STOCKTON TEACHER ERICA DRYDEN reached a milestone this past May when she reached her 25th year in education. The Stockton Grade School staff has a long tradition of honoring their teachers, and they recognized Dryden this week by presenting her with a golden bell and plaque. (Photo courtesy of USD 271)

The Stockton Main Street businesses were treated to some caroling from the SJHS vocal music class and teacher Megan Reiner on Thursday, December 17th. The Stockton Sentinel enjoyed listening to the students’ rendition of “Frosty The Snowman.”

LAST WEEK’S WEATHER: Last Sunday the temperature got close to the 50-degree mark with sunny skies. Monday the highs were in the upper 30s with southeast winds blowing at 21 mph.

Governor Laura Kelly announced December 15 Rooks County has been selected to receive funding as part of the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program (KLBIP). Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the selection as part of the state-local partnership program that is part of the IKE transportation program.

Richelle and Jorge Villalta, Colorado Springs, Colo., are happy to annouce the birth of their 1st child, Mila Vi. (pronounced Mee-Lah) Mila was born November 21st at St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs. She weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. Grandparents are Richard and Annette Paulson, Woodston and Santos and Rosa Villalta, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Great-grandparents are Charles Campbell, Woodston, and Kathleen Campbell, Stockton. Also welcoming Mila home are her two fur-siblings, Pongo and Perdita.

At the Tuesday meeting of the Rooks County Commission held on December 15th, health nurse Lori Eichman gave the commissioners an update on the COVID-19 numbers for the County. At the time of the report there were 23 active cases, nine deaths and 435 total positive cases recorded since the first of March. Eichman stated that the Pfizer vaccine was set to arrive at the Rooks County Health Center later this week, and the health department anticipates receiving the Moderna vaccine sometime next week. The first vaccines will go to healthcare workers, health department employees, pharmacists and nursing home staff and residents.

As the first of the COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Kansas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) continues to support members through the pandemic by covering the cost of COVID-19 treatment and vaccines.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This Bible verse from John is both troubling and yet hopeful. None of us looks forward to trouble in our daily lives. In today’s environment, we might even be questioning how much more we can take. But we are then given the encouragement to “take heart.” In other words, be encouraged because Jesus has overcome the world and our troubles will be shortlived. That is the hope of the Christmas season.

COME IN AND CHECK US OUT!!!! NEW BOOKS FOR ADULTS ARE: • “Dark Tides” by Philippa Gregory (Large Print) • “Piece of My Heart” by Mary Higgins Clark (Large Print) • “The Awakening” by Nora Roberts (Large Print) • “The Secrets of the Bastide Blanche” by M.L Longworth (LargePrint) • “The Sicilian Method” by Andrea Camilleri Your library staff, Chris Sander, Crystal Dunlap, & Beth Hazen.