Wagon Wheel Restaurant lost in Tuesday night blaze - Dec. 17, 2025
What was a mainstay of La Cygne, the Wagon Wheel Restaurant, was lost to fire Tuesday night. La Cygne Fire was called to the scene, 602 E. Market, at approximately 3:20 a.m. The building was fully-involved with the State Fire Marshall stating the cause is undetermined at this point. Owner of...[More]
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids heads to the President’s desk - Dec. 17, 2025
Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) issued the following statements after their bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, passed the House and is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The Whole Milk...[More]
Christmas food distributions this weekend - Dec. 17, 2025
Christmas food distributions are scheduled this weekend to help those in need through the holiday. Helping with funds to aid three food distributions were Pleasanton High School students who organized a “Battle of the Buckets” coin drive competition amongst the classes. Sponsor Wendy Conley...[More]
Commissioners given update on mental health outreach at jail - Dec. 17, 2025
During the Dec. 15 meeting, the Linn County Commissioners were given an update on the community outreach project through SEKMH at the Linn County Jail. Brian Cook and Kym Hargrove, both with SEKMHC, along with Linn County Sheriff James Akes and Linn County Jail Administrator Kimberly Herring outlined...[More]
Motocross track CUP discussed at county P&Z - Dec. 17, 2025
A family-owned, 42-acre plot of land brought much discussion Tuesday night last week after a conditional use permit (CUP) was requested by Eric and Emily Thies so they could continue holding motocross training and races on tracks built on the land. Thies’ were requesting the CUP so their son could...[More]
Parker City Council honors 18 years of service - Dec. 17, 2025
The Parker City Council held its monthly meeting on Dec. 11. City Clerk Lisa Leach reported that the new lights were installed in the city barn. Santa Comes to Town was held on Dec. 13. Parker had three winners in the Linn County News Best of contest. The winners were the city park, the city playground,...[More]
BULLY PULPIT - Dec. 17, 2025
Woke is woke, Bloke or not This weekend was a particularly bloody weekend worldwide; coincidental? Maybe, but I think not. First, three Americans were killed in Syria in an ISIS terrorist attack. The three included an interpreter and two Iowa National Guardsman. Next, Brown University experienced...[More]
Shortage of rural vets endangering the nation’s food supply - Dec. 17, 2025
America is facing a food system shortage. Livestock veterinarians are the new endangered species. Farmers are losing access to the experts they need to keep our food supply safe. More than 500 U.S. counties across 46 states are federally designated veterinary shortage areas. Just 1.3% of registered...[More]
Measles vaccination as a public health investment, not an expense - Dec. 17, 2025
Measles vaccination as a public health investment, not an expense By Joey Mattingly As of this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded more than 1,700 measles cases, the most in three decades. These cases stemmed from 45 reported outbreaks, a sharp increase from just...[More]
2026 Operation Round Up awardees selected; more than $50,000 to be distributed - Dec. 17, 2025
Nonprofits throughout eastern Kansas that serve community members in need will soon receive a total of more than $50,000 in contributions from Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative members through Heartland’s Operation Round Up program. “It’s always impressive to see what a difference...[More]

