Ottis Wayne Allen, 75, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, at the KU Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan. He was born May 4, 1940, in Pleasanton, Kan. He married Minnie Lou Holt Oct. 8, 1961, in Farlinville, Kan. He served in the U.S. Army for six years, stationed in Heilbronn, Germany. After his service, he graduated from Emporia State University with a BS in Business Administration. He began working for the Western Insurance Company in 1969. After transitioning to American States Insurance, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., and later Montgomery, Ala. He then moved back to Fort Scott with Safeco Insurance.
Ottis enjoyed traveling, antiquing, photography, hunting, deep sea fishing and vegetable gardening. He was a former member of the Jaycee’s and Kiwanis Clubs in Fort Scott. He was a member of the American Legion and the V.F.W., serving in the color guard. He was a member of the S.E.K. Area Agency on Aging Board and the Silver Haired Legislature, both in Chanute, Kan. Ottis also volunteered for many community service projects through the years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife Minnie Lou of the home; a brother, Cleland Allen, Fort Scott; two sisters, Vada Casteel and husband Max, Clinton, Mo., and Joyce Allen, Fort Scott; mother-in-law, Maxine Holt, Prescott, Kan.; brothers-in-laws, Larry Holt and wife Linda and Bruce Holt and wife Meg, all of Mound City, Kan.; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins; as well as his dog, Bruce Almighty and cat, Abby. He was preceded in death by a brother, Morris Allen; a niece, Kathy Wyatt; and his parents.
Rev. Steve Cole will conduct funeral services at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, at the First United Methodist Church, Fort Scott. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V.F.W. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the Church.
Memorials are suggested to either the First United Methodist Church, the V.F.W. or the American Legion and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

OBITUARIES

Morgan Leon Wakefield ~ 05-08-1996 to 09-09-2025

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  Linn County News Published September 17, 2025   Morgan Leon Wakefield was called home to heaven on September 9, 2025. Morgan was born May 8, 1996, in Olathe, Kan., to Shane and Debbie (Snyder) Wakefield of Mound City, Kan. From an early age, he showed a... [More]

Jackie “Jack” Howard Shroyer ~ 01-24-1940 to 09-04-2025

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  Linn County News Published September 10, 2025   Jackie "Jack" Howard Shroyer, age 85 of Prescott, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Jack was born the son of Eugene and Lillie Ruth (Blangy) Shroyer on Jan. 24, 1940, in Prescott, Kan. He... [More]

Wallace “Mack” Probasco ~ 07-05-1959 to 09-02-2025

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Linn County News Published September 10, 2025   Wallace “Mack” Probasco, age 66 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. He was born the son of Francis Mack and Edna E. Wallace Probasco on July 5, 1959, in Fort Scott,... [More]

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NEWS

Pleasanton council votes 2-2 on RNR, budget

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The Pleasanton City Council met on Monday, Sept. 15, and began the meeting with a hearing on the revenue neutral rate (RNR) followed by the budget hearing. With no one in the audience coming forward to speak on either, the hearings were opened and closed without incident and... [More]

Mine Creek Battlefield bridge ribbon cutting this weekend

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JLHS sophomore Aron Coleman is not new to community projects; this time he’s completed a bridge for his Eagle Scout badge so those using trails at Mine Creek Battlefield can traverse from one side of Mine Creek to the other. The ribbon cutting commemorating the new bridge... [More]

USD 346 to exceed RNR; approves budget

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During the revenue neutral hearing and the budget hearing for the district on Sept. 8, the USD 346 Board of Education voted to approve the superintendents’ recommendation to exceed revenue neutral with a proposed mill rate of 54.144.  The board then approved the... [More]

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SPORTS

Wade and Schneider start impressive girls’ golf season for the Buffalos and Hawks

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Both the Prairie View and Jayhawk Linn girls’ golf teams competed at Fort Scott and Pittsburg this past week. The teams traveled to Fort Scott on Sept. 9 to compete in the Fort Scott Invitational and then to Pittsburg on Sept. 11 to compete in the Colgan Invitational. ... [More]

Turnovers and other mistakes see Hawks fall at Anderson County 27-6

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The Jayhawk Linn football team hosted Anderson County on Sept. 12 for their first “home” game of the season. Anderson County is class 3A in football compared to Jayhawk’s 1A and is the Pioneer League so the Hawks had their work cut out for them. Jayhawk played... [More]

Prairie View girls’ cross country leads the Buffalos at Fort Scott

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The Prairie View girls’ cross-country team traveled to Fort Scott for the Fort Scott Invitational on Sept. 11. The Buffalos performed well at the meet on both the girls’ and boys’ side. The girls in particular performed well as the 7th grade girls got 1st... [More]

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