Author Archives: Chuck Samples
Pitler sentenced to prison after indecent solicitation plea
Prison is next for an educator who spent time in Emporia before he was arrested. Following a plea agreement reached last month, Howard Pitler was sentenced to 19 months for each of two counts of indec...
Nov 26, 2025 Howard Pitler. Johnson County Jail photo.
Cope, Rankin: K-9 Ace adjusting well to life with Lyon County Sheriff's Office
K-9 Ace is adjusting well to his new role as a Lyon County deputy. Ace wasn't part of KVOE's Morning Show interview Wednesday morning, but Sheriff Jeff Cope and Ace's handler, Deputy Nathan Rankin, bo...
Nov 26, 2025 Lyon County K-9 Ace poses with partner Deputy Nathan Rankin. Lyon County Sheriff's Office photo.
Wreaths Across America raises enough money for full coverage at Maplewood Memorial Lawn next month -- and over 900 wreaths next year
Mind-blowing is an accurate description for the amount of community support ongoing for Emporia's Wreaths Across America ceremony next month. Organizers finished off the fundraising aspect of the cere...
Nov 26, 2025 The Wreaths Across America Honor a Hero event finished off fundraising for this year's ceremony, added volunteers for the event Dec. 13 and raised funds for next year's event. Wreaths Across America photo.
Vendor change for Lyon County property tax statements lead to savings of money, time with first payments due next month
It's time for turkey...and, if you're a Lyon County resident, taxes. Property taxes aren't coming due just yet -- that's later this year -- but the statements should be in hand after being mailed this...
Nov 26, 2025 KVOE News file photo.
Church of Christ ready for annual Thanksgiving community meal
Emporia's Church of Christ has a lot of food getting prepared for its 35th annual Thanksgiving meal Thursday. Pastor Neil Taylor says 15 turkeys, 10 hams and all the classic Thanksgiving sides will be...
Nov 26, 2025 Emporia Church of Christ photo.
American Farm Bureau Federation: Retail discounts on turkey help to drive overall Thanksgiving meal costs lower
Even with food prices spiking in several grocery store aisles all year, the American Farm Bureau Federation says a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost less than it did last year and the year ...
Nov 26, 2025 American Farm Bureau Foundation graphic.
Illinois man killed in wreck at Turnpike Emporia onramp
The Kansas Highway Patrol says an Illinois man was killed in the semi wreck at the Kansas Turnpike Emporia exit early Monday. Troopers say 64-year-old Pedro Ocampo of Berwyn, Illinois, was southbound ...
Nov 25, 2025 The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal semi wreck on the southbound Kansas Turnpike onramp at Emporia from early Monday. Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
With fundraising goal set to be met, Wreaths Across America organizers focus on volunteers during Honor a Hero event
There were several ways to Honor a Hero at the Lyon County Fairgrounds on Tuesday. Residents were encouraged to drive through the Fairgrounds to offer their thanks to military veterans and current ser...
Nov 25, 2025 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
Honor a Hero drive-thru fundraiser for Wreaths Across America coming Tuesday
Organizers of Emporia's Wreaths Across America event are having their final push towards covering Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery with wreaths next month. Honor a Hero is taking place at the Lyon Cou...
Nov 25, 2025 Wreaths Across America map.
Light rain reported from Monday showers, isolated storms
Rain totals were varied but light across much of the KVOE listening area Monday. The KVOE studios got 0.33 inches of rainfall from occasional showers and an isolated thunderstorm. Other totals: *Empor...
Nov 25, 2025 Chuck Samples/KVOE News.
