Byers, KS

A house fire at Sixth and Ninnescah streets turned up the heat on an already hot afternoon Sunday, June 19 in Pratt. With temperatures soaring near 100 degrees, many firefighters from the City of Pratt Fire Department responded to a call out for the house fire late afternoon on Father’s Day.

At the Greensburg City Council meeting Monday, June 20, property usage was a main topic of discussion. After an opening word of prayer, agenda approval and tourism board appointment (Whitney Kreiger), council members considered an application for carriage house renovation and use. This application was brought forth by Brian Gutzenburger...

PRATT, Kan. – Many beautifully manicured lawns and gardens become victims of a devastating pest every year. This pest is called the bagworm. Bagworms are normally found in shrubs, cedar, pine and spruce trees. Even though most young larvae hatch and emerge during mid- to late-May, it is common to see damage in late-July to early-August. However it is difficult to control bagworms that are that size, “They are much easier to kill while small,” Upham says.

Midway through a busy summer season, members of the Pratt Swim Team are showing drastic improvements, according to head coach Tonja Harrison. Harrison, in her 15th year as head swim team coach, said 58 swimmers have already competed in several meets so far this year. “Overall, I think they’ve done great. I’m super proud of them,” she said.

USD 382 continues to offer free summer lunches to community kids 18 years old and younger, but when school starts in the fall, there will be changes. The waiver from Congress for free lunches has expired and students will be charged for each meal they take beginning in August 2022. Free and Reduced Applications will be available for families in the LMS office the week of July 25.

Pratt High School wrestling leader Tate Thompson quietly won a national award for coaching at the end of May 2022. Along with several other outstanding high school wrestling awards garnered by Greenback associates, Thomson was named the National Girls Wrestling Coach of the Year by the NWCA. “This is an...

The City of Larned is unlike many other cities in the area when it comes to celebrating the 4th of July. Larned allows four days for citizens to discharge fireworks. Within city limits, anyone can light fireworks July 1 - July 4. Larned Police Chief Charles Orth said the number...

From the Fort Larned National Historic Site... Please join us on July 2, 3 & 4 for a weekend July Fourth celebration at the fort. For soldiers and civilians at remote frontier posts celebrating our nation’s birthday was a yearly highlight. Being far from home made the holiday especially poignant.

A solo exhibit by Andi Burnam has opened at the 5.4.7. Arts Center in Greensburg featuring her “Pieces of Home” collection, now available to the public until August 26. Burnam is a paper mosaic artist and illustrator. She collects colored pages of magazines, most of them donated to her by friends, and sorts them into envelopes of like colors. Then she sketches a picture, pulls out the proper colored papers and tears them into tiny pieces, each coated with the proper amount of glue, and formulates them into a mosaic picture, which is then coated with protective epoxy sealant. She loves cows, dogs, cats and other animals so most of her finished pictures are detailed portraits of those subjects.

Positive news came from several sources at the June 20 City of Pratt Commission meeting. During the open agenda portion of the meeting, resident Tom Frazier thanked the commission for work done by city employees on a storage building at the corner of 9th and Hamilton streets. “It’s a big...

A new Adams Brown website is now live at www.adamsbrowncpa.com where website visitors can more easily access information around financial issues impacting businesses and individuals. This accounting firm has a branch location in St. John, Kansas, as well as several other places in the state. Now information is more readily accessible online.

Turon – Curtis Clyde Lofton, 67, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2022 at his home in Turon. He was born on August 13, 1954 in Yakima, Washington to Nina L (Barrett) and William L. Lofton. Curtis married Gladys (Page) Lofton . They were married for years 50 years. They lived in Turon for 13 years after moving from New Mexico. He worked as a paint and Body Service technician. He is survived by his wife, Gladys; sons, Clayton (Heather) Lofton of Turon, Roscoe Lee Lofton of Montrose, Colorado, Clyde Lofton of West Virginia and Lawrence Lofton of Salina; daughters, Susan (Verny) Wood of Turon and Theresa Lofton of Pratt; 16 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.

The Kiowa County Senior Center in Greensburg will host Kansas Quilt Speaker Deborah Divine on Friday, July 1 at 1 p.m. for a special presentation. Divine, who is the President at the Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana, will present Sharing Patterns, Sharing Lives and spend the afternoon highlighting some of the most important and influential works from a variety of artists.

The Board of Education of Unified School District No. 422, State of Kansas, Kiowa County, met for their June 13 meeting at the school district office, 710 S. Main Street in Greensburg. The meeting was called to order by President Ki Gamble at 8:03 p.m. Members present included Ki Gamble,...

Haviland – Samuel Jay Bucher’s love of life didn’t come to an end with his death. Sam went home to the Lord on June 16, 2022, at the age of 79, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living life to the fullest. Son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather were roles he fulfilled with love and laughter. Sam was a true friend and could always bring laughter and a smile to any situation with an unexpected sarcastic comment or observation. He kept us on our toes.

Pratt Public Library – Summer of Animation in the Discovery Zone. No supplies are required, just a creative thought and the drive to do something awesome!. Work on your project any time in the discovery zone!. Prizes awarded for each project!. Don’t miss the DC&F Commodities distribution. June...

Riley Cramer, a Southwest Elementary student from Pratt, Kansas, won second place in Division 1 of the National School Bus Safety Poster Contest last week with her entry that was awarded first in the state of Kansas earlier this spring. In April, Cramer won division 1 of the Kansas School...