Linn County News
Published April 9, 2025
Phyllis Sybil Colbert, age 89, passed away Friday, March 28, 2025. She was born on Nov. 23, 1935, in Ball Ground, Ga., the daughter of William and Marcia White Johnson. She attended Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga., and went on to attend Massey Business College.
Sybil met her husband, Bill Colbert, while they both were working in Atlanta. They were united in marriage on Aug. 3, 1963 at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. He preceded her in death on May 30, 2018. They made their home in Marietta, Ga., where they became very involved in their church, LaBelle Heights Baptist Church. Sybil loved working with teenagers in her church where they lovingly referred to her as “Mrs. C.” A work transfer for Bill brought them to the Kanas City area where they settled in Olathe, Kan. Sybil worked as a librarian at Oregon Trail Jr. High in Olathe.
Sybil was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved the Lord with all her heart and spent most of her life in service to Him. Sybil supported her husband in ministry for many years in the various churches in which he served. Sybil’s sweet smile and her Southern hospitality will be missed. She is survived by a daughter, Michele Friesen and her husband, Steve; grandson Collin and his wife, Allie, and grandson Cody; a sister, Marcelle Payne; and a brother, Jerry Johnson and his wife, Betty.
A gathering to celebrate Sybil’s life was held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Fellowship Olathe, followed by a time to visit and fellowship until 8 p.m. (Fellowship Olathe - 901 N. Parker, Olathe, Kan. 66061). A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Cherokee Memorial Park in Canton, Ga. Memorial contributions are suggested to Mission Southside, 514 S. Kansas Avenue, Olathe, Kan. 66061. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Paul Dean Benham ~ 09-23-1944 to 04-26-2025

Linn County News Published April 30, 2025 Paul Dean Benham, age 80, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Saturday, April 26, 2025. He was born on Sept. 23, 1944, in rural Stockton, Mo., the son of John H. and Ada Mae Lucille West Benham. After graduating... [More]
Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025

Linn County News Published April 30, 2025 Bonnie Faye Bishop, age 76, Olathe, Kan., passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025. She was born on March 25, 1949, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of William and Imogene Krueger Carter. After graduating from high... [More]
Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025

Linn County News Published April 30, 2025 Lois A. Murray, age 93, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Overland Park, Kan. Lois was born the daughter of Arlie and Winifred Stanhope Poindexter on Nov. 3, 1931, near Drexel, Mo.... [More]
More Obituaries
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
- Anna Louise Stites ~ 09-27-1946 to 04-13-2025
- Sandra Kay “Sandy” Crooks ~ 01-08-1949 to 04-13-2025
- Richard Lee Keaton ~ 01-29-1935 to 04-05-2025
- Linda Ann Pruitt ~ 05-08-1953 to 04-07-2025
- Ira “Sonny” Ray Caruthers, Jr. ~ 05-23-1955 to 04-02-2025
- Michelle Lynn Young ~ 05-20-1967 to 04-04-2025
- Joseph Francis “Mr. Joe” Cunningham ~ 03-17-1967 to 03-31-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Legislative Update

April 18, 2025 Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act, SB 9, prohibits foreign adversaries from purchasing property within 100 miles of a military installation and any foreign adversary ownership of non-residential real property purchased prior to July 1, 2025,... [More]
16 criminal cases from Tanglewood Lake incident dismissed

Late Wednesday afternoon, April 16, orders were filed dismissing all 16 current cases on file in Linn County District Court concerning the Tanglewood Lake gate incident, 14 of which were filed against separate individuals that stemmed from the incident in May 2023. According... [More]
Tanglewood seeks clarification, aid from county

During the April 21 meeting, Linn County Commissioner Jason Hightower reported to his fellow board members that he had met with the Tanglewood Lake board president and a resident the previous week and noted that they wanted a resolution or motion that clarified if the roads are... [More]
More News
- Commission workshop hears of justification for SEKMHC CEO $600,000 salary
- La Cygne police get automatic plate readers
- Notice
- Public comment results in allegations of unethical behavior
- Parker reinstates local policing
- Two charged following vehicular incident in Parker
- Pleasanton approves zoning request
- La Cygne leaders talk future street improvements
SPORTS
Jayhawk track wins the Pleasanton Invitational

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to Pleasanton on April 15 for the Pleasanton Invitational. The Hawks did very well as both the boys’ and girls’ teams won the meet. The girls won with a score of 188 points while the boys won with a score of 127 points. There were... [More]
Pleasanton track places in top three at home invitational

The Pleasanton track team hosted their home invitational on April 15. The Jays did well as both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed in the top three out of nine teams. The boys were second with 92 points while the girls were third with 107.5 points. “It was... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk baseball earns first victories of the season
- Pleasanton boys’ and girls’ track teams win Oswego Invitational
- Prairie View softball falls in league contest to Iola
- Prairie View softball drops close games against Santa Fe Trail
- Pleasanton baseball falls to Southeast Cherokee and Marmaton Valley
- Jayhawk softball splits against Central Heights
- Prairie View softball starts season 3-1
- Pleasanton baseball opens season 2-2 against Oswego and Crest
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

