ANCO REMOVES MEMBER FROM SEKMHC BOARD
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…
OSAGE CO BRIDGE CLOSED
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,…
WELTON ON TRUCK TIRES
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…
WELSH ON STREET COSTS
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…
CDBG GRANTS IN OSAGE COUNTY
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…
OFFICERS STILL RECOVERING
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…
RURAL MAINSTREET DOWN
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…
WEINGARTNER ON 30 YEARS
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…
FROM THE PHOG
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…
FRCO COMMISSION TO BREAK RICHMOND TIE
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…
LET THE EATING BEGIN
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…
CITY COMMISSION PREVIEW
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…
RON KIMES DONUTS FOR DO-GOODERS
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…
WEINGARTNER ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS
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…
LOCKE SETTLEMENT DETAILS
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…
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES
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…
CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE
The United States Civil War rocked the Nation from 1861 to 1865 and led to some incredible battles with unimaginable losses for both sides, the Union and the Confederacy. It led to…
TURKEY SIZE
This is the time of year a lot of us go out hunting for that perfect Thanksgiving turkey. Well, maybe not out in the wild as some do. That would be illegal…
RICHARDS ON DEER PEAK
How many deer have you seen laying along the road the past couple weeks? If you drive every day, probably dozens. They are everywhere you drive right now. Last Thursday was supposed…
MCCURDY ON KIOSK
Does the City of Ottawa need a kiosk outside City Hall for people to pay their bills? That question was pondered by Ottawa City Commissioners this week. The current kiosk has not…