News

Each month I want to provide you with regular updates about what’s going on in our nation’s capital and throughout the 4th District of Kansas. Here’s what happened in June.

HUTCHINSON – Twenty-three new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on July 1 at a ceremony held in the KLETC Integrity Auditorium. Officer Andrew Lee of the Riley County Police Department was the graduating class president.

A nearly $8.8 million resurfacing project will start around July 25 on about 38 miles of K-42 in Pratt, Barber and Kingman counties. The Kansas Department of Transportation project involves a recycle and hot-mix-asphalt overlay on K-42 in those counties.

Every summer we look forward to July fourth because it’s filled with fun things to do, like barbecuing, picnics, games, family gatherings, camping, and fireworks. And of course, for many it’s a paid holiday which is always nice. However, along with the celebrations, there is also a solemn awareness of those who have served and sacrificed for our country so that we can enjoy our freedom. Independence Day focuses on the courage of many Americans who fought against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War and with much blood-shed declared the victory and helped establish this great nation. On July fourth, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, declared the sovereignty of the United States of America as they signed the Declaration of Independence which is recognized as our nations birthday.

There have been three main ways to celebrate the 4th of July around Pratt for several years - 1) go to the Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake for the annual American Legion fireworks show, 2) go to Elm Mills for their semi-private but annual fireworks show, 3) buy your own fireworks and shoot them off when and where permissible. This year the Pratt Merchant Park Farmers Market group added a third option.

We would like to thank the Greensburg City Police Department for sponsoring our meal on Friday, July 1st to celebrate July 4th at the center! It was a fun day as always, and a treat for everyone!! Next Week’s Menu: Monday, July 11: BBQ Chicken Breast, Scalloped Potatoes, Peas & Carrots, Peaches & Pudding, Dinner Roll Tuesday, July 12: Taco Salad, Corn, Peaches, Tortilla Chips Wednesday, July 13: Chicken Sandwich, Green Bean, Apple Slices, Bun Thursday, July 14: Tuna Salad w/crackers, Spinach Salad, Fruit Fling Friday, July 15: Pizza Casserole, Corn, Garlic Bread, Pudding .

Motorists and Kiowa County residents may have noticed an increase of bicycle riders on the busy U.S. Hwy 54/400 near the end of June. Many of those cyclists were part of the Race Across America 2022, which started on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Oceanside, California and end on Chesapeake Bay, an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, in Annapolis, Maryland.

Pratt’s Skaggs Ace Hardware kicked off its “big 100- year party” Friday, July 1, with free giveaways for customers, sales throughout the store and showing off a fresh coat of paint and new store history plaque.