The message is clear: alcohol ruins lives (or puts them on hold), shatters families, and destroys careers. Alcohol is likely the number one reason for poor-decision making (usually accompanied by an unwillingness to take responsibility for the results of alcohol abuse).

After years of putting together scrapbooks for my sons and for theatre and forensics programs at Pratt Community College and at Pratt High School, I wanted to say “thanks” to the Tribune for the fine job you do in covering local programs. My scrapbooks are full of news clippings, sports articles, theatre and forensics pictures, and highlights of raising two boys and teaching or directing many students through the years.

I just wanted to let you know that you have as fine a sports page as any newspaper in the area.  We have read your sports page for several years as our daughter and son-in-law are Brenda and Scott Richardson, residents of your fine community.

At Eric Nystrom's forum (Thursday), he spoke of the need to pave the roads within three miles of the City of Pratt. He mentioned the "Swisher" addition several times. My questions are: Will the property owners and homeowners adjacent be assessed a Special Road Tax to pay for these roads as the City does for streets? Or will the County as a whole pay for these multi-million dollar roads?

Voters in the 1st Congressional District of Kansas face one of the most important elections in recent history.  For the first time since 1996, Jerry Moran will not be seeking election to this position.  There are a number of candidates seeking the Republican nomination for this position, but there is one that really stands out as the best choice to replace Jerry Moran.

I have been concerned about the closing of Haskins Elementary School.

This last weekend, I was given a flyer that Eric Nystrom has circulated among the voters in his district. It raised a lot of questions.

Recently some of you may have received a letter with information that was NOT correct, from a person running for Pratt County Commissioner.  As the Pratt County Commission we feel that it is our job to explain some facts about the County and the work it does:

On Saturday, June 26, the Numana Harvest for Haiti mission field came to Pratt. You responded to the call.

Last week’s citywide sidewalk sale was a great success thanks to all the shoppers who beat the heat for summer savings from their favorite merchants!

I wasn’t there, but would have liked to have been. And that was at the Numana Food Packaging Event. I have visited with a number of people who were, and each one of them shared what a wonderful experience it was. Words and phrases that were used included “community,” “such a good feeling,” “inclusiveness” over and over.

I would like to thank you for the fireworks (from the Tribune and local fireworks vendor contest). My family had a lot of fun with them.

I wanted to take a moment to publicly commend and thank Pratt Family Practice (PFP) for a service they provide the youth of Pratt and their families. Each year, PFP closes their offices for an afternoon and turns their sole attention to the health and safety of Pratt’s youth by offering sport physicals at a reduced rate. In this one afternoon, their staff may see as many as 100-150 student athletes.

When I was a kid my father taught me to play chess. For those, non-chess players, the object of the game is to trap your opponents King. In my teens when I reached the point that I could occasionally beat my dad, it happened! The ol’ dog figured out a new trick. About mid game he would expose his Queen to a trap or even give her away. She is the most powerful piece on the board. If you lose her outright, you are cooked. When he would do this our eyes would light up like the sun and our heart would skip a beat and we would pounce. Game Over! He would feign disappointment and then in about 3 moves beat us. We were going bonkers chasing his Queen while he set the stage to defeat us. It took us a while to overcome our greed and appreciate the concept of distraction.

To the editor:

We will soon be voting on whether to extend Maple Street. The City of Pratt (you and I) already own the property located East of Parkway Avenue and Maple Street to Highway 61. Since we own this property, we should want to make it as attractive as possible to entice people to buy lots, develop and begin expansion towards the future Highway 54 by-pass.

On May 25 there will be a special election which will allow the city of Pratt to vote on whether we want to see Maple Street expanded.

I have never written a letter to the editor, but felt it was necessary to convey my positive feelings to those that read the Tribune. In my opinion we lost a fabulous sports editor when Melanie McGee stepped down from the position last week to take another job closer to home.

Keith Lippoldt’s blood is tinged with ink, thus his return to the Pratt Tribune as publisher.

On Monday April 19, 2010, a group of about 20 Pratt County Citizens met with the Pratt County Commissioners with the purpose of submitting a proposal regarding PRMC. They included City of Pratt residents plus County residents from each quadrant of the County. Five representatives from PRMC were also present in the audience.

There have been several articles written about repairing for building a new hospital. There have been two people in particular who have been placing articles, Mr. Newby and Mr. Watson. They farm in Pratt County.