How do you make math, science, social skills, and writing essays fun? You team up with your classmates and other grades to work on a Project Based Learning (PBL) project involving all these components. Stir in a little imagination and hard work, and you come away learning a lot without even knowing that is the final goal of the assignment!

ONCE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK for the demolition of the Trading Post building was approved, it didn’t take long for the Stockton City employees to quickly take down the structure. The building has been a safety hazard to the community in the past few years. Still, the building will be fondly remembered for serving the town through the decades as Scott Variety, Thompson Variety, Browns Furniture Store, and the Trading Post. (Does anybody remember other businesses housed in the building before 1960?) The employees began the demolition with the City’s equipment last Tuesday, February 28th, using the Rooks County Highway Department’s dump trucks to help haul away the debris. For the present, the area will be backfilled with dirt, but no plans have been made for the space.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.” Brandy and Nellie Grimes and their business Funky Junky’s Thrift/Flea Market hope the “third time is a charm” when their doors officially open in Stockton on Wednesday, March 8th. The business has signed a two-year lease at its former 412 Main Street location.

Rooks County Appraiser Heather Poore was at the February 28th meeting with the commissioners and gave a presentation and a copy of the statutes detailing how values are set. During her Powerpoint presentation, it shows that the majority of residential sales in Rooks are within the state and County. Poore showed where the averages are, noting that the County cannot count word-of-mouth sales. She also indicated that several houses have sold above the norm. Poore stated that she could only count sales that are advertised. Poore wanted to give the information to the commissioners since she will begin working on valuations for this year.

Quite a few items were on the agenda for the Stockton City Commission during their meeting on Tuesday, February 21st. Starting off the session was the approval of the Consent Agenda by the commissioners, which included the Solomon Valley Manor gross payroll of $60,668.28, Solomon Valley Manor warrants of $46,540.80, the City of Stockton warrants of $267,923.79, and the February 7th regular meeting minutes.

Come in and check us out!!! New books for adults are: • “Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover • “November 9” by Colleen Hoover • “Verity” by Colleen Hoover Books for young adults include: • “SLAMMED” by Colleen Hoover • “This Girl” by Colleen Hoover • “Point of Retreat” by Colleen Hoover New books for children are: • “Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls” by ATINUKE • “Yasmin Figures It Out!” by Saadia Faruqi • “Ballet Bruce” by Ryan T. Higgins • “The World’s Longest Sock” by Juliann Law • “Mouse Calls” by Anne Marie Pace Come in and try a new genre.

The Heartland Community Foundation honored four organizations with a Community Impact award for outstanding service to others, commitment to individuals served, leadership within the Heartland community, and exceptional innovation during 2022, all of which contributed to a more positive impact in the area. In addition, organizations received a certificate and gift to treat staff or volunteers.

Sheriff Gary Knight presented bids for new radios to the Rooks County Commissioners at their weekly meeting on Tuesday, February 21st. The commissioners approved the $87,565.62 proposal for purchasing 25 radios and equipment with the money to come out of the ARPA fund. When the new radios arrive, Knight will sell the old models.

Laura King, a 2020 Stockton High School graduate, said, “My parents always told me that I can do anything I want as long as I put my mind to it!” And that is exactly what she is doing—chasing her big dreams as a junior at the Manhattan Christian College in Intercultural Studies. This summer, King has the opportunity to serve on an international mission team to join other students and professors from MCC to travel to Barcelona, Spain.