TV Personality Dave Watson had traveled to Stockton to take advantage of the turkey hunting in the area. He had met Dwight Schneider at the Safari Club International Show in Reno, Nevada, and the two struck up a friendship, with Watson planning a trip to Stockton when turkey season opened.

Stockton High school teacher Lee Lindsey, who had been diagnosed with throat cancer on October 2nd, 2008, was celebrating being cancer free by giving a $357.00 donation of their Prayer Team t-shirts to the Rooks County Cancer Council and Rooks County Healthcare Foundation.

The 2009-2010 Stockton Strider Dance team had been announced with Amanda Rubottom, Audrey Green, Delilah Griebel, Hannah Lindsey, Sara Saunders, Maggie Spires, Haley Dix, Rebekah Niblock, Molly Schleicher, Richelle Paulson, Mary-Lynn Griebel, and Carlee Lindsey selected.

Three fires during the week kept the Stockton, Plainville, and Woodston Fire Departments on their toes. The first was a controlled burn that got out of control when the USD 271 employees burned off the tall grass at the driving range near the fairgrounds. The second was to rural Woodston to the residence of Jeff Dix when weeds were burning near the house and flames got under the lap siding of the house. The volunteers contained the fire to a small portion of the living room and baseboard. The third fire was at the Tom Bigge farm, where 134 round bales caught fire due to the insane wind hampered the firefighters’ efforts to put out the blaze. No one was injured.

Doug Conn gave two reasons why he decided to return to the workforce after retiring as General Manager/Controller at Wilkens Manufacturing, Inc. The first reason Conn had was that he worked every day of his life, and things he enjoyed doing didn’t fill up his days all the time. The second reason was what the stock market did to his retirement fund. So Doug applied for the position of Stockton assistant city clerk, and he began his duties on March 12th, so he could learn about his role from clerk Sandi Rogers since she planned to retire later in the year.

Mark Billinger began work at Webster State Park in his official position as Natural Resource Officer I. Some of Billinger’s duties included administrating and participating in law enforcement activities in assigned state park areas, enforcing license and permit requirements, detecting violations, and making arrests.

Kori Bigge was back home in the arms of her family, friends, and neighbors in Plainville. She had not been inside her home since September, when she had suffered a debilitating heart attack. She, her husband Doug, and two-year-old daughter Kourtney had been living in Salt Lake City, Utah, where her doctors and caregivers could monitor her 24 hours a day while waiting to get to the top of the transplant list. The plan was to stay in Plainville for a week and then return to Utah. If all went well during this visit Kori could return to Kansas every other month while awaiting her transplant.

Stockton Interim City Manager Keith Schlaegel started in his position on February 12th. He was the Heartland Building Center Manager for many years. His responsibilities included the day-today operations of the City, personnel management, public relations, long and short-term planning, and preparation of the budget and management of the City’s finances. His wife, Mendy (Baughman), was the owner and operator of Prairie Classics.

Caitlin Lingg, daughter of Pat and Sandy Lingg of Stockton, was the Rooks County Spelling Bee Champion, winning the honors after spelling “planetarium” and “narthex” correctly. Caitlin would go on to represent the county at the State Spelling Bee in Great Bend in March.

More than 30 citizens attended the public meeting held February 3 at City Hall to discuss the future direction of the Solomon Valley Manor. The Stockton City Commission was also present. City commissioner Mike Heenan gave a presentation from the information he accumulated on the Solomon Valley Manor, stating this was his pitch, not only to the public but to his fellow commissioners as well, on a plan for the future of the facility.