Kansas Jayhawk Junior College Conference 2010 coaches’ poll was released today with Butler County picked first, followed by Fort Scott in second and Coffeyville at third.  Hutchinson, Garden City and Highland are fourth through sixth places, respectively while Dodge City and Independence are in seventh and eighth places.

The 2010 season begins on Saturday, Aug. 28 with Tyler, Texas, playing at Coffeyville and Independence playing at Trinity Valley, Texas.

CHERRYVALE — Law enforcement is on the search for a white male believed to be in his 40s who stole money from the Casey’s General Store on Wednesday afternoon, July 28.

Police chief Matt Dennis said the white male entered the store, purchased a Mountain Dew drink and then proceeded to grab money from the cash register when it was open during a transaction. No weapon was used in the robbery.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR

chronicle@taylornews.org

CANEY — A former Caney Valley Jr.-Sr. High School teacher has been formally charged with two counts of having unlawful sexual relations with a male student.

Stacy Main, age 30, will return to Montgomery County District Court in Independence on Aug. 12 for a first formal appearance following the presentation of charges against her on Friday.

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One week after the report of two separate break-ins at a pair of rural Montgomery County properties, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department has reported the arrest of three individuals.

Sheriff Robert Dierks said the arrested individuals are Markell McCarter, age 19, Colten Ballew, age 18, and Jordan Fields, age 18, all of Coffeyville. Dierks said he is recommending charges of two counts of burglary, two counts of felony theft, two counts of criminal damage and possession of stolen property.
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COFFEYVILLE — A construction worker on the U.S. 169 highway project east of Coffeyville was killed in a collision with a semi-tractor trailer on Monday morning, July 26.
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WICHITA — David Wayne Ellis, age 52, Cherryvale has pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — Montgomery County taxpayers can expect to see a slight drop in the tax rate assessed for county programs and services in 2011.

Montgomery County commissioners voted unanimously to propose a 2011 budget that calls for the county’s mill levy, also known as a tax rate, to decline from 52.10 mills in the current 2010 budget year to 47.09 mills in 2011.

That 5.01-mill decrease represents an 9.6 percent decrease in the county’s mill rate.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — Two Montgomery County 4-H youths earned the titles of king and queen of the 89th Annual Montgomery County 4-H Fair during coronation ceremonies on Tuesday night.

Held in the Independence Memorial Hall, the ceremony saw Aaron O’Brien of the Peppy Progressive 4-H Club earn the king title while Jerica Hall of the Valley Victors 4-H Club received the queen title.

They will preside over the 4-H fair events that will be held through Monday at Riverside Park in Independence.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

INDEPENDENCE — Candidates for the Montgomery County Commission, First District, made their views known on a variety of governmental issues during a forum sponsored by the Independence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Attending the forum were Republican candidates Leon Rau of rural Liberty and Mike Seller of Independence and Democrat candidate Tim Myers of Cherryvale. Rau and Seller will face off in the Aug. 3 general election with the winner facing Myers in the Nov. 2 general election.
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