News

Former St. John student David Dalke, the son of the late, notable and former USD 350 Tiger band director Jake Dalke, has written a book about the building of a band and the healing of a community. This July, Dalke, the son, came to St. John to talk to others about his new book, “Knees Lifted High and Toes Pointed,” and to reminisce about the glory days of marching band performances around the square. Now that it is August, and in St. John students are going back to school, some may be trying out band for the first time while others are carrying on a storied program of top quality performance and instrumentation. It seems a fitting time to take a look a some of Dalke’s own words about school, education, and community in his newly-released book about a small rural school’s band program and the lessons learned by all connected to it.

By John Huxman Freelance reporter Special to the Tribune The Pratt County Public Safety Building is just weeks away from being fully operational on the east side of Pratt. After more than three years of planning, contracting and building, all that is left to do is get the wireless internet up and running.

The Stafford County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, in the Commission Room in the Annex. Chairman Wycoff called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present: Todd Wycoff, Bryce Garner, and Clayton Grimmett.

Special to the News The recent vaccine-related survey at Pawnee Valley Medical Associates (PVMA), Larned, indicated the family-medicine clinic had zero deficiencies, reported Jewel Davis, clinic office manager. The Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) conducted its on-site Vaccines for Children (VFC) survey July 21.

Special to the News South Central Community Foundation (SCCF) is currently accepting grant applications for its annual grant cycle. Grants are available to any nonprofit, school, city, or church located in Barber, Comanche, Kingman, Kiowa, Pratt, Rice, or Stafford County.

By Eric Killough Freelance reporter Special to the Tribune This Friday, August 19 any age children are invited to skate from 5-8 p.m. and teens and young adults only from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m, as part of a skating fundraiser event at the Rolla Rena Skate Center, 823 N.

Al Abbott won the Best of Ford Truck trophy at the 2022 City of Pratt Fire Department Car Show and Swap Meet on Saturday at Sixth Street Park in Pratt, a fun accomplishment to be sure, but that’s not what puts the smile on his face. Abbott, a retired Pratt businessman, is all smiles because he enjoys attending car shows on the weekends. He enjoys sitting under his shade canopy with good friends old and new, and trading car stories. Or in his case, special truck stories, because his go-to vehicle is his light-turquoiseblue ‘67 F100 pickup. It has been since his ride since 1979.

GREAT BEND, KANSAS - The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce has announced a new partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) and Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas (CCEKS) earlier this year. This partnership stitches together 53 local Chambers of Commerce across Kansas to offer an Association Health Plan entitled Chamber Blue of Kansas. Pratt is included in that group.