A Big Thanks to all who make the Rooks County Free Fair possible! .

From deer collisions to hit-and-runs, the seven accident reports from the Rooks County Sheriff’s Department illustrate the unpredictable nature of road incidents. The first happened on Monday, June 1, at 7:38 a.m.

The Rooks County Commissioners met with register of deeds April Brown, who notified them that the County now has the official website of rookscountyks.gov. Brown is working on setting up separate emails for each department and discussed federal funding for cyber security, and grants.

The most anticipated event of the year in Rooks County is upon us! The Rooks County Free Fair, which runs from Sunday, August 4th, through Saturday, August 10th, is a full week of exciting activities and fun for both young and old. This year’s grandstand events will start with the IMCA Stock Car Races (Dirt Crown Summer Race Series) on Sunday, August 4th, at 6:00 p.m.

As is our custom, the Sentinel will publish on Tuesday, August 6, instead of Wednesday, August 7, during Fair Week, which this year runs from August 4th through August 10th. Postal patrons will get their newspapers a day early, and the paper will hit the newsstands on Tuesday morning.

At the Rooks County Commission meeting on Tuesday, July 16th, Palco Mayor Kyle Karlin, Rooks County EMS Director Megan Niblock, Rooks County EMS Co-Director Adam Comeau, and Rooks County Emergency Management Director Adam Bryant met with the commissioners to talk about ambulance service at Palco. Karlin asked what would be required by Palco to have one of the older ambulances when the two new ambulances arrive within the next year, which was answered by stating the City would need enough manpower and staff for on-call to run a department. Karlin wanted to know how to proceed with staffing, training, and funding. Comeau stated that an EIG grant will cover the cost of the EMT classes, and Niblock explained how the EMS is staffed and how the schedule is made, noting that Rooks County has The commissioners then approved the transfer of $12,000.00 from the ARPA fund to the Rooks County Airport, as discussed at the June 28th meeting for work completed on the runway.

At the July 16th Stockton City Commission meeting, the commissioners approved the interlocal law enforcement contract with the Rooks County Sheriff’s Department based upon the city attorney’s approval.

Raul Batista, who was convicted of Aggravated Escape From Custody, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Rape and Aggravated Battery of a local resident in 1989, will be considered for parole in September 2024. To help make sure his parole is denied, letters may be sent by July 31, 2024 to: Kansas Department of Corrections, Office of Victim Services, 714 SW Jackson, Ste.

The Rooks County Sheriff’s Office held a presentation on Tuesday, July 16th, of its Virtual Reality Training simulator by InVeris Training Solutions, which was procured through grant funding. Sheriff Gary Knight stated, “I want to thank Senator Jerry Moran and his staff for working and answering our questions to help secure the Federal appropriations necessary to fund this $55,000.00 grant project, and Kelly Hansen, who last summer helped us with all the grant paper work.” The department started the grant process in May 2022 and finally received the equipment and training in January 2024.

At the regular monthly meeting of the Stockton Unified School District No. 271 Board of Education held on Monday, July 8th the members approved the board organization and appointments for the 2024-2025 school year as follows: Chad Sterling to serve as president; Michael Carpenter to serve as vice president; Vicki Gianni to serve as deputy clerk; Anita Conger to serve as treasurer; Terry Cikanek to serve as attorney; Annette Look to serve as KPERS representative; Dr. McCollum to serve as food service rep, food service hearing officer, compliance coordinator for federal programs, and Title 9 Coordinator/sexual harassment; building principals and Vicki Gianni to serve as food service free/reduced determining officials; building principals to serve as attendance officers; Michael Carpenter to serve on Smoky Hill Education Service Center Board; Chad Sterling to serve on NCK Special Ed Coop Board; Ginger Riffel and Spencer Hilbrink to serve on District Site Council; BJ Hoeting to serve on KASB Governmental Relations Board; Dr. McCollum to serve as Freedom of Information Officer; Annette Look to serve as Custodian of Records; BJ Hoeting to serve on the technology committee; Dr. McCollum to serve as Section 504 Coordinator/ Title IX Compliance Officer; Andy Muir to serve as Stockton Recreation Commission Board member; Vicki Gianni to serve as Food Service Director, Wellness Policy Contact, Determining Official, Authorized Representative, and Homeless Liaison; Dr. McCollum to serve as Child Nutrition Program Confirming Official and Hearing Official; Vicki Gianni to serve as Wellness Committee representative; Jessy Maddy to serve as Stockton Educational Endowment Association representative; Ginger Riffel to serve on Curriculum Council; Ginger Riffel to serve on Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce Board; and BJ Hoeting and Jessy Maddy to serve on Negotiations Board.