The Rooks County Health Center along with the Rooks County Health Foundation announced the public phase of the “Era of Caring” Capital Campaign for the new hospital at a cocktail reception at Cedar Links Golf & Country Club on April 10, 2007. Campaign chair, co-chairs and honorary chairs of the event were chair Kathy Ramsay; co-chairs Jen and Chris Brull, Phelma Knight and Dan and Karen Sanchez; and honorary chairs Dr. A. M. and the late Nancy Pederson, and Dr. and Mrs. Harold Mauck.

The Easter Bunny visited the Stockton Public Library on April 4th. Kids surrounding the Easter Bunny were Riley Brown, Simon Armbrister, Isaac Reed, Trevor Miller, Devan Eustice, Nolan Buss, Miles Armbrister, Beatrice Griebel, Ellie Bellerive, and Angelo Ruiz.

The April 3 election was in the books, with the sales tax increase defeated; four school board members were selected out of eight on the ballot, with successful races for Mark Lowry, Patrick Lingg, Greg Beougher, and Jeff Nyp; and Wayne Madison and Twila Freeman taking seats on the City Commission.

The upcoming election, on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, was an important one, determining who would fill two empty seats on the Stockton City Commission, four seats on the USD 271 Board of Education, and voting for or against a proposed 1/4-cent sales tax increase for the City, earmarked for expenses at Solomon Valley Manor.

Stockton Cub Scouts Pack 103 held its annual Pinewood Derby on March 18, 2007. Fifteen Cub Scouts competed in the Derby. Winners were: (Tiger Den) 1st place, Aaron Hahn; 2nd place, A. J. Rothenberger; 3rd place, Wes Higdon; (Wolf Den) 1st place, Tristan Williams; 2nd place, Evan Ruiz; (Bear Den) 1st place, Braden Higdon; 2nd place, Quintin Jones; 3rd place, Ethan Hamel; (Webelos Den) 1st place, Tyler Williams; 2nd place, Caleb Eck; 3rd place, Tambour Jamison; (Overall Pack Champion) the first-place winners of each Den then raced against each other for overall pack winner of the day. Aaron Hahn won the honors of “Pack Champ” and received a Pack Champion plaque.

Norton Correctional Facility escapee, Samuel (Sam) Lee Dartez II, was apprehended in Riley County approximately three hours after escaping from Norton Correctional Facility-East Unit, located in Stockton. Saturday evening, March 10, at approximately 7:10 p.m., staff from the Stockton facility verified that Dartez had escaped from custody. Prior to being incarcerated at the facility, Dartez was convicted in Riley County of two counts of criminal damage to property and one count of possession with intent to sell drugs. Dartez was with a group of prisoners who was playing basketball at the high school that evening. A female acquaintance of his had visited him at the correctional facility earlier that day. Dartez walked away from the school, met up with the female and they drove to Riley County. Dartez was scheduled to be released on December 26, 2007.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss turned 50 on March 1, 2007. In honor of that celebration, “celebrities” from around the community of Stockton read the popular book aloud to the pre-school through 4th-grade classes on March 1st and March 2nd, which happens to be Dr. Seuss’s birthday. In 1957, Theodor Seuss Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss) was challenged by his publishing company to write a story that kids wouldn’t be able to put down. He was asked to use only 223 words from a list of 348 words for beginning readers. He ended up using 236 words.

After keeping the Stockton area in suspense for weeks, Jalia Mahjah Creighton finally arrived on Feb. 19, to claim the title of New Year’s Baby 2007. Justin and Fielzah Creighton were parents of a second New Year’s Baby as big sister Jazlynn, almost 3, was the Sentinel’s New Year’s Baby for 2004.

Members of the Stockton Delegation visited Topeka on Jan. 30 and 31, 2007. During this annual visit, Lobbyist and Advisor Jon Small arranged for the delegation to meet with a number of Representatives, Secretaries and other dignitaries at the state capitol over the two-day period. The purpose of the annual trip is to maintain relationships with Kansas governing officials and constantly remind them that the City of Stockton is willing to partner with them for the benefit of Kansas. Those from Stockton who traveled to Topeka were Chris Kollman, Chairman of the Stockton Public Building Commission; Twila Sander, Stockton City Commissioner; Roger Hrabe, Rooks County Economic Development Director; Connie Conyac, Stockton City Manager; Mike Heenan, Stockton City Commissioner; and Kim Thomas, Mayor of Stockton. This delegation was pictured with Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Terry Fator, The Human Jukebox, delighted his audience on Feb. 7 at the Nova Theatre as he impersonated many stars, including Michael Jackson.