Coffeyville City Clerk Melissa Carter's last day is tomorrow. City Manager Mark Hall says she will be missed.
Carter took over as the city clerk in February 2020. She starts her new job as the executive administrative assistant at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center on Monday.
A Bartlesville man is alive today thanks to the quick thinking actions of an off-duty firefighter and a police officer on his way to work.
The man is receiving medical attention. He was having a medical episode which led to the accident. No names were released at this time.
The Christmas season gets underway tomorrow in Coffeyville.
Chamber President Candi Westbrook says there is a lot to see and do tomorrow evening in downtown Coffeyville.
The Christmas Parade will be full of floats, lights, Christmas cheer, and, of course, Santa Claus. The parade begins at 6pm and will be broadcast live on the Mighty 690 KGGF and on Facebook live. Westbrook says, after the parade, there is even more fun to be had.
The home decorating contest and the gingerbread house decorating contest are both underway.
To enter the gingerbread house contest:
To enter the home decorating contest:
Coffeyville Community College baseball is using the offseason to raise money for the program.
The team is holding a raffle fundraiser to support the upcoming season. Head coach Jake Martin says the winner will receive an exciting prize.
The baseball program will use the fundraiser money to finance gear, hotel costs, food, and workout equipment. A portion of the raised funds will also contribute to the remodel of Walter Johnson Park, following the spring fire.
Martin says people can choose a player to endorse when they donate.
The raffle winner will be decided on December 15th.
A traffic accident involving a cattle truck causes an overnight road closure near Baxter Springs.
At around 10:30 last night, a truck hauling cattle overturned on US 166 just east of Baxter Springs. There were 65 cows in the truck at the time of the accident. All of the animals survived and the driver was uninjured.
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A Bartlesville man accused of shooting and killing 16-year-old Markus Scott on November 13th appeared yesterday in Washington County Court in Bartlesville to face charges of first-degree murder.
20-year-old Bryson Towers is being held on $500,000 bond. He allegedly shot and killed Scott near the intersection of Western Avenue and US 60 in Bartlesville. A probable cause affidavit states the mother of another juvenile who knew both Towers and Scott, will testify that the two were arguing at her residence. Towers and the victim then left in the defendant's vehicle and a short time later, she heard what she described as shots.
Security footage near the scene where Scott's body was found shows a vehicle matching Towers' 2015 Lincoln come into view about 10 minutes before officers were called to the scene. Security footage shows Scott get out of the car and then fall to the ground from apparent gunshots. The vehicle then fled the scene.
Scott was pronounced dead at the scene. Towers was caught a short time later by Coffeyville Police and has spent the last two weeks in the Montgomery County Jail before being extradited back to Washington County.
Towers' next court date is set for December 19th
Members of the Edna Volunteer Fire Department have a new way to stay hydrated during responses.
Anheuser-Busch has donated a pallet of nearly 2400 cans of drinking water to the department through their emergency drinking water program. Fire Chief Joe Kashka says he learned about the opportunity from a volunteer fire organization.
Volunteer firefighter Jacob McCallie says having this water ready will save the department time and money.
Other nearby department that have received water since the program began include the Caney Fire Department, Elk County Rural Fire, Saint Paul Mission Township Fire Department, the Girard Fire Department, Galena Fire, the Commerce Fire Department, Welch Fire and the Dewey Fire Department.
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The Coffeyville mayor is thankful for support on two items during the month of November. Mayor Ann Marie Vannoster says she wants to sincerely thank the citizens of Coffeyville for their support on the sales tax question.
Mayor Vannoster says she is also thankful for the support during Coffeyville's Match Day, which turned out to be a phenomenal day. Mayor Vannoster also wanted to remind everyone about all the events going on in Coffeyville during the holiday season.
The Independence Community College Theater Department is putting on their second performance of the 2023-2024 season. Director of Theater Performance Paul Molnar says the name of the play is Tartuffe, which was written in the 1600s.
Molnar says the students have put in many, many hours getting ready for this performance. Molnar says they also have an orchestra concert coming up next Wednesday, December 6th. He says this will feature both ICC students and members of the community.
Wilson County is hoping to change the color of caution lights on Road and Bridge Department vehicles.
Road and Bridge Director Kary Tatum says the current color isn't being noticed by drivers. The commissioners are on board with the change to red and blue lights, as long as there are no legal issues with the change.
Additional items of business at this week's meeting was the approval of the 2024 holiday calendar for county employees. Everything remains the same as 2023, with the addition of December 26th as a holiday.
There will be no meeting next week due to the Kansas Association of Counties conference in Wichita. The next meeting will be on December 13th.
The Kansas Department of Transportation's Cost Share Program provides funding to enhance county roads, bridges, and the overall safety of Kansas roadways and walkways.
In the latest round of grant money awarded by the state, the city of Parsons will be among those communities to get funding for transportation projects. The money headed to Parsons will be used to replace the sidewalks along Main Street. The grant were announced earlier this week by Governor Laura Kelly.
Kelly, along with Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed, announced the more than $12 million in grants that went to 16 construction projects across the state.
There's lots of cheerful fun to be had this holiday season in Sedan.
Christmas in the Hollow is underway in Sedan with different activities to enjoy every week from now until Christmas. Festivities began last Saturday night, but due to the wintry weather, the Broken Spoke Clydesdale carriage rides were postponed until tomorrow night. Diana Clanton from the Sedan Chamber of Commerce says the carriage rides are a great way to enjoy the Christmas light displays in the city.
The rides are available tomorrow night from 5 to 8pm. Clanton adds that on Saturday night, pack up the family and bring the kids out for pictures with a favorite Christmas character.
Christmas in the Hollow takes place in downtown Sedan during the month of December.
The Nowata County Commissioners met Monday after taking off last week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
A large part of the meeting was spent discussing the replacement of the piping at the Nowata County Courthouse. Representatives from Powell Mechanical installation were present to answer questions the commissioners may have had in regard to the piping. They explain why the piping needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
It was also noted that most the pipes were corroded and rusted. The commissioners decided to start taking bids on the project.
The commission will meet again on Monday at 9 am at the Nowata County Courthouse Annex. The meeting is open to the public.
The Christmas Spirit will be alive and well in Neodesha tonight.
The Neodesha Christmas Parade happens tonight at 7pm. There will be floats, fun and more in downtown Neodesha.
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Cherryvale kicks off Christmas festivities this weekend with the annual lighting of the community Christmas tree.
The public is invited to join the fun by bringing an ornament to hang on the tree. All ornaments should be suitable for the outside elements. There will be hot cocoa and cookies, plus the Grinch will be on hand for pictures beside the tree.
Festvities began at 6pm in Logan Park on Saturday in Cherryvale.
For those who enjoy decorating gingerbread houses during the holiday season, Visit Coffeyville has a contest for you.
Amy Dollar with Coffeyville Tourism says this is a brand new holiday contest.
All decorations on the house should be edible and submissions are limited to one house per participant. Those wanting to take part should bring their decorated houses to the Coffeyville Chamber Offices at 807 South Walnut during business hours between December 4th and 8th. Judging will take place at noon on the 8th and the winners will be announced at 3pm that day. All entries will be on display at the Condon Bank until December 18th.
The city of Independence makes some headway on the housing shortage.
In an attempt to reduce the housing shortage in the city, the Independence Housing Authority purchased 6 ½ acres of land in order to build 20 new, single family homes. April Nutt, Executive Director of the I-H-A, appeared before the city commission at last night's meeting and informed commissioners that construction is ready to begin and the completion of the project should be soon.
Mayor Louis Ysusi says it's a much needed project.
The commission approved a bid of $1 million by J. Graham construction to begin work on the project.
In other business at last night's meeting, the newest officer for the Independence Police Department Benjamin Roark was officially sworn in.
North Eastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami receives federal funds from the US Department of Education through the Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions program.
The funds – totaling nearly $4 million over a five year period – will allow the school to partner with Carl Albert State College in Poteau, OK, to strengthen faculty and staff capacity to use data to support best practices for virtual campus, online, hybrid, Zoom-based instruction, and services.
The federal program offers grants and services that focus on improving the capacity of Native American-serving, nontribal institutions to cater to Native American and low income students.
Representatives from the Montgomery County Wellness Coalition increase efforts at opiod awareness.
Marci Roberts, Grant Coordinator, and Emily Lewis, Community Mobilizer with the Coalition spoke before the Montgomery County Commission Meeting yesterday in Independence. Roberts tells commissioners that the group has many plans to reach out to the community on the subject of opiods.
In other business at yesterday's meeting, commissioners went into two extended executive sessions. No action was taken on either session.
Rain chances are back in the forecast for the four states.
Widespread rain is expected tomorrow and tomorrow night, with chances continuing into Friday. The Coffeyville area has a good chance of getting at least 1/2 inch of rain according to the National Weather Service. Areas in northeast Oklahoma could get up to an inch. A few thunderstorms are also possible tomorrow night, but they are not expected to be severe.
Coffeyville City Manager Mark Hall formally introduces the new head of the fire department. Fire Chief Hal Bumgarner says he went to high school and grew up not too far from here.
Bumgarner says he's been a paramedic since 1991. Bumgarner steps into a position that was at the center of controversy over the last year after former Fire Chief Kenneth Ward was fired in March.
The Cherokee County Sheriff's is warning the public about two scams going around the county.
The first is a letter some residents have received, indicating a purchase agreement on their property. The Cherokee County Register of Deeds Office has had several calls and visits from those who have received this letter. They say this is a scam attempt. A copy of the letter can be seen here.
The second involves scammers spoofing the phone number of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The caller tells the person answering the phone they are under indictment and must place a specific amount of money in a secured locker at a bank. This is a scam. No legitimate agency is going to call and advise there is an active investigation or indictment and even if there were, the target of the investigation would not be required to provide the investigative agency money.
A Baxter Springs man receives sentencing in a drug case in Cherokee County.
60-year-old Timothy Leon Sargent was sentenced to just over nine years after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The prison sentence stems from a May 2022 traffic stop, where a search of the vehicle driven by Sargent resulted in the discovery and seizure of a considerable amount of methamphetamine.
Kansas presses pause on new license plate design.
The state of Kansas released the new design for the state license plates last week and the design was met with mostly negative feedback from the public. The purpose of the new design was to create a plate that was clear and easy to read. The new design that was black on top of a gold background drew criticism from citizens via social media.
In response, Governor Laura Kelly announced today (yesterday) that the Kansas Department of Revenue will pause production on the new plates a create a process to allow the public to vote on possible new designs.
Kelly stated, “I promised to be a bipartisan governor, and I think we can all admit – I succeeded at bringing Kansans across the political aisle together in disliking this new license plate.”
Last weekend in Bartlesville, a 15-year-old male was arrested on charges of shooting with intent to kill and possession of a firearm while committing a felony.
Bartlesville Police Chief Kevin Ickleberry says 46-year-old Caleb William Casey, who is the father of the 15 year old suspect and the owner of the residence in the 2300 block of Windsor Way, was arrested on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm after former conviction.
According to police, at about 3:20 pm on Saturday, BPD was notified of a gunshot victim seeking help at an Urgent Care Center in Bartlesville. The victim was transferred to a Tulsa hospital, where he was later taken into surgery due to a gunshot wound to the face. He is currently listed in stable condition.
Detectives served a search warrant on a residence in the 2300 block of Windsor Way and located a weapon that was possibly used in the shooting, along with multiple other weapons and narcotics.
Casey appeared in Washington County Court yesterday with two counts of possession of a firearm after previous felony conviction. He has posted a $25,000 bond and is set to return to court on December 15th .
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the Bartlesville Police Department at 918-338-4001 or Capt. Daniel Elkins at 918-338-4020 or dbelkins@cityofbartlesville.org.
Internet service providers or I-S-Ps in a pair of southeast Kansas counties are among those receiving funding through the Broadband Acceleration Grant program to improve high speed broadband access for rural communities.
Governor Laura Kelly made the announcement this week, calling affordable broadband access critical for rural communities to stay vibrant and competitive regardless of their zip code.
KwiKom in Montgomery county received about $1.5 million in grant money and another $1.5 million in matching funds while IdeaTek in Greenwood county received $880,000 with another $1.8 million in matching funds. The money should help connect 223 premises in Montgomery county and another 1,500 in Greenwood.
Initiated in 2020, the Broadband Acceleration Grant is a 10-year, $85 million program designed to bring essential internet access to Kansas communities. Administered by the Kansas Office of Broadband Development and funded through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE), this latest round of grants brings the program’s total investment for broadband infrastructure since 2020 to more than $31.5 million.
A 15-year-old male is being questioned as a suspect after a Monday stabbing in downtown Bartlesville.
According to Bartlesville Police Chief Kevin Ickleberry, at approximately 3:25 p.m. on Monday, BPD officers were notified by a local Bartlesville hospital of a stab wound victim who had walked into their emergency room for treatment.
BPD officers responded to the hospital and confirmed a 45-year-old male had been stabbed. They also identified the location of the crime scene to be in the 2100 block of South Johnstone Avenue. Officers confirmed a 15-year-old male has been identified as the suspect. The juvenile is currently being detained for questioning.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact BPD at 918-338-4001 or contact Capt. Daniel Elkins by calling 918-338-4020 or email dbelkins@cityofbartlesville.org.
The investigation is ongoing. More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.
A weekend fire in Fort Scott destroys a home and leaves tenant with minor injuries.
Late Saturday night, crews from the Fort Scott Fire Department responded to the call of a structure fire. Crews arrives on the scene to find the home fully engulfed in flames.
A defensive fire attack was made because the structure was already 80% engulfed and the fire had also broken through the roof.
Crews battled the blaze through the early morning hours and were able to bring it under control before it could spread to neighboring homes. The home was declared a total loss, but the tenant was able to escape and was transported to a nearby hospital by Bourbon County EMS for evaluation. The person did lose two pets in the blaze.
Cause of the fire is currently being investigated by FSFD investigators along with assistance from the Kansas State Fire Marshal.
The Edna Volunteer Fire Department has acquired a new vehicle.
The department has purchased a 2019 Dodge Durango from the Labette County Sheriff's office. Volunteer Firefighter Jacob McCallie says having a smaller vehicle in the fleet increases their flexibility.
The new vehicle replaces the 1998 Chevy suburban the department had been using. With EMS arrival taking an average of 15-25 minutes in the area, the Edna Fire Department is often first on scene to provide life saving CPR and first aid. Fire Chief Joe Kashka says recent fundraisers allowed the department to purchase the new vehicle.
In addition to the pancake feed, the department also sponsors the annual Edna Christmas Parade, which is coming up this year on Saturday, December 9th at 2 p.m.
A Cherryvale man is arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop.
At around 12:45pm, Cherryvale Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on a yellow 2007 Chevy Aveo driven by 48-year-old Trevis J. Freeman. During the stop, officers located methamphetamine and a glass pipe.
Freeman was taken into custody with recommended charges of driving while suspended and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
A Thanksgiving day traffic stop leads to the arrest of a Parsons man on drug charges.
At around 11:00am Thursday morning, a Parsons Police Officer pulled over a 2010 Nissan Altima for failure to signal. The driver was identified as 33-year-old Damian Lajarwin-Gerre Williams. During the stop, K9 Morgan conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and gave a positive alert. Marijuana, drug paraphernalia, over 25 pills of what was believed to be Oxycodone.
Williams was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and a traffic infraction of failure to signal. The pills are being sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for analysis and identification to test for Fentanyl.
Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union tell a Girard elementary school that their dress code violates federal law.
The part of the dress code at issue states “Hair is not to touch the collar of a crew neck t-shirt, cover the eyebrows, or extend below the earlobes. Ponytails, rat tails, or any other style that would circumvent the policy are not permitted.” The policy only applies to boys.
In August, the policy was cited as the reason the school told an 8 year old Native American boy that he would need to cut his hair. The boy, who is a member of the Wyandotte Nation, attended a tribal gathering over the summer that inspired him to adopt the common cultural practice of cutting hair only when mourning the loss of a loved one. When his mother explained this to the school district, she was told there were no exemptions.
Girard Superintendent Todd Ferguson says that he is unable to discuss individual students due to confidentiality laws, but that the school board would review the dress code policy at the December school board meeting.
The 4th Annual Christmas on the Plaza festivities happen this Friday evening in Coffeyville. The parade will be broadcast live on KGGF 690AM as well as live video on the KGGF facebook page. The radio and video broadcast is presented by Romans Chevrolet and sponsored by H&R Block of Coffeyville, Dusty's Unlock Service and State Farm agent Harold Mann. The video will also be available for later viewing at kggfradio.com.
The Christmas Parade is set for 6pm and will be filled with floats, fun, and Santa Claus. And, there will be more after the parade. Amy Dollar from Coffeyville Tourism says bring the kids and get their pictures taken.
Then on Saturday, the vendor fair runs from 10am to 8pm. There will be vendors, food trucks, and lots of Christmas spirit to be had on the plaza in downtown Coffeyville.
Today is Cyber Monday, and millions of Americans will take to the internet to get a little Christmas shopping done.
The National Retail Federation says nearly 71 million Americans are expected to shop online this year and are expected to spend more than $270 billion online today and throughout the rest of the holiday shopping season. But, online shoppers need to be aware and be safe this holiday season.
Some ways to stay safe online this Cyber Monday is to use secure and trusted wi-fi networks and avoid exposing your personal information on public wi-fi. Stick to well-known and reputable online retailers. Create strong, unique passwords. Create on-time use or disposable credit cards and use those instead of your real card.
Cyber Monday is the second most popular shopping day of the year behind Black Friday.
A Lansing Correctional Facility resident dies Saturday night after he was found unresponsive in his cell with no pulse.
29-year old Darionce Terrell Charles-Lott was serving a 172-month sentence from Wyandotte County for one count of aggravated battery with intent for bodily harm. He was admitted to the facility November 1, 2011.
The cause of death is pending further investigation and the results of an independent autopsy. Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is currently ongoing.
The Lansing Correctional Facility, formerly the Kansas State Penitentiary, serves only males and maintains maximum and medium units totaling 1,920 beds and a 512-bed minimum security unit.
A juvenile suspect is arrested in the shooting of an adult male on Bartlesville's south side on Saturday.
Bartlesville Police Capt. Daniel Elkins said the shooting incident happened near the same home on Windsor Way as the October break-in involving several armed teens.
BPD officers responded to the urgent care center and confirmed an adult male received a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a Tulsa hospital and is in an unknown condition.
No names have been released at this time.
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Christmas in the Hollow kicked off in Sedan over the weekend, but the wintry weather on Saturday night put the carriage rides on hold.
Christmas Carriage rides with the Broken Spoke Clydesdales will take place this Thursday evening from 5 to 8pm. The pick up area for rides will be in front of Farm Bureau at 230 East Main. The cost is $5 per person, per ride. After the ride, attendees can join the community for free cocoa and cider and free kid crafts at the school house. Free will donations will be accepted to help continue the event.
A juvenile is injured in a weekend car crash in Jasper County.
The accident occurred at around 1:30pm yesterday afternoon at the intersection of County road 240 and Missouri-96.
Troopers from the Missouri Highway Patrol determined that a 2001 Ford F150 driven by a 15 year old male from Jasper, Missouri, pulled onto Missouri 96 and into the path of a 2009 GMC Yukon. The Yukon was driven by 34 year old Luke Barber of Fordland, Missouri. Barber was uninjured but three others in his vehicle suffered minor injuries including 29 year old Jessica Barber and two juveniles.
The 15 year old driver of the F150 was ejected from his vehicle during the accident and suffered serious injuries. He was rushed trauma to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin by METS ambulance.
Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office arrest a man wanted on felony warrants.
Last Wednesday, sheriff's deputies responded to a tip that a man wanted on several felony warrants in Montgomery County was at a residence in Dearing. Deputies responded to a house located at 801 Hibbard, about one mile east of Dearing where they set a up a perimeter and began making announcements for the suspect to come out.
The suspect, Adam Trollope, refused to cooperate. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team or SERT was activated and responded to the scene. The SERT team requested assistance from Coffeyville Police Department’s Special Operations Team. Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers responded to the scene and assisted with announcements and the perimeter. After about three hours Trollope exited the residence and was taken into custody without further incident. Trollope was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections where he was booked on felony warrants.
The number of seasonal farm workers hired during harvest in the Northern Plains this year was down, but wages were up.
That's according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistic Service. Around 37,000 workers were hired between Kansas, Nebraska and North and South Dakota during the reference week of July 9-15th, which was down 3% from last year. Workers for October 8-14th totaled 43,000, down 4% from last year. Average wage for July harvests was $18.68 an hour, while average October wages trended higher at $19.37 an hour. On average, field workers earned the most, with typical wages approaching $20 an hour. Hired laborers worked an average of about 46 hours per week during the periods surveyed.
Thanksgiving is a busy travel weekend, so it pays to be prepared before traveling.
The peak travel times this weekend are projected to be on Sunday morning as people head home from their holiday road trips. With wintry weather forecast across large parts of the state this weekend, it pays to make sure the car is ready before hitting the road. Here are a few tips to make a winter car trip go smoothly. First, check wiper blades and make sure the wiper fluid is full. Also, check the oil and anti-freeze levels. Check the battery and tire air pressure. Look for the proper tire pressure in your owner’s manual or the tire information sticker in the driver’s door jamb. Pack an emergency road kit. Make sure to include jumper cables, a flashlight and batteries, flares or triangles, a warm blanket, an ice scraper, a first-aid kit, drinking water and snacks, and a tow strap. Take extra winter gear like coats, gloves, hats and boots. Have emergency phone numbers handy and use extra care when driving.
Almost a half million Kansans will be traveling by car at some point during this long holiday weekend. Winter weather may be an issue and deer can always be an issue. Shawn Steward with Triple-A Kansas says deer are very active at this time of year and pose a serious danger to drivers.
If a collision occurs, move the vehicle to the roadway's shoulder. Then, if possible, call law enforcement – K-H-P dispatch at *47, the Kansas Turnpike Authority at *KTA or local law enforcement at 911. Turn on vehicle hazard lights, whether it is day or night. Remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened to be better protected. Contact your insurance complany to report any damage.
Anyone involved in a collision with a deer or other animal resulting in personal injury or damage of more than $1000 is required to immediately report the accident to the nearest law enforcement agency.
Christmas celebrations get underway in Cherryvale next weekend.
The Christmas on Main Street Market will be open next Saturday from 10am to 5pm. There will be craft vendors and young and old alike can meet Santa Claus from 3 to 4:30. Deputy City Clerk Miranda Reed says the evening will finish off with two holiday favorites.
The Christmas on Main Street Market is located at the Cherryvale Chamber Offices at 110 West Main in Cherryvale
Bluestreak basketball fans will get a preview of this season coming up on Tuesday evening.
The Blue/White Basketball Scrimmages will take place at Neodesha High School next week. The Booster Club will also host a soup supper in the high school cafeteria from 5 to 6 pm, to be followed by a community pep rally. Then, it's time for some basketball. The girls team takes to the court at 6:30 to be followed by the boys team at 7:30. The booster store will also be open and the Senior class will be holding a bake sale. Admission to the scrimmage is an 8 pack of sports drink or a 12 pack of water. Free will donations will be accepted and athletes eat for free.
The City of Cherryvale Public Works Department will be picking up leaves for residents starting on Monday.
Those who wish to participate should rake leaves into piles between the curb and sidewalk in front of residences. Do not rake leaves into the street or into ditches that are more than 12 inches deep.
Make sure leaf piles are free of rocks, trash, or other debris because those things can cause damage to equipment and injury to personnel. Those who miss their pick up date will have to call city hall to have their leaves removed.
Leaf pickup will continue through December 20th with late pick up dates through the 29th
Leaf Pickup Dates:
Section 1 – November 27, 28, 29
Section 2 – November 30, December 1
Section 3 & 4 – December 4, 5, 6
Section 5 – December 7, 8
Section 6 & 7 – December 11, 12
Section 8 & 9 – December 13, 14, 15
Section 10 – December 18, 20
Work Order Days – December 21-29
The holiday season is finally here and that means it's time for Christmas parades.
This year's parade in Coffeyville will next Friday at 6pm in downtown Coffeyville. There will be floats, lights, Santa Claus, and lots of Christmas cheer. Chamber President Candi Westbrook says there might even be a little friendly competition.
Those interested in submitting a parade entry can contact the Chamber at (620) 251-2550 or via email at chamberadmin@coffeyville.com. The Caney Christmas parade will be on Thursday, December 7th
If building gingerbread houses is one of your favorite holiday pastimes, the city of Coffeyville has a contest for you.
Visit Coffeyville is hosting a gingerbread house decorating contest this holiday season. Amy Dollar with Coffeyville Tourism says all Coffeyville residents are invited to compete.
Dollar adds that, when you have your house finished, bring it down to be judged and displayed.
All decorations on the house must be edible and submissions should be limited to one house per participant. There will be bonus points for building historical Coffeyville attractions. All entries will be on display at the Condon Bank until December 18th so the public can stop by and see them.
A fridge full of leftovers is a common sight after Thanksgiving.
But how long is too long when it comes to grazing on those leftovers? K-State Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health Agent Holly Miner says that time might not be as long as you think.
Leftovers are safe for about three or four days in the fridge. That means you have until Monday to finish off all of those turkey and fixins before they start to go bad.
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Online shopping continues to gain more and more popularity, but there are still those who prefer shopping in person.
Whether shopping in person or online it is important to protect yourself against scams and thieves. Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says thieves will take advantage of online shopping and follow delivery services as they drop off packages along their routes. He says rather than having a package shipped to a home, ship it to a workplace or somewhere someone else can accept it. In addition to making sure packages are secure, it's important to take steps to reduce the risk of scams and in-person thefts.
Sheriff Groves says don't carry or flash large amounts of cash, don't leave valuables in vehicles, secure packages in the trunk, make sure vehicles and homes are locked, report any suspicious activity, monitor credit card accounts and don't hesitate to ask a store employee to walk to a vehicle. Also, never give out bank information, social security numbers, confirm addresses or give any other personal information to someone calling you, even if they claim to be with a bank, a government agency or a familiar business.
With the holiday season here, food is everywhere. For those trying to eat healthy, there doesn't have to be a sacrifice to enjoy holiday meals. Dr. Julie Gatza says to focus on the order food is eaten.
Dr. Gatza says another tip, if possible, is to eat a little at a time throughout the day instead of stuffing everything into one large meal. Dr. Gatza says spices, like ginger, can be added to food and aid in digestion. She also says to thoroughly chew food, especially the bigger proteins.
No injuries are reported after a vehicle fire east of the Coffeyville Airport.
Around 8:30 this morning, the Edna Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fully engulfed Ford truck on fire near the intersection of 8000 Road and 5900, just inside the Labette County line. The fire was brought under control and the driver was uninjured. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
The Sedan City Council has a big decision to make when it comes to trash pick up in the city.
The city council has not yet made a decision about which company will be picking up the city's trash in January. A special meeting was held in October to allow Waste Connections of Bartlesville to answer resident questions about their service. At Tuesday's meeting, a representative from County Wide Refuse of Moline was on hand to explain their offer to the city. County Wide's Andrea Arbuckle told the council that their service would be more expensive, but they could provide weekly service.
A representative from Waste Connections was also at the meeting and sparred with Councilman Adam Clark over possible rate increases.
After nearly 90 minutes of discussion, the council decided they would need to call a special meeting next week to make a decision.
In other business, the council approved a cereal malt beverage license for Dollar General and rejected a similar license for One Stop.
Kansas license plates will soon have a new look.
Governor Laura Kelly today revealed a new license plate design that will be seen on Kansas roadways beginning in spring 2024.
The new plate displays a wheat-yellow color in the background with black and dark blue text. The design pays tribute to the state motto, “ad astra per aspera,” with the words “to the stars” printed at the bottom of the plate.
The Kansas Department of Revenue is phasing out the current license plates starting in January , and the new plate design will appear on vehicles beginning in March.
One person is dead after a shooting yesterday morning at the new Osage Casino and Hotel in Bartlesville.
A spokesperson for the Osage Nation says neither the victim nor the suspect are tribal members; therefore, jurisdictional authority is under the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden believes the original call to the casino was in reference to some possible stolen property. Virden says, once an Osage Nation Police Officer arrived, a confrontation ensued.
Osage Nation Police Department and Osage Casino & Hotel Security are fully cooperating with OSBI on this criminal investigation. Osage Casino & Hotel issued a statement saying the shooting occurred in the parking lot and that no casino employees were involved. They say the safety of guests is of the highest importance and the casino hotel remains open while the investigation continues.
Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher also confirmed that there was a stabbing that took place at the casino over the weekend.
Governor Laura Kelly announces $360,000 in road safety grants for communities in Elk and Chautauqua counties.
The federal funding comes from the Safe Streets and Roads For All grant program to help improve safety and prevent death and serious injury on local roadways. K-DOT will also provide a 20% match with state funds.
The City of Eureka in Greenwood County also received $140,000 with a 15% state match.
The funds are a part of $1.7 million funding for 7 Kansas communities through the SS4A program.
The Kansas Corporation Commission approves a proposed settlement agreement in the Evergy rate case.
The K-C-C has approved a rate increase for customers in Central Kansas, but not one as large as Evergy initially wanted. Evergy sought a rate increase of 9.77% for Kansas Central customers, but the K-C-C only approved an increase of 3.54%. General Counsel for the K-C-C Brian Fedotin says the agreement should strike a balance between the company and rate payers.
The average monthly increase for Kansas Central customers will be about $4.64 per month. The unanimous agreement was submitted to the Commission in September following negotiations between the K-C-C, Evergy, the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, and other groups. This agreement resolves all issues in the case.
As the 2023 growing season comes to an end, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service would like to know how the season went for producers.
NASS will contact producers and grain facility operators nationwide to gather final year-end crop production numbers and the amount of grain and oilseeds stored on their farms. Kansas State Statistician Doug Bounds says these surveys are the largest and most important year-end surveys conducted by the service, as they form the basis for the USDA estimates of production and harvest acres of all major ag commodities in the U.S. Bounds says data from the survey will benefit farmers and processors by providing timely and accurate information to help them make year-end business decisions and begin planning for the next growing and marketing season. The data is also used for calculating county-level yields, which can be used in determining disaster assistance program calculations. All responses are confidential.
A Coffeyville man is arrested after fleeing from deputies.
Yesterday evening, Montgomery County Sheriff Deputies attempted to stop a white 2013 Chevy truck for traffic violations near the intersection of Highway 160 and Highway 169, south of Cherryvale. The truck did not stop and turned south on HWY 169 traveling at speeds over 100 mph. During the pursuit, the truck traveled on the wrong side of the road, failed to stop at stop signs, failed to use turn signals and continued driving at high rates of speed. A deputy used a patrol unit forcing the suspect to come to a stop.
The driver was identified as Malachi Porter. About two ounces of methamphetamine and a small amount of cocaine were located on Porter. He was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections where he is currently in custody on recommended narcotics charges, felony fleeing and eluding and multiple traffic infractions.
A Cherryvale man is arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop.
At around 1:50am, Cherryvale Police Officers and Montgomery County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2005 Gray Toyota Sienna for an individual driving while suspended. During the attempted traffic stop, the Toyota fled Officers and the driver threw something out the window. The driver, later stopped at a residence in Cherryvale, was identified as 46-year-old Lawrence Hayes.
Officers recovered the items that were thrown out of the vehicle. Those items included a clear baggie containing methamphetamine and a bag of syringes. Hayes was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on recommended charges of driving while suspended, fleeing and eluding and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Coffeyville's Match Day kicks off a season of thankfulness and giving with record-breaking numbers. Coffeyville Area Community Foundation's Sam Kudrick says they're still on cloud nine from all the generosity shown during the event.
Kudrick says the 26 organizations that were donated to will have that money available to them immediately. After adding the matching $100,000 it brings this year's total to $412,655, which brings the total impact to over $1.63 million in 11 years of Match Day giving.
Tonight's low in Coffeyville is forecast to be around 25 degrees, and now there's a place for people who need shelter from the cold.
Touch of Life Ministries is opening a warming center on the renovated first floor of the old Lowell School building at 501 E 9th Street in Coffeyville. Organizer Alicia Melton says anyone in need will get more than just a cot to sleep on.
Currently, space is limited to 10 beds, but Melton says the plan is to add more space as funds and time allow. Melton says doors will open tonight at 6 p.m., a meal will be served at 7 and anyone needing shelter needs to check in by 9 p.m. The plan for the center going forward will be to open when overnight lows are forecast to be below freezing.
Water was once again the topic of discussion during last night's Caney City Council meeting.
The council agreed to move forward with engineering and development for an emergency connection with Montgomery Consolidated Rural Water 1, and tabled until next meeting the emergency connection request with Chautauqua 4. City Administrator Kelley Zellner says Caney is facing an odd situation when it comes to water production.
While any rain will be beneficial to the current water system, Zellner says the city continues to search for short term and emergency water solutions, while continuing the process for a long term solution. Zellner says conversations continue with state and federal officials, with a promise of expedited services like construction, when a solution is found.
CVR Energy has agreed to pay more than $23 million in a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Justice.
The settlement is in regards to the company's Coffeyville refinery emitting excess sulfur dioxide. The Coffeyville Resources Refining and Marketing unit has agreed to install a new $9 million flare gas recovery system, spend $1 million on a state approved environmental project, and pay over $13 million in fines as part of a consent decree.
The EPA estimates that the new flare gas recovery system will lower greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 13 million tons.
In 2012 the company also paid a nearly $1 million penalty for environmental violations.
Water issues in Caney have put the city in a difficult situation in the past few months.
The Caney schools have tried to help conserve water by switching to a four-day school week and using portable restrooms. The Montgomery County Health Department has inspected the schools in Caney to ensure student health. Brandee Hanna-Kirk told the Montgomery County commission at Monday's meeting that she found no issues in the Caney schools.
In other business at Monday's meeting, commissioners completed the canvass of the November 7th general election. They also broke two tie races via a blind drawing. The first was for a seat on the Havana City Council, which went to Rockford Springer. The second – for Ward 2 of the Caney City Council – went to Justin Hartley.
The next Montgomery County Commission meeting will be Tuesday, November 28th due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Christmas in the Hollow begins Thanksgiving night in Sedan.
The lighting of the Christmas tree kicks things off at 6:30pm Thursday evening to be followed by the singing of Christmas carols and a chance to enjoy the community lights display.
Then on Saturday night the Broken Spoke Clydesdales will be in town. From 5 to 8pm, attendees can take a ride through Sedan and enjoy the holiday lights. The cost is $5 per ride, per person. The pick up area is in front of Farm Bureau at 230 East Main Street. Afterwards, everyone is invited to the schoolhouse for free kids crafts, and free cocoa and cider. Donations to help continue the event will be accepted.
The State of Kansas is looking for artists of all ages.
The State Library of Kansas announces a statewide art contest for bookmark designs. There are three categories of competition: Youth for kids K-12, Adult for everyone 18 and older, and Librarians. All entries should be a @D image, scaled to fit a 2 by 6 inch bookmark. The entry deadline is February 28th
Winners will be chosen by a committee and the top 3 in each category will get recognition on the State Library website, social media, and press releases. The top winner in each category will be featured on official bookmarks that will be distributed across the state.
Submit your design at https://kslib.info/1104/How-to-Submit-a-Book or mail it to
KS Notable Bookmark c/o State Library 300 SW 10th Street RM 312N, Topeka, KS 66612.
If you'd like to recommend or submit a book for the Kansas Notable Books program, those submission requirements and instructions are also available on the same webpage.
Cherokee Nation is now accepting applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program from new participants who are 60 years or older or disabled.
Applications will be accepted in-person at any Cherokee Nation Human Services location until December 29.
“With the colder months approaching, Cherokee families across the reservation will be using their heaters more, which can sometimes put people in a difficult financial situation,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “LIHEAP helps take some of the pressure off of having to worry about an energy bill, in case they may need to use those finances somewhere else.”
The LIHEAP program is funded by the Oklahoma Department of Health & Human Services and administered by the Cherokee Nation Family Assistance Department. LIHEAP is designed to assist eligible households with home heating, cooling, and crisis intervention assistance.
Applicant requirements include:
Live on the Cherokee Nation Reservation;
Meet income guidelines;
Be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation or another federally recognized tribe;
Must not receive LIHEAP assistance from any other tribe or department of human services.
“LIHEAP is important to all tribal citizens who meet eligibility requirements to be able to remain safe in their homes during the winter and summer months,” LIHEAP manager Janet Ward said. “This helps the elderly and disabled to have extra finances to be able to pay for food, medicine, and essential living needs.”
In order to apply for LIHEAP, applicants must bring supply the following documents:
Income for everyone in the household 18 and older;
Utility bill (main source of heating);
Photo IDs for everyone who lives in household;
Social Security cards for everyone who lives in household;
Proof of tribal citizenship for everyone who lives in household;
Physical address verification.
Applications will open on a later date for all others who qualify.
For more information, contact Cherokee Nation Human Services at 918-453-5422.
Options are being discussed to improve Cherryvale's curb appeal.
At last night's city council meeting, an open discussion took place regarding the city's list of uninhabitable homes. City Administrator Jonathan Booe says the city has been working to tear down a few houses each year that are beyond repair. Council members discussed options to prioritize demolition and whether to focus on buildings downtown or focus first on the neighborhoods. No action was taken on the matter.
In other business, the council approved an upgrade to their public works software that also adds a feature where the city can directly text or email residents if they opt-in. The new feature will cost around $2,000 a year, and that combined with the software upgrade and training was approved for $14,512.
4-H is a youth program that can help kids grow and try new things. K-State 4-H Youth Development Specialist Amy Sollock says children as young as five can get involved.
Sollock says Kansas 4-H offers over 35 different project areas in which members can participate. Sollock says 4-H is a great dynamic between youth-led voices and the supportive parent and adult volunteer structure. You can learn more at kansas4-h.org.
Chautauqua County is hesitant to send water to Caney during the current water shortage.
Caney has asked Chautauqua County for 35,000 gallons of water per day, to support the 77,000 gallons it takes to run Caney each day.
County commissioner Rodney Shaw says Caney needs to fix the leaks first.
Chautauqua and Elk counties are also currently in a drought, with 35,000 gallons of water being enough to support the town of Grenola for four days.
Shaw says he wants to help Caney, but there must be steps taken.
The county commissioners also canvassed the results of the 2023 General Election at this week's meeting.
Two races that remained tied following the canvass of the Chautauqua County General Election have been decided.
The county commissioners drew names to break the tie, per state regulations.
Barbara Rinck and Greg Joslin were both in attendence for the drawing for the City of Peru Mayor. Commissioner Massey drew, and Rinck's name was drawn.
Without candidates present for the two City of Chautauqua Council seats, Commissioner Massey drew Mark Mertes and Shirley Mertes to conclude the tiebreaker session.
Cold and flu season is getting underway and the Montgomery County Health Department is ready.
At today's Montgomery County Commission meeting, Brandee Hanna-Kirk told commissioners that several area businesses have held flu clinics to ensure employees wanting flu shots can get them.
Anyone wanting more information can contact the health department at 620-251-4210 in Coffeyville or 620-331-4300 in Independence. The health department also has Covid shot available for those who signed up to be on the waiting list. Hanna-Kirk also said her department responded to a complaint from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment about sanitary conditions in the Caney schools. Hanna-Kirk says she conducted an inspection of both the high school and elementary school and found no issues of concern.
Multi-award-winning recording artist Michael Martin Murphy is scheduled to perform at Memorial Hall in Independence. Murphy will bring his “Cowboy Christmas” show to the Jim Halsey Auditorium on Saturday, December 2nd.
Murphy will lead his legendary “Rio Grande Band” showcasing mesmerizing lighting, captivating videos and an artistic fusion of Western art and masterful photography. Tickets for the show are on sale now online at tickets.thundertix.com.
Several rounds of rain have moved through the area since yesterday morning.
In Coffeyville, nearly half an inch fell over the last 24 hours. The rain did hold off for the Independence Christmas Parade, but picked back up overnight and became heavy at times. Rain chances for the area will continue today and tonight. Here's a summary of rainfall for the past 24 hours:
KGGF Coffeyville Studios: .45”
Sedan Mesonet Station: .48”
Parsons Mesonet Station: .49”
Howard CoCoRaHS Observer: .54”
NE Wilson County CoCoRaHS Observer: 42”
Erie CoCoRaHS Observer: .32”
Columbus CoCoRaHS Observer: .86”
Nowata Mesonet Station: .52”
KWON Bartlesville Studios: .68”
SE of Vinita CoCoRaHS Observer: .18”
Miami CoCoRaHS Observer: .51”
The Independence VFW Post #1186 will be hosting a fundraising auction this weekend.
Activities will begin at 3pm as members of the VFW will be selling sausage burgers. The auction begins at 6:30pm and will feature a variety of items up for bid. The evening will be capped off with live music from Pat Robinson from 8pm to midnight. It all takes place at the Independence VFW Post #1186, at 113 East Myrtle in Independence.
The holiday season is just around the corner and with it comes the Coffeyville Holiday Decorating Contest.
Coffeyville residents who plan to deck the halls on the outside of their homes take note ... Chamber President Candi Westbrook says, your decorating efforts could make you extra jolly.
Those who wish to participate should submit a photo of your home light display along with your address to chamberadmin@coffeyville.com. Entries must be received by December 3rd and winners will be announced on December 8th
Christmas was in the air in Independence this weekend with the 2023 Christmas Parade.
There were 48 groups marching down Pennsylvania Ave, with a blend of floats, walkers handing out candy, emergency vehicles, and other community organizations.
Mayor Louis Ysusi, Queen Neelah Kylee Davis, the Optimist Club float, and the Main Street Float were a few of the many sights to see.
Sunshine 98.9 KQQF was able to broadcast the parade live, courtesy of Ashcraft Tire and Auto.
With Thanksgiving coming up this week, many people may have a nagging question lingering in their minds. And that is … “Where am I going to put the leftovers?”
For those struggling with the issue of space in the refrigerator, K-State Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Agent for the Wildcat District Holly Miner says this is a good time to clean out the fridge.
For those planning on thawing a turkey this Thanksgiving, remember that the safest way is to thaw your bird in the fridge. Plan on 24 hours of thawing in the fridge for every 5 pounds.
Whole Turkey Thawing Times:
A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. Foods thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking but there may be some loss of quality.
A turkey thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen.
Follow the microwave oven manufacturer's instruction when defrosting a turkey. Plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn't have been destroyed.
A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately.
Coming up this Thanksgiving Day in Cherryvale is the 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner.
Join the community at the Cherryvale Community Center at 712 Liberty street. Dinner will be served at 5pm. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.
Six teenage boys have been arrested in connection to an armed robbery that took place at an East Bartlesville home on October 24th.
Four of the six have been seen in Washington County Court, and the other two will be seen in federal court because they are tribal members.
Corey Russell Jr.; Christopher James Pullins Jr.; Keeton Tod Mayer and Deandre Austin have all been ordered to appear back in Washington County on December 15th.
Russell, Pullins, and Mayer are currently being held on $100,000 bonds while Austin is out on an O.R. bond due to there being no detention center having room for him. The four teenagers are being charged as youthful offenders, and are being charged with four total felonies that include first degree burglary, conjoint robbery, conspiracy, and possessing firearms during a commission of a felony.
A first-degree murder arrest warrant has been issued in last week's shooting death of 16-year-old Markus Scott, a Bartlesville resident who was shot multiple times and left along the roadside near U.S. Highway 60 and State Highway 123 in Bartlesville.
Bartlesville Police Captain Daniel Elkins said Friday that a warrant for first-degree murder has been issued for 20-year-old Bartlesville native Bryson Towers. Towers is currently in the Montgomery County Jail after his arrest by Coffeyville police on charges unrelated to this case. He is awaiting extradition to Washington County.
At approximately 9:40 p.m. on November 13, Bartlesville Police Department was notified of a deceased male. Officers responded to find Scott had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical workers.
Bartlesville Police Department investigators were able to identify several witnesses and other information using security video from surrounding businesses, resulting in the warrant for Towers’ arrest.
Two weekend accidents near Pittsburg leave several people with serious injuries
The first of the two accidents occurred yesterday morning around 11:15am. 84 year old Jerry Jones of Girard was traveling west on 570th Avenue, south of Pittsburg in a 2006 Honda Ridgeline, when Jones failed to yield at an intersection. His vehicle was struck by a 2013 Chevy Malibu driven by 20 year old Destiney Love of Pittsburg. Jones, Love, and Love's passenger 20 year old Alize Roberts of Girard were all taken to Via Christi Pittsburg with serious injuries.
Another injury accident occurred yesterday northwest of Pittsburgat around 1:15pm. 39 year old Chad Bugni and 37 year old Melissa Bugni along with three juveniles were in a 2012 GMC Acadia. Waiting to enter K 171. A 2017 Subaru Legacy driven by 42 year old Bithi Banerjee of Kansas City turned off of K 171 and struck Bugni's vehicle. Banerjee was taken to Ascension Via Christi with serious injuries. No one else was injured.
The "World's Largest Living Ghost Town" was packed with visitors and overflowing with toilet humor this weekend.
The 28th Annual Elk Falls Outhouse Tour brought hundreds if not thousands of people into the town located just a few miles east of Howard in Elk County. Elk Falls really only has one functioning business besides the post office, and owner Steve Fry says the tour is an outgrowth of an event that started at Elk Falls Pottery.
This year, 21 decorated outhouses were on display around town for attendees to view and vote on their top two choices. Fry says the open house has evolved over the years.
The event is organized by the Friends of Elk Falls and includes live music, a craft and quilt show plus lots of food. With a population of around 100, Elk Falls Mayor Carl Mitchell says most people in town are involved in one way or another, and says he enjoys seeing town fill up with visitors.
As for this year's winners, third place went to Brown University by the Burke family. Second was captured by Dumpin' Donuts by Jane Fry, and top awards went to Plumber's Paradise by first-time outhouse designer Bullet Koehn.
If you missed out on this year's celebration, the outhouses will be on full display next year on the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Listen to the full feature HERE.
November is National Adoption Month, and the staggering numbers of foster children and orphans worldwide continues to grow.
UNICEF statistics show there are over 140 million orphans around the world, 425,000 in the United States alone. Herbie Newell, President and Executive Director of Lifeline Children's Services, says the age range of those needing forever families is surprising.
Newell says the number of Kansas children completing adoption averaged around 1,000 during the past four years, up from an average of about 730 in the previous eight years. He says even though adoption isn't always easy, adoption is worth it.
The complete conversation with Herbie Newell of Lifeline Children's Services is available here.
The Independence Historical Museum and Art Center will host a walking tour of downtown Independence tomorrow on the topic of Crime and Vice in Naughty Old Indy.
The tour will be conducted by ICC history professor and Museum board member Dr. Isaias McCaffery. The tour begins at the Museum, located at 123 North 8th Street, at 10am tomorrow. The cost is $20 for adults, $15 for museum members and kids 14 and under are free. The route will cover under a mile, but practical walking shoes are still recommended.
The First United Methodist Church in Independence is hosting a free community Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Drive-thru and inside service are both available. The dinner will take place between 11:30am and 1pm tomorrow at the Wesley Center, located at 200 South Penn.
A Bartlesville woman has been arrested in connection to the armed robbery at an East Bartlesville home that occurred on October
24th .
Rebecca Smith was seen in Washington County Court yesterday afternoon on the charges of accessory to robbery and harboring a juvenile runaway.
Smith is the mother of Keeton Mayer, who was one of six juveniles involved in the armed robbery, and is being charged as a youthful offender on this case. According to an affidavit, Smith dropped Mayer off in Tulsa along with two other juveniles involved in the robbery shortly after the crimes were committed.
It is alleged that Smith let Mayer use her vehicle after his was seized, and never reported any of the juveniles she came in contact with to the police. Smith is currently being held on a $50,000 bond and her next court date is set for December 1st.
An early morning accident yesterday in Crawford County leaves one woman dead and two others seriously injured.
Around 4am yesterday morning, 31 year old Joseph Harley of State Center, Iowa, was driving a 2020 Nissan pickup towing a camper trailer on K-7 just north of Cherokee when he crossed the center line and struck a 2016 Ford Edge head on.
The driver of the Edge, 66 year old Melinda Burbidge of West Mineral, Kansas, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Harley and his passenger 29 year old Mandi Harley were both flown to Freeman Hospital in Joplon with serious injuries.
Not long after the initial accident, a tractor-trailer driven by 66 year old Steven Miller of Prescott, Kansas, struck the debris of the Nissan pickup and camper that remained in the roadway. Miller was not injured.
K-7 was closed for nearly 8 hours before being reopened to traffic around noon yesterday. The Crawford County Sheriff's Office is investigating the cause of the accident.
A Fort Scott man sustained minor injuries yesterday evening after colliding with a deer in Bourbon County.
At about 6:15pm yesterday, 69 year old Jeffery Smith was driving a 2008 Smart FourTwo northbound on US 69 about 15 miles north of Fort Scott when his vehicle struck a deer in the roadway. Smith was taken to Via Christi Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
With last Saturday kicking off opening weekend, quail hunting season is in full swing for Kansas and Oklahoma.
However, the upland bird forecast for southeast Kansas is not very promising. According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, opportunities for quail are expected to be poor in the area.
While roadside estimates trended up again this year, results were greatly influenced by a few counts with most of the region remaining low. While hunting could be slightly improved for this season, the best opportunities will be on areas specifically managed for upland birds and counties closer to the Flint Hills including Chautauqua and Elk counties and areas to the north and west. Pheasants are not usually found in southeast Kansas, so very limited hunting opportunities will be available.
Greater prairie chicken populations have consistently declined over the long term in southeast Kansas. Loss of native grassland has gradually reduced the amount of suitable habitat. Hunting opportunities will be limited, but chickens can occasionally be found in large blocks of native rangeland, primarily along the edge of the Flint Hills.
This year's Coffeyville match day sets an all-time record.
According to the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation, $310,055 was raised between 597 gifts. That total does not include the $100,000 match that will be distributed between the 26 nonprofits. That's well ahead of last year's total of just over $241,000.
The Midland Theater came out on top again this year with more than $63,000 raised. The Coffeyville Historical Society and Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Kansas both brought in more than $46,000 each. The Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation and Cedar Bluff Camp both brought in more than $31,000. Donations will still be accepted if they were postmarked yesterday, so it's possible the total number will increase. A link to the donation totals is available here.
A 35-year-old Pryor man is dead following a collision with another vehicle just east of Claremore.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the collision happened just before 6:00pm yesterday on Highway 20 in Rogers County. The driver of a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R600, Cody Morrow was pronounced dead at the scene by Oologah-Talala EMS. The driver of a 1999 Dodge Durango, 56-year-old Adela Clark-Evans, of Jay, was transported by Lifeflight to Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. She was admitted in good condition with head, internal, external and arm injuries.
The cause of the collision is under investigation.
The family of Monday’s shooting victim in Bartlesville has set up a fundraiser for funeral expenses.
16-year-old Markus Steven Scott was shot to death on Monday and his body was located near the intersection of Frank Phillips Boulevard and State Highway 123 in Bartlesville. Now, his family is not only grieving, but also raising funds for his funeral.
His family says Markus was a caring individual whose life was taken way too soon as a result of gun violence. They say he had a bright personality that could light up a room with his contagious smile. Markus was also an expectant father, with a daughter due to be born near Christmas.
The family has established a Go Fund Me page to help with funeral expenses, with anything extra going toward his daughter’s future needs
A water leak in the city of Miami means a temporary water outage for some residents.
The water department is working on a water leak on D Street NE. While crews make the necessary repairs, customers on D Street NE from 5th to BJ Tunnel will be without water. The work should be completed by noon today.
The daughter of Dennis Rader, also known as the serial killer BTK, has resigned her postion on the BTK Task Force.
Kerri Rawson posted her resignation via social media yesterday (Wednesday) that her resignation was effective November 3rd .
The BTK task force was formed in September by Osage County, OK, Sheriff Eddie Virden who suspected Rader might be a suspect in the disappearance of 16 year old Cynthia Dawn Kinney from a Pawhuska laundromat in 1976.
Rawson gave no reason for her resignation, but wished the task force the best in their endeavors.
(Photo: Dennis Rader, aka BTL; Kerri Rawson)
The Saint Andrew Church in Independence hosts its holiday Market and Chicken and Noodle Lunch this Saturday from 8am to 1pm.
Activities will include breakfast, a raffle, crafts, baked goods, a cookie table, Christmas Past, a silent auction, lunch, and more. The silent auction will end with the closing of the market at 1pm. The event happens at the Saint Andrew Parish Center at 420 East Myrtle in Independence.
The 28th Annual SEK Bikers Toy Run comes to Coffeyville this weekend.
The Toy Run gets underway at noon on Saturday. Participants should bring a new, unwrapped toy and meet at the King Food Saver Parking lot. After the parade, there will be a free chili feed at the American Legion at 811 West 12th Street in Coffeyville.
The Fredonia City Commission addresses citizen concerns about utilities.
During the public comment part of last night's meeting, Deborah Jacobson from Sacred Heart Outreach, part of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fredonia, asked the commission to consider adopting a no-cut-off rule for city utilities during winter months.
The city of Fredonia is not governed by the Kansas Corporation Commission and does not currently have a rule preventing the cut-off of utilities in the winter. No action was taken.
In other business City Administrator Wes Young explained an upcoming report required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The Kansas Lead Service Line Inventory is coming due for cities across the state. Young says it is a requirement by the state of Kansas to assess any parts of their water system that may contain lead in the pipes.
Other business before the commission included an update on the cost to repair the city's back up garbage truck.
An event to help the community understand the strengths and challenges facing the veteran population is coming up tomorrow.
A Community Green Zone Training will take place at the Ron Stevenson Building in Walter Johnson Park, and organizer Loran Osborne says the event is beneficial for everyone who may casually encounter a Veteran, Dependent, or Family Member in any number of circumstances.
Osborne says one of the goals of the training is to build healthier communities.
Some of the topics covered will be basic communication and interaction, questions not to ask, military culture familiarization and public-friendly terminology in addition to resources for employers and neighbors. The event will run from 11 a.m. until 4:45. A link to register is available here.
Coffeyville's Match Day is tomorrow. The event started in 2013 and has seen $1.2 million put back into the community. Coffeyville Area Community Foundation's Sam Kudrick says there are three ways to give during Match Day.
CACF Executive Director Janie DeVore Gillis says all donations made receive a match. 26 non-profits can be donated to on Match Day the full list can be found at givematchgrow.com.
The matching funds come from the Bernard and Effie Jo Wade Family Foundation, the Pratt Family Charitable Fund, the Dr. David and Lynn Bumgarner Family Trust, and the Patterson Family Foundation.
The Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at Bible Baptist Church in Coffeyville at the start of next week. Account Manager Tammy McCune says this time of the year can be hard on blood supply.
The blood drive will be held on Monday from 11:45am to 6:00pm and Tuesday from 8:30am to 12:00pm. Donor Lead Valerie Suddock says donors can make an appointment to donate a couple of different ways.
Suddock says they will take walk-ins for donations but they would prefer donors to make an appointment. A link to make an appointment for either day can be found here.
Wilson County Commissioners canvass the results of the 2023 General Election.
Additionally, Road and Bridge Director Kary Tatum anticipates work on 410 Road in the county to be completed today. The commissioners also approved a revised draft of the Emergency Operations Plan, which will be sent to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
Other items of business at this week's commission meeting is all end of year forms have been ordered by the Clerk's office, and Health Department Administrator Amy Lell gave an update.
There will be no meeting next week, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
The city of Miami, OK, announces the closing of the northbound lane of the truck route in the city beginning at 8:30am today.
The closure is due to repair work on a water line, which should be completed by tomorrow. Drivers are urged to find an alternate route.
A Parsons man is arrested for failing to register as a sex offender.
The Parsons Registered Offender Program or PROP found that Richard Sandoval, of Parsons, was in noncompliance with his Lifetime Sex Offender status. Sandoval had been unregistered since failing to register in November 2022.
Sandoval is a Sex Offender for life stemming from a December 2001 conviction in Labette County for Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Public Offender Registry website lists Sandoval's victim as a 9 year old female.
Sandoval failed to register quarterly in November 2022, then again in February, May, and August of this year.
It was also found that Sandoval had been in violation of his requirement to annually renew his Kansas driver's license. He had been falsely reporting his Kansas driver's license was up to date even though it expired in 2013.
PROP arrested Sandoval yesterday for 22 counts of Aggravated Violation of Offender Registration & 12 counts of Violation of Offender Registration. The charges are being sent to the Labette County Attorney's Office for review.
The City of Fredonia makes some changes to residential recycling in the city.
Beginning December 1st the residential recycle route will be discontinued on a trial basis. The city is taking the step to assess whether the time saved on collecting materials will result in faster processing and a more efficient operation of the recycling center, as well as potentially saving on operating costs.
Residents should take recyclable materials to the drop-off building behind the recycling center and place them in the appropriate receptacle.
The trial period will run through the end of January when it will be determined if it was a success.
Business collection will remain unaffected.
The office building in Topeka that is home to the state's top election officials was evacuated yesterday after receiving what is being described as suspicious mail.
The office of Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab remained closed for the rest of the day yesterday as the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshall responded to the incident. No one was harmed.
This latest incident comes after more than 100 letters containing white powder were sent to Kansas officials and legislators including Virgil Peck and Ron Bryce last June.
Governor Laura Kelly called this an attempt at political intimidation and added that no Kansan should ever feel unsafe because of their politics.
Veterans in Fort Scott are angry and disappointed after the VFW post there is robbed over Veterans Day weekend.
Matt Crystal, commander of VFW Post 11-65, discovered the robbery on Monday afternoon after being notified that the internet was down in the building.
According to authorities, the break-in likely occurred sometime between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon. The thieves ransacked the drawers behind the bar and checked the jukebox and cash register for money. The thieves managed to get away with about $600.
Fort Scott police currently have no suspects in the break-in and are asking anyone with information on the crime to contact the Fort Scott Police Department at (620)-223-1700
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder and that might be especially true when it comes to outhouses.
The old timey waste disposal systems will be on display this Friday and Saturday in Elk Falls. The Elk Falls Out has become a much-loved event as area residents transform the not-so-portable potties will be transformed into works of art and the public will be able to vote for their favorites. By purchasing a button for $1 at the Outhouse Headquarters in Elk Falls, visitors can choose the outhouses they like the best. More than 20 outhouses scattered throughout the city will vie for prizes.
Also part of the two-day festival is a Quilt show and Harvest Crafts at Calvary Chapel, the Maker's Market downtown at the old gas station, the Prairie Gem One Room Schoolhouse and a variety of food vendors. On Saturday night, there will be a performance of the blue grass band Reach For The Sky.
Bartlesville Police identify the victim in the shooting of a 16-year-old Bartlesville teen. BPD Chief Kevin Ickleberry says they found the body along the roadside near U.S. Highway 60 and State Highway 123.
The victim, Marcus Stephen Scott, died from his injuries. The vehicle involved in the incident was located in Coffeyville and the driver, who is a suspect in the shooting, was arrested by Coffeyville Police Department officers on charges unrelated to the case. He remains in the Montgomery County Jail at this time. Ickleberry says they are looking for witnesses to the incident to come forward with any information.
Ickleberry declined to identify the suspect but did say the suspect is from the Bartlesville area. Witnesses to the shooting should contact the Police Department at (918)338-4001 or Captain Daniel Elkins at (918)338-4020 or email dbelkins@cityofbartlesville.org.
City of Coffeyville commissioners and staff will be heading to the Nation's Capital to discuss housing and the levee. City Manager Mark Hall says this has been a two year project.
The commissioners who will be making the trip include Bob York, Debra Maples and Jason Swindell and the city staff include Hall, Charla Brown and Thomas Osborn. Hall says this will not be their only trip to Washington DC.
Hall says Coffeyville has a very high if not the highest, poverty rate in the state. He says there were about 70 businesses in the area that flooded in 2007 but only 35 of them returned.
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The United States Department of Justice awards the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department over $115,000 in federal funding.
The grant, administered by the COPS Office, will fund a newly created position within the Sheriff's Department for the next several years. Sheriff David Groves says maintaining and strengthening the bond their agency has with the community is important, which is why they applied for this grant, essentially creating the position of Community Outreach Deputy.
The deputy appointed to this position will represent the sheriff's office at community events and present crime prevention programs to civic and community business organizations, be responsible for creating and coordinating a citizens police academy and also assist area School Resource Officers with programs. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office plans to have the position filled by the first quarter of 2024.
Coffeyville Community College's Annual Raven Holiday is coming up at the end of this week. The event is on Friday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on the main CCC campus. Vice President for Student Services Ryan McCune says there will be many games and activities to participate in.
McCune says this year's Raven Holiday performance by the CCC Theater department will feature The Nightmare Before Christmas. McCune says there are three show times for the performance of The Nightmare Before Christmas—the first at 5:30pm, then 6:30pm and finally 7:30pm. The Red Raven Bookstore will also stay open from 5:00pm until 8:00pm for the event.
Water saving measures implemented by the Caney School District are working.
During last night's meeting, it was learned that water use at the high school has dropped from a daily average of 7,000 gallons to around 1,000 gallons a day, while water usage at the elementary school has dropped from close to 3,000 gallons a day to around 750. Superintendent Blake Vargas says he's proud of students and staff for their sacrifices made.
Vargas says water meters are being checked daily by building principals, with tests being conducted on how much water is being used by items such as showers and toilets. He says the district will have more accurate numbers because of those tests.
With the uncertainty of the water situation in Caney, Vargas says meetings with local, state and federal agencies continue.
In other business, the board approved the replacement of a bus with a blown engine with a used bus, with the cost not to exceed $80,000. Attendance numbers were also discussed, with an announcement of 52 perfect attendance students in the high school; meaning, no absences or tardies.
Baseball and basketball take center stage at the USD 447 Cherryvale School Board meeting.
At last night's meeting, the board heard from Casi Addis of the Cherryvale Recreation Commission Board. The rec commission has been working to improve the lighting at the city ball fields at Lake Tanko Park. Addis announced that the commission would be partnering with Barrier Lighting of Oklahoma and Musco Lighting from Iowa to make the needed renovations. Addis says improving their baseball facilities will make the city more attractive to visitors and potential new residents.
The recreation commission will fix the field lights by borrowing the funds. The board agreed to share the cost by voting to spend up to $175,000 on the project as long as it was legal for them to use general fund money to do so.
In other business before the board, a measure was approved to adopt a trial program that would allow 6th grade students to play on interscholastic middle schools teams if fewer than 15 athletes are available to play on the teams.
Teachers are an important part of every child's life. Sometimes, they may even save a life. James Renfro, principal of Cherryvale Junior/Senior High School says Cherryvale High math teacher Michael Villareal did just that last week.
This comes on the heels of a similar incident that happened at Parsons Middle School last week, where P-M-S teacher Joe Campmeir also performed the Heimlich Maneuver on a student who choked on a piece of candy. Both students involved the separate incidents were unharmed.
A federal judge issues prison sentences for two men in the 2019 retaliation murder of a Grove, OK, man.
The two brothers – Cody and Dakota Buzzard – each pleaded guilty to charges in the case related to the death of 49 year old Jerry Tapp on August 1st , 2019 in Delaware County. Law enforcement officers say the shooting appeared to be in retaliation for a shooting incident in 2015 in which Tapp fired a shotgun into a vehicle occupied by the pair's father James Buzzard and an 11 year old girl. The girl received a non-life threatening gunshot wound as a result.
29 year old Cody Buzzard was sentenced to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder and 10 years for discharging a firearm. 22-year-old Dakota Buzzard was given six and a half years for conspiracy to carry, use, brandish and discharge a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence. Their father James Buzzard was found guilty after a federal court jury trial. However, the court has not set a sentencing date yet due to ongoing court motions.
(Photo: Dakota Buzzard, Cody Buzzard)
The Joplin Police Department identifies the woman who was struck by an SUV and killed in a weekend accident in a Sam's Club parking lot.
69 year old Connie Bennett of Columbus, KS, was walking across the Sam's Club parking lot on Hammons Boulevard around 11:30am on Saturday morning. An SUV was turning slowly from the main drive in front of the store into a parking lot aisle when it struck Bennett. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
The driver of the SUV remained on the scene and was not cited. The investigation is ongoing.
Commissioners in Nowata County face citizen push back on wind turbine.
The Nowata County Commissioners meeting yesterday (Monday) morning was standing room only, once again filled with concerned citizens in regard the construction of wind turbines set to be built in Nowata County starting in 2024 by Apex Clean Energy.
A group of citizens have retained legal representation in hopes of setting a two-year moratorium to halt the installation of the wind farms while research is done to better understand their effects. Nowata County District Attorney, Will Drake, says the commission needs to make a decision.
Since the issue was not on the night's agenda, it will likely move to next week's meeting to see if this moves forward. Drake also warned that there could be potential lawsuits if installation is halted due to a moratorium.
The commissioners will meet again next week at the Nowata County Courthouse Annex at 9 am. The meeting is open to the public.
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Bartlesville police investigate the death of an unidentified man.
Bartlesville Police responded to a call of a discovery of a body of an unidentified male last night at about 9:40 pm.
The body of the deceased male was found near the roadside of US Highway 60 and Frank Phillips Boulevard on the west side of Bartlesville.
BPD Captain Daniel Elkins says as of 10:20 am today, the investigation is still active and no additional information will be released at this time.
Police have not released many details of the incident but have said that the man had been shot.
A detached garage, shed and contents are damaged in a fire in rural Wilson county.
According to the Neodesha Fire Department, crews responded to a report of a structure fire with smoke showing at a farm southeast of Altoona late last week. Firefighters found a detached garage and shed on fire with two vehicles inside. Crews were able to put the fire out before it reached two large fuel tanks directly behind the structure. Extreme heat from the two burning vehicles and structural collapse of the garage plus flames extending into the attic space made the fire hard to put out. Despite these factors, department members and firefighters from Wilson County Rural Fire and Altoona Fire were able to help bring the fire under control in about 15 minutes. No one was injured in the incident.
Plans are underway for another attempt to build a new gym for South Coffeyville Schools.
While no official action was taken on the gym project at last night's meeting, Superintendent Daryl Pruter says the hope is to have another bond election in April in addition to the upcoming school board general election.
A resolution to call for the annual board election was approved at the meeting. Pruter says an additional gym is needed since the school's single gym is shared by all grades from K-12. The gym bond issue failed earlier this year by just a few votes. In other business, the board approved a $300 Christmas stipend for all staff.
A recent state champion program was the talking point at this month's USD 446 meeting.
The Independence High School girls tennis team recently won the 4A state championship last month, and were formally congratulated by the board. The district also agreed to a project for a new volleyball net at Independence Middle School, courtesy of the Independence Recreation Commission.
Additional items of discussion at the November school board meeting is an update from Superintendent Jason McAfee on the Kids Crew program, a received gift from Terry and Mary Hugo, and reports from Special Education Cooperative Representative Melissa Small, and Tamisha Sewell of KASB.
USD 446 meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of Independence High School.
The USD 445 Board of Education approves several items for improvements across the district. Assistant Superintendent Micheal Speer says this includes Phase II of their building updates to Field Kindley High School and Roosevelt Middle School.
Speer says other improvements are being made at both the Early Learning Center and Community Elementary School.
Other purchases include boiler pump replacements for $30,000 and a new pump for the pool for $15,000. All purchases were approved on 4-0 votes, with Gail Misch and Bob Roesky absent from the meeting.
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A Weir man is arrested in a theft and narcotics case in Cherokee County.
Sheriff's Deputies who were investigating an alleged theft from an area church, executed a search warrant at 108 North Jefferson Street in Weir, Saturday afternoon.
As a result of their investigation and search, 53-year-old Stephen Lloyd Uber was taken into custody on allegations of theft and narcotics violations, in addition to having an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a prior case.
The Montgomery County Commission discusses a possible economic boost and upcoming road repairs.
At today's meeting commissioners spent about 20 minutes in executive session with Montgomery County Action Council Executive Director Melissa Johnson, who says Project Manning is currently under wraps but that a decision should be made soon.
Public Works Director Jim Wright shared details with the commission about an upcoming plan to widen County Road 4835 that leads into Elk City Reservoir. Wright also discussed the city's approval of a contractor to build the water line to the new Bartlett plant.
The Montgomery County Commission meets on Mondays at 9am in the lower level of the Montgomery County Judicial Center in Independence.
There is growing concern within Oklahoma's Native American community that citizens will face fines for their tribal tags after a recent uptick of enforcement of rules regarding taxes and license plates.
The Delaware Tribe of Indians, which is headquartered in Bartlesville, issued a statement Friday saying that their tribal tags should be valid. Chief Brad KillsCrow says Delaware Tribal tags are issued through the Cherokee Nation and covered by the compact. KillsCrow says if any Delaware Tribal member gets pulled over by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and issued a ticket for having a tribal tag, they should immediately contact his office.
Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bearhas said his office has not received any communication from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office or OHP about a change in policy on tribal tags. Standing Bear says if Osage Nation elected officials come to a consensus that the tribe needs to enter into a new compact with the state, he will work on that quickly.
Governor Kevin Stitt's office issued a statement, calling the controversy a public safety issue that puts law enforcement at risk by tribal governments not sharing vehicle registration information with DHS. Stitt's office says the Oklahoma highway Patrol is simply enforcing the law and that memerbs of tribes with valid compacts with the state will not be ticketed.
Currently, the state of Oklahoma only has tribal tag compacts with the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.
Women for Independence will host a Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair this Saturday in Independence.
The fair will feature hand made jewelry, wood crafts, quilted items, and baked goods. Attendees will have the chance to earn W-F-I bucks and door prizes will also be given away.
The event happens Saturday from 9am to 3pm at ICC West, 26-25 West Main in Indy.
The Neodesha City Commission meets to address citizen needs.
At last week's commission meeting, Mayor Devin Wilson shows how the city government listens to its citizens, even the very youngest ones.
Other business before the commission included approval of continuing with Blue Cross/Blue Shield as the city's health insurance provider, a discussion of improving directional signage in the city, and to set a special meeting for the Neodesha Arts Association to take a photo in front of their new mural.
The next regular meeting of the Neodesha City Commission will be Thursday, November 30th at 2pm at city hall due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Veterans Day celebrations are held across the four state area.
That's the sound of names being read at the Veterans Square Memorial Tribute Saturday morning at Riverside Park in Independence. The ceremony was part of a day of celebration and honoring the service of veterans in Independence. Cities across the area marked the holiday with parades, ceremonies, and live music events. Many area merchants offered free products and services in honor of Veterans Day.
The day was originally known as Armistice Day and marked the end of the first World War. In 1954, it was changed to Veterans Day with the help of US Representative Edward Rees of Emporia.
A woman who was struck by an SUV while walking in a Joplin Sam's Club parking lot dies from her injuries.
The accident happened around 11:30 am Saturday when an adult female was entering the store at 35-36 Hammons Boulevard and was struck by an SUV. Joplin Police, Joplin Fire, and METS ambulance responded to the call and the woman was taken to an area hospital where she later died.
The driver of the SUV remained on the scene and was not cited. No names have been released as the investigation continues.
A late night traffic accident leaves a Girard man injured.
The single vehicle crash occurred just after midnight on Friday night. 29 year old Kyle McGeorge was traveling northbound on County Road 200, just 2 miles west of Frontenac. McGeorge's car left the roadway to the right and struck a culvert before coming to rest in a ditch. McGeorge was taken to Via Christi hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
A Parsons Middle School student is lucky to be alive thanks to the quick-thinking actions of a teacher.
The student at Parsons Middle School had entered the Family and Consumer Science Room Wednesday, while teacher Joe Campmeir was on hall supervision making sure students got to their classrooms on time.
Campmeir was just heading down the hall to his room when a student exited the room, waving his hands, and giving the universal sign that he was choking.
Campmeir immediately administered the Heimlich Maneuver, dislodging the object from the boy’s throat. The boy had eaten a gumball and then laughed, resulting in him swallowing the gumball whole.
Campmeir said the situation was very scary but that he was just glad he could be there to help. The boy's parents contacted Campmeir to tell him how grateful they were for his actions.
The Independence City Commission has approved the bid for construction on the water line to the Bartlett soy bean plant.
City Engineer John Garris says the low bid came in at around $5.3 million:
Garris added that this was a unit price bid which means, if prices for materials go up, the costs will go up as well.
In other business before the commission at last week's meeting included a proclamation making November National American Indian Heritage Month. The commission also rescinded condemnation orders for houses at 404 South 8th Street and 1000 North 4th Street.
One man is arrested after a high-speed chase in Craig County. Late last night, a Craig County Deputy observed a White 2018 Chevy Cruze traveling north at a high right of speed on Highway 69 in Big Cabin.
The deputy attempted to make a traffic stop for 71 in a 45 but the vehicle refused to stop. The deputy requested assistance from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol as the pursuit went north through Vinita on Highway 2. The chase reached speeds over 100mph. Deputies were able to successfully deploy stop sticks on Hwy 2 as the suspect continued north. The suspect entered the town of Welch, losing control of the vehicle, crashing into a residence and fleeing on foot.
The suspect was taken into custody after being spotted by on a rooftop of a neighboring residence near the vehicle. 34-year-old Ralph James Ochoa Jr is facing recommended charges of eluding a police officer, possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, possession of a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, DUI and a warrant out of Arizona.
A Boil Water Advisory has been Issued for the City of Elk City in Montgomery County.
The city of Elk City has issued a Boil Water Advisory for its water system.
There will be a Veterans Day celebration tomorrow, at 11am at the Sedan Sr Center, 124 East Main Street.
Lunch will be served immediately after the ceremony. The City of Sedan invites everyone to attend.
Parsons Police officers respond to reports of a man yelling in the middle of the street.
Officers responded to the area of 17th and Grand Avenue yesterday for a report of a disorderly subject yelling obscenities, blocking traffic in the roadway and confronting citizens & motorists in the area.
Officers arrived and found 34 year old Perry Myers, of Parsons, standing in the intersection blocking traffic and yelling obscenities at passerby.
Myers was initially detained for disorderly conduct. The arresting officer detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Myers, as well as other indicators of intoxication. A breath test was administered, and Myers was found to have a measurement more than 4 times the limit for motor vehicle operation. Myers was placed under arrest
The City of Independence will be putting out the orange cones and repairing streets on Monday.
Starting Monday morning, city crews will begin milling and overlay work on Chestnut Street from 10th Street to Penn Avenue. The work is expected to be complete by November 21st. Drivers are urged to use caution in the area or find an alternate route while the work is underway.
The Independence City Commission was asked to make a pair of proclamations at last night's meeting.
All three commissioners agreed, with Tim Emert stating he thought it was a great idea.
Kohrn also asked for an official proclamation of Veterans Day. The commissioners unanimously approved both proclamations.
In other business, commissioners were asked to adjourn condemnation hearings on houses at 404 South 8th Street and to rescind condemnation of 1000 North 4th street. The commissioners agreed and noted the homeowners' efforts to repair and refurbish both houses. Also approved was a bid for
$5.3 million by Nowak Construction to build the water line to the new Barlett soy bean plant.
Another juvenile is arrested in an October robbery and first-degree burglary in Bartlesville.
15-year-old Keeton Mayer is being charged as a youthful offender in the incident that took place on October 24th . Mayer is accused of involvement with the group of seven armed individuals that broke into an East Bartlesville home and allegedly robbed another juvenile.
Mayer was located through video evidence that included him and Corey Russell Jr threatening the victim.
Police executed a search warrant on Meyer's residence and vehicle October 31st. They located a black ski mask and two gloves from Mayer's truck. Mayer is being charged as a youthful offender along with Russell in this case which means that they are being charged as adults, but they will possibly go to a treatment program after sentencing with possibility of being released to the public if treatment is completed.
Mayer’s charges include conjoint robbery, burglary in the first degree, conspiracy, possession of firearm after delinquent adjudication, and possession of firearm during commission of a felony.
Residents in Cherryvale will celebrate Veterans Day today.
This morning at 10 a.m., the parade will start at the corner of East Main and Carson Street and end at the Cherryvale Community Center. All are welcome to participate or simply set up and watch the parade as it goes by. After the parade, the annual soup and chili feed will follow a veterans celebration from the elementary school.
Tomorrow, a toy run will take place starting at 11 a.m. in the Pete's parking lot in Cherryvale. Riders should bring an unwrapped gift for children or teenagers. The escort will start around 11:30 and end at Newton's True Value downtown. A chili feed will take place once the bikers arrive. Anyone is welcome to participate in the toy run.
The Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce holds a ribbon cutting for the new Pete’s Convenience store at Eleventh and Walnut Streets.
Dignitaries along with officials from Pete’s Convenience Stores of Erie, Inc. gathered to celebrate the opening of the new store this week. According to company officials, the Coffeyville store is the first to be built with a new layout and features regular convenience store items, a deli, a soda fountain and a coffee bar.
An area resident and local business owner receives national honors for dirt track racing. Al Purkey has been named a 2024 inductee to the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame. He is one of four to be named to the 2024 Class and the first from Kansas or Oklahoma.
Purkey says he’s proud of the fact that he made the Hall of Fame with his own car and own team.
Purkey has also been named to the Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Hall of Fame. Now retired, he has compiled more than 400 feature wins over six decades from the 1970s through the early 2020s.
Purkey, who lives in rural northeast Oklahoma and owns Purkey’s Used Cars just south of Coffeyville will formally be inducted at a ceremony in August 2024 at the Florence Speedway in Walton, Kentucky.
Coffeyville's Match Day is just a week away. The event started in 2013 and has seen $1.2 million put back into the community. Coffeyville Area Community Foundation's Sam Kudrick says there are three ways to give during Match Day.
CACF Executive Director Janie DeVore Gillis says all donations made receive a match. 26 non-profits can be donated to on Match Day the full list can be found at givematchgrow.com. The matching funds come from the Bernard and Effie Jo Wade Family Foundation, the Pratt Family Charitable Fund, the Dr. David and Lynn Bumgarner Family Trust, and the Patterson Family Foundation.
Americans across the country will be honoring those who served our country this Veterans Day.
David Farnsworth of Miller Brothers Propane says they have a special for veterans and first responders this Saturday.
Farnsworth says veterans can stop by any Miller Brothers location for their free fill-up of propane. They have two locations in Independence, at928 East Main and 2746 West Main, and at 1600 North Osage, just north of Dewey.
As meetings continue between local, state and federal agencies concerning the water shortage situation in Caney, the city continues to work on short term solutions until a long term can be reached.
City Administrator Kelley Zellner says the city is working toward an agreement with Chatauqua Rural Water District #4 for now and the future.
Zellner says having a backup plan, especially in natural resources, is always a good thing.
Even with Caney receiving national attention because of their water situation, Zellner says the town is working to keep Caney in the minds of state and federal organizations, so a solution can be found soon.
The city of Independence has a full list of Veterans Day activities on tap for this Saturday.
Events start early on Saturday morning with the Veterans Appreciation Breakfast from 7 to 8:30am. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says all area veterans are invited to attend.
Wilson says another fun event will get all residents involved. The Patriotic Rock Hunt happens downtown and participants can search the area for patriotic rocks painted by the IHS art classes.
2023 Independence Veterans Day Schedule:
7am-8:30am Veterans Appreciation Breakfast, VFW Post 1186, 113 East Myrtle
7am Patriotic Rock Hunt, downtown from Main to Locust between 6th and 8th streets
10am-4pm Military Exhibit (Free admission, coffee & snacks for vets), Indep. Historical Museum, 123 N. 8th
10:30am Veterans Freedom Square Memorial Tribute & Names Reading, Riverside Park
Fallen Soldier Cross Presentation, immediately follows Memorial Tribute
11:30am-1:30pm Heroes and Hot Rods Car Show, Autozone, 500 N. Penn
Noon-1:30pm Carriage Rides in the Park, (donations accepted)
Noon Free Community Bean Feed, VFW Post 1186, 113 East Myrtle
1:30pm Cornhole Tournament Registration, Kings Bar & Game Room, 301 N. Penn
2pm 7th Annual Veterans Day Parade of Honor with Military Flyover, downtown
2:30pm Cornhole Tournament begins
8pm Live music, VFW Post 1186
Governor Laura Kelly announces the appointment of an Erie woman to the Kansas Animal Health Board.
Tara Dillow, a professional dog breeder, has been appointed by the governor to serve on the Kansas Animal Health Board. The health board acts as an advisory board to the Kansas Livestock and aids in determining policies and plans relating to the Division of Animal Health.
In addition to Dillow, Governor Kelly reappointed Dr. Megan Potter of Abilene and David Worrel of Andover to the board.
The Parsons Veterans Day Parade will take place tomorrow morning at 9am.
All veterans are welcome and encouraged to walk, roll, or ride on one of the provided floats. Those wanting to take part should plan to line up at 8:30am at the intersection of Crawford and Central.
The Mid-Continent Band will perform tonight at Independence High School in a special Veterans Day Concert.
The performance will also feature the 5th grade choir from Jefferson School. The concert begins at 7pm tonight at the IHS Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.
The City of Miami, OK, has big plans for Veterans Day.
Miami will be honoring vets with a parade on Main Street at 3pm on Saturday. There will also be a potluck dinner at the Miami Elks Lodge at 401 South Main Street from 4 to 6:30pm. Vets and their plus one eat for free. For members and kids age 6 through 12 the cost is $5, for non-members it's $10. Kids 5 and under eat for free. The Full Throttle Band will play at 6pm, Vets and their guest get in for free. Admission for Elks members is $3, and for non-members $5. The bake sale and craft sale begins at 4pm and goes until they are sold out.
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The Parsons Fire Department – Labette County Fire District #9 is among 60 winners nationwide to receive a grain rescue tube and training this year.
Nationwide Insurance's Grain Bin Safety campaign provided the equipment to the P-F-D and other fire departments in 32 states. At least 7 lives have been saved thanks to these resources.
Last year, there were at least 42 grain entrapments across rural America, resulting in 15 fatalities the highest number in more than a decade.
One other Kansas fire department located in Longford, near Abilene, also received these resources.
Students from Parsons High School will put their musical talents on display this weekend with their production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
The musical includes many iconic scenes from Charlie Brown, including the little red haired girl, advice from Lucy, and Linus and his blanket.
Performances are Saturday night at 7pm, Sunday at 2pm, and Monday at 7pm at the Parsons Municipal Auditorium, at 112 South 17th street. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.
That was the sound of Brett Radcliff on bagpipes at last night's opening ceremony for the traveling exhibit The Eyes of Freedom.
The exhibit arrived in Independence yesterday morning, escorted into town by veterans on motorcycles, flying American flags, and greeted by Independence residents who lined Penn Avenue to welcome the exhibit to town.
Last night's opening ceremony at Memorial Hall featured local dignitaries and was hosted by Quinton Mason who served with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, and who is currently the president of the ICC chapter of Student Veterans of America. Independence Mayor Louis Ysusi made some brief, yet emotional remarks as he recounted the end of the movie Saving Private Ryan.
The Eyes of Freedom will be on display at the Civic Center in Independence through Saturday. Viewing hours are 9am to 7pm today and tomorrow and 9am to 4pm on Saturday. Admission is free.
An 11-year old Bartlesville girl is recognized for helping stop a fire at a neighbor's home.
Ella Wright has been presented with a Merit Award from the Bartlesville Fire Department for her quick thinking in taking action when she saw a fire at a neighbor’s home. Wright's actions also helped save the family dog.
Fire Chief David Topping presented the award to Wright on Monday night. Topping said, once the young girl saw smoke coming from the house, she was quick to take action.
As soon as she saw the fire, Ella rushed across the street to a neighbor’s house, knocked on the door and instructed the resident to dial 911.
Thanks to Wright’s quick actions, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.
Traffic should start flowing on U.S. 166 east of Baxter Springs today.
According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, traffic will be switched on to the U.S. 166/400 realignment and expansion project today in Cherokee County. Two-way traffic will be placed on the new eastbound lanes of the road between Baxter Springs and the Kansas-Missouri border. In conjunction with the opening of U.S. 166, the existing U.S. 166 and K-26 junction will be closed to traffic. The signed detour for northbound K-26 will follow the new alignment of 166 west to Baxter Springs, then continue north on U.S. 69A to K-66 and east on K-66 to Galena. Southbound K-26 traffic should take the same route in the opposite direction. KDOT is in the process of expanding U.S. 166/400 to four lanes and constructing two interchanges from U.S. 400 southeast to the Kansas-Missouri state line.
Election day is in the rear view mirror for Wilson County, with an overall successful day to celebrate.
The county saw many key positions filled, including Neodesha City Commissioner, USD 461 school board, USD 484 school board, and USD 387 school board.
County clerk Kayla Bush says it was a great staff effort for a difficult election.
The election results will be canvassed by the commissioners during next week's meeting.
Additional items of business at this week's commission meeting was an update from the Sheriff's Department, still needing two corrections officers, as well as the renewal of health insurance with New York Life and agent Dick Osterbuhr.
A runaway juvenile is arrested after a carjacking and fleeing to Oklahoma.
Yesterday at around 5:00pm, Galena Police Officers received a call of a possible carjacking at the Dollar Tree. The suspect forced the driver out of their car with a knife. The suspect then took off westbound on 7th Street. During their investigation, officers discovered that Cherokee County Deputies were working on a runaway juvenile case. The description given by the victims matched the description of the runaway juvenile.
At about 12:00am, the Galena Police Department received notification that the juvenile was located in Grady County, Oklahoma after an accident with the vehicle. The suspect is currently in the Juvenile Detention Center. Charges are being submitted for aggravated criminal threat, aggravated robbery and aggravated endangering a child.
Independence Community College announces their 2023 First-Generation Family of the Year.
The award was presented to Braelyn George and her family during halftime of the men’s basketball game on Friday. George, a second-year ICC student majoring in Theatre, was nominated for the award by her professors and advisors. The family was selected for their support of Braelyn’s academic and personal growth.
Vice President for Student Affairs David Adams says the family's dedication to supporting Braelyn’s education inspires them all. He says they are a shining example of the importance of family support for first-generation students.
Work on the water lines in Fredonia means some residents will be without water this afternoon.
The City of Fredonia announces that, due to a water leak repair, there will be an interruption of water service along Jackson Street from North 6th to North 7th Street. This area will be without water for approximately three hours. Crews are working quickly to finish the repairs and service will be restored when they are complete.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for Cherokee County Rural Water District #3.
The original advisory that was issued on November 2nd applied to customers located within the area South of Southwest Boston Mills Road to US Highway 166, and between Southwest 10th Street on the East and Southwest 90th Street on the West. KDHE has tested the water and determined it to be safe.
With the recent move back to standard time, more and more of us will be driving home in the dark.
As you head home at dusk or if you are up early and driving at dawn, it's important to remember that those are times that deer are moving around and crossing roads. Shawn Steward of Triple-A Kansas says deer-vehicle collisions are frequent happenings in Kansas.
Steward says this time of year it's very common to encounter deer along roadways.
Steward adds that drivers should stay alert, especially near wooded areas, water sources, and near deer crossing signs.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the Coffey County Rural Water District 2 public water supply system and affects customers located in Coffey, Woodson, and Greenwood County.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the lines by letting the faucet run until it clears.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces
Water is safe for bathing but young children should be supervised so they do not swallow any water.
The advisory water issued due to possible contamination from a break in the water lines
The City of Coffeyville will host a storm water public forum next Thursday, November 16th.
The forum will give residents a chance to voice their questions and concerns about the upcoming spring storm season. Attendees will also hear information about storm water and about pollution prevention. There will also be vehicles and equipment onsite for viewing. The forum will happen in the Ron Stevenson building at Walter Johnson Park from 3 to 4pm.
The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects.
Projects included in Southeast Kansas include:
A bridge replacement project on U.S. 59 in Neosho County over the Neosho River, located 2.4 miles north of the K 47/U.S. 59 junction.
Pavement sealing of a 10 mile section of U.S. 75 in Wilson County, from 4.6 miles north of the city of Altoona north to the Wilson/Woodson county line, light tower replacement east of the U.S. 75 exit to Neodesha in Wilson County.
Bridge replacement in Woodson County, seven miles west and 5.5 miles north of the U.S. 75/U.S. 54 east junction over Turkey Creek, and pavement sealing on U.S. 160, from the east city limits of Longton east to the Elk/Montgomery county line; and U.S. 160, from the Elk/Montgomery county line east to the U.S. 160/U.S. 75 west junction.
For a complete list on construction and road closures, visit the KanDrive app or website.
It's almost basketball season and that means it's time for youth basketball sign ups.
Kids in Parsons from Kindergarten through 6th grade can sign up for rec league basketball. The games will be played on Saturdays from January 6 through the 27th . The sign up fee is $35 and the deadline to register in November 20th . And, for the littlest hoopsters in the family, there is Smart Start Basketball Little Throwers for kids ages 3 to 6. Parents and their child will be led by a trained instructor through four weeks of motor skill development activities to help them learn the sport of basketball. The league runs from November 21st through December 12th, from 6 to 6:45 pm at the PRC Gym. The cost is $22 and the sign up deadline is November 14th
The Sedan City Council approves needed expenditures.
At yesterday's City Council meeting, the Sedan Fire Department made a request for funding to make some repairs around the fire station. City Clerk Sherry Miller says the department had several items that need attention.
Also on the list of needed repairs was five overhead doors. The total cost for the project was $2900 and the council voted unanimously to approve the funding. Also up for discussion for the council was the purchase of a new camera to improve the video and audio quality of the the council's online meetings as well as a discussion of the contract with Waste Connections of Bartlesville. The next Sedan City Council meeting is slated for November 21st
The Native American Student Association in Caney invites the public to enjoy a free Indian taco dinner tomorrow night.
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Caney Valley High School N-A-S-A invites area resident to join them for free indian tacos at 6:30pm tomorrow night in the CVHS gym, A freewill donation will be accepted which will benefit the N-A-S-A chapter in Caney.
Below are the unofficial results from last night's election:
Montgomery County:
Caney
Caney Mayor
Joshua D. Elliot - 137
Cany City Council Ward 1 (vote 1 each position)
Zachary Ellison: 27
Ross Franklin: 22
Caney City Council Ward 3
Lori Patterson: 35
Caney USD 436 School Board (vote 1 each position)
At Large: Bill Scimeca: 249
District B Position 5 Daniel Owen: 242
District B Position 6: Jason A. McVey: 236
District A Position 4:
Natalie Rees: 162
Valerie Hurd: 99
Cherryvale
Mayor:
Gary D. Minnich: 160
Bonnie J. Davis: 80
Council Members (elect one from each position)
Ward 1 Position 2:
Devin G. Conner: 231
Ward 2 Position 2
Curtis Whittley: 234
Cherryvale USD 447 School Board (uncontested)
Jonathan Booe: 209
Gina L. Booe: 209
Casey Smith: 206
Phil Reilly: 192
Coffeyville
Coffeyville City Commission (vote 3 or fewer)
Jim Falkner: 459
Alec Hendryx: 436
Don Edwards: 433
Justin Martin: 412
Robert York: 361
Marilyn Goodson: 298
Jason Swindell: 223
Coffeyville USD 445 School Board (vote 4 or fewer)
Cindy Price: 1054
Lakisha Johnson: 765
Jason D. Barnett: 622
Matt Jordan: 529
Jessica Herring: 492
Marcus Kastler: 394
Coffeyville Community College Board of Trustees (vote up to 3)
Doug Misch - 1104
James Littleford - 1080
Lora Stalford - 971
Coffeyville Sales Tax Question
Shall the City of Coffeyville, Kansas, be authorized to impose a one-half percent citywide retailers' sales tax, the proceeds of which shall be used to finance the costs of general transportation improvements, throughout the city including, but not limited to streets, curbing, and sidewalks; provided that the collection of the Sales Tax shall commence on April 1, 2024, or as soon thereafter as permitted by law, and shall expire ten years after its commencement?
Yes: 569
No: 375
Dearing
Dearing Mayor
Philip K. Helt - 39
Dearing City Council (vote up to 5)
Travis Rosson: 37
Ray B. Beard: 35
Michael Clark: 33
Lawrence J. Mersberg: 33
Elk City
City Positions (vote up to 3)
Missy Britain - 14
Sydney Hawley - 17
Nick Morse - 28
Independence
Independence City Commission (vote up to 2)
Dean Hayse: 619
William Scott Smith: 459
Bobby Jay Hise: 195
Independence USD 446 School Board (vote up to 4)
Marty Reichenberger: 704
Scott Hines: 652
Charles E. Barker Sr.: 654
Jennifer Rutledge: 620
Melissa Small: 578
Andy O’Brien: 256
Joseph L. Housel: 238
Amanda Frederiksen: 189
Independence Community College Board of Trustees (vote up to 3)
Susan Tucker Porter: 751
Mark Lasater: 658
J. Spencer Weaver: 524
Jason Williams: 508
Jennifer Williams: 476
Patti Snyder: 459
Liberty
Liberty Mayor
A. Paul Hawley - 5
Liberty Council Members (vote up to 5)
Jim Tallman - 8
Leanna J. Herriman - 11
Suzanne R. Lasco - 10
Tyro
Mayor
Ricky D. Wilson - 11
Tyro City Council Members (vote up to 5)
Jeffery Finney - 5
Wayne Blakemore - 10
Scott Westbrook - 9
Wayne Graham - 9
Madison Hockett - 11
Wildcat Extension District Board (vote 2 or fewer)
Chuck Voelker - 2024
Kristopher Mueller - 1974
Chautauqua County
Cedar Vale
Mayor
Oscar Mattocks - 73
City Council (Vote 3 or fewer)
Harold H. Donaldson - 16
David Ferguson - 42
Joseph Fox VII - 26
Tom Leiss - 9
Faye E. Melton - 55
Lorri Young-Pontious - 49
Jeff Henderson - 55
Chautauqua
Mayor
Janet Hartley - 12
City Council (Vote 5 or fewer)
Dallas Hartley - 11
Ginger Swinney - 7
Johnny Swinney - 6
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Elgin
Mayor
WRITE IN
City Council (Five or Fewer)
WRITE IN
Niotaze
Mayor
WRITE IN
City Council (Five or fewer)
WRITE IN
Peru
Mayor
Greg Joslin - 22
Barbara A. Rinck - 22
City Council (Five or fewer)
Heath Joslin - 25
Paul W. Marshall - 24
Jack Myers - 24
Charles Simpson - 13
Donald R. Simpson - 22
Donald W. Simpson Sr. - 17
Allen Wallace - 33
Sedan
Mayor
Bryan Blankinship - 124
Jack Warren - 120
City Council (Vote 2 or fewer)
Wellington Butler - 82
Angela Evans - 88
Kathy Miller - 123
Tom Oast - 74
Casey Wade - 54
David Warren - 15
West Elk USD 282
District 3, Position 3:
Panatha Jo Swanson
Cedar Vale USD 285
At Large: (Vote for 4 or fewer)
Cassie A. Crocker - 85
Denton Holt - 97
Heather Jones - 77
James Rainbolt - 79
Kathy Rock - 83
Sedan USD 286
District 1 Position 1:
P.J. Buck - 256
Hailey Roberts - 242
District 2 Position 2:
Amber Prince - 228
Becky Samilko - 256
District 3 Position 3:
Heath Joslin - 181
Denise Signer - 299
At Large Position 7:
Jonathan Cude - 340
Jeanette Myers - 147
Rolling Prairie Extension District (vote for 2)
Crystal Wade - 290
Sonny Williams - 434
Elk Valley USD 283
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Elk County
Elk Falls
Mayor
WRITE IN
City Council
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Grenola
Mayor
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City Council
WRITE IN
Howard
City Council (3 open positions)
Gary Harrod - 88
Derek E. Cookson - 84
Longton
City Council (3 open positions)
Joe Love - 36
Nikki Stowe - 19
Moline
City Council (3 open positions)
Andy Cooke - 33
Nicholas Laney - 25
Rolling Prairie Extension District
June Kramer - 316
West Elk USD 282
District 1 Position 1:
Heather McClendon - 10
Terry Love - 1
Thomas Eubank - 8
District 2 Position 5
Tyson Ray Denton - 69
Shilo Crupper - 46
District 3 Position 3
Panatha Jo Swanson
Eureka USD 389
Position 7
Brandon Hall - 0
Virginia Payne - 0
Central USD 462
Position 1
Isaac Rod Ferguson
Positon 2
Yvonna Whitehall - 19
Position 3
Mandy S Cannon - 19
At-Large
David Loewer - 18
USD 484 Fredonia
Position 3
WRITE IN
Position 7
Adam Kiblinger - 0
Labette County
County Sales Tax
Yes - 1640
No - 636
Altamont
Altamont City Council (Vote 3 or fewer)
Cameron Johnson - 54
Colt W. Booth - 85
Raymond E. Coffey - 64
Tyler L. Julich - 71
Benjamin Cochran - 128
Bartlett
Mayor
WRITE IN
City Council
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Chetopa
Mayor
Ryan A. Darnell - 174
Tammy L. Bushong - 36
Chetopa City Council (Vote 3 or fewer)
Lisa Seaman - 120
Juanita Kepner - 108
Brenda Dominquez - 124
Maria A. Billingsly - 144
Edna
Mayor
Sam Vail - 68
City Council (vote for 2)
Cynthia Barnes - 37
Alan Kalgren - 34
Missy Simmons - 35
Labette
Mayor
Nick Beery - 9
Mound Valley Council
Jo Ann Etter - 34
Oswego
Mayor
Daniel J. Chapman - 226
Oswego City Council (Vote 3 or fewer)
Justin R. Mckee - 135
Brandon Conrad - 136
Brandy Scott - 132
John Harrold Davis - 57
Katie Sinclair - 93
Jarrod Jones - 42
Peyton Kessler - 136
Parsons
Parsons City Commission (Vote 3 or fewer)
Vicki Pribble - 179
Ryan Robertson - 279
Tom Shaw - 623
Kevin Cruse - 662
Leland G. Crooks - 532
Sontana “Tana” Johnson - 251
USD 247 School Board (uncontested)
Jenna Pritchett
John L. Stranton
David Stricklin
USD 503 School Board (vote 4 or fewer)
Kala (Weidert) Green - 491
Michael Kastle - 362
Lou Martino - 504
Lee Ann Hunter - 595
David Ray - 488
Roger Duroni - 411
USD 504 School Board (vote 4 or fewer)
Steven Charles - 161
Trent Robison - 216
Nikki J Lewis - 266
Chance Harris - 97
Nicole McClure - 150
Cassandra Miller - 76
USD 505 School Board (uncontested)
Roberta Carter - 206
Seth Born - 122
USD 506 School Board (uncontested)
Kevin Cole - 719
Brian C. Harlow - 700
Jessie Foister - 694
Christina Skyes - 339
Dr. Kolette Smith - 454
LCC Board of Trustees (vote 3 or fewer)
David Winchell - 1005
Montie Taylor - 1266
Crystal Packard - 735
Gregory S. Chalker - 1015
Patrick E. McReynolds - 840
LCC Board of Trustees (2 yr term)
Rebecca Dantic - 1698
Wildcat Extension Board Member
Jeff Bohnenblust - 1285
Jason Zwahlen - 1646
Wilson County
Altoona
Mayor
Tim Raymond - 23
City Council (vote two or fewer)
Lucretia Calonder - 10
Derrick Wayne Payne - 13
Earnie Poeverlein - 14
USD 387 Position 1
Lucretia Calonder - 35
USD 387 Position 2
Shalyne Beck - 28
USD 387 Position 3
Cheyenne Collins - 44
USD 387 Position 5
Debra Meigs - 27
USD 387 Position 7
Kris Marple - 107
Buffalo
City Council
Mitzi Jordan - 12
Judy Fulps - 12
Cherryvale USD 487(vote for five)
Casey Smith - 7
Phil Reilly - 5
Jonathan Booe - 5
Gina I Booe - 5
WRITE IN Mark Torkelson - 6
Fredonia City Commission
Brandon Tindle - 192
USD 484 Position 1
WRITE IN
Seth Fox - 95
USD 484 Position 2
Merlyn Ramsey - 135
USD 484 Position 3
WRITE IN
Jonas Fink - 46
USD 484 Position 7
Adam Kiblinger - 321
Neodesha
City Commission
Chris Jabben - 128
Duane Banzet - 209
USD 461(vote for four)
Dawn Lowden - 224
Rebecca “Becky” Lewis - 170
Jennifer Marler - 282
Jackie Springer-Chandler - 265
Jeffrey Piatt - 317
Tommy John - 249
Wildcat Extension District(vote two or fewer)
Marcus Leck - 678
Erica Johnson- 684
The Coffeyville Fire Department receives a couple of donations to help make two new purchases.
CFD received a new inflatable rescue boat, which was made possible by a donation made by CVR Energy. This boat replaced a similar 10 year old boat that was placed out of service due to age and a failure in the hull.
A donation from Atmos Energy helped CFD make an upgrade to one of their Brush Trucks.
Keeping the Caney Market open is a priority for the Caney City Council, but changes have to be made to refrain from using general fund money every month to break even.
During last night's session, the council agreed to a grocery store reboot, including enacting a sixty day clause to end the contract with Champ's Chicken. Mayor Josh Elliott says the market numbers must add up for the doors to stay open.
In a work session, and during the Mayor comments during regular session, Elliott explained comments made late last week saying the market could close.
The revamped deli will take shape at the beginning of the year, with hot meal options taking the place of the fried chicken. Breakfast and dinner options are bring discussed in addition to the lunch options and sandwich items currently on the menu.
In other business, meetings between city, state and federal agencies continue weekly to find a short and long term water solution, but maintenance must continue on the current water system. The council approved close to $50,000 for the replacement of a water storage tank; money available through ARPA funding.
Area fire crews successfully battle a structure fire.
Fire fighters from the Neodesha Fire Department along with crews from the Altoona Fire Department and the Wilson County Rural Fire Department were called to the scene of a fire in a detached garage early Friday morning. Crews from Altoona and Rural Fire extinguished most of the fire except for a few trouble areas in the attic space and roof of the structure. Neodesha assisted in the final extinguishment and overhaul of the structure. No injuries were reported.
New housing could be coming to Cherryvale.
With the construction of the new Bartlett soybean crushing facility, City Administrator Jonathan Booe says the need for housing is only going to increase.
Booe says he's been working for a while on applying for a moderate-income grant through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. At last night's meeting, the city council approved applying for a $300,000 housing grant that would offset the cost of new houses. Booe says the plan is for a developer to build around 10 to 15 new homes.
The $300,000 will be divided between the number of houses built to reduce the purchase price for future homeowners.
In other business, the council approved a motion not to proceed with a new company for web hosting and also heard comments from members of the Strickland Family regarding a burial plot that was left open after a burial. Mayor Gary Minnich issued an apology to the family on behalf of the city.
Photo: Kansas Housing Resource Authority funded project in Pittsburg
The City of Bartlesville is currently at stage two of water restriction mandates, but with no rain in sight City Manager Mike Bailey said at Monday's council meeting that those restrictions will likely move to stage three at some point next week.
Included in each of these stages is a water use target, which the City is staying under right now. Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen explained what the water consumption trends usually look like as we move into November.
Bailey stressed that as long as the community is able to stay below that threshold in the stage three restriction, Bartlesville residents will continue seeing the same water rates.
The Bartlesville Water Resource Committee will meet on Thursday.
The Dewey City Council and Public Works Authority met for the first of two regular monthly meetings with a short agenda.
The main discussion at the meeting featured the possible surplussing of a fire truck. Dewey Fire Chief Terry Young says his department has little need for the vehicle.
No action was taken on the issue. Council members also approved authorizing Mayor Tom Hays to sign a supplemental easement and right of way with the Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
The Public Works Authority meeting followed shortly after the council meeting, with no new items up for discussion. Both groups will meet again on November 20th
A woman is injured after falling from a hiking trail near Joplin.
Just after 12:30pm yesterday the Joplin Fire Department Rescue Team responded to reports of a woman falling from a bluff trail in the Wildcat Glades. The woman possibly fell 30 to 40 feet from the bluff and was transported to a nearby hospital via a Newton County Ambulance. The woman's injuries were not life-threatening.
The polling locations for the City of Coffeyville are being set up.
Public Service crews set up the polling locations in preparation for tomorrow’s election. Polls are open starting at 7:00am and close at 7:00pm. There are two voting locations in Coffeyville depending on the precinct the voter lives in. Those two locations are the Senior Citizens Center at 601 South Walnut and Grace Fellowship Church at 2455 Woodland.
Coffeyville Community College is hosting their annual Junior/Senior Day later this week. The event is scheduled for Thursday from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Senior Director of Enrollment Management and Student Success Pam Freer says they're planning to host over 200 students.
Recruiter Garrett Francis says any student who can't make it to JR/SR Day can still schedule a visit and tour the campus. Francis says attendees will hear from all activity and program directors as well as an opportunity for one-on-ones with different activity and program representatives.
Today is election day. City office and school board races will be decided during today's general election.
CLICK HERE for the exclusive KGGF election guides by county.
CLICK HERE to watch the KGGF candidate forum for Coffeyville City Commission
CLICK HERE for a recap on the Independence Candidate Forum
CLICK HERE to watch the KGGF candidate forum for USD 445 school board.
CLICK HERE for a recap on the USD 446 school board forum.
Live election coverage will start tonight at 7 p.m. on The Mighty 690.
Coming to Miami, OK, this Friday and Saturday is the Native American Cultural Celebration.
The event takes place at the Coleman Theater in Miami and gets underway Friday afternoon with the opening ceremony at 1pm. The two day event features break out sessions, guest speakers, vendors and food trucks, plus a shawl making workshop and a moccasin making work shop. Tickets are $30
Two Joplin-area men are dead after being hit by a train in Jasper County, MO.
24 year old Dacoda Bittner and 29 year old Terry Long were on a trestle bridge over Center Creek in Jasper County on Sunday afternoon when an approaching northbound train saw them and sounded the train whistle. The train was unable to stop and struck both men, knocking one into the water. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by the Jasper County Coroner.
Jasper County Sheriff Deputies and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern are investigating the accident.
A Bartlesville teen was seen in court Friday on multiple felony charges including shooting with intent to kill, robbery, burglary in the first degree, and malicious injury to property.
Corey Russell Jr. is being tried as a youthful offender in these cases. According to an affidavit, Russell was arrested on October 24th after allegedly being a part of the group of teens that broke into a home on Windsor Way around 2 am and robbed another juvenile with AR-15’s and a pistol grip shotgun.
The juvenile victim identified Russell to officers and said he had been robbed by Russell before. Roughly 20-minutes later, Russell is alleged of going into a home where his infant son and two other people were inside.
The affidavit states that Russell was kicked out of that apartment shortly after arriving with a group of friends and then fired one 9mm round through the door into the apartment before fleeing the scene. Russell was arrested that same night and told officers that he didn’t remember anything that had happened previously before being arrested.
Russell was given a $200,000 bond and his next court date is set for November 17th.
The City of Sedan bulks up their heavy equipment.
Sedan has a new gently used street roller thanks to the efforts of Mayor Jack Warren and Councilman Tom Oast. The city was able to purchase the piece of equipment via online auction for a third the projected cost.
Street rollers rollers are used to compact soil and other materials when constructing roads and foundations. They can also be used at landfills or in agriculture projects.
(Photo: Tom Oast and the new street roller)
During the month of November, you may see Parsons Police officers and staff looking a bit out of grooming standards.
In this month, P-P-D Officers are allowed to participate in ‘No Shave November’ and are exempt from the standard beard policy, after donating $20 dollars to the Parsons Police “Shop with a Cop Program.”
P-P-D has organized the “Shop with a Cop Program” since 2016 with the assistance of the Duke Mason Band fundraising concert and other charitable donations. This program has helped bring the joy of Christmas to nearly 200 children and families.
There will soon be road improvements for people traveling in Chautauqua County.
County commissioners approved a letter to the Kansas Department of Transportation, which supports improvements being made to Highway 99 from Highway 166 to the Oklahoma State line. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve.
Additional items of business from this week's county commission meeting is the deadline for early voting in the county is today, prior to tomorrow's general election. The commissioners also heard from Public Works Superintendent Mark McCall for a department update.
The commissioners will meet next on November 13th at 8:30 a.m. in the Chautauqua County Courthouse.
The City of Independence invites residents to their “Welcome Home House Warming” today.
The event celebrates the completion of the Phase 1 and 2 renovation of the historic 1916 Independence City Hall. Drop-in public tours of the renovated building will be offered from 1 to 5 pm, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 pm. The Independence Mid-Continent Band is scheduled to play during the ribbon cutting event.
City services returned to the building in September after more than two years and $9 million worth of renovation to provide ADA accessibility, to accommodate updated technology and create more efficient work spaces.
While the building’s traditional west/6th Street entrance at the top of the front steps is open, an ADA-accessible entrance and parking is now available on the building’s south side. Guests are welcome to use either entrance, and staff will be stationed to assist with tours and answer questions.
A suspicious cooler leads to the discovery of an old meth lab in Havana.
On October 23rd, Montgomery County Deputies along with Havana Rural Fire were responded to a report of a cooler full of chemicals located in an old shed in Havana . Upon arrival, Deputies located what appeared to possibly be an abandoned and old methamphetamine lab.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigations was called in to identify items inside the cooler and confirmed it was the remnants of a methamphetamine lab. KBI Agents collected and destroyed the contents of the lab. The cooler and contents appeared to have been in this location for a long period of time and was not fresh.
In honor of Veterans Day, Tyro Christian church is offering a free BBQ dinner for all veterans and their families.
Tomorrow starting at 5pm, veterans and their families can enjoy free BBQ in the church gymnasium at 301 South Market Street in Tyro. All veterans will receive a gift and there will also be door prizes to give away as well. Veterans Service and Assistance Organizations will be available to assist Veterans family members and survivors.
Monday is a day to celebrate the great outdoors in Wilson County.
There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:30pm on Monday for the first two miles of the Osage Cuestas Trail in Fredonia. Formerly known as the Western Sky Trail, The Osage Cuestas Trail expansion is the product of a partnership between the Stay Strong, Live Long Wilson County Coalition and the Sunflower Rails-Trails Conservancy. The ribbon cutting will take place at the new trail head located near 5th and Polk Streets in Fredonia. The ceremony will be followed by a check presentation from the SSLL Coalition and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas as a part of Wilson County's Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant.
There will also be Q & A sessions held at the Hive at 429 North 6th Street from 5 to 7pm on Monday and 8 to 10am on Tuesday.
It's never too early to start thinking about spring storms and emergency planning.
The City of Independence reminds residents that having an Emergency Plan for your household is a critical component of flood preparation and overall storm preparedness for your family.
Have all your emergency contact information and documents ready and easily accessible in an emergency
Put aside an emergency kit with a flashlight, a battery power radio, additional batteries, candles, and waterproof matches.
Keep a minimum 3-day supply of nonperishable food and bottled water on hand.
Organize and protect your prescriptions, pet food for several days, infant formula, diapers, wipes, personal hygiene items, and clothing for several days.
An emergency or disaster happens without warning, so being prepared is essential for the safety of your family, pets, and home.
For more information on floodproofing, or disaster preparedness, contact the City of Independence Building Office at 620-332-2541 or buildinginspector@independenceks.gov.
For the first time since March 2022, there are no Kansas counties listed as being in an “exceptional drought.”
The National Weather Service in Wichita says that with the recent rains across the state that drought conditions have improved, though parts of Elk, Chautauqua, Wilson, and Montgomery counties in southeast Kansas remain in severe drought conditions. Many cities and towns in those counties remain under water emergencies or water advisories.
Topsoil moisture conditions across Kansas remain dry with 63% reported short or very short with only 34% reported as adequate.
A one-of-a-kind exhibit will be in Independence next week in honor of Veterans Day.
The Eyes of Freedom is a unique exhibit dedicated to Lima Company, a unit deployed to Iraq in the spring of 2005. Between May and August of that year, 23 servicemen from that unit were killed in action. This is the first time the exhibit will be displayed in Kansas. Chris Mitchell, President of the SEK Veterans Provider Coalition says Eyes of Freedom will be on display at Memorial Hall in Independence beginning on Wednesday.
There will be an opening ceremony at Memorial Hall at 6pm on Wednesday. The exhibit will be available for viewing at the Civic Center from 9am to 7pm through Friday and from 9am to 4pm on Veterans Day on Saturday with a closing ceremony to follow at 4pm. Admission is free.
A two-vehicle accident near Liberal, MO, leaves one woman dead.
The accident happened around 9:45am yesterday at the intersection of Missouri Highway 43 and State Highway K, about 17 miles northeast of Pittsburg.
67 year old Diana Shopper of Nevada, MO, was driving a 2008 Toyota Rav 4 when she failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled into the path of a 2010 Ford F-150 driven by 25 year old Casey Lewis of Osceola, MO.
Shopper was pronounced dead at the scene by the Barton County Coroner. Lewis was unhurt. Neither woman was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
A Bartlesville man was seen in Washington County Court on Wednesday on the charge of Arson in the first degree.
41 year old Jeffery Bowers was arrested on October 22nd after he burned a house on Southeast Wyandotte Ave. to the ground. When officers arrived, EMS personnel had told police that Bowers was the responsible party.
They said that Bowers stated that he said he was sorry but that he was tired of being harassed by Angels and “other things in the house." According to an affidavit, Bowers told officers that he poured a gasoline trail through the residence before igniting it with a lighter.
Bowers said he was unsure of anyone being in the home but did not check before lighting the house on fire. It was also discovered that Bowers was out on an outstanding warrant for a felony stalking charge from earlier this year.
Bowers was given a $100,000 bond and his next court date is set for November 17th .
Don't forget to set your clock back one hour before you go to bed tomorrow night.
Daylight Saving Time comes to an end at 2am this Sunday morning, so all clocks will fall back by one hour. The modern idea of Daylight Saving Time causes the clocks to change twice a year in order to lengthen the daylight in the evening during the summer. 1.
The modern practice dates back to the late 1800s when New Zealand entomologist George Hudson proposed it to conserve energy. It may have also been a little self-serving for Hudson because it gave him more time after work in the evening to pursue his hobby of collecting insects.
A common myth is that the U.S. adopted daylight saving time to benefit farmers, but in reality many farmers are opposed to the practice for being disruptive to their schedules.
Opponents point to other studies that have found adverse health effects linked to daylight saving time, such as a spike in fatal traffic accidents, heart attacks, strokes and sleep deprivation especially in the spring when clocks move forward an hour.
Not all US states observe the time change. Hawaii and Arizona do not observe Daylight Saving Time. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also observe permanent standard time.
Remember to set your clock back tomorrow night and enjoy the extra hour of sleep.
The Cherokee Nation and the Department of Veterans Affairs are celebrating an agreement for veteran care in Vinita.
The announcement came yesterday that the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System will provide a 1,300-square-foot VA clinic inside the tribe’s Vinita Health Center for area veterans.
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. credits his father, former Vinita Mayor Chuck Hoskin, and the local VA leadership with spearheading the move after the closure of the local VA health clinic was announced. The VA clinic will include a waiting area, exam rooms, work areas and parking. Lab and x-ray services will also be available through the health center. The clinic is set to open in 2024 and will serve both native and non-native veterans in the region.
The city of Caney is looking for help concerning their Market.
A survey presented to the residents of Caney and the users of the Caney Market, according to Mayor Josh Elliott, will be useful in two ways.
Elliott says the elimination of the market is not something the city wants to see, but the city has to take money from the general fund to continue paying for expenses. The actual grocery store building is also another expense that the city pays for monthly.
A link to the survey can be found here.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for for a portion of Cherokee County Rural Water District #3 public water supply system.
This advisory applies to customers located within the area South of SW Boston Mills Road to US Highway 166, between SW 10 Street on the East and SW 90th Street on the West.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a connector break between a 3" and 4" waterline resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.
The Fredonia City Commission decides to make no changes to penalties and late days for city utility payments.
Over the past several weeks, the Fredonia City commission has been deliberating about changing the the late due date for city utility payments when the due date falls on a holiday weekend. The discussion stemmed from concerns stated by a citizen at a September commission meeting. The proposed ordinance would have given residents extra time to make payments. City Clerk Kelly Bogner voiced her opposition to the changes at last night's meeting.
Mayor Allen Miller added that the event that would be affected by the change is a very rare occurance.
In the end, the city commission voted unanimously to defeat the new ordinance and there will be no change to late days and late fees for utility payments in Fredonia.
Veterans Day is next Saturday and the city of Independence will mark the occasion by welcoming a unique, traveling exhibit.
The Eyes of Freedom will be in Independence next week and Coffeyville Tourism Director Amy Dollar says all area residents should go see this traveling memorial dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of those who answer our nation's call.
The memorial will arrive in Independence around 10am on Wednesday and area residents are invited to line up along North Penn Avenue near Memorial Hall to help welcome the display to town. There will be an opening ceremony that evening at 6pm at Memorial Hall and viewing will be available from 9am until 4pm on November 9th and 10th at the Civic Center. On Veterans Day, viewing will be from 9am to 4pm with a closing ceremony at 4 o'clock.
The City of Neodesha asks residents to lend a hand.
Neodesha is asking residents to help out with their food collection drive in recognition of the Veterans Day of Service and Honor Project. Any non-perishable food donation will be appreciated and will help replenish the food supplies at the Neodesha Food Pantry. Drop off locations include the Neodesha City Hall at 14-07 North 8th Street, G&W Foods at 612 Main, Sonder Salon at 321 Main, and the Rankin Memorial Library at 502 Indiana.
Book lovers in northeast Oklahoma, mark your calendars for this Saturday.
The Friends of the Miami Public Library is holding their fall book sale Saturday from 9am to 1pm, indoors by the main desk of the library. Browse the gently-used books, add to your “to read” pile, and help the library all at the same time. The Miami Public Library is located at 200 North Main Street in Miami.
A missing Bel Aire woman is found safe.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has canceled the Silver Alert for 74 year old Connie Powell. Powell, who has dementia, was reported missing yesterday around 6pm and the alert was issued. The Bel Aire Police Department reports that Powell has been located and is safe.
The Osage Nation Financial Office is offering paid training for Native Americans living in Osage County, Oklahoma. Skills include safety training, customer service, computer proficiencies and more.
Participants will receive $80 per day and upon completion will receive an additional $200. Classes begin Monday, and run through November 20th and again from December 4th the 15th . Transportation and lunch are provided.
Training will take place at the Pawhuska Business Development Center. If interested in signing up, call 918-287-5325.
A Chelsea, OK, woman was sentenced Wednesday to 6 months in federal prison for one count of conversion of benefits by representative payee and one count of making a false statement.
Arvella Evyon Downing, 55, was sentenced to 6 months followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was further ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, Downing pleaded guilty on March 3, 2023. She admitted that from on or about October 1, 2019, through on or about September 30, 2020, that she made application to receive Social Security benefits on behalf of three minor children. She received approximately $28,000 and claimed that she spent it on housing, clothing, education, medical and dental expenses, recreation, and personal items.
Downing was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
The Kansas Department of Transportation is about 25% short of its preferred number of snowplow operators to be fully staffed.
Those staff shortages could affect KDOT's ability to keep Kansas highways free of snow and ice this winter. The agency has dealt with staff shortages in the past but this year's shortages have been greater than in the past. KDOT Director of Field Operations Clay Adams says crews always do their best, but the shortages could cause delays in clearing ice and snow from highways should winter storms hit this winter.
State Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed says Kansans can help out by being prepared for winter travel. Checking weather forecasts and road conditions before traveling can help avoid problems.
To check fro travel conditions at any time, check the KDOT travel website KanDrive.gov – spelled with a K – or use the KanDrive app. KanDrive is updated 24/7 with highway conditions, short-term closures, and general traffic alerts.
CVR Energy is reporting a net income of $353 million during the third quarter of 2023.
According to CEO Dave Lamp, cash dividends of 50 cents per share in addition to a special dividend of $1.50 per share will bring the year-to-date declared dividends to $4 per share.
The Petroleum Segment reported third-quarter operating income of $431 million on net sales of $2.3 billion, which is up from last year's operating income of $137 million on net sales of $2.5 billion.
The Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment reported operating income of $8 million on net sales of $131 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to an operating loss of $12 million on net sales of $156 million for the third quarter of last year.
CVR Energy operates facilities around the country including here in Coffeyville.
Textron Aviation is reporting higher overall revenues in its third quarter.
According to the company, revenues for its aviation unit were up $171 million compared to last year, coming in at $1.3 billion. Between Cessna and Beechcraft models, 39 jets were delivered during the third quarter, which is flat with last year. The company saw an increase in delivery of commercial turboprops, sending out 38, which was up from 33 in last year's third quarter. Cessna piston aircraft, Caravan turboprops and the Citation M2 jets are built and delivered from the Cessna plant in Independence.
The Second Annual Grace Memorial Craft Fair and Bake Sale is coming up next Saturday. The event is November 11th from 8:00am to 1:00pm. Organizer Susie Tull says last year was the first year for the event.
Tull says they are looking to add more craft vendors, anyone interested can contact her at (620)331-6045. The Craft Fair and Bake Sale is sponsored by the First Christian Church of Elk City and Grace Memorial United Methodist Church of Independence. Both churches will have baked goods for sale.
The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office sees a few hundred pounds of prescription drugs turned over for safe disposal. Earlier this week, as part of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration's National Drug Take Back Program, over 300 pounds of prescription medications were turned over from the sheriff's office to the DEA for safe disposal.
Sheriff David Groves says their office has participated in the Drug Take Back Program since its inception and has expanded services available to their community by installing a convenient drop box in the lobby, where residents can safely dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications any time of day.
A structure fire in Coffeyville prompts quick response from local fire departments.
Fire Crews from Coffeyville, Dearing, and Independence are responding to a structure fire on County Road 1675 in Coffeyville at the Casa Del Sol Apartments. Preliminary reports indicate the cause of the fire may be an electrical box. At this time, all occupants appear to be safe and accounted for and the fire appears to be under control.
A new convenience store opens in Coffeyville.
For those in Coffeyville who have been watching the construction progress on the new Pete's location on 11th Street, the wait is over. The new Pete's store is now open. Tourism Director Amy Dollar says there's a lot of excitement over the new location.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for next Thursday, November 9th at 10:30am.
Turning the calendar to November means colder weather, the scraping of windshields in the morning, and, unfortunately, cold and flu season.
Colds, Flu, RSV, and Covid are all possibilities during the colder winter months. Dr. Michael Garko says all of these viruses pose an issue for the immune system especially as we get older.
Garko says stress is one of the major factors that can suppress your immune system, so it's important, especially during the holidays, to find ways to relieve stress. One good stress reliever is something all of us do every night.
Garko adds that, besides getting plenty of rest, there are simplesways to help keep you healthy including washing your hands frequently with soap and water, avoiding touching your eyes, mouth, and nose, and not sharing things like towels, cups, or utensils.
Countless crowds filled many area downtowns and parking lots yesterday for trick-or-treating, and Cherryvale was no exception.
Cherryvale Police Chief Jimmy Holt says the event has grown every year, and he says this year's turnout was expected to top 2,000 attendees.
Holt says he likes these type of events because they allows kids to trick-or-treat in a safe, family friendly environment. Many area businesses and organizations were on hand, some setting up elaborate trunks and displays. The Cherryvale Public Library also set up tables in front of the building full of free books for children and adults. Several prizes for best and scariest trunk were also awarded. Here are the results:
People's choice: Randi Golden with Jurassic Bark
Scariest: People State Bank
Best Themed: Daniel and Francesca Coats with Charlie Brown and the Pumpkin Patch!
Jigsaw key scavenger hunt winner: Cody Carpenter
An arrest has been made in a case involving a group of juveniles who entered a Bartlesville home and assaulted another juvenile earlier this month.
On October 24, residents at the home reported that seven individuals, at least some of whom were armed, entered the home at approximately 2:30am and went into a juvenile resident's room, where the victim was beaten and robbed.
During the investigation, multiple videos from various surveillance systems were obtained, resulting in multiple search warrants being served at one of the suspects' residence and vehicles.
Yesterday (Tuesday), the suspect was taken into custody and has been charged as a Youthful Offender. The investigation has revealed that this incident was the result of an ongoing dispute between two groups of juveniles.
The investigation is ongoing and the possibility of charges for several other juveniles remains.
A Copan faces charges in Washington County after being arrested on Monday.
39 year old Brandon Jacobson of Copan was arrested Monday after he was pulled over for erratic driving. The arresting officer reported Jacobson had dilated pupils, was hyperactive, and had rapid eye movement. He was subjected to a field sobriety test and allegedly performed poorly. A search of the vehicle revealed a used syringe and a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine. Jacobson admitted during the stop that he had gotten high earlier. It was also discovered that the vehicle tag was registered to a ’95 Jeep that expired in 2018, though the vehicle he was pulled over in was a ’07 Silverado.
Jacobson is charged with driving under the influence of a drug, unlawful possession of paraphernalia, and operating without proper tag.
He was given a $15,000 bond and his next court date is set for November 15th.
Police in Grove, OK, have arrested a juvenile in connection with a bomb threat made yesterday morning at Grove Middle School.
Around 10:30am Tuesday morning, October 31, Grove Public Schools alerted authorities about a threat they had received about a pipe bomb somewhere in Grove Middle School. Grove Police blocked off roads around the school while GMS administrators evacuated students to a nearby church.
Officers from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol arrived on the scene and searched the school with bomb-sniffing dogs. They found a suspicious backpack, but after x-raying the bag, determined there was no device inside. Authorities deemed the school safe and students returned to class.
A person of interest was located and arrested after a brief foot pursuit. The suspect's name is not being released because they are a juvenile.
Other law enforcement agencies responding to the threat were the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Jay Police Department, Agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, the Grove Fire Department, and Grove Emergency Management.
Two women are injured after hitting a deer on US-160.
25 year old Montanna Joseph of Ark City and her 47 year old passenger Danita McKenry sustained minor injuries yesterday morning when they collided with a deer on US-160 west of Winfield. Joseph was driving a 2022 Nissan Sentra at around 9:30am Tuesday morning, October 31, when she struck the deer, leaving her vehicle disabled in the roadway. Both women were taken to William Newton Hospital in Winfield where they were treated for their injuries. Both were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
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