The metal Stockton Tiger signs popped up in the Stockton Main Street concrete planters a few weeks ago and are an attractive addition to the town. But who made them and how did it all come together? Well, the story behind the signs goes back approximately a year ago when a collaborative effort between USD 271 Grade School and the Stockton PRIDE committee was formed called “Partnering with PRIDE.”

The Rooks County Commission met on Tuesday, March 29th with the first order of business being a meeting with appraiser Heather Poore. She showed the commissioner a short video explaining valuations, taxes, mil levy, etc. that she would like to purchase and put on Facebook and the County’s website for the public. Each educational video is approximately three to four minutes long. The commissioners voted for Poore to purchase the first video in the amount of $540.00, and keep track of how many people watch it. Poore said she would put the link and information about the video in the newspapers so the public can access it.

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, was recently awarded a $500 grant from Midwest Energy, Inc. The grant will be used in DSNWK’s Kid-Link program to purchase books for families and children. These special books help the child to learn and grow as they reach developmental milestones. “The support to our Kid-Link program and to children and families in our communities by Midwest Energy is greatly appreciated”, said Jerry Michaud, CEO and President of DSNWK.

Though it’s been 15 years since Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) was first identified in a Kansas lake, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Fisheries Division staff remain committed to fully understanding the effects of this disease on one of Kansas’ most popular sportfish.

WORK IS PROGRESSING at the new location on the Solomon Valley Manor building project. A large portion of the cement foundation was poured last week on Tuesday, March 29th. Several businesses are working on, or have worked on, the project up to this point including TK Construction LLC and B&B Redi Mix of Stockton, Beaver Valley Supply – Boettcher Supply, Inc. of Beloit, M&D Excavating of Hays, and RDH Electric & Construction, Inc. of Hays, who did the underground electrical work.

The local churches have announced their schedule for Holy Week and Easter. Everyone is encouraged to make services a part of their holiday and people are welcome to attend to any of the following: Assembly of God—Good Friday Service: 7:00 p.m.; Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m.

THE CONCRETE PLANTERS on Main Street are now sporting metal Tiger signs, thanks to a collabrative effort between USD No. 271 Grade School and Stockton PRIDE Committee called “Partnering with PRIDE.” The signs were made by Adam Bryant of Lucky’s Speed Shop. More information about this endeavor will appear in next week’s Sentinel.

If you were to take time to list the best things about Stockton, things that Stockton is “doing right,” what comes to your mind? How about opportunities for improvement—what are your concerns? These were just some of the questions that were pondered last Tuesday at the Town Hall meeting, sponsored by Heartland Community Foundation.

Starting this week, Nancy Kisner, PA-C, CEO at the Palco Clinic, will be writing a health column called “Good to Know” for publication in the Stockton Sentinel as space allows. Kisner has placed her column in the Logan Republican for the past four years and writes about all kinds of health issues, remains outside of political discussions and brings a positive spin on public health.

Chuck Comeau and Lisa Hrabe, representing the Redbud Village finance committee, were at the Rooks County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, March 22nd to meet with the commissioners and give them a financial overview of the facility. They also talked about their cash flow objectives, which included working on low census, agency usage and regulatory issues during the past few years. They have contracted with Action Pact Holdings of Kansas City, who helped them with what needed to be addressed over the past two years. As these are being addressed, with a rise in the census and getting the regulatory issues in control over the past few months, they would now like to prepare for the future, which means a new facility. It was noted that to take care of the problems in the present facility, such as plumbing issues and get it up to ADA compliance, etc., would cost almost as much as a new facility. The committee has started looking at grants and finances for such a project, and also commented that this would be a good transition point in making Redbud into a city facility. What the committee would like to propose at this time is $140,000.00 in funding for a feasibility study and site selection for a new facility, and to issue no fund warrants in the amount of $600,000.00. They would like to start immediately on the study and would like to have the no fund warrants in place by June.