The Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation awards its 2026 scholarships to two local healthcare students.

John Twitchell and Lora Nance receive the Best Family Medical Scholarships. Twitchell is a licensed practical nurse pursuing his registered nursing degree at Coffeyville Community College. Nance works as an occupational therapy assistant at CRMC and is studying to become a licensed occupational therapist at Belmont University.

Twitchell also receives the Barry and Carol Phillips Nursing Scholarship. The Coffeyville couple established the scholarship last year after working in nursing for more than 45 years. The scholarship helps nursing students earn their degrees and encourages them to return to work in Coffeyville. The Best Family has awarded medical scholarships for 21 years. Applications for the next round of CRMC Foundation scholarships will open next spring.

Fredonia Fire and Wilson County Rural Fire respond to a fire on the Osage Cuestas hiking trail.

The blaze occurred on a bridge near the trailhead northeast of Fredonia between Fillmore and US-400. When crews arrived on the scene, they found the bridge heavily engulfed in flames . Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control but the bridge was heavily damaged. The structure was built by volunteers as part of the Rails-to-Trails project.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fredonia Police Department.

Photo courtesy Wilson County Rural Fire

An elementary school teacher in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, faces criminal charges for an alleged inappropriate relationship with her foster child.

35-year-old Melanie Friend was arrested earlier this week by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office after reports of an inappropriate incident was alleged to have occurred in June 2025 between her and her then 16-year-old foster son. Friend is employed by the Turkey Ford School District in Wyandotte.

Friend has been charged with one count of child sexual abuse. The investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities in Pawnee County release the name of a high school football player who collapsed and died during a practice earlier this week.

According to reports, 17-year-old Rylan Reece suffered a medical emergency during football practice at Pawnee Heights High School in Rozell on Tuesday evening. The boy collapsed on the field and first responders were unable to revive him. Reece was starting his junior year of high school in the small town located about 40 miles northeast of Dodge City.

An autopsy was scheduled to occur in Wichita yesterday to determine the cause of the boy's death.

A new traveling exhibit about Kansas history opens today in Independence.

Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says the Kansas Pioneer Patriots Exhibit opens today at the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center.

Wilson says Guernsey was an influential Independence resident in the early 20^th century.

There will be an opening night reception at the museum tonight from 6 to 7:30.

A fall favorite in the four-state area is quickly approaching.

The 19^th Annual Kan-Okla 100 Mile Highway Sale is coming up on September 10 through 12. For Coffeyville residents who plan on hosting a sale, Chamber President Candi Westbrook says the deadline for getting on the city map is quickly approaching.

Westbrook says being on the official map means shoppers will be able to find your sale.

The multi-state event features city-wide yard sales, flea markets, and over 100 booths along highways across southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.

This will be the last weekend that the Big Hill Aquatic Center in Coffeyville will be open for the summer.

The pool will close for the season on Sunday. Swimmers will have the last chance to enjoy the Coffeyville Pool from 1 to 7 tomorrow and then from 1 to 4 on Sunday. Volunteer Ann Marie Vannoster says the pool will then open at 4:30 for the annual dog swim.

Vannoster added they had a great 2026 season and are already looking forward to next summer. She says they are already looking for lifeguards.

Those interested should contact Vannoster at 620-515-1184

Bartlesville Police Department is investigating an assault that occurred Thursday afternoon August 20.

Officers were called to the scene in the 1700 block of West 2nd Street on Thursday around 3pm following a report of an unconscious male. The male was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and was later pronounced deceased.

Detectives with the B-P-D Criminal Investigations Division are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The identity of the deceased man has not yet been released.

One person is dead following a crash is Ellsworth County.

The accident occurred just after noon on Thursday on K-156 about 18 miles northeast of Great Bend. 77-year-old Debra Jean Stovall of Beverly, Kansas, was traveling westbound when her 2007 Chevy Impala went left-of-center. There, her vehicle struck a 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 that was towing a trailer. The collision caused the pickup truck to overturn and burst into flames.

Stovall suffered fatal injuries in the crash, while the driver of the truck 21-year-old Colton Madden of Saint George, Kansas, and a passenger 19-year-old Easton Kaylor of Wichita both sustained serious injuries.

Another meeting of the USD 445-Coffeyville Johnson-O'Malley Parent Committee and the Title VI Indian Education Parent Committee is coming up.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 2,  in the Community Elementary Multi-Purpose Room, at 102 North Cline. The J-O-M meeting will take place at 6 p.m., followed by the Title 6 (VI) parent meeting at 6:30.

The mission of Indian Education is to support the efforts of local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations and other entities to meet the unique education and culturally-related academic needs of American Indians. Program Director Erin Lee says one of the most important components of both programs is parental involvement. For more information, contact Lee at 620-252-6420 or via email at erin.lee@cvilleschools.com

The Kansas Department of Transportation permanently closes the Yates Center rest area on US-75.

The rest area has been closed for repairs since February. During the course of those repairs, KDOT conducted a review of the condition of the facilities, usage levels, and the long-term viability of the location. A decision was made that repairing the damage or replacing the facility would be too costly given current funding priorities.

The building has been razed, and demolition of remaining pavement is in progress.

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

The advisory took effect on August 20th and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. 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. Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water and dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice cubes from a household automatic ice maker.

Parsons Police respond to a report of shots fired

Parsons Police Officers responded to the area of 10th & Briggs on Wednesday following a report of gunshots. After arrving on the scene, officers encountered a male armed with a firearm and quickly recognized that the individual was also experiencing a crisis. Officers used de-escalation techniques allowing them to safely secure the firearm and take the individual into custody without further incident.

Officers continue to investigate the incident.

Wilson County Rural Fire responds to hay bale fire.

Firefighters were called to the scene northeast of Fredonia just after 5pm yesterday for reports of a grass fire. Crews found a field on fire along with a large collection of round hay bales. The blaze was brought under control but the hay was a total loss. The owner lost a total pf around 120 large bales. No injuries were reported.

A high school football player in a small, western Kansas community dies after collapsing on the field during a Tuesday afternoon practice.

The player was a student at Pawnee Heights High School in Rozel, a small community located about 40 miles northeast of Dodge City. District officials say the player collapsed on the field on Tuesday evening and that CPR was underway when EMS arrived on the scene. First responders were unable to revive the boy at that time. A deputy with the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office said that the teen's death was the result of a medical emergency.

An autopsy will be conducted today to determine the cause of the medical emergency. Authorities have not released the student's name. Foul play is not suspected.

The Sedan City Council continues to discuss a water rate increase for city customers.

After tabling the rate increase at it's August 4^th meeting the council continued to work through the details on Tuesday night. Council member Adam Clark outlined the possible increase scenarios.

While council members agree that an increase is needed, they debated on what that increase should look like. Council member Wellington Butler says the council needs to look to the future and consider the impact to the community.

Council member Crystal Wade says that while they should consider the future impacts, the water issue is an immediate problem.

Council members voted to table the issue once again. Water rates will continue to be on the council's meeting agenda for the September 1^st meeting.

Emergency crews respond to an early morning accident on US-166 between Tyro and Coffeyville.

The accident occurred around 3:45 on Wednesday morning about 4 miles east of Tyro, where a vehicle collided with cattle in the roadway. Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office along with Coffeyville Police and Dearing Fire were called to the scene of the crash with possible injuries to the driver. While at the location, law enforcement located the owner of the cattle and cleared the scene.

The 11th annual Kansas Governor's Summit on Agricultural Growth takes place to day in Manhattan.

Kansas farmers, ranchers, agribusiness owners and industry professionals gathered today to discuss growth opportunities for agriculture with a focus on transportation in agriculture, including the infrastructure, logistics, and networks that support the movement of Kansas agricultural products from farm to market. The day featured speakers and panels, including a look at the new commodity flow study, a discussion about state infrastructure, and an examination of what improvements are needed to expand market access for Kansas producers.

The event featured President and CEO of the North American Export Grain Association  Alejandra Castillo who discussed trade opportunities and how investments in domestic infrastructure can solidify Kansas as a consistent international trade partner in the long term.

There was also a ribbon cutting ceremony for the K-State College of Agriculture’s agronomy innovation complex. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and State Secretary of Agriculture Mike Bream also spoke at the event.

An Oklahoma man is injured following a crash near Liberty in Montgomery County.

The accident happened around 5:45 on Wednesday evening on US-169 near the intersection with County Road 3420 or just east of Liberty. 33-year-old Tyler Ames of Lenepah was waiting for another vehicle to make a left turn when he was rear-ended by a semi. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the semi driver 46-year-old Robert Eccles of Parsons had just crested the hill and was unable to stop before colliding with the other vehicle.

Ames was taken to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

Lots of Independence school children will head back to class today sporting a new haircut thanks to the School of Cosmetology at Independence Community College.

ICC Cosmetology students welcomed local children to its Cuts for Kids event held yesterday at ICC West. The event provided kids with free back-to-school haircuts while giving ICC cosmetology students valuable hands-on experience working with younger clients. Working with children requires stylists to make younger clients comfortable, communicate in an age-appropriate way and work with a parent or guardian who may be helping make decisions about the haircut. Additionally, having a new haircut can help students feel confident and good about themselves on their first day of school.

The ICC Cuts for Kids event provided free haircuts to 64 kids. Students in USD 446 begin school today.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Commission will hold a public meeting on August 27^th in Pittsburg.

The Commission will hold a public hearing and final vote on several proposed changes. Among the changes up for consideration is a proposed regulation restricting nonresidents hunting migratory waterfowl and also to reestablish the fall turkey hunting season for Kansas residents. K-D-W-P Commissioners will also consider proposed increases to state park fees for both dailty vehicle permits and camping. During a workshop session, commissioners will also discuss fishing regulations, including creel, size, and possession limits.

Next week's meeting will take place on Thursday at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts on the campus of Pittsburg State University. The meeting begins at noon and the public is invited to attend. For instructions on how to view the meeting online, go here.

First responders in Nowata County are still experiencing issues connecting their radios to transmission towers in parts of the county.

During Monday's Nowata County Commission meeting, multiple fire chiefs throughout the county discussed with the commissioners and Emergency Management Director Laurie Summers about a possible programming issue with the radios. New Alluwe Fire Chief Tommy Gibson says they could use a grant to get new radios.

The discussion also addressed repairs to the tower in Wann that was damaged during the storms on July 4^th, as well as getting a signal on a tower in the city limits of Nowata.

Oklahoma Union Schools are taking steps to help students stay hydrated as much of Oklahoma remains under a heat advisory this week.

The District says water will be available on school buses in the mornings, as well as on afternoon bus routes, although supplies will be limited. Students are encouraged to drink plenty of water and avoid wasting it.

School officials are asking parents to send children to school with a refillable water bottle they can use throughout the day and on the bus ride home. The district will have additional cups available for students who do not have a water bottle.

A Coffeyville man is killed in a crash on Highway 166 east of Coffeyville.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 59-year-old Kevin Hooper was riding an electric bicycle eastbound across the Verdigris River bridge shortly before 6:00am this morning. Hooper was struck from behind by an eastbound semi driven by 66-year-old Timothy Smith of El Dorado. Troopers say the semi struck the bicycle because it was traveling at a slower speed.

Hooper died at the scene. Smith was not injured. The crash happened about a mile and a half east of the Highway 169 junction.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation declines to open a criminal case following a use-of-force incident involving two Caney Police officers.

The incident happened August 9^th after police received a report that 71-year-old Carl Hempel was possibly armed and experiencing a mental health crisis. Police say Hempel initially stopped for officers before driving away. He later stopped near Casey’s, where officers say he refused repeated commands and resisted efforts to place him in handcuffs. Officers deployed a Taser and took Hempel to the ground. Hempel suffered a head injury, and officers provided aid until Caney EMS arrived. No firearm was found.

Police Chief Ike Dye requested an independent KBI investigation the following day. The KBI reviewed dispatch recordings, body-cam footage and other evidence. The agency determined the officers were attempting a lawful arrest and says their use of force did not appear criminal. Dye also completed an internal review and determined the officers acted within department policies and procedures.