COVID-19 hit Kiowa County hard during the month of October causing numerous quarantines and sick days for people employed at the Kiowa County Courthouse and USD 422 Kiowa County schools. Students and families from the local schools were also affected with stay-at-home orders and continuous health updates.
The food freezers at Kiowa County Senior Center went from almost completely empty to overflowing this week, thanks to some good-hearted donors in the area. "We would like to thank Kevin and Steve Heft and all their helpers who raised the two animals they donated to us at the senior center.
Mayor Aaron Stokes, and city council member Kay Unruh are leaders in Haviland. With the help of the city council as a whole, they are at the forefront, trying their best to work on behalf of the city's residents to maintain city services and utilities adequately, but some residents have complained to city hall about water and sewage bills coming in the mail showing steady increases in monthly charges.
At the October 18 meeting of the Pratt City Commission, the annexation of 1401 Parkview Drive, home of Roger and Patricia Shippy, was again proposed. The owners of the property were present and proposed a gradual increasing of their taxes and they would voluntarily petition to be annexed. They also requested that the 50 feet east of their property be given to them. They have put in a drive in it and have landscaped it. Bruce Pinkall said the city needed to keep the property to have access to sewer and electric lines. Pinkall did agree to begin caring for the property since it benefits the city as well. The proposal to annex the property, which is already surrounded by other properties considered part of city limits, has been tabled until next meeting to allow the Shippys to file it voluntarily.
South Central Community Foundation (SCCF) was excited to award over $38,000 in community, children’s health, teacher’s, and Pratt County Achievement Place grants to the communities of Pratt County this fall.
Breanna Konrade-Massoth celebrated a soft-opening, a grand-opening and ribbon-cutting event and a "Fall At It's Finest" community shopping evening last week at her new store, Turquoise & Tines, in Pratt. It has been a whirlwind month of getting ready and opening her store to the public, but one that met with resounding success.
The Pratt County Drug Endangered Childrens Alliance is hosting an informational meeting about Foster Care Q&A on Tuesday, November 2 at 4:30 p.m. at The Front Porch, located at 115 E. 4th St in Pratt.
Many events occurred October 14th at Sunflower Senior Center. Beginning with sharing of desserts at our “Dessert Tasting” while celebrating birthdays July through October. Following the singing of Happy Birthday, everyone settled down to decorate a Fall or Halloween Pumpkin. The pumpkins were donated by Jill and Mike Osborne.
The three largest public universities in Kansas will require all of their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, citing President Joe Biden's mandate for federal contractors. Kansas State University was the first to announce the COVID-19 vaccine requirement as Provost Charles Taber addressed a virtual town hall for staff Friday morning.
Voters looking for contested races in November 2, 2021 elections won't find many in Pratt County. Position openings match up with candidates running in most school, city and county offices. The city of Iuka may be fielding the most exciting race with 7 candidates for 5 positions, but in most cases, Pratt County ballots will be fairly bland this year.