After approving the April 11th regular minutes at the Rooks County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, April 18th, the commissioners met with road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey. Bouchey had the commissioners sign the annual farm lease for the landfill ground, and then asked them to sign the paperwork with the US Department of the Interior that reads the bridges by the irrigation canals near Woodston are under Rooks County control.

The weather cooperated a little better at the Centennial Celebration of the Rooks County Courthouse on Thursday, April 20th, than it did at the Dedication Ceremonies held 100 years ago. A century ago, a cold north wind, ladened with raindrops, dampened the otherwise prestigious ceremony intended to be held outside, but instead was conducted in the rotunda on the first floor.

Solutions North Bank President/ CEO Dale Winklepleck met with the Rooks County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 11th, to discuss with them the recent property tax valuation increases sent out to the taxpayers by the county appraiser. Winklepleck stated that he was not there representing the bank or himself; however, he was there representing the taxpayer of Rooks County. He further stated that he believed the Rooks County Appraiser had gone rogue and was causing significant damage to Rooks County and the residents with the prodigious increase in valuations.

Girls ensemble and Cheyene Carlson receive I Ratings The Stockton High School music students traveled to Oberlin on Saturday, April 15th, for the Regional Music Contest and received several top ratings. The girls ensemble, who sang “Shenandoah” arranged by Andrew Parr, and Cheyene Carlson (clarinet solo), who played “Tamourin,” arranged by Forrest Buchtel brought I Ratings home.

At the Stockton Unified School District No. 271 Board of Education’s regular meeting on Monday, April 10th, Superintendent Sarah Armstrong informed the members that after meeting with principals Lindsay Cravens and Stacey Green, they recommend that the Board move the eighth grade back to the junior high building. The administrative team had discussed the options and noted that with this change, the high school could open up more elective classes and offer more online courses for the students.

The Kansas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution recently held its 140th Conference in Olathe, Kansas. During the business meeting, Garry Baxter from Beloit, Kansas, was installed by the Vice President General, Charles McLemore from Arkansas, as the Western Kansas State Vice President. Previous to this position, Baxter served as the President of the Fort Hays SAR Chapter.

Road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey was at the Rooks County Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 4th, to present the commissioners with other options for an excavator purchase for the department. Commissioners Kayla Hilbrink and Tim Berland asked about the financing. Hilbrink also asked Bouchey about putting together a yearly equipment purchase plan for the department.

(The following article is taken from the February 28th unapproved minutes of the RCH Board of Directors regular meeting minutes.) President Jeff Van Dyke called the February 28th Rooks County Health Center’s Board of Directors regular meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. The other board members present were Charles Allphin and Brad Plumer.

The Stockton City Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 4th. City clerk/manager Courtney Flower reported that the water heater for the Senior Center had been installed. At the last meeting, the commissioners asked that the Senior Board get more than one local bid before they make a decision. Since the work is already done, the commissioners approved the water heater cost of $2,347.00, without labor, and asked that everyone is aware of the protocol for maintenance work on the Senior Center building going forward.

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin a field survey for a proposed bridge replacement project along U.S. 36 in eastern Phillips County starting the week of April 17.