Linn County Journal

07/20/2025

Here are the stories we're following:
• Linn County and the surrounding area is under an Extreme Heat Warning until 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 24. Heat indexes are expected to be as high as 110 degrees.

• The LInn County Rural Fire District departments and the Pleasanton city fire department had inspections by the Insurance Services Office this past week. A change in the ISO rating could affect residential and business insurance premiums.

• While the teacher shortage has eased somewhat, schools are having trouble filling some positions. Prairie View is hosting an informational meeting on Monday for people in the area who are interested in joining the education workforce.

• Linn Valley City Council has voted to ask the city's planning commission to look into short-term rentals such as Airbnb and homes built out of shipping containers.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

In the photo: The Prairie View cheerleading crew sells baked goods to help fund their events at the La Cygne Blast in the Park. (Billy Roudybush / Special to the Journal)

07/11/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• Today at 1 p.m., the Linn County Commission is slated to meet to further discuss the budget for 2026. However, County Clerk Danielle Souza sent out a survey to county employees yesterday asking them to choose one of three benefits (including insurance or a salary increase) they would forgo so the county could meet the revenue neutral tax rate next year. Employee backlash was swift and angry.

• The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission has for a second time recommended the county board of commissioners approve a conditional use permit to operate a quarry on 2400 Road just east of Linn Valley city limits. The question is whether for a second time the board of commissioners will turn it down.

• Saturday evening is La Cygne's Blast in the Park at the community park by the swimming pool. Two live music acts are slated along with vendors and food trucks. The event opens at 6 p.m. and fireworks will start at dark. The event is free but donations to help with next year's fireworks are suggested.

• Rain on my parade? It didn't matter at Blue Mound last Saturday where the annual Independence Day parade got under way in a rain that didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

07/06/2025

https://www.linncountyjournal.com/post/opinion-eddy-shay-the-smiling-nostalgic-face-of-kansas-fireworks-i-m-still-amazed

By Eric Thomas, Kansas ReflectorIf you drive up to a fireworks tent in eastern Kansas this week, the caricatured face of Eddie Shay might welcome you on a banner. “EDDIE’S FIREWORKS,” the sign will read. “LIGHTING WICKS SINCE ‘76.”“I was lighting wicks way before that,” Shay says.How...

07/04/2025

Happy Independence Day!
We hope you're having a great three-day holiday weekend!

Here are the stories we're following:
• There are two events planned for Saturday, July 5. Blue Mound will be hosting its annual Independence Day celebration with games starting early tomorrow morning, a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks tomorrow at dark.

• Linn Valley will also be celebrating the Fourth on the fifth. The day starts with a fishing tournament, the parade - the longest in the county - starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by fireworks over the lake at dark.

• Be sure to see our special events page for flyers and schedules for both of those celebrations.

• An Osawatomie woman and her son were seriously injured in an accident on Kansas Highway 7 on Tuesday, July 1. The family has set up a Go Fund Me page to help with expenses.

• County control of the Linn County Airport apparently is back on. After the county commission last year looked into selling the controversial airstrip or shutting it down, a change on the commission looks to result in renewed efforts to keep the airport under county control.

• Photographer Billy Roudybush captured the spirit of Pleasanton's Stars and Stripes celebration last weekend in a photo essay.

• A Mound City filmmaking team is planning its next project after their recent documentary, "Cultivating Kindness," brings home bronze Telly Awards

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

06/27/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• Organizers are hoping that slight chances of rain won't dampen weekend events. On Saturday Pleasanton's Stars & Stripes celebration goes into full swing with a host of activities beginning with the parade down Main Street at 3 p.m. See our special events page for information on the day.

• Tonight in Parker, Music in the Park will feature music by Michael Pierce. A fundraiser sponsored by the Heritage Park Board and the Parker Area Ladies Society (PALS), the event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Sponsors are selling shrimp and hotdog dinners to raise money to maintain and improve the park.

• The city of Pleasanton has announced that it received a $617,000 from KDOT to repair and replace sections of Ash Street and a portion of Cedar Street. The grant should give a jumpstart to the city's street repair program, which now has collected more than $300,000 in sales tax that can only be used on street repair and maintenance.

• The La Cygne swimming pool is shifting some hours to allow an open swim during the evening one day a week.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

06/07/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• The Tanglewood Lake Owners Association board attorney Darcy Domoney has filed a lawsuit against the Linn County Commission seeking a declaratory judgement on whether the development's roads are private or public.

• Almost all of the cities and school boards have a full slate of candidates for November's general election.

• Questions by a commissioner on whether to agree to a lease of the Parker Senior Center begs question whether it can be revived.

• The county had to seek new proposals on revamping its website. One bid was mailed instead of being emailed or hand-delivered. That made it miss the deadline.

• In state news, the Kansas Legislature has proposed passing STAR bonds to finance new stadiums for both the Chiefs and the Royals to try to lure both teams west of the state line. But one expert says Kansas can't afford it.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

05/31/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• The Linn County Commission discussed repairing or replacing the gazebo northeast of the courthouse. That discussion transitioned into bids for roof repairs on the courthouse and whether the county ever placed an ad requesting bids.

• The hiring of the county clerk's husband to be zoning director has recalled charges in the past about nepotism. People have been asking if it's legal.

• Linn County athletes are competing yesterday and today at the state track meet. We'll have results and photos from the event.

• The Hell's Bend bridge north of La Cygne is done and just a few details remain. The bridge created considerable controversy last year.

• Monday, June 2, is the deadline for filing for city council and school board offices.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

05/17/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• Prairie View High School's graduation is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18. Doors open at 1 p.m. The school is recognizing six valedictorians and one salutatorian this year.

• Caught in limbo between having their roads recognized as public or private, Tanglewood Lakes residents are dealing with washed out roads from recent rains.

• Deputies converged on a Prescott residence early Friday morning following a 911 call that a resident had fired gunshots near a group of teenagers.

• See our photo coverage of Jayhawk and Pleasanton graduation ceremonies.

• In state news, former governor Jeff Colyer, who stepped in when Gov. Sam Brownback resigned for an ambassador position, is positioning for a run for office.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

05/09/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• Graduation season begins Saturday, May 10, as Jayhawk-Linn and Pleasanton high schools hold commencement exercises. Jayhawk's ceremony begins at 10 a.m., Pleasanton's at 1 p.m. Prairie View's graduation is scheduled for Sunday, May 18.

• Sunday is Mother's Day, in case you had forgotten.

• Tri-Ko Inc. announces that it has hired a new executive director.

• A Tanglewood Lakes resident whose extensive reearch caused a felony case to be dismissed lays out her research on whether the development's roads are public or private. Her claim runs counter to the opinion of the county counselor.

• In state news, the number of measles cases continues to creep upwards. This week cases have reached Wichita.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

04/18/2025

Update from the Linn County Journal
Here are the stories we're following:

• County Commissioner Jason Hightower took his fellow commissioners to task after they refused to add commission ethics to Monday's agenda.

• Several Easter egg hunts around the county are scheduled for Saturday morning. See our list of hunts and Easter services.

• Parker council votes to place help-wanted ad for law enforcement officer and codes enforcement officer but has still not hammered out agreement on how often those people would work and how much those positions will pay.

• In state news, Farm Bureau officials are worried about the effect a docking-fee plan will have on state producers.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

04/12/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• The recent firing of Linn County's public works administrator and the unexpected departure of the zoning director could delay applications for building permits, lot splits and zoning changes.

• Veterans and student guardians of Prairie View's Honor Flight are expected to take wing to the nation's capital on April 15.

• Four Pleasanton High School seniors have been awarded the Ray Family Scholarship. The scholarship has changed to a two-year full-ride scholarship with the possibility of an extension.

• Blue Mound and Mound City residents have learned their water bills will increase because of increases from Public Wholesale Water System District No. 13 increases. Parker also will increase it's rates by $10 per meter.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.

03/28/2025

Here are the stories we're following:

• A rural Parker man has notified the Linn County Commission that a group of citizens has sought legal advice from two attorneys about a proposed rural housing development he wants stopped.

• The Parker City Council apparently plans to step back from plans to dissolve the city's police department. The decison has yet to be confirmed by a council vote.

• The STARS program's open house on Wednesday drew more than 30 industry people. Most of the students who took part in the event received job offers. That comes as the STARS board heard from the state on Thursday about funding possibilities.

• The Jayhawk-Linn theater department will be presenting its spring play 'Maid to Order' for the final time on Saturday night.

• In state news, legislators are looking at easing back on vaccination requirements while the number of measles cases in the southwest corner grows.

• Mail-in ballots will no longer have a three-day grace period under a statute that has passed both chambers.

All of the details are in the Linn County Journal.

Go to our website www.linncountyjournal.com for these stories and more.

The Linn County Journal posts new stories throughout the week. Make checking for news updates a part of your daily routine.