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After months of discussion between city staff and citizens and business owners, work began to replace Main Street water lines in preparation for next year’s replacement of the brick street. Public schools started late and both Pratt Community College and nearby Barclay College boasted record enrollments.
July
Dr. Alexander Neel joined South Central Kansas Bone and Joint Center in early July. An orthopedic surgeon, he specializes in problems of the shoulder and sports medicine and also performs carpal tunnel surgery and general orthopedics. Physician assistant Brandon Hendrix moved to Pratt with Neel.
The USD 382 Board of Education approved a $1.4 million addition to Southwest Elementary School to accommodate an increased student population when Haskins Elementary closes at the end of the current school year. A pre-engineered metal building will hold classrooms, restrooms and a new multi-purpose area with an adjacent kitchen.
George Chandler, longtime banker and philanthropist, died July 13 at the age of 89. He had earlier sold his interest in First National Bank and had stepped down from active participation in its operation.
The Kansas Department of Transportation began repaving a nine-mile section of K-42 between Sawyer, in southern Pratt County, and Isabel. The $804,758 bid was awarded to Venture Corporation of Great Bend.
The Pratt County Fair was held in late July, bringing dozens of 4-H’ers and open class exhibitors and hundreds of entries to the fairgrounds south of town. Crowds turned out, as always, for the carnival, concerts and demolition derby.
Dr. Eric Clarkson began working with Pratt Family Practice and his wife, Dr. Amy Clarkson, accepted a position as medical director for South Wind Hospice.
August
Voters advanced County Commission incumbent candidate Charles Rinke to the November general election. Scott Younie was second in the Republican race by 16 votes and Eric Nystrom was a distant third. Tom Wenrich was unopposed on the Democratic ticket.
Blue-green algae threatened a number of Kansas lakes, however Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake was not affected by toxins that can cause serious health problems in humans and animals.
Skyline School launched a virtual academy, targeted to home-schooled families in the area. Eight students enrolled.
River Road Country Estates residents met with the Pratt County Commission, expressing dissatisfaction with conditions of the unpaved portion of West River Road, as well as roads within the housing area. An early estimate for paving was $200,000, or about $6,000 for each household in the development. At least 51 percent of residents in the area would have to sign a petition in favor of paving and special assessments on their real estate taxes. Later estimates for an asphalt overlay exceeded $700,000.
After months of discussion between city staff and citizens and business owners, work began to replace Main Street water lines in preparation for next year’s replacement of the brick street. Public schools started late and both Pratt Community College and nearby Barclay College boasted record enrollments.
July
Dr. Alexander Neel joined South Central Kansas Bone and Joint Center in early July. An orthopedic surgeon, he specializes in problems of the shoulder and sports medicine and also performs carpal tunnel surgery and general orthopedics. Physician assistant Brandon Hendrix moved to Pratt with Neel.
The USD 382 Board of Education approved a $1.4 million addition to Southwest Elementary School to accommodate an increased student population when Haskins Elementary closes at the end of the current school year. A pre-engineered metal building will hold classrooms, restrooms and a new multi-purpose area with an adjacent kitchen.
George Chandler, longtime banker and philanthropist, died July 13 at the age of 89. He had earlier sold his interest in First National Bank and had stepped down from active participation in its operation.
The Kansas Department of Transportation began repaving a nine-mile section of K-42 between Sawyer, in southern Pratt County, and Isabel. The $804,758 bid was awarded to Venture Corporation of Great Bend.
The Pratt County Fair was held in late July, bringing dozens of 4-H’ers and open class exhibitors and hundreds of entries to the fairgrounds south of town. Crowds turned out, as always, for the carnival, concerts and demolition derby.
Dr. Eric Clarkson began working with Pratt Family Practice and his wife, Dr. Amy Clarkson, accepted a position as medical director for South Wind Hospice.
August
Voters advanced County Commission incumbent candidate Charles Rinke to the November general election. Scott Younie was second in the Republican race by 16 votes and Eric Nystrom was a distant third. Tom Wenrich was unopposed on the Democratic ticket.
Blue-green algae threatened a number of Kansas lakes, however Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake was not affected by toxins that can cause serious health problems in humans and animals.
Skyline School launched a virtual academy, targeted to home-schooled families in the area. Eight students enrolled.
River Road Country Estates residents met with the Pratt County Commission, expressing dissatisfaction with conditions of the unpaved portion of West River Road, as well as roads within the housing area. An early estimate for paving was $200,000, or about $6,000 for each household in the development. At least 51 percent of residents in the area would have to sign a petition in favor of paving and special assessments on their real estate taxes. Later estimates for an asphalt overlay exceeded $700,000.
The annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life was held Aug. 21 at Zerger Field. Twenty-five teams collected nearly $60,000 for cancer research and programs.
Pratt Community College opened its fall semester with a record enrollment, a headcount of 1,356 students on campus, online and at outreach centers.
Both public school districts started school in September, with students attending fewer days for longer times as a budget-cutting measure.
The USD 382 Board of Education gave approval for a handful of girls from Stafford High School to play basketball with the Greenbacks. The 1A school had too few girls interested to be able to field a team of their own.
More than half a billion eggs were recalled in mid-August because more than 200 people nationwide had become ill from salmonella bacteria. None of the affected eggs were sold in Pratt.
September
Pratt Fest, a project of the Leadership Class of 2010 was held Sept. 4 at Lemon Park, in conjunction with Pratt Pilot Club activities in Sixth Street Park.
Replacement of water lines across Main Street, a first step to repaving in 2011, began in early September. Intersections were closed one at a time to bore new lines under the brick streets. The work required some detours in both foot and vehicle traffic in the business district and consumed a few parking spaces. “Excuse our mess” commercials were placed on Wichita television stations, mostly to test their effectiveness in advance of more substantial consequences to businesses next summer when the entire six-block section of Main will be closed for a time.
Pine wilt, caused by infestation of a particular kind of beetles, claimed nine trees in the Pratt park system. Parks Superintendent Mark Eckhoff explained that trees suffering from pine wilt need to be removed by the first of March and burned, to prevent the disease from spreading and killing more trees. He predicted as many as 30 percent of the more than 400 pine trees in Pratt parks could be affected within 10 years.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks announced the opening of two rental cabins at Kingman State Fishing Lake.
Barclay College increased its total enrollment by 40 percent over last year, with a college record enrollment of 248 students, 195 of them on campus in Haviland.
The Pratt Public Library celebrated its 100th year with a reception on Sept. 14.
Pratt Police Chief Steve Holmes announced his retirement, effective at the beginning of 2011. A 29-year veteran of the department, Holmes has been chief since 2004. Captain Gary Myers is serving as acting chief.
Ascendant Partners, working on behalf of the owners of assets of the shuttered Gateway Ethanol plant, confirmed that there was a potential buyer for the plant. The potential buyer would require several months for analysis, but the process could be completed by the end of the year, according to managing partner Kirk Martin.
