La Cygne's Blast in the Park set for Saturday evening

A professional fireworks display is set to begin at around 9 p.m. at the Blast in the Park on Saturday. (Journal file photos) Journal staff report The third weekend of Independence Day celebrations begins on Saturday evening, July 11, as the city of La Cygne sponsors the Blast in the Park at La Cygne Community Park. The event opens at 6 p.m. with a host of actiivites for the family, food trucks, vendors and live music by one of the Kansas City area's top bands. Bo and the Bea

Journal Staff Report

Clear, warm

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 66. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Link to the National Weather Service radar.

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La Cygne council poised to continue planning before making decision on streets

(Warning: this video is noisy. Consider turning down your volume before playing.) The La Cygne Public Works Department ran a machine called the Asphalt Zipper to crush a deteriorating roadbed on Fifth Street in a demonstration. After the surface is chopped up, it is stabilized with concrete or an admixture, rolled and then topped with cold patch asphalt mix until a more stable road surface is applied. (Video by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff...

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Blue Mound honors American Legion veterans on the 250th birthday of the United States

Members of the American Legion were the grand marshals of the Blue Mound July 4th parade. District Adjutant Marri Krupco called area posts and invited them to join members of the Blue Mound-based Mooney-Long Post No. 279. Joining them was members of the Commanders, the newly formed Linn County American Legion baseball team. Click on arrows for slide show, and click on photos for full-size image. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff...

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Mound City's 'Colonial Day' a throwback to 1776

Visitors roam around the Mound City Historical Park on Friday, July 3, during the 'Colonial Days: Live Like it's 1776' event sponsored by the Mound City Historical Society and the Mound City Library. (Photos by Billy Roudybush / Linn County Journal) By Billy Roudybush Journal contributor On Friday July 3rd, the Mound City Library and the Mound City Historical Society worked together to bring a celebration to Mound City for the nation’s 250th birthday. Brittany Simpson, librar

Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor

Report on fire-damaged duplex shows progress, but attorney warns effort could fall short of saving structure

Work is expected to be underway quickly on this duplex on North Seventh Street Court in northeastern La Cygne. Fire damage to the structure in April opened up a host of safety issues with the house. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal.com LA CYGNE – At the La Cygne City Council meeting on Wednesday, July 1, Tony Lenci, a fire restoration contractor with Kansas City, Mo.-based Hazpro, and Andrea Kincaid, who represents the property owner Casey K

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

2024 SEPTEMBER 400 x 400 Linn County Journal.jpg

• Clinton Eugene Williams

• Ann Quaintance

• Edward 'Eddie' Schultz

• Peggy Lou Morris

• Randall Joseph Henness

• Matthew Graham Tyson

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

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Commission meeting cancelled because of lack of a quorum

MOUND CITY – No Linn County Commission was held on Monday, July 6, due to lack of a quorum. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jason Hightower were unable to attend the meeting, The next commission meeting will be held Monday, July 13, at 9 a.m.

Roger Sims

Commission sets groundwork for department budget requests

Linn County government department heads are in the process of lining out their budget requests for 2027. The county commission also with the county clerk discussed what the commission wants to see in those requests. (Wix file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – On Monday, June 29, the Linn County Commissioners approved signing the letter of intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate. This letter, which is given to the county clerk to forwa

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

U.S. 69 overlay project to begin the week of July 6

Expect delays for road work on U.S. Highway 69 north of Pleasanton beginning Monday, July 6. The project is expected to be completed in December. (Wix photo) KDOT news release About 25 miles of U.S. 69 in Linn and Bourbon counties will receive an asphalt overlay starting the week of July 6, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The work will start just north of Pleasanton on the southbound lanes and move south. The southbound lanes will receive a 4-inch

Press release

Economic development grant recipients named

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY - Ashlee Allen, part-time economic development, announced to the Linn County Commissioners on Monday, June 22, that the economic development committee had awarded Summer Youth Grants, Daycare Grants, and a Community Grant. However, the recipients of grants weren’t named and the commission did not ask who received the grants. In a later email, County Clerk Chasity Ware sent the names of the recipients. In the pa

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

City Events

Blue Mound

• July 13, City Council meeting, 6:30 p.m.

La Cygne

• City Council, July 15, 7 p.m., City Hall

Linn Valley

• July 13, City Council meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Mound City

• City Council meeting, Tuesday, August. 4, 7 p.m. at city hall.

Parker

• City Council meeting, 7 p.m., Aug 13

Pleasanton

• City Council meeting, 6 p.m., July 20

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

Bugs Bunny bugs me

Country Notebook By Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson Journal columnist Bugs Bunny as a cartoon character bugs me because of his arrogance, but for the purposes of this story, No. 4 in the series of what bugs me, it’s the real-life bunny rabbits that bug me. I drive onto my property, day or night, and I usually count eight to 10 rabbits running in fear of their lives. They don’t really have anything to worry about, because the only creatures I destroy are rattlesnakes and armadillos

Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson, Country Notebook

Opinion: The most important ‘No’ in American history

A hero of the Revolutionary War, George Washington eschewed the idea of becoming the ruler of the newly liberated American colonies. (Library of Congress.) By Todd Thompson, Leavenworth County Attorney Special to the Journal “Calamity.” That’s how he described the idea. Not just any promotion. The promotion. The one people spend their entire lives chasing. Absolute authority. Imagine being at the height of your success. Everyone trusts you. People talk about you like you can

Opinion

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

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

Challenging the deafening silence of God

Matters of Faith By Dr. Bascom Ratliff, pastor Beagle, Fontana, Parker United Methodist Churches Psalm 13: 1-3a. How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death. Today's message is about our perceived silence of God. There are times w

Dr. Bascom Ratliff

Jul 1

More Local News

In southeast Kansas, a friendly fried rivalry between chicken restaurants spans decades

In southeast Kansas, a friendly fried rivalry between chicken restaurants spans decades. (Photo by Rachel Schnelle / Kansas News Service) Chicken Mary’s and Chicken Annie’s sit nearly next to each other, and they share similar origin stories of women turning to cooking for money after the mining industry left their husbands unable to work. By Rachel Schnelle Kansas News Service Summer road trippers visiting southeast Kansas might notice a curious sight: Two billboards for sim

Kansas News Service

NewsHundreds of Kansas attractions are free this summer for students. Here’s how you can visit

Sharon Collins, gift store manager at The Kansas African American Museum in Wichita, arranges the children's corner in the Wichita museum. (Photo by Roger Nomer / Kansas News Service) The Sunflower Summer program runs through August 2. It provides Kansas students and a guardian free admission to zoos, museums and other attractions. By Roger Nomer Kansas News Service A summer program that provides students free admission to Kansas attractions begins today and will run for a sh

Kansas News Service

Commission sets new rental rates for 4-H Building

The Linn County Commission set new rental rates for the 4-H Building at the Linn County Fairgrounds. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY - On Monday, June 29, after talking about issues with the 4-H Building at the Linn County Fairgrounds for months, another issue was taken care of – the contract for people who rent the building. Over the past several months, new appliances have been purchased for the kitchen and the heating an

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

KDOT accepts bid for K-68 expansion in Miami County

Press release The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has accepted a nearly $60 million bid for the expansion of more than 6 miles of K-68 in Miami County to a four-lane expressway. Clarkson Construction Co., of Kansas City, Missouri, will rebuild and widen 6.6 miles of K-68 from U.S. 169 to the Spring Valley Road west of Louisburg. A previous project expanded K-68 to four lanes from near Spring Valley Road into Louisburg. In the project, the existing two-lane highway

Press release

Public works head questions funding source for publishing resolutions

The cost to publish a resolution on the method of selling industrial park lots plus the cost to appraise those lots will exceed $6,000, not including attorney fees for writing the resolution and contacting appraisers for a bid on the project. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – At the Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, June 22, Public Works Administrator Jesse Walton presented an invoice for $2,770 from the Linn County

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

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

State, Regional & National News

Kansas Farm Bureau PAC endorses Vicki Schmidt in GOP gubernatorial primary

Vicki Schmidt, the Kansas insurance commissioner and a former Kansas senator, earned the Kansas Farm Bureau political action committee’s endorsement in the upcoming Republican primary election for governor. She appears here June 1, 2026, after filing for governor at the election office. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — The Kansas Farm Bureau’s political action committee endorsed state Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt in

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas libraries could lose millions under Trump budget proposal

Federal cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services could impact Kansas summer reading programs and other services at libraries. (Photo by Roger Nomer / Kansas News Service) The Institute of Museum and Library Services supports libraries across the country, including Kansas. Now its future is in question as the Trump administration proposes to eliminate it in next year’s budget. By Roger Nomer Kansas News Service Kansas librarians are warning about potential cuts to

Kansas News Service

Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s union membership sparks political finger-pointing

State Sen. Ethan Corson, left, and Sen. Cindy Holscher, both Johnson County Democrats, appear at an April 26, 2026, debate in Shawnee. They now are turning up the heat in their campaigns for the Democratic Party's nomination for governor by arguing about labor union endorsements and membership issues. A third candidate in that Aug. 4 primary is Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Kansas Democrati

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas is getting federal funds to ‘transform’ rural hospitals. Here’s how it’s being used

AdventHealth Ottawa received $1.4 million in federal funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. (Photo by Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga / Kansas News Service) The program is meant to soften the coming cuts to Medicaid. The state health department recently announced the first round of Kansas grantees. Hospitals are using the money to increase healthcare access to rural patients. By Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga Kansas News Service Kansas hospitals are creating mobile maternal

Kansas News Service

More local news

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Linn County Journal

Monday, July 12, 2026

La Cygne's Blast in the Park set for Saturday evening

Clear, warm

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

La Cygne council poised to continue planning before making decision on streets

Blue Mound honors American Legion veterans on the 250th birthday of the United States

Mound City's 'Colonial Day' a throwback to 1776

Report on fire-damaged duplex shows progress, but attorney warns effort could fall short of saving structure

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

Commission meeting cancelled because of lack of a quorum

Commission sets groundwork for department budget requests

U.S. 69 overlay project to begin the week of July 6

Economic development grant recipients named

City Events

Blue Mound

• July 13, City Council meeting, 6:30 p.m.

​

La Cygne

Linn Valley

Mound City

• City Council meeting, Tuesday, August. 4, 7 p.m. at city hall.

​

Parker

Pleasanton

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

Bugs Bunny bugs me

Opinion: The most important ‘No’ in American history

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

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

Challenging the deafening silence of God

More Local News

In southeast Kansas, a friendly fried rivalry between chicken restaurants spans decades

NewsHundreds of Kansas attractions are free this summer for students. Here’s how you can visit

Commission sets new rental rates for 4-H Building

KDOT accepts bid for K-68 expansion in Miami County

Public works head questions funding source for publishing resolutions

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

State, Regional & National News

Kansas Farm Bureau PAC endorses Vicki Schmidt in GOP gubernatorial primary

Kansas libraries could lose millions under Trump budget proposal

Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s union membership sparks political finger-pointing

Kansas is getting federal funds to ‘transform’ rural hospitals. Here’s how it’s being used

More local news

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

Back to Top

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

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

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

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

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