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The wait is officially over. Fall is in the air, the Friday Night Lights are ready to flick on across Kansas, and Week 1 of high school football has arrived. To kick off the 2026 season, I sat down with Pratt High School head football coach Brent Hoelting for the debut episode of this year's Coaches Show. From off-season gains in the weight room to breaking in a brand-new field—and facing an unfamiliar Week 1 opponent—here is everything you need to know heading into Friday’s

08-31/2026 - County Commision Meeting Recap: If you want a real snapshot of how small-town wheels keep turning, you don’t look at statehouse speeches or national headlines—you tune in to a Monday morning county commission meeting. This week in Pratt County, the agenda covered everything that keeps our corner of Kansas running: workers’ comp risk pools, keeping county equipment turning, routine raises for the guys out in the dirt, and our collective battle with August weather.

1. The Foundational Identity: 1896–1924 In the late 19th century, institutional branding served as a primary vehicle for fostering school spirit and establishing rigid internal hierarchies. During this era, school colors were not merely aesthetic choices but functioned as vital tools for organizational structure, demarcating boundaries between student cohorts and creating a shared sense of purpose. The VanHoose Era The formal visual identity of the institution began in 1896 u

Dr. Larry Grogin’s 100 Marathons in 100 Days Stops in Pratt A chance encounter on a morning commute turned into one of the most inspiring conversations on the Eastes Media podcast. After spotting a distinctive support vehicle in Pratt, fielding a call from the Chamber of Commerce, and finding the crew parked right outside Legends Pub & Grille, Cody Eastes sat down with endurance athlete and chiropractor Dr. Larry Grogin on Day 59 of his transcontinental journey: running 100 m

Watch the Full Episode When people hear the word “Olympian,” the conversation often jumps straight to a single moment: Did you win gold?But as high jump legend and Pratt resident Nathan Leeper shared in a recent sit-down on the Eastes Media podcast, focusing only on a single weekend every four years misses the real story—a decorated, six-year career built on relentless work ethic, meticulous preparation, and small-town Kansas roots. Small-Town Foundations in Protection, Kansa

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