December 2023

Pratt hires new animal control officer

The City of Pratt Police Department has announced the hiring of Cody McCowan as the new Animal Control Officer.McCowan began his duties December 4, and has already been enforcing the city ordinances.McCowan will be answering calls about animal complaints, picking up stray domestic animals, and issuing warnings or citations to the owners for violations.

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New COVID-19 variant spreads as Kansans travel for the holidays

While worldwide health warnings go out about the spread of a new COVID-19 variant, particularly as people travel to and from holiday gatherings, Pratt County Health Department administrator Darcie Van Der Vyver said the impact locally was not being seen in Pratt County.“Unfortunately, there is no accurate way to know the current Covid case count in the community,” Van Der Vyver said.

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ITC Great Plains plants monarch habitat to protect declining pollinators

Medicine Lodge, Kansas – In keeping with a longtime commitment to conservation efforts and good land stewardship, ITCGreat Plains planted 11 acres of pollinator habitat at the Thistle Substation near Medicine Lodge, Kansas on December 12.Pollinators like the monarch butterfly are necessary for more than a third of crop production and have suffered drastic population losses over the past 20 years.

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Pheasants in Pratt create Facebook frenzy

A feeding frenzy of sorts took place on the Pratt Neighbors Helping Neighbors Facebook page last week regarding the appearance of anywhere from 10-20 free-ranging pheasants in city limits of Pratt.Pheasant sighting posts, pheasant jokes and pheasant enthusiasts concerned about their health and welfare had a hay day sharing their concerns on social media.“I may have saved one on School Street when I pulled up in my car to take a picture,” said area resident Patrice Egging.

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