News

The University of Kansas School of Medicine has announced the formation of the Kansas Center for Rural Health, which will address health disparities in rural parts of the state. Housed on the Salina campus shared by the KU schools of Medicine and Nursing, the center will advance the missions of the school and the University of Kansas Medical Center: improving lives and communities in Kansas and beyond through innovation in education, research and health care.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and its arrival in Kansas has sparked a public health crisis, not just in bigger cities across the nation, but also in small towns like Pratt. More potent than more well-known opioids such as heroin and morphine, small amounts of the drug can kill, and the death toll is rising.

True North is a foster care group in Kiowa County that is aiming to provide the gold standard in foster care homes for kids. Executive director Brad Lingafelter said he is aiming to be able to provide a place for teenage boys who are a part of the foster care system that are in need of housing. Recently, this program closed a purchase on a home that is going to be a place for these kids to call home.

Jonathan Clayton, Director of Economic Recovery for Kansas, reported to the Haviland City Council on February 16 that a cheese company will be located in Ford County and could impact eastern Kiowa County. With this new endeavor will come workers in need of adequate housing and supporting businesses to provide the goods and services for the neoteric operation.

01/28/2022 Mechalle Wells bonded with court set for later date. 01/28/2022 Colton Farmer was released from Pratt County jail after time served.

The Haviland City Council convened in a special session on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, due to a lack of quorum the previous week. Mayor Stokes called the meeting to order, and council members reviewed the current financials, authorized payment of expenses for the month, and approved the January Meeting Minutes.

Sunflower Senior Center began February with the monthly Monday night supper. The center was set in red, pink and white Valentine theme table decorations. It was a joy to have Megan and Jeff Barney and children join us for our meal. We were delighted to have T.J., Kenyon and Lily play their piano selections following the meal.

The Pratt Regional Airport played host to a federal training operation on Saturday, Feb. 19 as members of the Civil Air Patrol came to town, and found the area quite to their liking.