The Neodesha High School Girls Softball team will host Jayhawk-Linn today in state tournament action and the game will prompt some temporary street closures in Neodesha this afternoon.

Today's game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 and several streets near the high school will be closed to help manage traffic flow. 8^th Street will be closed between Idaho and Tank as will 7^th and Tank. The streets will be closed from 4pm until 6:30 tonight.

The closures will allow event traffic to be funneled through designated drive gates and into the high school parking lot and surrounding street parking areas.

A Fort Smith police officer is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being shot by a suspect on a traffic stop.

The incident occurred early Sunday morning when Officer Kyle Newman made contact with a motorist in the southern part of the City. Newman suspected the driver identified as 27-year-old Joshua Keller of DWI. During the traffic stop, Keller produced a handgun and shot Officer Newman in the neck. Newman was able to return fire, but Keller fled the scene.

Police pursued the suspect who eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. Keller then exchanged more gunfire with police and was shot and killed.

Officer Newman was airlifted to a nearby trauma center where he remains in critical condition.

The Sedan City Council will meet tonight and begin the discussion of the 2027 budget.

Other topics for consideration at tonight's meeting include tree trimming at the City Park and a KDOT Connecting Links Contract. Council members will also hear a review of the City's April finances along with reports from various City departments.

Tonight's meeting begins at 5:30 at the Sedan City Hall. The public is invited to attend in person or to view the meeting online via the City's Facebook page.

An Oklahoma Multi-County Grand Jury indicts six individuals in connection with a scheme to cash over $100,000 in fraudulent checks at Walmart Supercenters across the state.

The defendants are accused of using fraudulent checks, stolen identities and fraudulent temporary driver’s licenses to obtain cash. Caleb Ali, Erika Watson, Dominique Price, Amber Smith, Aaron Hensley and Jesus Martinez Jr. face 10 felony counts including conspiracy and forgery in the second degree.

According to the indictment, the defendants cashed dozens of bogus checks at Walmart Supercenters in 15 Oklahoma towns and cities including Norman, Mustang, Yukon, Kingfisher, Broken Arrow, Claremore, and Pryor between December 2023 and August 2025.

The Caney Industrial Park is now officially listed as a Certified Site through Kansas Department of Commerce.

The City of Caney was made aware of the certification on Monday from Executive Director of the Montgomery County Action Council Melissa Johnson. The official certification through the Kansas Department of Commerce, it means the land has been officially pre-qualified and vetted as "shovel-ready" for major business, commercial, or industrial development. The designation is issued to properties that have successfully completed a set of program requirements to demonstrate that the property is primed for development and ready for investment.

The 59 acres of the Caney Industrial Park will now be marketed for future economic development.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Frontenac public water supply in Crawford County.

The original advisory was issued on May 14^th because of waterline breaks resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. In addition, the city could not maintain the minimum required chlorine residual due to equipment failure.  Laboratory testing of the City of Frontenac water supply showed no contamination and the K-D-H-E has determined that all conditions that placed the system at risk have been resolved.

Several local officials will speak in Independence tomorrow as part of the Heartland Certified Public Manager Program Public Policy Session.

The seminar comes through the Public Management Center from the University of Kansas. The purpose of the program is to develop competent public managers. Tomorrow's event will feature the City Managers of Independence and Coffeyville Kelly Passauer and Ben Brubaker and Caney City Administrator Andrea Sibley. The three will appear on a panel called Public Policy at the Local Level. Other local leaders who will take part as speakers include former State Senator Tim Emert, Former State Representative Jim Kelly, USD 446 Superintendent Jason McAfee, USD school Board President Charles Barker Sr., Independence City Attorney Jeff Chubb, and Director of the Independence Housing Authority April Nutt.

Tomorrow's seminar takes place at Memorial Hall in Independence.

Independence Community College continues its search for a new president.

At last night's Board of Trustees meeting, an executive session was held to discuss the three candidates for the position. Trustee Logan Null makes the motion.

No action was taken regarding the hiring of a new school president. The three finalists for the job – Dr. Richard DeShields, Dr. Isaias Mcaffery, and James Arnold – have been in Independence and on campus in the previous weeks to meet with the hiring committee and to attend public meet-and-greet events. The twenty members of the hiring committee were in attendance at last night's meeting, but it remains unclear when a decision will be made.

In other business, trustees approved a Memo of Understanding with Sparkwheel to allow the group to provide a Student Support Coordinator to help students overcome barriers to their education. The coordinator will help students fulfill unmet practical needs such as school supplies or personal hygiene products.

The Montgomery County Commission appoints Michael Smith as Director of County Emergency Management.

Commissioners approved the resolution at the May 18, 2026, meeting. County Administrator Jonathan Booe says this position is mandated by the state and the county only has a brief window in which to fill it.

Smith is currently the District Fire Chief for Montgomery County and will continue to fill both roles for the near future. Commissioner Phil Clubine says the dual role is fine so long as Smith feels he can do both.

Rick Whitson, who announced his retirement as Emergency Management Director last week, also served in both positions at the same time until the County Commission split the job in 2024. At that, time, Smith took over as District Chief. Commissioners say they will discuss the situation in the coming weeks before making a more permanent decision.

An acting city administrator is named in Cherryvale ahead of outgoing City Admin Michael Hall's departure.

At last night's city council meeting, City Clerk Karen Davis was named acting city administrator, effective May 29^th. City Council Member Steve Strickland makes the motion.

Davis last held the position in 2024 after Jonathan Booe took a position with the County.  She will continue her duties as city clerk in addition to city administrator responsibilities.

In other business, the council heard an update from Interim Police Chief Josh Shields, who says the city has reached an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the 287(g) program.

Shields says he doesn't think it's a good idea to start the training now given all the recent transitions with the department, since once training starts it must be finished withing 60 days. He says it won't be a problem to start the training when they are ready. Coffeyville and Caney already participate in the 287(g) program.

Shields also says they've made progress with purchasing three used police vehicles and expect to have them by the start of June and on the road by July 4th.

The Nowata County Election Board continues live ballot testing before the June 16^th primary elections.

Last Week, Election Board Secretary Dave Neely announced the election board would test approximately 350 ballots. This week, Neely says the election board would test about 500 ballots.

Neely says each candidate in a specific race, depending on the amount of candidates in the primary, is given a certain amount of hypothetical votes to test the ballot machines.

The Nowata County Commission approves a budget increase for the OSU Extension District.

Extension Office Agriculture Educator Tara Martin says the increase would be for bringing in an additional family and consumer sciences educator.  Commissioner Troy Friddle and Martin discussed the position.

The commission approved the increase on a 2-1 vote with Vice Chairman Brandon Wesson voting against it.

The City of Caney responds to concerns about Lincoln Memorial Elementary School's use of Memorial Park for school activities and events.

City officials say the school has had permission to use the park for several years, and those activities have become a regular tradition. School staff have consistently shown care and respect for the property. The City says Principal Cameron Traxson has helped maintain the park, including assisting with field leveling and planting grass when needed.

Officials say the events give students a safe place to spend time together and build lasting memories. The City says it remains committed to working with the school while ensuring Memorial Park is maintained and respected for everyone to enjoy.

Coffeyville firefighters assist with wildfire response efforts.

Crews left Coffeyville at around 7:00pm yesterday morning, with Squad Two, a Type six brush engine, joining a Wyandotte County Task Force alongside Columbus Fire Rescue. The task force includes personnel from Kansas City, Kansas, Bonner Springs and Edwardsville.

Firefighters arrived in Meade yesterday afternoon around 2:30pm and were assigned to the fire line, where they worked suppression efforts until about 10:00pm. Crews then traveled to Dodge City for overnight rest before returning to the Meade area this morning to continue operations. Crews remain actively engaged in wildfire response as conditions continue in southwest Kansas.

It’s nearly time for most area cities to open the public swimming pool for the summer.

The City of Neodesha has been putting the finishing touches on the pool over the past few weeks. With a new coat of paint and back up pumps for all of the amenities, the pool is nearly ready to go. However, City Administrator Brogan Jones says some recent criminal activity at the pool has Neodesha Police looking for suspects.

Those with information on the vandalism can contact police at 620-325-3031

The Independence Community College Board of Trustees will meet tonight for their regular monthly meeting.

On the agenda is a Memo of Understanding with Sparkwheel and the cost of the residence halls for Upward Bound Summerfest. Trustees will also hold an executive session to discuss the current search for a new school president.

Tonight's ICC Trustees meeting begins at 5:30 in CIE Room 104. The meeting is open to the public.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment updates the health advisory for several lakes due to blue-green algae.

Lakes with active Warnings are King Lake on Lyon County and Lake Afton in Sedgwick County. This status means that a hazardous algae bloom or H-A-B is present or expected. Marion County Lake is in Watch status while all advisories for the Council Grove Lake in Morris County have been lifted.

A HAB may look like foam, scum or paint floating on the water and be colored blue, bright green, brown or red. Toxins from such blooms can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation of aerosols and even skin contact. Kansans should remain vigilant while engaging in activities taking place in or on the water, such as swimming, boating, and fishing.

Fire Departments across southeast Kansas send equipment and personnel to help fire wildfires burning in western Kansas.

Fire crews from Coffeyville and Columbus have joined firefighters from Edwardsville, Bonner Springs and Kansas City, Kansas, to form the Wyandotte County Task Force in fighting fires in Meade County in southwest Kansas.

Elsewhere, firefighters from Labette and Crawford Counties were sent to Bucklin in Ford County to help battles the blazes there.

State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm issued a statement on Sunday morning that all requests for apparatus and personnel have been filled and that progress has been made along the main line of the fire, with no new break outs or wildfires reported. Blackhawk helicopters from the Kansas National Guard worked with other air services to drop water on the fires to assist crews on the ground. Weather conditions in western Kansas remain hazardous with high winds, low humidity and drought conditions.

Photo courtesy Columbus Fire Rescue

The City of Cherryvale invites to public to meet and talk with Interim Police Chief Joshua Shields.

Officials say this will be a chance for members of the community to get to know Shields in an informal setting. Citizens will be able to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss ideas with the new Chief. Shields recently stepped into the interim position following the resignation of former Chief Jimmy Holt. Holt left to accept a position with the Independence Police Department.

The forum with Chief Shields will take place on Wednesday, June 3, at 6pm at the Cherryvale Police Department.

The Cherryvale City Council will meet tonight to discuss a number of items.

Council members are expected to approve a purchase of water meters up to just over $25,000. An engineering services invoice and compliance service proposal are also expected to be approved, in addition to a street closing application for construction on N Maple at the start of June. Interim Police Chief Josh Shields will also give an update on police vehicles and the ICE Memorandum. Tonight will also be City Administrator Michael Hall's last meeting.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Cherryvale City Hall and is open to the public.

The Altamont City Council completes the yearly reappointment of city officials and updates emergency response policies.

At the most recent council meeting, City Manager LeaAnn Myers was reappointed along with City Clerk Brian Orender and City Attorney Robert Myers. Mayor Richard Hayward also informed the council that he had met with the City Administrator, along with Police Chief Michael Shields, Fire Chief Cody Dickerson, and City Superintendent Nathan Barnett to review emergency response policies. Hayward says the recent severe weather prompted the review.

The policies were last reviewed in 2019. In other business, it was announced that the public swimming pool is set to open on May 23 and that the annual Flag Day celebration is set for Saturday, June 13.

A Friday evening car accident near the City of Opolis along the Kansas/Missouri state line leaves two people injured.

The accident happened just before 6 on Friday night on K-171 at 260th Street or about 4 miles from the state line. 21-year-old Morgan Crespino of Carl Junction was driving a 2020 Ford Mustang and failed to yield to oncoming traffic on K-171. His vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by a 2017 GMC Terrain driven by 39-year-old Tasha May of Joplin. Crespino and a passenger in his car 53-year-old Susan Crespino also of Carl Junction both suffered minor injuries in the accident and were treated at Pittsburg’s Mercy Hospital.

Photo courtesy Crawford County Sheriff's Office

The recent severe weather that brought tornadoes to northern Montgomery County and southern Wilson County have some residents concerned about the effectiveness of city tornado sirens.

At last week’s Neodesha City Commission meeting, Commissioner Duane Banzet raised the issue. Banzet reported that there had been complaints from residents in the south part of Neodesha that they were unable to hear the sirens. Some suggested the sirens be tested more frequently. Banzet says the sirens are already tested frequently.

Banzet says the City went to the silent testing to ensure people don’t ignore the sirens in the event of an actual tornado.

Banzet added that the sirens are testing daily at 1pm.

Five people are arrested during the service of a narcotics-related search warrant in Crawford County.

On Friday, May 15, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office  with the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s High Risk Warrant Team executed a narcotics-related search warrant on a residence located in a rural area just west of Pittsburg. Officers located a camper on the property and gave multiple commands to the individual to exit, but that person refused. A K-9 officer was deployed and the occupant identified as 39-year-old Timothy Lee Koehn was taken into custody after being medically cleared by EMS on the scene.

A search of the residence, camper, vehicles and outbuildings was then conducted. Four other adults were then placed under arrests. They are 46-year-old Curtis Lee Demaranville, 30-year-old Kassandra Demaranville, 29-year-old Hannah Rueda, and 23-year-old Raden Stone.

All suspects face a variety of charges including possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. All five were booked into the Crawford County Jail in Girard. A minor child located in the residence at the time of the arrests was transported to the home of a family member.

Photo: (top row, left to right) Rayden Stone, Hannah Rueda, Kassandra Demaranville. (bottom) Curtis Lee Demaranville, Timothy Lee Koehn

A 74-year-old Wichita man is injured following a two-vehicle collision in northern Wilson County.

The accident occurred around 4:15 on Friday afternoon on US-75 near the intersection with 2000 Road or about ten miles north of Altoona. Ngoc Huong Thi Bradfield was a passenger in a 2013 Toyota Sequoia that was eastbound on 2000 Road. The driver of the SUV 52-year-old Elizabeth Miller of Haysville failed to yield at the stop sign at the intersection with US-75 and collided with a Ford F-250 Super Duty truck driven by 20-year-old Hunter Reiling of Burlington. Bradfield sustained minor injuries and was taken to Fredonia Regional Hospital for treatment.

No one else was injured in the crash.