Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Organizers pleased with turnout, interest in The Wall That Heals at official kickoff event
Residents bringing The Wall That Heals to Emporia this upcoming summer are heartened by the turnout they saw at the official kickoff event Saturday. Organizer Richelle Birk says the atmosphere is long...
Mar 29, 2025 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Emporia Masons proud to be part of free cancer screening event
Emporia's Central Care Cancer Center had higher-than-normal traffic Saturday, thanks to a special health event. The center hosted a free screening activity, thanks to a longstanding collaboration betw...
Mar 29, 2025 Emporia's Masonic Lodge 12 was well-represented at Saturday's free cancer screening at Central Care Cancer Center. From left: Building Committee Chair Gary Watts, Treasurer Robert Nelson, Master James Miller, Auditing Committee Chair Tracy Edwards, Junior Steward Rob Scheib, Chaplain Pat Lyon and Junior Warden Tyler Curtis. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
One drug distribution suspect accepts plea, second set for pretrial, third set for trial in separate Lyon County cases
A man initially accused of distributing methamphetamine near an Emporia school has reached a plea agreement as part of a hearing in Lyon County District Court on Friday. Rafael Munoz Garcia was origin...
Mar 29, 2025 Wave.video graphic.
Plea hearing ahead in Lyon County identity theft, conspiracy case
A potential jury trial set to begin Monday has been canceled for a Lyon County identity theft and conspiracy case being prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General's Office. As part of a status hearing ...
Mar 29, 2025 Demetrius Odom. Lyon County Jail photo.
Inspections of Allen City Hall roof, water tower coming soon as cleanup continues from Thursday hailstorm
Allen Mayor Jessie Niedfeldt says there is a lot of work underway in and around the city limits to repair damage from Thursday's hailstorm. There is still a lot of work ahead. From the city's perspect...
Mar 29, 2025 Photos by (from left) Tammi Ogle, Doc Hinck, Sandy Hinrichs-Arens.
Drought deepens across much of KVOE listening area
For months, most or all of the KVOE listening area has been listed as abnormally dry by the US Drought Monitor. Now most of the area is in the next level of drought. The most recent update from the Dr...
Mar 29, 2025 US Drought Monitor map.
Pimple honored on Becker's annual Great Leaders list
Newman Regional Health's chief executive officer is listed by Becker's Hospital Review as one of its 2025 Great Leaders in Healthcare. Becker's says Cathy Pimple has been a leader in several health ca...
Mar 29, 2025 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Jobless rates up for Emporia, Lyon County
Jobless rates continue to climb in Emporia and Lyon County, but they are now falling slightly in some neighboring counties. Locally, Emporia's jobless rate climbed from 4.2 percent in January to 4.6 p...
Mar 29, 2025 Kansas Department of Labor map.
Severe weather risk marginal to slight for Saturday evening
Strong and severe thunderstorms are possible areawide Saturday evening into very early Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center's risk outlook map has changed somewhat from Friday's projections. Throughout...
Mar 29, 2025 National Weather Service graphic.
New status hearing date for decorated educator charged with electronic solicitation of minor
Another preliminary status hearing date is planned for a decorated educator charged with electronic solicitation of a minor. A preliminary status hearing in the case against Howard Pitler was set for ...
Mar 28, 2025 Howard Pitler. Johnson County Jail photo.
