THE STOCKTON FFA GREENHAND TEAM of (from left) Zach Young, Cheyene Carlson, Kymberle LeiVan and Laci Green placed second in their division, with Cheyene Carlson placing 8th individually. THE STOCKTON FFA SENIOR TEAM of (from left) Coryn Hahn, Kaden Kriley, Jolee Sterling and Raven Long placed third in their division, with Kaden Kriley placing 11th individually..

Sunday morning, January 10, 2021, the Woodston United Methodist Church held services. Margaret Welker sang the special, “The Way That He Loves,” accompanied by Joan Balderston on the piano. The Scripture was Mark 1:4-11. Rev. Michelle Byerly’s message was titled, “Baptized With The Holy Spirit.” The Closing Hymn was “Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters.” The Administrative Council will meet in Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, January 12th, at 7 p.m.

The Family of Jimmie (Clark) Carswell of Alton is requesting a Card Shower in honor of her 90th Birthday on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Cards and memories may be sent to her at 751 County 657 Avenue, Alton, KS 67623.

Peggy Bebb: “The last sheriff I remember living in the courthouse was Hallis Hrabe. I used to go there with my mom to sell Tupperware.” Harry Purdum: “It’s been so long since I wrote a check that it may bounce.” Janie Cunningham: “In the article last week about Louis Moyse ‘Moses’ Thyfault and family, my father Gilbert Thyfault was one of the ten children of Joseph and Nelda (Martell) Thyfault.”.

The menus for the week beginning Monday, January 18, are as follows: Monday—Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, bread, mandarin oranges. Tuesday—Chili, five-cup salad, crackers, cinnamon roll. Wednesday—Oven-baked chicken, potato salad, tropical fruit, bread, pudding. Thursday—Hamburger patty with lettuce, onion, and tomato, pea salad, bun, mandarin oranges. Friday—Smokies, baked potato, broccoli, bread, rosey pears.

THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL. #1—GOD MADE IT. The Bible begins with God. "In the beginning, God...." God made everything from nothing. And He made everything GOOD! The Garden was good. The food was good. Adam and Eve were good. God then made a promise. Eat everything you want, "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat." Eat from that tree, and you'll die. Immediately. #2 - ADAM BROKE IT. The Serpent (Satan) lied, saying they would NOT die. Adam and Eve listened to Satan. They sinned and ate the forbidden fruit. They broke God's ONE law. So God kept His promise! He always does. Adam and Eve died spiritually. Immediately. They eventually died physically. They broke the perfection that God had made. Most importantly, they broke their friendship with God that also affected all of their offspring. They tried to fix it, but they couldn't. Fig leaves couldn't cover sin. They were now enemies and couldn't right their wrong or restore their friendship. That's the "Bad News." #3 - JESUS FIXED IT. God alone could fix what man broke. God alone could cover sin and restore man to Himself. So God made another promise. God promised to send a Deliverer who would defeat Satan and make forgiveness of sin and friendship possible. Adam and Eve believed God's promise. They believed the Deliverer's death would satisfy God's anger toward sin and restore their friendship. And so God forgave. Then it happened. On a far-into-the-future day, the Promised Deliverer, the God-man, came. His name was Jesus. Jesus lived the sinless life that sinners cannot. He obeyed His Father perfectly. And He suffered God's wrath toward mankind's sin and died the death that God demanded. Jesus died the death that Adam and Eve and we deserve. But Jesus didn't stay dead. Jesus rose again and conquered death. That's the "Good News!" But it's ONLY "Good News" to those who trust God's Deliverer as did Adam and Eve. Have you?

Uncertainty. Chaos. Turmoil. Isolation. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when describing our environment today. Who could have envisioned even a year ago churches having to move to online services for example? But, if we do our homework, we see that history is full of examples of times of turmoil and chaos.

Washburn University is pleased to announce the students in its fall 2020 graduating class. Nearly 400 students completed their courses for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

A RETIREMENT PARTY was held on Friday, January 8 for Rooks County Register of Deeds Rosalie Sprick who retired after 48 years of service in that office. Pictured are Rosalie and her sister, Sherilyn Sprick, who retired in 2006 after serving as a county employee in the treasurer’s office for 38 years.

SWORN IN to their elected offices on Monday, January 11th were (front row, from left): Rooks County Register of Deeds April Brown, Rooks County Commissioner John Ruder, Rooks County Commissioner Tim Berland; (back row) Rooks County Sheriff Gary Knight, Rooks County Clerk Ruthmary Muir and District Magistrate Judge Doug Bigge. (Not pictured: Rooks County Attorney Danielle Berland.)