Sharon, KS

Pratt County 4-H hand pet participants brought their projects to the Pratt Public Library on Monday, July 19 for their part of 2021 Pratt County Fair judging. Six young ladies participated, bringing in two hamsters, a gerbil, cockatiel bird, aquarium fish, and a wily cat named Whiskers for judging and evaluation.

Delta Variant has made an appearance in Pratt and Stafford counties. Pratt County Health Department Director Darcie Van Der Vyver said Monday that COVID-19 positive cases are rising in Pratt County with 18 new cases recorded since July 6. Surrounding counties are also reporting an increase in similar cases. "Right...

Elsie Bennett Jaso passed peacefully, at the age of 84, on July 19, 2021, at her home in Kiowa, Kansas, surrounded by her loved ones. Elsie was born February 14, 1937, to Everett and Ethel Bliss Bennett in Comanche County, Kansas, at their family home. She grew up on the family farm with her three younger siblings, Alice, Ernest, and Wes. Growing up Elsie attended the Antioch Methodist Church in Buttermilk, Kansas. Elsie attended Avilla School, a one-room schoolhouse, until the fifth grade and then began attending school in Coldwater, Kansas. Elsie graduated from Coldwater High School in 1955.

Harold W. Wenzel, 89, of Altamont, Kansas, passed away at 7:11 p.m., Friday, July 23, 2021, at his home. He was born on October 19, 1931, to Oswald Karl and Ida Lina (Conrad) Wenzel in Capron, Oklahoma. He grew up and attended school in the Kiowa, Kansas, and Burlington, Oklahoma, area and graduated from Burlington High School in 1949. Following high school, Harold served as an MP in the United States Army in the Korean War. Two of his three brothers had also served the United States in various wars.

COLORFUL FLOWERS BRIGHTEN WOMEN'S BUILDING – The floral arrangement entries are colorful and fragrant in the women's building at the Barber County Fair.

There are only two licensed foster care homes in Pratt right now and one additional family is in training. Pratt County has, on average, 22 children who need care each year. Those who attended a Q & A session about foster parenting, Monday, July 19 at The Front Porch in Pratt learned it would not take a lot more to improve the situation for local children.

The fundraising meal and auction held in Medicine Lodge for the Freedom Gates Boys Ranch was more than successful. FGBR President Michael Simpson said the evening brought in near $30,000. He estimates 165 people attended the event which Simpson said, "Is the best year ever." "We are so blessed and...