The Rooks County Commissioners met on Tuesday, June 21 with commissioners Tim Berland and John Ruder present. Commissioners Greg Balthazor was absent from the meeting.

WHO DOESN'T LOVE to find treasures at the Thrift Shop? On June 23, youth learned what it means to inventory your wardrobe and how to make purchases to fit your wardrobe. They also learned what to look for in resale items and then had a blast shopping with their Clover Bucks to purchase items at the Thrift Shop in Stockton. Linda Colburn and Wynn McReynolds opened the Thrift Shop just for this group. Pictured back row, from left: Rachael Brooke, Rooks/Phillips County Extension, Wynn McReynolds, Linda Colburn, and Anna Muir, Rooks/Phillips County Extension. Attendees included Emilee Brown, Raya Kuhlmann, Chloe Kuhlmann and Olivia Luna.

Jean Saum, Lakewood Colo.: “Do give a specia Spirit Award to the Stockton High School Class of 1948 There are 10 of us left and we are planning our 75th class reunion for next year.” Lance Latham, Tulsa, Okla., was here this past weekend to visit his parents, Dee and Sheila Latham, and to also attend the funeral of his former high school classmate, Debbie Wallace. On Sunday, Lance and Sheila, along with Denise Baumgart, took pizza to Solomon Valley Manor and enjoyed lunch with Dee.

The endeavor to bring the life and times of one Hackerott family, who immigrated from Germany to America in 1842, became a reality with the annual Hackerott Heritage Family Reunion. The first weekend in June, twenty-five descendants traveled from across the nation for the 61st annual celebration in Natoma, Kansas. Nestled in Paradise Valley along Paradise Creek, the thriving agricultural community in Osborne County gives a unique sense of place in the historical background of three Hackerott siblings’ perseverance and rugged individualism in taming the prairie during the Kansas Homestead Movement. Traveling by oxen drawn wagon, August Hackerott and his family arrived in Osborne County Kansas in 1872 following statehood. A sister, Lisette (Hackerott) Pfortmiller, her husband John Henry, and children joined them in 1877; a brother Ernest Hackerott and his family in 1878. A Saturday tour guided by Mary Ann and Roger Beisner gave insight through personal stories while experiencing the original sites of homesteads, farms, ranches, and cemeteries. In the late afternoon, the Beisner’s hosted refreshments in their Victorian home built by Edward Hackerott in 1904. Documentation revealed the Hackerott’s dedication and determination to carve out a life on the High Plains undeterred by extreme weather conditions, toil in breaking sod, pestilence, danger, and illness. On Sunday, a social hour gave time to review albums of historical data, photographs, maps, and stories contained in the Hackerott Heritage Book I, II, and III compiled by Mary Ann and Roger Beisner, and their son, Brian Beisner. Information from the past and present continues to add threads to the rich tapestry of their heritage.

In a recent report to the Rooks County Commissioners from the county appraiser’s office personal property valuation went down $94,195.00 or -5.56% from 2021. Real estate, which includes agricultural property, is up $1.98 million or 4%. The value of oil is up $8.4 million or 59% from last year, resulting in a total increase of $10.28 million or 14.7% for the County.

Aubree Dewey and Jordan Finnesy, both of Plainville, and Seth Hachmeister of Natoma, are three of more than 700 students who qualified for the Dean’s List at Washburn University. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled in 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 3.4 to 3.99..

The regular monthly meeting of the Crossroads Quilt Guild was held on Monday, June 20th, 2022 at Stitch and Chatter. We had 19 members attending. Hostesses were Betty Bedore and Elaine Hrabe. Minutes from last month were read and a motion was made by Linda Stamper to approve them. Motion was seconded by Darlinea Dinkel. A Thank yYu note was received for Lynda Falley’s mother’s memorial. The Treasurer’s Report was given by Diane Maddy. A bill for Quilt of Valor was presented by Karen Reed for $58.59. A motion was made to approve the report and bill by Terrii Collins and seconded by Linda Stamper. The Sew Day in Plainville was attended by nine and the Sew Day in Stockton had two in attendance. The next Sew Days are on July 9th in Stockton and on July 13th in Plainville. The Quilt Retreat at Victoria will be Oct 7th, 8th and 9th. Deadline for payment is September 20th. Diane Maddy made a motion to proceed, and Linda Stamper seconded the motion. The Peony Festival made $112.00. Thank you to Linda Stamper for her potted plants. We need to have fair projects for display to Stitch and Chatter by August 4th. The July project is Cozy Bowls. This month’s project piece was won by Lynda Falley. The Door Prize was brought by Betty Bedore, and won by Darlinea Dinkel. Hostesses for the July meeting are Jackie Wright, Kenda Ross, and Stephanie Hart. Next month’s meeting will be held on Monday, July 18th. A motion was made by Terrii Collins to adjourn and seconded by Kenda Ross.—Sent in by secretary Linda Gardner

Kaitlyn Kriley and Mary Smith, both of Stockton, have been named to the President’s List for the spring 2022 semester at Washburn University. To qualify for the President’s List, a student must complete at least 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 4.0.

Terry Odle: “When I moved to Salina in 1968, the county commission, city commission, and school board were made up of all white men. Gradually that has changed to the majority of them now being women, black people and brown people. They are much better commissions today.“