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
Learn how Julie Lyon revitalizes SC KS communities through land banks & childcare services. Join her efforts for local growth today!
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
Learn about Medicine Lodge's rich Native American heritage & annual powwow. Join the celebration of community traditions today!
Engineering services award flyer for Arrowhead West Inc. and new site location map, with QR code.

Arrowhead West

By Lisa Coss • December 11, 2025
Learn about Arrowhead West's services for individuals with disabilities. Empower lives through community support and skill-building.
Night entrance sign reading “LEMON PARK LIGHTS” framed by glowing holiday decorations

Lemon Park Lights

By Lacey Hykel • December 11, 2025
Join the community at Lemon Park Lights in Pratt, KS, for a magical holiday display. Experience lights, attractions, & family fun this season!
Two people smiling behind a deli counter with food and utensils in a kitchen or café

A HiddenGem in Pratt

By Katie Feldman • November 6, 2025
Visit Beaver Bites Café at Pratt Community College for delicious meals & student training. Join the community at this local favorite!
Two people standing in a white covered driveway beside a brick building.

Impact Pratt

By Lisa Coss • November 6, 2025
Learn about IMPACT Pratt, a group enhancing community charm through service projects. Join us in revitalizing Pratt with art and connection.
National Dog Day showcase collage of 16 dogs with names and award-style labels

National Dog Day

By Lacey Hykel • November 6, 2025
Celebrate the bond with dogs on National Dog Day. Read Bindy's inspiring story and join our photo contest for a chance to be featured!
Two people in sun hats pull a pumpkin-filled wagon down a dirt path through a green field.

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, & Sunflower Fields

By Lacey Hykel • November 6, 2025
Explore family-friendly pumpkin patches & corn mazes in South Central Kansas. Enjoy fall activities and make lasting memories!
Decorated altar with candles, bottles, flowers, and colorful papel picado garland against a framed wall

Dia De Los Muertos

By Camel Co • November 6, 2025
Explore the vibrant Día de los Muertos tradition with ofrendas, marigolds, & sugar skulls. Join Kansas Roots & Roads to celebrate this cultural event.
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 Kimberly DeClue • July 1, 2025
Learn about Regina Goff's vision as Pratt's first female city manager. Explore her priorities for water, streets, & electric generation.
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 Kimberly DeClue • July 1, 2025
Learn how IMPACT Pratt enhances community through projects like murals. Join us in fostering local pride and engagement!
Sunset over a calm river with rocky shore, blue sky, and sun reflecting on the water

Meant to be Remarkable

By Lacey Hykel • July 1, 2025
Explore the significance of Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake. Join us in honoring local stories & events that shape Kansas.
Volunteers in blue shirts planting flowers along a city sidewalk near an intersection

Growing Knowledge and Community

By Kimberly DeClue • July 1, 2025
Join the Pratt County Master Gardeners for training & community gardening events. Get involved 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 Kimberly DeClue • July 1, 2025
Justin Crouch steps in as Pratt's Recreation Director, focusing on youth sports & community programs. Learn more about his vision today!
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.
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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 →