Local News - The Morning Sun

A total of 96 new citizens will be welcomed during a Special Naturalization Ceremony Special Naturalization Ceremony at Fort Scott National Historic Site. The ceremony will be open to the public.

Fort Scott National Historic Site welcomes 96 new citizens

FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site will host the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS) and the U.S. District Court, Kansas District, on Thursday, Sept. 14 for a … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 9/13/23

The Finishing Touch recently put the final touches on its new façade.

The Finishing Touch gets fresh look

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PITTSBURG, Kan. After debating a remodel for decades, The Finishing Touch building finally got a long-awaited facelift. The Finishing Touch Manager Beth Bradshaw, daughter to owners … more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 9/13/23

Gas prices could see potential increase in Kansas

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Drivers in Kansas are being warned to brace themselves as drivers may be facing some major gas pains by this week, experts say. According to GasBuddy, a technology … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 9/13/23

There is help, there is hope

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — According to the Heartland Community Health Center in Lawrence, Kansas is ranked 17th in the nation for its high suicide rate. In addition, it is the second … more

By Aaron Pyle / [email protected] | 9/13/23

Jim Otter, a longtime faculty member in the School of Construction who also owns and directs Japan Karate-Do Genbu-Kai martial arts school in Pittsburg, taught a self-defense session Tuesday evening at the Robert W. Plaster Center. With primarily Pittsburg State University students in attendance, the class taught attendees when to run, when to respond, how to evade, how to create barriers, and what works. The session also emphasized awareness and decision making in different situations.

PSU professor teaches self-defense session

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Jim Otter, a longtime faculty member in the School of Construction who also owns and directs Japan Karate-Do Genbu-Kai martial arts school in Pittsburg, taught a self-defense session Tuesday evening at the Robert W. Plaster Center. more

9/13/23

USD 250 tackles budgets, buses, and capacity

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Monday night’s school board meeting at USD 250 covered a few upcoming and pressing concerns, including revenue-neutral rates, new legislation concerning out-of-district … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 9/13/23

Pittsburg Community Schools alumni and area residents gathered at the newly renovated portion of Pittsburg Community Middle School on Tuesday, which was completed at the beginning of the month. In the last of USD 250’s two open house events to the public, visitors observed the modern architecture blended with tributes to the school’s rich history. Areas viewed by visitors included the auditorium, lobby and conference rooms.

Come one, come all

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Pittsburg Community Schools alumni and area residents gathered at the newly renovated portion of Pittsburg Community Middle School on Tuesday, which was completed at the beginning of the month. more

9/13/23

Area residents and their animals march in the 2019 Weir Homecoming parade.

Small town celebrates big

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WEIR, Kan. — The City of Weir was founded in 1872 by T.M. Weir of Pennsylvania, who set aside 40 of his 160 acres to build a town. During the city’s boom, nearly 3,000 residents enjoyed … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 9/13/23

Seneca man indicted for meth trafficking, illegal firearm

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Seneca, Missouri man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for ille-gally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm. Jason Daniel Gibson, 40, was charged in a … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 9/12/23

The Southeast Class of 1968 gathered for its 55th reunion Saturday, Aug. 19. During the reunion, some attendees took a tour of the old high school at Cherokee. Those who toured the school were, front row, from left: Patti (Blair) LaCroix, Barbara (Tarter) Coy, Brenda (Judd) Dooley, Ann (Pender) Thiele, Vikki (VanKam) Zaccarello, Bunnie (Wallace) Ross and Nancy (Bergant) Harrison. Back row, from left: Danny Oplotnik, Glen Rogers, John Johnson, Richard Jameson and Jim Geier.

Southeast Class of 1968 gathers for 55th reunion

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The Southeast Class of 1968 gathered for its 55th reunion Saturday, Aug. 19. During the reunion, some attendees took a tour of the old high school at Cherokee. more

9/12/23

The house at 502 Madison owned by Bill and Barbara Crawford was one of Pittsburg Beautiful’s September award winners.

Pittsburg Beautiful announces award winners for September

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg Beautiful has announced its September award winners. The recipients are Clayton and Holly Kent, 2005 E. 14th St.; Bill and Barbara Crawford, 502 Madison St.; and The … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 9/12/23

Megan Johnson (left), speaks to a student on the Pittsburg State University (PSU) campus. Johnson has been named the student support coordinator of SparkWheel, a new pilot program at PSU that seeks to provide assistance to students who face barriers — including students from low-income households, from foster care, or who are first-generation — transition to col-lege life.

New PSU program aims to help students who face barriers

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Barriers facing some college students are relatable to Megan Stoneberger Johnson: she was a first-generation student. Today, as the coordinator of a new program at … more

Special to the Morning Sun / [email protected] | 9/12/23

Blessing of first responders

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Living Faith Church of the Nazarene hosted a Blessing of First Responders on the Girard Courthouse Square on Sunday morning. Fire trucks, police cruisers, and ambulances lined the street, waiting to be blessed by Pastors Mike Johnson and John Vulgamore. more

9/12/23

An American flag hangs from atop the City of Pittsburg Fire Station No. 1, located at 911 W. Fourth St. The local fire department displayed the flag to honor the memory of nearly 3,000 lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, as Monday marked 22 years since the terrorist attacks.

‘We remember’

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An American flag hangs from atop the City of Pittsburg Fire Station No. 1, located at 911 W. Fourth St. The local fire department displayed the flag to honor the memory of nearly 3,000 lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, as Monday marked 22 years since the terrorist attacks. more

9/12/23

The Pittsburg Police Department gave motorcycle riders an escort to Atkinson St. during Saturday’s poker run, held by the Mirza Shrine Wind Wizards.

Mirza Shrine Wind Wizards host poker run

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Several motorcyclists from across the Pittsburg region gathered in front of the Mirza Temple Saturday for the Mirza Shrine Wind Wizard Poker Run. A poker run, … more

By Aaron Pyle / [email protected] | 9/12/23

Members of the Pittsburg State University Office of Police and Public Safety Services and Pittsburg Police Department gathered at The Oval on campus throughout Monday morning and provided bike registration for students for free. Helping with the reuniting of property in the event the bike is stolen then recovered, registration can be completed by calling 620-235-0400.

PSU holds activities for National Campus Safety Awareness Month

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Each year, colleges and universities across the country recognize September as National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM) to bring attention to the issue of safety on … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 9/12/23

Nearly 40 goats were turned out at Lincoln Park on Monday to help get some overgrowth under control. Kept in place by a fence, the goats are better able to handle certain areas of the park that may be too dangerous for humans.

Goats on the move in Lincoln Park

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Nearly 40 goats were released in Lincoln Park on Monday to help the Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Department control some overgrowth along the creek north of Lincoln Center. … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 9/12/23

Sheriff Danny Smith’s Jeep, complete with a giant duck, sits atop a flatbed at Saturday’s Jeep Derby. Several sponsors donated prizes to raffle during a fundraising event for Special Olympics Kansas.

Duck-n-Jeep Derby raises funds for SOKS

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — It began with a simple act of kindness. A Jeep owner in Ontario, Canada, decided to brighten someone’s day and placed a small rubber duck on the fender of another Jeep. … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 9/12/23

John Frederick Galloway, 23, and Elissa Elain Sturgell, 23, both of Weir, were arrested Friday, Sept. 8, following a brief pursuit. Galloway had been sought by area law enforcement since felony warrants were issued for his arrest out of Crawford County in mid-July. Sturgell had been previously arrested on Tuesday, Sept. 5 and held in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of interfering with law enforcement after her suspected involvement in helping Galloway evade arrest.

Weir couple captured following pursuit

WEIR, Kan. — Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies apprehended a Weir couple Friday afternoon following a brief pursuit. Around 4:40 p.m., deputies located 23-year-old John Frederick … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 9/9/23

On Friday, Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative Inc. hosted its annual customer appreciation day at its main office in Girard. From brats to burgers to goody bags, the company invited its customers from across the region for an afternoon of gratitude and grilled food.

Craw-Kan hosts ‘Customer Appreciation Day’

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On Friday, Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative Inc. hosted its annual customer appreciation day at its main office in Girard. more

9/9/23