After spelling “embrace” correctly, fifth-grade student Golden Potter became the 2023 Stockton Grade School Spelling Bee Champion. Potter entered the competition as the fifth-grade alternate, making it an even bigger win.

The Rooks County Historical Society hosted a Kansas Day Celebration at the Nova Theatre on Sunday, January 29th. The event consisted of a Lincoln presentation by Steve Burns and a PowerPoint talk from SHS alumnus Brian Nelson and his son, Aidan, about their grandfather and greatgrandfather, Jacob Nelson.

Sept. 1— 2022 Rooks County valuations were up over $11 million, mainly due to oil increases. Arthur R. “Art” Armbrister, James Patrick Page, Bethel P. McElroy, Imogene Mae Thornburg, Mildred Minnie (Hermanns) Grauerholz, Elizabeth “Liz” Ann Beckley, Nancy May (Levin) Muir and John Ross Boos passed away. A new powder-painted wrought iron fence was being installed at the Stockton City Park.

At the start of the January 17th meeting of the Rooks County Commission, Chuck Comeau with the Senior Services Board, was present to answer questions after forwarding all the Redbud Village information and feasibility study to the commissioners as requested at their last meeting. The commissioners are still looking through the paperwork, with commissioner Kayla Hilbrink asking when the facility stopped using the nursing agencies. Comeau said they stopped using the agencies this month. Commissioner Tim Berland asked about self-pay, and how it is comparable to Medicaid pay. Hilbrink asked why the City of Plainville couldn’t take over the facility now. Comeau stated the City is still working on the necessary documents. The commissioners would like more time to look at all the information Comeau has provided, and asked that he schedule a time to meet with them at the February 7th regular meeting.

FHSU University Communications— A formal affiliation between Fort Hays State University, North Central Kansas Technical College and Northwest Kansas Technical College was unanimously approved at the Kansas Board of Regents meeting last week. Rural higher education institutions have long been beacons of opportunity and drivers of economic prosperity in Kansas. However, today and in the coming years, the communities in rural Kansas face significant demographic and economic challenges, including declines in the number of college-bound students in rural Kansas, a shrinking rural population and an aging workforce. The economic impact of these demographic changes is, unfortunately, straightforward: a declining workforce means a declining economy.

Rod and Lisa Marcotte are this year’s recipients of the Rooks County Conservation District’s Bankers Soil Conservation Award. Rod’s interest in farming began early on when he began working on his mother, Mary Marcotte’s farm while attending school in Zurich and then Palco High School.

The 2022 Rooks County Windbreak Award winner is Vernon and Diane Strutt of rural Woodston. In 1978, the Strutts moved back to the area to farm and ranch.