Monitor-Journal

03/31/2026

From the Editor: On June 1, 2026, the Monitor Journal will have been in print 140 years. It has had several owners over the years. My husband and I bought the paper September 1, 2000. I am proud of the papers longevity and that we have so many faithful subscribers. But there comes a time when you, the readers, need to hear about the status of the paper. There is a lot happening in our communities of Little River and Windom so finding news is rarely hard to do. I realize that some weeks there is a lot of school news that can also be found on facebook. But the schools are a big part of our community so it’s important to put that in the paper. Newspapers are archived and kept for future generations to see. Can that be said about facebook? Probably not.There is a need for more subscribers to the Monitor Journal. If you as a community would like to see the paper continue for more years, it is imperative that the readership grows. It is currently hovering at about 230 subscribers. With subscriptions and advertising income it barely covers the cost of putting out the paper.So we are at a crossroads here. If you want the paper to continue, the community needs to step up. If not I will try and sell the paper. If that doesn’t work, it will go away, but that is a last resort. I do plan to keep it up until at least year 140.
Denice Dater, Editor & Publisher

03/15/2026

The Little River Ladyskins are the 1A State champs. They won tonight 59-24.

03/14/2026

The Ladyskins will play for the championship today at 6:30. Listen to the live broadcast online on the Adastra radio station 96.7.

03/13/2026

Listen to the Little River Ladyskins state basketball game today at 5:30 pm on the Ad Astra radio app. Station 96.7. Tip off vs Centralia is at 5:30.

03/10/2026

The Ladyskins are going to the State Basketball Tournament. There is a pep assembly to send them on their way. Details:
Join Us on Wednesday at Noon for a Community Pep Assembly to help wish our Lady Skins luck, as they head to Salina for their Quarterfinal State Game vs Central Plains!

11/18/2025

Elizabeth Mae Prose of Little River, Kansas, passed away November 15, 2025, in her home at the age of 97. She was born September 27, 1928, in rural Little River, the daughter of Harry L. and Lena (Greibel) Goodrick. She was named after her grandmothers. Elizabeth was a lifelong Little River resident. She graduated from Little River High School in 1946. Elizabeth worked for the public school as the head cook from 1968 until her retirement in 1990. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Little River, where she served as church treasurer, was a member of the choir and Women’s Fellowship. Elizabeth volunteered at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River Library, and the Little River Senior Center. She enjoyed gardening, canning walking, reading, being a homemaker. Elizabeth crocheted an afghan for every one of her children and grandchildren. She was a Kansas University basketball fan and enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren’s sporting activities. On April 10, 1948, Elizabeth married Lea E. Prose, in Little River. He preceded her in death on September 26, 1994. She was also preceded in death by her parents, three brothers - Byron Goodrick Sr., Howard Goodrick, and Leroy Goodrick, sister Marcelee Samms, and two grandsons, Ryan Prose and Tanner Fessler. Elizabeth is survived by her four children, Patricia Smitheran and husband Carl of Council Grove, KS, Robert Prose of Inman, KS, Loretta Birchard and husband Bob of Wheaton, IL, and Richard Prose and wife Vivian of Emporia, KS, and sister-in-law, Dorothy Stagner of Little River, KS. She also had thirteen grandchildren - Brent Smitheran (Tiffany) of Spring Hill, KS, Troy Prose (Elisha) of Little River, KS, Amber Prose (wife Kat) of Lotus, TX, Amy Prose of San Antonio, TX, Justin Birchard of Batavia, IL, Clinton Prose of Reading, KS, Julie Waltemath (Troy) of Augusta, KS, Andrew Birchard (Daisy Matthews) of Durango, CO, Marija Birchard of Warrenville, IL, Kohl Prose (Kasey Beasack) of Olpe, KS, Jared Fessler (Susan) of Emporia, KS, Lance Fessler of Emporia, KS, and Dillon Fessler of Fortson, GA, and thirteen great grandchildren, James Prose, Brooks Prose, Beckett Prose, Greyson Prose, Skyler Smitheran, Bryson Smitheran, Addison Waltemath, Creighton Waltemath, Maeve Birchard, Tanner Fessler, Mackena Fessler, Samuel Fessler, Cecilia Fessler and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be at the Congregational Church Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Ted Weis officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 A.M. until service time with family present. Burial will be at the Bean Memorial Cemetery, Little River. Memorials may be given to the Congregational Church or Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

11/01/2025

Four-Peat for Little River 🏐🔥
Little River captures its fourth straight 1A-I State Volleyball Championship under head coach Kim Rolfs, continuing one of the most dominant runs in Kansas volleyball history.

1A-I State Tournament — Dodge City
🏆 Finals: Little River def. Centralia, 25-12, 25-17
Semifinals: Little River def. Quinter, 25-6, 25-16

The Redskins claim four consecutive state titles (2022–2025), cementing a dynasty in Class 1A-I volleyball.

10/31/2025

The theme for tomorrow at State Volleyball is Beach/Hawaiian.

We still have spots on the bus for Junior/Senior High students. Redskin Backerz will pay their way into the game. The bus is leaving at 6:00 a.m. Bring a pillow and a blanket!

Go Lady Redskins!!!

10/30/2025

Listen to the Redskins football game tonight.

Tune into the game if you can’t make it to Little River.

10/30/2025

The Ladyskins had a super day!