Another Summer Celebration is in the books, marking 10 years of the event at Walter Jonson Park in Coffeyville.

Organizer Brady Smith says the total count came in at 32 food vendors and 90 merchandise records, which be believes is a new record.

The day started out with a 5K that was won by Bennett Thompson, who says it was well attended.

Curtis Foster says the car show saw good attendance at around 100 total cars, trucks and bikes.  Curtis announces the winner of the Best of Show.

Denise York and Debbie Carter organized the kiddie car show and say over 20 children participated.  All entrants also earned awards and "gas money," although the top prizes were also announced.

A cornhole tournament organized by South Coffeyville residents also drew in 16 teams.  A Blackstone grill was also given away to a ticket holder present during the band concert.

Organizer Gail smith says he was happy with how the day turned out.

The event wrapped up with a large fireworks display that took a crew of 11 a total of four days to set up according to Smith.  While the event is always free to attend, it was made possible by the generous support of local businesses and organizations.

Update 8:20 p.m.

Thunderstorms are developing in northeast Oklahoma, but according to the latest from the National Weather Service, Coffeyville is expected to stay dry for Summer Celebration.

While storms remain possible, the expection is for the majority of storm coverage to greatly decrease by 10 pm.  KGGF will continue to monitor the situation during the evening.

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

Severe thunderstorms are possible across the KGGF listening area this evening, mainly for northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect through 10 p.m. for the following counties:

.    OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BLAINE               CADDO               CANADIAN
CLEVELAND            CREEK               CUSTER
GARFIELD             GRADY               GRANT
KAY                  KINGFISHER          LINCOLN
LOGAN                MAYES               MCCLAIN
NOBLE                NOWATA              OKFUSKEE
OKLAHOMA             OKMULGEE            OSAGE
PAWNEE               PAYNE               POTTAWATOMIE
ROGERS               SEMINOLE            TULSA
WAGONER              WASHINGTON          WASHITA

Summer celebration is this Saturday, July 11th at Walter Johnson Park in Coffeyville.

Below is a schedule of some of the main events. All times are approximate:

7:00 am  - 1K/5K Run/Walk registration
7:30 am  - race starts
8:00 am  - car show registration opens
8:00 am  - kiddie car show registration opens (Ron Stevenson Building)
11:00 am - corn hole registration
12:30 pm - uncle sam at Ron Stevenson Building
1:00 pm  - cornhole tournament starts
1:30 pm  - kiddie car show
2:00 pm  - car show awards
3-4 pm   - poker run starts (after car show awards)
5-6 pm   - Backroads Band and Retro Rockerz start
9:45 pm  - largest fireworks show in SEK! (music broadcast on US 98.1 FM)

Other all-day events: daytime DJ, water slides, food/merch vendors, swap meet

For LIVE coverage, tune to The Mighty 690 during Open Line from 9-11 and through the day, then tune to US 98.1 from 6-8 p.m. and around 9:45 for the official fireworks soundtrack!

The Montgomery County Republican Party and the Republican Women of Montgomery County are hosting a Republican Candidate Forum next weekend.

Kansas State Senator Virgil Peck says they will have candidates from the state wide races including governor.  Peck says there will also be candidates there from local races.

Peck says he encourages all registered republicans to attend and get a chance to hear from the candidates. The forum is Saturday, July 18^th from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Civic Center located at 410 North Penn Avenue in Independence. The event is free to attend.

Three Parsons High School students are bringing home a national title.

Parsons FCCLA Students Sadie Ray, Cadence Manners and Lauren Forbes took first place in the nation in the FCCLA Repurpose Redesign Level 3 competition.  School officials say the team represented Parsons High School, Kansas, and the community on the national stage, earning the championship through their creativity and hard work.

The community is invited to help welcome the national champions home. If flights remain on schedule, a police escort will bring the team back to Parsons this evening. Residents are encouraged to gather at Parsons High School by 8:30pm or line up along 32^nd Street leading to the school to cheer on the champions as they arrive home.

The City of Coffeyville provides an update on the 8^th Street project.

Deputy Director of Public Works Thomas Osborn says the project is on time to finish in September.  Osborn says the current 8^th Street pavement project is out to bid.

The City began the project at the end of March.

Hot weather can be dangerous for rabbits and chickens during county fair season. Wildcat Extension Agent Adaven Rohling reminds exhibitors to take steps to prevent heat stress.

Make sure your animals always have fresh, cool water and keep cages in a shaded, well-ventilated area. Frozen water bottles or cooling tiles can help keep rabbits cool, and fans can improve airflow around both rabbits and poultry.

Do not overcrowd cages, and watch for signs of heat stress. Chickens may pant or hold their wings away from their bodies. Rabbits may lie stretched out, become sluggish, or stop eating.

Taking these simple steps will help keep your animals healthy, comfortable, and ready for the show ring.

Wilson County Rural Fire and the Neodesha Fire Department responds to several small fires.

The fires were all reported on the roadside along US-400 between Neodesha and Fredonia on Thursday. The fires were all quickly extinguished with no damage or injuries reported.

Firefighters remind residents and drivers alike that the recent hot weather has allowed brush and grasses to dry along roadways making spot fires more likely. Drivers are asked to make sure vehicle are not dragging chains or tie straps that might spark a fire and that all motorists avoid throwing lit cigarettes out of windows.

Elk County Rural Fire receives a donation of drinking water from Anheuser-Busch.

Earlier this week, the company presented the Rural Fire Department with a pallet of canned water. The total donation consisted of more than 2,000 cans of drinking water and was made possible through the National Volunteer Fire Council and Demo Distributors.

Each year, Anheuser-Busch pauses beer production to produce emergency drinking water, and in partnership with National Volunteer Fire Council, ensures volunteer firefighters have the critical hydration they need during extreme heat.

Elk County Rural Fire was one of the roughly 600 departments nationally to receive this donation to help keep firefighters hydrated during wildfires and extended responses.

Pictured L to R: Travis Tennyson, Demo Director of Sales; Capt. Nick Miller; Chief Todd Winscher and Brad Demo, Demo Sales. Courtesy Elk County Rural FIre

The Quapaw Nation Marshal Service will conduct a D-U-I checkpoint near Picher on Saturday, July 18^th.

The checkpoint will be conducted by Quapaw Nation deputies along with officers from the Miami Nation Police Department on US-69, just south of East 20^th Road in Picher. Officers will be looking for impaired drivers while encouraging safe driving habits.

Law enforcement encourages all drivers to make responsible choices by avoiding alcohol and wearing a seat belt. Drivers should also ensure they have have their driver's license, vehicle registration, and current insurance while following all traffic laws.

The Independence Mid-Continent Band has plans to entertain the youngest music lovers at next week's concert.

On Tuesday night, the community band will hold a children's concert at Riverside Park. The concert will feature music from the Disney movie Frozen along with other childhood favorites. The music will feature songs popular with the young and the young at heart. There will also be popsicles and face painting. The concert and activities are free to enjoy.

The Mid-Continent Band's Children Concert will happen on Tuesday night at 8pm at the Hille Band Shell at Riverside Park in Independence.

The City of Independence continues to make dangerous and unsafe properties a priority.

That was the word at last night's Independence City Commission meeting. Assistant City Manager David Cowan says the City's Code enforcement staff continues to address the issue.
 

At last night's meeting, commissioners voted to set a date for Public Hearings on twelve properties across the City. The plan is to continue to prioritize nuisance abatement, environmental code enforcement, and the removal of dangerous and unsafe structures to advance neighborhood revitalization and to protect public health and safety. Director of the Independence Housing Authority April Nutt also addressed the Commission about housing needs. She says new home construction in Independence is progressing.
 

Like many communities in southeast Kansas, Independence has seen a need to increase housing availability. City officials say a continued focus on new home construction and the revitalization of existing houses will help address that need.

The 10^th Annual Coffeyville Summer Celebration is tomorrow and there is some rain in the forecast.

Organizer Gail Smith says they aren't worried about a little rain.  There is about a 70% chance of rain for tomorrow.

Events include a 5K, car show, poker run, cornhole tournament, kiddie car parade and the fireworks show to cap off the event plus vendors setup in the park.

Some Coffeyville residents will be without power for several hours tomorrow as city crews replace a damaged utility pole.

Coffeyville Municipal Light and Power says the planned outage will begin around 8:00am and is expected to last until about 2:00pm. The work will take place in the alley between the 700 blocks of West 9^th Street and West 10^th Street. The utility pole was damaged in a vehicle accident and must be replaced to return the electric system to its normal configuration.

Electric service in the affected area will be temporarily interrupted while crews replace the pole and related equipment. City officials say the planned outage is necessary so crews can safely complete the repairs and help maintain the long-term reliability of Coffeyville's electric system.

Crawford County firefighters respond to a structure fire southwest of Pittsburg.

Yesterday at around 5:00pm, crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the home. Crawford County Sheriff's deputies reached the scene first and confirmed no one was inside the structure. Firefighters also located a dog that was initially believed to be trapped inside.

Fire District 1 received assistance from Crawford County Fire Districts 2 and 3, the Pittsburg Fire Department, Crawford County EMS and the Crawford County Sheriff's Office. CCFD says the hot and humid conditions took a toll on crews, with one firefighter treated at the scene for heat-related stress. Firefighters remained on scene for about two hours.

Parsons Police arrest a man after reports of a disturbance involving a possible handgun at Oakwood Cemetery.

Officers responded to the cemetery after landscaping employees reported a shirtless man had threatened workers with what they believed was a handgun. Police say one employee fled the area while another stayed behind and notified supervisors. Officers located the suspect, identified as Mackenzie Cory Eugene Gamblian, still on the cemetery grounds. Police say Gamblian initially refused commands, tried to walk away, and resisted officers before being taken into custody after a brief struggle.

Investigators later determined the weapon was a realistic-looking replica pistol with an orange safety tip. Police say Gamblian continued to resist and attempted to escape after being handcuffed. Gamblian was booked into the Labette County Jail on requested charges of aggravated assault, interference with law enforcement and aggravated escape from custody. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, he completed his state supervision in April.

The 2026 Cherryvale Youth Fair is underway at Logan Park in Cherryvale. Students can participate in events ranging from baking, photography, showing livestock and so much more. Exhibitor Hadley Fields says this fair is a great first time fair.

Organizer Hannah Graybill, who has gone from fair participant to fair worker, says it's been great to see the generations of exhibitors come through the fair over the years.  Graybill says for anyone curious about the Cherryvale Youth Fair, 4H or FFA to just give something a try at the fair.

The auction of youth exhibitor baked goods is tonight at 7:00pm. The silent auction for the adult bakeoff items is from 2:00pm to 8:00pm tomorrow. The livestock shows start at 6:00pm tomorrow night starting with the bucket calf show. A full list of events can be found on the Cherryvale Youth Fair Facebook page.

An Arkansas City man is in custody after police say he attemepted to strangle his own mother.

Ark City Police arrested 42-year-old Kody Wayne Nuss early Monday morning (July 6) after receiving a 9-1-1 call from his 61-year-old mother. Reports indicate the victim fled from her home where the alleged assault occurred to a neighbor's home, where she then contacted police. An investigation revealed that the woman's glasses were broken and her cellphone, medication, and vehicle were taken. The suspect had fled the scene by the time officers arrived.

Nuss was later taken into custody after witnesses reported a stolen vehicle driving erratically. Police say the suspect resisted arrest and attempted to grab an officer's weapon while he was in handcuffs.

Nuss was taken to the Cowley County Jail in Winfield where he faces charges of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, interference with law enforcement, theft, criminal damage to property, possession of a depressant, and driving under the influence. His bond has been set at $52,000.

The State of Oklahoma is preparing for the November 3^rd general election by allowing the political parties to draw for ballot position.

A public drawing was heldon Wednesday, July 8, to determine the ballot order for political parties and independent candidates for the November ballot. The Republican Party drew to top slot followed by the Democratic Party and the Libertarian Party. Recognized political party candidates appear on the ballot in lot order. Independent candidates are placed on the ballot in lot order following the candidates of recognized political parties.

Wednesday's drawing was held in accordance with Oklahoma law at the State Capitol Building in Oklahoma City.

To learn more about the upcoming election in Oklahoma, follow this link.

Two local communities are awarded Public Health and Wellness Partners grant from the Cherokee Nation.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner announced the $1.87 million dollars in funding yesterday (on Wednesday, July 8,) to more than 30 awardees across the the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Among the recipients are the Coffeyville Fire Department, which will receive just over $44,000 to replace a self-contained breathing apparatus and to install an on-site fill station at the Fire Department. The South Coffeyville Schools were also awarded $55,000 to expand a community courtyard.

The grant program is funded under the tribe's Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, legislation proposed by Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner and enacted by the Council in 2021. 

To see a full list of grant recipients and projects, follow this link.

A Parsons woman suffers serious injuries following a dirt bike accident near Columbus.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, around 9:15 last night (Wednesday night) 38-year-old Lacey Harrington was riding a dirt bike along Northwest Coalfield Road, west of K7 or about six miles north of Columbus. At some point, Harrington lost control of the bike and was ejected. Harrington was not wearing a helmet when the accident occurred. She was taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin for treatment.

The Altamont City Council will meet tonight with several items of new business to come before the group.

On tonight's agenda will be a review of the City's burn policy along with a discussion on City storm procedures. Council members will also consider a proposal for software for the municipal court as well as ordinance violations for a property on South Wabash avenue.

Tonight's meeting begins at 7pm at the Altamont City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City of Altamont Facebook page.

The Independence City Commission will meet tonight and hear updates on City goals.

City Manager Kelly Passaeur will give her report to the commission on the goals of the City administration for the coming year. April Nutt with the Independence Housing Authority will also appear to provide advice on housing goals for the City.

Commissioners will also hear presentations from Live Healthy Montgomery County regarding the use of opioid funding and from the Independence Chamber regarding recent events held in the City. There will also be the consideration of dates for public hearings for twelve properties deemed dangerous and unsafe.

Tonight's meeting of the Independence City Commission begins at 5:30 in the Commission Room at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and can also be viewed online via the City's website.

KGGF/KUSN/KQQF will once again provide the soundtrack for this year's summer celebration.

The 10^th annual event happens this Saturday at Walter Johnson Park in Coffeyville with a full day of vendors and activities culminating in the area's largest fireworks show after dark.

During the evening leading up to live bands and the fireworks, KGGF staff will broadcast live US 98 between 6 and 8 p.m.

This year, the soundtrack for the fireworks will again be heard beyond the range of the speakers near the stage as the music will also be carried live on US 98, which will start shortly before the fireworks are set off. So don't forget to tune in to 98.1 FM in your car, or bring a radio with you to listen in the park while the fireworks light up the sky.

The Caney City Council votes to raise the ceiling mill levy for 2027 by 10.

Caney City Clerk Adam Lanter says the original mill levy for 2027 was 53.084.  Mayor Josh Elliot and Council Members Elizabeth Burch and Jeff Culver discuss that just because the ceiling was raised to 10 doesn't mean the mill levy will be raised by 10.

Mayor Elliot encouraged residents to attend budget work sessions. A budget hearing was set for September 7^th.