The Stockton Grade School 3rd graders and their teachers, Mrs. McReynolds and Mrs. Kollman, visited Joe Bellerive’s Pumpkin Patch. They each got to choose a pumpkin to take home, thanks to Joe! Pictured with Joe and his daughter, Elaine Maddy, were: Brendan Harrison, Brayden Winters, Tristan Williams, Joel Green, Kian Coffey, Kieran Graf, Dillon Krier, Kyle Hull, Chance Snell, Evan Ruiz, Cassie Jackson, Taren Kuhlmann, Emily Conyac, Caity Merritt, Hannah Reichard, Crystal Bliss, Allison Morgan, Hannah Wildeman and D. J. Wise.

The Stockton High School Theater Department was presenting, “Is There A Doctor In The House?” on November 9 and 10, 2007 in the high school gymnasium. The play was a new kind of classic cowboy-country comedy with a wide variety of zany Western characters, which included: Marcus Moll, Chelsey Kriley, MaryLynn Griebel, Madison Reed, Macee Kellner, Lyndsey Gilmore, Josh Barnedt, Nathan Palmer, Ty Winters, Alex Henry, Jonathan Reed, Jordann Wiltfong, Brenna Schlaegel, Katy Carsten, Caleb Kriley, Sage Penner, Conrad Griebel, Jonathan Bellerive, Carlee Lindsey, Kyle Weiser, Billie Chesney, Stephen Bellerive, Jana Conger, Emily Barnett, Hayley Strutt, and Stephen Moll.

It was almost perfect—almost. The evening was a cool, crisp one with no wind; the stands were filled with enthusiastic fans on both sides; and the Tigers were taking on their county foe, the Plainville Cardinals, in the Tigers’ final 11-man game, at least for the next two years. The game was hard-fought, with Plainville hoping for a chance to advance to bi-district play, and the Tigers playing for pride and the opportunity to win their final game before switching to 8-man the following season. Although Stockton struck first and led 7-0 at halftime, it was the Cardinals that prevailed in the end, scoring 14 unanswered points in the second half to claim the 14-7 victory, flawing the “perfect” night for the Tigers.

Ground was broken October 20, 2007 in Plainville for the new Redbud Estates Assisted Living complex. The ceremony was attended by many county, city, state and even federal elected officials, including hometown boy, U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran.

Redbud Village invited the public to attend the ground breaking ceremony of the new assisted living, Redbud Estates, on October 20, 2007. The ceremony was to be held behind the southwest corner of the nursing home.

As classical music played softly in the background, Linda Cross welcomed customers and friends into the old world feel of her new business, Main Street Gallery, located at 412 Main in Stockton. Linda and her husband, Randy, live in Tucson, Arizona and commute back and forth to Linda’s hometown of Stockton. With an array of art work including American Indian items, brass, bronze, pottery, blown glass, jewelry, beaded serving pieces made by Cross, imports, textiles, china and crystal, Linda states that she has something for everyone’s tastes and pocketbooks. She was particularly excited about showcasing local artisans and felt it would be a great tourist draw for the area.

The City of Stockton received a pleasant surprise—a $120,000 unsolicited grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, “to be used exclusively for public purposes in Stockton in whatever manner and for such purposes as your governing body determines advisable.”

Crowned SHS Homecoming King and Queen before the Tiger football game on Friday, Sept. 21, were seniors J D Baughman and Katy Carsten. J D is the son of Dave and Lorraine Baughman, and Katy is the daughter of Deb Carsten and the late Terry Carsten.

At the regular monthly meeting on Sept. 10, 2007 of the Stockton USD 271 Board of Education, after a lengthy discussion, a motion was made, seconded and voted upon favorably to go to 8-man football, beginning with the 2008 season. Tiger Homecoming

The Solomon Valley Antique Engine & Machinery Association, Inc. was proud to announce its 30th annual Antique Machinery Show, set for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16, 2007. For the first time in many years, the event was to take place back at the Rooks County Fairgrounds in Stockton, where it originally began 30 years ago.