At the March 9th Rooks County Commission meeting, the 2021 Rooks County Free Fair Board appointments were approved as follows: Joe Becker, Tom Benoit, Leonard Bristow (second vice president), Anna Luna, Steve Cook, Alan Dix (president), Dean Hrabe (first vice president), Cade Beesley, Jess Iwanski, Doug Keas, Jeff Keller, Dan Kriley, Laura Moffet, Kelly Muir (secretary), Jerry Miller, Dixie Miller, Royce Muir, Ruthmary Muir (treasurer), Jason Ochampaugh, Brian Pelton, David Pieper, Steve Riffel, Shane Roy and Henry Sander.

Former Stockton resident, Allie M. Chesney, a senior at Salina Central High School in Salina, was notified by letter on Friday, February 26th, 2021, that she has been chosen as a 2021 Horatio Alger State Scholar.

Washburn University has announced their 2020-2021 recipients of the WU's Who of Washburn Students award. The WU's Who of Washburn Students is one of the most highly regarded and long-standing honors programs at Washburn University. Recipients of this award are engaged on campus, involved in community service and show leadership initiative.

More than 4,500 birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans and mollusks are considered nongame wildlife in Kansas—species that are not trapped, fished or hunted. Collectively, nongame wildlife make up more than 99 percent of all species in the state. Through tax-deductible donations to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Chickadee Checkoff program, individuals can support these species through nongame wildlife research, habitat enhancement and restoration, educational projects and more.

At the weekly meeting of the Rooks County Commission, Kelly Muir and Anna Luna representing the Rooks County Free Fair Board informed the commissioners that their organization will move forward with the event with the possibility of no carnival on the midway this summer. This is due to the fact that there are no carnivals available to book or they have already committed to other fairs. They are looking at other options and more evening and kids events. They are also checking into the cost of cleaning and sealing some of the limestone structures at the fair grounds, as well as doing minor repairs around the grounds. They then told the commissioners that due to other obligations, Jimmy Dee and the Fabulous Destinations will be performing on Wednesday of the Fair instead of Saturday night. Also at the meeting, they had the commissioners approve the 2021 Rooks County Fair Board, which they approved as presented.

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan has named 223 high school seniors from 59 Northwest Kansas schools as winners in its 46th annual scholarship competition, four of which included seniors from Rooks County.

When government fails, it’s the rare public official who says, “Oops. My fault.” That’s human nature, particularly for officials in the public eye who may have to run for office again.

During the Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce meeting held on Tuesday, March 9th at Pizza Hut, the members present discussed the Peony Festival, which has been set for Saturday, May 29th. The Chamber is looking for volunteers to help with the different events, and it is asked that anyone wanting to help should contact Chamber Director Jayne Prockish. Several of the events are still in the planning stages and include the pancake feed, Peony Poker, the parade and vendor fair.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced Friday, March 12th, $8,903,293 in U.S. Department of Transportation grants for 23 Kansas airports to help with expenses related to COVID-19, one of which includes Rooks County Regional Airport of Stockton.