top of page
Help keep the Journal free.
Member of the Kansas Press Association
Phone: 913-259-2546
Email: linncountyjournal@icloud.com
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Page 2
Features, Obituaries, Public Notices, State News
1/10
Princess party
It has become an annual tradition over spring break for the La Cygne Library to host a princess party, where girls young and old have the chance to become royalty. This year's hosting princesses were, front row from left in the group photo, Shawna Case (Tiana), Dani Capp (Elsa), Jillian McCarty (Merida); back row, Veronica Knight (Repunzel), Jurney Patterson (Cinderella), Lilly German (Aurora), Mary Ryan (Ariel), Kiersten McCarty (Anna), and Paityn Curtis (Belle). Nearly 50 girls attended the event, which included theme tables and a seating for a gallery of moms and grandmothers. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)
Inside the Journal
Page 1 – Top news stories, weather
Page 2 – Features, Obituaries, Schools, State News
Page 3 – Community & Library Calendars
Page 4 – Recent Local News
Page 5 – Local News Archive
To join our free mailing list, enter your email address in the box at the top of page 1 and click on 'Subscribe!'
Public Record
Public Notices
Obituaries
To go to our Obituary Archives, click here.
Jan L. Wooddell
July 6, 1950 — April 4, 2026 Paola, Kansas It is with deep sorrow we announce Jan L. Wooddell, age 75, of Paola, Kansas, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2026, at her home. Jan was born July 6, 1950, in Shawnee, Kansas, the third of four children born to Marsden N. and Greta D. (Spitzli) Thomas. She grew up in the Shawnee Mission area and graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School. Jan worked for the Overland Park Police Department for a number of years until her marriage
Kathy Jo Kraus
November 3, 1956 — April 3, 2026 Garnett, Kansas Kathy Jo Kraus was born November 3rd, 1956, in Paola, Kansas, to Joe Kraus and Alice (Weatherbie) Wheeler. She grew up in Lane, Kansas, where she attended schools in Lane and at Central Heights. She graduated from Central Heights High School with the class of 1975. Kathy was united in marriage to Dennis Fredricks in Ottawa, Kansas May 13th, 1978. To this union one daughter, Amber Denise, was born. Their marriage ended in divorc
Howard Chaney Herrmann
MAY 28, 1944 – APRIL 1, 2026 Howard Chaney Herrmann, age 81, Blue Mound, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Pleasant View Cemetery , Blue Mound. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to Blue Moon Youth Center or Good Shepherd Hospice. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfuneral
Kellie Jo Harvey
October 24, 1958 – March 26, 2026 Mapleton Kellie Jo Harvey, age 57, of Mapleton, Kansas, passed away as a result of a motor vehicle accident on March 26, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1968, the daughter of Bill and Linda Brown Allen. Kellie graduated from Prairie View High School in May of 1987. She attended Pittsburg State University and majored in nursing. She worked at Mount Carmel Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kansas, through college and beyond. She was a member of P
Tevina Marie Eicher
April 9, 1979 — March 23, 2026 Mound City, Kansas Tevina Marie Eicher, age 46, Mound City, Kansas, passed away Monday, March 23, 2026. A benefit dinner will be held 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2026, at the Sugar Valley Lakes Club House. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. April 4, 2026, to celebrate Tevina and her recently deceased mother, Vickie. The gathering will be held at the First Baptist Church, Mound City. Memorial contributions are suggested to Tevin
Julia 'Ginger' Gardner
June 28, 1940 – March 19, 2026 Julia Pearl (Ginger) Gardner, 85, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away March 19, 2026. Ginger was born on June 28, 1940 in Kansas City, Kansas. She was the daughter of David E. Bloodgood Sr. and Dorothy (Nora) Bloodgood. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert M. Gardner; daughter Denise R Zuniga; son Delbert (Charlie) Douglas Jr.; and brother David Bloodgood Jr. She is survived her son Richard (Rick) Douglas and his wife, Roxie.
Features
Pre-season sports physicals available at CHC/SEK
The Commuity Health Centers of Southeast Kansas location in Pleasanton is performing sports physicals for spring sports. (Wix file photo) New release CHC/SEK Kansas students in grades 7-12 can receive their sports physicals for the upcoming school year at the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), starting April 1, 2026. “We encourage student-athletes to complete their physicals early,” said Linda Bean, DO, CHC/SEK Chief Clinical Officer. “By getting it done
Quilting guild votes selects a new name – 'Material Girls'
The Material Girls quilting guild now has 21 members. (Facebook) By Meribeth Kehl Guild secretary/treasurer The Linn County Quilt Guild met on March 19 at the F&M Community Building with 14 members and 10 visitors present. Two of the visitors joined: Donna Largent and Mary Lou Brownback. Total membership is now 21. Since there were several visitors, we all introduced ourselves and talked about our quilting journey. First item of business was to vote on a new name for the g
Commentary: Growing up along Route 66 wasn’t all kicks. But it was the road that made me.
The visitor center at Baxter Spring is a restored 1930 gas station along historic Route 66. (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress) By Max McCoy Kansas Reflector On warm nights when my bedroom window was open I could hear the endless stream of vehicles on Route 66. We lived in a small house at the east edge of Baxter Springs and across the street from my window was a pasture and on nights when there wasn’t any wind the sound of escape — the rushing of tires, the s
Family heirloom show-and-tell sparks interest, conversations
Barbara Hale, right, tells Extension Service agent Kathy Goul about an heirloom jewelry box shaped like a stovepipe hat. Goul hosted an hour of sharing personal stories about heirlooms at the La Cygne Library on Feb. 19. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) In an earlier version of this story, Arlene McClanahan was not identified correctly. By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com A family history show-and-tell sponsored by Kathy Goul of the Marais d
Commentary: Why is it so hard to say goodbye to an old car? Because of the miles lived.
The sun sets, as seen from the side of the road west of Meade on Nov. 4, 2025. (Photo by Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector) By Max McCoy Kansas Reflector This is a story about a car. And of time, memory, and knowing when to let go. On the last long trip in our old Jeep I topped a hill west of Meade in southwest Kansas one evening and was buffeted by the wake of a double tractor-trailer going the opposite direction. Trucks on that stretch of U.S. 54 Highway don’t dawdle, and the turb
State, Regional News
Retired Kansas National Guard officers, enlisted leaders call for transparency in fight with Iran
A United States Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft on March 13, 2026, on the runway at Ben Gurion airport in Lod, Israel. (Photo by Erik Marmor/Getty Images) Joint statement says steady flow of information to public serves national interest By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Retired Army and Air Force senior officers and enlisted personnel of the Kansas National Guard signed a joint statement calling for the U.S. Department of Defense to be transparent w
No Kings demonstration spans six miles as thousands of Kansans line streets
Protestors line up March 28, 2026, along a six-mile stretch of Metcalf Avenue as part of a No Kings rally in Johnson County. (Photo by Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector) By Maya Smith Kansas Reflector SHAWNEE MISSION — Advocacy organizations and thousands of community members gathered along Metcalf Avenue for six miles for the No Kings protest of President Donald Trump. Protestors lined up at intersections from 75th Street to 119th Street, some in groups of hundreds. “We have t
‘Tyranny of the minority’: Bill gives 10% of voters power to knock down property tax increases
Rep. Adam Smith, shown here on March 26, 2026, worked on the tax conference committee to find a compromise property tax bill the House and Senate would pass. The House shied away from moving forward on the last day of the session with a constitutional amendment. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — The Senate and House narrowly passed a bill giving 10% of registered voters in a taxing area the ability to stop some property tax
Kansas Legislature passes package of elections bills that alter voting processes
Reps. Kirk Haskins, a Topeka Democrat, and Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican, sit together on the House Elections Committee on Jan. 27, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas. The two are on opposing sides of a package of elections bills. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Anna Kaminski Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans passed a package of legislation that purports to bolster election integrity but evoked warnings from Democrats of potential voter suppression. Despi
Kansas welcomes for-profit veteran ‘claim sharks,’ bundling contentious policy with popular bills
Rep. Rick James, a Republican veteran from La Cygne, championed legislation to benefit for-profit businesses that help veterans process benefit claims in exchange for a cut of the benefits. The practice, which is at odds with federal law, is banned in other states because the same service is available for free. James, who received a donation from one of the for-profit businesses, is seen here during a Feb. 10, 2025, committee hearing. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector) By Grace H
Kansas legislators take final shot at property tax relief as hopes fade
Sen. Caryn Tyson, shown here in a Feb. 2, 2026, hearing, is working to put together a property tax relief bill that will pass both chambers. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — House and Senate lawmakers are pursuing a last-ditch attempt to deliver on their promise to bring property tax relief to constituents before the session ends. A conference committee on taxes met Friday morning, the last day of the session, to hammer out
bottom of page