Headlines

A special meeting of the Stockton Board of Education was held on Thursday, April 16th. Present were board members Spencer Hilbrink, Andy Muir, Jessy Maddy, Ginger Riffel, and Amanda Atkisson.

Rooks County is welcoming a new era of leadership and optimism with Jeanine McKenna at the helm of its Economic Development office.

Fields that once showed promise across Kansas are now telling a different story as the 2025-26 wheat crop faces drought pressure. After a strong start last fall, producers are now managing a crop under drought, temperature swings, and emerging stressors across the state.

Plainville City Council Tackles Major Community Projects at April Meeting The Plainville City Council convened on Tuesday, April 21st, opening the meeting with the approval of minutes from the April 7th session and authorizing payment of bills totaling $152,667.97.

At the April 21st Stockton City Commission meeting, street supervisor Ray Niblock discussed plans for Pine Street with the commissioners.

The Plainville USD 270 Board of Education met on Monday, April 13th, and started the meeting by approving the Consent Calendar as presented. Next, the Smoky Hill Service Center report was presented, noting that grants are being applied for and that the summer programming has been lined up.

The Stockton City Commission meeting was held on Tuesday, April 7th, with many items listed on the agenda. First was the approval of the Consent Agenda, which included the Solomon Valley Manor gross payroll for $100,879.25, the Solomon Valley Manor warrants for $154,580.

The Kansas 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees announced April 18 that it is actively exploring the potential transition of ownership of Rock Springs Ranch as part of a longterm strategy to strengthen the financial position to support youth development across Kansas.

At the start of the Rooks County Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 14th, the commissioners met with noxious weed supervisor Ray Swaney. He was there to request part-time help for the department, which was granted.

A Kansas Court of Appeals panel, consisting of former Stocktonite Angela (Chesney) Coble, was joined by a judicial district chief judge and heard oral argument on Tuesday, April 14, at Colby Community College. The panel heard oral arguments in two cases in the Frahm Theater, Colby.