Linn County News
Published March 2, 2022
Ronnie Dean Mendel, age 74, of Paola, passed away on Feb. 24, 2022, at Olathe Medical Center.
Ron was born Feb. 11, 1948, in La Cygne, Kan., to Floyd (Jack) and Alta (Clearwater) Mendel. He graduated from La Cygne Rural High School in 1966.
On July 13, 1967, he married Carolyn Murphy in Vinita, Okla. Ron and Carolyn met working together at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. The couple lived in Bonner Springs, Kan., before moving to Paola, where Ron took over the American Family Insurance Agency. He retired in February 2007 after 31 years of service.
Ron served as a reserve for the Miami County Sheriff Department. He was one of the founding members of the Miami County Cancer Foundation, where he remained an active member. Ron enjoyed his family and friends, riding motorcycles, hunting, camping, and wheeling-and-dealing on vehicles.
Preceding him in death were his wife; parents; brother, Cliff; sons, Jeff and Mike; grandson, Derry Flaherty; great-grandson, Jordan Flaherty; and in-laws, Emmett and Julia Murphy.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Dee Anne) Mendel and Paula (Terry) Flaherty; partner, Paulette Bennett; sister, Joan (Delbert) Cornett; sister-in-law, Linda (Larry) Stewart; brother-in-law, Rodger (Cathy) Murphy; grandchildren, Ronnie (Dannae) Flaherty, Bryant Mendel, Katie Gatlin and Jimmy Daniels; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Serinity, Carolynn, Norma, Sarah, Bradley and Brayden; great-great grandson, Booker; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts can be made to the Miami County Cancer Foundation and sent c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary-Crematory, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, Kan. 66071.
Graveside inurnment services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Miami Memorial Gardens, Paola.
OBITUARIES
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]
Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Helen Maxine Wright, age 86, formerly of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away at her home in Abbyville, Kan., on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Community... [More]
Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kelly Kehl, age 87, of Mound City, Kan., passed away Saturday, June 28, 2025, at his rural Mound City home. Kelly was born March 25, 1938, south of Parker, Kan., to Keith (Tom) Emerson Kehl and Helen Edith (Giffin) Kehl. Kelly... [More]
More Obituaries
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
NEWS
Commissioners discuss various budgets

SEKMHC in mix At the end of a meeting attended by two of the three commissioners, a discussion was held regarding several of the proposed budgets for next year. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson first discussed the proposed budget for Southeast Kansas Mental Health.... [More]
City learns of fire gear condition

Pleasanton Fire Department ISO inspection July 16 Following the appointment of new Fire Chief Jimmy Watts as Pleasanton Fire Chief, the Pleasanton Council heard of the condition of bunker gear Monday night at their bi-weekly meeting. Watts reported the truck ran with the... [More]
La Cygne leaders discuss food truck follow-up

Police chief to draft updated clarifying ordinance La Cygne leaders anticipate considering a draft ordinance soon on transient food trucks following discussion at last Wednesday’s regular council meeting precipitated by a local business owner’s complaint last month.... [More]
More News
- special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case
- SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending
- NOTICE:
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
- Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners
SPORTS
Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament

The team called Nobodys wins the Blue Mound 4th of July co-ed softball tournament on July 5. This year the tournament consisted of eight teams. The Nobodys is Keith Morrell’s team and has been a part of the softball tournament since it started three years ago.
Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship

The Pleasanton 12-14 baseball team wins their league tournament on June 30 to July 1. Pleasanton hosted the tournament and won in the championship against La Cygne 11-7.
More Sports
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

