Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Semi power unit destroyed after fire north of Emporia
A semi cab is a total loss after a fire near Emporia on Thanksgiving. The fire developed at a rural residence in the 900 block of Road 220, or about four miles north of Emporia. Battalion Chief Eron S...
Nov 28, 2025 KVOE News file photo.
Longtime ESU professor, Emporia community servant Bob Grover passes away
Longtime professor and community servant Bob Grover has passed away. Grover was born in La Porte, Indiana, receiving several degrees from Indiana University and Ball State University before coming to ...
Nov 28, 2025 Bob Grover. Courtesy Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home.
Wichita residents hurt in Osage County crash
Two Wichita residents were hurt, one seriously, in a crash in western Osage County on Thanksgiving. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened just before 9 am at Kansas Turnpike mile marker 16...
Nov 28, 2025 KVOE News file photo.
Merchants in, near Emporia ready for holiday shopping season
Now that the turkey torpor has passed, it's just about time to shop 'til you drop. As usual, the holiday shopping season is set to open full blast with Black Friday deals all over the place. In Empori...
Nov 27, 2025 Wave.video.
History in the making: Soller to lead Lyon County Historical Society with Jordan's retirement next year
Next year, the Lyon County Historical Society will have a new leader. Longtime Director Greg Jordan is retiring, making the announcement on KVOE's On-Air Chat this week. Jordan has directed the Histor...
Nov 27, 2025 Current Lyon County Historical Society Director Lisa Soller (left) will transition to the director's chair with longtime director Greg Jordan (right) retiring next year. Jordan will be director emeritus once the transition is done. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Lyon County Emergency Communications to launch AI assistant 'Betty' on Monday
Starting next week, Lyon County residents with non-emergency calls will get help from artificial intelligence. Lyon County Emergency Communications officially begins utilizing "Betty," a custom-design...
Nov 27, 2025 Lyon County Emergency Communications logo.
Progress noted with Emporia's Southeast Transmission waterline, Overlander Road expansion projects
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend has the city of Emporia updating two notable infrastructure projects. The most widespread project is the ongoing Southeast Transmission waterline work, eventually stre...
Nov 27, 2025 City of Emporia photo.
City offers tips for avoiding Thanksgiving FOG
The city of Emporia is asking residents to do their part to keep pipes flowing freely this Thanksgiving holiday. The city says fats, oils and grease -- shortened down to FOG -- are an "unwelcome" part...
Nov 27, 2025 Department of Environmental Services photo.
EFD responds to vehicle fire, injury wreck Wednesday
Emporia Fire had a busy Wednesday, dealing with a fire and an injury wreck. The vehicle fire was reported shortly before 1:30 pm at Interstate 35 mile marker 139, six miles east of Emporia's East Sixt...
Nov 27, 2025 KVOE News file photo.
Lieurance sentenced in Colorado to 45 years in prison for murders of Estrada, Ford
Emporian Philip Lieurance is spending the next 45 years in a Colorado prison for the deaths of two Emporia women over two years ago. Following the tentative terms of a plea agreement reached in August...
Nov 26, 2025 Phillip Lieurance. Kansas Department of Corrections photo.
