News Blog

If you saw a police and fire escort of about 150 motorcycles through Downtown Ottawa Saturday, November 22nd, and wondered what was going on, it was the 39th Annual Toys For Kids…

Is it going to snow a lot this winter? Bitter cold temps? A lot of things are supposed to be a predictor of winter weather. Thick deer fur, halos around the moon,…

**NAIA Men’s Soccer National Tournament Opening Round**Ottawa 1 Harris Stowe 0

Ottawa University has a lot of good things going for itself. One of those things is a very diverse student population. It seems they recruit new students from all around the world,…

Anderson County Commissioners have removed one of their appointed board members from the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center Board and replaced her with a sitting county commissioner. Commissioners voted to remove Melanie…

A bridge in Osage County is closed after a trailer carrying an excavator on Highway 75, slammed into it. The South Morrill Road bridge over U. S. 75 will be closed indefinitely,…

Franklin County Commissioners purchased five new trucks for the public works department this year, and they are performing well, but, it seems the tires put on at the factory are not real…

The Ottawa City Commission heard from Public Works Director, DJ Welsh yesterday, November 19th, about the city’s pavement preservation program, commonly known as street repair. He outlined the cost involved in repairing…

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce, David Toland, have announced more than $7.6 million in Community Development Block Grant Funding has been awarded for 19 projects across Kansas. These investments are aimed…

All three Osage County deputies wounded in a Saturday shooting, are now at home, while a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper injured in the same incident, remains hospitalized. Osage County Sheriff, Chris Wells…

For the ninth time in 2025, the region’s overall, or Rural Mainstreet Index, sank below growth neutral, and for the 18th time in the past 19 months, farmland prices sank below growth…

At the Ottawa City Commission meeting yesterday, November 19th, the commission recognized 18 employees with a combined 390 years total years of service to Kansas communities. One of those was Police Chief…

Kansas University basketball has a long and storied history. The inventor of basketball was their first coach, and they play in Allen Fieldhouse, named after legendary Coach Phog Allen. A local author…

The Franklin County Commission will meet this morning with a fairly light, but very important agenda. First, commissioners will discuss and consider approving an agreement with the Kansas Department of Administration so…

The “season of eating” has begun. K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Specialist, Sharolyn Jackson says Halloween marked the beginning of what some refer to as a “food and party…

One week ago, Ottawa resident Diedre Altic stood before the Ottawa City Commission and asked them to start identifying and fixing dilapidated streets in town, citing safety and other reasons: Coincidence or…

This week’s Donuts For Do Gooders winner is Ron Kimes. Ron, and his wife of 61 years, Deeanna, are very familiar faces in our community. Both worked at Ottawa High School for…

The three Osage County deputies and one Highway Patrol trooper that were shot Saturday, November 15th, while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Carbondale are recovering from their wounds. Ottawa Police…

Former Anderson County Emergency Preparedness Director, Mark Locke, received $30,000 in back wages and damages in a settlement signed with Anderson County Commissioners last week. Locke worked for the county from the…

The City of Ottawa has a new Neighborhood and Community Services Director. Rian Harkins has been named to the post effective December 1st. Harkins holds a Masters in Public Administration with a…