The regular monthly meeting of the Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday, October 12th at the Stockton VFW. Under New Business, the talk was about the annual Olde Tyme Christmas event with the theme “Rudolph Leads You Home to Shop Local.” The event will be held on Friday, November 26th.

Perhaps over the last six months you are among those who have been faithfully practicing your 10-digit dialing skills. Whether that is the case with you or not, 10-digit dialing officially begins on Sunday, October 24, for all callers in the 785 and 620 area codes in Kansas. This change, which was announced by Governor Laura Kelly back in April of this year, will make it easier for persons in crisis to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

November 13 marks the opening day for Kansas’ regular quail and pheasant seasons, and September 15 marked the opening day of Kansas’ regular greater prairie chicken season—the trifecta that is upland hunting in the Sunflower State. Wingshooters will be pleased to hear that for 2021, the outlook looks promising, as Kansas’ popular upland game bird populations once again appear to be faring well. But with so many opportunities statewide, it may be difficult for hunters to narrow down the best locations to hunt; that’s where the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ (KDWP) 2021 Kansas Upland Bird Forecast comes in handy.

As of Monday, October 18th the Stockton Farmers Union Elevator had taken in 52,000 bushels of corn, 55,000 bushels of soybeans and 124,000 bushels of milo. The Woodston Coop had taken in 68,000 bushels of corn, 96,000 bushels of soybeans and 15,000 bushels of milo.

The four candidates vying for three spots on the USD No. 271 Board of Education in the General Election on November 2 will be featured in next week's Sentinel. Candidates B. J. Hosting, Chad Sterling, Jesse M. Stithem, and Daphne Plumerias have been given a questionnaire containing topics of local interest. Their answers to those questions will be published, as well as some background information. We offer this feature in the interest of assisting you in making betterinformed decisions at the polls.

The Rooks County Clerk’s Office has announced that as of last Wednesday, October 13th, you are now allowed to vote in advance of the November 2nd General Election, by visiting the Rooks County Clerk’s Office, 2nd Floor of the Rooks County Courthouse. The deadline for advance in-person voting is Monday, November 1st.

Effective October 1, 2021, the United States Postal Service (USPS) revised its service standards for certain First-Class mail items resulting in a delivery timeframe of up to five days. This may delay receipt of mail. Please take this change into account when mailing payments and other items. Visit usps.com for more information.

Raul Batista was considered for parole back in September, but the Prisoner Review Board recently denied it. Batista, who was convicted of Aggravated Escape from Custody, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Rape and Aggravated Battery of a local resident back in 1989, will be eligible for parole again on October 1, 2024.

The Rooks County Commissioners started off with their weekly reports at the regular meeting on Tuesday, October 5th. Commissioner Tim Berland stated it had been a quiet week. He had driven some of the roads south of Zurich and stated that fall harvest had begun in his area for corn and soybeans. Commissioner John Ruder said the new administrator at Redbud Village had started full-time at the facility. Ruder had received a call about how nice the Woodston Blacktop is being maintained. He also noted that the graders were out working the roads last week after the rains. Commissioner Greg Balthazor was not present for the meeting.