CHEROKEE COUNTY — Funding for county ambulances will be discussed at the upcoming Cherokee County commission meeting.

During last Monday’s meeting a motion was made to cut funding to Cherokee County Ambulance Association District Number 3, following complaints.

District three’s funding would instead go to ambulance district 1 and 2.

Those two district’s would then oversee ambulance dispatch for Cherokee County starting on September 30.

The motion was seconded however failed to pass due to lack of input from Baxter Springs where district three’s facility is located.

Commissioners are holding a public discussion about the funding during Monday morning’s commission meeting at the Cherokee County Courthouse at 9:30 A.M.

COLUMBUS, Kan. — A Southeast Kansas fire department is working to help families in need with fire safety.

The Columbus Fire Department will be receiving a $2,000 fire prevention and education grant from the State Farm Foundation.

The money will be used to help install smoke detectors in households that generally couldn’t afford them.

A similar program had started years ago thanks to a Red Cross grant — since then the fire department has worked to fund it through foundation grants.

Steven Burton, Columbus Fire Chief, says, “Statistics show the numbers of people that lose their lives without smoke detectors and the numbers are just so sad I feel like everyone should have smoke detectors and until I retire from this position, I’ll be a huge advocate for public safety and fire education. You know smoke detectors are number one on that list for sure.”

There will be a check presentation ceremony at the station on Wednesday at 1:30 P.M.

It will be open to the public.

PITTSBURG, Kan. — A community grant is going to give one Southeast Kansas organization a needed upgrade.

The Pittsburg Family YMCA has been named one of the recipients of the Leon V. and Dorothy M. Skubitz Grant

The grant was set up when the two Pittsburg residents left their estate to BMO Harris Bank.

Since 2008 the annual grant has been given out to help Crawford County and surrounding communities.

The Pittsburg Family YMCA was given $18,000 which they are using to purchase new gym mats for their gymnastics program.

Reba Wisely, Pittsburg Family YMCA Gymnastics Director, says, “The floor right now we have isn’t unsafe, but if you use the mat for so long it can become unsafe and then to just keep getting kids in the community to come in the gym it’s real exciting to have new equipment and everything.”

Chris Bearden, Pittsburg Family YMCA Sr. Program Director, says, “We actually have a rec program where the kids can just come in and play and we have the kids who want to go out and seriously do this at a competitive basis and so getting these grants in, it allows us to get equipment in that they can actually compete at a better level than just to stay at the mainstream event.”

This years recipients also include the Crawford County Health Department, and the Salvation Army.

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State University is looking to increase it’s faculty at a job fair this week.

It will be held this Wednesday starting at 9 A.M. at the KansasWorks, Pittsburg Workforce Center.

PSU staff will be onsite to answer questions and conduct interviews.

Interested candidates can apply for positions online.

To see a full list of open positions, we have a link here

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — In its latest report on the sexual abuse of minors, Poland’s Catholic Church says 292 clergymen allegedly abused 368 boys and girls from 2018 though 2020.

The report released Monday comes at a time when the Vatican is investigating reports of abuse and of a lack of reaction by church leaders in Poland, a predominantly Catholic nation where the clergy enjoy special esteem.

The Vatican recently punished a few Polish bishops and archbishops for negligence and barred them from church and lay ceremonies. The Holy See is also investigating reports of negligence by retired Krakow archbishop, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who before that served as personal secretary to the late pope, St. John Paul II.

At an online conference, the head of Poland’s Catholic Church, Archbishop Wojciech Polak, repeated his earlier apologies to the victims and asked their forgiveness.

Monsignor Adam Zak, in charge of tracking down and preventing cases of clergy abuse of minors, stressed the need for greater awareness and prevention because the number of recent reports remains high.

The church’s first report, for 1990-2018, listed cases of 382 clergymen having allegedly abused 625 minors. The names of 42 of the clergymen reappear in the latest report, compiled by the church statistical office from data from all dioceses.

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Two Missouri non-profits are coming together to support veterans and first responders.

The non-profit law enforcement motorcycle club Itus Virtus held their annual car and bike show today in Carthage to benefit Peterson Outdoors Ministries.

Peterson Outdoors Ministries provides outdoor recreational therapy for injured veterans and also holds retreats for first responders and their families.

The car and bike show had a $10 entry fee — along with a live auction and 50-50 raffle, with 50% of the money going to the winner and 50% going back to Peterson Outdoors Ministries.

“All we want to do is make sure that we’re helping others because that’s what itus virtus does,” said John Hicks of Itus Virtus. “We’re all about helping others.”

“It’s a great partnership to have,” said Tron Peterson, executive director of Peterson Outdoors Ministries. “They know a lot of people who could use our services. We’re able to provide those services free of charge and help our nation’s first responders find some hope and peace here in a country that is badly in need of it.”

Peterson Outdoors Ministries will host their fourth annual First Responders Appreciation Day at the Lodge of Hope on August 14.

NEVADA, MO – One Southwest Missouri community gathered to celebrate pride today.

The community gathered in Marmaduke Park in Nevada for the first “pride in the park.”

The park was full of food, music and LGBTQ+ and allied businesses and organizations.

The community was also joined by Missouri House of Representative candidate Jim Hogan and US Senate candidate Tim Shepard.

“As Nevada moves forward as more of a progressive city, we want to be an all inclusive not only at a city level but as a community and Southwest Missouri, so we’re just showing off our sense of community within our neighborhoods.” Says Lauren Harreld, Pride In The Park Co-Host.

Organizers hope to bring back the festival in the future, but may need to create a festival board before this can happen.

NEOSHO, MO. — A celebration of community took over in Neosho today.

‘Celebrate Neosho’ kicked off this afternoon on the Downtown Neosho square.

Due to this morning’s storms — a planned fishing derby at Hickory Creek — as well as the Tour De Morse bike race had to be canceled.

Afternoon events went on as scheduled, including dance and musical performances at the square…a citywide cruise night…and a fireworks display.
Various food trucks and entertainment vendors were also on location.

Paul Richardson, Event Planner
“We reached out to Neosho based vendors first and if we didn’t have a Neosho based vendor to fill a slot, then we looked outside of Neosho,” said Paul Richardson, Event Coordinator. “We’re focusing on things ‘Neosho’ and we’re focusing on Neosho features.”

‘Celebrate Neosho’ is traditionally held on the final Saturday of June — as a way to avoid competition with other area Independence Day celebrations.

JOPLIN, MO – Two people are in the hospital following a three vehicle crash.

The Joplin Police Department Major Crash Team responded to a crash on West 20th and Empire Street around 9:30 on Friday

Authorities say the crash was caused when the westbound pickup truck crossed the center line hitting the two oncoming eastbound vehicles.

Police believe alcohol could have contributed to the crash.

Two people who were involved in the crash were rushed to area hospitals.

An investigation is underway.