Local News - The Morning Sun

Pittsburg State University students gather around a bonfire to make s’mores and roast hot dogs before they hear eerie tales from a guest speaker and each other.

Exclusive subscriber content

After the excitement of Homecoming last week, the Pittsburg State University Gorilla Activities Board (GAB) scheduled a few Halloween-themed events, starting with Haunted History on Tuesday evening. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 10/27/22

A state route detour will be signed on K-47, U.S. 69 and K-39 while KDOT works on a pavement repair project on K-7 at Girard.

K-7 pavement repair project to start at Girard

Exclusive subscriber content

In early November, KDOT expects to begin a pavement repair project on a 500-foot section of K-7 at Girard. K-7 will be closed to traffic north of K-47. A state route detour will be signed on K-47, U.S. 69 and K-39. more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 10/27/22

Katie Sawyer, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, met with Pittsburg State University President Dr. Dan Shipp on Tuesday.

GOP lieutenant governor candidate visits Pittsburg

Katie Sawyer, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor and running mate of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, made a visit to Southeast Kansas on Tuesday, including a stop in Pittsburg to meet Dr. Dan Shipp, president of Pittsburg State University, where Sawyer earned her bachelor’s degree in 2006. more

By Jonathan Riley / [email protected] | 10/27/22

Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund awards over $50K in grants

Exclusive subscriber content

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas has announced that the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund (WHF) awarded a total of $50,992 in grants to women’s health initiatives in 2022. more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 10/27/22

Red Cross seeks volunteers in SEK

Exclusive subscriber content

Deb Brinegar, a community volunteer leader for the Red Cross, appeared before the Crawford County Commission to ask for more Red Cross volunteers to work in the area. more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 10/26/22

A dance performance from a previous Pittsburg State University Diwali Night event.

PSU Indian Student Association to host Diwali Night

Exclusive subscriber content

The Indian Student Association at PSU will once again share their culture with the campus and community with Diwali Night, an annual festival that will be held starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. more

Special to the Morning Sun / [email protected] | 10/26/22

County considers creating a new road crew

Exclusive subscriber content

At Tuesday’s Crawford County Commission meeting, Commissioner Bruce Blair put forward the idea of creating a full-time, two-man crew to perform preventative maintenance on county roads to extend their lifespan and reduce the long-term costs of repairs. more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 10/26/22

Over $430K awarded to local crime victim assistance programs

Exclusive subscriber content

Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced more than $22 million in grants to law enforcement organizations and sexual assault crisis centers that support crime victims and survivors, including over $430,000 for Crawford County organizations. more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 10/26/22

Pittsburg State University interior design students gather at the White Elephant Emporium to hear a presentation from designers and owners Stephanie Beitzinger Watts and Danielle Beitzinger on Monday evening.

Students learn from local designers

Exclusive subscriber content

Pittsburg State University interior design students had the opportunity to learn a different avenue toward achieving their career goals from local designers and owners of the White Elephant Emporium Stephanie Beitzinger Watts and Danielle Beitzinger on Monday evening. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 10/26/22

USD 250 begins strategic planning

Exclusive subscriber content

The USD 250 school board began discussions on the district’s five-year strategic plan on Monday night. Board members have developed an overall outline in which to plug in various goals and priorities according to category, but still remain flexible enough to add, exchange, switch, or reorder those priorities as the need arises. more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 10/26/22

PHS Theatre to bring tale of ‘Big Fish’ to life on stage

Exclusive subscriber content

Tickets are on sale now for “Big Fish,” being produced by Pittsburg High School’s Music Rep Theatre class, with the help of students in jazz band and stagecraft classes, Nov. 10 to 12, in the PHS Auditorium. more

Special to the Morning Sun / [email protected] | 10/26/22

Pittsburg Ballet will award decorated pointe shoes to attendees who have the best costumes during the intermission of its performance of The Sleeping Beauty this weekend.

Pittsburg Ballet to present The Sleeping Beauty

Exclusive subscriber content

Just in time for spooky season, Pittsburg Ballet will present The Sleeping Beauty this weekend. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 10/26/22

Hatfield nominated for Dealer of the Year award

Exclusive subscriber content

The nomination for the 2023 Time Dealer of the Year award of Jay Hatfield — whose vehicle dealerships include locations in Frontenac, Columbus, Chanute, and Joplin — was announced this week by Time. more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 10/26/22

The Pride of the Plains Marching Band participates in Saturday’s Pittsburg State University Homecoming Parade.

PSU Homecoming Parade

Exclusive subscriber content

10/25/22

Southeast Kansas man killed by driverless tractor

Exclusive subscriber content

An area man died following an accident over the weekend when he was pinned against a pickup truck by a driverless tractor, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 10/25/22

US Navy veteran Michael Harry was presented with a Quilt of Valor on Oct. 15 at the Pittsburg American Legion for his service as a damage controlman and storekeeper from 1971 to 1994, rising to the rank of petty officer 2nd class. Harry served aboard various ships, including the USS Providence off Vietnam, and USS Saratoga during Operation Desert Storm, and performed shore duty in the Philippines and Diego Garcia, before retiring as a damage control instructor from the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He is a Golden Shellback (meaning he has crossed the equator at least three times) who earned six Good Conduct Medals, a Navy Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.

Michael Harry awarded a Quilt of Valor

Exclusive subscriber content

10/25/22

Supporters of Gov. Laura Kelly gather at Chatters Bar and Grill in Pittsburg for a chance to chat with the governor over Zoom. Kelly was scheduled to appear in person, but high winds across the state prevented her from attending.

Gov. Kelly Zooms into Chatters

Exclusive subscriber content

Scheduled to make a local appearance during Pittsburg State homecoming on Saturday, Gov. Laura Kelly was delayed in Topeka due to high winds across the state. But that did not deter her supporters who gathered at Chatters Bar and Grill for a luncheon with the governor in a private bar reminiscent of a 1920s speak-easy. more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 10/25/22

Blake Benson, president of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, left, delivers a few remarks and a lot of “thank yous” to local business and community leaders at the ribbon-cutting of the newly remodeled welcome center on Monday.

Chamber cuts ribbon on remodeled welcome center

Exclusive subscriber content

lake Benson, president of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, marked the end of a nine-month restoration project with a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday at the welcome center in Pittsburg. more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 10/25/22

Lynette Forth, left, and Kailee Ramsey were praised for their honesty by frequent Pichler’s Chicken Annie’s customer Ronald Hicks when he mistakenly gave Ramsey over $500 for a tip and it was returned to him.

Good deed follows dinner

Exclusive subscriber content

For former Parsons resident Ronald Hicks, Pichler’s Chicken Annies is his favorite place to eat in the whole world. So, when he mistakenly gave his waitress $550 for a tip, he was grateful when she and the restaurant’s manager chased after him to return his money. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 10/25/22

Kansas Game Warden Austin Sievert works with his K-9 partner Apollo to demonstrate evidence retrieval.

Game warden’s job completed by new partner

Exclusive subscriber content

According to him, Kansas Game Warden Austin Sievert has the perfect job. After all, he gets to hang out outdoors all day long and play with his dog. more

By Olive L. Sullivan, Morning Sun Columnist | 10/22/22