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Click here for the link to our page listing information about July 4th events across Linn County

Partly sunny, then
rain returns

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4am. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

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Link to the National Weather Service radar.

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Inside the Journal
Page 1 – Top news stories, weather
Page 2 – Features, Obituaries, State news, Public
Notices
Page 3 – Community & Library Calendars
Page 4 – Recent Local News
Page 5 – Local News Archive

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Prairie View board votes to hire new superintendent

Joseph Hornback takes over the reins as superintendent of Prairie View USD 362 following school board action on Tuesday, June 16. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – Joseph Hornback has been named the new superintendent of Prairie View USD 362. Following a two-hour-plus closed door session on personnel matters, the board voted on Hornback’s new post just before adjourning its meeting on Tuesday, June

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Mental health center officials describe changes, request restoring county funding

Outlining changes in the organization since the beginning of the year, representatives from Southeast Mental Health Center asked the Linn County Commission to restore funding to assist clients who were eligible for programs and couldn't otherwise afford services. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Representatives of Southeast Mental Health Center (SEKMHC), interim CEO Doug Wright and Chief Financial Officer Amber Morrison me

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Linn Valley police arrest second man in sexual assault case

Two Linn Valley men are being held in the Linn County jail after being charged in an ongoing investigation by Linn Valley Police into allegations of sexual assault of a child. (Journal file phono) Journal staff report LINN VALLEY – The Linn Valley Police Department has announced the arrest of two Linn Valley men following allegations sexual assault of a child. Officers took Colin Wilson, 21, into custody on Saturday, June 13, for alleged aggravated indecent liberties with a c

Journal Staff Report

Commission wrestles with employee insurance costs

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commissioners made the decision to stay with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), the county’s current health insurance company, on Monday, June 15. The decision came after much discussion and a presentation from Jen Elliott, vice president of Employee Benefits at USI One Consulting on June 8. In staying with BCBS, commissioners will be asking county employees to absorb a portion of the increase in co

Charlene Sims, Journal co-publisher

2024 SEPTEMBER 400 x 400 Linn County Journal.jpg

• Craig Alan Wood

• Janice Geyer

• Brent Alan Croan

• Sharion Gillespie

•Adam Lee Johnston

• Steven Edwin Lindsey

• Ronald Owen Wright

For recent local news, go to
page 4
by clicking here.

Parker council at impasse over vandalism at city lake

By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PARKER – Vandals on four-wheelers continue to use the Parker city lake as their playground. And while the ruts those vehicles made before were reserved to areas on the banks around the lakes, they are now using the steep dam and spillway on the south end of the lake as vertical climbing tracks. That was the report of city maintenance worker James Hazelet to the Parker City Council at its regular meeting on Thursday, Ju

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

La Cygne Lake, East City Lake at Pleasanton restocked with wiper fingerlings

Don George, a fisheries biologist for the state, lifts a net of wiper fingerlings at La Cygne Lake on Wednesday, Jun 17. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com Don George spent Wednesday, June 17, trying to beat the heat as he stocked three lakes in eastern Kansas with a little over 35,000 wipers. By the time he was delivering the fingerlings to La Cygne Lake, the sun had warmed air temperature into the lower 90s

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Pleasanton council passes resolution to begin bond issue on water plant roof

Max McLiney, Pleasanton's financial advisor, passes out copies of a schedule of the bond process to members of the city council. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – After voting to hire a contractor to replace the roof of the water plant building and clarification system at the June 1 meeting, the Pleasanton City Council on Monday, June 15, voted unanimously to pass a resolution on financing the $2

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Pleasanton pool opens after repairs, council votes to pay lifeguards for work prior to opening

Students from last year's summer program try their hands at making cardboard boats at the Pleasanton municipal swimming pool last year. (Photo by Sarah Conley / Special to the Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton municipal swimming pool finally opened on Wednesday, June 17, and to celebrate the delayed opening pool manager Morgan Wills announced that it would be a free day for swimmers. Originally slated to open on May

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Mound City officials hoping to curb vandalism with cameras

This image on Facebook of a damaged fixture at the Mound City splash park sparked more than 400 comments on the site. City officials believe that it was caused by vandalism and have purchased cameras to try to deter further incidents. (City of Mound City Kansas Facebook) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal.com MOUND CITY – Mound City officials are going on the defensive after an apparent act of vandalism shut down the city’s splash park until repairs can be made. A

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

City Events

Blue Mound

• July 4, Activities begin with softball and 8 a.m. and continue until dark.Click here to go the flyer about the event.

La Cygne

• La Cygne Blast in the Park, July 11, 6 to 9 p.m. Click here to go to the flyer about the event.

Linn Valley

• July 4th events begin at 9 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Click here to see the schedule.

•Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon

Mound City

• Colonial Day, June 27, Mound City Historical Park, see ad on this page.

Parker

• Music in the Park, 6 p.m., June 27, Heritage Park

Pleasanton

• Stars & Stripes celebration, see flyer on this page, June 27

Click on this ad to go to the Facebook page for more details.

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Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff
For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson
For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

Opinion: Calm before the storm: These four issues could demolish Kansas state government by year’s end

The Kansas Statehouse dome stands in front of billowing clouds on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Clay Wirestone, opinion editor Kansas Reflector We wallow through late June, the long days alternating between prickling rain and sodden heat, news of the world outside obscured by the muggy haze of long weekends, summer vacations and evenings spent streaming “Widow’s Bay” (it’s excellent). I enjoy the days, at last for now, because I know they offer th

Clay Wirestone, Kansas Reflector

Opinion: La Cygne police chief looks back at past two years

Officer John Marino, from left, Police Chief Zachary Mathies, and Officer Kurtis West have been the mainstays of the La Cygne Police Department over the past two years. (Submitted photo) By Zachary Mathies Special to the Journal To the La Cygne Community, Over the past two years, your police department has worked diligently to strengthen and modernize public safety services while remaining committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and professional policing. One of ou

Opinion

Opinion: Enacting term limits could stifle growing congressional tenures, especially in Kansas

The U.S. Capitol building stands in Washington, D.C., amid fog on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) By Eric Thomas Kansas Reflector opinion Last week, my column aimed to answer, “How unusual is it that one party would dominate the US Senate on behalf of a state?” (Here’s the upshot: the Republican streak in electing US senators in Kansas has been nearly unbelievable.) While wading through the data needed to answer that question, I grew curiou

Eric Thomas, Kansas Reflector

More Local News

Mound City High School alumni mark 66th reunion

The 66th annual Mound City High School reunion gives alumni, their families and friends the opportunity to visit and catch up. The reunion was Saturday, June 20. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com More than 80 people gathered in the Jayhawk Elementary School gym on Saturday, June 20, for the 66th annual Mound City High School reunion. Alumni and their family members began arriving before 11 a.m. to visit with

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Health department director outlines summer activities

From biometric screenings to mobile mammogram appointments to a diabetes prevention program, the Linn County Health Department staff ha a full lineup of activities this summer. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Amanda Snyder, Linn County Health Department Director, gave a report to the Linn County Commissioners on Monday, June 8, describing upcoming events and people served in May. Snyder said the health department would be

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

La Cygne duplex owner given 30 days to determine cost to make structure safe for habitation

The La Cygne City Council has given the owner of this duplex 30 days to determine the cost for repairs and corrections to the structure. If that cost is more than 50% of the fair market value of the duplex, the council could decide to have it moved or demolished. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – The La Cygne City Council voted to give the owner of the duplex in the north-eastern part of the city 30 days to get an assess

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Historical society head lists park's improvements, programs, plans for the future

Dressed in period clothing, Mound City Historical Society volunteer Kerry Morrell leads a group of Prairie View Middle School students from Montgomery's Cabin at the society's park down to the Little Sugar Creek last October. Students wearing blindfolds were meant to simulate escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad making the walk in darkness. Historically, escapees waded through the creek to throw off any search dogs that might be following them. (Photos by Roger Sims / L

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Lauber Municipal Law adds additional city to list of clients

Jeffery Deane and Lindsey Kolisch are representatives of Lauber Municipal Law, a firm that has built its business on representing small to medium size cities in Kansas and Missouri. The firm recently added the city of Pleasanton as a client. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – Lauber Municipal Law has made significant inroads into representing Linn County municipalities over the last few months. With Missouri offices in

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

For recent local news, go to
page 4 by clicking here.

State, Regional & National News

News analysis: Kansas Republicans could try to delay election for U.S. Senate if Roger Marshall leaves office

Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, right, is seeking reelection in 2026, but could resign from office and trigger a controversial 2025 Kansas law giving the Legislature more power to influence Gov. Laura Kelly’s decision on a temporary replacement for U.S. Senate seats. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — A Republican-conceived law usurping Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s discretion when filling vacancies in certain Kans

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas GOP candidates for governor attack ‘paper shufflers,’ denounce fraud, argue about Chiefs

Four Republican candidates for Kansas governor, from left, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover, Johnson County businessman Philip Sarnecki, Secretary of State Scott Schwab of Overland Park and former Johnson County commissioner Charlotte O’Hara of Overland Park, share insights into their political agendas at a Wichita candidate forum. (Composite from Kansas Reflector photos) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlotte O’

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas governor denies death sentence clemency for serial killer

Gov. Laura Kelly speaks to reporters on Feb. 24, 2026, at the Statehouse in Topeka. On June 18, she denied the clemency request of a Kansas serial killer. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Baya Burgess Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly denied a Kansas serial killer clemency from his death sentence on Thursday. She denied the request of John Robinson, an 82-year-old Kansas prison inmate convicted of killing eight women from the mid 1980s until he was arrest

Kansas Reflector

Panasonic to shift some Kansas production lines to make AI data center batteries

Yuki Kusumi, CEO of Panasonic Holdings Corp., shown here at the grand opening of the De Soto, Kansas, electric vehicle plant, said in a June investor call that the company will invest nearly $3 billion to shift toward supporting artificial intelligence and data center devices, infrastructure and services. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Panasonic’s Kansas electric vehicle battery plant will convert part of its operations

Morgan Chilson, Kansas Reflector

An AI data center project for western Kansas might use less water than irrigation farming

A center pivot sprinkler pumping water on crops in southwest Kansas. (Photo by Calen Moore / Kansas News Service) Massive data centers powering artificial intelligence have sprouted across the country in recent years, drawing opposition for their water consumption. But in rural Kansas, boosters of one project argue that it could represent a huge savings in water use compared to irrigated farming. By Calen Moore Kansas News Service / High Plains Public Radio FINNEY COUNTY, Kan

Kansas News Service

More local news

Public invited to drop in on ham radio annual field day Saturday

Press release Mine Creek Amateur Radio Club TRADING POST – Mine Creek Amateur Radio Club will participate in an annual event for disaster communications training. This Saturday, June 27, clubs and groups across the country will participate in this 80-year-old tradition. The Mine Creek club will be set up at the Trading Post rest stop at U.S. Highway 69 and Kansas Highway 52 interchange. Members will set up their station and begin transmitting and receiving from 1 p.m. to dark

Press release

More residents complain about bare-ground spray along roads

The application of a bare-ground herbicide around culverts and intersections alongside paved county roads left areas like this in 2025. The county's noxious weed director said his department is following a different tactic this year. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Several residents from the Blue Mound area talked with the Linn County commissioners on Monday, June 8, about their concerns with the aesthetics and erosion is

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Commission hesitant to approve tax break for tornado victims

Sugar Valley resident Michael Evans loads what is left of his home into a dumpster following the April 13 tornado that left he and his wife Michelle temporarily homeless but suffering only from minor cuts and bruises. The couple filed an application for tax relief, which was granted by the Linn County Commission, but only after discussion about what would happen if the disaster was more widespread. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff...

Charlene Sims, Journal co-publisher

Local student makes dean's list at University of Arkansas

Press release FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Lake Ryan of LaCygne has been named to the University of Arkansas Dean's List for the 2026 spring semester. Ryan joins a distinguished group of students recognized for outstanding academic achievement by earning a grade-point average of 3.75-3.99 during the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours required for graduation. School of Law students are named to the Law School Dean's List by earning a 3.0 grade-point average or higher f

Press release

For recent local news, go to page 4 by clicking here.

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Phone: 913-259-2546 Email: linncountyjournal@icloud.com

Linn County Journal

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Click here for the link to our page listing information about July 4th events across Linn County

Partly sunny, then rain returns

Link to the National Weather Service radar.

Want to get the Linn County Journal's free email newsletters? Enter your email below and then click on 'Subscribe.' Be sure to put 'info@linncountyjournal.com' in your contacts so you don't miss a message.

Top Stories

Prairie View board votes to hire new superintendent

Mental health center officials describe changes, request restoring county funding

Linn Valley police arrest second man in sexual assault case

Commission wrestles with employee insurance costs

For recent local news, go to page 4 by clicking here.

Parker council at impasse over vandalism at city lake

La Cygne Lake, East City Lake at Pleasanton restocked with wiper fingerlings

Pleasanton council passes resolution to begin bond issue on water plant roof

Pleasanton pool opens after repairs, council votes to pay lifeguards for work prior to opening

Mound City officials hoping to curb vandalism with cameras

City Events

Blue Mound

• July 4, Activities begin with softball and 8 a.m. and continue until dark.Click here to go the flyer about the event.

​

La Cygne

Linn Valley

Mound City

• Colonial Day, June 27, Mound City Historical Park, see ad on this page.

​

Parker

Pleasanton

Click on this ad to go to the Facebook page for more details.

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

Opinion: Calm before the storm: These four issues could demolish Kansas state government by year’s end

Opinion: La Cygne police chief looks back at past two years

Opinion: Enacting term limits could stifle growing congressional tenures, especially in Kansas

More Local News

Mound City High School alumni mark 66th reunion

Health department director outlines summer activities

La Cygne duplex owner given 30 days to determine cost to make structure safe for habitation

Historical society head lists park's improvements, programs, plans for the future

Lauber Municipal Law adds additional city to list of clients

For recent local news, go to page 4 by clicking here.

State, Regional & National News

News analysis: Kansas Republicans could try to delay election for U.S. Senate if Roger Marshall leaves office

Kansas GOP candidates for governor attack ‘paper shufflers,’ denounce fraud, argue about Chiefs

Kansas governor denies death sentence clemency for serial killer

Panasonic to shift some Kansas production lines to make AI data center batteries

An AI data center project for western Kansas might use less water than irrigation farming

More local news

Public invited to drop in on ham radio annual field day Saturday

More residents complain about bare-ground spray along roads

Commission hesitant to approve tax break for tornado victims

Local student makes dean's list at University of Arkansas

For recent local news, go to page 4 by clicking here.

Back to Top

Phone: 913-259-2546
Email: linncountyjournal@icloud.com

Partly sunny, then
rain returns

For recent local news, go to
page 4
by clicking here.

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff
For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson
For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

For recent local news, go to
page 4 by clicking here.