Headlines

School board to make decision on mask mandate at April meeting

5 years ago By Virgi Laska

A special meeting of the USD No. 271 Board of Education was held on Thursday, March 18th for the purpose of reviewing the COVID-19 health protocols the District passed at the start of the year. Present to answer questions for the board members were Dr. Jennifer Maciaszek and Rooks County Health Nurse Lori Eichman.

FHSU plans a return to in-person classes this fall

5 years ago By News Staff

In an email to students, faculty, and staff sent earlier last week, FHSU President Tisa Mason shared the university’s intention to resume on-campus operations for the fall 2021 semester. In the message, Mason stated, “Based on the positive movement we’ve seen over the past several months, I believe the time is right to share with you our decision to return, fall 2021, to full in-person classes and engaging campus life experiences that bring us together as a complete university community.”

FHSU plans a return to in-person classes this fall

School board accepts resignation from high school principal

5 years ago By News Staff

(The following article is taken in part from the unapproved minutes of the Stockton USD 271 Board of Education special meting held on Monday, March 22nd.) The Stockton USD No. 271 Board of Education accepted the resignation from Gary McCown as the high school principal at the end of the 2020-2021 contract at the special board meeting held on Monday, March 22nd.

Main Street Mishap

5 years ago By News Staff

THE MAIN STREET TRADING POST, a long-standing building on Main Street, took a direct hit by a truck driven by Don McLaughlin, last Tuesday, March 16, just before noon. The building, owned by Main Street Development LLC, was in bad need of repair as the roof and back wall had begun to fall in on its own. Now with extensive damage to the front, the building will likely be need to be demolished. The cause of the accident is unknown. McLaughlin was transported by ambulance to the Rooks County Health Center where he was treated for minor injuries and released later that same day. All things considering, this incident could have been far worse. Additional information will be forthcoming from the accident report when we receive it.

Jobless rates rise across northwest Kansas in January

5 years ago By News Staff

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in January. This was a decrease from 4.7 percent in December and an increase from 3.1 percent in January 2020.

Jobless rates rise across northwest Kansas in January

City establishes temporary electrical rate adjustment ordinance

5 years ago By Virgi Laska

During the regular meeting of the Stockton City Commission held on Tuesday, March 15th, the Stockton City Commission approved an ordinance to establish a six-month temporary rate adjustment on utility bills to assist with the incurred unexpected expenses for electricity used during the month of February during the sub-zero cold front. An additional fee of $0.01 per KWH will be added to all electric customers for the April to October billing cycles. When all of the electric bills from KMEA were sent to the City, as well as noted credits and the cost of the fuel used to keep the diesel engines going during that time period, the cost came to approximately $120,000.00. The City will pay half of the cost, and with the ordinance in place, the other half of the cost will be

Easter Sunday Services

5 years ago By News Staff

A full slate of worship services has been set for Holy Week and Easter at Stockton churches. Everyone is encouraged to make services a part of your holiday and you are welcomed to any of the following. (See Page 7A for more info.)

Sheriff’s Office in process of purchasing a new drug dog

5 years ago By Virgi Laska

At the regular weekly meeting of the Rooks County Commission held on Tuesday, March 16th, Sheriff Gary Knight met with commissioners John Ruder, Greg Balthazor and Tim Berland to in form them that he and deputy Nolan Weiser had traveled to Tulsa, Okla. to check on the Malamute the department is in the process of purchasing. The training of the drug dog will take approximately twenty weeks and it will arrive in Rooks County sometime this fall. The two-and-a-half-year-old K-9 officer will replace the dog the department now has, which will then retire to civilian life.

Stockton USD 271 weekly report dated Friday, March 19th

5 years ago By News Staff

Rooks County continues to see a decrease in new COVID-19 cases throughout the county. This week, the absenteeism rate is at 1.3% above the baseline from 2019-2020. The positive testing rate is at 11.7% this week. Rooks County continues to receive weekly allocations of the COVID-19 vaccine and will follow the Kansas Vaccination Phases. If you are interested in getting on the list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, please call the health department or your primary care physician.

Resurfacing project starting on U.S. 183 in Rooks County

5 years ago By News Staff

The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin resurfacing work on 8.5 miles of U.S. 183 in Rooks County the week of March 22.

The project will consist of a 1-inch mill and 2-inch overlay beginning at S Road and ending at 12th Street in Stockton. Traffic will be directed through the work zone by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours, and minor delays should be expected.

KDOT anticipates work to be completed by the end of April, weather permitting.

APAC Shears of Hutchinson is the primary contractor for the $1.7 million project.