News Blog

The Franklin County Coalition to End Homelessness announced several goals last year, in their fight to end homelessness in the county. Coalition director, Brett Staneslow, outlined those goals at an Ottawa City…

A new bridge in Osage County is the first of its kind in Kansas. Not the bridge itself, but for the way it was paid for. The bridge, near Scranton, became the…

Have you noticed that every time it rains, the street lights between the 13 and 15 hundred blocks of Main Street go out? The Ottawa City Commission has approved a contract with…

Now that Proximity Park has been sold, what progress is being made on the Lightfield Data Center that is going to build on the site? Franklin County Development Director, Paul Bean, gave…

So many people complain about how local governments are run, but, so few seem willing to step up and become part of the governmental process. If you have concerns about your local…

The first week of June is National CPR Week. The Ottawa Recreational Commission has partnered with the Franklin County EMS to provide hands only CPR and AED training. ORC Program Director, Amy…

The Ottawa City Commission is advancing with the 2025 Street Rehabilitation Project. Bids were received and accepted from a variety of companies in regards to chip and seal projects as well as…

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners will meet this morning, May 28th. They have a fairly short agenda today. First, commissioners will consider the approval of a rezoning application to rezone about…

The Ottawa City Commission will meet today, May 28th. On the agenda, a discussion to consider approval of the 2025 Second Quarter Neighborhood Revitalization Program Rebate Applications for eleven properties, as recommended…

The Kansas Highway Patrol has released its Memorial Day Weekend holiday activity report. KHP personnel assisted 590 motorists over the holiday reporting period, which was from Friday, the 23rd through Monday, the…

In her weekly legislative update, Senator Caryn Tyson talked about school funding. K-12 funding has been a topic discussed for years. Tyson says with spending increases over the years, the money still…

The Franklin County Commission has approved the bid for the 2025 painted pavement marking project to Straight Line Striping. Public Works Director, Jeff Welton, told commissioners that the county should be very…

Tornado activity was higher than average in 2024. Kansas saw 89 tornadoes from May to August. The first, April 23rd in south central Kansas and the last, September 21st near Horton. The…

President Trump has granted Governor Kelly’s request for a Federal Disaster Declaration for the state, due to damages caused by severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding, and wildfires during the period of…

How many people are homeless in Ottawa? There may never be an exact answer to that question….but there are too many. Last year, Neighborhood and Community Services Director, Lucas Neece says he…

If you are wondering why your weather radio isn’t working, there is a good reason. The National Weather Service Office in Topeka is conducting a required, scheduled update to their Advanced Weather…

An accident on I-35 Saturday night, May 24th, sent a Rantoul man to the hospital. Just before 9:00 that night, Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies and Franklin County EMS were called to the…

The Franklin County Sheriff’s office is mourning the loss of one of it’s retired canine officers. The sheriff’s department announce the passing of retired K9, Quanto. Quanto served Franklin County and the…

May 23, 2025 Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer and can be a busy weekend, especially with all the cemetery services, decorating graves, picnics, and other events.  It is a time to…

How many people are homeless in Ottawa? There may never be an exact answer to that question….but there are too many. Last year, Neighborhood and Community Services Director Lucas Neece said he…