehicles to burst into flames.  70-year-old Barbara Krier, of Great Bend and 50-year-old Steven Reed, of Topeka both died in the accident.

Kelly stated that the courage, decisive action, and unwavering commitment demonstrated by the KHP Troopers, Kansas State Fire Marshal Engholm, and off-duty K-C-P-D Police Officer Bean reflect the highest traditions of public service and exemplify courage in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

Photo: (left to right) Officer Yul Bean, Trooper Carson Nuss, Trooper Lindsey Murphy, and State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm. Courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol

Independence Community College will host its 3^rd Annual Pirate Harvest Festival this weekend.

Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the yearly event offers fun for all ages.

Independence  families, students, and community members are invited to the ICC main campus to join in the festivities from 1 to 3 on Sunday afternoon.

Two people are arrested in separate incidents in Independence.

The first incident occurred on September 4 when Independence police officers wer asked to conduct a welfare check. 60-year-old Michael Downing was arrested after Independence police officers were called to the 100 block of Peter Pan Road. Downing faces charges including Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Criminal Threat, and Fleeing and Eluding.

The second arrest took place on September 6 following a domestic incident. 25-year-old Trayce Justice was taken into custody after I-P-D officers were called to the 600 block of West Walnut Street in Independence for a domestic disturbance. Justice was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on charges of kidnapping, endangering a child, and aggravated domestic battery.

Both incidents remain under investigation.

Photo: Downing (left), Justice (right)

A Chanute man is under federal indictment for trafficking in methamphetamine.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas announced this week that 39-year-old Kyle Ingels has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Wichita on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Today is the last day for residents in Montgomery County to sign up as a stakeholder for the upcoming survey for the new Zoning and Comprehensive Plan & Regulations.

The County beginning the process of developing a new Zoning Comprehensive Plan and updated Zoning Regulations. As part of this process, county officials are seeking community stakeholders to participate in brief interviews to help identify key county-wide issues and concerns that they feel should be addressed. The issues identified will be provided to the County’s consultant the E-T-C Institute to assist in developing survey questions that will then test and measure the key issues. All concerned citizens are invited to take part in a 15-minute long interview with county administration.

Those who would like to participate should contact Montgomery County Interim Administrator Kori White by 5pm today.

Contact:
Kori White, Interim County Administrator
kwhite@mgcountyks.org
620-330-1113 or 620-515-5450

The Wilson County Health Department confirms a case of rabies found in a skunk in Fredonia.

Fredonia Animal Control was called to West Park located near the Wilson County Fairgrounds on Wednesday,  September 16,  for a report of a skunk behaving oddly. Officers captured the skunk and the followed rabies protocols. The Wilson County Health Department was notified on Thursday that the animal tested positive for rabies.

County authorities say anyone who may have had contact with a skunk in West Park within the past week should contact the Health Department as soon as possible at 620-378-4455.

Residents are reminded to avoid contact with wild animals, especially animals that are behaving unusually, appear sick or injured, or are active at unusual times. Do not attempt to approach, capture, or handle a sick or dead wild animal.

Pet owners should also make sure their pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. If you believe your pet may have had contact with this rabid skunk, please contact Salt Creek Veterinary Clinic at 620-378-2532 and/or Fredonia Animal Control at 620-378-2208 for guidance.

Wilson County Old Iron Days is on the way next week.

The annual event will be held at the permanent grounds in Fredonia and features four days of demonstrations focused on education and preserving traditions of the past.

Organizer Mike Olson says there will be more than 25 different displays.

Organizer Rod Meckley says there will be a lot of school field trips during the week, but the public is more than welcome to attend during that time.

Admission to Old Iron Days is $5 and each person attending will get a button good for each day of the show. The event runs from Wednesday September 23^rd through Saturday the 26^th from 8 to 4 in Fredonia.

Listen to the full interview about Old Iron Days HERE.

Lions Clubs across Southeastern Kansas are helping the Community Access Center in Independence replace an aging walk-in freezer used to distribute food throughout the region.

The Lions Club International Foundation has awarded a $44,000 grant toward the purchase of a new freezer. The 30-foot-by-12-foot unit will replace a nearly 35-year-old freezer that requires continual monitoring. Community Access Center Representative Chris Mitchell says the freezer supports more than the center’s own programs.

The center, located at 807 West Pecan, handles tens of thousands of pounds of fresh and frozen food each week. The entire project represents an investment of nearly $94,000. Along with the international grant, Lions Clubs in Caney, Coffeyville, Fredonia, Independence and Neodesha have helped raise money. Mitchell says private donations have moved the campaign closer to its goal, while another donor has offered to match additional contributions.

The grant money will purchase the freezer, while officials are seeking additional funding to cover shipping and installation. Anyone interested in donating can contact the Community Access Center or the Independence Lions Club.

The City of Coffeyville is awarded more than $883,000 in grant funding for pedestrian upgrades around Community Elementary.

The funding comes from two separate grants from the Kansas Department of Transportation. City Clerk Melissa Carter says there will be a new pedestrian island installed on Cline Road.

Carter says there will also be new sidewalks added on streets surrounding the school.

The total estimated project cost is just under $1.07 million, with the City's estimated 20 percent share just over $200,000. Some money will also go towards developing an updated Safe Routes to School Plan for Community Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Field Kindley High School.

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 an equipment failure.

 The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Farm Bill.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran applauded his colleagues in the House for advancing the bill to the next step. Moran is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and says the bill provides certainty for Kansas ranchers and farmers.

The Farm Bill includes Kansas priorities such as year-round E-15 sales, increasing Farm Service Agency Loan limits, and the Rural Hospital Revitalization Act.

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The Sedan City Council meets and hears the latest financial report for the City.

At this week's meeting, City Treasurer Raven Darnall updated council members on the City's finances.

In other business, council members repealed an ordinance on City water rates and replaced it with a new one that will raise prices on city water customers. There was also a discussion on changing vendors for the suppliers of uniforms for Public Works employees, No action was taken on that issue.

The Independence Public Library welcomes Humanities Kansas guest speaker Murl Reidel.

Reidel will speak tonight at the library about the impacts of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on Kansas soldiers. Reidel is a fiscal analyst and a retired major from the Kansas Army National Guard. He will discuss methods for collecting, recording, and preserving modern wartime stories before they are lost to time.

The presentation begins tonight at 6pm at the Independence Public Library. Admission is free.

A Pittsburg man is facing felony meth charges after police execute a search warrant on a Pittsburg home.

The search warrant stemmed from an investigation into the distribution of controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine. 51-year-old Christopher Edward Lee was taken into custody on Wednesday at the scene after the search revealed evidence sought in the warrant. Lee is currently being held in the Crawford County Jail where he faces felony charges of possession and distribution of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is being held without bond.

The historic fort in Fort Scott was the scene yesterday for 22 people from 17 different countries to officially become citizens of the United States.

The location provided a unique historical setting for the nearly two dozen people who reached the peak of a years' long process to become naturalized citizens. About half of the new citizens then registered to vote in order to be able to take part in the electoral process.

The Fort Scott National Historic Site hosts a naturalization ceremony each September.

The City of Moline announces an increase in garbage collections fees.

According to the City's Facebook page, the company contracted for trash collection is increasing its collection fee by $1 due to high fuel costs. The base rate for customers in Moline will now be $24,50. The cost of an extra poly cart will remain at $10.

The contractor has assured city officials that the rate will return to the previous amount when fuel diesel prices drop.

City offices in Independence will be closed for a short period of time today to allow for staff training.

Offices will be closed from 11:15 to 1:30 to allow city employees to take part in an annual safety training. Normal business hours will resume at 1:30 today. Those who have business with the City are asked to plan accordingly.

A Dearing woman is facing felony charges in Washington County, Oklahoma, after allegedly being in possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

22-year-old Alexius Yeubanks was charged on Wednesday with trafficking in fentanyl and possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a tax stamp.

According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Yeubanks was reportedly in the backseat of a vehicle that was pulled over early Tuesday morning for a non-functional tail light. Authorities reportedly searched the vehicle and the occupants after a positive K9 alert. Authorities allegedly found two small foil wrappings that contained fentanyl and four separate plastic baggies of methamphetamine.

Yeubanks wil l appear in court again on September 25. Her bond is set at $100,000.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 49-year-old Blanca Herrera, is also facing a misdemeanor charge of possession.

A controversy is brewing in Bartlesville over the search for a new City Manager.

The City has been searching for an individual to fill the position left vacant by the August 7 resignation of Mike Bailey, who had served the City for 21 years. City Council member Tim Sherrick has expressed his concerns about the process the City is using to interview five internal candidates for the role. He says the process is not taking place during city council meetings.

Sherrick says the process is already in place.

He adds that he thinks the process is being conducted in order to avoid the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

Despite Sherrick's concern, keeping information about interviewees confidential is expressly allowable under Oklahoma's law. Internal files related to hiring, promotion or resignation are protected from public view. Additionally, information related to unsuccessful applicants for a position is also protected.

Sherrick is calling for interviews to be conducted in either an open meeting or in an executive session.

An Oklahoma game warden and a Nowata police officer are recognized for life-saving efforts.

Oklahoma Game Warden Dartanion Tilley and Nowata Police Department Officer Zachary Peak have been awarded the Nowata Fire & EMS Life Saving Award for their recent actions during a medical emergency. When the two encountered a patient who was experiencing cardiac arrest, they took immediate action. Warden Tilley and Officer Peak quickly began lifesaving efforts. Through their quick response, decisive actions, and continued resuscitation efforts, a pulse was successfully regained.

Their prompt actions saved the life of the patient.

Nichols Hitching Post and Maple Street Meat Market will soon move into a larger building with both businesses under one roof.

According to owner John Nichols, the business has outgrown the Columbia Building in downtown Coffeyville, so they are moving into the former Fastenal Building at 1312 11^th Street in Coffeyville.

Nichols says the new space will allow them to expand their offerings.

Nichols says work on the new building will start soon.

Nichols Hitching Post and Maple Street Meat Market offers local meat and discounted grocery items, and is currently located at the intersection of 8^th and Maple in Coffeyville.

The Kansas Supreme Court hears an appeal from a convicted Kansas serial Killer.

The Court has heard arguments in the latest appeal of convicted serial killer John Robinson Sr., who has spent more than two decades on death row. Robinson was convicted in 2002 of killing three women in Johnson County and later pleaded guilty in Missouri to five additional killings. In 2015, the Court upheld Robinson's capital murder sentence after a woman was found in a barrel on his farm near the City of La Cygne.

His attorney argued on Monday that ineffective defense counsel and errors in how prosecutors presented the case violated Robinson’s rights and should overturn his remaining death sentences.

State attorney Jacob Gontesky urged the justices to reject the appeal, saying Robinson had a highly experienced defense team.

The justices did not immediately rule on the issue.

The Kansas State Fair in underway in Hutchinson as Kansans and other fair goers brave the heat.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 59 people have been treated for heat-related illness at this year's fair, that began on Friday. Temperatures across the state have reached or exceeded 100 degrees in central Kansas for 10 straight days just prior to the kickoff of the fair. That is the longest 100 degree streak since 2000. Hot weather remains in the forecast this week.

Anyone heading to Hutchinson this week to enjoy the fair should remember to stay well hydrated and take regular breaks from the heat, including finding shade or air conditioning. While at the fair, anyone feeling sick can seek help from the K-H-P, EMS, or fair staff. The Kansas State Fair runs through Saturday.

Those staying closer to home should also use caution when spending time outside while the heat wave lasts.

Osage County Commissioners work to improve transparency.

At this week's meeting, commissioners discussed contract payments for the Osage County Free Fair . This included a $3,000 payment to a petting zoo, $2,800 payment to a magician and two separate payments to individual bands totaling $3,000. District Two Commissioner Steve Talburt says even though this was approved in June, the Board wants to be more transparent about what they are paying for in the future.

In other business, commissioners also signed a service agreement with Guy Engineering for a right of way acquisition proposal to begin work on a bridge in District Three.

The Altamont City Council makes quick work of business at this week's special meeting.

On Monday night, council members approved changes to city ordinance 672 for special assessments. City Administrator LeeAnn Myers says the changes will allow the City to cover expenses associated with code enforcement.

Monday's meeting was held after last week's regular meeting was canceled. Myers says the change resulted in the City moving the date of an scheduled public hearing.

The next regular meeting of the Altamont City Council is set for September 24.

The city of Columbus lifts its burn ban.

The city-wide burn ban was lifted on Monday after the recent rainfall in the area. The Columbus Fire Department continues to monitor conditions, paying close attention to the weather, wind and dry conditions in the event that a burn ban may need to be put back in place. Officials ask that residents continue to use caution and good judgment in regards to outdoor burning.

Those with questions can contact the Columbus Fire Department at 620-429-1592

The City of Independence is expanding a program designed to help homeowners improve their neighborhoods.

The Independence City Commission has approved new guidelines for the City’s Neighborhood Exterior Grant Program. Housing Authority Director April Nutt says there were two changes made to the program.

The grant requires at least two neighbors who live within line of sight of each other to co-apply for funding and for each to make a minimum of $1,000 investment in eligible exterior improvements. The program now has two levels of funding, which are dependent on the applicants income. Mayor Dean Hayse says the program helps improve local neighborhoods

Qualifying improvements include projects such as exterior painting, window or door replacement, awnings and gutters, and driveway repairs.

For more information on the grant program, follow this link.

The recently held Guardians of the Greens Charity Golf Tournament raises more than $18,000 for the Parsons Police Legacy Fund.

The third annual tournament happened last Saturday at the Katy Golf Club in Parsons as 57 players turned out in the hot weather to help support the P-P-D Legacy Fund. The money raised will go to help the Fund finance community projects and local programs in and around Parsons. The Parsons Police Legacy Fund is a community outreach initiative created by the Parsons Police Department to invest in local youth, education, athletics, and community programs.

The money raised will go toward the Legacy in Leadership Scholarship which benefits local students at Labette Community College. It also goes toward annual community programs like Shop with a Cop and Operation Warm Shield, and has helped fund recent donations to Parsons and Altamont schools.

Several community events are coming to the Coffeyville area this fall.

The Native Unity Gathering is September 26^th in South Coffeyville, featuring Native dance demonstrations, storytelling, music, children’s activities, craft vendors and free food. Dalton Defender Days returns to downtown Coffeyville October 2^nd and 3^rd with reenactments of the Dalton Gang raid, entertainment, vendors and children’s activities. The Aviation Heritage Museum will celebrate women in aviation October 10^th, followed by Downtown Spooktacular October 15^th.

Haunted History Tours are scheduled for October 16^th, 17^th and 23^rd. Cedar Bluff Camp will hold its Night of Fright October 23^rd and 24^th and October 30^th and 31^st. The fall schedule concludes with the Coffeyville Craft Fair November 21^st at the Recreation Commission. More information is available through the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce.

A former firefighter pleads guilty to child sex crimes.

26-year-old Spencer Barnard of Baxter Springs pled guilty to attempted electronic solicitation and two counts of aggravated endangering a child. Investigators say Barnard attempted to contact teenagers online over a six-month period to obtain sexual content.

KBI agents arrested Barnard in July of last year following a traffic stop in Cherokee County. Investigators say a subsequent search of his home and electronic devices uncovered child sexual abuse material. Barnard is scheduled to be sentenced November 5^th.

The USD 446 Independence Board of Education votes to exceed the revenue neutral tax rate and approves the 2026-2027 school year budget. 
 

The vote came in last night’s Independence Board of Education meeting. The total mills of the proposed budget is 45.355, a projected increase of 0.471 mills from the 2025-2026 budget. 

In other business, the board approved the purchase of 35 new smartboards to replace older-model BenQ boards that began failing at high rates during the 2025-2026 school year. BenQ boards are 4K touchscreen displays that allow teachers and students to interact with lesson material. Each new smartboard will cost $2,450. 

The next USD 446 Independence School Board meeting will be on October 12 at 6:00 pm.

The Wilson County Commission approves a major purchase for the Road & Bridge Department at its most recent meeting.

Commissioners approved $22,000 for the purchase of an Iron Craft 3510 mower from Fredonia Outdoor Equipment. The heavy-duty mower is built for demanding mowing jobs on uneven terrain, including roadsides and right-of-ways.

In other business, County Coordinator Kris Marple updated commissioners on the progress of Neodesha's planned Granby Street Project.

Commissioners also agreed to cancel this week's regular meeting. The next meeting of the Wilson County Commission will be on September 23^rd at the courthouse in Fredonia.

A representative from Nowata EMS addresses the Nowata County Commission regarding the recent reclassification of the Nowata hospital.

Ascension St. John's application was recently accepted to reclassify Nowata's hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital or R-E-H. Nowata EMS Supervisor Sabrina Lee says the reclassification will bring only minor changes.

In June, Ascension St. John submitted an application to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). That application was then reviewed and approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), reclassifying Ascension St. John Nowata from a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) to an REH.

Outpatient services and 24/7 emergency care do not change as a result of the reclassification.

There will be an Opioid Townhall tonight in Cherryvale.

The event will feature keynote speaker Shawn Campiti and a panel of experts who can answer questions and help attendees learn more about the issue. Substance use around Kansas has skyrocketed since 2017, with Montgomery County being in the top 10 of counties in Kansas per capita. Campiti, a Special Agent with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, will share his personal story about losing a loved one to fentanyl use. The public is invited to attend ask questions, and be part of the conversation as communities work together toward a healthier Montgomery County. Refreshments will be served.

Tonight's event begins at 6pm at the Cherryvale Community Center, located at 712 South Liberty Street. The public is invited to attend.

A Scammon man suffers serious injuries in a crash with a semi truck in Cherokee County.

23-year-old Raven Bailey was injured on Monday morning in an accident at the intersection of Scammon Road and US-69. According to the Kansas highway Patrol, Bailey failed to yield at a stop sign at the intersection and was struck on the driver's side of his 2011 G-M-C Acadia by a southbound semi on US-69. Bailey was taken to Joplin's Mercy Hospital.

The driver of the semi was uninjured.

The City Of Coffeyville unveils a new process for purchasing property from the City's Land Bank.

Starting this week, the City is using a sealed bid process, giving interested buyers an opportunity to review the available properties and submit their best bid during the designated bidding period.

Bids are currently being accepted on 33 properties located throughout Coffeyville. The bidding period will remain open through October 14. The time frame will give interested buyers time to explore available properties, review property information and submit their bids to the City.

Property information, photos, minimum bid amounts, sale requirements and sealed bid materials are currently available through the City of Coffeyville’s Community Development webpage.

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

The job fair will occur online on Thursday, September 24, from 8am to 5pm and will be accessible through any digital device. The event is designed to allow jobseekers to discover and explore open job opportunities in a wide variety of career fields . Those seeking employment will be able to fill out applications, chat live, and interview virtually with participating employers. Training videos, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in are also available through the job fair online portal. Participants are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.

Registration is required. For more information or to register, follow this link.

A mill and overlay paving project originally set to begin this week on a short stretch of US-169 in Labette County is postponed until October.

The project will cover a short, 2-mile portion of US-169 in the northwest corner of Labette County from the Montgomery County line to the Neosho County Line. Other work to be included in the project is the paving of the shoulders, adding center and shoulder rumble strips, and new pavement markings.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, the $1.5 million project is now scheduled to begin in late October.

The Montgomery County Commission clarifies its position on Coffeyville’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.

At last week’s meeting, commissioners voted 2 to 1 against supporting Coffeyville’s latest N-R-P. An N-R-P is a local economic development program that offers property tax rebates to encourage people and businesses to fix up old buildings or build new ones. At issue was the commission’s approval of a similar plan presented by Independence last year. Commissioner Phil Clubine says last week’s decision doesn’t mean the county is not supporting Coffeyville.

Clubine says there is still a plan in place for Coffeyville that is in effect until through 2030 and that it is supported by the county.

Commission Chair Mike Cordray then read aloud a letter from the Coffeyville City Commission asking the commission to either reconsider last week’s decision or to explain the difference in treatment between the two cities. The City of Coffeyville stated in the letter that it would continue to move forward with the City’s N-R-P plan.

Neodesha’s Granby Street Project is nearly ready to go.

That was the word at the most recent meeting of the Neodesha City Commission. City Administrator Brogan Jones says the funding portion of the project is complete.

Jones says the project will be funded in large part through grants.

Jones added that the earliest possible start date for the project would be June of 2027.

In other business, the City agreed to settlement terms with Labette Health regarding an ambulance that was totaled in a traffic accident and also tabled an appointment to the Rankin library board until the September 23 meeting.

Enrollment numbers are up slightly for South Coffeyville Public Schools.

That's according to Superintendent Daryl Pruter who says they now have slightly more than 225 students enrolled.

Those numbers are up around 5-10 students from last year.  Pruter says they still have more room for students wishing to enroll for this year.

Emergency crews are responding this morning to an early morning traffic accident near Havana.

The initial call came in around 5:30 this morning as Independence EMS was dispatched to the intersection of US-75 and County Road 2600, just east of Havana and about 5 ½ miles north of Caney. Early reports indicate multiple emergency units are on the scene with possible injuries involved.

Drivers are advised to use caution in the area or find a different route. Again, that location is US-75 just east of Havana.

The USD 445 Board of Education votes to exceed the revenue neutral rate and approves the 2026-2027 school year.

The Board held their hearings for the RNR and budget during this month's meeting, with no one from the public speaking during either hearing. The mill levy was raised by 1.8 mills.

In other business, the board heard facility updates including the completion of the Community Elementary School roof project. The board also got a timeline on the Natatorium project, which is scheduled to be complete by late April 2027 and will be ready for the 2027-2028 swim season.

The burn ban in Labette County has been lifted effective immediately.

Labette County Emergency Management Director Charlie Morse met with county commissioners this morning to discuss the ban. Recent rainfall across the county has helped ease the dry conditions that led commissioners to originally approve the ban.

Residents may resume outdoor burning but are encouraged to continue using caution.

The Wilson Medical Center Board of Trustees is named as the Kansas Hospital Association's Board of the Year.

The announcement was made at the K-H-A Convention and Trade Show held in Overland Park last Friday. The award recognizes community hospital boards that display excellence in governance and leadership. The prize was changed this year from an individual award to a group award to honor hospital boards of directors who are leaders, and who give back to the community while routinely going beyond the call of duty.

The board includes Chad Estes, Justin Newland, Michael Springer, Mitchell Peitz, Amy Brown, Drew Johnson and Doctors Miranda McKellar and Bert Chronister.

The board shares the 2026 award with the Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems Board of Trustees in Beloit.

Photo: (left to right, front) Amy Brown, Dr. Miranda McKellar, Drew Johnson, justin Newland. (back) Chad Estes Michael SPringer, Mithell Peitz

The Altamont City Council will hold a special meeting tonight after not having a quorum at last week’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Council members will entertain a light agenda with a residential development incentive up for consideration. There will also be a discussion on the city-wide rummage sale set for September 19 and for bulk trash collection on September 21 through 23.

Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:30 at the Altamont City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and can also be viewed online via the City of Altamont Facebook page.

Repairs to a bridge on the north side of the city are scheduled to begin today in Parsons.

The bridge over Labette Creek on North Boulevard between 16th Street and Lincoln Avenue will get underway this morning. Construction crews will work on one lane at a time, allowing the other lane to remain open to traffic throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to slow down, use caution, and watch for crews and equipment when traveling through the work zone. Use an alternate route if possible, until repairs are complete.

A Neodesha home is destroyed in a Saturday afternoon fire.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 513 North 10th Street in Neodesha around 1pm on Saturday afternoon to a report of a structure fire. The house was fully engulfed in flames by the time emergency crews arrived. The home was a total loss. The structure was vacant at the time and no injuries were reported.

Neodesha Fire, Wilson County Rural, Fredonia Fire, and Neodesha Labette EMS responded to the call.

The USD 446-Independence Board of Education will meet tonight and hold public hearings to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate and to approve the 2027 budget.

The Public hearings will begin before the regular school board meeting with the RNR hearing scheduled to begin at 5:40 and the budget hearing at 5:50. Approval of the budget is expected to occur during the regular meeting, along with the approval 22 individuals for staff positions, including Kids Crew Staff and classroom paras. Board members will also discuss the purchase of a new smartboard for classroom use.

Tonight’s USD 446 School Board regular meeting begins at 6pm in the library at Independence High School. The public is invited attend.

Fire crews in Washington County, Oklahoma, respond to a Saturday morning grass fire.

Firefighters from Dewey, Wann, and Copan Fire Departments were called to the scene of a fast moving grass fire around 10:30 on Saturday morning. Crews were on the scene for nearly an hour before bringing the blaze under control. No injuries were reported. Officials remind citizens that the Washington County burn ban remains in effect and that brush and grass are still dry despite the recent rainfall.

The Montgomery County Commission is set to meet today as they address a brief agenda.

On today’s agenda under new business is the quarterly report from Director of Facilities Maintenance Jeff Phelps. Commissioners will also address correspondence from the Coffeyville Chamber and the Coffeyville City Commission regarding last week’s decision not to support the City’s Neighborhood Revitalization plan.

There is also an executive session planned to discuss confidential information related to an economic development project in the county.

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.

Five people, including four children, are confirmed dead in an early Friday morning house fire in Independence.

Two adults and three more children are also being treated for life-threatening injuries suffered in the blaze. USD 446 in Independence has also confirmed that two of the children involved were students in the district. The initial call for the fire came in around 6:20 on Friday morning. The Independence Fire Department responded to the scene at 201 South Earl Street on the east side of the City where they found the residence fully engulfed in flames.

Multiple agencies assisted with the response, including the Kansas Highway Patrol, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Rural Fire Department, Independence Police, CRMC EMS, and Cherryvale Fire/EMS.

Independence Fire Chief Aaron Cook thanked first responders for their work along with the medical staff at Labette Health Independence ER. Cook and the City of Independence expressed their condolences for everyone affected by the tragic loss. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Here is a link to a GoFundMe for the family.

Photo courtesy Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office

Multiple units respond to a fuel spill reported at the Indepdence Airport.

The initial call came in Friday night just after 8 p.m. of a report of a jet fuel spill from a tanker at the Textron facility at the Independence Municiapl Airport.  Fire units from Independence are responding in addition to Coffeyville Hazmat.  No fire has been reported at this time.

This is a breaking news story, more information will be shared as it becomes available.

The Town of Copan, Washington County Rural Water District 7 and Hulah Water District 20 are all under a mandatory water boil order until further notice.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issued the order on Friday. Individuals and businesses who use tap water in those areas should bring water to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute, use bottled water, or water from another acceptable source for consumption, use in food preparation, dishwashing and brushing teeth.

The order was issued due to high turbidities and low disinfectant levels in the drinking water.

Users will be notified when the water is considered safe for human consumption. Federal law requires that consumers be notified when a public water supply exceeds certain maximum contaminant levels and might be harmful to the health of consumers.

A suspect connected to an armed convenience store robbery that happened in Coffeyville in July is under arrest.

According to the Coffeyville Police Department, on July 25th around 2:15 a.m., the Department responded to a reported armed robbery at the Jumpstart on the east side of Coffeyville at 512 Northeast Street. The suspect fled prior to Officers arrival.

After a thorough investigation, a suspect was developed. As a result, the Coffeyville Police Department requested and received an arrest warrant for the suspect through Montgomery Co. District Court.

The suspect, 23-year-old Brelyn M. Sanford of Tulsa, was taken into custody without incident by the Tulsa Police Dept.

CPD is recommending charges of Attempted Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Assault to the Montgomery Co. Attorney’s Office.

Chief Kwin Bromley would like to thank Tulsa Police Dept. for their assistance in this investigation.

Anyone with information should call CPD at 620-252-6160. Those wishing to remain anonymous may provide information to the Crime Tip Hotline at 620-252-6133.

**UPDATE (10:14am, September 11): A statement from the CIty of Independence has confirmed there were fatalities resulting from the fire. The identities of those involved are not being released at this time pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

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

Emergency Crews in Independence respond to an early morning house fire.

Crews were called to the scene at Maple and Burns Streets around 6:30 this morning. Upon arrival, firefighters found a residence that was actively burning. Preliminary reports indicate at least one adult was inside the house along with several children between the ages of 2 and 5. The pediatric patients were taken to Labette Health in Independence while the adult was taken to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. All were reported to have severe burns and airway trauma.

Emergency crews remain on the scene. The names and exact numbers of victims have not been released and no updates on their conditions have been given at this time.

This is a breaking news story and KGGF will provide updates as they become available.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has joined with the Oklahoma First Responder Wellness Division in a statewide effort to prevent suicide among first responders.

The Not One Mor campaign aims to make it much easier for first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, to ask for help and reminds them that they do not have to carry their struggles alone.

For a link to learn more about the campaign, follow this link.

There will be an Opioid Townhall on Tuesday in Cherryvale.

The event will feature keynote speaker Shawn Campiti and a panel of experts who can answer questions and help attendees learn more about the issue. Substance use around Kansas has skyrocketed since 2017, with Montgomery County being in the top 10 of counties in Kansas per capita. Campiti, a Special Agent with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, will share his personal story about losing a loved one to fentanyl use. The public is invited to attend ask questions, and be part of the conversation as we work together toward a healthier Montgomery County. Refreshments will be served. Tuesday night's event will be held at the Cherryvale Community Center, located at 712 South Liberty Street. The event begins at 6pm.

The Humanities Project from Coffeyville Community College welcomes award-winning juggler and entertainer Brian Wendling to the Spencer Rounds Theater. .
 

Wendling brings his unique combination of juggling, comedy, and performance to Coffeyville next week. He began his juggling career as a college student and found that performing allowed him to express his more extroverted side. Wendling is an International Juggler's Association Team Champion and a favorite performer at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, where he has performed for over 40 years.

Wendling will perform Tuesday night in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC campus. Admission is free.

Road construction is slated to begin Monday in the City of Neodesha.

The work by the Wilson County Road and Bridge Department will take place along 12th Street, beginning at Granby and continuing north across the overpass onto Spruce Street along the City's west side. While work is underway, 12^th Street from Granby to the overpass is expected to be completely closed while Spruce Street from the overpass to the city limits will be limited to one lane of traffic. Residents, businesses, employees, customers, and delivery drivers should plan ahead and allow additional travel time.

The Altamont City Council has rescheduled its regular meeting until Monday night.

The council was originally scheduled to meet last night, but was forced to make the change due to a lack of quorum. The agenda for that meeting will be the similar to the one published for last night's meeting. One change will be for the public hearing for flood plain management. The date for that hearing has been moved to Thursday, October 8, at 7pm.

The Altamont City Council will meet Monday at 6:30 at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and can also be viewed online via the City of Altamont Facebook page.

The Independence City Commission approves the 2027 budget.

At last night's meeting commissioners were asked to approve the budget for the coming year and exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate. City Finance Director Lacey Lies says, while the City is exceeding the RNR, next year's mill levy will actually decrease.

Commissioner Tim White says it took a lot of work to whittle down the 2027 budget.

Commissioner Scott Smith says the budget reflects a balance between the needs of the City and the needs of the taxpayer.

Mayor Dean Hayse says deep cuts to the budget are good in the short term, but they can't last.

One citizen spoke during the public hearing on the RNR, citing concern for taxpayers living on fixed incomes. Both the budget and the RNR passed on unanimous votes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces $3.5 million dollars in competitive grants available to federally recognized Tribes for projects aimed at improving water quality.

The funding is part of the E-P-A's Clean Water Act Section 319 program, which targets non-point-source pollution, or polluted runoff carried into waterways from urban, suburban and rural areas.

Eligible projects could include planting streambanks, controlling erosion, installing livestock fencing, managing stormwater and developing watershed plans.

Each Tribe or intertribal organization can apply for up to $175,000, with the E-P-A expecting to fund about 20 projects.

Applications are due November 9^th. An informational webinar is scheduled for September 17^th.

Flags across the state of Kansas will be flown at half-staff today in remembrance of of those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Flags throughout the state will be lowered to half staff from sunup to sundown today by order of Governor Laura Kelly to mark the 25^th anniversary of the attacks on New York City.

“Twenty-five years after the unthinkable tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans and injured thousands more, we uphold our commitment to remembering those whose lives were permanently altered by a horrific terrorist attack,” Kelly said. “We will never forget the bravery demonstrated that day by so many, including our nation’s first responders, who saved countless lives despite losing more than 400 of their own. Their sacrifice and service will never be forgotten.”

The Mighty 690 will be on the road tomorrow to broadcast live from the Mayes County Fair.

KGGF's Matt Jordan will be at the fair in Pryor from 9:00am to 11:00am, providing updates and visiting with fair organizers, exhibitors and others attending this year’s event. The Mayes County Fair runs through Sunday. The carnival is open from 6:00pm to 10:00pm each night until Sunday. The goat show gets things started tomorrow morning followed by the dairy and sheep show. The swine and beef shows are on Saturday, with the premium sale wrapping up the fair on Monday.

Tomorrow’s live broadcast is sponsored by DeLozier Insurance, Morehead Construction, Whitetail Properties agent Dean Anderson, Locust Grove Feed, the Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce, Pryor Vet, Troyer-Weaver Insurance and Brittain Farms.

Two debates for statewide offices will be heard on KGGF this weekend.

This Sunday, September 13^th, KGGF will broadcast a debate via the Kansas Information Network featuring Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher both vying for the Governor's seat in Kansas. That debate will start at 5 p.m.

Then, at 6:30 p.m., Candidates for US Senate, Republican Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton, will face off for an additional 90-minute debate.

The debates will be broadcast on The Mighty 690, KGGF.

Coffeyville Police arrest two in separate incidents.

The first incident occurred on August 24^th when police stopped 44-year-old Bradley D. Phillipi of Coffeyville for a traffic stop. During the stop, officers discovered illegal narcotics. Phillipi was arrested and faces charges of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Intent to Manufacture, Possession of Marijuana, and Aggravated Endangering a Child.

The second incident occurred on August 27^th during another traffic stop on East 8^th Street in Coffeyville. During that stop, officers discovered illegal narcotics along with an illegal handgun. 62-year-old Leon E. Smith of Coffeyville was taken into custody. He faces multiple charges including Distribution of Methamphetamine, Defacing Identification Marks on a Firearm, Transporting an Open Container and DUI.

Anyone with information of either case is asked to contact Coffeyville Police. Anonymous tips can be made to the Crime Tip Hotline at 620-252-6133.

Photo: Phillipi (l), Smith (r)

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Montgomery County and western Labette County through 1pm today.

Morning storms have moved through the area and dumped a large amount of rain. Flooding is expected to occur along rivers, streams, and other flood prone locations.

Areas in Montgomery County covered in the warning include Coffeyville, Independence, Cherryvale, Caney, Dearing, Mound Valley, Elk City, Tyro, Liberty, Havana, Bolton, and Sycamore. In Labette County, areas include Angola, Parsons Tri City Airport, Big Hill Lake, and Dennis.

Remember to use caution around flood waters. Never drive through flooded roadways, turn around, don’t drown. Do not drive around barricades and avoid unnecessary travel in areas experiencing flooding.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin a mill and overlay project on Monday along a short stretch of US-169 in Labette County.

The contractor on the project - Bettis Asphalt and Construction of Topeka - will mill the existing pavement and add a 4-inch asphalt overlay along a nearly two-mile section of the highway from the Montgomery County line to near the Neosho County line. Other work includes paving the shoulders and adding center and shoulder rumble strips and pavement markings.

Flaggers and a pilot car will guide motorists through one-lane traffic in the work zones. Motorists can expect delays of 15 minutes or less.

Work will occur during daylight hours Monday through Friday, and is expected to be completed by early October.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the recent death of a Dewey police officer.

Dewey Police Chief Jimmy Gray says Sergeant Robbie Hicks died on Monday at the Dewey Police Station.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office says Hicks was under investigation for alleged crimes when the shooting occurred. Hicks was taken to Jane Phillips Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The case remains under investigation.

An Independence man is arrested and faces charges for distribution of narcotics within 1000 feet of a school.

Officers from the Independence Police Department were called to the scene in the 400 block of north 10^th Street on Tuesday for a report of a domestic disturbance. Following an investigation, police arrested 24-year-old Raevaughn White and 23-year-old Kennedy Curtis. Both suspects were taken to the Montgomery County Jail.

White faces charges of possession of an opiate or narcotic, possession of an hallucinogenic drug, unlawful abuse of toxic vapors and possession with intent to distribute to a minor within 1000 feet of a school.

Curtis faces similar charges.

Photo: Curtis (l), White (r)

The Independence City Commission will meet tonight and hold a public hearing to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for 2027.

According to city officials, while the proposed levy exceeds the RNR, the City is not proposing an increase to its overall mill rate. The City's 2026 actual mill rate was 53.799 mills, compared to the proposed 2027 rate of 53.795 mills, a slight decrease of 0.004 mills. The increase would allow the City to collect an additional $113,000 in taxes for 2027. The City will receive additional property tax revenue because the assessed valuation is estimated to increase; the Revenue Neutral Rate is designed to reduce the mill rate as valuations grow, so that property tax revenues remain approximately level from year to year.

Also on tonight's agenda, commissioners will also consider adopting a resolution amending the Neighborhood Exterior Grant Program, consider awarding a Downtown Independence Building Grant to Independence Industries for a roof replacement at 115 South 6^th Street and hold public hearings on 11 properties deemed dangerous and unsafe. There will also be consideration of an emergency abatement and demolition of the trailer park at 1610 West Laurel.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 in the Commission Room at City Hall in Independence. The meeting is open to the public and can also be viewed online via the City's website.

An inmate at the El Dorado Correctional Facility dies in custody.

According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, 67-year-old Eddie Holmes Jr. was discovered unresponsive in his cell on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Butler County facility. Prison staff alerted EMS and began life-saving measures. Holmes was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased. His cause of death will be determined by an independent autopsy.

Holmes was serving a 19-year prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter for the 2024 shooting death of Reginald Privette in Topeka.

Whenever an individual dies while in custody in a Kansas prison, the death is investigated by KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

The investigation remains ongoing.

A longtime USD 445 coach, educator and school administrator has passed away.

Harold Thomas passed away on September 5, 2026, at the age of 94. Thomas impacted many in the Coffeyville community through his 36 years with USD 445. Throughout his career, he coached 25 All-SEK athletes, seven All-State athletes and one High School All-American.

Thomas played basketball at Field Kindley High School and earned All-SEK honors and served as co-captain in 1950. He continued his basketball career at Coffeyville Community College, where he was a two-year starter and the team’s leading scorer during his sophomore season. His accomplishments earned him All-State and All-Kansas honors, and he served as co-captain in 1952.

Thomas competed against the Phillips 66 Oilers, the 1950 National Industrial Basketball League champions; the McPherson Globe Refiners All-Stars; the Marques Haynes All-Stars and Harlem Magicians; and Kansas City’s Chapel Touring All-Star Basketball Team.

Thomas will long be remembered for his involvement in the Interstate Basketball Classic, which was named in his honor.

Harold Thomas' full obituary can be viewed here.

This year is the 25^th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

To remember the tragic day, there will be a 9/11 Revival held at the Love in Action Chapel on Centralia Road in Childers, Oklahoma. This year's theme is “Our Finest Hour” and special guests include David Engles of the Oasis Radio Network, Doyle Edwards of Tulsa, Vincent Orange of Wann, Scott Lewis of Louisiana and Edwina Kidd of Arkansas. The revival will be held September 10th and 11th starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call 918-440-5683.

No injuries are reported following a vehicle fire early Monday morning.

Firefighters were called to 705 West 10^th Street shortly before 12:30am. Crews arrived to find a passenger vehicle heavily involved in flames. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire without incident.

The cause remains under investigation.

The Parsons Police Legacy Fund is donating $500 to the Labette County High School Booster Club.

The money will support student-athletes, activities and other opportunities for LCHS students. Parsons Police Chief and Legacy Fund President Robert Spinks says the contribution supports the organization’s goal of investing in young people and the community’s future. Lieutenant Jason Ludwig says the donation is especially meaningful because the Parsons Police Department includes graduates of both Labette County and Parsons high schools.

The Legacy Fund raises money through donations, sponsorships, partnerships and charitable events to support youth, education, athletics and other community programs.

The Caney City Council votes to make a slight increase to the mill levy and exceed the revenue neutral rate by 3 mills. 

The vote came in last night's Caney City Council meeting.  Caney City Administrator Andrea Sibley says that the slight increase was necessary to keep the budget numbers the same. 

In other business, the city officials declined to comment on the Carl Hempel case, as it is now going through the legal process. The next Caney City Council meeting will be on Monday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. 

The Kan-Okla 100 Mile Highway sale is this week, and you can advertise your garage sale for FREE on the radio with KGGF's Open Line.

Callers are welcome to call during the program every weekday from 8:40 to 11, and Saturdays from 9 to 11. Some interviews are scheduled during the Open Line time, so it's best to listen to the radio if possible before calling in. Open Line is broadcast live on 690 AM across the four-state area, and can be streamed online at kggfradio.com or through the KGGF App.

Once you call in, you'll be placed on hold and put on the air as soon as possible. If you reach a busy signal, wait a few minutes and try calling again. When calling Open Line, you can list your sale location, hours of operation, a brief overview of items and a phone number if desired.

Listeners are welcome to call each of a sale. The list of all items listed on Open Line is repeated through the day, available for viewing at the station at 306 W 8^th Street in Coffeyville and is also posted here.

In addition to garage sales, individual items can be listed as well. Full Open Line rules are available here.

Some area cities are encouraging a return to traditional trick-or-treating.

At last night's Cherryvale City Council Meeting, Acting City Administrator Karen Davis informed the council that the remaining four members on the Community Center board have given their resignations. Because the Community Center traditionally organized the city's annual trunk-or-treat, Davis and the council discussed the feasibility of another organization putting on the event or returning to traditional trick-or-treating. While some including those with the public library expressed a desire for the event to continue, the consensus was to not hold the event this year, as some residents expressed.

Independence Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Wilson says Independence will also not be having a trunk-or-treat this year because of the conflict with Neewollah.

The Coffeyville Chamber will host its annual Spooktacular event on Thursday, October 15^th.

Fire crews in Wilson County battle a house fire.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a residence on the north side of Fredonia just before 6pm on Tuesday night. When crews arrived on scene, they found a home heavily engulfed in flames. Units immediately began working to protect two additional house and a garage located to the north of the burning structure. Mutual aid was requested from surrounding fire departments.

The blaze was successfully extinguished. The homeowners escape the blaze without injury. However, the family's pets did not survive. The house was deemed a total loss.

Wilson County Rural Fire, Neodesha Fire and Fredonia Fire all responded to the call.

Photo courtesy Wilson County Rural Fire

The Neodesha City Commission will meet today and consider finalizing an agreement with Labette Health regarding an ambulance that was damaged and taken out of service.

The agreement settles the loss of a Neodesha-owned ambulance that was being leased by Labette Health. After the ambulance was declared a total loss, Travelers Insurance paid Neodesha just over $129,000. The agreement closes out claims related to the vehicle and reduces Labette Health's leased ambulance fleet from three to two, while leaving the rest of the existing agreement unchanged. In other business, commissioners will consider a new appointment to the library board.

Today's meeting begins at 4pm in the Commission Room at Neodesha's City Hall. The public is invited to attend. The meeting will also be recorded for later viewing on the Neodesha Facebook page.

The Montgomery County Commission denies the City of Coffeyville's request for an Neighborhood Revitalization plan.

At this week's meeting, Coffeyville City Manager Ben Brubaker asked for the county's approval of the City's Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. An N-R-P provides property tax rebates to encourage people and businesses to fix up old buildings or build new ones in designated areas. The county wants to focus on agricultural and residential properties and to exclude commercial from the plan, partially because commissioners say commercial properties have the opportunity the recoup their costs in ways that the other types do not. Commissioner Phil Clubine says county taxes are another reason.

Last year, the county commission approved a similar plan for the City of Independence. Half of that city is represented by Clubine and the other half by Commissioner Robert Bever. Commissioner Mike Cordray represents Coffeyville and says he worries about hurting that City's economy.

Commissioner Bever says he wants to see more cooperation between the cities in Montgomery County.

County Appraiser Melody Kikkert says, in the long run, that would be the ideal solution.

The final vote to deny Coffeyville's request was 2 to 1, with Commissioner Mike Cordray voting no.

North Buckeye Street in Coffeyville will remain closed today as city crews continue work on a waterline project on 8^th Street.

Buckeye north of 8^th Street was closed yesterday to begin the work. The area will remain closed today until repairs are made. City officials anticipate that the intersection will reopen tomorrow, work conditions permitting.

Drivers are asked to plan an alternate route until the street reopens.

The Cherryvale City Council votes to exceed the revenue neutral rate by five mills.

At last night's meeting, the council held its revenue neutral and budget hearing. Resident Brooke Austin spoke during the hearing, saying she would prefer a three-mill increase as opposed to five.

Acting City Administrator Karen Davis says the city continues to face big expenses and they have limited funding options as a small municipality.

The majority of the council voted in favor of the increase with council members Steve Strickland and Curtis Whittley voting against. Cherryvale raised taxes by three mills last year. A mill represents $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed taxable value.

The Montgomery County Commission denies the City of Coffeyville's request for Neighborhood Revitalization.

City Manager Ben Brubaker says the requested to have the entire city be included instead of just small areas of the city.  Brubaker, Mayor Jim Faulkner and Vice Mayor Deborah Maples discussed the reason behind the commission not approving Coffeyville.

NRP's are approved for 10 years at a time so Independence's will be in place until 2035.

The City of Coffeyville will conduct a manual test of its outdoor storm sirens Thursday at noon.

The sirens will sound for about three minutes. City officials say it is only a test, and residents do not need to take any action. A computer system issue continues to prevent the sirens from being activated through the normal system. The sirens remain operational and can be activated manually during an emergency.

Thursday’s test will allow city employees to practice that process. Officials say the three-minute cycle is required when the sirens are activated manually. A technician is expected to repair the computer system within the next several weeks.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports no fatal crashes during its Labor Day holiday enforcement period.

The reporting period ran from Friday evening through late Monday night. Troopers made 23 DUI arrests, compared with 22 last year and 12 in 2024. The patrol issued 683 speeding citations and another 686 speeding warnings. Troopers also issued 96 seat-belt citations, including 11 involving teenagers. Another 15 citations were issued for child-restraint violations.

KHP personnel assisted 548 motorists during the holiday weekend. That is down from 643 motorist assists during the same reporting period last year.

A previously approved battery-storage project in Labette County could be expanded under a new arrangement involving Evergy.

Labette County Zoning Administrator Mel Haas says Evergy has discussed adding 100 megawatts to the Plus Power project near the Wallace Road substation. The county approved a 20-year agreement with Plus Power about two years ago. Under the new arrangement discussed, Evergy would reportedly purchase two-thirds of the project’s capacity or output, while Plus Power would retain one-third. Haas says the discussions remain preliminary.

The original agreement includes language protecting the Plus Power project from future countywide zoning changes. Officials are now considering whether the additional capacity would be covered by that provision or be subject to the county’s newer battery-storage regulations. Haas says Evergy indicated the proposed arrangement could increase payments to the county.

The Commission says the plans will need to go before the Labette County Planning and Zoning Board.

Washington County is under a 14 day burn ban effective immediately.

The Washington County Commissioners approved the ban, due to lack of precipitation and hot weather leading to drought conditions. Washington County Commission Chair Mike Dunlap says the fire risk is too high right now.

Under the ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited, with a few exceptions. Grilling or outdoor cooking is permitted, as long as it occurs on a hard, fireproof surface that is at least 10 feet by 10 feet. Additionally, welding, grinding or gas torch work can happen as long as there is a dedicated fire watch person with means to extinguish any fire that may occur. Violators of the burn ban could face a misdemeanor charge with a $500 fine and one year in the county jail.

The Nowata County Commissioners have extended the current county-wide burn ban an additional two weeks.

Officials within the Nowata Fire Department asked the board in last week's meeting if a 30-day ban was possible. County Clerk Kay Spurgeon says they are limited in how long the ban can be put in place.

A burn ban has been active at the county level since August 17^th. A city-wide burn ban for the City of Nowata is also still active. Exceptions to the ban include outdoor grilling on a hard, fireproof surface, or grinding, welding or gas torch work that is supervised by a dedicated fire watch person. Penalties for violating the ban can include a fine of up to $500 or up to one year imprisonment.

A Coffeyville native and Field Kindley High School graduate has been selected for a national STEM fellowship.

Maria Olds, formerly Maria Burris, is a 2001 FKHS graduate and doctoral chemistry student at the University of Texas at Arlington. Olds is one of 30 doctoral students nationwide selected for the inaugural ASCENDR Fellowship. The one-year program prepares students for defense-related research careers and provides each fellow with $12,500 for research.

Olds’ doctoral work includes studying how insect gut bacteria break down pesticides and developing new methods of ion chromatography. The fellowship concludes with a conference in June 2027, where participants will present their research to program administrators and Department of Defense officials.

A $4.6 million highway resurfacing project is scheduled to begin next week in Neosho County.

Crews will mill and overlay about 21 miles of U.S. 59, beginning at the K-39 junction north of Erie and moving south. Work will then cover four-and-a-half miles of K-47 between U.S. 59 and the west city limits of St. Paul.

A pilot car will guide one-lane traffic through the active work zone. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes. Work will take place during daylight hours Monday through Friday. The project is expected to be completed in early November, weather permitting.

Buckeye Street north of 8th Street will be closed today and tomorrow while crews complete street repairs.

According to the City of Coffeyville, there will be no access to Buckeye Street north of 8th Street from the Buckeye & 8th Street intersection during the closure.

Crews are currently looking at Thursday for the roadway to reopen, weather and work conditions permitting.

Drivers should plan an alternate route while the street repairs are ongoing.

The Humanities Project from Coffeyville Community College welcomes internationally acclaimed songwriter and acoustic roots performer David G. Smith to the Spencer Rounds Theater .
 

Smith’s music blends folk, Americana, country, and blues, with lyric-driven songs and a versatile voice at the center of his performances. Smith’s performance will showcase his distinctive acoustic roots sound while offering audiences an opportunity to experience the storytelling and songwriting that have earned him recognition throughout the music community.

David G. Smith will perform at 6:30 tonight in the Spencer Rounds Theater on the CCC campus. Admission is free.

Two people are dead following a Monday afternoon plane crash in southwest Missouri.

According to the Newton County Sheriff's Office, an experimental private aircraft crashed near the Fort Crowder Shooting range on the southeast side of Neosho around 1:30 yesterday afternoon. Both people on board the plane were killed in the crash. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Nowata County Commissioners have a regular meeting scheduled for today after yesterday's Labor Day holiday.

Commissioners will revisit the county-wide burn ban that has been in effect since August 10. The current ban was extended two additional weeks during last week's meeting. The City of Nowata is also under an active burn ban.

The commissioners will also review a no zoning letter, declare an item as surplus, dispose an item and accept a donation.

The board will also appoint a deputy, discuss improvements to the courthouse, revisit the county certification map and county action report and hear an update from Emergency Manager Laurie Summers.

Today's meeting begins at 9am at the Nowata County Annex in downtown Nowata.

Two teens are injured following a police chase in Allen County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, around 11:30am on Monday, law enforcement was in pursuit of a 2010 Cadillac C-T-S as the vehicle traveled recklessly along Hawaii Road, about 7 miles southeast of Moran. When the vehicle approached the intersection of 4550 Road, the driver lost control of the vehicle and veered off the roadway before coming to rest. The driver was identified as 18-year-old Logan Fielding of Junction City. Both Fielding and his passenger – identified only as a 15-year-old female from Texas – both suffered minor injuries and were taken to Allen County Regional Hospital for treatment.

The Coffeyville City Commission will meet tonight with several items of business on the agenda.

At tonight's meeting, commissioners will discuss the Kansas Airport Improvement Program Grant Award for a Hangar Approach Pavement Reconstruct project. They will be asked to approve the acceptance of a nearly $400,000 grant for the project with a $43,000 match from the City to improve and repair several hanger approaches at the Coffeyville Airport.

Commissioners will also consider a reduction in a Community Development Block Grant for the Brown Street Sewer Renovation project.

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

The Caney City Council will meet tonight and hold public hearings for the revenue neutral rate and for the 2027 budget.

The public is invited to attend tonight's meeting in order to make public comments on the City's plan to exceed the revenue neutral rate for the coming year. The Revenue Neutral Rate is the specific property tax mill levy rate required to generate the exact same amount of property tax revenue in dollars as the previous year, using the current tax year's total assessed property valuation. Citizens will also be able to comment on the proposed budget for next year.

Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 at Caney's City Hall. Those planning to attend the meeting in person are asked to enter the building through the east doors.

The Montgomery County Commission will meet today with a light agenda.

At today's meeting, commissioners will hear a opioid fund request from Deputy Director of Four County Mental Health Steve Denny. They will also hear an update from the Montgomery County Action Council.

Commissioners will also hold two executive sessions to discuss confidential information regarding economic development.

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 Wilson County Commission approves a measure to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for the coming year and also approves the 2027 budget.

The decision came at the commission's most recent meeting. During the public hearing for the
RNR and for the budget, only one citizen spoke. That individual raised concerns about the increase in revenue for the county as compared to inflation and also stressed the need to keep the mill levy low. Commissioners went on to approve both measures, voting in favor of the 2027 mill levy of 66.590 for a budget total of just over $11.7 million.

In other business, commissioners also approved an agreement renewal with Schneider electric for maintenance of the courthouse HVAC system for $3,000, and also heard an update on the asphalt road repair project from Road & Bridge supervisor Kary Tatum.

The next meeting of the Wilson County Commission will be tomorrow morning at 9am at the courthouse in Fredonia. The public is invited to attend.