Some welcome news was received once enrollment figures became official on Wednesday, September 20th. For the first time since the 2020-21 school year, Stockton's USD 271 school enrollment increased by 12 students—from 290 in 202223 to 302 in 2023-24.

It’s time to do your fall cleaning! A city-wide cleanup (city limits only) will be from October 16th through October 20th. Regular trash routes will be picked up as normally scheduled, with additional city trucks following to pick up furniture, tree branches, appliances (Freon must be drained from refrigerators), yard waste, and tires (limit 5 with anything over the five-tire limit will be charged landfill prices).

If you want to exercise your right to vote in the 2023 General Election (Tuesday, November 7th) you must register to vote in Rooks County by Tuesday, October 17th, or you will not be eligible. All registration books for the General Election will close at the end of regular business hours on that day, and will remain closed until Wednesday, November 8th.

It’s time once again to scare up some spooky fun at the Stockton PUMPKIN PATCH, which will pop up in the Stockton City Park located on West Highway 24, on Saturday, October 14th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 15th from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.

Week of October 2 Breakfast Monday—French toast sticks, fruit, juice, milk. Tuesday—Mini bagel, Go-Gurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Following two executive sessions at the regular Rooks County Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 19th, the commissioners appointed county employee Tim Colburn as interim supervisor for the road and bridge, and landfill departments. They also accepted the application from Rich Bouchey as the rock production and dozer operator.

Governor Laura Kelly announced Tuesday, September 19, that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is awarding $10 million from the agency’s Small Town Water and Sewer Infrastructure Assistance (STWSIA) grant program to help 18 small communities improve water and wastewater services.

Two Kansas veterans, Bruce L. Stewart of Wichita and Everett Ross of Arkansas City returned to Wichita on Wednesday, September 20, on the latest Kansas Honor Flight #96. They were among 98 veterans (73 Vietnam vets and five Korean vets) who departed Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita on Monday, September 18, for a two-night, threeday adventure.

The 2023 Stockton High School Homecoming event is featured in this issue of the Sentinel. A special pull-out section is devoted to individual photos of the football, volleyball, cross country, cheer and dance teams, and Homecoming royalty candidates and their sponsors.

Downtown Parade & Pep Rally at 2:30 p.m.; and crowning at 6:30 p.m. It’s Stockton’s Homecoming! The Stockton Tigers will take on the Rawlins County Buffalos in a gridiron matchup this Friday evening at Tiger Stadium.