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Linn County News

Published July 15, 2020

 

Richard “Dick” Read was born on March 28, 1929, in Hatcher Hospital in Wellington, Kan., and died on July 3, 2020, at Foxwood Springs, Belton, Mo. His parents were Richard Calvin Read and Beulah Mae (Wilson) Read. He graduated from Wellington Jr.-Sr. High School in May of 1947. On June 4, 1947, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. Later that year he became a member of the U.S. Air Force and served until his retirement at the rank of chief master sergeant on Sept. 1, 1969. During that time, he saw service in Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and Japan and throughout the U.S. He was awarded the AF Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, AF Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters and 12 other medals and ribbons. 

After retirement he spent several years pursuing a variety of interests: vice president and factory manager of Hi Line Plastics in Olathe, real estate sales in Kansas and Missouri, vice president and loan officer at First State Bank, Insurance Office Manager at First State Bank, locksmith in Pleasanton, and Linn County Clerk for four years. He spent 22 years as a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff in Linn County doing prisoner transport, fairground security, county patrol and various other duties. He also served for 21 years as municipal court judge for Pleasanton, Linn Valley, Prescott and Mound City.

Richard was a member of the VFW and served at the post, district, state, and national level. He was a member of Order of DeMolay, Past Patron of Eastern Star, Blue Lodge Masons (50 plus years) and Scottish Rite Masons (50 plus years), and was an advisor to the Rainbow Girls in Machias, Maine, for a time. For many years he was active in the Lions Club and National Rifle Association. He was a charter member of the Air Force Sergeants Association and a member of the pistol team in North Bend, Ore., and Clark Air Base, Philippines. He loved camping, working in his shop and telling stories about all his life’s adventures. 

He married Mary LaWanda Johnson on Sept. 16, 1953, and is survived by her (Foxwood Springs, Belton) along with daughter Mary Rhodes of Grandview, Mo.; and son-in-law Jim Rhodes and grandson Joshua Rhodes and family of Lee’s Summit, Mo. He was preceded in death by granddaughter Jenna Rhodes of Little Rock, Ark.

Family requests that in lieu of flowers or cards that donations be made to the Jenna Rhodes Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Grandview Education Foundation. Donations can be mailed to Grandview Education Foundation, Box 546, Grandview, Mo. 64030. 

 

 

OBITUARIES

Jeffery Lynn Brown ~ 09-10-1958 to 10-22-2025

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Linn County News Published November 5, 2025   Jeffery Lynn Brown, age 67, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. He was born Sept. 10, 1958, in Fulton, Kan., the son of Derald Dean Brown... [More]

Darlene Ann Sumners ~ 05-19-1935 to 10-21-2025

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Linn County News Published Oct. 29, 2025   Darlene Ann Sumners, age 90, of Centerville, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. No services are scheduled.  Memorial contributions are suggested to Centerville Community Church or Shriners Children's Hospital. ... [More]

Lillie Mae Jackson ~ 04-23-1928 to 10-22-2025

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Linn County News Published November 5, 2025   Lillie Mae Jackson, age 97 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. She was born the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Viola Mae Brant Wurtz on April 23, 1928 in Mound City, Kan. Lillie married... [More]

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NEWS

Former Zoning Administrator explains KORA requests

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During the weekly meeting on Monday, Oct. 20, the Linn County Commissioners heard from former county employee Darin Wilson who served previously as the Planning and Zoning Administrator. Wilson told commissioners that the KORA (Kansas Open Records Act) requests he had made were... [More]

Pleasanton Council overrides mayor veto on firefighter appointments

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The Pleasanton Council met at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday and Councilman Aaron Portmann immediately read a prepared statement concerning Ordinance 2065 that Mayor Mathew Young vetoed that tried to take appointment of firefighters from the mayor and put it on the... [More]

Snyder appointed Linn County Register of Deeds

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Following the retirement of long-time Linn County Register of Deeds Kristy Schmitz, the Linn County Republican Central Committee held a convention Sunday to appoint a new Register of Deeds. Central Committee Chair Becky Johnson held the role call of committee people and 20... [More]

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SPORTS

Prairie View football stays on top of their district with big win over Girard

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The Prairie View Buffalos are in 3A District 2 and currently hold the number one seed in that district. The Buffalos 49-20 win over Girard gave them a great chance to be District champions. This week the Buffalos travel to Iola for their final district game and will seal the... [More]

Prairie View volleyball finishes season at Girard

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The Prairie View volleyball team finished their regular season games at Iola this past week as they had a Pioneer League triangular against Iola and Osawatomie. They were in the 3A Regional quad at Girard on Oct. 20 and finished their season there going 1-2. To see the full... [More]

Jays lock in league runner up spot at Uniontown

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Just as the week before, Pleasanton turned first-half takeaways into touchdowns and won at Uniontown last Friday night, 45-12, in a Three Rivers League and Class 1-A, District 1 matchup. The win assures the Blu-Jays of at least their third consecutive second-place finish in... [More]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

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