SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS · STORIES

THE PEOPLE.
THE PLACES. THE STORIES.

Every town in South Central Kansas holds a story worth telling. We go deep — into the kitchens, the fields, the front porches, and the community halls — to bring you the voices that define this region.

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FEATURED INTERVIEW →

Smiling woman indoors beneath hanging crystal decor, in black-and-white.

COMMUNITY LEADER · kingman, KS

JULIE LYON

Julie Lyon Believes Rural Communities Can Thrive — and She's Proving It

"Housing and childcare aren’t just community issues. They’re economic development issues."

If you have a conversation about Economic Development in South Central Kansas, especially regarding land banks and childcare, Julie Lyon’s name comes up in every one of them. 


Julie is a true rural champion, doing what she can to make rural Kansas the best place to live, work and play. 

STORIES THAT CONNECT US →

Every Road Has a Story.

Browse stories about the people, places, and histories that make South Central Kansas unlike anywhere else.

Smiling woman in floral top under a crystal chandelier, in a dimly lit room.

Julie Lyon

By Kimberly DeClue • June 29, 2026
Read Julie’s inspiring Kansas Roots & Roads feature, sharing her story, local connections, meaningful memories, and the experiences that make her journey unique.
A white teepee-like structure on a pink path at sunset, surrounded by trees and a colorful sky.

Where Five Nations Still Gather

By Kimberly DeClue • June 29, 2026
Discover where five Native nations still gather in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, honoring the Peace Treaty legacy through history, tradition, and remembrance.
Engineering services award flyer for Arrowhead West Inc. and new site location map, with QR code.

Arrowhead West

December 11, 2025
Connect with local stories, events, & businesses in Kansas. Join us to explore community highlights & hidden gems!
Night entrance sign reading “LEMON PARK LIGHTS” framed by glowing holiday decorations

Lemon Park Lights

December 11, 2025
Experience the Lemon Park Lights in Pratt, a festive holiday tradition with stunning displays. Join the community celebration today!
Two people smiling behind a deli counter with food and utensils in a kitchen or café

A hidden gem in Pratt

November 6, 2025
Visit Beaver Bites Café at Pratt Community College for tasty meals & community support. Enjoy local dining while aiding student training!
Two people standing in a white covered driveway beside a brick building.

Impact Pratt

November 6, 2025
Learn how IMPACT Pratt enhances local charm through community projects. Join their efforts to beautify Pratt and foster connection.
National Dog Day showcase collage of 16 dogs with names and award-style labels

National Dog Day

November 6, 2025
Celebrate National Dog Day with Bindy's inspiring story. Share your dog photos for our Fall 2025 magazine issue!
Two people in sun hats pull a pumpkin-filled wagon down a dirt path through a green field.

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, & Sunflower Fields

November 6, 2025
Explore fall fun with pumpkin patches, corn mazes, & sunflower fields. Enjoy U-pick experiences at local farms today!
Decorated altar with candles, bottles, flowers, and colorful papel picado garland against a framed wall

Dia De Los Muertos

November 6, 2025
Explore the vibrant Día de los Muertos tradition. Learn about ofrendas, marigolds, and cultural significance. Join the celebration!
Quiet brick street with a small white storefront and an American flag under a cloudy sky.

Leading with Integrity: Regina Goff's Vision for the City of Pratt

By kim • July 1, 2025
Learn about Regina Goff's vision for Pratt, focusing on community leadership & innovative solutions. Join the conversation!
Brick entrance arch marked “Merchants Park” with a hotel building behind it under a cloudy sky

Community-Driven Change: The Story of IMPACT Pratt

By kim • July 1, 2025
Learn how IMPACT Pratt fosters community engagement through projects like an interactive mural. Join the movement for a better Pratt!
Sunset over a calm river with rocky shore, blue sky, and sun reflecting on the water

Meant to be Remarkable

By lacey • July 1, 2025
Reflect on self-discovery at Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake. Embrace nature's beauty & find your purpose today!
Volunteers in blue shirts planting flowers along a city sidewalk near an intersection

Growing Knowledge and Community

By kim • July 1, 2025
Connect with local stories, events, & businesses in Kansas. Join us to explore community highlights & support small towns today!
Batter at home plate under stadium lights, pitcher on mound, ball in midair during a nighttime baseball game

Justin Crouch Steps into Role as Pratt Recreation Director with Vision and Heart

By kim • July 1, 2025
Justin Crouch is the new Recreation Director in Pratt, KS, focused on enhancing youth sports & community programs. Join the 'Sponsor a Kid' initiative!
Farmer in denim overalls and hat standing before grain silos at sunset

Standing Tall in Lyons

AGRICULTURE · By Sarah Hendricks
READ STORY →
Quiet small-town street with brick storefronts, vintage cars, and a partly cloudy sky

Before the Storm: Greensburg in 2006

THEN & NOW · By David Crane
READ STORY →
Hands shaping clay on a spinning pottery wheel in a studio

The Potter of Medicine Lodge

LOCAL LEGENDS · By Tom Wakefield
READ STORY →
Man standing in front of a storefront with a sign reading “Pratt Konsas.”

Open Since 1953: Pratt Hardware

BUSINESSES · By Amy Reiter
READ STORY →
Group sitting on rocking chairs and stools on a porch, chatting in warm daylight with ivy and greenery around.

The Garner Family Reunion

MEMORIES · By Elise Mormann
READ STORY →
Gravel road beside a field of colorful wildflowers at sunrise under a clear sky

The Gravel Road to Zenda

ROAD TRIPS · By Marcus Hill
READ STORY →

VOICES OF SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS →

Meet the People Behind the Stories.

From grain farmers to muralists, small-business owners to tribal historians — we sit down with the people who make this region extraordinary. Watch, listen, and read their stories in full.

Boutique clothing store interior with a wooden counter, hanging lights, shelves, and folded clothes display

MARIA SANTOS

BUSINESS OWNER · PRATT, KS Building community one boutique at a time — Maria's story is about roots, risk, and the revival of downtown Pratt.
WATCH INTERVIEW →
Man seated on a bench in a library, wearing a blue shirt, with bookshelves behind him.

HAROLD BRIGGS

COMMUNITY HISTORIAN · GREENSBURG, KS Harold survived the 2007 tornado and chose to stay. His archive of photographs and memories is the town's living record.
WATCH INTERVIEW →
Person standing in a golden wheat field at sunset, looking toward the horizon

DEAN CALLOWAY

LOCAL FARMER · KINGMAN COUNTY, KS Four generations of wheat farming on the same land. Dean talks about drought, community, and what the plains demand of a person.
WATCH INTERVIEW →

ROSA DEERFIELD

ARTIST · MURALIST · MEDICINE LODGE, KS Rosa's murals tell the history of the plains in vivid color. She talks about art, place, and painting stories that last.
WATCH INTERVIEW →

JAMES REDCLOUD

TRIBAL HISTORIAN · SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS James is dedicated to preserving the oral histories and treaty records of the five nations who called this land home.
WATCH INTERVIEW →

MARIA SANTOS

BUSINESS OWNER · PRATT, KS Building community one boutique at a time — Maria's story is about roots, risk, and the revival of downtown Pratt.
WATCH INTERVIEW →

HAROLD BRIGGS

COMMUNITY HISTORIAN · GREENSBURG, KS Harold survived the 2007 tornado and chose to stay. His archive of photographs and memories is the town's living record.
WATCH INTERVIEW →