Looking Back
What Was Going On 14 Years Ago
Scheduled to perform at the Nova Theatre on April 8 were two bluegrass groups—Steam Powered Airplane and The Prairie Acre. Uriah Price, formerly of Stockton, was a member of the SPA band.
A general election was to be held April 4th. The three-year term of Earl Richter on the Stockton City Commission was open, and he had filed for re-election. Opposing him on the ballot was newcomer Reesa Brown.
Cheerleaders for the 2006-2007 school year at Stockton High School had been chosen. They were: Shelby Moore, Jordann Wiltfong, Aftan Winters, Taylor Morgan, Phoenix Hobdell, Brenna Schlaegel, Hayley Strutt and Carlee Lindsey, with Brooke Kee to to be the Tiger mascott.
Junior High cheerleaders had also been chosen and would be: Kammi Bennett, Chandler Johnston, Brooke Waller, Haley Dix, Maggie Spires, Richelle Paulson, Kacey Scott, Chrissie Cox and Molly Schleicher.
The high school track season was set to open April 7 at Ellis. Head coach Lonnie Weiser and his assistant Joe Weidenhaft had 21 boys and 6 girls participating.
A submarine, the USS Lagarto, which had been missing for 60 years, had been found in the Southern Gulf of Siam some 200 feet beneath the South China Sea. A young man from Rooks County, Fredrick Lester Auchard of Woodston, brother of Elizabeth McReynolds, was one of the 86 sailors on that sub. The Lagarto disappeared on May 4, 1945, leaving many unanswered questions. Elizabeth’s family received a letter in June, 1945, saying Lester was “missing in action.” The following year, a letter arrived describing him as “presumed dead,” although Elizabeth’s mother continued to describe him as missing. A diving team, following the hints of fisherman telling stories of snagged nets, found the missing submarine. The 1526-ton Legarto, measuring 511 ft. x 27 ft. was found sitting upright on the ocean floor. The divers reported that the torpedo door was open and the torpedo was missing. Rear Admiral James Beebe reported, “This suggests they went down fighting.” The submarine was designated as a restricted war grave and as such cannot be disturbed.
And So They Say — Lila Dunning, Chanute: “It takes two or three sittings for me to go through the Sentinel because I read it cover to cover.”
Showing at the Nova Theatre was the movie “Failure to Launch,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Sara Jessica Parker paired together in a romantic comedy.
A card shower was requested for Nita (Hance) Eaton, celebrating her 100th birthday on April 1, 2006.
Obituaries were published for Edvard Ira Lucky (1934-2006), Leona Martha Beck (1915-2006), Albert O. ‘Bert’ Roy (1937- 2006), Robert A. ‘Bob’ Martin (1932-2006), and Kenneth Paul Wright (1944-2006).
Looking Back 14 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1992 — In a very close race, Lynn Miller was defeated by Cary J. Tucker for a seat on the city commission. Rev. Mick Woods of Elkhart was the new minister at the Stockton United Methodist Church. The 1992 SHS Junior-Senior Prom was held, with the theme being, “Crystal Lagoon.”
56 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1950 — Charles Sutor of Palco received a broken nose and some cuts and scratches as a result of running into an eastbound Union Pacific train at the cross just west of the depot. The front of the car was practically demolished.
What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1908 — The concert by the Hurby Brothers, the quintette of highly talented boys in performance at the Opera House, was a truly delightful affair, every number proving a musical gem. Nothing finer in the instrumental line was ever given here and the large, enthusiastic audience expressed in unbounded terms of admiration its unqualified pleasure at the time and after. If all the entertainments that come to Stockton could be of the high grade of the Hurby Brothers, there never would be any complaint on the score of insufficient patronage. Miss Canfield, the charming reader, delivered a number of recitation gems that were artistically given and rapturously applauded.
