Ah, summer. Birds chirping 🐦, grass growing faster than teenagers 📏, and rain… lots of rain ☔. And no one has felt the wrath of the weather more than our brave mower-in-chief, Devin 🚜💪.

This week, Devin set out like any lawn warrior would — mower blades spinning, mission clear: tame the wild green jungles of our town 🌾. But Mother Nature had other plans 🌧️😅. Thanks to some ambitious rainfall, several areas were less "grass" and more "bog" 🐸. And let's just say Devin found some of them.

One moment he was cruising confidently 💨 across the turf, the next — squelch — the mower sank into a surprise mud pit 🕳️ like it was auditioning for a nature documentary 🎥🦆.

But don’t worry — we’ve had a trusty tow crew 🚛 (and possibly a canoe 🛶) on standby to fish him out each time. He’s fine. A little muddier 🧽. Maybe slightly traumatized by the sound of squishy grass 😬. But fine..

With more rain in the forecast 🌧️🌧️🌧️, we’re considering outfitting Devin with floatation devices 🛟 or relocating him to higher ground 🏔️.

💬 We’ll continue to post updates if (or let’s be honest — when) Devin’s muddy adventures continue. Stay tuned for more mowing drama! 🎬🌾

If you’ve noticed a little extra activity around Oxford this week, you’re not imagining things! A spirited group called Prayer and Action has rolled into town — and they’re making a big difference.

Organized through the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Prayer and Action brings together high school students who volunteer their time to serve communities like ours. This week, a team of 18–20 high school students, along with four dedicated chaperones and three missionaries, have been hard at work right here in Oxford. Their mission? Simple: serve others through acts of kindness — no strings attached.

From trimming trees and painting homes to sprucing up yards, their efforts are already having a big impact. And they’re not finished yet! The volunteers will be in town through the end of the month, with a fresh group rotating in each week. In total, more than 80 students are participating across the area, all based out of Holy Name Catholic Church in Winfield.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of this project is that it’s open to everyone — there are no requirements based on income, background, or religious affiliation. It’s all about lending a helping hand to neighbors who need it.

A huge thank you goes out to all the students, chaperones, and missionaries who are making Oxford shine a little brighter. A special shoutout to Deanna Houser for capturing the spirit of this project with the photos below and helping bring this story to life. And heartfelt thanks to Myra Jacobs, whose efforts through St. Mary’s Church helped bring this wonderful opportunity to our community. We’re grateful for everyone who’s played a part in celebrating and spreading kindness right here in our town!

City Maintenance Crews were out and about today working hard on street repairs around town! 🏙️ You may have spotted them at the corner of Main St & Sumner St 👷‍♂️🚦

These repairs are part of ongoing efforts to fix areas affected by water leaks and other issues over the past year 💧🔧

If you see the crew out there, don’t forget to give them a 👋 or a friendly 🚗📯 honk to show your support!

Oxford Public Library

Are you a book-loving, community-minded leader with a knack for creativity and organization? Do you dream in Dewey Decimal and think a cozy reading nook is the heart of any town? Then we’ve got the perfect job for you!

The Oxford Public Library is seeking an enthusiastic and forward-thinking Library Director to lead our charming small-town library into its next chapter! 📖

🌳 Volunteer Opportunity – Help Shape the Future of Oxford’s Parks! 🌳

Do you love our local parks? Dream of new playgrounds, community events, or making our green spaces even more inviting? 🌼🛝 Then this is your moment!  The City of Oxford has 2 open volunteer positions on the Park Board, and we’re looking for enthusiastic, community-minded individuals to join the team! 💪

The City of Oxford is hiring Lifeguards for the 2025 pool season! 🌞🌊

The Oxford Public Pool is open daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If you cruised through downtown today and noticed bucket trucks reaching for the clouds—no need to worry! There wasn’t a power outage or emergency. Our hardworking Utility Crew was just doing what they do best: upgrading electrical lines and installing fresh new wire to keep everything running smoothly.

These folks don’t just jump into action during outages—they’re always out there making sure your power stays strong and reliable. Give 'em a wave next time you see them in the sky!

This past Saturday, we had an incredible time at our PARTY AT THE PARK as we officially dedicated the new playground to the Oxford Community! 🛝💚

🍔 Mama Cheryl’s and Face Stuffers kept everyone well-fed with delicious lunch options, while the Oxford Police Department handed out goody bags with a special surprise inside... IYKYK 😉 

🎀 OHS Cheerleaders brought the fun with popcorn 🍿 and popsicles 🍧, and the Oxford Baseball Association had awesome temporary tattoos that both kids and adults loved! ⚾💪

🥤 After Prom kept everyone hydrated with drinks, while Oxford Youth Sports shared info with parents and handed out suckers 🍭 to all the little ones!

✂️ The Oxford Park Board and Mayor Dave Olmsted led the ribbon-cutting ceremony with pride, marking a special moment for our city! ✨

A huge thank you to City Clerk Shannon Brister and Utility Billing Clerk Sarah Capron, who ran the giveaways generously donated by our amazing local Oxford businesses and churches! 🎁🙏

👏 We’re beyond grateful to everyone who came out and helped make this event such a huge success! This playground is for YOU, Oxford! ❤️🌟

🎉 Coming This June: The Oxford City Newsletter! 📰

We’re excited to launch our brand-new City Newsletter, starting this June! Each month, we’ll bring you the latest updates from around town, highlight upcoming events, and share what’s happening right here in Oxford.

🗞️ Where to find it?
Look for the newsletter included with your utility bill and posted online every month!

📣 Have something to share?
If your club, organization, or group has an event or announcement you'd like to include, we’d love to hear from you!
📞 Call Sarah at 620-455-2223
📧 Or email scapron@oxfordks.org

Let’s stay connected and keep Oxford in the loop—together!

Inside this article you will find the City of Oxford Police Department case updates so far for 2025 and some June Safety information.

🎉 IT'S FINALLY DONE!!! 🎉
The brand new 🛝 large playground structure at Napawalla Park is FINISHED! 🙌

🎠 The Merry-Go-Round is in place!
💺 New Swing Seats are up on the BIG swing set!

A couple of ride-on toys 🧸🚜 are delayed due to technical hiccups ⚙️😅—but don’t worry, they’ll be ready next week!

Grab the kids 👧🧒, head on down, and wear them OUT with fun and giggles! 🤸‍♂️😂

Hope to see lots of smiling faces 😄👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 down there this weekend! ☀️🌳

🚗 Big News for Drivers on College Street! 🚗

As of today, you can officially cruise both ways on College Street between Michigan and Ohio Streets!

At the May 6th City Council meeting, a motion was approved to switch this block from a one-way to a two-way street. Why the change? This section—right in front of the Elementary School—was previously one-way to accommodate school bus loading. But since buses are no longer using this area, the one-way rule is now a thing of the past.

🎉 And here’s the exciting part: the City Maintenance Crew has already removed the signs, so you’re free to drive east OR west starting now!

This update is all about improving traffic flow and making life just a little bit easier for everyone in the neighborhood. Happy driving! 🚙💨

It’s cleaning day, and our amazing 2025 Lifeguards & Managers were hard at work getting everything ready for a summer full of fun! 😎 From brushing down the pool walls and scrubbing the bathrooms to tidying up the concession stand and stocking snacks — this crew seriously busted their tails today! 💪🍿🧽

👀 Here’s a sneak peek at some of the friendly faces you’ll be seeing all season long — and trust us, they’re as excited as you are to make a splash!

💸 Quick reminder:
• Daily entry is just $3.00
• Pool passes are available — 20 swims for only $40.00!

We’re counting down the days and can’t wait to welcome everyone back. Let’s make it the best summer yet! ☀️🏊‍♂️🌈

🎉 Great NEWS!! 🎉
The crew is back down at Napawalla and made awesome progress today! 🛠️👷‍♂️👷‍♀️

Our amazing City Crew is hard at work installing:
🎠 A brand-new Merry-Go-Round
👶 Toddler Swings
🧸 Ride-Ons

🚧 Please continue to stay clear of the work area so the team can finish everything by mid-week! 🙏

Coming up next:
🧱 A border will be added
🌈 Rubber mulch will be placed inside the border for safety and fun!

🪑 Park benches will return — perfectly placed so parents can relax & watch their little ones play 💕
AND… new swings are going on the big swing set

We’re not sure about everyone else, but we’re feeling like it’s Christmas in May with all this playground excitement! 🎄🎁👧🧒🎉

🚧 Project Update 🚧

We wanted to share a quick update on our progress. Unfortunately, the installation crew encountered an emergency 🚑 that temporarily pulled them away from our site. However, we’ve been assured they’ll return on Monday 🛠️ in full force.

The plan is to complete the main structure 🏗️ and begin installing the border and mulch 🌿. For those curious, the mulch is currently wrapped up on pallets down at the park 🎁🏞️—ready to go!

Thank you for your continued patience and support! 🙏💚

We’re thrilled to give you a first peek at our brand-new playground equipment — and trust us, it’s going to be AMAZING! 🚀 The installation is already underway, and we can’t wait for you to experience all the fun.

🛠️ But hold tight! While we know it’s tempting, we kindly ask everyone to wait just a little longer before climbing, sliding, or swinging. Safety is our top priority, and we want everything to be perfect before the big debut!

⏳ The good news? It’s only a few more days! If all goes smoothly, we hope it will be ready to play on by this weekend! 🎈

🎉 And guess what? We’re throwing a community celebration to mark this awesome milestone! Join us on Saturday, May 31st from 11 AM to 2 PM for a day of fun, laughter, and play. 🥳

📅 Mark your calendars — it’s going to be unforgettable!

🌞💦 Only 12 days left until the pool opens! 🎉🏊‍♂️ The city maintenance crew has been working hard to get everything ready for the big splash 💪✨

Here's a little sneak peek 👀 of that crystal-clear blue water waiting for you! 💙 As the temps rise, the pool is the perfect place to cool off and have some summer fun! ☀️🕶️

🗓️ Opening Day: May 26th
🕐 Hours: 1PM - 6PM
💵 Entry Fee: Just $3.00!

Want to save some 💰? Grab a Pool Pass — 20 swims for only $40.00 (that's a $20 savings!) 🏷️ Available at the pool once it opens or at the City Office 🏢

🎉 Pool Parties? YES PLEASE! 🎉
Book your own 2-hour pool party for just $100.00 — splash, play, and celebrate! 🥳🌊
📞 Call the pool at 620-455-2564 starting May 26th to book!

Let the countdown begin! ⏳💙 See you at the pool! 🩱🕶️🍧

🏊‍♂️☀️ Oxford City Pool is Almost Ready! ☀️🏊‍♀️

Our amazing City Maintenance Crew is hard at work getting the Oxford City Pool prepped for an epic 2025 season! 💪🎉

✅ First up: removing and drying the pool cover
🧼 Next: a sparkling clean with the pressure washer
💧 Then: filling it back up and treating the water with care
🧪 Chemicals? Checked and balanced for swimmer safety!

🚨 The first splash hits Monday, May 26th – mark your calendars! 🗓️💦

Our awesome Lifeguards are gearing up too, finishing up training and getting ready to keep everyone safe while we all have a blast! 😎🛟

🎟️ Pool Entry: Just $3 per person
🏊‍♂️ Swim Passes: 20 swims for $40 — that’s a $20 savings! 🤑

🌞 So grab your sunscreen, shades, and swimsuits — it’s almost time for FUN IN THE SUN! Can’t wait to see you at the pool! 🌴👙😄

UPDATE: Proseal will be back Thursday 5/15/2025 and Friday 5/16/2025 to clean all the streets that recieved the reclamite treatment earlier this week.  

Weather permitting, beginning Monday, May 12, Proseal will begin applying Reclamite, a rejuvenating street treatment, to roads in the northeast part of town.

You might be wondering—what is Reclamite? 🤔
Reclamite is a restorative treatment that acts like a spa day for streets. It’s a pink liquid that penetrates the pavement, working deep within the asphalt to restore flexibility and protect the surface from future cracking. Think of it as a mix between sunscreen and moisturizer—except it's for your road! 🛣️🧴

This treatment is designed to extend the life of our streets, improving driving conditions and reducing the need for more costly repairs down the line. It’s a proactive step to keep our roads safe, smooth, and strong.

What Residents Can Expect:

🗓️ Door Hangers: Proseal crews will place door hangers on homes in the areas scheduled for treatment. These will include dates and times for when specific streets will be treated.

🗺️ Map Access: A project map is available showing the treatment schedule for each street in the northeast quadrant. You can find it below this story.

🚗 Street Access & Parking:
To ensure the treatment works properly and to keep crews safe:

• Please move all vehicles off the street before the scheduled treatment.

• Avoid running sprinklers the night before or the day of treatment, as excess moisture can interfere&

🌱🌞 Need lawn mowing services this Spring and Summer? We've rounded up a list of awesome local folks who’d love to help you keep your yard looking fresh! 💚✂️🌼

🎉 Exciting News, Oxford! 🎉

Our brand new playground equipment is currently hanging out in a warehouse in Houston, TX 🏗️—but not for long! It’s scheduled to arrive in Oxford on May 12th 🚚 and the installation will kick off that same morning at Napawalla Park!

👷‍♂️ The install crew will be there bright and early to meet the delivery truck, unload all the awesome new pieces, mark the layout on the ground, and start building our fantastic new playground! 🛝✨

The whole process should take about a week (🤞as long as the weather cooperates!), so we kindly ask everyone to be extra mindful of the crew while they work hard to bring this project to life. They’ve got a big job and a short window to make the magic happen! 💪🌤️

And guess what... we're throwing a BIG party at the end of the month to celebrate! 🎈🎊 You won’t want to miss it—so stay tuned for more details coming soon! 📣

🌳🌟 Tree-mendous Day at Cave Park! 🌟🌳

Today, Mrs. Donley’s amazing 6th grade class teamed up with the 🌆 City of Oxford to plant FOUR brand-new redbud trees at beautiful Cave Park! 💪🌸

🌱 2 trees found their new home on the North side, and 2 more settled in on the South side—talk about balanced beauty! 🧭✨

The students got their hands dirty and their minds growing as they learned all about 🌳 tree planting 101:
📏 how deep to dig,
🌿 what a berm is,
🌰 and why mulch is a must-have finishing touch!

And to top it all off… the day ended with a pizza party 🍕🎈 and a class photo on the backhoe 🚜📸—because every great tree-planting crew deserves a legendary finish!

This awesome event celebrated not just Arbor Day 🎉 but also the City of Oxford’s proud tradition as a 🌲 Tree City USA! Let’s keep planting, learning, and growing together! 💚🌎

Thank you to Mrs. Donley, all the 6th graders, and the City Utility Crew for making this happen!! 

🚧✨ Heads up, residents! ProSeal is out and about on the North and South sides of town this week, cleaning out those pesky cracks in the streets to get them ready for filling next week! 🛠️🚙💨

This is all part of a 3-year plan to repair every paved street in town — so if you don’t see them in your neighborhood just yet, don’t worry… they’re coming your way soon! 😄🏘️🛣️

Got questions or concerns? Give the City Office a call at 📞 620-455-2223 — we’re happy to help!

🚧 Playground Progress Update! 🛝✨

Over the past few weeks, our amazing maintenance crew has been hard at work prepping the site for our brand-new playground coming soon!! 🏗️ They brought in 17 truckloads of dirt (yep, SEVENTEEN! 😮) to level out the area where all the fun new equipment will go! 🛻💨

A huge shoutout to Eric Lacey for bringing in his own equipment this week and leveling the ground to a perfect 0% grade 🙌👏 That means everything—from the play structures to the rubber mulch—will be sitting nice and even. Eric, THANK YOU for donating your time and equipment to help us out! 💚💪

We’re so excited to have the new playground equipment delivered later this month and installed in May! 🎊🗓️ Stay tuned for more updates—we can’t wait to share the transformation with you over the coming weeks! 📸🌟

#PlaygroundComingSoon #CommunityMagic #ThankYouEric

🚧💦 Heads up, Residents! 💦🚧
Our awesome City Utility Crew is out this morning upgrading a fire hydrant on South Sumner! 🧑‍🔧🚒

To get the job done safely, we’ll need to temporarily shut off water to folks south of Pine St and along Oxford Rd (south of town). But no worries — the outage should be super short ⏱️ while we install the shiny new hydrant! ✨🚰

Have questions? Give us a call at 📞 620-455-2223 — we’re happy to help!

Thanks for your patience and understanding! 💙💧
 

⚡ Notice to Residents – Temporary Power Fluctuations ⚡

Final Update: Evergy has resolved the recent power fluctuations by switching the City to a different circuit, likely redistributing load to restore stable voltage. As of now, power levels have returned to normal.

We appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you for your continued support as our City Crew worked closely with Evergy to monitor and address the situation.

Update: Evergy is currently working on their substation, which is causing fluctuations in the city’s power. After discussions with Evergy, they’re sending an engineer to explore rerouting power through a different substation. Please be mindful of your electricity usage this evening and tomorrow. As a precaution, the city will be operating its backup generators. At this time, Evergy has not provided a timeline for resolution. We appreciate your patience as our city crew works closely with Evergy to address the issue.

The City of Oxford would like to inform residents that if you're experiencing dimming or flickering lights in your home, you're not alone. Evergy is currently performing work on their substation, and it is temporarily affecting the City's electric system.

Evergy is aware of the issue and is actively working to resolve it. We’ve been informed that the situation should be corrected by the end of the day.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time!