There will be plenty of meat on the grill this weekend as Linn Valley hosts a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event. (Wix file photo) Journal staff report LINN VALLEY – Smokin’ in the Valley, a barbecue cook-off featuring 33 teams is set to run this Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, at the Linn Valley campgrounds. The barbecue contest, which will feature teams from as far away as Canada, Arkansas and Illinois is a fundraiser for the Linn Valley Community Pride Scholarsh

Journal staff report MAPLETON – A 57-year-old Mapleton woman died as a result of injuries suffered in a one-vehicle accident in Bourbon County on Thursday, March 26. Kellie Jo Harvey was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer north on 125th Street 5.2 miles north of U.S. Highway 54 when the vehicle left the road on the right, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol report. The vehicle came back onto the road, then left the road a second time. The vehicle overcorrected coming back onto t

Journal staff report MOUND CITY – Instead of meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission used that day, March 10, as a workshop meeting where no official votes were taken. Cases scheduled for the March meeting will meet on Tuesday, March 31, 7 p.m., at the Courthouse Annex instead. The workshop on March 10 was not available on YouTube live stream. A state attorney general’s decision on meetings advertised as being on livestream m

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditory@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Commissioners Jason Hightower and Jim Johnson heard reports from several departments on Monday, March 3. Information Technology (IT) Director Chris Martin told the commissioners that because of chip shortages he had decided to purchase a new server for a backup domain controller and some other virtualization on that. Martin said that he had put $15,000 in the IT budget for this but had not planned

Dozens of cyclists took part in the Mine Creek Gravel Battle last year. This year about 100 riders are expected to take to the backcountry roads in Linn County for Saturday's event. (Mine Creek Gravel Battle Facebook) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Mound City will become the center of the regional gravel bicycling world on Saturday, April 28, as an estimated 100 cyclists are expected to take part in the 2026 Mine Creek Gravel Battle. Cy

By Charlene Sims LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commissioners heard a report from Adam Schifman on Monday, March 23, about the capabilities of the generator that is being moved from the old sheriff’s building in hopes that it can power some services in the courthouse and appraiser’s office in an emergency. Public Works Administrator Jesse Walton said that he had been working with Adam Schifman from Multiplicity in Louisburg about moving the generator. Schif

An architect's concept of the entries to the La Cygne City Hall that were presented to the city council last month. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – At the La Cygne City Council meeting on Feb. 18, members of the La Cygne City Council were presented with different options on the renovation of city hall. First, repairs to the two buildings on Broadway, one that has been used as city hall for a number of years and the oth

On April 1 at 5 p.m., the La Cygne City Council begins a series of town hall meetings on the proposed changes to one of the city's 1% sales taxes. (Wix file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – In the run-up to a town hall meeting on the proposed change in one of La Cygne’s two 1% sales taxes, the consensus of the La Cygne City Council was to not determine how the sales tax would be split if the issue passed. A town hall meeting about th

Vehicles going into and out of Tanglewood Lakes were allowed access only by electronic cards before a court decision last year forced officials there to remove the gates. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Commissioners Jason Hightower and Jim Johnson on Monday, March 23, approved and signed a lawsuit settlement agreement with the board of the Tanglewood Lake Owners Association (TLOA). The agreement stated that b

New inductees to the Prairie View High School chapter of the National Honor Society include, from left, Bethany Nodwell, Aleena Miller, Chylar Jones, Kadence Blevins, and Aaden Beven. (Mark Hough / PVHS) Journal staff report Five new members were inducted into the National Honor Society at Prairie View during a candlelight ceremony on March 3. The new members bring the PVHS chapter up to 19 members for the school year. The committee that selects students for NHS membership co

Parker police officer Kartman Highley takes the oath of office in Parker City Hall on March 11. Highley was hired to work part-time to help Police Chief Chris Lee. In February Lee asked the city council to hire another officer to share his hours. (Submitted photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PARKER – People driving four-wheel-drive trucks and all-terrain-vehicles have once again caused damage at Parker Lake. This time, though, instead of digging

Landowners who plan on spraying noxious weeds under the cost-share plan should contact the Linn County Noxious Weed Department. (Wix file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – On Monday, March 23, the Linn County Commissioners heard a report from Linn County Noxious Weed Director Johnny Taylor and also approved a resolution that the county would spend $30,000 on the noxious weed cost-share program. Taylor reported that he had the 2026 price