A new era in Rooks County journalism begins with this issue

Welcome to the Sentinel-Times! With this issue, we’re bringing together the Stockton Sentinel and the Plainville Times to create one countywide newspaper focused on all of Rooks County.

Our intent is simple: to cover the news, people, and events that matter in every corner of the county—from Stockton and Plainville, to Palco, Damar, Woodston, Zurich, and Codell.

While the name on the front page may be new, our commitment to local journalism remains the same. We’re proud to serve our readers with a single paper that reflects the shared stories and a strong community spirit of Rooks County.

The decision to merge brings together two long-standing local publications with a shared goal: strengthening local journalism while better serving our readers, advertisers, and communities.

“For more than a decade, we recognized that the county simply wasn’t large enough to sustain two newspapers,” coowner Bart Hamilton explained. “When the Plainville Times became available, we took it as an opportunity. We carefully explored the possibility of bringing the two papers together, believing that if it was the right path, things would fall into place—and they did.”

For advertisers, the merger offers a clear advantage. With just one newspaper serving the entire county, businesses can reach a larger, unified audience without duplicating ads across publications. This streamlined approach allows advertisers to maximize their reach, improve messaging consistency, and achieve greater value from their advertising dollars.

“Having one newspaper allows our advertisers to reach the entire county with a single ad buy,” said co-owner Susan Schneider. “It’s more efficient, more affordable, and ultimately more effective for local businesses.”

Subscribers will also benefit from the merger. Readers can expect broader countywide coverage, combining the news, sports, features, and community happenings from throughout Rooks County into a single, comprehensive publication.

“For our subscribers, this means more countywide news in one place,” said Schneider. “We want readers in every community to see themselves reflected in the pages of the Sentinel Times and to know their stories matter.”

“Our goal has always been to provide strong, trustworthy local journalism,” Hamilton said. “By combining our efforts, we can better cover the stories that matter across all of Rooks County while ensuring the long-term sustainability of a locally owned newspaper.”

To begin with, the Sentinel- Times staff will consist of a small but dedicated team of three—Hamilton, Schneider, and Virgi Laska— making community support more important resented.

“We truly see this as a community effort,” Schneider said. “With a small staff, it’s imperative that we work together with our readers to make the Sentinel-Times as strong and complete as it can be.”

The Sentinel-Times office will remain at 414 Main Street in Stockton. “At this time, we will not have an office in Plainville,” Hamilton stated. “However, we would appreciate hearing from anyone willing to host a dropbox at their business, so residents can conveniently submit payments, advertisements, news items, and more.”

Most importantly, the merger ensures that it is more than ever.

Currently, the Sentinel-Times also features two correspondents who contribute weekly columns covering the Woodston area. “If you’re interested in sharing news from other communities in the county, we encourage you to reach out,” Schneider said.

“We ask our readers for patience as we move through this transition. The pages of this week’s Sentinel-Times will look different from those in the weeks to come. As we connect with more sources, we’ll expand our county- wide news coverage,” the owners said.

“Our goal is to meet as many business owners as possible, so we can build relationships and better understand one another,” added Hamilton and Schneider.

“We are committed to helping promote local businesses in every way we can, and, with their support, we will do everything we can to help them,” they emphasized.

Readers, organizations, schools, and local leaders are encouraged to share news tips, photos, and story ideas to help ensure all communities are repcontinued presence of a strong, local newspaper dedicated to preserving the history, voices, and civic life of Rooks County for years to come.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Sentinel-Times Merger

Q: When does the merger take effect?

A: The merger took effect on December 26, 2025, and debuts with this issue, our first edition of the Sentinel-Times.

Q: What will happen to my current subscription?

A: Existing subscriptions to the Stockton Sentinel and the Plainville Times will continue uninterrupted. Subscribers will automatically begin receiving the Sentinel-Times.

Q: How can I submit news, photos, or announcements?

A: Readers may submit items directly to the Sentinel-Times office by emailing us at sentinel timesnews@gmail.com, calling us at (785) 4256354, or stopping by our office at 414 Main Street in Stockton. Community contributions are encouraged and appreciated.