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.