At the Rooks County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, December 20th, commissioners John Ruder and Tim Berland were informed by clerk Laura Montgomery that the County had a cash flow shortfall of approximately $150,000.00 to $200,000.00, which is needed to cover payroll and other bills for the month of December. Some expected reimbursements were not going to be deposited until next year. After a discussion with the department heads, it was decided by the commissioners to transfer $150,000.00 from the ARPA fund and $20,000.00 from the Ambulance Equipment fund to cover the deficit for the remainder of the year.

The Rooks County Commissioners met in a special session on Wednesday, December 14th for the purpose of transferring funds from ARPA to County General, then to Redbud Village. Those present were chairman John Ruder and commissioners Greg Balthazor (facetime) and Tim Berland.

With no Old Business for the Stockton City Commission to discuss at their weekly meeting on Tuesday, December 20th, they turned their attention to the items listed under New Business. They first met with Rooks County Economic Development Director Roger Hrabe to discuss Industrial Revenue Bonds and other options dealing with Wilkens Manufacturing, Inc.

Stockton’s Pam Wilson makes the seven-mile to and from her rural home south of town many times during the week. Little did she realize when she left for home during her lunch hour on Friday, December 23rd that she would face one of the most devastating scenes of her life when she drove up to her house and saw smoke billowing out of the windows.

The New Year is just arriving, and Stockton merchants are preparing to greet the first baby born in 2023 with many fine gifts. Last year’s Stork Derby winner was Mr.

After competing in several meets during the months of November and December, the Stockton High School’s Scholars Bowl team is now gearing up for the MCL meet to be held in Smith Center on Monday, January 9th.

The Rooks County Courthouse was dedicated at a public ceremony April 20th, 1923. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rooks County Courthouse a rededication ceremony is being planned for April 20, 2023. Prior to the ceremony, articles detailing the history of the Rooks County Courthouse will be published in the Stockton Sentinel and the Plainville Times. The primary sources of information for these articles were extracted from The Stockton News, The Western News, the Rooks County Record and the Plainville Times.

There are days when everything goes as usual, then the unexpected begins and suddenly a normal day has turned into a wonderful day. The Rooks County Historical Society experienced a day that should make the entire county proud.

This issue of the Stockton Sentinel features our twenty-sixth edition of our special holiday sections, “Santa’s ‘Deer Ones.” Our readers look forward to this special feature, containing children’s “Letters to Santa” from grades one through four, Christmas greeting ads from local merchants and sponsors, and all the 142 wonderful pictures which our readers have submitted. Last year’s offering of Santa’s ‘Deer Ones included 139 pictures.