TOPEKA — A major broadband provider and a coalition of smaller developers is not happy about lack of transparency at the Kansas Department of Commerce in awarding millions of dollars in state and federal funding to upgrade internet service in underserved areas of the state.
Charitable giving that makes a local impact, particularly for rural communities served by The Peoples Bank, is the impetus behind The Heartland Project that began late 2024 and runs through 2025. The Peoples Heartland Foundation, established by The Peoples Bank which has offices in Pratt, Smith, Osborne, Kiowa, Kingman and Barber counties, initiated The Heartland Project which will award $50,000 to approved plans in each county for a total of $300,000, all for the asking this year.
Several members of the Pratt Lions Club received special recognition at their Wednesday, March 5, 2025 meeting, held at noon in the Shrack Meeting Room at Pratt Regional Medical Center. First Vice District Governor Lou Morgan of Stafford attended the meeting, along with his wife Patty, to present awards to Denis Rasmussen, Stacey Canfield, and Keenan Stultz.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Six couples will be honored on March 21 as the 2024 class of Kansas Master Farmers and Master Farm Homemakers in recognition of their leadership in agriculture, environmental stewardship and service to their communities.
Mardi Gras is a celebration usually associated with New Orleans, a pre-Lenten party of sorts. Last weekend the Pratt Municipal Building was packed with people of all ages, Saturday, March 1, for the Vernon Filley Art Museum’s adaptation of a Mardi Gra celebration, with an emphasis on fine art, southern cuisine, and a party atmosphere. The auditorium was totally and beautifully decorated for the occasion which is a fundraiser for the art museum’s future events for community impact.
Pratt High School brought home two state champions from the recent 2025 State Wrestling Tournament in Salina. Taye Wilson won the title at 175 lbs. in 4a boys competition, while Wendy Candia won gold in the girls 130 lbs. division. To top off the exciting weekend, head coaches from both the Pratt girls and boys divisions were named Outstanding Coaches of the Year in Sportsmanship by the Kansas Wrestling Officials Association. Kendall Miller is the coach of the Greenback girls team, and Anthony Brown is the coach of the Greenback boys’ wrestling team
Pratt Livestock is the place to find good, green, home-raised grazing steers by the pot load, or top quality bred cows, or everything from baby calves to fat steers. One just has to have the money to buy them.
Continuum Ag has issued verified Carbon Intensity (CI) Certificates to farmers who completed the first-ever CI Certification audit process. These official Certificates represent low carbon footprint bushels of corn and are available for farmers to sell into participating markets. The intent is that verified low-carbon bushels, and associated CI Certificates, will earn farmers premiums via the emerging 45Z tax credit program or similar private sector markets. This inaugural audit resulted in over 29 million verified CI Certificates representing family farms across the United States.
According to prattrecords.com, the Hot and Cold water towers have gained national attention since being painted in 1956. The smaller tower was built in 1901, the larger tower was added in 1909. In the past year, an effort to revitalize the neglected area has surfaced, and citizen Tammy Coleman has taken on the responsibility of making sure the project gets completed.
An old gym on the campus of USD 382 Pratt has been restored and sports fans plus community members gathered for a grand opening of sorts at the Frog Dome on Friday, February 14 in Pratt. Pratt High School boys and girls basketball teams played, the pep band filled the space, and spectators young and old enjoyed the experience.