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Click here for the link to our page listing information about July 4th events across Linn County

Pleasanton's Stars and Stripes event kicks off 250th birthday

Wearing an "Est. 1776" t-shirt and a patriotic heart with angel wings in memory of her grandmother, Jaycee Henry is ready for Pleasanton's Stars and Stripes celebration. (Photos by Billy Roudybush / Linn County Journal) By Bill Roudybush Journal contributor Linn County residents began their celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States with the Stars and Stripes celebration in Pleasanton on Saturday June 27. Organizers and volunteers packed plenty of activities into

Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor

Extreme heat warning
until 8 p.m. Saturday

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Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 100. South wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Link to the National Weather Service radar.

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Economic development grant recipients named

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY - Ashlee Allen, part-time economic development, announced to the Linn County Commissioners on Monday, June 22, that the economic development committee had awarded Summer Youth Grants, Daycare Grants, and a Community Grant. However, the recipients of grants weren’t named and the commission did not ask who received the grants. In a later email, County Clerk Chasity Ware sent the names of the recipients. In the pa

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Mound City's Colonial Day organizers host July 3 event

Colonial Day at the Mound City Historical Park and the Mound City Library will feature three musical performers. (Photo by John Timothy / Upsplash) Journal staff report Organizers of “Colonial Day: Live Like It’s 1776” on Friday, July 3, are offering a step back in time to the founding of our country in honor of its 250th birthday. Sponsored by the Mound City Historical Society and the Mound City Library, the morning and early afternoon event will provide live music that hark

Journal Staff Report

Linn Valley plans three days of activities to mark the 250th birthday

Linn Valley's Independence Day parade is the longest parade in the county with as many as 100 decorated golf carts and UTVs participating. (Journal file photo) Journal staff report Linn Valley’s Fourth of July celebration, a three-day affair, is expected to live up to what is now tradition: a spectacular fireworks show off the Main Lake dam, a long parade featuring decorated golf carts and other vehicles, and a boat parade on the lake. The population swells up to five times

Journal Staff Report

Blue Mound's 250th birthday celebration runs morning to night

Last year's Blue Mound July 4th parade was soggy but given the hot and dry days leading up to it, no one really minded. This year rain is unlikely but sunny, hot weather is expected. (Journal file photo) Journal staff report Blue Mound’s Independence Day celebration is always one of the best summer events in the county, and this year organizers have plans for the 250th birthday of our country to be no exception. It is a daylong event, and this year organizers are very mindfu

Journal Staff Report

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• Dixie Arlene Boone

• Carolyn Corrine Barr

• Karen Clayton

• Krissa Dawn Brim

For recent local news, go to
page 4
by clicking here.

Click here to see full Colonial Day schedule

Mine Creek radio operators use field day to prepare for emergencies

Beau Jackson carefully turns the frequency dial on this ham radio setup and writes down places he contacts during the Mine Creek Radio Club field day on Saturday, He was manning the station with his father and grandfather. (Photos by Billy Roudybush / Linn County Journal) By Billy Roudybush Journal contributor A local group of ham radio operators came together on Saturday, June 27, at the rest stop at U.S. Highway 69 and Kansas Highway 52 near Trading Post to practice contact

Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor

KDOT accepts bid for K-68 expansion in Miami County

Press release The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has accepted a nearly $60 million bid for the expansion of more than 6 miles of K-68 in Miami County to a four-lane expressway. Clarkson Construction Co., of Kansas City, Missouri, will rebuild and widen 6.6 miles of K-68 from U.S. 169 to the Spring Valley Road west of Louisburg. A previous project expanded K-68 to four lanes from near Spring Valley Road into Louisburg. In the project, the existing two-lane highway

Press release

Treasurer's office looks to contract out mailing statements

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY - Linn County Treasurer Joannie Reed met with Linn County Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson on Monday, June 22, to tell them that her office was planning to hire a company to mail out the tax statements rather than have the treasurer's office handle do the mailing. Commissioner Jason Hightower was not present at the meeting. “I hope it’s going to be best for the county,” Reed said. “It’s going to sav

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Mental health center officials describe changes, request restoring county funding

Outlining changes in the organization since the beginning of the year, representatives from Southeast Mental Health Center asked the Linn County Commission to restore funding to assist clients who were eligible for programs and couldn't otherwise afford services. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Representatives of Southeast Mental Health Center (SEKMHC), interim CEO Doug Wright and Chief Financial Officer Amber Morrison me

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

City Events

Blue Mound

• July 4, Activities begin with softball and 8 a.m. and continue until dark.Click here to go the flyer about the event.

La Cygne

• La Cygne Blast in the Park, July 11, 6 to 9 p.m. Click here to go to the flyer about the event.

Linn Valley

• July 4th events begin at 9 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Fireworks on Main Dam, July 3. Click here to see the schedule.

Mound City

• Colonial Day, July 3, Mound City Historical Park, see ad on this page or click here for complete schedule.

Parker

• City Council meeting, 7 p.m., July 9

Pleasanton

• City Council meeting, 6 p.m., July 6

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Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson
For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

Bugs Bunny bugs me

Country Notebook By Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson Journal columnist Bugs Bunny as a cartoon character bugs me because of his arrogance, but for the purposes of this story, No. 4 in the series of what bugs me, it’s the real-life bunny rabbits that bug me. I drive onto my property, day or night, and I usually count eight to 10 rabbits running in fear of their lives. They don’t really have anything to worry about, because the only creatures I destroy are rattlesnakes and armadillos

Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson, Country Notebook

Opinion: The most important ‘No’ in American history

A hero of the Revolutionary War, George Washington eschewed the idea of becoming the ruler of the newly liberated American colonies. (Library of Congress.) By Todd Thompson, Leavenworth County Attorney Special to the Journal “Calamity.” That’s how he described the idea. Not just any promotion. The promotion. The one people spend their entire lives chasing. Absolute authority. Imagine being at the height of your success. Everyone trusts you. People talk about you like you can

Opinion

Opinion: Calm before the storm: These four issues could demolish Kansas state government by year’s end

The Kansas Statehouse dome stands in front of billowing clouds on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Clay Wirestone, opinion editor Kansas Reflector We wallow through late June, the long days alternating between prickling rain and sodden heat, news of the world outside obscured by the muggy haze of long weekends, summer vacations and evenings spent streaming “Widow’s Bay” (it’s excellent). I enjoy the days, at last for now, because I know they offer th

Clay Wirestone, Kansas Reflector

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff
For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Challenging the deafening silence of God

Matters of Faith By Dr. Bascom Ratliff, pastor Beagle, Fontana, Parker United Methodist Churches Psalm 13: 1-3a. How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death. Today's message is about our perceived silence of God. There are times w

Dr. Bascom Ratliff

1 day ago

Click on this ad to go to the full schedule of events

More Local News

Kansans are rebuilding some of the ancient city of Etzanoa. Now you can visit it

The Etzanoa Immersion Center in Arkansas City recently opened to tell the story of the ancient Kansas settlement. A model grass house being built a Wichita Tribe member will highlight how Etzanoans lived and worked. (Photos by Roger Nomer / Kansas News Service With up to 20,000 people, it was one of the most important ancient cities in what’s now the United States. A new immersion center in southern Kansas tells the early history of the Wichita Tribe, how they lived and how E

Kansas News Service

Public works head questions funding source for publishing resolutions

The cost to publish a resolution on the method of selling industrial park lots plus the cost to appraise those lots will exceed $6,000, not including attorney fees for writing the resolution and contacting appraisers for a bid on the project. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – At the Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, June 22, Public Works Administrator Jesse Walton presented an invoice for $2,770 from the Linn County

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Material Girls' patriotic quilt unveiled, raffle set for fall

Shelly Gill of Prescott holds up a Bargello pattern quilt during the Material Girls quilt guild meeting on Thursday, June 18. Click on this link to go to the guild's Facebook page for a photo of the back of the quilt. (Submitted photo) Reported by Meribeth Kehl Secretary-treasurer Organizers of the Material Girls unveiled the patriotic quilt made by its members at its meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Eighteen members and one visitor attended the meeting of the Linn County

Meribeth Kehl, secretary

Software change renders ambulance reports inaccurate

The AMR representative told the Linn County Commission that, because of a software change, reporting on ambulance runs has not been entirely accurate. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – During the reports on Monday, June 22, from the emergency services in Linn County, American Medical Response (AMR) operations manager Dawn Brooks informed the commissioners that some of the ambulance call statistics she has been reporting to

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

For more recent local news, go to
page 4 by clicking here.

State, Regional & National News

Kansas libraries could lose millions under Trump budget proposal

Federal cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services could impact Kansas summer reading programs and other services at libraries. (Photo by Roger Nomer / Kansas News Service) The Institute of Museum and Library Services supports libraries across the country, including Kansas. Now its future is in question as the Trump administration proposes to eliminate it in next year’s budget. By Roger Nomer Kansas News Service Kansas librarians are warning about potential cuts to

Kansas News Service

Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s union membership sparks political finger-pointing

State Sen. Ethan Corson, left, and Sen. Cindy Holscher, both Johnson County Democrats, appear at an April 26, 2026, debate in Shawnee. They now are turning up the heat in their campaigns for the Democratic Party's nomination for governor by arguing about labor union endorsements and membership issues. A third candidate in that Aug. 4 primary is Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Kansas Democrati

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas is getting federal funds to ‘transform’ rural hospitals. Here’s how it’s being used

AdventHealth Ottawa received $1.4 million in federal funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. (Photo by Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga / Kansas News Service) The program is meant to soften the coming cuts to Medicaid. The state health department recently announced the first round of Kansas grantees. Hospitals are using the money to increase healthcare access to rural patients. By Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga Kansas News Service Kansas hospitals are creating mobile maternal

Kansas News Service

News analysis: Kansas Republicans could try to delay election for U.S. Senate if Roger Marshall leaves office

Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, right, is seeking reelection in 2026, but could resign from office and trigger a controversial 2025 Kansas law giving the Legislature more power to influence Gov. Laura Kelly’s decision on a temporary replacement for U.S. Senate seats. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — A Republican-conceived law usurping Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s discretion when filling vacancies in certain Kans

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas GOP candidates for governor attack ‘paper shufflers,’ denounce fraud, argue about Chiefs

Four Republican candidates for Kansas governor, from left, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover, Johnson County businessman Philip Sarnecki, Secretary of State Scott Schwab of Overland Park and former Johnson County commissioner Charlotte O’Hara of Overland Park, share insights into their political agendas at a Wichita candidate forum. (Composite from Kansas Reflector photos) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlotte O’

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

More local news

For recent local news, go to page 4 by clicking here.

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Linn County Journal

Friday, July 3, 2026

Pleasanton's Stars and Stripes event kicks off 250th birthday

Extreme heat warning until 8 p.m. Saturday

Want to get the Linn County Journal's free email newsletters? Enter your email below and then click on 'Subscribe.' Be sure to put 'info@linncountyjournal.com' in your contacts so you don't miss a message.

Top Stories

Economic development grant recipients named

Mound City's Colonial Day organizers host July 3 event

Linn Valley plans three days of activities to mark the 250th birthday

Blue Mound's 250th birthday celebration runs morning to night

Mine Creek radio operators use field day to prepare for emergencies

KDOT accepts bid for K-68 expansion in Miami County

Treasurer's office looks to contract out mailing statements

Mental health center officials describe changes, request restoring county funding

City Events

Blue Mound

• July 4, Activities begin with softball and 8 a.m. and continue until dark.Click here to go the flyer about the event.

​

La Cygne

Linn Valley

Mound City

• Colonial Day, July 3, Mound City Historical Park, see ad on this page or click here for complete schedule.

​

Parker

Pleasanton

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

Bugs Bunny bugs me

Opinion: The most important ‘No’ in American history

Opinion: Calm before the storm: These four issues could demolish Kansas state government by year’s end

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Challenging the deafening silence of God

Click on this ad to go to the full schedule of events

More Local News

Kansans are rebuilding some of the ancient city of Etzanoa. Now you can visit it

Public works head questions funding source for publishing resolutions

Material Girls' patriotic quilt unveiled, raffle set for fall

Software change renders ambulance reports inaccurate

State, Regional & National News

Kansas libraries could lose millions under Trump budget proposal

Kansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s union membership sparks political finger-pointing

Kansas is getting federal funds to ‘transform’ rural hospitals. Here’s how it’s being used

News analysis: Kansas Republicans could try to delay election for U.S. Senate if Roger Marshall leaves office

Kansas GOP candidates for governor attack ‘paper shufflers,’ denounce fraud, argue about Chiefs

More local news

Phone: 913-259-2546
Email: linncountyjournal@icloud.com

Extreme heat warning
until 8 p.m. Saturday

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson
For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff
For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.