The Rooks County Commissioners met with appraiser Heather Poore during their regular weekly meeting on Tuesday, December 21st. Poore asked if the commissioners would consider changing the work policy so that comp time of less than four hours could be carried over to the next year. She also asked for help in getting the word out that if anyone had significant damage to structures after the windstorm on December 15th, that they notify her office so valuations can be adjusted. The deadline for her to send in valuations is January 3rd. Before Poore left the meeting, the commissioners approved the adjustments to a Homestead Disaster application as presented.

After enduring a week that saw a storm the magnitude of which most of us have never seen, it seemed only appropriate that our message this Sunday dealt with the storms of life. Pastor Brian reminded us that the storms of life have been with us throughout history. How do you deal with life’s storms?

Wednesday, December 15, was not a good day for many in Kansas with the high winds which resulted in fires and damage. Heartfelt sympathy to those who lost homes, outbuildings, livestock, and hay. Rain would be such a welcome site or this could keep happening.

The Heartland Community Foundation has established three Disaster Relief Funds to meet the emergency needs in each Ellis, Rooks, and Trego Counties. The Ellis County Disaster Relief Fund, the Rooks County Disaster Relief Fund, and the Trego County Disaster Relief Fund will be able to grant immediate money to nonprofit organizations offering relief services in the impacted areas—following a major emergency, weather event, or other disaster, like the windstorm and wildfires our region experienced on Wednesday last week.

The Stockton Sentinel will be closed for Christmas on Thursday, December 23rd and Friday, December 24th. We will be open Monday, December 27 through Thursday, December 30th but will be closed on Friday, December 31st for the New Year holiday.

The Week 3 drawing winners for adults and youth of the Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce business Drawings are as follows: (Adult Winners) • Lavinia Haines won the $25.00 Webster’s Supermarket gift certificate from Farmers National Bank. • Mike Rogers won a Nova Theatre movie pass.

Rita Sander (after buying her brother a subscription to the Stockton Sentinel): “Randy sent us a thank-you text when he got his first issue. He said I didn’t have to buy it for him, but now he can sit down, put his feet up and relax while reading his hometown paper.”

STOCKTON USD 271 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, Linda Conyac and Daphne Plumer were presented with Certificates of Appreciation for their years of service on the board at the meeting held on Monday, December 13th.

Come in and check us out!!! New books for adults are: • “Driven” by Rebecca Zanetti • “The Vanishing Museum on the Rue Mistral” by M.L. Longworth (Large Print) • “Big Little Spies” by Krista Davis (Large Print) New audio books are: • “Christmas with you” by Nora Roberts • “Deadly Cross” by James Patterson • “True Love Cowboy” by Jennifer Ryan • “Robert Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me” by Ace Atkins • “Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder” by Joanne Fluke • “Billy Summers” by Stephen King • “Not A Happy Family” by Shari Lapena • “Holly and Joy” by Fern Michaels • “Wyoming Winter” by Diana Palmer • “Cheat Day” by Liv Stratman • “Snow Kisses” by Diana Palmer • “Love of a Cowboy” by Jennifer Ryan • “Forgotten Season” by Donald Robertson • “The Most Wonderful Time” by Fern Michaels • “Wishes for Christmas” by Fern Michaels • “The Christmas Star” by Robert Mills • “The Stepsisters” by Susan Mallery • “Draw Straight” by Louis L’Amour • “A Holiday Yarn” by Sally Goldenbaum • “Before She Disappears” by Lisa Gardner • “From the Shadows” by B.J.Daniels • “The Season of Us” by Holly Chamberlin • “Tell No Lies” Allison Brennon • “Jigger Bunts” by Max Brand New books for children New books for children and young adults are: • “I Really Dig Pizza” by Candy James • “All Pets Allowed” by Adele Griffin • “Something Good” by Marcy Campbell • “Bathe the Cat” by Alice McGinty • “Little Witch Hazel” by Phoebe Wahl Your library staff, Chris Sander, Chris Sander, Crystal Dunlap & Beth Hazen.

The Crossroads Quilt Guild quilt this year had a special meaning to Joyce Schmitz, Stockton and Mary Roe, Olathe. The two ladies have been childhood friends since they were less than one year old, living three houses apart while growing up in Salina.