Local News - The Morning Sun

Members of the Gorilla Battalion, Class of 2025, take their oath of office administered by Lt. Col. Dustin Blum, Commanding Officer.

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — While Pittsburg State has commissioned U.S. Army officers for well over a century, dating back to World War I, it was not until 1952 that a more permanent program was … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 5/16/25

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Founding Board Member Dr. Daniel Minnis tells the story of his near-death experiences Thursday during the groundbreaking of the Mount Carmel House, a hospice center. The facility is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

New hospice center set to bring families together

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Next year, Mount Carmel House, a six-suite hospice center, will be available to the community. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 5/15/25

Making its way all the way to the ceiling of the Lakeside Auditorium, a man-made geyser awes students during Thursday’s Yellowstone simulation.

Lakeside Elementary holds Yellowstone simulation

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — First grade students at Lakeside Elementary got a taste of Yellowstone National Park’s geological wonders, diverse wildlife, and historical significance through Thursday … more

By Aaron Pyle / [email protected] | 5/15/25

Little things matter. A crew of Pittsburg State University employees worked Wednesday to prepare John Lance Arena for Spring Commencement exercises on Friday and Saturday. Wyatt Hull, left, and Tony Jameson made sure the chairs for the graduates were evenly spaced as coworkers set the stage and cleaned the seating area for guests. Commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday and for 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Attention to detail

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Little things matter. A crew of Pittsburg State University employees worked Wednesday to prepare John Lance Arena for Spring Commencement exercises on Friday and Saturday. Wyatt Hull, left, and Tony … more

By Ron Womble | 5/15/25

Pittsburg High School senior John Lee signs his letter of intent for the University of Southern California's Navy ROTC program Wednesday evening alongside his parents Sang-Heui Lee and Jung Hee Lee as well as his sister, Joy Lee.

PHS senior signs to USC Navy ROTC

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg High School senior John Lee penned his letter of intent Wednesday afternoon, aiming to be trained and developed for the United States Navy while gaining a … more

By Aaron Pyle / [email protected] | 5/14/25

Gorilla Country Owner Steve Scott stands beside a shelf of Pittsburg State University from 1920 to 2014 in his store. He collected the yearbooks for customers to look through and see old pictures of family members or friends.

This is Gorilla Country

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — When Steve Scott opened Gorilla Country, a Pittsburg State University merchandise store, he wasn’t out to make his fortune. Instead, his intent was to give back to the town he fell in love with when he moved to Pittsburg in 2000. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 5/13/25

Lieutenant Colonel Dustin Blum shares a smile with his cadets, Owen M. Numata and Xavier J. Perkins, during Tuesday’s Pittsburg Noon Rotary ceremony, which awarded the two sophomore students a Col. Bill Hollenbeck Scholarship.

Pittsburg Noon Rotary rewards scholarships

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg Noon Rotary Club awarded six lucky, hard-working high school and college students scholarships during its weekly meeting on Tuesday. For the high … more

By Aaron Pyle / [email protected] | 5/13/25

Professor Andrew George talks about a Gray Cat Bird that has been logged and banded at the Monahan Outdoor Education Center as members of the Sperry-Galligar Audubon Society look on, May 3.

Spring migration is a research opportunity

Recently a group of Pittsburg State University students spent a Saturday morning at the Monahan Outdoor Education Center near Cherokee, netting, identifying, and banding birds in reclaimed mined lands that are now prairies and woodlands. more

By Ron Womble | 5/13/25

Former faculty member Linda Grilz, left, visits with Graphic Communications senior Megan Fausett about her project, an illustrated children’s book, at the department’s Senior Showcase, Thursday.

Seniors showcase their work

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When Megan Fausett was growing up on a farm near Prescott, Kan., her mother made up a bedtime story to help Megan and her twin sister get to sleep. That experience meant a lot to Fausett. So much, that the senior Graphic Communications student at PSU turned it into an illustrated book that is at once a heartfelt gift for her own young daughter, a tribute to her mother and also a senior project for school. more

By RON WOMBLE | 5/13/25

Frances Mitchelson, right, was honored with this year’s Spirit of Pittsburg Award during Thursday night’s Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet and fundraiser. Kathleen Flannery presents the award.

‘There is no place like the Pittsburg area’

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Roughly 300 local leaders and companies filled the ballrooms of the Overman Student Center at PSU Thursday night for the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 … more

By Aaron Pyle / [email protected] | 5/9/25

PHS Junior Norlan Aguilar, left, accepts the award for Outstanding Leading Performer at the Jester Awards. The last PHS student to receive this award was McKenna Shaw in 2020.

Sense of belonging inspires performer

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — The loving and caring environment he has found in theater, has inspired one young performer to be the absolute best he can be. It’s paying off. Recently, at the Kansas Jester Awards, Pittsburg High School Junior Norlan Aguilar was named Outstanding Leading Performer and he received a $1,000 scholarship for his role of Jean Valjean in the school’s production of “Les Misérables: School Edition.” more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 5/9/25

The Community National Bank Bulls break the huddle before the start of their game on Saturday.

A new season of swinging for the fences

PITTSBURG, Kan. — For little league players, summer evenings and weekends are filled with sounds of baseballs cracking against bats and cheers from coaches, teammates and parents. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 5/5/25

Girard Chamber of Commerce members and The Long Branch Office Suites Owners Troy and Lisa Blair and their daughter, Brooke Mahnken cut the ribbon on their new business. The space has eight rentable office suites and one conference room.

Family creates office suites for remote workers

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GIRARD, Kan. — The Long Branch Office Suites, located at 130 E. Forest Ave., Girard, is offering a space for remote workers outside of their homes. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 4/28/25

PD probes downtown death

Pittsburg Police, Fire Department and Crawford County EMS recovered a body Wednesday morning inside the locked fence surrounding a cell tower at 107 E. 1st Street. more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 4/16/25

Wednesday morning’s storms were an introduction to spring weather in Kansas. According to Crawford County Emergency Manager Quinton Parsons, much of the damage in Crawford County was limited to powerlines and fallen trees, although some structures did suffer more significant damage, such as a garage in the northeastern corner of the county.

A stormy morning in the Balkans

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Kan. –– It was an early day for newly appointed Crawford County Emergency Manager Quinton Parsons as severe storms blew through the area Wednesday morning, spawning a … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 4/2/25

Dr. Marvin Clothier passes his practice to Dr. Krishna Gorantla. Clothier served the Pittsburg community and beyond for more than 52 years.

Local dentist retires, passes torch to new doctor

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PITTSBURG, KS – After 52 years of providing dentistry in Pittsburg, Dr. Marvin Clothier of Smile Solutions has retired and transferred his practice to Dr. Krishna Gorantla. more

By Antjea Wolff / [email protected] | 2/24/25

NAC members speak with residents about the purpose of the council and answer questions about the advantages of instituting neighborhoods within the city.

NAC hosts open house

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) hosted an open house at Memorial Auditorium Thursday evening. Residents were invited to view the current neighborhood maps and make … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 7/27/24

PHS students Dominik Bach, left, and Noah Niederklein have yet to begin their college careers, but already are working to change education.

Meeting of the minds

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Individually, people can do great things. But put two exceptional minds together and the result can be amazing. That’s the case with two Pittsburg High School friends who have been collaborating on a project that would use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve education. more

By Ron Womble/[email protected] | 6/13/24

Carl Brenner, chief of interpretation and resource management at the Fort Scott National Historic Site as well as the acting superintendent, gave the opening remarks during Thursday’s Special Naturalization Ceremony.

Fort Scott National Historic Site hosts annual naturalization ceremony

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FORT SCOTT, Kan. — Nearly one hundred people raised their right hands and took the oath to become U.S. citizens during the annual Special Naturalization Ceremony at Fort Scott National Historic … more

By Aaron Pyle / [email protected] | 9/15/23

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) speaks with SEK residents on Thursday at the Homer Cole Senior Community Center in Pittsburg. Senator Masterson spoke on a variety of issues in a Q-and-A session, including taxes, the Kansas Corporate Commission’s new powerline, and the difficulties in campaigning in today’s political environment.

Senate leadership visits Pittsburg

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) spoke with SEK residents on Thursday at the Homer Cole Senior Community Center. The purpose of his visit was to gain support … more

By Dustin R. Strong / [email protected] | 9/15/23