If you’ve been in Cave Park lately, you may have noticed 🌲 tree work happening on the west side of the park. Unfortunately, the last several years of drought 🌞💧 have taken their toll, and some of the park’s trees didn’t survive.

Our Utility Maintenance Crew 👷‍♂️👷‍♀️ has been hard at work removing the dead trees ahead of winter ❄️. Earlier this year, Kody Kraemer with the Kansas Forest Service 🌾🌲 surveyed the trees we were most concerned about. He explained that the recent weather patterns 🌦️ had especially stressed certain species, leaving them vulnerable to disease 🦠 and insect damage 🐛.

While it’s always sad 😔 to see trees come down, this is also an opportunity for renewal 🌱. Clearing these damaged trees will make space for new plantings 🌳🌼 that will begin in the spring 🌸, ensuring Cave Park continues to be a healthy, shady place 🌤️ for our community to enjoy for years to come ❤️.

* Meeting agendas are subject to change *

The October Meeting will be held:
City Council Room, City Hall| 115 S. Sumner St.| Oxford, KS 67119
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

October brings many things… cooler weather, fall colors, and of course Public Power Week (October 5th–11th)!

As proud members of the Kansas Power Pool (KPP), our town has teamed up with fellow member, the City of Augusta, to celebrate. Today, Augusta’s team brought down a drone to capture some amazing aerial shots of our generators! 🚁🔌

Next week, our Utility Crew will head over to Augusta for a special lunch (courtesy of the City of Augusta) as part of the celebration.

For 20 years, KPP has been powering Kansas communities, now serving 24 member cities—and we’re proud to be one of them. 💡

Stay tuned… we’ll be sharing those drone photos next week! 📸

This month’s edition is bursting with updates and community news you’ll love!
⚡ Dive into the mystery of Energy Adjustment Charges on your utility bill.
🎉 Mark your calendars for all the fun October events happening in Oxford.
🚸 Spot the new crosswalk signs around town keeping our Wildcats and neighbors safe.

… and that’s just the beginning! 🙌

Grab a cup of coffee (or a pumpkin spice latte 😉) and check out everything happening in Oxford this month!

⚡ Community Update: Lightning Strikes, Crew Responds! ⚡

Sometimes Mother Nature likes to keep us on our toes—and this morning she packed quite a punch! Lightning struck a surge arrestor east of town on 11th Road, and the surge made its way through to the transformer, leaving our Utility Crew with a sparky surprise to tackle today.

But have no fear—our hardworking crew is already on the scene replacing the damaged transformer and working diligently to restore full service. We’re proud of their quick response and dedication, especially when unpredictable Kansas weather decides to put on a show.

We’ll keep everyone updated if any service interruptions occur, but in the meantime, let’s give a big shout-out to our Utility Crew for braving the elements and keeping Oxford powered up. 🌩️🔧💡

This afternoon, our Utility Crew will be replacing an electric line in the 600 block of North Sumner and North Kansas. While the work is underway, residents in this area will experience a temporary power outage. We know outages are inconvenient, and we appreciate your patience as the Utility Crew works to keep Oxford’s electric system safe and reliable. ⚡️🔌💡🛠️👷‍♂️

You may have noticed a new sign on Highway 160 at Michigan Street! There are now several of these crosswalk signs around town to help keep children safe on their way to school.

Increased patrols in school zones have already helped slow traffic, but officers were still seeing drivers fail to stop for pedestrians. These new signs serve as an extra reminder for motorists to always watch for—and stop for—anyone in the crosswalk.

Our top priority is keeping students and parents safe as they head to and from school each day.

This morning our Utility Crew was hard at work—not just on Main Street, but under it too! A leaky valve under the Highway needed replacing, and with today’s cooler temps 🌤️ and no rain 🌧️ in sight, the crew took the perfect opportunity to get the job done.

The valve was several feet beneath the asphalt, so the crew hand-dug 🪣👷 their way under the Highway to make the repair. Water service was only briefly interrupted for RCB Bank 🏦, so the rest of town stayed safe from any shut-off worries 🙌.

If you happen to drive by 🚗 and see our crew in action, be sure to give them a honk 📣 and a wave 👋 to show your support!

In this month’s newsletter, we’ve got exciting updates just for you!
Look inside for the latest park improvements, an announcement from the Oxford Public Library, and details on some BIG events you won’t want to miss. Dive in and see what’s happening around town!

The Oxford Police Department is committed to making sure every student using the Safe Route to School stays safe. New signs have been ordered and placed along College Street in front of the elementary school, with more to come in the weeks ahead!

Please keep an eye out for these signs, remember to slow down in school zones, and always stop for anyone in a marked crosswalk. Together, we can help make this school year safe for all our students!

Mobile Animal Clinic Returns to Oxford!

📅 Saturday, October 4th
🕘 9:00 a.m. – Noon
📍 City Shop – 200 S. Sumner St, Oxford

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Kylie Bruce back to Oxford with her mobile clinic! This is a great opportunity to take care of some of your dog and cat needs right here in town.

Dr. Bruce will be available for routine care and can also treat minor injuries or illnesses (additional fees determined at the time of treatment).

This clinic is designed to serve the needs of our community, and we encourage you to take advantage of the services being offered.

🐾 Reminder: All dogs 6 months and older must be licensed with the City of Oxford. Proof of rabies vaccination is required. A city license is just $5.00 per year.

OH NO!!!
Don’t worry—this is just a picture of what we don’t want to see as the new school year gets underway!

Our Maintenance Crew has been busy refreshing all the crosswalks so they’re bright, safe, and ready for students to use. ✨

As classes begin, please remember to slow down in school zones and keep an eye out for crosswalks. Together, we can help make sure all students get to and from school safely this year! 💛📚

🚨 Sewer Line Care Reminder 🚰

The City of Oxford recently had to clear a significant blockage in a section of the sewer main serving part of town. While the issue was resolved, blockages like this can lead to costly repairs and potential service disruptions for nearby homes.

We’re asking all residents to help protect our sewer system by keeping the following out of sinks, drains, and toilets:

• Grease, fats, and oils – These solidify in pipes and create blockages.

• Wipes of any kind – Even those labeled “flushable” do not break down in the sewer system.

• Paper towels, diapers, and feminine hygiene products – These can clog pipes and cause backups.

• Household chemicals – Certain chemicals can damage pipes and disrupt wastewater treatment.

Sewer misuse can cause problems for the City’s system and your home’s plumbing. Property owners are responsible for repairs within their homes, so proper disposal helps avoid unnecessary costs for everyone.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Oxford’s sewer system safe, clean, and efficient!

💧👷‍♂️ Temporary Water Discoloration 👷‍♂️💧

The City of Oxford would like to let residents know that Mayer Specialty Services recently performed maintenance on several sewer lines in town. As part of their work, they needed to fill equipment from a nearby fire hydrant.

This process can cause a temporary brown tint in the water for some residents. The discoloration is due to the high water pressure stirring up natural sediment in the water lines. While it may look unsightly, the water is safe to use and should clear within a few hours.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we complete these important maintenance projects for our community.

July was a busy one and our stats speak for themselves! After a very long investigation and a lot of hard work, our amazing officers were able to take several pounds of marijuana, as well as a good amount of cocaine and methamphetamines, off the streets this month!

-Stats:

• 32 total cases for July. Those 32 cases resulted in the following:
  • Arrests: 2
  • Criminal:
    • 22 Felonies
    • 12 Misdemeanor
  • Medical: 7
  • Fire: 1
  • Municipal: 5
  • Alcohol/Drug: 3
  • Weapons: 1
  • Juvenile: 5
  • Mental Health: 8

UPDATE: The Utility Crew has possibly found a replacement transformer and has been working on installing it this morning to bring power back to the pool! A big shout out to Kansas Power Pool (KPP Energy) and the City of Winfield for helping us locate a replacement transformer. Please remain patient with the crew as they get the transformer installed and test out the power. The goal is to have the pool up and running either today or tomorrow. 

UPDATE: The Utility Crew has been working since yesterday trying to localize the power outage at the pool and after replacing all the wires and fuses they have concluded that the transformer has gone bad. We don't have a back up transformer that size to replace it on hand, that means we have now put out a call to other towns in the area to try and locate one in order to purchase and then install Monday.

For the time being we are going to open the pool on Saturday and Sunday but there is NO POWER. The pool will be treated with chemicals but the pump is not working and the bathrooms will be dark. We will have a limited snacks, no ice cream, popsicles, or frozen food that needs heated up. We won't know more until Monday, as soon as we have a plan we will update everyone.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the electrical issue at the pool is still not resolved and wont before it's time to open the pool today.  We will not be opening today. We will update later today if we are able to get it fixed for the weekend.  

The pool will be closed today due to electrical issues caused by last night storm. The Utility Crew is going to work on the issue most of the day today. We hope to have this issue resolved by tomorrow in order to open as normal for the weekend. Thank you for your understanding on this matter.

📰 This Month’s Newsletter Highlights 📰

This month, the Oxford Police Department is asking residents to participate in a short online survey—your feedback is important! You’ll also find helpful information about easements and our Vacation Watch Forms.

🚗 Reminder: College Street in front of the Elementary School is now a 2-way street—please drive with caution!

If your club or organization has information you'd like included in an upcoming newsletter, please contact Sarah Capron at least one month in advance by calling 620-455-2223 or emailing scapron@oxfordks.org.

On Saturday, July 26th, the Oxford Police Department hosted our 1st Annual Community Night Out, and what a night it was! We were thrilled to be joined by the Oxford First Responders, Sumner Rural Fire District #3, and the Sumner County Sheriff's Department.

The evening was filled with fun for the whole family — temporary tattoos, s’mores, free drinks courtesy of Bank of Commerce, and awesome tunes from DJ Stan! 🎶

But the real highlight? Watching the kids laugh and play as they got sprayed down by the fire truck 🚒💦 

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out and to all those who helped make this night a success. We’re already looking forward to next year!

#CommunityNightOut #OxfordPD #FirstResponders #ThankYou #SmallTownStrong

🎠 Remember when we told you to stay tuned because we had plans for the old merry-go-round from Napawalla Park?

Well… the wait is over — and we’re excited to show you what’s happening! 😄✨

We wanted to bring a little extra color to Cave Park, and what better choice than Red, White, and Blue? 🎨🔴⚪🔵 The merry-go-round has been freshly painted and will soon have new boards added before it’s installed in its new home at Cave Park in the coming weeks. 🛠️🌳

We’ll keep sharing updates as the project moves forward — stay tuned! 👀📸💬

The City of Oxford proudly congratulates School Resource Officer and Master Patrolman Jerry Perry on completing the Advanced School Resource Officer Training in Hutchinson, Kansas, June 11–13. The training was hosted by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and provided in-depth instruction on school safety practices, student communication, and crisis response.

Officer Perry has long been a familiar and trusted presence in our schools. Whether helping with morning drop-off, supporting school events, or offering guidance to students, he brings both professionalism and compassion to his role. His commitment to pursuing continued training ensures Oxford’s students and staff are protected by the very best.

“It has been an honor to serve as the Oxford 358 SRO,” said Officer Perry. “I am looking forward to the new school year and continuing to build connections with students and staff to maintain a safe and positive learning environment. It’s a great day to be a Wildcat!”  🐾

We’re grateful for Officer Perry’s dedication to our youth and his unwavering service to the Oxford community.

If you’ve driven through Napawalla Park recently, you may have noticed a growing dip in the road. 🌧️ Weeks of heavy and frequent rainfall have taken a toll, washing away gravel and dirt and making the dip worse over time.

This week, our hardworking Maintenance Crew 💪 was out in the heat 🌞 tackling the issue. They laid down a solid layer of AB3 base rock 🪨—a durable material that creates a compact and stable foundation for future repairs.

A more permanent fix is in the works and is currently planned for this fall 🍂. As with many outdoor projects, the schedule will depend on the weather, but we’ll keep you posted as plans move forward! 📅

👏 Big thanks to our crew for keeping things safe, smooth, and moving forward!

This week, our hardworking Oxford Maintenance Crew was out in the summer heat getting an important job done—installing Yield Signs at every cross intersection along Sumner Street.

While some intersections already had Stop or Yield signs in place, this project ensures that now every single intersection on Sumner Street has proper signage. It’s all part of our continued effort to improve traffic safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.

Please be sure to watch for the new signs and stop or yield appropriately as you travel through the area. A little extra caution goes a long way in keeping our community safe.

👏 A big thank you to our Maintenance Crew for getting the job done quickly and efficiently—even in the heat!

The City of Oxford is pleased to announce the addition of Officer Gary Palmer as the newest full-time member of the Oxford Police Department.

Officer Palmer brings with him a strong commitment to public service and a passion for community-focused policing. He has already hit the ground running and is looking forward to getting to know the residents of Oxford and serving the city with professionalism and integrity.

The Oxford Police Department remains committed to keeping the community safe and fostering strong relationships with residents and local businesses. Please join us in welcoming Officer Palmer to the department—and be sure to say hello if you see him out and about in town!

Heads up, Oxford! Over the next few days, the Kansas Forest Service will be in town doing something tree-rific — taking inventory of the trees in our parks and along city easements!

You might spot their crews out and about, checking on our leafy neighbors and gathering info to help us keep Oxford green and gorgeous.

Thanks for your patience and understanding as they branch out through the community! 🌲🌿