The Excitement Builds: Still Awaiting Rooks County’s First Baby of 2026!

We’ve now reached February, and the anticipation continues in the air as the community eagerly awaits the arrival of the very first baby of 2026!

While our eyes are on the calendar and the phones are close at hand, the Sentinel-Times wants to remind everyone that next year, the contest will expand to include all of Rooks County. Due to the recent merger of the two newspapers at the start of this year, there simply wasn’t enough time to organize a county-wide contest, so for now, we are continuing the tradition as in previous years—watching and waiting for that special little arrival.

This year, to be eligible to win the contest and claim over $500.00 in prizes, participants must meet specific criteria. The baby must be born to a married couple who reside in Rooks County, specifically within Stockton, Stockton routes, Woodston, or a rural route with a Phillipsburg address. However, the baby does not need to be born within Rooks County. The attending physician must verify the birth date and exact time.

Prizes must be claimed within four days of the baby's birthday, and the Sentinel-Times Office in Stockton will provide the winning parents with the necessary credentials to claim their prizes.

Allprizesmustbepicked up within two weeks of the winner's announcement. Grandparents or other relatives are not permitted to collect the prizes on behalf of the winning parents.