An adoption or a donation could win a dog bed from Coffeyville Friends of Animals.

Board Director Becky Barnhart says thanks to a donation they are having a drawing for a dog bed.  CFA is open Monday through Friday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

 As graduation nears for seniors in the USD 436 School District, numbers have been released concerning the latest round of ACT Test Scores.

 The average test score stayed the same in the science category, but scores in every other category has increased the last two years, including an increase from fourteen to nineteen in the English part of the test.

 Superintendent Blake Vargas says he's glad to see the numbers improve.

 Vargas says he is excited to see test numbers continue to improve in the future.

 A Mount Vernon woman is indicted on federal charges in a lottery ticket scheme.

 31-year-old Amy Young faces one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from a scheme she allegedly carried out by using stolen credit cards to purchase lottery tickets at a Phillips 66 station in Joplin. She is accused of recruiting others to claim any prizes from the tickets and the splitting the winnings. According to the indictment, during July and August 2022, Young and her accomplices purchased nearly 2,000 Missouri Lottery tickets worth around $62,000 and pocketing more than $54,000 in cash winnings.

The case was investigated by the FBI.

 The Cherry Blossom Festival gets underway today in Cherryvale.

 Organizer Carol Staton says the first order of business is to crown the Festival Royalty.

The pageant happens tonight at 6:30pm. Tomorrow's activities include a parade at 5:30pm and music in the park with Worship Calling starting at 6:30pm in Logan Park. The Cherry Blossom Festival runs through Sunday.

 Kansas joins the states of Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska in suing the Biden administration over a recent rule change to Title IX. 

 The new rules, set to go into effect on August 1^st, states that treating individuals according to biological sex instead of gender identity violates Title IX and can cause a loss of federal funding.

Kobach says allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' and women's sport is simply unfair.

when asked if he respected the transgender identity, Kobach said people had a right to change their appearance and presentation, but that they can’t change the structure and other advantages that males gain.

 A 16 year old high school student from Valley Center will travel to Europe with his best friend this summer.

 But Hayden Brown and his dog Onyx won't be there to see the sights. Instead they'll be competing in the Junior Open Agility World Championship in Belgium this July. Brown and his dog will compete as a part of the American Kennel Club Junior Agility Team USA. This is the only Junior Agility Team in the U.S. and many compare it to an Olympic team.

Brown has been competing in dog agility since he was 8 years old and his Shetland Sheepdog Onyx has been training since she was a puppy. Brown first began competition through his local 4-H club.

The U.S. Junior Agility Team is made up of 26 junior handlers from around the nation ranging in ages from 8 to 18. Brown is the only male and the only Kansan on the team.

The competition takes place in Belgium July 18^th through 21^st.

 A Porsche is left split into two halves after a high speed accident in Joplin.

 The accident occurred late last night as the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle then struck a utility pole and a building before coming to a stop nearly a block after the initial impact. Two people were in the car at the time of the accident – a male driver and a female passenger. Both were taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. Their names and conditions have not yet been released.

Authorities are investigating the crash as a DWI.

 A Joplin man is dead after his pick up truck crashes off a bridge in Jasper County.

 33 year old Darren Shockley was pronounced dead at the scene yesterday evening after his Chevy Avalanche crashed off a bridge over Turkey Creek on North Black Cat Road northwest of Joplin. The vehicle traveled nearly 300 feet before coming to rest in the waters beneath the bridge. Troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol say Shockley was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was ejected during the crash.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation but authorities say alcohol may have been involved.

 Multiple crews from the Bartlesville Fire Department responded Wednesday afternoon to a report of a drowning in the Caney River near Johnstone Park.

 Rescuers brought search boats to Johnstone Park and additional crews searched the river bank near the Tuxedo Boulevard bridge during the noon hour.

Bartlesville Fire Chief David Topping later confirmed it was a false report.

 The City of Fredonia has developed a new public safety issue in the past few weeks.

 At Wednesday's City Commission Meeting, Commissioner Bill Jones raised the issue of attacks by loose dog in the city. He says the issue is becoming a major concern.

Police Chief Brad Pflueger told the commission that there has been between 10 and 15 dog attacks in the city in the past few week. Pflueger says the police are aware of the problem, but handling it is a difficult issue.

Pflueger advises residents to take extra precautions when walking in the city to protect themselves until the issue can be gotten under control.

A new abortion clinic is planning to open in southeast Kansas this fall.

Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains' Tuesday announcement says Pittsburg, Kansas, will be home to a new facility providing abortion procedures and pills, among other services. The number of out-of-state residents seeking abortions in Kansas is higher now than it was before Roe vs. Wade was reversed. In March of 2023, 44% of abortion patients at Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas traveled more than 250 miles for their services. After the reversal or Roe, Kansas was the first state where voters weighed in on abortion at the ballot box, rejecting a constitutional amendment that could have led to an abortion ban in August 2022. According to President of Great Plains Planned Parenthood Emily Wales, The Pittsburg facility will eventually provide gender-affirming services as well.

The growth in providers situated near state lines has generated new efforts from those opposed to abortion to restrict the practice, calling it "abortion trafficking."  This year, the Kansas Legislature passed bills for statutes that will require abortion providers to ask patients why they are terminating their pregnancies and report the answers to the state, and that will make it a specific crime to coerce someone into having an abortion.

Independence Community College announces their new Assistant Vice President of Business Affairs.

Keith Stone, who attended Independence High School, is slated to start in this position sometime this month. Interim President Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo says Stone brings a wealth of experience in accounting and business, enhancing the strength of their leadership team.

Stone is a Certified Public Accountant with a B.B.A. in Accounting from Abilene Christian University. He has also completed the Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business program at MIT Management Sloan School. Stone says his roots in Independence run deep, and he is excited to contribute to the growth and success of the place he calls home.

Wilson County continues to work on clean up from recent severe weather.

County coordinator Kris Marple says there are trees that need to be removed.

The commissioners approved a bid from Falling Tree Services for $1900, which includes the removal of two trees, as well as area clean up and limb removal.

Additional items of business at this week's commission meeting was an update from the county health department, where Director Amy Lell informed commissioners that training is needed to perform school and building inspections.

The Wilson County Commission will next meet on May 22nd at 9 a.m. in Room 101 of the County Courthouse in Fredonia.

Area graduations are coming up this weekend and many will be broadcast live on the KGGF family of stations.

On Saturday, Caney High School graduation will begin at 10 a.m. and be broadcast live on the Mighty 690, KGGF, courtesy of Totel CSI, Totah Communications and Independence Community College.

Also on Saturday, Field Kindley High School graduation starts at 10 a.m. as well and will be broadcast on Sonshine 98.9, KQQF.

On Sunday, Independence High School graduation begins at 1 p.m. and will also be broadcast live on Sonshine 98.9, KQQF, courtesy of Independence Community College.

The Labette County Planning Board is holding a public hearing tomorrow.

The hearing will be at the Carnegie Arts Center at 117 South 17^th Street in Parsons and starts at 5:00pm. The Planning Board will hear comments on the proposed adoption of the Land Use Plan and Zoning Regulations for the county.

The 143 page Labette County Zoning Regulation draft can be found here.

***** Update 6:55 p.m. *****

The greatest risk for severe storms with large hail and damaging winds will affect areas of south central Kansas to the south and southeast of Wichita. Hail to around golf ball size is likely in some storms.

Severe storms are possible late this afternoon through tonight for the KGGF listening area, with Sedan and areas to the west seeing a higher risk of severe weather.

The best coverage of storms is expected across southern KS and northern OK this evening.   Potential hazards include 60 to 70 mph winds, quarter to ping pong ball sized hail, heavy rainfall and a tornado possible.  Timing is expected between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. Be sure to have multiple ways of receiving warning information and count on KGGF for severe weather coverage today if needed.

The Osage County Oklahoma Sheriff's Office says they may have found a possible link between Dennis Rader, also known as the serial killer BTK, and the disappearance of a Pawhuska woman in 1976.

 The possible link was found in a crossword puzzle Rader sent to Wichita media nearly 20 years ago. The puzzle spells out the names of Rader's 10 known victims and his home address. Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden says he believes the puzzle also includes the name Cindy Kinney. Kinney disappeared from a Pawhuska laundromat in 1976. Virden first linked Rader to her disappearance nine months ago when he learned Rader had been in the Pawhuska area during that time.

 Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher stated last fall that there was insufficient evidence to link Rader to the Kinney disappearance. After Virden's latest announcement, Fisher says he has not seen the evidence but stated that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation had found no concrete link between the two.

Photo courtesy Osage County Sheriff's Office. Left: Puzzle showing Virden's links. Right: Original puzzle

 Cherryvale residents may notice some road work going on in the city today.

 Repair work is being done on the overpass on Liberty Street beginning today. The street will be down to one-lane of traffic and a flag crew will be on-site. Drivers should expect slight delays in the area.

 A Missouri man is arrested in Independence on outstanding warrants.

 Independence Police along with Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputies responded early yesterday morning to serve a warrant in the 200 block of South 1^st street. Officers arrested 25 year old Leevon Harrison of Missouri for Felony Interference with Law Enforcement. Harrison is currently being held in the Montgomery County Department of Corrections.

 The family of a man missing since the May 6 tornado is Barnsdall confirms he has beed found deceased.

 The body that was recovered on Saturday night from Bird Creek just south of Barnsdall has been identified that of 81 year old Kenneth Wayne Hogue. Hogue had not been seen since the EF-4 tornado struck his home last Monday.

 Hogue is one of two people who perished in last week's storms that swept across northeast Oklahoma.

 A Tulsa man who was convicted of buying, possessing or procuring obscene material in 2016 is in trouble with the law again in Bartlesville after failing to make a court appearance in July.

 A warrant was issued for Christopher West's arrest in October and he was taken into custody on Monday. West was given a 10-year suspended sentence in the 2016 case, but the State of Oklahoma opted for a motion to revoke that sentence in 2019. West went on to spend three years in a state penitentiary before being let out in 2022. 

West never showed up for the July court date, but will now have a new court date for next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. His bond was set at $25,00

 Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond files a lawsuit against drug manufacturers alleging unfair and deceptive pricing for insulin.

 Insulin is a hormone that helps convert food into energy and is critical to controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes patients.

Alleging violations of the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act, Drummond said manufacturers have significantly raised the prices of their diabetes drugs in lockstep during the last 15 years despite the fact that the costs of producing the critical drugs have diminished.

Drummond says the cost for the manufacturers named in the lawsuit to produce insulin today is less than $2 per vial, according to the filing. The drugs, which sold for $20 in the late 1990s, now range between $300 and $700. In the last decade, the manufacturer defendants have hiked the price of their insulin up to 1,000 percent.

Oklahoma has among the highest rates of diabetes in the nation, with 11 percent of the population or about 450,000 people living with the disease. It is the seventh leading cause of death in Oklahoma despite the availability of effective treatments.

Things to do in Southeast Kansas

• Commencement ceremonies take place this weekend in Coffeyville and Independence. Field Kindley's Class of 2024 will graduate on Saturday morning at 10am in the FKHS gym. Independence graduates will receive their diplomas on Sunday at 1pm at Memorial Hall.

• Labette County high School is presenting “A Night Among the Stars”. The show begins at 7pm Friday night at the Parsons Municipal Auditorium.

• Parsons State Hospital is having a hiring event Wednesday from 10am to 6pm. There will be on-site interviews, so job-seekers should bring any information they might need to complete an application. The event happens at the Wall Events Center at 26-05 Main in Parsons.

• The 31^st Annual Youth Fishing Derby at LeClere Park in Coffeyville happens this Sunday. Registration begins at 1pm and fishing starts at 1:30pm with free hot dogs at 3pm. Kids through age 16 are eligible to attend and admission is free.

• The Cherry Blossom Festival gets underway Thursday in Cherryvale. Festivities kick off at 6:30pm in Logan with the Queen, Little Miss & Little Mister pageant. Friday will feature the Cherry Blossom Parade at 5:30pm. the parade begins downtown and ends at Logan Park. From 6:30 to 9pm is Music in the Park with Worship Calling. a pulled pork dinner will be available at 6pm. On Saturday, the 5K Run starts things off at 7am at the swimming pool. From 8am to 1pm there will be a Car Show downtown with judging at 11am. From 9am to 3pm there will be vendors, activities and food trucks, including bingo in the Chamber Office. From 6:30pm to 9pm there will be Music in the Park with Straight Away. The Tri Mee food truck will also be on site. On Sunday, join Micah Booe at the bandstand for Church in the Park at 10:30am.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is launching a listening campaign to hear from Crawford County residents about the current challenges and potentials for the U.S. 69 Highway Study in the county.

KDOT is inviting the public to attend any of the four in-person open houses or the virtual open house. The in-person open houses will take place at different locations along U.S. 69 in Crawford County. Each event will have the same information, with study team members available to answer questions from the public. There will be no formal presentations and those attending can drop by at any time.

The first two open houses will take place tomorrow in Pittsburg. One will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium, and the second will be in the Pittsburg High School from 4 to 7 p.m.

On Friday, an open house will take place at the Palluccas Event Hall in Frontenac from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m then at Northeast High School in Arma from 4 to 7 p.m.

The City of Coffeyville Water Department begins filling the pools at Big Hill Splash.

City Manager Tim Wilson says some positive changes are coming to the aquatic center.  Wilson says the Water Department crews have worked hard to make sure Big Hill Splash will open up on time this year.

Water was the main topic of focus at the Coffeyville City Commission meeting. The first item on the agenda was an increase in the water utility rates. City Manager Tim Wilson says this rate increase won't go into effect until 2025.

In other water related business, the commissioners approved a resolution to amend the 2024 Fee Schedule for Water Department related services, a resolution to adopt a new Water Conservation Plan for the City and an Ordinance to establish Water Rates during a Water Warning or Water Emergency.

Despite receiving two applications for the Library Board the commission decided to leave the position open for new applicants due to conflicts of interest of the two who applied.

The City of Coffeyville hires a new city manager.  After returning from an executive session, Mayor Alec Hendryx made the motion to hire Ben Brubaker as the next city manager.

Brubaker has served as the Director of Human Resources for Montgomery County since May of last year. No official word as to when he will take over as city manager.

The Cherryvale Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying whoever is responsible for illegally dumping tires behind Misfit Motors

Cherryvale PD is asking anyone in that area to check any security cameras for footage related to the incident. The tires were dumped sometime between Sunday afternoon and 10:00am today(Tuesday).

Anyone with information that could help in this investigation should contact Cherryvale PD at (620)336-2400 or message them on Facebook and reference case number 24-144.

Construction begins on a new training facility for the Coffeyville Fire Department.

The construction is a joint effort by CFD, Montgomery County, Coffeyville Community College and Coffeyville Resources for a new burn and training facility.

This facility will be used to help train firefighters in realistic fire training, search and rescue and other rescue practices.

The Labette County Commissioners make $40,000 in grant funds available for childcare programs.

The grant program will utilize funds set aside from the childcare designated portion of ARPA Funds. Any licensed or soon to be licensed childcare facilities or an individual looking into opening a licensed childcare facility in Labette County can apply for the funding through July 31^st. Those interested can request an application by contacting Laura Moore or Jim Zaleski at (620)421-7030 or applications can be picked up in the second floor offices at the Parsons Municipal Building at 112 South 17^th Street.

The program is designed to help existing daycare facilities expand or improve services or assist new daycare facilities in startup costs. Each application will need to include a business or expansion plan detailing the expectations of the proposed project.

The South Coffeyville School Board is considering adding a voluntary release-time religious education program.

At last night's meeting, board members heard a presentation from Pastor Jason Swindell, who is working to start the program at the Methodist church across the street from the school. The program would function like an elective, and Swindell says they'd like to use a bible curriculum offered through Lifewise Academy.

The proposed program will be for 2nd through 5th grade students. Interested students would need parental approval, and the program would not be funded through the school or on school property. The board tabled a vote on the program to gather more information and to see what will happen with a state bill that looks to affirm a 1950s supreme court case that allows for release time programs such as this. In other business, the board approved several fundraisers and next year's calendar which moves spring break one week later to conform with the rest of Oklahoma. Members also took a look at water damage that happened again to the elementary school due to recent rains and discussed prevention options.

 Quick action by Caney Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office saves man from attempted murder.

 Montgomery County Deputies responded to a call around 8pm on Saturday evening regarding a shooting and a vehicle chase near Coffeyville. The incident occurred near US-166 and County Road 3500. Deputies discovered the victim – Christopher Flack of Skiatook, Oklahoma – who told them he was being pursued by a black Dodge Challenger from Caney. Shots had been fired at Flack's vehicle but he was uninjured.

 Deputies located the Challenger at the Caney residence of 54 year old Shawn Timmerman. Timmerman was taken into custody without incident and taken to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections where he was booked on charges of attempted Second Degree Murder.

 The investigation is ongoing. When it is concluded the case will be reviewed by the County Attorney for appropriate charging.

 USD 445 Coffeyville hears some good academic news.

 The Coffeyville Board of Education members heard good news from a building principal about student success on standardized testing. Community Elementary Principal Angie Krause says the current kindergarten students or the Class of 2036 has shown improvement in both math and reading.

 The reading portion of the test measures student ability in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension while math assesses knowledge of whole numbers, algebra and geometry. Krause says the test is adaptive, which means it gets more difficult as the student continues to answer questions correctly. Krause added that it was good to see such improvement over the course of the year.

 The Caney Grocery will once again be the topic of a special workshop.

 According to the city, the workshop to discuss grocery store finances will take place inside City Hall this Thursday, at 6:30 p.m.

 A live stream of the workshop will be available on the KGGF Facebook page, with a complete recap Friday throughout the day on the KGGF family of stations.

The Independence High School Forensics team was rewarded at the USD 446 School Board meeting.

Following a successful season that resulted in a 10th place state finish in 4A, the program received a $2500 donation from Thomas Connors with Cornerstone Warehousing. Additionally, the team was approved for a trip to Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa next month from June 14-22.

Additional items of business at the May board meeting was the approval of school handbooks for next school year, the purchase of textbooks and other supplemental materials, and an update regarding the graduation ceremony on Sunday at 1 p.m. from Superintendent Jason McAfee.

The USD 446 Board meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of IHS.

 Members of the USD 447 Cherryvale-Thayer Board of Education votes to accept an increase in the cost to renovate the HVAC system at Lincoln Central Elementary.

 At Monday's meeting, Superintendent Travis Githens presented the Board with a change order on install costs for the school's heating and cooling system set to take place this summer. Githens showed Board members two letters from DCS Services. The first – dated January 8^th – stated the cost for the install would be $472,000. The second – dated May 6^th – listed the cost as $681,000. Githens explains the issue for the Board.

Board member Robert John asks Githens to explain such an expensive discrepancy.

Because the original funding came through Covid ESSER money, the Board voted to approve the cost change.

The aforementioned letters can be viewed here and here.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signs a bill  to help prisoners develop work skills for employment options upon their release from prison.  

The bill will modify the current school application requirements to help cosmetology and barber schools in prisons continue to educate and train students. RISE Cosmetology School currently offers training programs at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. Representative Eric Roberts (R-Oklahoma City), the bill's author, says seeing the success of that program prompted him to want to see it expanded to other facilities.

 "In recent years, lawmakers have worked to reduce hurdles to employment for people with a criminal record through reforms such as occupational licensing reform and expungement automation under certain circumstances. When an individual can find employment after serving their time, it significantly decreases the likelihood they will return to crime and incarceration," Roberts said.  "I am grateful for the governor's support and the cooperation of my fellow lawmakers in developing reforms that will help previously convicted individuals reenter the workforce."

The law will go into effect on November 1.

 Osage County, Oklahoma, authorities may have recovered the body of a man missing since the Barnsdall tornado.

 Authorities in Osage County found a body of a man in Bird Creek on Saturday several miles south of tornado-ravaged Barnsdall. Since the May 6 tornado, crews have been searching for 81-year-old Kenneth Wayne Hogue, who went missing during the storm.

 Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden says the body matches Hogue's description. 

Hogue is the only person still missing from the Barnsdall tornado. 53-year-old Rhonda Hayman also died in the storm.

 A usually quiet board room was full last night as family members of the Caney wrestling team showed up to support the team and to ask USD 436 members to help solve safety issues concerning the current wrestling room.

 With growing numbers in the boys wrestling program, and with the addition of a girls wrestling program, the size of the room is now inadequate to handle the amount of students using it, whether for wrestling, weight lifting, and even for cleaning and sanitation supplies and medical equipment.

 USD 436 Superintendent Blake Vargas says the wrestling program has been an important part of the district for many years....

 As temporary space solutions were discussed, a special meeting of the USD 436 school board was also set for this coming Monday to discuss the possible continuance of a bond scheduled to come off the books within the next year. Vargas says the continuance of the bond would help more than just the wrestling program.

 Programs being shuffled throughout the campus include not only the wrestling and weight lifting programs, but music education programs like band and choir.

 The special USD 436 meeting will be held Monday, May 20^th at 6:00 p.m. At the Board of Education building, 700 East Bullpup Boulevard in Caney.

 Authorities in Sumner County recover more human remains.

 On Friday, May 10, 2024, the Sumner County Sheriff's Office (SCSC) recovered the body of a deceased man in a rural area near Belle Plaine.

Yesterday evening, SCSC say they recovered more remains from the same area. The remains are believed to be connected to a homicide investigation in Sedgwick County and that the victims were last seen at a residence in south Wichita on January 1^st. Authorities have yet to confirm the identities of the victims but are asking anyone with information on the case to call the Sumner County Investigations division at 316-660-5300.

 Two Copan residents are in the Washington County Jail facing charges of kidnapping.

  36-year-old Kevin Michael Hobby and 32-year-old Samantha Lackey are accused of taking a child Lackey was babysitting on Saturday across state lines without permission.

 According to a probable cause affidavit, Lackey was watching the child while the mother was working. The mother alleges she and Lackey argued and that Lackey sent a text message telling her to move out of the home.

 The victim's mother planned retrieve her belongings and her child. It was then that Lackey allegedly told the mother they were not at home and was with her boyfriend, Hobby, and the child in Kansas wihtout the mother's permission. The victim's mother claims the pair would not give her an address to pick up the child and then stopped taking her calls.

 After several hours passed, the Washington County Sheriff's Office requested an Amber Alert be issued for the child. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol pinged Lackey and Hobby's cell phones, showing their location was back at a residence in Copan. Deputies arrived at the residence and arrested Lackey and Hobby on kidnapping charges. The child was reunited with their mother.

 Hobby is being held on a $50,000 bond on state charges of kidnapping. Lackey is a tribal citizen and is being held pending federal charges. Hobby's next court date is May 31.

Photo: Kevin Hobby, Samantha Lackey

A Coffeyville woman will have her art featured in New York's Times Square.

Renee Weil submitted a picture of some mums she took to the photo-sharing site Viewbug. Weil says she took the photo on a whim.

Weil's shot will be displayed on the screens in Times Square sometime this month.

A woman has drowned in a creek in Cowley County.

The Cowley County Sheriff's Office and EMS responded Saturday afternoon to the report of two people in Grouse Creek, east of Arkansas City.

Sheriff Dave Falleti reports Sarah Ouellet was found in the creek, and was pulled from the water, with lifesaving measures attempted.

Oulett's son was found downstream clinging to a limb. Both Oulett and the boy were taken to the hospital, where Oulett was prounounced deceased. The boy is recovering.

Oulett was from the Winfield and Ark City area.

Fab Lab ICC is hosting a Welding, Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing Camp for the first time.

The camp is scheduled for Monday, June 3^rd to Thursday, June 6^th from 9:00am to 3:15pm each day. The camp is for ages 11 to 17 and will cost $59. FabLab ICC Manager David Staton says they are excited to offer this unique camp experience to the community's youth and through hands-on learning and exposure to diverse facets of welding and entrepreneurship, they aim to inspire the next generation of innovators and industry leaders.

Program Coordinator Laura Schaid says they believe in ensuring access to quality education for all, so scholarships are available, and the encourage students to seize this opportunity. Anyone interested should visit the camp's website for more information or contact Staton at (620) 332-5498 or Schaid at (620)332-5499.

Three Field Kindley High School students compete in four contests at the State SkillsUSA conference in Hutchinson.

Junior Destiny Peyton competed in Job Skill Demo Open contest where she demonstrated how to do a two person stunt and talked about how cheer is a sport and how cheerleading takes a lot of strength and agility just like any other sport. Senior Paige Strimple competed in Job Skill demo A and she demonstrated how to wrap an ankle since she is interested in working in the medical field in the future. Senior Landon Graham competed in Job Interview, which consisted of filling out a job application, creating a portfolio for the graphic design job he was applying for, which included samples of work and then an interview with three judges. He also competed in Advertising Design. In this contest, he recreated a design that he was given and then a design from information he was given. Graham finished third place in Advertising Design.

The FKHS chapter was recognized for a membership increase and as a Quality Chapter. Adviser Beth Conrad says the students did a great job in each of their contests and she is very proud of them and the way they represented their SkillsUSA chapter and the school.

The Labette County Commissioners hear a budget report from the Labette County Conservation District.

District Manager Elissa Robison along with a member of the board gave an update to the commission on their budget for 2025. There wasn't much change to the Conservation District budget from the previous year, but they are looking at adding a position to their staff and there was an increase in costs related to their field days they put on for the local schools.

In other business, Economic Development Director Jim Zaleski and Community Development Director Laura Moore spoke with the commission about how ARPA funds could be distributed for child care centers in the county. The commission also met with Zaleski in an executive session for an economic development update.

Chautauqua County has made improvements to the website to make it easier to navigate.

The front page of the website now includes sortable tabs, which includes upcoming meetings, county news, and the agenda for the upcoming commission meeting. Previously, website users would be sent to different web pages for different information regarding county business.

Additionally, a clickable link to up-to-date meeting minutes, as well as ordinances and resolutions can be found in the top left corner of the website homepage. A link to the changes on the county website can be found HERE.

Other items of business at this week's commission meeting was the purchase of three directory signs at $415 each, as well as an update from Health Department Administrator Linda McNown.

The Chautauqua County Commission will meet next on May 20th at 8:30 a.m. on the second floor of the County Court House in Sedan.

 Dearing may be getting a new addition to its fire station.

 At Monday's Montgomery County Commission meeting, Emergency Management Director Rick Whitson asked commissioners for approval to open the bidding process to build an addition onto the Dearing Fire Station. Whitson says fire crews need more room in the station because of its importance across the county.

Whitson added that Dearing needs a larger fire truck based on the types of calls it gets and the current building isn't tall enough to accommodate one. However, Whitson says the new building could be expensive.

The Commission gave the go-ahead to solicit bids for the project pending additional information on the building plans.

 This month is National Bike Month and the state of Kansas is celebrating the many benefits of bicycling.   Coffeyville Area Chamber President Candi Westbrook says its a good time to get out and enjoy biking around Coffeyville.

National Bike Month was established in 1956 to encourage more people to give bicycling a try.

 The Little House on the Prairie Museum will be hosting the 50^th anniversary celebration of the Little House television show.

 The celebration happens May 31^st through June 2^nd. Independence Chamber President Lisa Wilson says it will be a great chance for fans to meet some of the shows actors.

Tickets for the meet and greet are $12 for adults and $6 for kids ages three through twelve. The Little House site is located a few miles west of Independence, just off US-75.

 A Coffeyville man is dead following a weekend motorcycle accident.

 50 year old Charles Morris died Saturday when his motorcycle left the roadway and struck a culvert. The accident happened just before 10pm on Saturday night on US-166 near County Road 5900 or about 4 miles east of Coffeyville. It is unknown if Morris was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

 A weekend accident in Labette County leaves one woman injured.

 The accident occurred Sunday afternoon around 5pm. A 2019 Jeep Cherokee driven by 61 year old Jamie Kuhn of Buffalo was traveling wetsbound on US-400 about three miles west of Parsons. Kuhn's vehicle left the roadway to the left and struck a guardrail. Kuhn was taken to Labette Health with minor injuries.

 The Kansas Legislature continues its struggle with Governor Laura Kelly over tax reform.

 Governor Kelly says she wants to see tax cuts in the state but has vetoed the latest measure by the Legislature to pass a tax. Legislators then failed to override the Governor's veto. Kelly then proposed her own plan.

State Senator Virgil Peck says the sticking point for Governor Kelly seems to be the tax brackets.

Peck says the legislative proposal is a solid plan for reform.

Kelly says she will veto any tax bill that she feels would put the state in financial difficulty.

 The Washington County Commissioners will meet today to consider declaring a disaster emergency after last week’s storm damage.

 Commissioners will hear from Washington County Emergency Management Director Kary Cox about all the tornado and severe storm damage countywide and then make a decision on whether or not to sign a proclamation to declare a disaster.

 The identity of the person killed in last Monday's tornado in Barnsdall is now identified.

 53 year old Rhonda Hayman was killed during Monday's tornado. A memorial service will be held for Hayman this Friday at 2pm at the First Baptist Church in Dewey.

Barnsdall Mayor Johnny Kelley says eight other people were injured during the storms and that search and rescue crews pulled 25 people from the wreckage of homes last week. 81 year old Wayne Hogue is still missing.

 Oklahomans who need help applying for FEMA assistance can now  meet with Disaster Survivor Assistance in Barnsdall.

 Residents of Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage and Pontotoc counties who were impacted by last week's tornadoes can visit to get help applying for FEMA assistance, ask questions, and learn about available resources. No appointment is needed.

Help is available between 8am and 6:30pm daily at 506 South 5^th Street in Barnsdall.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Sumner County Sheriff's Office are investigating human remains found near Belle Plaine over the weekend.

 On Friday afternoon, the Sumner County Sheriff's Office responded to a call in a rural part of the county after a man's body was discovered. The remains were taken to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensics Science Center in Wichita where an autopsy was performed. Authorities determined that the cause of death was foul play. The KBI and the Sumner County Sheriff's Office are working to determine the identity of the deceased man.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the KBI at 1-800-KSCRIME.

The Coffeyville Fire Department responds to an early morning fire.

On Wednesday at around 3:00am, two CFD fire trucks responded to 411 West 3^rd for a structure fire. Units arrived to a one and half story wood framed structure that was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control in about 10 minutes. The Kansas State Fire Marshals Office was called in to investigate.

Off-duty personnel and Dearing Fire Department were called for assistance. The home was unoccupied and was deemed a total loss. No injuries were reported.

The City of Galena announces the retirement of Police Chief Billy Joe Charles.

The retirement is effective on September 1^st and will bring an end to Chief Charles's 26 years in law enforcement and corrections. Charles retired from the military after serving 11 years in the Army then another 12 years in the Missouri National Guard. He has held positions as an Inventory Controller for Lozier Corporation, Platoon Sergeant with Labette Woman’s Correctional Camp and a Jail Administrator of the Cherokee County Jail before becoming the Police Chief for the City of Galena in February 2016.

Mayor Ashley Groves says Chief Charles has dedicated a huge part of his life to public service and in her opinion, that is the most commendable attribute any person can carry. She says it’s been an honor to work alongside the Chief, as he is a man of integrity, a team player, and a visionary.

A resurfacing project is underway on U.S. 75 in Wilson County.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, work started Friday on the 10-mile project area which starts 4 miles north of Altoona and continues north to the Wilson County line. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone. Drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less. Weather permitting, the work should be finished by mid-June. KDOT awarded the construction contract of $1.2 million to Vance Brothers Inc. and Subsidiary, Kansas City, Missouri.

 A Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate dies while in custody.

 49-year old Scott Edward Wood was found unresponsive in his cell this afternoon. Life-saving measures were performed by staff members and emergency medical services. Wood was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

 Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

 Wood was serving a 50-month sentence for convictions of drug possession and aggravated escape committed in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

 The Hutchinson Correctional Facility is the state’s third-largest facility, serving only adult males. Its capacity is 1,788 residents.

 When natural disasters such as the recent tornadoes on Oklahoma occur, people often want to know what they can do to help.

 Aaron Lawrence who is organizing several charity efforts in Barnsdall says people are welcome to come to the city and help with the clean up effort.

The City of Barnsdall is located about 16 miles southwest of Bartlesville.

 A fugitive from justice in Montgomery County is arrested in Alaska.

 39 year old Levi Hart is wanted on outstanding warrants in Montgomery County for failure to appear on a charge of distribution of opiates and possession. Hart is originally from Independence and was arrested Tuesday in Fairbanks, Alaska by the Alaska State Troopers after a brief standoff. Hart is currently being held in the Fairbanks Correctional Center until he can be extradited to Kansas.

 The American Humane Society is currently in Barnsdall helping those in need with housing animals.

  Dan Canfield, who works out of the Society's Tulsa office, has brought a large trailer to house pets while their owners work to restore their fence or house. Canfield says it's a relief for residents to know their pets are safe 

Canfield went on to talk about the importance of preparing for not only yourself during a severe storm, but your animals as well. 

The Humane Society mobile vehicle is climate controlled with three air conditioners and 64 built in kennels to house animals. If any Barnsdall residents have a missing animal to report, they are asked to go find the American Humane Society trailer in downtown Barnsdall.

 The community of Barnsdall continues to recover from Monday evening's tornado damage.

 The community held a special community meeting Thursday night at the Barnsdall Football Field. Mayor Johnny

Kelley thanked local, county, regional, and state-wide agencies for helping the community in this time of need. Kelley says it is this response that will allow for a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Kelley added that the left over structural debris will go behind Barnsdall's public library and any tree debris will be sent to Lake Waxhoma. Anybody interested in volunteering is asked to report to the Barnsdall City Hall.

 The recent rains have caused flooding in all of the usual places around the city of Independence, but one place where flood waters rose in a different way is the new Central Park Sports Complex.

 The low lying areas on Park street where the city's baseball and softball fields are located has long been an area prone to flooding. While residents may have seen waters rise in that area again after the recent heavy rains, Sports Complex Project Manager Lacey Lies says there is an important difference.

Lies says the changes to elevation of the fields as well as new water retention areas and storm sewer enhancements mean flood waters were successfully kept off off the fields and away from the concessions area. Work continues on the Sports Complex and city officials say the ball fields will be ready for play this summer.

 Authorities in Cherokee County arrest a Scammon woman for possessing methamphetamine.

 Just after 10am yesterday morning, investigators from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office conducted a search of a home in Scammon.

After finding narcotics in the house, deputies arrested 43 year old Stacy Benedict. Benedict was taken into custody and transported to the Cherokee County Jail. She faces charges of Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possessing Methamphetamine, and Possessing Drug Paraphernalia.

 A donation of $300,000 has been made by Phillips 66 to support ongoing tornado relief efforts across the state and in the Bartlesville area.

 The company will give $250,000 to the American Red Cross and $50,000 to the Salvation Army. These funds will provide direct assistance to communities that are in need and have been affected by the recent tornadoes. The money will provide meals, supplies, health services, and shelters to affected residents.

Phillips 66 is one of the largest employers in the Bartlesville area. 

 A 21 year old Bartlesville man faces multiple charges in Washington County, Oklahoma, after leading police on a chase through Bartlesville.

 Chase Morgan was pulled over on April 30^th for erratic driving and was suspected of driving while intoxicated. Morgan denied drinking at the first inquiry from officers, but later admitted he’d indulged and also had an open container in the vehicle. Morgan then sped away while officers were still speaking with him.

Morgan sped through the Frank Phillips Blvd and Silver Lake Rd intersection and reached speeds of 85-90 MPH before eventually crashing into a tree. Morgan then fled the scene and was able to evade officers.

He was eventually picked up on multiple warrants last Tuesday. Morgan was already out on bound on a DUI charge from 2023 but had missed a court date causing another warrant to be issued. Altogether, he was given a $180,000 bond and his next court date is set for May 31st.

 Osage and Pontotoc counties have been added to the major disaster declaration for Oklahomans who sustained damage from severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began April 25.

 Residents of these counties may be eligible for disaster assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. Eligible applicants may qualify for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to storm damage.

Survivors living in Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray and Okmulgee counties may also be eligible for disaster assistance. Additional counties may be added later.

 Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signs a bipartisan Good Samaritan bill into law.

 The legislation provides legal protections for those that attempt to provide medical assistance to a person suffering a medical emergency related to drug use. The new law will prevent those suffering a drug overdose and bystanders who seek the help of emergency services from being prosecuted for drug possession or use, providing another important tool in the fight to save Kansans from overdoses from fentanyl and controlled substances.

Lawmakers say the new law will allow friends and relatives to be able to call for assistance in an overdose situation without fear of prosecution or arrest.

 An Oklahoma judge is indicted on charges related to a drive-by shooting.

 A Multi-County Grand Jury handed down charges yesterday against Garfield County Associate District Judge Brian Lovell related to a February 2023 drive-by shooting near the town of Bison.

The indictment alleges that on Feb. 12, 2023, Lovell fired a gun at the residence of his brother-in-law in Bison, Oklahoma. Two days after the shooting, Lovell reported that a firearm was stolen from his vehicle.

He faces one count of use of a vehicle to facilitate the discharge of a firearm and an alternative count of discharging a firearm into a dwelling. Both are felonies.

The 59 year old Lovell also faces eight felony counts of deadly conduct for a similar incident in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 11, 2023. Investigators allege he used the same gun, a Glock 23 .40-caliber, in both the Texas and Oklahoma shootings.

Tomorrow is the 24^th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

All are encouraged to bag healthy, non-perishable food items and place them near your mailbox tomorrow. Area cities participating this year include Coffeyville, Independence, Parsons and Caney. Donations in Coffeyville will go to Genesis and the Salvation Army.  Independence Rural Carrier Katie Uncapher says you can start leaving food at or in your mailbox today.

Organizers say more than 44 million Americans are unsure where their next meal will come from, and the timing of this drive is critical as many food pantries are usually depleted this time of year after their Thanksgiving and Christmas donations. Over the years, letter carriers have collected well over 1.9 billion pounds of food across the USPS Network.

A Cherryvale High School student's artwork is selected by a U.S. Congressman.

Junior Morgan Lasco learned that one of her paintings will soon be hanging in Representative Jake LaTurner's office in Washington, D.C. Lasco submitted her painting, which she titled “Freedom and Rebirth,” in a congressional art competition sponsored by the Congressional Institute. Each U.S. congress member is allowed to sponsor an art competition featuring high school artists from their home districts.

LaTurner picked four exhibits to be placed in his office as a display of Kansas-grown talent. Lasco’s painting won first place in the Creativity division in LaTurner’s district. 

Three Field Kindley High School seniors receive scholarships from the Coffeyville Recreation Commission.

CRC awarded those scholarships to FKHS Seniors Zac Becker, Drake Leeds and Greg Frazier. CRC says all three have excelled at academics and sports all while being great CRC employees. Frazier received a $500 scholarship while Becker and Leeds both received $250 scholarships.

CRC thanks all three for their dedication to CRC and helping them “Build Community Through Recreation”.

The Cherryvale Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a potential suspect.

The man is a person of interest in a theft that occurred in Cherryvale early yesterday evening. Cherryvale PD is asking anyone who recognizes him to contact them at (620)336-2400 and reference Cherryvale Case number 24-134.

Cherryvale PD says anyone can also message their Facebook page but it is not monitored 24/7. 

Photos can be seen below.

An Independence man is arrested after failing to comply with an eviction notice.

Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies arrived at a residence at 501 South 8^th Street in Independence with a court order and writ of assistance to evict Daniel Brault. When deputies informed Brault of the eviction he slammed the door shut and locked it. Despite attempts to communicate through the window, Brault refused to exit.

After Brault failed to comply, deputies entered the home and found him barricaded in a bedroom. After multiple failed attempts to get him to surrender, deputies forced open the bedroom door. They deployed a less-lethal Noise Flash Diversionary Device and took Brault into custody without any injuries.

 CCC EMT and paramedic students receive insight into the medevac operations of the Kansas National Guard earlier today, as the Guard landed a Black Hawk helicopter on the green space north of the student union.

 The event was open to CCC EMT and paramedic students, as well as local emergency services personnel, to gain an understanding of the crucial role played by medevac teams in emergency medical services, as well as the career paths available to those interested in the field.

 Ryan McCune, Vice President for Student Services and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Coffeyville Community College, says the presentation was both informative and beneficial for those considering a career in emergency medical services.

*Photos courtesy of Andrew Elrod, Digital Commmunications Specialist at CCC

 Schools in Miami, OK, now have an interim superintendent.

 The Miami Public Schools have hired Keni Iverson to serve as as superintendent while the search for their next superintendent gets underway.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Keni Iverson stated, “I’m excited to get back to the Wardog Way and do what’s best for our students by working collaboratively with our admin and community so we can build a strong foundation for the next superintendent.”

Iverson has previously served as an assistant superintendent and is expected to help the district continue to pursue academic excellence.

The Miami Public Schools Board of Education is confident that Keni Iverson’s leadership will continue to propel the district forward on its path of success. Chuck McKibben, board president said, “I’m extremely proud of the board and how we handled the process of appointing an interim. The collaboration, discussions, and passion are motivated by our desire to do what is best for our students and to provide support for our district employees.” 

Iverson fills the position after the abrupt resignation by Nick Highsmith last week.

The district will officially begin the search for a new superintendent on July 1.

 Parsons USD 503 recognizes the accomplishments of the Class of 2024 at their Senior Recognition Banquet.

 159 scholarships totaling more than two hundred thousand dollars were awarded to 53 Parsons High School serniors.

Awards were also handed out for Kansas Scholars Curriculum graduates, Kansas State Scholars, and President's Education Excellence.

The 2024 Kansas Scholars Curriculum Graduates included Timmy Chen, Davis Clark, Braylee Cramer, Maryssa Drummond, Amelia Hetlinger, DeAva Holman, Adian Marshall, Jayce Quirin, Isabella Ramsey, Autumn Shields, Sydney Webb and Landon Wheat. The Scholars Curriculum consists of completing four years of English; four years of math; three years of science; three years of social studies, and two years of world (foreign) language.

Of those, students named 2024 Kansas State Scholars were Davis Clark, Amelia Hetlinger, DeAva Holman, Adian Marshall, and Isabella Ramsey, based on ACT composite scores and grade point average.

The 2024 President’s Education Excellence Award winners were Davis Clark, Amelia Hetlinger, Adian Marshall, Carter Swanson and Jayce Quirin. The President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence recognizes students who have achieved academic. President's Excellence requires a grade point average of 3.5 or above and score of 85 percentile or above on either the reading or math sections of the ACT.

Clark was also the recipient of the 2024 Certificate for Exceptional Academic Performance for earning a composite score of 32 or above on the ACT.

 The Sedan City Council meets and approves the purchase of some necessary items for the city.

 At this week's meeting City Superintendent John Miller told council members that his crews needed new safety equipment. Miller says it's time for the city to replace some worn-out basic items.

The council voted unanimously to approve the purchase for Miller's department. Police Chief Kirk Richardson also asked for approval to purchase some much-needed supplies.

The City council gave the go-ahead to spend sixteen hundred and sixty dollars for ammunition.

 An Oklahoma family thanks a Kansas woman for saving the life of their child.

 The family was eating breakfast at a Ponca City restaurant last August when their 2 year old child picked up a quarter and put it in her mouth. The child immediately began to choke on the coin.

Fortunately, seated at a nearby table was the director of the Ark City, Kansas, Fire & EMS Director Jeri Wheatley, who was having breakfast with her husband. Wheatley noticed the child was choking and sprang into action. She grabbed the small child, told the parents that she was a paramedic, and then performed the Heimlich Maneuver on the toddler. Wheatley said the child threw up on her, but the quarter came out.

The child's family – who are members of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma – recently traveled to Ark City to thank Wheatley and present her with the gift of a tribal blanket.

 A Wichita man is sentenced for making threats against the President.

 28 year old Cody McCormick was sentenced yesterday to serve one year and nine months in prison for threatening to kill President Joe Biden.

McCormick pleaded guilty in the case after he sent a Facebook message to a Wichita TV station in April 2023. In that message, he detailed his plans regarding the President. The U.S. Secret Service interviewed McCormick and he told them he would kidnap President Biden and force him to resign from office if McCormick did not get the help he needed.

The US Secret Service and the Wichita Police Department investigated the case.

 A Miami firefighter braves the flood waters of the Neosho River to rescue a homeless man.

 Late last week, a call came into Miami 9-1-1 with reports of a man clinging to a tree in the flood waters near the Neosho River Bridge on Highway 69.

Miami Police used a drone with thermal imaging to locate the man who had been hanging onto the tree for almost two days. The man had been living near the location in a wooded area and awoke when the area flooded, leaving him unable to reach dry land.

The man and his five dogs are reported to now be safe and in good condition.

The Miami Police Department, Miami Fire Department, GRDA, and BIA, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and Integris EMS all aided in the rescue operation.

 More severe weather hits the four-state area.

 Yesterday afternoon, after severe thunderstorms moved through the Miami area in northeast Oklahoma. Miami's tornado sirens were activated as rotation was spotted in the storm system. There was substantial damage to some houses in southern Ottawa county but no injuries were reported in this latest round of severe weather.

 A Wellington woman is seriously injured after her motorcycle strikes a deer near Winfield.

 53 year old Salena Dennis was injured yesterday morning when a deer attempted to cross US-160 in front of her. Dennis was unable to stop her Harley-Davidson F-L-H series motorcycle and struck the animal.

The accident occurred just after 5am about 5 miles west of Winfield. Dennis was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

 A Bartlesville woman is in stable condition following a single vehicle crash.

 Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that just after 8pm last night, a 2020 Ford Edge, driven by 62 year old Debra Sipes of Bartlesville was westbound on US-64 approximately 4 mile east of Bixby when her vehicle departed roadway to the left coming to rest on its top in a creek bed.

Sipes was taken to St. Francis Tulsa by Bixby Fire/EMS and admitted in stable condition with head, trunk internal injuries and arm injuries.

OHP reports the driver was sleepy and inattentive at the time of the crash.

 A Skiatook man is dead following a traffic collision Wednesday near Hominy.

  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 72-year-old Harvey Jones of Skiatook was driving a 1997 Chevrolet pickup on State Highway 20 about 7 miles east of Hominy, when it collided with a 2006 Kenworth semi driven by 44-year-old Earl McDoulett of Claremore just after 11a.m. yesterday morning.

 Jones was pronounced deceased at the scene by Hominy Fire. McDoulett was treated and released at the scene.

 OHP is investigating the cause of the crash.

The National Weather Service in Tulsa has completed its damage survey of the tornado that hit Barnsdall and Bartlesville.

The EF-4 tornado developed Monday southeast of Hominy, and crossed Highway 20, causing significant tree damage and snapping numerous metal power poles. The tornado hit Barnsdall and caused severe damage to the wax plant on the southeast side of town, then damaged and destroyed numerous homes on the east side of town. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 175 miles per hour, which is within the EF-4 category.

The tornado moved across the southern portion of Bartlesville, then across the eastern side of town, damaging homes and businesses. A squall line merged with the tornadic supercell and finally ended the tornado process on the northeast side of Bartlesville. The tornado lasted about 45 minutes and covered almost 40 miles and had a maximum width of at least 1,500 yards.

Photo: NWS Tulsa

 The City of Parsons honors a city employee for years of public service.

 At this week's Parsons City Commission meeting, the city announced a special celebration to honor City Manager Debbie Lamb. Mayor Eric Strait makes the pronouncement.

Lamb was first hired by the city on May 6, 1974 and has served in 10 different roles in her fifty years of employment.

In other business, hay bids were awarded for various city properties, a five year subscription was renewed for records management for the police department, and a discussion of vehicles being used for living purposes.

 Osage County Commissioners hold an emergency meeting to address storm needs.

 The Osage County Commission met yesterday in an emergency session to discuss a disaster declaration following Monday's tornado in Barnsdall. A representative from the American Red Cross was on hand

to speak on what they would be doing to assist in the coming weeks. 

Osage County Emergency Jerry Roberts added that as of 11 a.m. there were 300 power poles snapped and 150 PSO employees in Barnsdall. 

 Cleanup efforts continue across Bartlesville, as signs of improvement are slowly being made. Road crews continue to work along Washington Blvd and Frank Phillips Blvd, allowing traffic has been to open back up for two-way flow. 

  Washington County Emergency Manager Kary Cox says damage surveys have been completeand processing began overnight. He added that there are several utility companies, along with county and city road crews helping clear the streets.

 Several remain without power this evening, mainly in the area that the cleanup process continues along Washington Blvd. Cox says there is a time line to have the power fully up and running.

As crews continue to clean up, Cox asks that you continue to stay away from the effected area so that they can continue to work. 

 Tuesday night's meeting of the Independence Zoning and Planning Commission was standing room only as residents turned out to voice their disapproval of the city's new comprehensive plan.

 Nearly one hundred residents from the rural areas around Independence packed into the small meeting room for a chance to address members of the Planning Commission regarding a map that is a part of the draft version of the plan. The map has been circulating on social media for the past few weeks. A typo on the map erroneously labels the planning boundary for the city as the proposed city limits. The mis-labeled boundary stretches east of the city, along US-160 to the junction of US-169, prompting concerns by residents that the city was planning to annex the area. A representative from the consulting group that prepared the map was on hand. Abby Eckberg of Confluence says the city has no plans to annex the area.

The City of Independence stated last week and again at last night's meeting that the boundary is for planning purposes only and that no annexation is planned. Nearly twenty people spoke against the plan. 

Here is a sample of what they said.

The planning commission voted to approve the revised plan despite the resident opposition.

 Oklahoma State Senator Julie Daniels has words of thanks for first responders for their efforts during and after the recent tornado outbreak.

The Bartlesville Republican urged residents of Bartlesville and Senate District 29 to contact her office if they need assistance following the storm by calling 405-521-5634 or via email at Julie.Daniels@oksenate.gov .

Local officials are asking city residents to stay off the roads and remain home at this time due to downed power lines and street closures. This will also make it easier for representatives from the city and Washington County Emergency Management to survey the damage. Residents can check the City of Bartlesville and the Washington County Emergency Management Facebook pages for frequent updates on storm cleanup efforts.

Residents are also asked to report home, business and farm damage to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management so local and state authorities can get a full picture of the destruction and connect Oklahomans to aid. Visit damage.ok.gov to file a report.

B the Light Mission, located at 219 N. Virginia Ave., is serving as a shelter open to anyone displaced by the storm. The Salvation Army has set up a mobile unit at Wilson Elementary School, located at 245 N. Spruce Ave., to provide free meals and bottled water to residents.

To seek assistance from the American Red Cross, call 1-800-733-2767.

The tornado that struck Bartlesville Monday evening is believed to have been an EF3. The storm caused significant damage in southwest and northeast Bartlesville. No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported at this time.

 ConocoPhillips announced yesterday a $400,000 disaster relief donation after recent tornadoes in Bartlesville and Barnsdall.

 In a news release, the company said the funds will be allocated between the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Washington County Emergency Management to support relief efforts.

The company will also match donations from ConocoPhillips’ U.S. employees.

 Coffeyville Community College announces the selection of renowned foot ball coach Willie Fritz as the 2024 commencement speaker.

 Fritz – a Shawnee Mission native – served as Defensive Coordinator for the CCC football team from 1987 to 1990. During this time, Coach Fritz played an instrumental role in shaping the success of the Red Ravens' football program, contributing to the development of student-athletes both on and off the field.

Fritz went on to have success at Tulane University including earning back-to-back American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards and led the Green Wave to remarkable successes, including consecutive appearances in the American Athletic Conference Championship games and a thrilling Cotton Bowl victory against USC. In December of 2023, Fritz, was appointed the 16th Head Coach to the University of Houston, bringing with him his 30 years of greater football knowledge.

Fritz will share the knowledge and wisdom he has built over the three decades of his career with graduates at the CCC commencement exercises on May 11^th in Nellis Hall West on the CCC Campus.

**UPDATE: Fields was released Tuesday afternoon due to further investigation needed on this case. During the initial investigation Monday night and Tuesday, it was determined that further investigation should be conducted.**

A Pittsburg man is arrested after a shots fired incident in Parsons.

At around 2:20 yesterday morning, the Parsons Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the 3100 block of Crawford Avenue. The incident happened after a fight between a resident and another individual, 22-year-old Johntae L. Fields. The fight escalated, leading to the firing of the gun. Fields fled the scene on foot before getting into a car and fleeing the area.

PPD is actively investigating the incident, which is being treated as a case of aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm. PPD detectives were able to locate Fields in Pittsburg with the assistance of Pittsburg Police Detectives. Fields was arrested by Parsons Detectives and will await formal charges.

Field Kindley High School is having a Baccalaureate for graduating seniors for the first time in several decades. Pastor Doug Mund says this is a christian service sponsored by parents and churches.

Mund says this year's keynote speaker will be State Representative Dr. Ron Bryce. Baccalaureate will be at 7:00pm on Sunday in the FKHS auditorium. The event isn't mandatory for seniors but everyone in the community is invited to attend.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issues an executive order offering a $5,000 reward for information in an Augusta homicide case.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Augusta Department of Public Safety have been investigating the murder of 93-year-old Joanne R. Johnson since she was discovered dead in her home on September 3, 2023.  The family of Johnson has offered to match the reward for information, increasing the total reward to $10,000.

Johnson was found by a family member after she was killed in her home, last Labor Day weekend. Authorities believe she was killed between Saturday evening, September 2, 2023 and Sunday evening, September 3, 2023. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME or Augusta Crime Stoppers at 316-775-0055.

 Washington County Emergency Management crews are busy assessing the damage to the city of Bartlesville after last night's tornado.

 SEK Media's Kaleb Potter was in the Bartlesville area early this morning and says there is quite a bit of damage around town.

County Emergency Director Kary Cox says several agencies are pitching in to help including the Salvation Army and Baptist Disaster Relief. The Red Cross has also been asked to help with food delivery to feed those impacted by the storm.

No official numbers have been released in regards to injuries, but Cox says there were a few. He says Bartlesville EMS made at least five transports to the hospital, but that all of the injuries were minor.

As clean up begins, emergency crews ask that anyone not impacted by the tornado to continue to avoid the damaged areas.

 Revenues were over $100-thousand for the month of April for the Caney Grocery.

 During their regular session meeting last night, the Caney City Council tabled a motion to discontinue the act of moving money from the water fund to make up the deficit in the grocery store expenses until the latest ninety day examination period of the store is completed.

 City Administrator Kelley Zellner says April's numbers are encouraging.

 Zellner says the focus continues to be keeping operating expenses as low as possible, while providing goods and services to customers. He says one possible way to lessen expenses is with a change to the deli.

 Other action items during the meeting was the approval of the hiring of Angela Summers as Deputy Clerk / Tresaurer, and the approval of the painting of light poles on 4^th Street. The winning bid was from JT Paint and Design for $8,500.

 Authorities in Barnsdall are still trying to assess the damage from last night's tornado and storms.

 Osage County Emergency Management Director Jerry Roberts says there was extensive damage to the town and confirms one person was fatally injured.

Authorities say there were an additional seven or eight injuries reported as well as one firefighter who was treated for chest pains. Roberts says the most important thing is for onlookers to stay away from the town so that clean up can begin.

The Osage County Commission held an emergency meeting today to begin the process of a disaster declaration.

 Cities and towns across the four state area are cleaning up today after tornadoes and severe thunderstorms roll across the states.

 The City of Joplin suffered storm damage and power outages as the same storm system that hit Barnsdall and Bartlesville moved through southwest Missouri as well. Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez says the most important part of spring storms is preparedness.

Cortez says being ready is important because one of the seasons in this part of the country is storm season.

Oklahoma suffered serious damage near Barnsdall with at least one fatality reported. Bartlesville also suffered damage to buildings and power outages. In Kansas, the city of Howard was left without power and, in the northeastern part of the state areas around Abilene and Manhattan were also hit.

 The City of Miami has two new city council members.

 Dustin Pittman and Kyla Jones were sworn in at last night's city council meeting. Miami City Clerk Melissa Moore did the swearing in.

Pittman will represent Ward 4 and Jones Ward 3. They will replace outgoing council members Dwain sundberg and Brad Williams.

 Crawford County authorities are looking for a suspect in a non-fatal shooting.

 The Crawford County Sheriff's Office is looking for 34 year old Steven M. Taylor, Jr., of Pittsburg in connection to a Sunday shooting. The victim in the case is 34 year old Keith Mitchell, also of Pittsburg. Mitchell was treated for a gun shot in the Emergency Room of Ascension Via Christi hospital around 2am Sunday morning and is expected to survive his injuries.

Police are still looking for the suspect Taylor. Taylor is described as a black male, 5'5” and 180 pounds. He was last seen driving a 2015 blue/gray Jeep Compass with Kansas tags and a missing rear window.

Anyone with information on the crime should contact the Crawford County Sheriff's Office at 620-724-8274

 A two vehicle accident in Neosho County claims the life of an Arkansas man.

 Just after 3pm yesterday, 40 year old Branson Dean of Alma, Arkansas, was traveling southbound on U.S. 169 near Earlton or 8 miles south of Chanute. Dean attempted to pass and struck another vehicle driven by 51 year old Clayton Stafford of Jefferson City, Missouri, head-on. Dean was pronounced dead at the scene while Stafford was taken to KU Medical Center with serious injuries. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

A number of communities are dealing with power outages and damage this morning after last night's storms.

In Howard, more than 500 Evergy customers are without power, and school is canceled for West Elk because of the outages. The Elk County Courthouse is also closed today at least through noon because of the outage. All power to Edna was lost around 11 last night, and this morning, 100 customers remain without power. Labette County Emergency Management Director Charlie Morse says a tree fell on a house in Chetopa with reported injuries, and a barn had its roof blown off just east of Coffeyville at 166 and Douglas Road. Power outages continue in northeast Oklahoma, with scattered outages across Bartlesville, Nowata and Pawhuska.

 Towns in Oklahoma and Missouri hit by last night's storms begin the clean up effort.

 Substantial damage was done from Barnsdall to Bartlesville last night as a large tornado moved through the area. Early reports indicate at least one person in the Barnsdall area has died as a result of the severe weather. Downed power lines in the area have left thousands without power and significant damage to structures and homes has been reported. The Barnsdall high School Field House has been opened to those in need of shelter.

Most of the damage in Bartlesville appears to have occurred around the U.S. 75 and Tuxedo area. Washington County Undersheriff Jon Copeland says people need to avoid the storm-damaged areas.

Authorities in the Joplin area also report damage to structures and loss of power as a tornado was reported there between 9^th and 20^th streets from Rangeline to Duquesne. In Elk County, Kansas, near Howard there are about 500 customers without power after severe weather there last night.

According to the National Weather Service, at least fifteen tornadoes touched down in the central U.S. last night, seven of which were in Oklahoma.

Photos of Damage in Bartlesville (Images by Kaleb Potter)

Severe weather season is here and AAA Kansas wants drivers to be prepared.

Storms can strike quickly, so it's important to know how to stay safe on the road. During heavy rain and hail, reduce speed and pull over if visibility is low. Remember, to turn around, don't drown when encountering floodwaters. For lightning, stay in the car but avoid metal and windows. The biggest danger comes from tornadoes.

In the case of a tornado, abandon the car and seek shelter in a sturdy building. As a last resort, take cover in the vehicle by buckling up, ducking below windows, and protecting the head. AAA Kansas also recommends creating a severe weather emergency kit to keep in the car, including food, water, and a flashlight. Following these tips, drivers can stay safe on the roads.

Montgomery County Sheriff deputies arrest two in connection with an ongoing narcotics investigation.

Deputies on patrol in Independence spotted a black Jeep parked near the Main Street overpass and recognized it as a suspect's in a narcotics investigation. Deputies approached the vehicle and identified Quayland Johnson and Trinity Schlegel. Deputies saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the vehicle.

Both were arrested on outstanding warrants and transported to the Department of Corrections. The Jeep was impounded. Following a search warrant, deputies found additional drug paraphernalia and fentanyl pills inside the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and there are additional charges expected to be filed against Johnson and Schlegel for the items found in the vehicle.

 Representatives from Coffeyville Regional Medical Center thank the Montgomery County Commission for their support on a grant application.

 CRMC told Montgomery County Commissioners at today's (yesterday's) meeting that they had received nearly $1.8 million in grant funding from the state of Kansas. The funds come through the Kansas Rural Hospital Administration Grant Program administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. CRMC asked the commission for support for the grant in February. Director of the CRMC Foundation Amy Taylor says the funding will help with construction on the new Primary Care Clinic.

CRMC Chief Operating Officer Lisa Kuehn says contract negotiations are underway to allow the project to be completed on time.

The 12,000 square foot Primary Care Clinic will be located south of the hospital property on 4^th street and will house clinics for Pediatrics, Women's Primary Health, and Primary Care will be housed in the new facility.

 Four people from Nebraska are injured in a weekend car accident near Neosho.

 The single vehicle accident occurred on Friday evening when the 2018 Dodge Charger they were in failed to negotiate a turn. The vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned several times. Witnesses say the car was traveling at speeds in excess of 100mph when the accident occurred. Two of the car's occupants were ejected from the vehicle during the accident.

 The search for a man reported missing after he drove into flood waters last week is over.

 The body of 50 year old Brian Richardson of Pottersville, MO, was discovered around 8am on Satruday morning. Rishardson disappeared after his pick up truck was swept off a bridge by rushing flood waters last Tuesday. He was found by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Underwater Recovery Team.

 Fire crews across southern Missouri respond to a call of a fire at a Verona chemical plant.

 The fire occurred around 7pm last night at the B-C-P Ingredients plant. According to the Aurora Rural Fire Department, the blaze occurred in a building that grinds and dries corn cobs and that the fire began in the dryer.

B-C-P Ingredients has faced violations and fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration since 2021. In July 2023, OSHA said the plant continued to endanger workers.

There were no injuries reported and the investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

 A fifteen-year-old male is dead following a crash on Saturday near Barnsdall, OK.

  Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported the fatality collision happened just after 6 pm at the junction of two county roads near Barnsdall. The 15 year-old juvenile male passenger was pronounced deceased on scene.

 36 year old Weston Lowe of Barnsdall, was transported by Survival Flight to St Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Lowe was admitted in serious condition with head and trunk internal injuries.

 21 year old Trey Taylor, also of Barnsdall, received minor injuries. Another passenger, a 16 year-old juvenile female, was transported by Survival Flight to St Francis Hospital in Tulsa where she was admitted in critical condition with head, trunk internal injuries.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of an inmate at the Topeka Correctional Facility.

 36 year old Asa Hashanna Adams was found unresponsive in her cell on Saturday morning and was pronounced dead by medical staff. The cause of death will be determined by an autopsy.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Adams was serving a life sentence for a 2007 conviction of first-degree murder committed in Sedgwick County.

 The City of Independence is looking to fill an open position on the Tree Board.

  The purpose of this division is to honor the city's rich history of enjoying and preserving local natural resources, and to promote and protect the public health, safety and general welfare by providing for the development of a community forestry plan.

The Board oversees  the planting, maintenance and removal of trees located on public property, or which encroach upon public property, and seeks to enhance the natural beauty of the community. 

Those wanting more information about the position can contact Scott Patton by email at ScottP@IndependenceKS.gov or by calling 620-332-2512.

Applications for the position are due by Noon on May 16^th. For the online application, go here.

 There have been reports of low to no water pressure in multiple areas of Independence this morning.

 The City Water Department is aware of the situation and have crews out working to resolve the issue. There is currently no time table for restoration of services.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

Current Watches for the immediate listening area:

Tornado watch through 11 p.m.:

Elk, Chautauqua, Greenwood

Osage County, OK

***** Update 10 a.m. *****

The area south of Wichita is now included in the highest possible severe weather risk category.  (As seen in updated image)

***** Original Story ******

An outbreak of severe thunderstorms is possible this evening for southeast Kansas.

According to the National Weather Service, the potential for significant weather has now expanded from south central Kansas to southeast Kansas including the Coffeyville area. Hail up to softball size, winds up to 80 mph and some strong and long-track tornadoes are possible. Storms are expected for southeast Kansas between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., although timing could be a bit earlier for Chautauqua, Elk and Osage counties. If storms develop, they are expected to track to the northeast. The rest of the four-state area could see hail up to 2 inches, winds up to 70 mph and tornadoes possible. KGGF will provide severe weather coverage if needed this afternoon and tonight.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Topeka Police Department make an arrest in an officer-involved shooting.

Just before noon today, 34-year-old Terrell D. Hayes-Osby was arrested for the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawfully tampering with electronic monitoring equipment. Hayes-Osby was arrested as he was released from Stormont Vail Hospital where he was recovering from injuries sustained in the shooting.

The attempted murder charge was secured by the KBI who is investigating the officer-involved shooting, where Hayes-Osby fired a pistol multiple times toward TPD officers. The remaining felony charges were secured by TPD in their investigation into the theft at gunpoint of a pickup truck, occurring prior to the shooting at the gas station.

A Parsons Police Officer is honored by the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police.  Corporal Rory Johnson received the Silver Award for Uncommon Valor. This recognition was in honor of his life-saving actions in April 2023.

Corporal Johnson responded to a distress call from former Parsons Officer Luke Schibi at the Parsonian Apartments. Officer Schibi requested assistance after a resident fell through a large window. Recognizing the need for first aid, Johnson applied pressure to a severe abdominal wound while providing support to Officer Schibi, who attended to a leg injury. Corporal Johnson rendering aid until EMS arrived is credited with saving the individual's life.

Nominated by PPD and selected by KACP, Corporal Johnson received this award during the annual KACP conference held at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane.

 Flags in Kansas will be flown at half-staff this Sunday in observance of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day and to honor a Dearing firefighter.

 Governor Laura Kelly issued the directive today for all flags in the state to fly at half mast from sun up to sundown on Sunday. While the order honors all fallen firefighters, Kelly noted the service of Division Chief Martin Smith of the Dearing Fire Department. Division chief Smith passed away unexpectedly in January 2023 after responding to a vehicle accident.

Smith had a long career with the Dearing fire Department. He became a junior firefighter at the age of 16 and later served as a Volunteer Firefighter. He served as Assistant Chief for 26 years and became Chief of the Dearing Division in 2016. Smith had a reputation for being a strong leader, bringing many improvements to the Dearing Fire Department, and expected his volunteer firefighters to be well-trained professionals.

Governor Kelly stated, " “Division Chief Smith selflessly served the people of Montgomery County for nearly 50 years. We will not forget the sacrifices Division Chief Smith made and the work all Kansas firefighters undertake each day to protect Kansans.” 

 Book lovers, take note!

 The Spring Book sale at the Coffeyville Public Library is underway. Librarian Lois Hendricks says it's a chance to grab some great titles.

The library is open until 5pm today and from 9 to 5 Saturday at 311 West 10^th street in Coffeyville.

 One person is injured after a semi truck carrying cattle overturns on a Kansas highway.

 The accident occurred early Thursday morning at around 3:30am on K-14 near Kingman. The Kansas highway Patrol says the semi was traveling north on K-14 when it drifted to the right. The driver then over corrected, causing the truck to overturn. The 55 year old driver was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

The roadway was reopened around noon yesterday (Thursday) after all of the cattle had been recovered.

 An Oklahoma man is taken into custody by U.S. Marshalls on multiple charges.

 22 year old Devon Schubert was arrested Monday in Okay, Oklahoma, afetr attempting to flee from authorities. Schubert was taken to the Wagoner County jail and booked on charges that include kidnapping and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

 The City of Neodesha is looking for candidates for the city commission.

 The city has one commissioner seat up for election this year. The term on current commissioner Emily Vail-Keller is set to expire as she was appointed by the commission to fill the unexpired term left by the resignation of former commissioner Tom Nichol.

The new commissioner would face a primary election in August and a general election in November. Their three year term would begin in January.

Interested candidates must complete and submit the Declaration of Intention and Substantial Interest forms along with a $20 filing to the Wilson County Clerk's Office by noon on June 3^rd. Qualified electors may file a petition in lieu of the filing fee which must be signed by 38 qualified electors of the City. Specific rules and guidelines for the process are in place by the Office of the Kansas Secretary of State.

 The Osage Nation Police Department is investigating after it was discovered that the, "Million Dollar Elm," tree had been cut down on Tuesday evening.

 This is a tree that was planted in 2014 to symbolize the Osage Nation's past and was located next to the Principal Chief's Office.

The Osage Nation Police Department is reviewing footage. A smooth cut halfway through the trunk and yellow paint marks show that this could not have been from the Tuesday evening thunderstorms. The investigation is ongoing.

 A pair of Bartlesville brothers are arrested on larceny charges.

 18 year old Elijah Campbell and his juvenile brother were arrested on Tuesday and face larceny charges stemming from two separate incidents.

According to an affidavit, Campbell and his brother are accused of taking $1300 from a lock box and using the money to purchase cell phones from Walmart on April 16th.

According to a separate affidavit, on Tuesday, the brothers were picked up after a report of someone pointing a gun at a victim. One witness told officers that one of the brothers pointed a gun at his father before fleeing. A pistol was found in a bush near the house where officers located Campbell and his brother.

Both were arrested, and Elijah Campbell is being held on an aggregate bond of $75,000.

 The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says it is keeping a watchful eye on a logjam in the Neosho River.

 The large logjam was caused by downed tree, brush and debris that swept into the river after last weekend's heavy rainfall. The debris in the river has backed up next a bridge on US-60 near Wyandotte. Residents of Miami, who are upstream from the logjam are concerned about flooding. Miami Mayor Bless Parker says area residents should contact their state legislators and demand the Grand River Dam Authority be held accountable.

Miami residents won a major legal victory against G-R-D-A in January when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission found a G-R-D-A responsible for flooding in the Miami area. Parker says the state needs to step in.

ODOT says they have no immediate concern for the structural integrity of the bridge. Authorities say that most of the debris is on the surface of the water, which allows water to continue to flow downstream. This is an important consideration to prevent upstream flooding.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is looking for a suspect whose bond is being revoked on an attempted murder charge.

Earlier this morning, law enforcement received a tip that Josh Ferguson, who is wanted on a bond revocation warrant, was at a residence in southern Baxter Springs. Law Enforcement checked the residence and did not locate Ferguson. The original charge of attempted murder stems from an incident involving one of Ferguson's family members in May 2023.

After clearing the residence, law enforcement then searched the area but did not locate him. Anyone with information on Ferguson's whereabouts should contact the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office at (620)429-3992.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment rescinds the stream advisory for the Verdigris River.

The stream advisory was the result of an oil well spill about 500 feet from the Verdigris River, East of Neodesha. Further field site investigation revealed that the original source of the oil is not discharging to the river and high flow conditions have quickly dispersed and moved any oil in the river past Coffeyville.

The KDHE has determined that water quality conditions in the river are safe for contact and livestock use. Residents are encouraged to take caution when around high, fast-moving water in the river.

 It wasn't a cat stuck in a tree, but it was a dog stuck in a storm drain.

 Firefighter in Wichita rescued the grateful pooch yesterday afternoon after a 9-1-1 call reported the small terrier has fallen into a storm drain. The Wichita Fire Department says the soggy dog's owner arrived on the scene just as they were lifting the canine from the drain.

The dog was not injured and was reunited with his owner.

Photo courtesy Wichita Fire Department

 Residents of Fredonia will soon see higher rates for sewer usage.

 At last night's city commission meeting, commissioners considered a resolution to raise rates for sewer use. City Administrator Wesley Young says part of the reason the rate hike was needed was to help pay for repairs to the system.

Commissioners werer reluctant to raise the rates, but agreed it was a step that neede to be taken. The measure was unanimously approved. The resolution will increase rates for the first one thousand gallons used from $28 to $35. It will also increase the rate for every one thousand gallons after that mark from $4 to $8. Young said the reason for this was to help spread the cost of the rate hike to the city's heavy users.

 Serious charges are made during an Osage County, Oklahoma, forum.

 During this week's Republican Forum, Osage County Clerk Robin Slack made some serious allegations against both former and current county commissioners. Slack said that she believes that not all county purchases are going through her office and that the $10 million courthouse annex is an example.  

Slack says that the Board gave the Osage County Industrial Authority authorization to proceed with a 10.5 million dollar bond to finance the annex project in late 2021. Slack says Osage County citizens had already voted against the measure. 

Slack says that Everett Piper, who stepped down as County Commissioner for District One in March, gave a presentation stating that the county would see a loss of nearly one million dollars. The Board converted the bond from an 18-month bond to a 30-year bond.

Everett Piper calls Slack's accusations untrue. Piper says Slack is intentionally misrepresenting the situation.Piper added that  every step of the requisitioning process has been reviewed and approved by legal counsel.  

Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher also called Slack's comments were inaccurate.

 A bus stolen from a Kansas church is recovered in Texas.

 The First Christian Church in Medicine Lodge reported the bus stolen earlier this week after it was reportedly seen traveling at a high rate of speed outside of the city. The church had also reported two suspicious people in the area of the bus.

The bus was eventually located in Wichita Falls, TX, but no suspects were found. Texas authorities are continuing to search for the two suspects. When police in Wichita Falls are finished processing the vehicle, the church will be able to reclaim it.

 One person is dead after crashing into a tree on the campus of Emporia State University.

 The accident happened just after noon Wednesday. Reports indicate that the car failed to stop at a stop sign, left the roadway, and hit the tree. The driver of the car was taken to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Officers from the Emporia Police Department and the Emporia State Police Department responded to the scene. Due to the nature of the accident, the victim's name is not being released.

 The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says it is keeping a watchful eye on a logjam in the Neosho River.

 The large logjam was caused by downed tree, brush and debris that swept into the river after last weekend's heavy rainfall. The debris in the river has backed up next a bridge on US-60 near Wyandotte.

ODOT says they have no immediate concern for the structural integrity of the bridge. Authorities say that most of the debris is on the surface of the water, which allows water to continue to flow downstream. This is an important consideration to prevent upstream flooding. Any removal of the debris would have to be done from the water and current water levels are too high for that to be done safely.

 Miami Mayor Bless Parker has been a vocal critic of the Grand River Dam Authority and says little is being done to prevent upstream flooding.

 Two men are sentenced to time in prison for arson in northeast Oklahoma.

 30 year old Justin Gering of Fairland, OK, and 23 year old Tyler Tavis of Miami, were both sentenced to serve 5 years in prison for a fire at the Ottawa County Jail. They will also serve a year of supervised release following their prison terms.

The men both entered a guilty plea in March to a charge of Damage by Fire of Property Owned by an Institution Receiving Federal Funding.

 County courthouse improvements again take center stage at this week's Nowata County commission meeting.

 Nowata County Treasurer Rachel Marrs says upkeep on air filters in the courthouse could be better.

District Attorney Will Drake also updated commissioners on possible litigation against Nowata County.

This topic was covered in previous weeks during an executive session . In other business, commissioners accepted a bid on equipment for road construction and accepted a declaration of surplus on a 2016 copier.

The Nowata County Commissioners will meet again next Monday at 9 am at the Nowata County Courthouse Annex, and the meeting is open to the public.

 Kansas total tax collections for April are up.

 Governor Laura Kelly announced yesterday that tax receipts for April were $101 million or nearly 8% above estimates. Total tax revenues are up more than 9% from this time last year.

Kelly says that those numbers underscore the importance of responsible tax relief. Last week, the governor vetoed a bipartisan tax bill that passed unanimously in the Kansas House and with an overwhelming majority of the Senate. She later presented the legislature with her own version of a tax plan.

State Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart credited the increase in funds to processing 63,000 more 'balance due' checks from taxpayers than at this time last year. He also said that the increase for April is really just a carrying forward of payments that would normally be processed in May. As a result, tax receipts in May will likely be lower than estimates.

A culvert replacement project will start next week north of Sedan.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, work should start on Monday to replace a culvert on K-99 about three miles north of Sedan. Lane width will be reduced to 11 feet and the speed limit will be reduced during the course of the project. Temporary signals will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone and drivers can expect brief delays. Weather permitting, the work should be finished by the end of September. KDOT awarded the construction contract of $816,00 to Bruce Davis Construction LLC, Emporia.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office receives a grant through a local business.

The Dickey Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Dickey’s Barbecue, is presenting a $11,000 grant to the sheriff's office. This grant will support the purchase of law-enforcement specific drones for interior tactical operations. The drones provide an added layer of safety for officers responding to emergencies.

Former Independence City Commissioner and Owner of Independence Dickey's BBQ Gary Hogsett says they appreciate everything the first responders do to make our region safe and it is a privilege to support their efforts.

 Independence Community College welcomes a former student as the 2024 commencement speaker.

 Sam Ford is an award-winning television journalist whose work has received many accolades including the AP, New York, and Edward R. Murrow awards, along with numerous regional Emmys. Ford has also been recognized by the Washington Association of Black Journalists and the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. He recently retired as the D.C. Bureau Chief for WJLA in Washington D.C.

Ford will be the keynote speaker at ICC's graduation ceremony on May 11^th at Memorial Hall in Independence.

 Montgomery County reminds residents that second half property taxes are due next Friday, May 10^th.

 Taxes can be paid in person at the county treasurer's office on the first floor of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Independence. Office hours for the treasurer's office are 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. Mail-in property tax payments must be postmarked by May 10^th.

Anyone with questions can call 620-330-1100

 For those cleaning up from the recent storms, the City of Sedan has announced that the city dump is open today.

 They are accepting storm debris in the form of trees and brush only. Anyone with questions can contact the Sedan City Hall at 620-725-3193

 Authorities in Fredonia are warning of a utility scam that has been circulating recently.

 Fredonia utility customers are reporting that they have received a call from the utility company. The caller states their account is past due or there is a credit on the utility account. In either scenario, the caller is requesting immediate payment over the phone or bank information to refund the credit. Never give out your personal information over the phone before verifying the caller.

The City notes that the City of Fredonia Water and Light Department will, on occasion, make calls prior to disconnects, but they do not take payments over the phone. The staff will provide the 800 number for which the payment should be made, along with the customer’s utility account number. If at any time you are suspicious of a caller, hang up and call the utility office directly to verify account status.

 Bartlesville welcomes a new fire chief.

 Former Bartlesville firefighter H.C. Call has been tapped to lead the Bartlesville Fire Department following Chief David Topping’s retirement in June.

Call began his career in the fire service when he joined Bartlesville Fire Department in 2001 as a firefighter. He was promoted to driver in 2014 and also served as a relief captain. He left the department in 2017 to accept his current position as fire chief with the Collinsville Fire Department.

Call has earned several degrees throughout his career, including a Bachelor of Science degree from Rogers State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass. He has also completed the Oklahoma Executive Fire Officer Leadership Program, an advanced leadership program designed to support Oklahoma fire service leaders.

Call is set to take over as Bartlesville fire chief on May 29

 Rain over the weekend continues to fill Hulah and Copan lakes, with Hulah dam gates open for the first time in about two years.

 According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hulah Lake is nearly 10 feet above normal and nine of the gates are open at the dam, draining water at a rate of just over 2,000 cubic feet per second.

Copan Lake is 1 foot above normal. One low-flow gate is open 10%, releasing 5 cubic feet of water per second.

 An Owasso man is sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison on charges of child pornography.

 33-year-old Michael Joseph Moreland was sentenced to the prison term on Tuesday. The term will followed by 10 years of supervised release after being found guilty of receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography in Indian County.

According to court documents, between June 2022 and May 2023, Moreland knowingly received, distributed and possessed nearly 3,000 images and 50 videos of child pornography on his computer. In the days leading up to Moreland’s arrest, he was frequently in the top five and often the number one downloader of child pornography in Oklahoma.

A federal statute for victims of child pornography allows defendants found guilty of child pornography trafficking offenses to pay restitution to known victims. The court in this case ordered $15,000 in victim restitution.

Moreland will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

 The Grand River Dam Authority closes a boat ramp at Twin Bridges State Park near Wyandotte, OK.

 The ramp is near a large logjam on the Neosho River caused by flooding due to the recent rainfall.

Miami Mayor Bless Parker says responsibility for the water system falls squarely on the G-R-D-A and that they need to be held accountable by the state.

The City of Miami recently won a lawsuit against the G-R-D-A regarding flooding in Miami, claiming the Dam Authority failed to properly control flood waters. There is also a civil suit involving more than 450 property owners currently working its way through the legal system.

 The Missouri State Highway Patrol along with several other law enforcement agencies in Ozark County, Missouri, continue their efforts to find a man who was swept away by flood waters.

 Early yesterday morning, a woman called 9-1-1 to say her boyfriend's pickup truck had been washed off a bridge by fast-moving flood waters. Authorities later recovered the man's vehicle about 100 yards downstream from the bridge, but the man was not located.

The Ozark County Sheriff's Office urges all drivers to use extreme caution around flood waters and to remember to “turn around, don't drown.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Underwater Recovery Team will continue its search efforts for the missing man today.

 Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signs House Bill 4156.

 The immigration reform bill would penalize those in the country illegally. The first offense will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a maximum $500 fine. That individual will then be required to leave the state within 72 hours.

Subsequent offenses or offenses committed during a crime will be a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and $1,000 fine. As with the first offense, the individual will have to leave the state within 72 hours.

Oklahoma House Democrats were extremely vocal in their opposition of the bill, saying that it encourages racial profiling and attacks current undocumented Oklahomans who contribute millions in tax dollars every year.

 Kansas lawmakers override governor's veto on abortion bill.

 The Kansas legislature voted on Monday to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto of House Bill 2749. The bill would require medical care facilities and providers to report the reasons for each abortion provided at the facility or by the provider to the Secretary of Health and Environment.

The move to override the veto passed the House 84 to 41 and in the Senate by a vote of 27 to 10.

A marginal chance of severe weather is possible this afternoon and evening for the four states.

The threat will arrive late this afternoon and includes the potential for baseball-sized hail, 70 mph wind gusts and a possible tornado. Southeast Kansas may not see much storm development as the best chance will be west of I-135. Stay tuned to KGGF for more updates and information should severe weather threaten the area.

The National Weather Service has completed their damage surveys from this weekend's storms.

County coordinator Kris Marple says the Emergency Management team is working to track road, bridge, and structure damage.

Storms developed during the afternoon hours over the Flint Hills on Saturday, April 27th. As they progressed east, the storms started to produce tornadoes, two of which were rated an EF-2.

One of the EF-2 tornadoes formed southwest of Fredonia and ended just three miles west of the city limits. Damage was largely confined to trees and outbuildings but one home did sustain significant damage.

On the same storm track, an EF-0 tornado started two miles west of Fredonia and caused damage to some buildings at the fairgrounds.

County Commissioner Andrew Miller says this could have been much worse for the county.

Another EF-2 started four miles northeast of Coyville and ended four miles south-southwest of Yates Center. Most of the damage was to outbuildings and trees.

Finally, an EF-1 tornado started 5 miles east of Benedict with most of the damage to trees and outbuildings. In addition, a metal roof was damaged on a home and a horse trailer was knocked on its side.

Lead Photo: EF-2 damage near Fredonia, NWS

Photo: EF-0 Damage in Fredonia

Photo: EF-1 Damage east of Benedict