Wilson County Old Iron Days is on the way next week.

The annual event will be held at the permanent grounds in Fredonia and features four days of demonstrations focused on education and preserving traditions of the past.

Organizer Mike Olson says there will be more than 25 different displays.

Organizer Rod Meckley says there will be a lot of school field trips during the week, but the public is more than welcome to attend during that time.

Admission to Old Iron Days is $5 and each person attending will get a button good for each day of the show. The event runs from Wednesday September 23^rd through Saturday the 26^th from 8 to 4 in Fredonia.

Listen to the full interview about Old Iron Days HERE.

Lions Clubs across Southeastern Kansas are helping the Community Access Center in Independence replace an aging walk-in freezer used to distribute food throughout the region.

The Lions Club International Foundation has awarded a $44,000 grant toward the purchase of a new freezer. The 30-foot-by-12-foot unit will replace a nearly 35-year-old freezer that requires continual monitoring. Community Access Center Representative Chris Mitchell says the freezer supports more than the center’s own programs.

The center, located at 807 West Pecan, handles tens of thousands of pounds of fresh and frozen food each week. The entire project represents an investment of nearly $94,000. Along with the international grant, Lions Clubs in Caney, Coffeyville, Fredonia, Independence and Neodesha have helped raise money. Mitchell says private donations have moved the campaign closer to its goal, while another donor has offered to match additional contributions.

The grant money will purchase the freezer, while officials are seeking additional funding to cover shipping and installation. Anyone interested in donating can contact the Community Access Center or the Independence Lions Club.

The City of Coffeyville is awarded more than $883,000 in grant funding for pedestrian upgrades around Community Elementary.

The funding comes from two separate grants from the Kansas Department of Transportation. City Clerk Melissa Carter says there will be a new pedestrian island installed on Cline Road.

Carter says there will also be new sidewalks added on streets surrounding the school.

The total estimated project cost is just under $1.07 million, with the City's estimated 20 percent share just over $200,000. Some money will also go towards developing an updated Safe Routes to School Plan for Community Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Field Kindley High School.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of McCune public water supply systems located in Crawford County.

Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water instead. Dispose of ice cubes from trays and automatic ice makers. If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.  Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled, but supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested.

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure due to an equipment failure.

 The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Farm Bill.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran applauded his colleagues in the House for advancing the bill to the next step. Moran is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and says the bill provides certainty for Kansas ranchers and farmers.

The Farm Bill includes Kansas priorities such as year-round E-15 sales, increasing Farm Service Agency Loan limits, and the Rural Hospital Revitalization Act.

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The Sedan City Council meets and hears the latest financial report for the City.

At this week's meeting, City Treasurer Raven Darnall updated council members on the City's finances.

In other business, council members repealed an ordinance on City water rates and replaced it with a new one that will raise prices on city water customers. There was also a discussion on changing vendors for the suppliers of uniforms for Public Works employees, No action was taken on that issue.

The Independence Public Library welcomes Humanities Kansas guest speaker Murl Reidel.

Reidel will speak tonight at the library about the impacts of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on Kansas soldiers. Reidel is a fiscal analyst and a retired major from the Kansas Army National Guard. He will discuss methods for collecting, recording, and preserving modern wartime stories before they are lost to time.

The presentation begins tonight at 6pm at the Independence Public Library. Admission is free.

A Pittsburg man is facing felony meth charges after police execute a search warrant on a Pittsburg home.

The search warrant stemmed from an investigation into the distribution of controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine. 51-year-old Christopher Edward Lee was taken into custody on Wednesday at the scene after the search revealed evidence sought in the warrant. Lee is currently being held in the Crawford County Jail where he faces felony charges of possession and distribution of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is being held without bond.

The historic fort in Fort Scott was the scene yesterday for 22 people from 17 different countries to officially become citizens of the United States.

The location provided a unique historical setting for the nearly two dozen people who reached the peak of a years' long process to become naturalized citizens. About half of the new citizens then registered to vote in order to be able to take part in the electoral process.

The Fort Scott National Historic Site hosts a naturalization ceremony each September.

The City of Moline announces an increase in garbage collections fees.

According to the City's Facebook page, the company contracted for trash collection is increasing its collection fee by $1 due to high fuel costs. The base rate for customers in Moline will now be $24,50. The cost of an extra poly cart will remain at $10.

The contractor has assured city officials that the rate will return to the previous amount when fuel diesel prices drop.

City offices in Independence will be closed for a short period of time today to allow for staff training.

Offices will be closed from 11:15 to 1:30 to allow city employees to take part in an annual safety training. Normal business hours will resume at 1:30 today. Those who have business with the City are asked to plan accordingly.

A Dearing woman is facing felony charges in Washington County, Oklahoma, after allegedly being in possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

22-year-old Alexius Yeubanks was charged on Wednesday with trafficking in fentanyl and possession of a controlled dangerous substance without a tax stamp.

According to the Bartlesville Police Department, Yeubanks was reportedly in the backseat of a vehicle that was pulled over early Tuesday morning for a non-functional tail light. Authorities reportedly searched the vehicle and the occupants after a positive K9 alert. Authorities allegedly found two small foil wrappings that contained fentanyl and four separate plastic baggies of methamphetamine.

Yeubanks wil l appear in court again on September 25. Her bond is set at $100,000.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 49-year-old Blanca Herrera, is also facing a misdemeanor charge of possession.

A controversy is brewing in Bartlesville over the search for a new City Manager.

The City has been searching for an individual to fill the position left vacant by the August 7 resignation of Mike Bailey, who had served the City for 21 years. City Council member Tim Sherrick has expressed his concerns about the process the City is using to interview five internal candidates for the role. He says the process is not taking place during city council meetings.

Sherrick says the process is already in place.

He adds that he thinks the process is being conducted in order to avoid the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

Despite Sherrick's concern, keeping information about interviewees confidential is expressly allowable under Oklahoma's law. Internal files related to hiring, promotion or resignation are protected from public view. Additionally, information related to unsuccessful applicants for a position is also protected.

Sherrick is calling for interviews to be conducted in either an open meeting or in an executive session.

An Oklahoma game warden and a Nowata police officer are recognized for life-saving efforts.

Oklahoma Game Warden Dartanion Tilley and Nowata Police Department Officer Zachary Peak have been awarded the Nowata Fire & EMS Life Saving Award for their recent actions during a medical emergency. When the two encountered a patient who was experiencing cardiac arrest, they took immediate action. Warden Tilley and Officer Peak quickly began lifesaving efforts. Through their quick response, decisive actions, and continued resuscitation efforts, a pulse was successfully regained.

Their prompt actions saved the life of the patient.

Nichols Hitching Post and Maple Street Meat Market will soon move into a larger building with both businesses under one roof.

According to owner John Nichols, the business has outgrown the Columbia Building in downtown Coffeyville, so they are moving into the former Fastenal Building at 1312 11^th Street in Coffeyville.

Nichols says the new space will allow them to expand their offerings.

Nichols says work on the new building will start soon.

Nichols Hitching Post and Maple Street Meat Market offers local meat and discounted grocery items, and is currently located at the intersection of 8^th and Maple in Coffeyville.

The Kansas Supreme Court hears an appeal from a convicted Kansas serial Killer.

The Court has heard arguments in the latest appeal of convicted serial killer John Robinson Sr., who has spent more than two decades on death row. Robinson was convicted in 2002 of killing three women in Johnson County and later pleaded guilty in Missouri to five additional killings. In 2015, the Court upheld Robinson's capital murder sentence after a woman was found in a barrel on his farm near the City of La Cygne.

His attorney argued on Monday that ineffective defense counsel and errors in how prosecutors presented the case violated Robinson’s rights and should overturn his remaining death sentences.

State attorney Jacob Gontesky urged the justices to reject the appeal, saying Robinson had a highly experienced defense team.

The justices did not immediately rule on the issue.

The Kansas State Fair in underway in Hutchinson as Kansans and other fair goers brave the heat.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 59 people have been treated for heat-related illness at this year's fair, that began on Friday. Temperatures across the state have reached or exceeded 100 degrees in central Kansas for 10 straight days just prior to the kickoff of the fair. That is the longest 100 degree streak since 2000. Hot weather remains in the forecast this week.

Anyone heading to Hutchinson this week to enjoy the fair should remember to stay well hydrated and take regular breaks from the heat, including finding shade or air conditioning. While at the fair, anyone feeling sick can seek help from the K-H-P, EMS, or fair staff. The Kansas State Fair runs through Saturday.

Those staying closer to home should also use caution when spending time outside while the heat wave lasts.

Osage County Commissioners work to improve transparency.

At this week's meeting, commissioners discussed contract payments for the Osage County Free Fair . This included a $3,000 payment to a petting zoo, $2,800 payment to a magician and two separate payments to individual bands totaling $3,000. District Two Commissioner Steve Talburt says even though this was approved in June, the Board wants to be more transparent about what they are paying for in the future.

In other business, commissioners also signed a service agreement with Guy Engineering for a right of way acquisition proposal to begin work on a bridge in District Three.

The Altamont City Council makes quick work of business at this week's special meeting.

On Monday night, council members approved changes to city ordinance 672 for special assessments. City Administrator LeeAnn Myers says the changes will allow the City to cover expenses associated with code enforcement.

Monday's meeting was held after last week's regular meeting was canceled. Myers says the change resulted in the City moving the date of an scheduled public hearing.

The next regular meeting of the Altamont City Council is set for September 24.

The city of Columbus lifts its burn ban.

The city-wide burn ban was lifted on Monday after the recent rainfall in the area. The Columbus Fire Department continues to monitor conditions, paying close attention to the weather, wind and dry conditions in the event that a burn ban may need to be put back in place. Officials ask that residents continue to use caution and good judgment in regards to outdoor burning.

Those with questions can contact the Columbus Fire Department at 620-429-1592

The City of Independence is expanding a program designed to help homeowners improve their neighborhoods.

The Independence City Commission has approved new guidelines for the City’s Neighborhood Exterior Grant Program. Housing Authority Director April Nutt says there were two changes made to the program.

The grant requires at least two neighbors who live within line of sight of each other to co-apply for funding and for each to make a minimum of $1,000 investment in eligible exterior improvements. The program now has two levels of funding, which are dependent on the applicants income. Mayor Dean Hayse says the program helps improve local neighborhoods

Qualifying improvements include projects such as exterior painting, window or door replacement, awnings and gutters, and driveway repairs.

For more information on the grant program, follow this link.

The recently held Guardians of the Greens Charity Golf Tournament raises more than $18,000 for the Parsons Police Legacy Fund.

The third annual tournament happened last Saturday at the Katy Golf Club in Parsons as 57 players turned out in the hot weather to help support the P-P-D Legacy Fund. The money raised will go to help the Fund finance community projects and local programs in and around Parsons. The Parsons Police Legacy Fund is a community outreach initiative created by the Parsons Police Department to invest in local youth, education, athletics, and community programs.

The money raised will go toward the Legacy in Leadership Scholarship which benefits local students at Labette Community College. It also goes toward annual community programs like Shop with a Cop and Operation Warm Shield, and has helped fund recent donations to Parsons and Altamont schools.

Several community events are coming to the Coffeyville area this fall.

The Native Unity Gathering is September 26^th in South Coffeyville, featuring Native dance demonstrations, storytelling, music, children’s activities, craft vendors and free food. Dalton Defender Days returns to downtown Coffeyville October 2^nd and 3^rd with reenactments of the Dalton Gang raid, entertainment, vendors and children’s activities. The Aviation Heritage Museum will celebrate women in aviation October 10^th, followed by Downtown Spooktacular October 15^th.

Haunted History Tours are scheduled for October 16^th, 17^th and 23^rd. Cedar Bluff Camp will hold its Night of Fright October 23^rd and 24^th and October 30^th and 31^st. The fall schedule concludes with the Coffeyville Craft Fair November 21^st at the Recreation Commission. More information is available through the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce.

A former firefighter pleads guilty to child sex crimes.

26-year-old Spencer Barnard of Baxter Springs pled guilty to attempted electronic solicitation and two counts of aggravated endangering a child. Investigators say Barnard attempted to contact teenagers online over a six-month period to obtain sexual content.

KBI agents arrested Barnard in July of last year following a traffic stop in Cherokee County. Investigators say a subsequent search of his home and electronic devices uncovered child sexual abuse material. Barnard is scheduled to be sentenced November 5^th.

The USD 446 Independence Board of Education votes to exceed the revenue neutral tax rate and approves the 2026-2027 school year budget. 
 

The vote came in last night’s Independence Board of Education meeting. The total mills of the proposed budget is 45.355, a projected increase of 0.471 mills from the 2025-2026 budget. 

In other business, the board approved the purchase of 35 new smartboards to replace older-model BenQ boards that began failing at high rates during the 2025-2026 school year. BenQ boards are 4K touchscreen displays that allow teachers and students to interact with lesson material. Each new smartboard will cost $2,450. 

The next USD 446 Independence School Board meeting will be on October 12 at 6:00 pm.