Spring River Current

10/14/2026

Arrest from investigation involving a former Riverton teacher

On 10/7/2026 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Riverton School District, reporting a possible inappropriate relationship between a staff member and a student. Detectives from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office immediately began the investigation. The suspect in this case was identified as Justin W. Mckee, age 30, of Webb City, MO.

During the investigation it was discovered that in fact there had been an inappropriate relationship between Mckee and a student. Detectives worked closely with the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office and submitted charges for Unlawful Sexual Relations with a minor, Aggravated Intimidation of a victim and or witness, and Contributing to child misconduct.

On 10/14/2026 a Cherokee County Judge signed a warrant on the suspect and issued a $15,000 bond. McKee was taken into custody on 10/14/2026 and is currently being booked into the Cherokee County Jail.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office - Kansas encourages anyone with information about this case or any other cases involving McKee to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 429-3992.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Photo provided by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office - Kansas

10/11/2026

CNC Sports Girls Golf Standings

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ca9XTYijd/

⚡️GOLF STANDINGS

10/11/2026

Tomorrow in Baxter Springs

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CB1Zi6sGz/

💙 Baxter Springs, let’s come together TOMORROW! 💙

The Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to attend the Faith N Blue Rally as our community honors the law enforcement officers of Cherokee County!

📅 Tomorrow, Monday, October 12
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Kiwanis Park & Pavilion, Baxter Springs
🍔 FREE cookout!
🎤 Keynote speakers: Dale Karnes & Tim Botts

This is a chance to connect with neighbors, share a meal, and show appreciation for those who serve our communities. Everyone is welcome!

Bring your family, invite a friend, and help us fill the park with community support! 💙

10/11/2026

Laat nights Baxter v Riverton game highlight from Sports Report

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19fAZxXL7G/

10/10/2026

Spring River Boat and Ski Club Turkey Shoot dates

10/09/2026

Grand opening today in Columbus

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19WUT9VidY/

🔥 IT’S OFFICIAL! LLOYD BROS IS LOOKING LIKE A CARD SHOP! 🔥

Another piece of the puzzle is complete! Our new front door decal is up, and we’re one step closer to being ready for our GRAND OPENING TOMORROW! 🎉

🏈 Football
⚾ Baseball
🏀 Basketball
⚡ Pokémon
🔥 Yu-Gi-Oh!
🎯 Sealed Wax, Singles, Autographs & More!

Whether you’re a longtime collector, just getting into the hobby, or looking to buy, sell, or trade, we’ve got something for you!

📍 Lloyd Bros Buy • Sell • Trade
Columbus, Kansas

📅 GRAND OPENING — FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH!

We’re excited to bring something new to our hometown and can’t wait to see everyone!

💚 Help us spread the word! Like, share, and tag your collecting buddies! Let’s make opening weekend a great one!

10/09/2026

Cherokee County Economic Development hold annual recognition awards

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Lsg49Zi3N/

10/09/2026

Coffee & Connections set for Oct. 20th in Columbus.

Address is 120 E. Maple Street at the Maple District (old hotel).

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DuMuE4Ygz/

☕ I’m looking forward to sponsoring Coffee & Connections this October!

Join me Tuesday, October 20 from 7:00–8:30 AM at The Maple District in Columbus.
Coffee & Connections is a casual opportunity to grab some coffee, connect with others in our community, and visit with me about what’s happening in Topeka and the issues affecting Southeast Kansas.

With the November election right around the corner, there’s plenty to talk about. Bring your questions, stop in when you can, and come say hello!

📅 Tuesday, October 20
⏰ 7:00–8:30 AM
📍 The Maple District | 120 E. Maple, Columbus

Thank you to Gracefully Managed LLC, Locally Savvy Biz Solutions , The Maple District, and Shebrews Coffee Co-KS for putting this on every month!

10/08/2026

Baxter Springs Public Schools, USD 508 sports today

Lions in action today:
-GGolf @ Erie, underway
-XCountry @ Independence, 4:00PM.
-JV VB @ Riverton, 5:00PM
-V VB @ Ft. Scott, 6:00PM.

10/07/2026

This week at Baxter Springs Public Schools, USD 508

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DfXP5iVmR/

Check out everything happening this week, October 5–10. From volleyball, football, golf, and cross country to our Outdoor Ed trip, Pep Assembly, and more, there’s plenty going on!

Come out and support our Lions throughout the week!

10/04/2026

Coming up in Riverton

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E81zTBrvs/

Don't forget! Next weekend is the annual FFA Fun Run! There is a $10 registration fee, and it opens up at 12:15; the run is at 1:00. Come out and support the Riverton Community Development.

10/04/2026

A look inside Mulligan's 19 in Baxter Springs

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1VFMyb4aFQ/

10/03/2026

BHS Final score:
Baxter Springs 35
Cherryvale 6

10/03/2026

BHS Football at the half.
Baxter Springs 13
Cherryvale 6

10/03/2026

From BHS Twitter Feed

Lions hold Cherryvale 3 and out on the first possession, take the ensuing drive to the end zone. Wade 5 yrd run up the middle. Successful PAT by Grant. 7-0 Baxter.

09/30/2026

Riverton USD 404 Martin recognized by Greenbush

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19nUyxnmQZ/

📣 Congratulations to Zach Martin from Riverton USD 404! He is our Instructional Leadership Highlight for September! 🎉 🙌

“He is an engaged leader who learns and participates alongside his classroom teachers. By doing so, he is building his own understanding of how to lead literacy and learning within his building. He actively engages in discussions and considers the takeaways and instructional strategies that could be a good fit to bring back to his teachers to support both instruction and student learning.” - Amy and Ginger, Greenbush

Thank you and congratulations, Zach! 🤗

09/28/2026

Official statement from Peoria Tribe regarding racial slurs used at Powwow.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CgXpruKYa/

09/28/2026

Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates on Route 66

The Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce invites our community to Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates on Route 66 at Noon on Wednesday, October 21st at the Maple & Rose Events Center,1046 Military Avenue, Baxter Springs, KS.

Scheduled participants include: Senator Cindy Holscher and Senator Ty Masterson. The event will be followed by a casual meet and greet at 1:00 PM. This is an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and learn more about their positions ahead of the election.

Sponsorship opportunities available, the Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce is looking for businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring this event. Sponsorship is $150. Your support helps the Chamber provide opportunities for community members to connect with candidates and participate in the civic process.
If you are interested in sponsoring email the Chamber at [email protected].

09/28/2026

Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce October Board Meeting Set

Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Baxter Springs Chamber Office.
Chamber members are always welcome and encouraged to attend.
They will be discussing upcoming events, group initiatives, and plans for the remainder of 2026 as we continue preparing for the new year. If you are interested in joining the Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce as a member reach out to them on their page or visit: https://baxterspringskscc.com/ and click the join today button.

Welcome to the Baxter Springs KS Chamber of Commerce! We empower local businesses, foster economic growth, and enhance the community through advocacy, networking, and valuable resources. Explore our new website to learn about membership benefits, upcoming events, and how we support the vibrant busin...

09/28/2026

Baxter Springs Fall City-Wide Garage Sale is this Saturday.

The Baxter Springs Fall City-Wide Garage Sale is happening this Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Whether you're searching for hidden treasures, household items, clothing, or a great deal, we encourage you to get out and explore the sales happening throughout our community.
This link goes to the "Official" Map of garage sales: https://citywide.baxterspringskscc.com/. If it goes as per usual and the weather is good, keep an eye out for garage sale signs as a lot of them will join in at the last minute and not be on the map.

Explore the Baxter Springs city-wide yard sale! View all participating locations, plan your route, and get directions for a fun day of treasure hunting.

09/28/2026

Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce October Wake Up Wednesday has been CANCELED

The Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce will not be hosting their regular Wake Up Wednesday this October. Instead, they encourage their members and local businesses to attend the County Economic Development Recognition Breakfast that will be held in Galena at the Senior Citizens Center, 720 Wall Street.

The Recognition Breakfast starts at 7 am with coffee and networking, followed by breakfast and the events program from roughly 7:30 to 9 am.

Tickets to the event are $25 each or $150 for a table of 8. Please RSVP by Oct. 2nd to the Economic Development Office at 620-762-0717 or by emailing [email protected].

09/28/2026

Available Tuesday at the Cherokee County Health Department-Kansas in Columbus. Note their temporary location while the new office is being built.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1KB5UggZuP/

09/27/2026

The Riverton Lady Rams went 6-0 on Saturday to earn the title tournament champions.

09/27/2026

Cherokee County pursuit leads to arrest in Missouri

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F37fjtBMQ/

On 9-26-26 deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office was notified of a vehicle that had fled from law enforcement in Missouri but had gotten away from the agency. The vehicle was known to frequent Cherokee County, so deputies started actively checking for the vehicle. The vehicle was located in the area of NE 30th and Coal Valley Road. The vehicle initially stopped for deputies but then fled from the stop. A vehicle pursuit was initiated and the driver fled back to Missouri. A tire deflation device was deployed by a Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper, which successfully deflated both tires on the passenger side. The vehicle came to a stop and the driver was taken into custody. The driver was identified as Patrick Allen Kincade, age 18, of Pittsburg KS. Kincade was transported to the Jasper County Jail and is facing multiple charges out of Missouri and Kansas. Cherokee County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, the Missouri Highway Patrol, and the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

09/26/2026

Lady Lions go 3-2 Saturday

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19mLTtVsjP/

Varsity goes 3-2 at the Burlington Tournament 🏐🦁 To distract from what could’ve been a very rough day, homecoming was last night and our girls represented six of the seven spots! ❤️Each of them looked stunning! Congrats to our Queen, Allie Hall👑
So. Alex Main, Sr. Allie Hall, Sr. Bella Casada, Sr. Sam Sheffer, Sr. Izzy Simpson, and Jr. Kadence Underhill

09/26/2026

Sunday for kids age 5-12 at First Christian Church in Baxter Springs

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dvzk8HMKj/

Tomorrow is the day! We have nachos, lemonade, and hundreds of Nerf darts! All we need are the kids ready for battle! See you tomorrow at First Christian Church in Baxter Springs from 5-7pm.

09/26/2026

King sets new school record at Riverton

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CjR3NCzv5/

🚨 NEW SCHOOL RECORD! 🚨

12 ACES 🔥

Kynlee King broke the school record for aces in a match in our 5-set win over St. Mary’s Colgan! 💙

Previous record: 9 aces — Jacy Thomasson (2021)

📸 5 Star Media

09/26/2026

BHS game update from USD 508 Twitter feed:

Parrish connects with Grant for 58 yrd. PAT no good. 21-13 Caney. 3:33 2nd qtr.

09/26/2026

BHS 2026 Homecoming King and Queen, Caleb Grant and Allison Hall

09/25/2026

Boil Order issued for Cherokee County RWD4 Customers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 25, 2026

Contact: Jill Bronaugh
[email protected]



Boil Water Advisory Issued for the Cherokee Co RWD 4, Cherokee County

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Cherokee Co RWD 4 public water supply system located in Cherokee County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on September 25, 2026 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a loss of pressure due to equipment malfunction. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 620-429-1006, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:

https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.

When a public water supply system experiences a disruption in service there are precautions that consumers may need to take during and after the incident.

09/25/2026

Perfect evening for BHS football.
2026 Homecoming vs Caney Valley:
- coronation, 6:30PM
- kickoff, 7:00PM

09/25/2026

Mulligan's 19 set to open Oct. 3rd in Baxter Springs

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BViFw53fa/

09/25/2026

Guess who's back at Cherokee County Sheriff's Office - Kansas .

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AdafN4yfP/

🚨 CAPTURED: CHEROKEE COUNTY ESCAPEE TERRON ALLEN BACK IN CUSTODY 🚨

A days-long manhunt ended this afternoon when deputies captured Terron Michael Curtis Allen just southeast of the Columbus, Kansas, city limits.

Sheriff Henderson confirmed Allen was taken into custody around 3 p.m. after someone reported a suspicious person in the area where authorities had been searching. Multiple agencies had worked around the clock during the search.

Cherokee County has since posted a new booking photo. His updated jail record lists:

• Aggravated burglary
• Aggravated escape from custody; felony offender
• Aggravated criminal so**my; unknown circumstance

The burglary and escape offenses are additional booking charges. As of the 4:30 p.m. update, formal filing of those additional charges was still pending.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

09/21/2026

Save a few bucks and get your passes early for the Columbus Day Balloon Regatta

https://www.facebook.com/share/1eFH2aE2hX/

🎈🎉 **THE BALLOONS ARE COMING — ARE YOU READY, COLUMBUS?!** 🎉🎈

Get ready for the **37th Annual Hot Air Balloon Regatta** and three days of hometown fun, beautiful balloons, and unforgettable memories! ❤️💙💛

🚗✨ **SAVE $2 — GET YOUR ADVANCE PARKING PASS!** ✨🚗

🎟️ **ONLY $8.00 IN ADVANCE!**
Available until **Friday, October 9 at 5:00 PM**

📍 **Advance parking passes are available at:**
🏦 **Labette Bank**
🏦 **Commerce Bank**
🏦 **American Bank**
🏦 **Exchange Bank**

🚗 **$10.00 per vehicle at the balloon field**

And the best part? Your advance parking pass is good for **ALL 4 BALLOON EVENTS!** 🎈

✨ **Friday Evening Glow**
🌅 **Saturday Morning Lift-Off**
🎈 **Saturday Afternoon Lift-Off**
☀️ **Sunday Lift-Off**

Bring the family, bring your friends, and come experience the excitement as the skies over Columbus fill with colorful hot air balloons! 🎈🎈🎈

🌤️ **Weather Permitting | No Refunds**

❤️💙💛 **DON’T WAIT — GET YOUR ADVANCE PARKING PASS AND COME FLY WITH US!** 🎈

**37th Annual Hot Air Balloon Regatta**
**Columbus, Kansas**

09/21/2026

CNC Volleyball Stat leaders, several local girls on here.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H9BMaGT6y/

🏐 VOLLEYBALL STAT LEADERS
- Lots of big numbers and a very competitive league this year.

09/20/2026

Stay weather aware tonight and into the morning. For updates catch up with Meteorologist Doug Heady

https://www.facebook.com/share/1C1AtBFoyY/

09/19/2026

Bowler's Boulevard announces winner of "Making Memories Lane"

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18ynzt8eDr/

WINNER WINNER!!! Devon Anderson WON the "Making Memories Lane" tonight during Beats & Bowling!! CONGRATS!!
We have a couple of lanes left for this evening!
Reservations recommended!
Make sure to stop by next week and get your name in for next week's giveaway! We draw every Saturday at 2:00

09/18/2026

Weir Homecoming kicks off today.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F7o18BdmX/

09/16/2026

ATTENTION PARENTS - Baxter Springs Public Schools, USD 508 has SCHOOL NEXT MONDAY! Write it down now.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JxTqLZ1zp/

A reminder that all USD 508 schools are in session next Monday, September 21. Thank you.