Taylor Ghumm started her new position at the City of Stockton as assistant clerk on December 18th, filling the vacancy left by Brook Dix. Taylor had worked for the City for about a year and a half in the position Sara Balthazor now oversees when she decided to take some time off to be at home with her young family.

The Heartland Community Foundation, dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals and communities in Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties, is pleased to announce Justine Benoit's appointment to its Advisory Board.

On December 14, 2024, to celebrate the retirement of Master Sergeant Jenny D. Dix from the United States Air Force, Kevin and Patricia (Patty) Klingemann hosted a celebration at their home in Piedmont, South Dakota.

The Rooks County Commissioners approved the 2025 appointments during their weekly meeting held on Tuesday, January 7th. The appointments are as follows ADA Representative, Jake Prockish; Commission Chair, Tim Berland; Community Corrections Officer, Tracy Rudman; Official Depositories, Astra Bank, Farmers National Bank, First State Bank, Solutions North Bank, Mid America Bank, and Municipal Investments Pool of Topeka; Economic Development Representative, Jake Prockish; Emergency Management Director, Adam Bryant; Noxious Weed Director, Michael Klein; Local Emergency Planning, Tracy Rudman; E-Waste Committee, Tim Berland; Solid Waste Committee, Tim Berland; Health Officer, Dr. Daniel Sanchez; Land Surveyors, Jerol DeBoer, James Meis, Darrell Christen, and Christopher Byer; E-Community Finance Review Board, April Brown, Kelli Hansen, Lisa Gilmore, Doug Wiltfong, and Roger Hrabe; Mental Health Alternate, Gary Knight; Mental Health Representative, Dan Kyser; County Mileage Rate, $.60 per mile; Northwest Kansas Juvenile Justice Board, Tracy Rudman and Danielle Muir; Northwest Kansas Planning and Development, Tim Berland; Northwest Kansas Community Corrections, Jake Prockish; Senior Services Board, Tracy Rudman; Work Force One, Jake Prockish; Richland Fire District Board, Ivan Normandin, Tom Benoit, and Kyle Benoit; Rooks County Golf Course Board, Bob Plante, Sam Jackson, David Reed, Brian Berkley, Kayla Hilbrink, Chris Teeter, Justin Prater, Rick Bice, and Jake Prockish; and official newspaper,

At the Stockton City Commission meeting held on January 7th, the first order of business was the Oath of Office given to commissioner Reesa Brown by assistant clerk Taylor Ghumm. Then, after a short discussion, it was decided to have the commissioners retain their offices for another year as follows: Reesa Brown as mayor, Nathan Glendening as vice mayor, and Bob Becker as finance chairman.

May 2nd— Teagann Shamburg and Aidyen Kerr received a I Rating at the PTL Music Contest for their vocal duet. Stockton received a new Main Street sound system. Spencer Hilbrink was to serve out Thelma Berland’s school board term. Evelyn Irene Kee (1927), Robert “Bob” Brungardt (1938), There-an Towns (1936), Lois E. Cooper (1933), and Lawrence Gene “Larry” Desbien (1955) passed away. Eli Atkisson received champion at the Junior B Showmanship at the 2024 Western Regional Junior Angus Show held in Reno, Nevada, on April 12th. Running for the Rooks County Health Center Board of Directors, two open positions were Shelbe Darnell, Dr. Dan Sanchez, Mark Schaukowitch, Marie Tucker, Jeff Van Dyke (incumbent), Jon Voss (incumbent), and Jaci Wise.

At the January 7th Rooks County Commission regular meeting, the first order of business was to approve the 2025 board and committee appointments (The list of appointments is printed elsewhere in this edition). Next, the commissioners met with highway supervisor Eric Biggs. The crews were out working the roads after the weekend snowstorm, and had been out on Sunday afternoon.

THE STOCKTON USD 271 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS were recognized at the home basketball game on Friday, January 10th, by the Stockton Junior High Student Council for School Board Recognition Month. Pictured are (front row, from left) Omree Dibble, Ava McCoy, Grayson Mongeau, Tessa Look, Remy Muir, Corbyn Glendening, Harper Lowry; (back row) Chad Sterling, Jessy Maddy, BJ Hoeting, Michael Carpenter, Spencer Hilbrink, Ginger Riffel, and Andy Muir.

The Stockton merchants are still waiting for the first little Miss or Mister of 2025! They really stepped it up this year with over $500.00 in prizes, which includes many fine gifts of cash, merchandise, and gift certificates for Mommy, Daddy, and baby (babies)! Remember, certain requirements must be met to win the contest and claim the prizes. The baby must be born to a married couple residing in Rooks County whose address is Stockton, Stockton routes, Woodston, or rural route with Phillipsburg address, though the baby does not have to be born within the county.

The Rooks County Conservation District will be holding its 77th annual meeting on Monday, January 27th at 6:30 p.m. at the Plainville Grade School Cafeteria in Plainville.