Hello, Friends! This week, I thought I would cover a topic which is changing before our eyes, and that is colorectal cancer (CRC). For decades, we have been telling people to do the same things: colonoscopy for screening after the age of 50.

THE STOCKTON HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS traveled to Colorado during the middle of March for the annual senior trip. The students enjoyed their time together in Colorado Springs where they took in a trampoline park and paintball, as well as went on a haunted Cave of the Winds tour. They stayed at a cabin in Devine, Colorado. When they weren’t out on their adventures, they spent their down time at the cabin and had most of their meals there served up family style. Pictured are (front row, from left): Coryn Hahn, Maddi Moffet, Janae Keller, Kyra Gottfried, Delany Snyder, Michel Smith, Jolee Sterling, Raven Long; (back row) Anthony Ciarallo, Olivia Dix, Briayan Lopez, Rylan Basart, Austin Mitchell, GarryWayne Moore, Camden Iwanski, Kayleigh Cunningham and Cheston Bandt. Sponsors were Bobbi and Justin Basart and Ray and Stephanie Niblock.

(The following is taken from the unapproved March 14th Woodston City Council regular minutes.) The Council of the City of Woodston met in the Council Chamber at the City Hall on Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Council Members present were Bill Dibble, Judy Turnbull, Kate Terry, Thomas Yakish, and Charles O’Neil.

For the third week in a row we have NO active cases reported of COVID-19 in Rooks County, and zero individuals in the hospital due to COVID-19. There will be no message next Friday as it is Good Friday.

Come in and check us out! New books for adults are: • “Blind Tiger” by Sandra Brown • “Murder at the Mena House” by Erica Ruth Neubauer • “Little Bookshop of Murder” by Maggie Blackburn • “The Writer” A San Juan Islands Mystery: Book One by D.W. Ulsterman • “Dark Waters” A San Juan Islands Mystery: Book Two by D.W., Ulsterman • “Murder on Matia” A San Juan Islands Mystery: Book Three by D.W.

The Wonder of the Cross was the title of Larry Lyles’ message this week as our guest preacher at First Christian Church. With the celebration of Easter coming this week, it was appropriate to look at the week leading up to Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

CONTEMPLATION. It's that time of year again. Passion week is, or should be, a time for serious contemplation. Of course, the Biblical Passion Week ended with the barbaric crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the book, "The Case for Christ," the authors state, "The back would be so shredded that part of the spine was sometimes exposed by the deep, deep cuts. The whipping would have gone all the way from the shoulders down to the back, the buttocks, and the back of the legs. It was just terrible." The Greek historian, Eusebius, described flogging - "The sufferer's veins were laid bare and the very muscles, sinews and bowels of the victim were open to exposure." To be honest, it's beyond unpleasant to read about the brutal reality of all that Jesus endured. It's far more pleasant to busy ourselves with the demands of life than to take time to consider the price that was paid to satisfy God's wrath toward our sin. If you weren't aware, Jesus didn't submit to such torment because He had sinned. Rather, God ordained His death as the means to provide forgiveness to sinful humanity. Paul said, "For He (God the Father) made Him (God the Son) who knew no sin to be sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:21). The Apostle John said, Jesus came "to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin" (1 Jn. 3:5). As sad as was the Savior's undeserved torment, all the more sad will be the torment of those who reject Him. John says of those who reject Jesus in the end times - "the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night" (Rev. 14:11). How horrific! So, yes, Jesus' death and resurrection were both essential. No death, no resurrection. Just as essential is faith. No faith, no forgiveness. No forgiveness, no heaven. How hopeless! Sadly, rejectors of Jesus will only see torment. Forever. In contrast, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Contemplate that!

Ever found yourself driving in a Kansas Department of Transportation highway work zone and noticing that others seem oblivious to the reduced posted speed limit? Why do people speed in work zones—despite the life-and-death risks— and even when they can face higher fines? What excuses do they give? We asked four Kansas Highway Patrol troopers scattered across the state, and here’s what they told us: “They’re late to work is the number one excuse I get,” said KHP Lt. Cory Beard, who works in the Kansas City metro area.

THE STOCKTON KAY CLUB recently held their 75th celebration of the organization. A slide show was presented with past club pictures through the years. Music teacher Megan Riener provided harp music. There was also a slideshow of the KAY accomplishments for this school year. Principal Lindsay Cravens gave the welcome and the outgoing officers served refreshments. The 2022-2023 officers were inducted during the event and include Addie Struckhoff, Taigen Kerr, Delanee Bedore, Kaelyn Means, Cappi Hoeting, Claire Plumer, Ava Dix and Max Moffet. Kay Club sponsor is Bobbi Basart.

The Stockton Fire Department was called out on Monday, March 21st, at 2:53 p.m. for mutual aid with the Logan Fire Department. The location was 2 Road, north of Highway 24, to help with a bale fire. The Stockton firemen worked for over four hours at the site with the landowner, Tim Berland, losing the hay bales to the fire.