The Wilson County Fair returns to Fredonia July 17-26 with more than a week of livestock shows, 4-H and open class exhibits, competitions, and family activities.

The fair opens July 17 with the 4-H Clothing and Style Revue, followed by several days of judging, exhibit check-in, and the 4-H Horse Show. Livestock events begin Thursday with the Rabbit and Poultry Show and Swine Show.

Friday features the 4-H and Open Class Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goat, and Bucket Calf Show, followed by the Market Goat and Sheep Shows. Saturday includes a Pancake Feed, Farm Bureau Pedal Pull, Watermelon Feed, Critter Parade, and the Beef Show.

The fair concludes Sunday with Round Robin Showmanship, trophy presentations, and the annual 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale, celebrating the hard work and achievements of Wilson County youth.

The final two days of the 153rd Annual Erie Old Soldiers & Sailors Reunion are packed with food, entertainment, and longtime traditions.

Today features the Ki Delta Psi Sorority breakfast, the annual Free Bean Feed, live music in downtown Erie, free inflatables, fireworks at 9:30 p.m., and a street dance to close the evening.

Tomorrow begins with a community breakfast, followed by the Reunion Run, car and truck show, arts and crafts, and the annual Big Parade at 10:30 a.m. The celebration concludes with a barbecue contest, cornhole tournament, and the 10th Annual Let the Mini's Buck Youth Rodeo.

Organizers invite residents and visitors alike to celebrate the final days of Reunion Week in Erie.

KGGF will have a live remote 6-8 p.m. on 104.1 FM

The Montgomery County Commission will address the issue of data centers at Monday's meeting.

On the agenda will be a possible moratorium on technical facilities such as data centers and wind farms. Commissioner Robert Bever says he wants to hold off on a moratorium until he hears both sides of the issue.

Plans are currently underway on a strategic plan that would allow for county-wide zoning. Commissioner Phil Clubine says any potential moratorium approved by the commission would only affect properties in the county.

Commissioners say they want to hear from citizens to get their input on the issue. The public is invited to attend Monday's meeting to take part in the discussion. Monday's meeting begins at 9am on the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence.

Summer months can often be a busy time for medical personnel across the country due to extreme heat facing Americans.

During Pawhuska's city council meeting on Tuesday evening, City Manager Carol Jones talked about how busy Pawhuska's life-saving units have been in the last month.

Jones went on to compliment everyone who worked the Fourth of July weekend. Pawhuska's fireworks show was able to go on as planned after the storm moved through on that Saturday.

The Osage Nation Health System has received an accreditation for its primary residential treatment center serving Native American communities.

The Osage Nation has been  accredited for several years. CEO of the Osage Nation Health System Mark Rogers says it means a great deal to be recognized again.

Rogers says many criteria must be met in order to be accredited. 

Rogers says one of the most difficult things is holding on to that accreditation status for the next three years before they re-apply again. 

A Pittsburg police officer will not face charges in a June 3^rd shooting under the Kansas self-defense law.

Crawford County Attorney Reina Probert announcedon Thursday, July 16, that the officer who shot and killed 29-year-old Jalen Green during a June 3^rd altercation was justified in the use of force. According to reports, police encountered Green sitting beside the roadway around 10pm on the night of the shooting. Green later began running alongside a marked patrol car and throwing items at the officer. When the officer exited his vehicle, Green removed his pants and underwear and assumed a fighting stance. A struggle ensued. During the altercation, Green used the officer's metal flashlight to strike him in the head, causing an injury. The officer then drew his weapon and shot Green.

The County Attorney's Office concluded that the officer was justified in his use of force against Green as he approached again with the flashlight raised. No charges will be filed against the officer.

The City of Independence is working to catch up on mowing and grass maintenance at Mount Hope Cemetery.

City crews are working hard to catch up after the recent rainy weather. The City has received complaints about the height of the grass at the cemetery and around grave markers. Crews usually require a full work week to complete one full mow of the cemetery due to its size. Standing water caused by the recent rainfall has placed mowing on hold until the grounds can dry. Staffing shortages in the park department has also added to the challenge.

City officials ask for patience as work continues.

The Elk County Free Fair continues Friday in Longton with a full day of livestock shows, family activities, and entertainment.

The day begins with the Star-Spangled Banner at 8:15 a.m., followed by the 4-H Swine Show at 8:30. Kids and Turtle Races start at 2 p.m., with the Farm Bureau Pedal Tractor Pull beginning at 5 p.m. after registration at 4:30.

A free community barbecue with live music by David Oakleaf also begins at 5 p.m. The 4-H Beef Show starts at 6 p.m., followed by VIP Showmanship. The Food Auction is at 7 p.m., with barrel race expos at 7 and the NBHA Barrel Race at 8 p.m.

The evening wraps up with Bingo and free waterslides for kids, offering fun for the whole family.

The Montgomery County Treasurer's Office announces that credit cards will now be accepted as payment at the Auto Tag Office.

The move was made due to popular demand by taxpayers to allow for a more convenient payment option. Beginning immediately, customers may use a credit card when paying for vehicle registration, tag renewals, and other eligible transactions at the Montgomery County Auto Tag Office. All credit card transactions will be subject to a 2.5% processing fee, which is the same fee charged for online credit card payments.

The Treasurer' s Office also invites citizens to take advantage of State of Kansas iKan online services. Users can renew auto tags, apply for a replacement title, and complete disabled parking placard re-certification.

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

The accident occurred early on the morning of Thursday, July 17, on US-54 just east of the City of Bronson, or about twenty miles west of Fort Scott. 56-year-old Timothy Anderson of Auburn, Kansas, was traveling eastbound on US-54 when his 2013 Ford Edge drifted off the roadway to the right. Anderson over corrected and came back onto the highway, before driving into the ditch. In an effort to gain control of the vehicle, Anderson came back onto the highway once again and struck the second vehicle – a 2022 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 33-year-old Caitlin Nading of Fort Scott – head on.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. Anderson received minor injuries, while Nading was unhurt.

The City of Coffeyville is one of four Kansas communities to receive a Safe Routes to School or S-R-T-S planning grant to help increase safety for children as they walk, bike, and roll to school.

The grant funding comes through the Kansas Department of Transportation and will help Coffeyville establish a community plan to make travel to school safer and easier for Coffeyville students. Instead of paying for a costly traffic engineer, the City will receive free technical assistance from KDOT-approved experts. Work to develop S-R-T-S plans will begin in August. Plans include analyzing existing conditions, reviewing public outreach results and recommending infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions. That information will then be used to create a written document outlining specific ways to fix safety issues, which can then be used to secure further funding.

Coffeyville is joined by the communities of Garden City, Liberal and Newton in receiving the Safe Routes To School grant.

The Montgomery County Republican Party and the Republican Women of Montgomery County are hosting a Republican Candidate Forum this weekend.

Candidates for Kansas governor, US Senate, US and State House, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Board of Education, District Court and County Commission have all been invited to attend. 

Kansas State Senator Virgil Peck they have confirmed governor candidates Ty Masterson, Charlotte O'Hara, Stacy Rogers and Scott Schwab's running mate.

Montgomery County District 1 commission candidates Chuck Voelker and Rick Whitson have also been confirmed.

The forum is tomorrow, July 18th from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Civic Center located at 410 North Penn Avenue in Independence. For those who can't make it, the forum will be broadcast live on The Mighty 690, courtesy of Taylor Crane and Rigging, and will be available to listen to later at kggfradio.com. The event is free to attend.

A limited ammonia release occurs at the CVR Energy Nitrogen Plant in Coffeyville.

According to a statement from CVR Energy, yesterday just before 11 a.m., a limited release of ammonia occurred at the Coffeyville Resources Nitrogen Fertilizers plant. Contract personnel who reported detecting an odor were evaluated by on-site medical personnel. Out of an abundance of caution, several individuals were transported to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and observation. All individuals have since been released and are expected to return to work today.

CRNF says they take the health and well-being of its employees and contractors seriously and are committed to thoroughly investigating what happened and taking appropriate steps to help prevent a recurrence. There was no danger to the public during the incident yesterday.

Another Coffeyville Summer Celebration is in the books after hundreds showed up to watch the largest fireworks show in the area.

Organizer Gail Smith says he's overwhelmed at the support.  Smith says he is thankful for the support of the cities of Coffeyville, South Coffeyville and Dearing as well as every business that help make this event possible.

The Miami Police Department provides an update to the shots fired incident at the Chisholm Trail Apartments.

MPD officers were called to the apartment complex around 7:30pm last night. Police initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody and that no injuries were reported. In an update today, police say officers located and detained a woman at a nearby residence while investigators secured the scene and interviewed witnesses. The investigation determined that the disturbance involved roommates. During the altercation, another person who was present fired a handgun into the air.

MPD detectives are submitting misdemeanor charges to the District Attorney’s Office for review. Police say the incident was isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The identities of those involved are not being released because the incident involves domestic violence and a juvenile.

The Nowata Fire Department is promoting a longtime firefighter to assistant chief.

Fire Chief Brandon Jarvis presented Hewitt with the promotion and honored him for 28 years of service to the department and the citizens of Nowata. Jarvis says Hewitt has demonstrated dedication, professionalism and a commitment to serving the community throughout his career.

He says Hewitt’s experience and leadership have earned the respect of the firefighters he serves alongside and the citizens he has helped protect. Jarvis says he is confident Hewitt will continue leading by example and helping guide the department in his new role.

Nowata Public Schools is warning of a potential scam targeting local businesses.

School officials say businesses have received phone calls asking them to sponsor Nowata Basketball T-shirts. The district says its basketball programs are not selling T-shirts or requesting sponsorships over the phone at this time.

Any calls asking businesses to purchase basketball apparel or sponsor shirts are not affiliated with Nowata Public Schools or the Nowata Basketball programs.

Kansas is launching a new statewide system for law enforcement agencies to report traffic crashes.

The Kansas Department of Transportation and Kansas Highway Patrol say the Kansas Crash Data System will replace crash report forms currently available through the Kansas Law Enforcement Reporting system. Officials say the new platform includes automated verification designed to improve accuracy and provide faster access to statewide safety data.

Law enforcement agencies have until September 1^st to either integrate their records systems with the new platform or use its web-based reporting form.

The 115th Annual Labette County Fair gets underway Saturday, July 18, in Oswego, bringing a full week of livestock shows, rodeos, entertainment, and family activities. Labette County Fair Board Member Kyle McKinzie says the fair opens with many 4-H and FFA events.

Livestock shows begin Monday with the Swine Show and continue throughout the week with poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits, beef, dairy, and bucket calf competitions.

The ACRA/IPRA Rodeo takes place Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, while Friday features the Danger Zone Bull Riding event and the Bill and Shirley McKinzie Memorial Livestock Sale.

The fair wraps up Saturday, July 25, with the annual Demo Derby, featuring a $22,000 payout and classes ranging from Hot Wheels Derby to youth and street stock divisions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a new program to help small and mid-sized beef processors grow and expand.

The USDA Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Richard Fordyce, says the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) program is designed to give cattle producers more places to process and market their livestock.

In southeast Kansas, Real Kansas Meats in Fredonia is one example of a local processor that has benefited from previous USDA funding to expand its operations.

USDA says the new program is another step toward creating more opportunities for ranchers and strengthening the beef industry.

Thursday's schedule at the Elk County Free Fair in Longton features a full day of livestock competition and family fun.

Activities begin with the Star Spangled Banner at 8:45 a.m., followed by the 4-H Sheep Show and Open Class Sheep Show at 9 a.m. Open Class judging starts at 10 a.m., with the fair barn closed during judging, and the 4-H Goat Show begins at 10:30 a.m.

Judging of 4-H and Open Class poultry and rabbits follows later in the day. Kids' races begin at 2 p.m., followed by the Barnyard Olympics at 6:30 p.m. The evening wraps up with free bingo and waterslides for kids

.

The Elk County Free Fair continues through Saturday with additional livestock shows, contests, entertainment, and the annual fair parade.

Police in Miami respond to a report of gunshots at an apartment complex.

At around 7:30 last night, Miami Police were called to the Chisholm Trail Apartments. A suspect was taken into custody at the scene and no injuries were reported. M-P-D has not yet released to identity of the suspect and the investigation remains ongoing.

An Erie man is charged in federal court on charges of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.

63-year-old Richard V. Mitchell was charged on Monday, July 13, with one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing that offense as a registered sex offender. The charges were announced by the U.S Attorney's Office of the Western District of Missouri. According to court documents, Mitchell is accused of requesting a minor child be transported from the Western District of Missouri to Erie to engage in sexual activity with Mitchell. Mitchell is a registered sex offender in the State of Kansas.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

The Montgomery County Commission has plans to discuss data centers at Monday's meeting.

This week's meeting contained a lengthy public comment section in which many residents spoke about a proposed tax increase for 2027. However, about a third of the speakers were at the meeting for another issue: data centers. The issue was briefly raised at the end of the previous week's meeting, leading many to believe it would appear on this week's agenda. Many residents were upset when the issue did not appear on the agenda. However, the issue was discussed during public comment. Commissioner Robert Bever says he does not support a moratorium on data centers until both sides of the issue have had a chance to make their case.

Bever says he want to know more about the issue first. However, Commissioner Phil Clubine says he would prefer to issue a moratorium first and then get the details.

All three Montgomery County commissioners did agree that data centers will be on the agenda for the July 20^th meeting.

The Independence Community College Mobile Fab Lab will be at the Independence Science and Technology Center this Saturday afternoon.

Visitors and their families are welcome to stop by and explore all that the Mobile Fab Lab has to offer. From T-Robot kits to snap circuits and Arduino workstations, the ICC Mobile Fab Lab is the opportunity for in-person, hands-on learning.

The public is invited to attend this Saturday from 1:30 to 3pm at 125 South Penn Avenue in Independence. The Mobile Fab Lab event is free to attend.