New moms and more experienced moms will have a chance to exchange information and enjoy each other's company at the The Mom Collective sponsored by the Linn County Health Department. The new program starts next Wednesday, Oct. 7. (Wix file photo) Journal staff report “Because motherhood is better with a village,” is the tagline that the Linn County Health Department is using to promote The Mom Collective. Promoted as a place for moms and little ones to connect, unwind and me

By Billy Roudybush Journal contributor The day dawned cloudy and cool. Saturday morning, Sept. 26, at the Mine Creek battlefield site, the sponsors of 2026 Heritage Day promised an eventful day. As visitors walked up the ridge past the museum and visitors’ center, they saw rows of canvas tents. As they entered the campsites, it was if they stepped back in time to the morning of Oct. 25, 1864 , observing the remains of breakfasts and coffee still being served. Rifles were stac

Children scramble for candy as fire trucks roll along during the 2024 General Pleasonton Day parade. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – Organizers of General Pleasonton Days say they are looking forward to the celebration this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4. Teresa Miller, president of the newly formed Celebrate Pleasanton Inc., told the Pleasanton City Council on Monday, Sept. 28, that earlier this summer, the Pleasanto

Prairie View defenders Boden Hughes (55), Kalven Shelton (38), and Wilber Alvarez (64) push Jayhawk quarterback Londonn Burk out of the pocket during the game Friday at Prairie View. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff David Heidrich contributed to this story It was homecoming night for the Prairie View Buffalos on Friday, Sept. 25, as they hosted Jayhawk-Linn in a non-league game. It was the first clash of the Jayhawks and Buffalos footb

Prairie View seniors Gabrianna Cullor and Nolan Boyd were crowned 2026 Homecoming queen and king prior to kickoff at Friday's game against Jayhawk-Linn. With the seniors were crown bearers Harper Houston and Thayer Capp. Nolan was Gabrianna's escort for the event. (Photos by Billy Roudybush / Linn County Journal) Journal staff report Gabrianna Cullor and Noland Boyd were named 2026 Prairie View homecoming queen and king on Friday, Sept. 25, before kickoff between the Buffalo

Lady Buffalo hitter Grace Cullor returns a volley during the dual match with Pleasanton on Thursday, Sept. 24. (Photos by Billy Roudybush / Linn County Journal) By Billy Roudybush Journal contributor The Pleasanton Blu-Jay volleyball team (3-10-2) walked into the gym at Prairie View on Thursday, Sept. 24, with one goal in mind: upset the Buffalos (5-7-1). In the first set of the dual match, both teams seemed tentative, making minor errors with a lack of aggressive play. Howev

Candidates for 2026 Jayhawk-Linn homecoming queen and king include, from left, Coralynn Bukkila and escort Landon Higgins, Chloe Riley and Rayse Dean, Aubreigh Summers and Dominic Alvarez, and Alison Willard and Tanner Holt. Crowning of queen and king is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, before the football game against Fredonia. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) Journal staff report Monday begins homecoming week at Jayhawk-Linn High School. Following a week of s

The Tri-Ko Inc. parade took best float honors during the Parker Days parade on Saturday, Sept. 20. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) Parker Days organizers and sponsors continue to bat 1.000 on keeping event-goers entertained once the morning activities have ended. With nearly 30 entries in the parade on Saturday morning and more that 15 vendors and food trucks set up in Heritage Park, there was plenty to do without the rides. But the free rides were the main draw

One of the cell blocks in the Linn County jail that is housed in the Justice Center. Critics continue to complain about the jail's cost but records released by Linn County Sheriff's Office show that income from outside agencies substanially reduces the cost of housing local inmates. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County jail has been a subject of controversy since before construction began in 2020. The issu

Linn County Sheriff's Office and Rural Fire Department officials honored three men who pulled a family from burning wreckage during a Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 21. Posing with the heroes are, from left, Deputy Robert Maloney, Undersheriff Bobby Johnson, Fire Chief Shaun Tuggle, rescuers Daniel Harris and Keegan Sheckells, and Sheriff James Akes. Austin Allen was not available for the photo. (Photo by Chasity Ware / Special to the Journal) By Charlene Sim

Pleasanton Police Chief Tristan Snyder receives a distinguished service award from former city manager Teresa Whitaker in a 2022 ceremony. Whitaker was a strong supporter of Snyder and did everything in her power to keep him on staff. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – Pleasanton Police Chief Tristan Snyder in an email to Pleasanton Mayor Mathew Young has indicated he will step down from his post. Morgan Watts, acting c

The Pride of the Buffalos Marching Band and color guard performing during halftime during the Prairie View - Wellsville game on Friday, Sept. 11. (Photos by Billy Roudybush except where noted) Journal staff report Last Friday night, Sept. 11, was the premier performance by this year’s Pride of the Buffalos Marching Band during the halftime of the home football game against the Wellsville Eagles. During that performance the band members unveiled two of their new songs; their n

Linn County Health Department staff reports a busy end to summer season. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – With the beginning of school and the Linn County Fair in August plus the arrival of the mobile mammogram coach in July, the summer for the staff at the Linn County Health Department has been very busy. During a report to the Linn County Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 8, LCHD director Amanda Snyder said that in addit

Candidates for Prairie View Homecoming queen are, front row from left, Harley Wade, Grace Cullor, Kennysin Gochenour and Gabriela Cullor. Candidates for king are, back row from left, Brody Wilcox, Carter Browning, Matt Stolle and Nolan Boyd. (Submitted photo) Journal staff report Prairie View High School will crown its 2026 Homecoming queen and king on Friday, Sept. 25, in a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. before the football at Prairie View stadium. The Buffalos will take on Jayhawk-L

Civil War re-enactors skirmish during the 2025 Heritage Day event. This year the daylong event is this Saturday, Sept. 26. (Photo by Billy Roudybush / Linn County Journal) Kansas State Historical Society press release PLEASANTON – The public is invited to enjoy a full day of historical demonstrations, education programs, music and living history activities highlighting the people, military units and events connected to the Civil War and the Battle of Mine Creek. Heritage Day

Cast members of A Musical Tribute to the American Soldier rehearse and promote the upcoming production. (Submitted video) Press release Rehearsals have begun for A Musical Tribute to the American Soldier, the fall musical for the Prairie View school district. This year's production has a cast of 48 ranging in age from second grade through adult. According to co-director Raquel Beltz, the cast includes students from both La Cygne and Parker elementary schools, Prairie View Mid

Linn County Commission Chair Alison Hamilton, from left, and members Jim Johnson and Jason Hightower wrestle with paring down the county budget during a revenue hearing that lasted for six hours on Monday, Sept. 14. (Screen capture Linn County Kansas Live Stream) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – After a marathon eight-hour Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, the commissioners did not come to a consensus on the budget except tha

Members of the Parker Thunderbirds 4-H Club toss candy to kids on the side of the street during the 2025 Parker Day parade. (Journal file photos) Journal staff report PARKER – Parker Days is set for this weekend, Sept. 18 – 20, beginning with a fish fry at the Masons’ Lodge on Friday evening and ending with a fishing tournament for all ages at Parker City Lake on Sunday afternoon. The main events happen on Saturday with a parade on Saturday morning beginning at 11 a.m. Parker

Ed Peery rolls out of the Jayhawk Blast car show as rain begins to threaten on Saturday, Sept. 12. Tucked away in the seat was a trophy for Best Hot Rod for his T-bucket Ford. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com With clouds rolling across Linn County, the Jayhawk Blast on Saturday, Sept. 12, looked like it could be in peril of a washout. And while a couple entrants in the car show and the owners of the petting

The Young Historians will perform "Welcome to Night at the Museum 2026" at the La Cygne Library at a dinner theater on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Text and photos by Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com Riffing off the title of the movie “Night at the Museum,” a 2006 movie staring Ben Stiller in which the exhibits in a museum take on a life of their own after hours, “Welcome to Night at the Museum 2026” features young re-enactors from the La Cygne area portraying local residents, p

Linn County Sheriff's Office press release PLEASANTON — On September 7, 2026, officers with the Pleasanton Police Department and deputies with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Pleasanton Campground, located on 18th Street in Pleasanton, regarding a report of a suicidal subject. Upon arrival, officers and deputies located an individual in the campground area who was armed with a handgun. Due to the presence of multiple people in the area and the potential thre

Jayhawk running back Gabe Ross smokes the Uniontown defense on a 50-yard touchdown run at Friday night's home opener. (Photos by Billy Roudybush / Journal contributor) By Billy Roudybush Journal contributor On Friday September 4, the Uniontown Eagles came into Mound City to meet the Jayhawk-Linn Jayhawks. The Eagles came in with the idea of a run game, which happened to be the Jayhawks bread and butter. Both teams started off slowly as penalties stopped drives. Then, in the s

The 2025 Jayhawk Blast car show was held at the Mound City ballfields parking area and drew a wide range of classic and custom rides. This year organizers are moving the show closer to the other activities. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com It is last blast of the season for the area as most people look forward to bidding farewell to a miserably hot summer. Organized by the Mound City Council, the Jayhawk Bl

The Linn County Commission and Swan Solar have agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by Swan Solar for $16.5 million over 10 years. (Photo by Nikola Mirkovic / Upsplash) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – After meeting in closed door sessions with the Linn County Commission and County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta over the past several weeks, attorney Scott Nehrbass on Tuesday, Sept. 8, announced many of the terms of the county’s settlement agreement

Don George, from left, a fisheries biologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, presents a ceremonial check to Mound City Superintendent John Bruns and Mayor Wade Doering. City workers under Bruns' supervision have completed the third phase of the Angler Access Grant, which includes a round of improvements at Mound City Lake as well as the completion of a fishing pond near the ballfields on the southwest edge of the city. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Jour

Wade Booth Journal staff report PLEASANTON – Wade Booth, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pleasanton, was taken into custody by the Pleasanton Police Department on Monday, Aug. 31, on several charges related to alleged sexual contact with a child under 18 years old. Booth, 70, remains in custody in the Linn County jail on $750,000 bond. Charges against Booth, according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office inmate log, include alleged aggravated incest, lewd fondling w

With just a couple days notice, the La Cygne City Council will be hosting a town hall meeting tonight to discuss continuation of a water plant upgrade. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the community building next to city hall. (Journal file photo) Update: With two city councilmembers unable to attend Wednesday's meeting the council voted 3-0 to apply for a grant, a construction loan on a project expected to cost as much as $5.9 million and 40-year long-term financing of a pro

Pleasanton Councilmember Alex Wills holds up a water meter setter that burst as a result of increased water pressure in the system. (Screen capture Pleasanton City Council meeting) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton City Council on Monday, Aug. 31, passed a resolution lifting the restriction on outdoor watering that has been in place for more than two weeks. The lifting of the ban comes as the area is expecting at least four more days where

At the city council meeting on Aug. 19, La Cygne City Clerk Jodi Wade shows city council members the yard sign that the city has printed for the sales tax vote on Nov. 4. It displays the result of a "no" vote and a "yes" vote. The city cannot take an official position on the issue. (Photo by Roger Sims/Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – The La Cygne City Council at its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 2 pushed back discussion and a decision

Three Tanglewood Lakes residents have filed a lawsuit asking the court to make a determination whether roads in the development are public or private. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Three residents of the Tanglewood Lakes development on Wednesday, Aug. 26, filed a lawsuit in the 6th District Court against the Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association,Inc. (TLOA) and the Board of County Commissioners of Linn County. Eva Riojas-Mackey, Sherri

The Prairie View school district plans to reduce its mill levy by 5 mills for the 2026-27 school year, largely as a result of an increase of the valuation of the La Cygne Generating Station. (pv362.org) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – When Kansas City Power and Light Co. and Westar Energy merged in late 2018, both companies agreed that the new company, Evergy, would not enact a rate increase to customers for at least five years. As a result of that agree

Despite a temporary pump going down on Thursday, it is expected to be in operation again on Friday. The rented pump has been blasting out sludge that accumulated in the line from the East Lake to the water treatment plant. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – An unexpected failure of a temporary pump on Thursday, Aug. 27, has delayed the lifting of a Pleasanton City Council order that bans outdoor watering from the city’s water supply.

A worker cuts through the roof deck of the former Wagon Wheel restaurant as part of a renewed effort to demolish the building on Market Street that was gutted by fire last December. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) LA CYGNE – Within days of the departure of former Police Chief Zachary Mathies, the La Cygne City Council voted to accept the resignation of Kurtis West from the city’s police department. The council met in a 10-minute executive session with interim Poli

A county official says three of the four culverts to be used on phase one of the project on County Road 1095 were damaged and need to be replaced. It will delay reopening of the road as much as two weeks. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – A contractor working to replace culverts on County Road 1095 near the intersection of 2075th Road inadvertently crushed three of the four culverts in the first phase of the proj

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linda Simons, county emergency management coordinator, told to the Linn County Commission on Monday, Aug. 24, that she plans in the future to make monthly reports, however her report at that meeting begin in July since she did not make a report then. Simons said that on July 1 she attended a webinar from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) on preparedness. It contained on insurance pitfalls durin

New members of the certified staff of Pleasanton USD 344 gather for a group photo during district orientation. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com The Pleasanton school district has four new teachers this year plus a couple of new paraprofessionals. One of the hires was a swap of math teachers with Prairie View, but in the bargain, the Blu-Jays will have the beginnings of a wrestling program. Over the past few

Ready to expose elementary students to art, new teacher Jane Hough is in a La Cygne elementary classroom. This is the first year that elementary students in the Prairie View district will have a dedicated art teacher. (Photo by Cindy Noel / Special to the Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com When students returned to the classroom in Prairie View district earlier this month, they were greeted by several new teachers and staff members. For elementary students at

Improvements to the Jayhawk-Linn facility for 2026-27 include, in order, a new sign pointing the way, the biology lab, the chemistry lab, a general science classroom and new changes to the band room. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com A couple of Jayhawk’s return to their roots – this time as teachers – a new K-5 music teacher plans for performances, a new high school math teacher brings heavy duty credential

The contractors installing a temporary pump at the Pleasanton East Lake will be making a connection at this building on the west side of the lake's dam to make a connection to a line that goes to the city water treatment plant. The caustic quality of the lake's water has corroded fittings at the pump tube in the middle of the dam enough to make connection there impossible. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) Update: On Monday afternoon, Aug. 24, Pleasanton Mayor Mathe

Tracy and Todd Schneider are owners of Schneider Funeral Homes in Linn County and Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. Todd has been selected president of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association. (eddybirchard.com) Press release TOPEKA – Kansas Funeral Directors Association (KFDA) the only organization in the state dedicated to promoting and supporting funeral professionals in Kansas, announced new leadership for its Board of Directors as of May 6, 2026. The new executi

Jason Hopkinson, left, an engineer with BG Consulting, talks with Pleasanton City Council members about options for an alternative water supply at the council meeting on Monday evening. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal.com PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton City Council on Monday, Aug. 17, voted to approve a $345,000 bond to finance replacement of the roof at the water plant clarifier and filter building and replace the pumps that send untr

Richard Smith, standing, supervisor of a crew that is installing a temporary pump at Pleasanton's East Lake, speaks to audience members at a city council meeting on Monday. Seated to his left in a red shirt is Jason Hopkinson with BG Consultants, the city's engineering firm. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton City Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting at the Pleasanton City Hall on Wedn

The Pleasanton City Council ponders the selection of a new city clerk on Monday, Aug. 17, during a town hall-style meeting at the Pleasanton Community Center. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – It appeared like the Pleasanton City Council was going to be able to agree on a nominee for the vacant city clerk post last held by Candy Houtman, who resigned earlier this summer. However after a 5-0 vote to approve the

New Linn County Public Works administrator J.D. Handly talked with county commissioners about the Lake Region's Adopt-a-Bike program. (Lake Region Adopt-a-Bike) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – J.D. Handly, Linn County’s new public works administrator, broached the county commissioners for their opinion about the bicycle donation program at the transfer station. Handly explained that the transfer station staff were segregating bicycles that ca

The electrical panel for the pumps on the Pleasanton East Lake dam is being kept open to keep the service cooler as workers await a new temporary pump. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton City Council during a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 13, voted to hire Kevin Starbuck to install a temporary pump for $8,126 to restore normal water service to the city. It is anticipated that in

The Linn County Commission has declined to sign a contract with Evergy on bridge maintenance on roads at the La Cygne Generating Station. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – On Monday, August 10, the Linn County Commissioners decided not to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Evergy to take over the bridges along the dam road that Evergy now owns. The commissioners had been discussing this and making changes with Evergy

Jennifer Day, candidate for the Kansas Secretary of State office, is holding a meet-and-greet event at F&M Bank Community Building on Wednesday, August 12, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. (Journal file photo) Journal staff report MOUND CITY – Jennifer Day, the Democratic candidate for the Kansas Secretary of State office, will be hosting a meet-and-greet at the F&M Bank Community Building on Wednesday, August 12, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Day (D-Mission) wo

Dave Trabert, CEO of the Kansas Policy Institute, is scheduled to speak on the county budget on Wednesday, August 12, at the 4-H Building on the Mound City fairgrounds. (Kansas Policy Institute website graphic) Journal staff report MOUND CITY – David Trabert, CEO of the Wichita-based Kansas Policy Institute (KPI), will be making a second appearance in Linn County this year in a talk Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the 4-H Building on the Mound City fairgrounds, 8510 Kansas Highway

John Marino, interim police chief for the city of La Cygne, is congratulated by City Clerk Jodi Wade after she has sworn him into office on Friday, August. 7. (La Cygne Police Department Facebook) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – John Marino has been named interim police chief for the La Cygne Police Department. The La Cygne City Council voted 3-0 at the Wednesday, August 5, council meeting to make the appointment with Councilmember Oscar

Mechanical problems at the Pleasanton water plant are forcing city officials to enact water supply emergency measures. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal.com PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton City Council on Saturday, August 8, voted unanimously to enact a water supply emergency that immediately restricts the use of outdoor watering. Until the emergency measure is lifted, the watering of lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, playing fields on private and p