Home Lumber in Pratt is much more than just a place to buy building materials. On April 3, 2025, when store manager Andres Venegas introduced his team of employees to a Pratt Area Chamber Coffee Chat crowd he explained that Home Lumber is a place to find kitchen counters and sinks, appliances, flooring, lighting, and even the Easter bunny.
Skyline Thunderbird softball is well underway with the prospects for the rest of the season looking very good. The Thunderbirds basically returned the team that went to state last season and added four additional players, one of which starts in right field. Cooper Wesley was a transfer this year and has been a positive addition to an already stellar line-up for the Birds.
Kansas State University (KSU) junior and Pratt High School graduate Matthew Hook is proudly representing his Pratt baseball roots as a student equipment manager for the KSU baseball team, a team currently ranked 22nd in the nation. Hook played third base for Pratt High’s varsity baseball team and has great memories of his time there while playing for Head Coach Ron Hill.
For the third year in a row, the Washburn WIFI Film Festival selected a St. John short film in the Kansas High School category for top level awards. The project selected, “Beyond the Truth,” was created by the first hour AV Production class at USD 350 St. John and will be screened on April 12 at Washburn Univeristy in Topeka, KS. The online awards show will stream on April 13th at 2 p.m.
I have always been fascinated by trees. They stoically reach towards heaven, growing, changing with the seasons, withstanding storms, housing birds and animals, and when they die, their composition breaks down to enhance the soil and provide nutrients for new life. Trees are powerful symbols used throughout the Bible to represent life, growth, strength, submission, even suffering. And in the end, trees exemplify the whole ashes to ashes, dust to dust theory as they are broken down literally and figuratively, until they become particles of soil-enriching substance that supports new growth that starts the whole circle of life over again.
Opening in June of 2014, The Vernon Filley Art Museum marked it’s 10th anniversary in the Pratt Community this year. The museum was the dream of Mimi Filley, who lived here years ago with her husband, Dr. Vernon Filley, a practicing doctor here in Pratt. Mimi was a lover of art and had an extensive collection of works, most of which is the base of the Filley Art Museum.
Let’s get to gardening! By Chris Himmelwright Master Gardener Tips Pratt County Research and Extension Services Starting Tomatoes Early Who wouldn’t want ripe garden grown tomatoes early in the season?…
Two concerts took place this past weekend in Pratt. Unspoken, a Christian rock worship group filled the Pratt Municipal Building with light, life, and lots of sound; and a classical piano/violin duo filled the Pratt Bible Church with testimonies and soothing favorites. Both concerts took place Saturday, March 29, both were successes according to those who attended.
The Kiowa County Health Department has released a special caution about measles as there has been cases reported in nearby states, as well as in southwest Kansas
Members of the Pratt Wrestling Club made the medal stand in several weight classes at the Kids State Tournament this past week, including Pratt’s own State Champion Raelee Prater, age 8 and under girls.