Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Lyon County drug distribution, chase defendant pleads no contest
An Emporia woman accused of distributing drugs near an Emporia school as part of a law enforcement pursuit earlier this year has accepted a plea agreement in her case. Mariel Martin, age 40, pleaded n...
May 04, 2026 Mariel Martin. Kansas Department of Corrections photo.
Sentencing ahead in Lyon County exploitation case
Sentencing is ahead in July for a man now facing a shorter list of charges for sexually exploiting a child after a plea agreement finalized last week. Nicholas Rodriguez, age 31, pleaded no contest to...
May 04, 2026 Nicholas Rodriguez. Lyon County Jail photo.
Unbound Gravel week fast approaching
We're just a few short weeks away from Unbound Gravel. The last week in May is set to bring over 5,000 riders to Emporia -- as well as family, friends, vendors and casual and die-hard cycling fans. Th...
May 04, 2026 Unbound Gravel administrators (from left) Mason Mohn, Treva Anno and Shawn Thurman recently joined KVOE's Morning Show for an event preview. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
RDA board to discuss business retention, expansion at monthly meeting Friday
The Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas has its monthly board meeting Friday. Information items include reports on business retention and expansion, as well as opportunity zones fo...
May 04, 2026 Photo by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News.
Marginal severe weather risk remains ahead Monday
Storms may develop by late afternoon areawide. Severe weather is unlikely but can't be ruled out. Isolated to scattered storms are possible for the late-afternoon and evening hours, bringing a margina...
May 04, 2026 National Weather Service graphic.
EFD handles small fire in downtown Sunday, separate fire near west Emporia gas station
Emporia Fire dealt with two small fires Sunday afternoon. Firefighters went to a massage parlor at 107 East 12th shortly after 5 pm, finding a fire on a handrail on the south side of the building. Fir...
May 03, 2026 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Butler: Construction projects, upcoming business openings likely offsetting some sting from Hopkins shutdown
The March jobless rate may have come as a pleasant surprise for residents of Emporia and Lyon County, although Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Interim President Lyle Butler doe...
May 03, 2026 QuikTrip is among several Emporia construction projects set to come online later this year. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
La Grind tops 500 participants for first time, over $15,000 generated for Handlebars of Hope
La Grind is in new territory -- at least when it comes to participation. The two-day stage event launching from Emporia went over 500 total riders for the first time, making organizers like Amy Hayden...
May 03, 2026 Cyclists begin Day 2 of La Grind in downtown Emporia on Sunday. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Full field at Fairgrounds for Gary Fuller Spring Classic
The Gary Fuller Spring Classic marked its 10th anniversary with a full field of participants at the Lyon County Fairgrounds Show Arena. Among those involved was Andrea DeDonder, who was showing swine ...
May 03, 2026 Swine showmanship participants at the Gary Fuller Spring Classic demonstrate their skills Sunday. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Fire call to ESU Memorial Union turns out to be steam-related
Emporia Fire was called out to the Emporia State University campus for a fire call that turned out to have an entirely different cause. Crews were called out to the Memorial Union on Saturday evening....
May 03, 2026 KVOE News file photo.
