Two people are killed in a truck vs motorcycle accident north of Caney.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2015 Harley Davidson was traveling eastbound Friday afternoon near the north junction of US 166 and 75. The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. when the driver of the motorcycle failed to negotiate the curve to the south and crossed the center line on US 166.  The motorcycle then struck a 2025 GMC Sierra head-on on the westbound shoulder.

The motorcycle riders were identified as 71-year-old Michael Schmidt and 63-year-old Barbara Schmidt of Preston, KS.  Despite efforts by first-responders, both sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash.  The driver and occupant of the Sierra were not injured.

A Las Vegas man is killed in a two-vehicle crash in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 4:05am this morning on Highway 400, about eight miles west of the Highway 47 junction. A westbound car driven by 47-year-old Lavor Clayton Sparks crossed the center line and struck an eastbound semi.

Sparks died in the crash. The semi driver, 51-year-old Eno Cassy of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had no apparent injuries. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.

A staff member experiences a medical emergency at South Coffeyville Public School.

School officials say an ambulance responded, and there was no threat to student safety. According to the school, emergency personnel responded promptly, and staff worked together to help handle the situation safely.

The school asks the community to respect the privacy of the staff member and their family.

Neewollah begins a weekend of activities in Independence with “Frozen” opening tonight at Memorial Hall. Generalissimo Cody Dixon says tickets remain available for the musical.

Children attending the performances are encouraged to wear Frozen costumes for a parade across the stage during intermission. Activities move to Riverside Park tomorrow for races, a pumpkin decorating contest and the chili cook-off. Dixon says this year’s food competition includes another option.

Tomorrow’s 5K and 10K races begin at 8:30am, followed by the fun run at 10:00am. Decorated pumpkins can be dropped off at the shelter house between 8:30am and 10:30am.

Authorities in Cherokee County are investigating a homicide.

The incident occurred early this morning , on October 23, 2026, in a rural area of Cherokee County about two miles north of Riverton near the intersection of Southeast 67^th and US-400.

Deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call indicating a shooting had occurred. Law enforcement arrived to find a victim suffering from multiple gunshot wound.

Cherokee County EMS determined at the scene that the victim was deceased.

The suspect was still on scene and was taken into custody. No names have yet been released.

Southeast Lostine Road is currently closed between Hwy 69A and SE 60th, motorists will need to take an alternate route until further notice.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office is assisting the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.

The Independence City Commission approves a Memo of Understanding with Labette Health regarding patient transfers.

At Thursday's meeting, Independence Fire & EMS Chief Aaron Cook presented the request from Labette Health to commissioners. Cook says the agreement would allow Labette to handle patient transfers while leaving Independence crews available for local emergencies.

Labette Health asked Independence to join a regional ambulance service for long-distance transfers between medical facilities. Cook says this will help when local ambulances are busy.

Independence Mayor Dean Hayse says these types of agreements are common.

Commissioners approved the agreement on a unanimous vote.

In other business, Independence Police Chief Dustin Stafford updated the commission on upcoming street closures and safety measures for Neewollah.

The Independence Fire & EMS Department and Independence Police partner with the American Red Cross to install smoke detectors in dozens of local homes.

Last weekend, firefighters and police officers went door-to-door on the east side of Independence offering to install smoke alarms in homes. Together, the group installed 38 detectors in the area of the City that was the site of a recent fire that claimed five lives.

During the past week, first responders installed an additional 50 smoke detectors at the request of residents.

Independence Fire and I-P-D thanked the local individuals and businesses who donated the smoke detectors to help ensure everyone has the potentially life-saving protection in their home.

Anyone in need of a smoke detector, can contact the Independence Fire Department at 620-332-2537.

Photo: An Independence fireifighter installs a smoke detector in a home. Courtesy Independence Fire/EMS

The Coffeyville Police Department is hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back event tomorrow October 24.

The event is part of the National Drug Take Back Day and the City of Coffeyville's Clean Up Week. It's a chance for people to safely dispose of unused prescription drugs, patches and ointments, pet medications, and over-the-counter medicines. Coffeyville Police Chief Kwin Bromley says the drop off location will be at the Coffeyville Police Department on West 11^th Street.

Bromley says the medications collected will then be safely disposed of.

For those unable to attend the scheduled event, a 24/7 MedSafe Prescription Drug Drop-Off box is available in the C-P-D lobby year-round.

Flags in Greenwood, Wilson, Woodson, Elk, and Neosho counties will be flown at half staff tomorrow, October 24, in honor of a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Governor Laura Kelly issued the order to honor the passing of former District 13 Representative Larry Paul Hibbard.

Hibbard was a native of Toronto, Kansas, who served in the State House from 2013 through 2019 when he resigned for health reasons.

He passed away on Sunday, October 18, in Fredonia at the age of 81.

Flags will fly at half-staff from sun up to sundown tomorrow in his honor.

Independence Community College is adding men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs beginning in the 2027-28 academic year.

The I-C-C Board of Trustees approved all four programs at its October 19th meeting. Cross country will begin in fall 2027, followed by track and field in spring 2028. The track programs will initially focus on middle- and long-distance events.

Athletic Director Melissa Anderson says the new teams will give students from Independence and across Kansas more opportunities to compete in college while pursuing their education.

“For local runners who want to compete after high school, having a college program here in Independence opens another door,” said Marcus Lanning, Independence High School Assistant Principal/Activities Director “It gives them a chance to keep developing as athletes while continuing their education close to family and the community that has supported them.”

The programs are expected to compete at the N-J-C-A-A Division One level, pending association and conference approvals.

I-C-C will begin searching for coaches and recruiting athletes ahead of the inaugural seasons, giving local runners another opportunity to continue competing after high school while staying close to home.

The City of Caney says its Facebook account has been compromised.

City Administrator Andrea Sibley says unauthorized videos have appeared on the page, and the city currently cannot remove them because it has lost administrator control.

She says the issue has been reported to Facebook, and she is investigating what can be done to restore access.

A state grant will help expand high-speed internet access in Labette and Montgomery County.

The Junction Internet is awarded nearly $470,000 through the Kansas Broadband Acceleration Grant program. The project will serve 380 homes and businesses across the two counties. The program supports broadband construction in rural areas where distance and low population density make network expansion difficult without public funding.

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development administers the grants, with funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s IKE program. The latest awards bring the program’s total broadband infrastructure investment to nearly $44.6 million.

Crawford County emergency crews respond to three crashes, including two that send people to the hospital.

Fire District One reports earlier this week, two vehicles collided nearly head-on at Highway 69 and West Quincy Street. Firefighters performed minor extrication, and EMS transported one person to Mercy Pittsburg. Yesterday afternoon, on South 220th Street, a vehicle left the road, crossed a residential yard and struck a detached garage. The driver was transported with suspected minor injuries. The garage sustained minor damage.

Fire District Four responded to a rollover at South Highway 7 and 590th Avenue around 10:00pm yesterday. Crews say the vehicle appeared to roll several times before landing upright in a field. One patient refused care, and no other injuries were reported. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office responded to all three crashes.

The Montgomery County Commission discusses incentives for economic development at Thursday's special meeting.

Commissioners began by rescinding a resolution that established an Economic Development Incentive Policy for the County. That resolution was adopted by the County a year ago at the October 27, 2025 meeting. Interim County Administrator Kori White says the County will still be able to incentivize prospective businesses to set up shop in Montgomery County.

Commissioner Phil Clubine says the lack of an official policy will allow the County to consider projects on a case-by-case basis.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve rescinding the policy. They then entered executive session to discuss an economic development project. When they returned, Commission Chair Mike Cordray made this motion.

Montgomery County Action Council Director Melissa Johnson says Project Fun Town will add 150 full-time jobs to the area in the I-T industry with an average salary of $43,000 and a total of $5.2 million in capital investment.

Johnson says during the meeting the County Commission indicated they were no longer willing to provide the job creation incentive that was originally promised.

MCAC has been working with the county on Project Fun Town since 2023.

A recent traffic stop in Independence leads to the arrest of three people on drug charges.

On Thursday, October 15^th, officers from the Independence Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the 2300 block of West Main Street around 9pm.

Following an investigation, the driver of the vehicle 42-year-old Michael Walker was placed under arrest along with his passengers 22-year-old Kataya Lanning and 44-year-old Mistry Clark. All three face charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Walker faces an additional charge of and driving while suspended and Lanning was also charged with interference with a law enforcement officer.

The Sedan City Council agrees to help the Emmett Kelly Museum with some needed repairs.

Rosie Sweaney with the Museum says the building is in need of a major repair.

The Museum asked the City to help hire a consultant to write a grant application that could net $100,000 to cover the cost of the windows. Council Member Adam Clark says the historic building is worth the effort to save it.

The Council agreed to spend $4,200 to C-D-F Consulting of Kansas City for grant writing fees from the City's general fund and to also contribute another $10,000 in Appleby funds to cover the require match fro the grant. The Museum will know if they have been awarded the grant in February.

In other business, council members tabled a scheduled 6-month performance review of new Police Chief Will Tunstall until the November 3^rd meeting.

The Independence City Commission will meet tonight and continue its efforts to address the issue dangerous and unsafe properties.

At tonight's meeting, commissioners will conduct public hearings on ten properties deemed dangerous and unsafe. The hearings will determine whether the property owner is willing to take steps to improve the structure or if the city will proceed with the condemnation process.

In other business, commissioners will consider a Memo of Understanding with Labette Health for ambulance service. Labette Health is asking Independence to join a regional ambulance service for long-distance transfers between medical facilities. This would provide a backup for long-distance patient transfers so local ambulances remain available for emergencies in Independence.

Commissioners will also consider rezoning a tract of land in the 200 block of South 10^th Street from residential to commercial along with the expected approval of conditional use permits for two short-term rentals.

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

Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri are among 17 states reaching a nearly $664 million settlement with consumer finance company Snap Finance over allegations of misleading lease-to-own practices.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond says a multi-state settlement with the company will provide the sum in relief and payments.

Under the agreement, Snap Finance will automatically forgive more than $18 million in lease payments owed by Oklahomans who entered lease-to-own agreements between 2017 and 2022. Those consumers will be allowed to keep their merchandise without making additional payments.

A coalition of 17 attorneys general investigated allegations that Snap Finance misled customers about lease terms, costs, credit scores and product returns.

The company denies no specific allegations in the announcement but has agreed to change its business practices, including providing clearer contract disclosures and making it easier for customers to terminate leases and return merchandise.

The settlement includes more than $662 million in lease forgiveness nationwide, plus $2.75 million paid to the states.

Several southeast Kansas airports are set to receive grant funding to improve infrastructure.

Airports in Allen County and in the cities of Chanute and Eureka are three of 11 communities that have been awarded grant money through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Infrastructure Grant program.

Governor Laura Kelly says the communities will share more than $4.2 million in federal funding to improve local airports.

Allen County will receive nearly $435,000 for taxi way paving. The City of Eureka has been awarded $115,000 for apron reconstruction and the City of Chanute will receive a one-half million dollar grant for runway rehabilitation.

With more than $212,000 in state matching funds and additional local contributions, the total investment tops $4.5 million.

State aviation officials say the projects will improve airport safety and access, while supporting services such as air ambulances, agricultural operations, firefighting, flight training and local businesses.

Since 2024, the state’s Build Kansas Fund has invested nearly $52 million to help secure federal grants. That funding has helped bring nearly $169 million in federal awards to Kansas.

Officials say another 29 applications are awaiting federal decisions, with the potential to bring an additional $177 million into the state.

Night of Fright is coming to Cedar Bluff Camp this and next weekend.

According to Coffeyville Chamber President Candi Westbrook, the annual fundraiser for the camp will feature a totally revamped spook trail.

Ticket sales will open on Friday, October 23^rd and Saturday October 24^th at from 7 to 10:30 p.m. and rides will continue through 11.

The event will also take place on Halloween weekend, October 30^th and 31^st. Concessions will be available. It all takes place at Cedar Bluff Camp at 4707 County Road 2475. Admission is $10 cash.

The Nowata Police Department is adding two new patrol trucks to its fleet thanks to a donation.

The department announced the purchase of two new patrol vehicles, made possible through funding provided by the A.E. and Juanita Richardson Charitable Foundation. According to the department, the foundation donated 100% of the funding needed to purchase both vehicles, allowing the department to expand its fleet without using local funds for the purchase.

The new trucks will help officers continue serving the Nowata community safely and efficiently. Nowata PD says the appreciate the Richardson Foundation for its generosity and continued support of local law enforcement and the community.

The Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Auxiliary is offering a chance to win a handcrafted plant hanger.

The CRMC Auxiliary is holding a raffle for a decorative iron plant hanger designed and donated by local craftsman Wayne Joplin of Joplin Blacksmithing and Ironworks. The plant hanger is similar to one currently on display in the CRMC Healing Garden. Raffle tickets are available for $5 each or five tickets for $20.

Tickets can be purchased online and are also available from CRMC Auxiliary members or at the hospital's Foundation Office. The winning ticket will be drawn on Wednesday, December 23rd, at noon.

Halloween might not yet be here but that doesn't mean it's too early for the Salvation Army to be looking for bell ringers. Montgomery County Coordinator Joe Brooks says he's already started recruiting them.

Brooks says he encourages any individual or group looking for community service hours to sign up to ring the bells. In addition to the bell ringers at King Food Saver and Walmart, they will also have counter kettles at stores around town.

Even though there is still over a week until Halloween, trick-or-treating is available tomorrow in Coffeyville. Chamber of Commerce President Candi Westbrook says there are two events that were rescheduled from last week.

Coffeyville Community College's Hometown Halloween is from 5:30pm to 7:00pm on the main campus. Westbrook says for those not attending Spooktacular to avoid the downtown area, because it will be packed with over 1,000 people hunting for their tricks and treats.

**UPDATE** 11:30am

The Montgomery County Commission will hold a special meeting tomorrow morning.

On the agenda is a discussion to rescind the resolution that establishes an Economic Development Incentive Policy for the County. This is a move that the commission has been considering over the course of the past few regular commission meetings.

An executive session is also planned to discuss a prospective economic development project. That session will include Interim County Administrator Kori White, County appraiser Melody Kikkert and Director of the Montgomery County Action Council Melissa Johnson.

 Tomorrow's meeting will begin at 9am in the Commission Room on the lower level of the Judicial Center in Independence. The meeting will be live-streamed on the county's website.

A Nowata man is facing a felony charge for allegedly driving a stolen U-Haul truck in Washington County.

41-year-old Robert Valentine was charged on Monday with possession of a stolen vehicle.

According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Valentine allegedly told authorities he rented the truck and was due to return it October 13, warning the rental company would report it stolen if he failed to do so. He reportedly promised the company he would return it the next day but did not. Authorities approached Valentine on October 15 after the vehicle was reported stolen. Police say he did not have a rental agreement.

Valentine was previously given a suspended sentence for a 2025 convitcion. The State of Oklahoma has filed a motion to revoke that sentence due to the new felony charge.

Valentine will appear in court again on October 30. His bond is set at $10,000.

Students from the Neodesha High School FFA program are in Indianapolis this week to compete at the National FFA convention.

Students Delaney Bradford, Sophia Ecton, Harlie Keller, and Jenna Meseraull will compete in Ag Communications. The quartet won the state competition in May and will represent Kansas in the national competition today. They studied exam materials and terminology, worked on their communications plan, and explored National FFA Brand Center resources to use in their practicums. The team should learn the results of the their efforts tomorrow.

The National FFA convention brings together over 70,000 FFA members, advisors and agricultural leaders from across the nation. The convention runs through Saturday.

Photo courtesy Neodesha High School FFA

Nowata County Commissioners discuss disaster relief at their most recent meeting.

On Monday, commissioners heard from County Emergency Manager Laurie Summers regarding state assistance for storm damage from 2025. Summers says she needs a dollar amount for the damage.

In other business, the board approved a transcript from the Treasurer's Office on the sale of county property and a reimbursement claim from the Election Board. Commissioners also approved an estimate of needs for the previous fiscal year and approved a financial statement of the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Commissioners also tabled the county certification map and county action report. The item must be approved by October 31^st. Action is expected to be taken on the item in next week's meeting.

Independence Community College will keep tuition rates steady for Kansas residents and high school students for the 2027-28 academic year.

The ICC Board of Trustees approved the plan at Monday night's meeting. In-district students will continue to pay 76 dollars per credit hour, while other Kansas residents will pay 82 dollars. The high school rate remains 50 dollars per credit hour.

ICC also offers scholarships that can cover tuition, fees, and textbooks for eligible students. The Presidential Scholarship application priority deadline is February first.

The college reports enrollment growth in fall 2026, along with improved student retention.

While tuition stays the same, the academic fee will increase six dollars per credit hour, and the facilities fee will go up two dollars.

Textbooks will continue to be provided on loan at no additional cost.

The Parsons City Commission holds a public discussion on the City's flood plain map.

At this week's meeting, commissioners discussed expected changes to the map and held a public hearing to allow citizens to comment on the matter. Parsons Public Works Director Darrell Moyer says the update is a recurring requirement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

City Attorney Ross Albertini says FEMA requires municipalities to update floodplain maps to reflect changing physical conditions, new development, and climate impacts.

. Accurate maps ensure proper building codes, set fair flood insurance rates under the National Flood Insurance Program , and help protect communities from unexpected disaster losses. Communities must maintain up-to-date Flood Insurance Rate Maps to legally enforce local floodplain ordinances and keep residents eligible for federal flood insurance.