The Linn County Quilt Guild is being formed for those who interested in quilts, whether they are new to the craft or old hands. The guild will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Linn County Quilt Guild Facebook) Journal staff report Four women who have long enjoyed quilting want to share the joy of what has become more of an avocation rather than a hobby. But they also want to connect with other experienced quilters to share tips, discuss techniques and s

Jayhawk Elementary sixth-grader smiles after spelling his final word correctly to win the Linn County Spelling Bee on Thursday, Feb. 12. (Except where noted, photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – Jayhawk Elementary School student Kellin Nickelson will represent Linn County in the statewide spelling bee on March 21. Kellin won the county spelling bee on Thursday, Feb. 12, by correctly spelling ”lasagn

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commissioners met with Abbie Powell, acting district director of the Marais des Cygnes Extension District in Linn County, and Linn County Public Works Director Jesse Walton to discuss the 4-H Building on Monday, Feb. 9. It was the continuation of a discussion from the prior week about who owns the 4-H Building on the Linn County Fairgrounds, who oversees its use, and who pays for repairs and upk

Prairie View seniors Payton Hopper and Violet Long were crowned 2026 Courtwarming king and queen during a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6. Gavin and Madilynn were crown bearers for the event. (Except where noted, photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com Prairie View seniors Violet Long and Payton Hopper were crowned 2026 Courtwarming queen and king during the break between the girls and boys basketball games on Friday, F

Pleasanton High School 2026 Courtwarming king and queen are Kei-Mahne Davis and MaKya Neal-Cox, here posing with crown bearers Ker and Irwin. (Photos by Billy Roudybush / Journal contributor) By Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor The week of Feb. 2–6 was Courtwarming week for Pleasanton High School. During the week, the kids dressed up to win points for their grade level. Monday was Celebrity Look-a-like Day. Tuesday was Animal Day with students dressed as everything from c

The official detour around bridge construction on Kansas Highway 3 southwest of Blue Mound will be to take U.S. Highway 59 to U.S. 54. Work on the bridge is scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 16 with construction expected to be complete by December. (KDOT) Kansas Department of Transportation press release Work will begin the week of Feb. 16 to replace the Little Osage River bridge on K-3 about two miles south of the Linn County line, according to the Kansas Department of Tra

The Kansas Department of Transportation's official detour around a planned culvert replacement was announced on Monday, Feb. 9. The work will begin on or after Feb. 16 and likely won't be completed until the summer. The work will be west of Jayhawk-Linn High School. (KDOT) Kansas Department of Transportation press release A contractor will replace a box culvert under K-52 in Linn County starting the week of Feb. 16, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. The bo

Mound City's Cultivate Kindness Garden could have a new neighbor soon. Councilmember Shayna Lamb says a person is interested in putting business on the lot next to Food Fair. (Cultivate Kindness Garden Facebook page) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com MOUND CITY – A Mound City official is keeping under wraps the name of a prospective buyer of the lot where the former Mound City swimming pool was located. The lot is west of Food Fair on the city’s Main S

The Linn County Commission approved a request by Evergy to rezone 596 acres southwest of the La Cygne Generating Station to Light Industrial. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY  – At the Monday, Feb. 2, Linn County Commission meeting, Linn County Planning and Zoning Director Jenny Cummings presented two cases of rezoning to industrial that the planning board had approved unanimously.  However, Commission Chair Alison Hamilton

This two-story home is the only house built by developer Mike Page in the Sunshine Meadows subdivision. A lawsuit filed against the county zoning appeals board was dismissed after Page withdrew building permits for additional houses. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The lawsuit by a group of rural Parker residents against the Linn County Board of Zoning Appeals was dismissed in district court on Tuesday, Feb.

Nathan Fawson, CEO of Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, testifies before the Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 20. (Screen capture / Kansas Legislature YouTube) (Editor's note: Linn County Commissioner Jim Johnson and Tisha Coleman are representatives to the Southeast Kansas Mental Center (SEKMHC) board of directors. The Linn County Commission cut all funding to SEKMHC for 2026, which which serves five other counties. Johnson recently attempted to

Jayhawk-Linn seniors Jude Wade and Clay Nichols were crowned 2026 Courtwarming queen and king during a ceremony following the boys varsity game. With them were crown-bearers Keegan and McCrea. Photos by Billy Roudybush, Linn County Journal contributor Organizers of the events at Jayhawk-Linn High School on Friday, Jan. 30, promised a night full of pagentry, remembrance, celebration and, of course, basketball. While the undefeated Lady Jayhawks notched another win, the neighb

The Linn County Commission needs to get behind an economic development plan that will provide well-paying jobs while preserving the rural lifestyle here. That includes hiring an economic development director who will only be tasked with recruiting outside businesses and helping local businesses grow. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, publisher Linn County Journal The recommendation to the Linn County Commission by the county’s Economic Development Committee to shut itself d

The Jayhawk USD 346 board plans to look at adding a health care sciences career pathway to the Jayhawk-Linn High School curriculum. (Journal staff photo) Journal staff report, with reporting by Kayla McGrew, board clerk MOUND CITY – The Jayhawk USD 346 Board of Education at its January meeting welcomed the return of three incumbent board members who won re-election last November. One of the first items on the Jan. 12 agenda was administering the oath of office to Tracy Spring

Linn County Health Department Director Amanda Snyder makes a pitch to the county commission to upgrade paid parental leave benefits in light of a recent "baby boom." (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Health Department Director Amanda Snyder met with the Linn County Commissioners on Monday, Jan. 26, to give a report on past and upcoming activities at the department. Snyder talked about a “baby boom” in the count

La Cygne Elementary School teacher Samantha Rockers, right, explains the plan for the BIG Time math component as math specialist Linda Sylva looks on. The two were part of a five person team from LES that explained the program. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – The Prairie View USD 362 Board of Education began its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, by electing a new board president and vice president, hon

Prairie View running back and linebacker Parker Schwarz (17) has committed to playing for the University of Kansas Jayhawks. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com Prairie View senior running back and linebacker Parker Schwarz will sign to play for the University of Kansas Jayhawks football team. He will be designated as a preferred walk-on player. Early in the 2025 football season, Schwarz indicated he planned to attend Washburn Univer

Pharmacists from the area will be heading to Topeka on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to lobby legislators to pass legislation that would protect locally owned pharmacies from predatory practices by pharmacy benefit managers. Several area pharmacies, including AuBurn Pharmacy, will be closed on that day. (Wix file photo) AuBurn Pharmacy Press release TOPEKA — Pharmacy closures continue to rise across Kansas, and pharmacists say action is needed to protect patient access to care. On Wedne

The Linn County Commission debated how much to spend to remodel the seven cabins at Linn County Park. The county received two bids on remodeling the newest cabin, but the bids did not have detailed specifications for the work to be done. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, staff writer lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY - Linn County Park Manager Sheri Loveland met with the Linn County Commissioners on Monday, Jan. 26 to open two bids for renovating Cabin No. 7 and to discuss

Linn County Commission Chair Alison Hamilton has asked how the commission could overspend its budget and is seeking the cause for the overage. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY - As the Linn County Commissioners viewed the county budget in order to finalize carryovers and make last minute adjustments on Monday, Jan.12, they became aware that several departments had gone over their budgets, in fact, the courthouse budget and the commission’s

Journal staff report MOUND CITY – An 18-year-old Osawatomie man was injured after his 2000 Chevrolet pickup slid off the road and struck a tree on Saturday, Jan. 24. The report by the Linn County Sheriff’s report attributed the accident to an icy roadway because of snow. Christopher Clay’s vehicle was southbound on Kansas Highway 7 near the intersection with McGrew Road at about 4 p.m. when the accident occurred. The pickup entered a curve and the driver lost control of the v

Nearly 600 acres south of the La Cygne Generating Station received the recommendation by the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission to have its zoning changed from Agricultural to Light Industrial. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended two rezoning applications for approval and had a brief workshop on policies for year-round camping, feedlots and continued an