INDEPENDENCE — An employee with the Montgomery County Department of Corrections was arrested on Friday (April 30) on drug theft charges.

Sheriff Robert Dierks said Amy L. Brown of Independence was arrested followed a multi-week investigation.  Dierks alleges that Brown, an employee with the corrections department, stole intimate medication from the medical cart in the county jail.
Read more

COFFEYVILLE — A rare case of rabies in a cow has been confirmed by Dr. Warren Newby, DVM, Coffeyville.

Newby said a cow was brought to his clinic three weeks ago with nervous symptoms. Newby kept the animal for observation then began noticing other symptoms which he feared might be rabies.
Read more

BY ANDY TAYLOR

Two rural Coffeyville people were arrested following the discovering of a massive amount of stolen property last Tuesday.

Sheriff Robert Dierks said not only was the discover of the stolen items deemed “phenomenal” but so, too, was the discovery of drugs, including methamphetamine and marijuana, at the home of Scott and Cindy Ford.
The two people were arrested last Tuesday, April 20, after the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department received a tip regarding stolen property being held in the Fords’ residence.

Read more

COFFEYVILLE — A Coffeyville man was found dead at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center on Sunday evening.

Commander Mike Brown of the Coffeyville Police Department confirmed the discovery of Christopher Lee Owens, age 40, of 908 W. Third, Coffeyville.
Read more

CHERRYVALE — Cherryvale police are looking for a white male who robbed the Cherryvale Pharmacy, 101 E. Main, at gunpoint during the noon hour today (Thursday, April 22).

Matt Dennis, police chief, said the male entered the pharmacy brandishing a handgun and forced the pharmacy staff to give him Hydrocodone, which is a pharmaceutical pain killer.  Dennis said the male kept apologizing to the staff for taking the drugs and also indicated that he was taking the drugs to give to his mother, who, the robber claimed, was dying of cancer.

The male then left the store was last seen running in a direction southeast of the Cherryvale Pharmacy toward an area near Galveston and Fourth streets.

Dennis gave the following description of the robber:  6-foot-3; believed to be in early 20s; wearing sunglasses, a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Persons with information about the suspect should contact the Cherryvale Police Department at (620) 336-2400.

No injuries were reported, and the suspect did not fire the handgun during the incident, Dennis said.

A rural Coffeyville man was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery after shooting three juveniles who were trespassing on his property on Saturday morning, April 17.
Read more

INDEPENDENCE — The Kansas Mission of Mercy dental clinic held in Independence on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, treated 1,439 patients with dental care valued at $1.065 million. The project also provided 3,556 tooth extractions.  More than 800 volunteers were involved in the two-day clinic.

UPDATE:  Here is a quick rundown on the Kansas Mission of Mercy dental care provided as of 11:30 a.m., Friday. The clinic had treated 291 patients, performed 1669 dental proceedures valued at $225,594. This includes 810 extractions. Doors were closed early after 800 residents responded to the clinic.

The clinic will open at 5:30 a.m., Saturday.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — Smiles across Montgomery County will improve this week when the Kansas Mission of Mercy provides a free dental clinic in Independence to any area person in need of dental care.

The event — set for Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17 — is the first time that the Kansas Mission of Mercy will provide a free dental clinic to the Montgomery County region. The event is free and open to anyone on a first-come, first-servc basis but is intended to help those individuals and families in need of urgent dental needs. Services are available to anyone, no matter where they live, their income or their age.
Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts has announced that Chelsea Chaney, an Independence, Kansas native and member of his Washington, D.C. staff, was chosen to represent the state last week as the 2010 Kansas Cherry Blossom Princess during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. Attached you will find a photograph from the week.

“I was honored to represent Kansas acting as an ambassador of the state during the National Cherry Blossom Festival,” Chaney said. “Having the opportunity to talk to representatives from different states and countries about the great state of Kansas was a remarkable experience for which I am grateful.”

Chelsea graduated in 2008 from Washburn University in Topeka with a bachelor of arts in history and a minor in political science. At Washburn, she was active in the Student Government Association, Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, Student Alumni Association, College Republicans and Mortar Board.
Read more