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 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 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

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

By Charlene Sims lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Two members of the Linn County Economic Development Committee (EDC) approached the Linn County Commissioners on Monday, Jan. 20, about the commission’s plans to do away with the county’s economic development director position. The EDC Chair Jennifer Leach-Harlow told the commissioners that after a meeting with other board members including Janell Aust, Russell Pope, Ashley Allen, Kenny Otto and Becky Hegwald, the EDC members

Press release LA CYGNE – For the second time in a little over a week, the La Cygne Police Department has executed a search warrant that resulted in the arrest of a La Cygne resident on drug-related charges. Police Chief Zachary Mathies issued a press release on Wednesday, Jan. 21. "On January 20, 2026, at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers with the La Cygne Police Department executed a search warrant at 114 N. Railroad St. following a months-long investigation into suspected u

A competitor at a motocross event sponsored by the Thies family powers through one of the jumps on the track. The Thieses' property, which is host to a motocross school and race events, has come under the scrutiny of the Linn County Planning Commission because of its commercial use. This photo was taken during an event in October 2023. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Charlene Sims lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesda

New La Cygne Councilmembers, from left, Oscar Marino, Kent Wade and Robert Sullivan were sworn into office by City Clerk Jodi Wade in a brief meeting on Monday, Jan. 12. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – Three new members of the five-member La Cygne City Council took the oath of office in a brief session on Monday, Jan. 12. With a light agenda, the meeting focused on swearing in the new councilmembers and giving them a sh

Press release LA CYGNE – On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m., officers with the La Cygne Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence located at 702 E. Chestnut St. in La Cygne Clark L. Montgomery Jr. During the search, officers seized approximately 17.5 grams of methamphetamine, along with multiple items of drug paraphernalia consistent with the sale and use of illicit narcotics, as well as marijuana and THC products. This operation occurred o

La Cygne crime statistics for the year included 24 crimes against persons, 13 thefts and 20 alcohol or drug related violations. (La Cygne Police Department Facebook) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – The La Cygne Police Department handled more than 109 cases involving misdemeanors and felonies during 2025, with all but two of those cases cleared. That was the report by Police Chief Zachary Mathies during the La Cygne City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office will be adding two new hybrid vehicles to its fleet this year. The hybrids are expected to save the county considerable money on fuel, according to Sheriff James Akes. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Sheriff James Akes met with the Linn County Commissioners on Monday, Jan.12, to discuss dog regulations, budget and trash dumping along roadways. Akes brought up the recent incident with the dog

By Charlene Sims lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commission has been spending more time in executive session for attorney-client privilege with County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta the last several weeks, likely because of two lawsuits in which the county, or county committee has been named as defendant. The plaintiff in one case is the Tanglewood Lakes Owners’ Association (TLOA), which filed a lawsuit stemming from roads in the lake development being ruled publ

After swearing in Shayla Lamb to the Mound City Council, Mayor Wade Doering welcomes her back after a two-year absence. Lamb was an elected city official for 14 years before she took a break in 2024 but was uncontested in her bid to return to office last November. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Over the past couple of years, the lack of speed and efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service has caused problems for area citi