The Stockton FFA members attended the Northwest District Speech Contest at Fort Hays State University on Thursday, February 10th. They came away with first place as a team and won many high individual honors. In Division I, four out of the six finalists were from Stockton. They are Ava Dix (first place), Jalia Creighton (third place), Brin Muir (fourth place), and Jaxon Dunlap (fifth place). In Division II, Rachel Dryden placed second and Tegan Bell placed fourth. The Division III, Cappi Hoeting took second place honors. In Division IV, Jolee Sterling placed second and Coryn Hahn placed third. Both of these girls are advancing to the State Competition. Congratulations to all on such a fine showing! Shane Austin is Stockton’s FFA sponsor.

Susan Schneider and Bob Hamilton were in Goodland last Saturday where they visited in the home of their aunt and sister, Judy Helm. Others joining them for the day were C.W. Hamilton of Levant, and Mike and Shawn Jarmin of Goodland. While there, Susan attended the Independence Junior College vs. Northwest Kansas Technical College women’s basketball game. Former Stockton resident Jill Stephens is a member of the Independence team.

The Stockton Public Library Board met on Monday, February 14 for its regular board meeting and released the statistics for the month of January. The statistics are as follows: Patrons Using Library—1,109, Library Materials Checked Out— 637; Adults Utilizing Library—411; Children Utilizing Library—226; Interlibrary Loans Sent— 57; Interlibrary Loans Received—34; Story Time/ Out Reach Programs Served—116 Children and 31 Adults; Passive Programs—1 with a total of 25 Users; Computer Users—78, Newspaper Readers—100; Reference requests—56; Computer Training—2, New Cards— 2; e-book circulation with sunflower e-library—54 and hoopla—56.

(The following article is taken from the unapproved minutes of the January Woodston City Council meeting.) The Council of the City of Woodston met in the Council Chamber at the City Hall on Monday, January 10th at 7:00 p.m. Council Members present were April Yakish, Judy Turnbull and Annette Paulson.

Two students from Rooks County are among the more than 6,400 undergraduate students at the University of Kansas earning honor roll distinction for the fall 2021 semester. They include Jared Casey, Plainville, School of Education & Human Sciences and Madison Karlin, Plainville, School of Architecture & Design.

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to close a 6-mile portion of K-383 in Phillips County on Monday, March 7, weather permitting. The closure will begin two miles east of Long Island near the Prairie Dog Creek bridge and end at the U.S.

Stockton High School graduate Brayden Wallace, a sophomore majoring in Biology, was among those recently named to Fort Hays State University’s Dean’s List..

Caleigh Grace Iwanski of Stockton has been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the fall semester of the 2021- 22 academic year. Iwanski, a junior majoring in animal science and grassland systems, was named to the Dean’s List for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Steven Melton was in Hays Saturday, February 12, to have lunch with siblings. Those making the trip were: Crystal Ramhorst of Roswell, Georgia, Coral and Jon Allen of Amarillo, Texas, Sterling and Sheila Melton of Naper, Nebraska, Rebecca Lowry of Stockton, Janie and George Hieger of Wamego, Muriel and Herb Morgenthaler of Salina, Dan Melton of Walton, Doug Melton and Denise Baumgart of Stockton, Hannah Melton of Hutchinson, and Heather King of Loveland, Colo. Avonne Rubottom was unable to attend.

Come in and check us out!!! New books for adults are: • “Courting Can Be Killer” by Amanda Flower • “City of Shadows” by Victoria Thompson New books for children/ young adults include the following: • “Just Under the Clouds” by Melissa Sarno • “Unplugged” by Gordon Korman • “Torpedoed” by Deborah Heiligman • “Pigture Perfect” by Jenny Goebel • “City Spies” by James Ponti • “City Spies Golden Gate book 2” by James Ponti • “The Land of Forgotten Girls” by Erin Entrada Kelly • “Hello, Universe” by Erin Entrada Kelly • “The Hidden Oracle” by Rick Riordan • “The Dark Prophecy” by Rick Riordan • “The Burning Maze” by Rick Riordan • “The Tyrant’s Tomb” by Rick Riordan • “The Tower of Nero” by Rick Riordan Your library staff, Chris Sander, Chris Sander, Crystal Dunlap & Beth Hazen.