* And So They Say: Martha Cramer: “I just don’t see how anyone can bowl a 200 game and then in the next game only bowl a 104.” Vernon Sammons: “I didn’t get a pheasant. I didn’t even look for one and it’s for sure they didn’t look for me.” Gene Miller: “When hunting becomes work, it isn’t fun any more.” Robert Osborn: “Our granddaughter still can’t talk and she is over two months old!”

The Rooks County Commission was set to turn over the first shovels of dirt for the groundbreaking construction of the first new airport in Kansas in more than ten years. The Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Fund funded the $4 million airport through a grant. The grant covered 95 percent of the construction.

On the cover of the August Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines was the “Photo Of The Month,” which showed a picture of LCpl. Brandon Tucker and his working dog, Augie. The photo hit close to home because Augie was purchased from South Fork Kennels LLC in Natoma, where Aaron and Nichol Homburg breed Labradors.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago An independent living complex was to become a reality with Wes Bainter of Bainter Construction of Hoxie to construct a facility in Stockton. Genny Robben-Rahjes, with the help of her family, friends, co-workers, and others in support of building a new medical clinic in Stockton, prepared a buffet-style Italian lunch and raised over $7,000.00 toward the facility.

Sand Creek Mercantile had opened its doors in Stockton. Owner Cheryl Calvin focused on shabby vintage and out-of-the-ordinary items or whatever caught her eye to stock her not-so-ordinary store.

Marc Muller, a Swiss engineer traveling around the world in a unique solar- and wind-powered car, was in Stockton, drawing a lot of attention on Main Street. The Rooks County Commission signed the air space resolution, which provided for regulation and restriction of the height of any objects in the vicinity of the new airport by creating zones and boundaries.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago The SHS Homecoming Queen and King were MaryLynn Griebel and Jon Bellerive. Quinling Li from Zheng Zhou, China, was a foreign exchange student with Doug and Stacy Keas as her host family for the year.

SHS Homecoming King and Queen candidates were Chance Miller, Jon Bellerive, Austin Wieden, Chandler Johnston, Brooke Waller, and Mary-Lynn Griebel. Curt Pfannenstiel, with Heartland Building Center in Hays, Stockton, and Russell, had announced that Michelle Stithem was named manager of the Stockton facility.

Les Lankhorst was to perform at the Nova Theatre as the legendary Frank Sinatra. A grass fire kindled by hot parts in a baler kept the fire crews from Stockton, Woodston, and Plainville busy most of Sunday on 23 Road, about a half mile north of Highway 24.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago Present for the reopening of the Stockton Correctional Facility were Chamber of Commerce President Chris Sander, Michelle Storz, Lisa Gilmore, Lorraine Baughman, Norton Correctional Facility Warden Jay Shelton, Liz Hainke, Connie Maddy, Corrections Manage of the East Unit of the Norton Correctional Facility Wallace Zamboni, Linda McLaughlin, Virginia Bice, Jim Paley, Mark Wilderman, Stockton Police Chief Kelly Post, Stockton Police Officer Tammy Post, Mike Kellner, Vince Williams, Dale Winklepleck, Chris Kollman, Stockton City Manager Keith Schlaegel, Diane Creevan Voss, USD No 271 Superintendent Allaire Homburg, Ginger Kriley, and Dave Steeples. Stacey Keas, who had taught in Plainville and Stockton for over 18 years, had opened the Lil’ Tiger’s Preschool in Stockton.