• Tanglewood Lakes dam holds beautiful fall colors this week. Thank you to Sean Swartz for the photo. If you have a photo you’d like to share it, along with your info, to Barbara at linncountynewsreporter@gmail. com. Remember, Out on the Gravel photos will be used for this years’ calendar! Keep an eye out for your chance to vote on our cover!

  • Travelers here don’t worry about their doors being dinged by cars parked next to them. The engine of the buggy, the horse, stood patiently waiting for his owners to return.

  • The 2026 Pleasanton Homecoming King and Queen are Anthony Sousley and Olive Skipper, joining them are crownbearers Waylon Marsh and Inez Easley.

  • he Mound City Historical Society, in conjunction with the Material Girls Quilting Guild of Linn County, held a quilt show at the Mound City Historical Park over the weekend. The raffle item was a patriotic quilt made and donated by the quilt guild. The lucky winner was Chasity Ware.

  • The Jolly Market, located at Jayhawk Linn High School, also saw large crowds this weekend. Vendors filled the main gym and commons area.

  • Mound City’s own Jayhawk Linn Junior High and High School marching band, directed by Rachel Wilson, plays patriotic music as they make their way through town.

  • Children scurry to gather handfuls of candy at the beginning of the parade.

  • Saturday’s annual Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts parade featured a patriotic theme, in honor of America’s 250th birthday this year. Grand marshals for the parade included local veterans who have participated in Honor Flight Network.

  • Tanner Holt and Alison Willard are Jayhawk’s 2026 Homecoming King and Queen. Left to right: Coralynn Bukkila, Landon Higgins, Aubreigh Summers, Dominic Alvarez, Queen Alison Willard, King Tanner Holt, Chloe Riley, and Rayse Dean. Crownbearers are Kyndall Cummings and Korbin Cleland.

  • Alison Willard, Chloe Riley and Coralynn Bukkila cheer in their Jayhawk Linn Homecoming candidate formal gowns after Willard was crowned queen.

NEWS

Parker welcomes Case Higgins home after accident

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Linn County News Jackielcn1@gmail.com   Linn County and the racing community are beginning to heal, along with 12-year-old Case Higgins, after his racing accident that occurred July 24; an accident that left him with burns to over 49 percent of his body and a new course... [More]

Voters to decide several questions on Nov. 3 ballot

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Linn County News  linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com   Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, will be faced with several important questions. The first question that voters across the county will address on the ballot is a vote on whether or not to allow... [More]

Pleasanton Police Chief hired

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Linn County News Jackielcn1@gmail.com   Following multiple executive sessions Monday night, the four-person council approved the appointment of Police Chief Phillip Davis to take the reins of the Pleasanton Police Department. Davis has many years of law enforcement... [More]

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SPORTS

Pleasanton football falls to Chase County

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LINN COUNTY NEWS holtadam82@yahoo.com   The Pleasanton football team played their final regular season game as they hosted district opponent Chase County on Oct. 23.  Chase County was the one seed in the Jays district and a win over the Jays would ensure them... [More]

Jayhawk cross country qualifies boys’ varsity team and Meyer for State

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LINN COUNTY NEWS holtadam82@yahoo.com   It was a good day for the Jayhawk Linn cross country team as they traveled to the 2A Sub-State at Alma on Oct. 24. The Hawks did well as everyone of their boys’ runners placed in the top 21 to place first overall at the... [More]

Prairie View cross country competes at 3A Sub-State

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LINN COUNTY NEWS holtadam82@yahoo.com   Prairie View cross country brought their varsity girls’ team to 3A Sub-State at Fredonia on Oct. 24. The Lady Buffs ran in group A at Sub-State. The girls ran hard but none of them qualified for the 3A State tournament... [More]

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John Gary Ballou

02-04-1947 to 09-18-2019

 

Linn County News

Published Sept. 25, 2019

 

John Gary Ballou, age 72, of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, at his home. He was born Feb. 4, 1947, to Robert Oliver Ballou and Wilma Jean Gray Ballou (who passed away a few days after his birth) in Kansas City, Mo. He was raised by his father and mother, Cecile Hyacinthe Reed Ballou, who adopted him at about 15 months.

John graduated in 1965 from Southwest High School in Kansas City, Mo. He received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Kansas.

He married Debra Jean Pile Ballou, his high school sweetheart, in 1969.

John served in the Kansas Air National Guard from 1970-1976. John worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and Farmland Industries in Kansas City. John and Debby moved from Kansas City to Amsterdam, Mo., when John went to work for Kansas City Power and Light in 1972.

John and Debby soon bought 80 acres in rural Pleasanton. He built their home here, and they raised their daughter, Lori, who was born in 1976. In 2002, he retired from Kansas City Power and Light after nearly 30 years.

After surviving cancer, John and Debby completed their travels to all 50 states together.

John is survived by his wife, Debby, of 50 years; his daughter, Lori Ann Ballou Stahlman and husband Justin; grandchildren Cole (16) and Aubrey (12) of Concordia, Kan.; his half-sister, Anne Ballou Piccinini, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a baby brother, Robert Oliver Ballou Junior.

According to John’s wishes he was cremated, and a private family graveside gathering will take place at a later date at Eureka Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society c/o Schneider Funeral Home, PO Box 525, Pleasanton, KS 66075. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

 

 

OBITUARIES

Fred Louis Kautt ~ 12-08-1936 to 10-25-2026

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  Linn County News Published October 28, 2026   Fred Louis Kautt, 89, of Centerville, Kan., died on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. at his home surrounded by his loving family. Fred was a first generation American born on Dec. 8, 1936, to German immigrant parents,... [More]

Dee Wagner ~ 10-10-1939 — 10-21-2026

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  Linn County News Published October 28, 2026   Our mom officially checked out at Homestead of Osawatomie with all of us there. She would have been happy knowing we were all present and accounted for. Mom was born in Beloit, Kan., to Floyd and Wilma Woolman... [More]

Paul B. Eskew Moeller ~ 08-10-2966 to 08-28-2026

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Linn County News  Published October 21, 2026   Paul (Big Paul) Moeller was born Aug. 10, 1966, to Paul Eskew and Della Manning in Contra Costa County California. He lived in Leavenworth, Kan., until the family moved to Blue Mound in June of 1990. Paul quickly... [More]

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• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
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