Coffeyville wins KJCCC title in big win over Independence

WATCH: Coffeyville scores on the opening drive and goes on to beat Independence 19-9. The Red Ravens win the conference title and finish the regular season 6-1.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A first-year Kansas lawmaker, who was reprimanded by his colleagues for abusive conduct before taking office, has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City remained in custody Sunday afternoon, according to Johnson County Jail records. The 21-year-old was arrested at 8:15 p.m. Saturday by Overland Park police on a domestic battery charge.

Police didn’t immediately respond to messages Sunday and calls to Coleman’s cellphone rang unanswered Sunday. Coleman is not married and details of his domestic situation were not immediately available.

It wasn’t immediately clear what consequences Coleman might face in the House after his arrest. He was being held without bond ahead of a court appearance scheduled for Monday.

“Given what little we know about the situation, I am concerned for everyone involved,” Speaker of the House, Ron Ryckman, said to the Kansas City Star. “I know that law enforcement will thoroughly investigate and assess the situation so that we can take appropriate action.”

House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer said Coleman should resign.

“This is extremely disturbing news. We are watching closely to make sure we gather all the facts,” Sawyer said. “His constituents and the State of Kansas would be better served if he were to resign and get the help he badly needs. However, I want to reiterate again that the House Democratic Caucus does not condone this behavior in any way, shape, or form.”

After he was elected last year, Coleman received a written reprimand from a legislative committee about his conduct before taking office.

The House committee’s investigation of Coleman followed accusations of abusive behavior toward girls and young women. He acknowledged some of the behavior on social media and said he had been a troubled teenager.

Earlier this month, Coleman was also banned from the Kansas Department of Labor’s offices because the agency’s director said Coleman had tried to improperly gain entry to the department’s main office through a secured employee entry and berated a security officer.

At that time, Coleman said he was trying to help constituents deal with the state’s unemployment system.

South Middle School 8th graders help plant flowers in downtown Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. – Some 8th graders from Joplin’s South Middle School got an early start to their Saturday in downtown.

The students spent their morning planting flowers in the city’s planters along Main Street from 1st to 8th street and along Joplin Avenue around 6th street. The group was planting fall flowers to help keep the planters fresh and pretty through the season.

8th Grader David Vhend says “Oh, it feels amazing helping the community and everything, the flowers, it’s a little impact but a little can do a lot.”

The flowers were provided by Albert’s Greenhouse of Joplin.

Joplin Empire Market among 12 recipients for Missouri Dept. of Agriculture grant

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Agriculture has announced 12 projects that will receive a grant to help with urban food insecurity.

The Joplin Empire Market was one of the 12 recipients on that list. The grant is a matching grant for $45,000 that the market will put toward a commercial kitchen. Officials with the empire market say that kitchen will help vendors provide more food options as well as with the market’s ‘sprouts’ program which provides free meals to area children.

Market Director Lindsay Gagnon says “It’s something that the market has wanted since day one when we opened the doors a little over three years ago now and we’re super excited to finally be able to start that process, it’s going to be a pretty big project, but we’re excited.”

The market is in need of volunteers, if you’re interested in volunteering, click here.

Students from Webb City, Diamond, Seneca, Frontenac play with Missouri Southern Band

JOPLIN, Mo. — Local high school band students got the chance to play with their college counterparts Saturday.

Missouri Southern State University’s Mass Band Day drew high school students from Webb City, Diamond, Seneca and Frontenac.

The day started with sectionals, leading up to everyone getting together to strike up a tune for Missouri Southern’s Halloween-themed halftime show.

The show included performances of “Thriller” and “All-American Nightmare.”

“They really enjoy coming out and getting the college atmosphere,” said Dr. Brandon Robinson, Missouri Southern’s visiting director of bands. “This is the end of their competitive season, so they’ve been working hard on their shows, so now, it’s an opportunity for them to come to Southern and see what we have to offer.”

Dr. Robinson estimates around 300 students were in attendance.

Cool and dry for trick-or-treating

We’ll stay cool tonight, though lows in the lower-40s will be a bit warmer than what we woke up to Saturday morning.

A cold front will progress toward the area Sunday (Halloween), but it will not have much moisture to work with, so no rain is expected.

Partly cloudy skies and breezy conditions are expected for trick-or-treating. Highs for Sunday will be in the upper-50s, with temperatures falling to the mid-40s through the evening.

A small chance of a shower will exist Monday afternoon ahead of another cold front, but most locations will remain dry, with precipitation chances picking up Monday night through Wednesday.

Tuesday through Friday look quite chilly, with highs in the mid to upper-40s. Widespread frost (and potentially a freeze) is expected during the morning hours of Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Have a happy Halloween!

Baxter Springs welcomes first disc golf tournament for its new course

BAXTER SPRINGS, Ks. — A new city addition was put to the test this weekend.

Kiwanis Park was the site of the first Spring River Spooktacular disc golf tournament.

This was the course’s first tournament since it opened back in August.

While many of the competitors traveled locally, some competitors travelled from as far as Olathe and Tulsa.

Aside from competition, the tournament was designed to help promote business throughout Baxter Springs.

Charles Rector, Baxter Springs Disc Golf Club President, says, “Usually people come in the week prior to do some practicing and go in town and buy gas and food and we’re just hoping to see that help our businesses out in Baxter because they’ve supported our course so much, we have about 10, 15 really good sponsors and we just want to take care of them.”

Rector hopes to organize an upcoming tournament to benefit Baxter Springs Auxiliary Firefighter Malachi Brown who was injured while fighting a house fire.

More information will be posted on the Baxter Springs Disc Golf Club Facebook page which is linked here.

Prospective students travel to Pittsburg to look at their future university

PITTSBURG, Ks. — Prospective gorillas made their way to Pittsburg Saturday to get a look at their future home.

Around 1,000 area high school students and their families joined Pittsburg State University and staff for Rumble in the Jungle.

Throughout the day they got the chance to tour PSU’s campus and visit with professors during the university’s academic fair.

Rumble in the Jungle serves as the big admission event for PSU, which has become important after it was canceled last year due to the pandemic.

“We’ve always learned in admissions that if you can get them on your campus, that they will fall in love with it, that they will see how much they fit in here, they’ll see other students, and so this is our opportunity for us to put our best foot forward and show off the campus,” says Scott Donaldson, PSU Director of Admission & Financial Aid, “What we find is if somebody comes to this event, we have a much higher chance of getting them as a student enrolled here as a freshman.”

“Just seeing what you’re getting into is a really big part of college life,” says Kendyl Stand, Prospective PSU Student, “Having the spirit around here, it’s a really good atmosphere to be around so far, everybody’s been so nice.”

Prospective students were also given a chance to experience a gorilla gameday and got free admission into the football game against Central Oklahoma.

Missouri honors fallen sailor killed in the line of duty

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — On Friday governor Mike Parson ordered US and Missouri flags be flown at half mast at government buildings on October 30th to honor the life of Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Bailey J. Tucker.

On August 31st, Hospital Corpsman Tucker died when the helicopter he was on crashed off the coast of California during at-sea training.

He was a graduate of Parkway North High School in St. Louis and joined the navy in December 2019 where he served as a search and rescue medical technician.

Joplin Empire Market is celebrating Halloween

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin Empire Market is celebrating Halloween with events for the whole family.

Saturday morning the market had a petting zoo with baby goats, alpacas and a flemish giant rabbit.

The community garden was decked out with homemade zombie scarecrows and vendors were handing out candy to kids.

“We are a weekly farmers market, but we are also are just really passionate about building community and engaging the community. And being a gathering place for people to come and feel welcomed,” said Lindsay Gagnon, Joplin Empire Market Director.

Saturday night the market hosted its first night market of the year called “Cauldrons & Cocktails

There were artisan vendors, creepy cocktails and a costume contest for kids and adults.