BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

A newer, quicker and more secretive method for producing methamphetamine has Montgomery County Sheriff Robert Dierks and other law enforcement on full alert.

The method goes by the street name “Shake and Bake” — so called because of the shaking of methamphetamine ingredients in a two-liter plastic bottle or similar-sized container. That shaking motion literally “bakes” the ingredients within a matter of minutes but also comes with high pressure gas that, when released the wrong way, can create an explosion.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR

COFFEYVILLE — A Coffeyville youth hopes that his hometown’s connection of the famous Icee soft drink will soon became the official beverage of the State of Kansas.

Elijah Jaimez, age 11, has proposed that the Icee soft drink, invented by Coffeyville restaurant owner Omar Knedlik in the early 1960s, will be named the ofifical soft drink of Kansas upon passage by the Kansas Legislature and Gov. Sam Brownback. Jaimez has submitted his proposal to State Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, and State Sen. Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer, for their consideration and possible advancement to each chamber in the Kansas Legislature.

Jaimez said he developed the idea for an official state drink when he was studying the 50 states as part of a school assignment several weeks ago. He discovered that Delaware has an official drink (milk) as does Nebraska (Kool-aid).

However, Kansas does not have an official drink despite having a list of other “official” symbols, including the state bird (Western meadowlark), state animal (American buffalo), state amphibian (Barred tiger salamander), state flower (Wild native sunflower), state grass (little bluestem), state insect (honeybee), state march (“The Kansas March”), state reptile (ornate box turtle), state soil (Harney silt loam), state song (“Home on the Range”) and state tree (cottonwood).
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CANEY — Caney’s only grocery store, Floyd’s Town and Country, will close its doors on Sunday evening, March 13.
Manager Bill Floyd said the Caney community has not supported the store with sufficient business to keep it open. Merchandise will be moved to the Floyd’s Supermarket in Sedan.
Floyd said he has enjoyed working in the Caney community, but in recent months  it has become increasingly apparent that the store lacked the volume needed to keep it open.

Members of the Cherryvale Police Department, along with area law enforcement are currently looking for Caden West. Caden is a white male, 18 years of age, 6′2″ blond hair, and blue eyes. 160 lbs., last seen wearing a camo outfit, with a backpack and black shoes.

Although no foul play is believed to be involved at this time, officials are concern with Cadens well being and safety.  Caden was last seen here in Cherryvale around 3:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, leaving Cherryvale Middle-High School.  Several reports have placed Caden around the area and outside the county over the past 24 hours.

If you know the whereabouts of Caden, contact your local police department or the Cherryvale Police Department at 620-336-2400.

COPAN — A Hulah Lake state park operated by the Oklahoma Tourism Department will close in August due to budget cuts.

Wah-Sha-She State Park, located on the west side of the Hulah Lake dam,  is one of 10 state parks to face closures. The closures of the 10 state parks will save the state nearly $700,000 per year.

Other Oklahoma state parks to close will be Adair State Park in Stilwell; Beaver Dunes in Beaver; Boggy Depot in Atoka; Brushy Lake in Sallisaw; Heavener Runestone in Heavener; and Lake Eucha in Jay.

Deby Snodgrass, Tourism Department executive director, said in a press release that the Tourism Department is looking to create partnerships with community and tribal leaders that might help keep the affected parks viable.

BY ANDY TAYLOR

chronicle@taylornews.org

CANEY — The Caney Valley High School men’s locker room Monday night didn’t have a single dry eye after the Caney Valley Bullpups earned a 66-54 victory over Neodesha in the class 3A sub-state tournament opener.

Those teary eyes weren’t fueled by a tournament victory but by complete sadness for the team coach, Criss Davis, who lost his mentor, father and friend, Les Davis, the previous day.

Criss Davis was not preparing to coach Monday’s game, instead focusing his time on making funeral preparations and dealing with the grief that had befallen his family in such a sad way. The elder Davis was afflicted with a stroke during his grandson’s wedding ceremony in Copan, Okla., on Saturday afternoon. Les Davis died the next day in a Tulsa hospital.
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COFFEYVILLE — Coffeyville Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department arrested three Coffeyville residents after the discovery of an active methamphetamine laboratory inside a local home.

Commander Diane George of the Coffeyville Police Department said a search warrant was executed at 615 W. 8th, Apartment 3, in Coffeyville on Monday. During the search of the premises, law enforcement deputies found an active meth lab in the kitchen of the residence. Marijuana as well as paraphernalia were seized as a result of the search warrant.
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BY ANDY TAYLOR

INDEPENDENCE — An incumbent member of the Independence Community College board of trustees was eliminated from Tuesday’s primary election.

The election was called to narrow the list of ICC trustee candidates from 10 to nine.

Kenny Wilson, ICC trustee member, received the lowest number of votes among the 10 candidates with 190 total ballots. Even though Wilson is removed from the April 5 general election, he will continue to serve on the trustee board until his term expires on June 30.

Receiving the top votes in Tuesday’s primary election was Phillip Fienen with 365. Second-highest vote recipient was Jay Jones with 307.
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