Ottawa News Archive
Browse recent updates, announcements, and local promotions from around Ottawa and Franklin County.
Safe-Roads Grant Brings $825K for Local Safety Upgrades
Franklin County says a new safety grant will support flood-risk planning, school-area crossing upgrades, and pedestrian improvements in Ottawa and Wellsville.
County Opens 2026 Dust-Control Applications
Franklin County is accepting 2026 dust-control applications for gravel roads, with treatment requests and payment due by March 30.
Single-Vehicle Crash on I-35 Hospitalizes Wellsville Man
A one-vehicle crash near Wellsville sent a local driver to the hospital and prompted another reminder about spring travel safety on I-35.
Kansas Farmers Brace for High Costs and Unpredictable Spring
Area producers are heading into planting season with pressure from input costs, lower commodity prices, and uncertain weather.
Community Rummage Sale Funds Cheer Scholarship
A rummage sale at Ottawa High School raised more than $5,000 for the Rachel Morsett Memorial Cheer Scholarship.
City to Study Aging River Levee System
Ottawa officials are reviewing the condition of the city's levee system and considering a broader study of future flood-control needs.
Officials Warn Residents About Door-to-Door Solar Sales Scam
Ottawa officials warned residents about a solicitor claiming a false city affiliation while pitching residential solar systems.
Chamber Alerts Members to Scam Emails, Hosts Fraud Seminar
The Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce warned members about scam emails and promoted a local fraud-prevention seminar.
Natural Gas Leak Triggers Emergency Alert in Ottawa
A gas leak near Second and Willow prompted evacuations and an emergency alert before crews secured the area.
Old Depot Program Highlights Tattoo Pioneer Maud Wagner
An Old Depot Museum program explored the life of Kansas native Maud Wagner, widely recognized as the first documented female tattoo artist in the United States.
Program Explores Kansas Courthouses and Civic Architecture
A Franklin County Historical Society talk examined how Kansas courthouses and city halls reflect civic ideals, local history, and public identity.
Traveling Exhibit Examines Indigenous Sovereignty in Kansas
A traveling exhibit at the Old Depot Museum focused on Native self-government, treaties, and tribal history tied to Kansas and Franklin County.
Old Depot Program Looks at Historic Prairie Gas Stations
A Franklin County Historical Society program used historic photographs and local examples to examine the architecture and culture of early Kansas filling stations.
Annual Meeting Program Focuses on Santa Fe Depot Architecture
The Franklin County Historical Society annual meeting featured a presentation on how Santa Fe depots evolved from simple rail buildings into civic landmarks.
Historical Society Program Revisits the Orphan Train Movement
A virtual program looked at the orphan train era and the experiences of children placed with families in Franklin County communities.
Old Depot Exhibit Traces the Shift from Buggies to Automobiles
A Franklin County Historical Society exhibit explored how early automobiles changed daily life, roads, and commerce in Ottawa and the surrounding county.
Old Depot Exhibit Showcases Historic Sanborn Maps of Ottawa
Historic Sanborn fire insurance maps were featured in an exhibit that traced Ottawa's growth, buildings, and streetscape changes from the late 1800s into the early 1900s.
Program Revisits Great Depression Survival in Rural Kansas
A historical society presentation used stories, photographs, and oral history to look at how Kansas families endured the Great Depression and Dust Bowl years.
Historical Society Program Explores Kansas Trails Past and Present
A Franklin County Historical Society talk connected historic migration trails with modern recreational trail systems, including routes tied to Ottawa.