Santa Claus was pictured on the front page, holding five-week-old Deacon Creighton, dressed just like the elder Santa, at the Olde Tyme Christmas on Nov. 24.

An Alton landmark, Hartzler’s Store, burned to the ground Nov. 16, 2006. The cause of the fire had yet to be determined. The Stockton Fire Department was called to assist at around 6 a.m. that morning.

An article about the Poore Farm, written by and published on the Kansas AgriTourism website, was republished and featured in the November 16, 2006 Stockton Sentinel. The farm, owned by BJ and Larry Poore, was originally established in 1905 by R. D. Poore, then passed down to Alvin and Venda Poore, Larry’s parents. In addition to growing wheat, milo and forage sorghum crops on the farm, Larry and BJ have been raising and selling high quality registered Labradors with a proven hunting instinct, and in recent years, they decided to begin making the land available for hunters.

Robert Schamel retained his position on the county commission with 411 votes to Eleanor Buss’ 297 votes. On the state level, Rooks County voted to re-elect the Sebelius/Parkinson ticket for Governor/Lt. Governor over Barnett/Wagle, 1,102 to 934. In the only national race on the ballot, for U.S. House of Representatives, 1st District, Jerry Moran easily carried Rooks County with 1,801 votes over John Doll, 212.

Drs. Craig and Jessica Iwanski, DVM, have announced that Central Veterinary Services large animal facility, located one half mile east of Stockton, was open for business.

Jake Prockish and Alicia Hrabe were crowned 2006 Goblin’s Glory King and Queen. Back by popular demand, the Haunted Barns were making a seventh annual ghostly appearance on Halloween Weekend.

Representatitives of Kansas PRIDE communities gathered in Great Bend Sept. 30, 2006, for the annual PRIDE Day Conference. Annual Award presentations were the highlight of the conference. Stockton PRIDE received a “Star Award” for the work of landscaping Ross-Schafer Park. Harry and Willardene Purum were in attendance to receive the award for Stockton. Jacob Morgan was presented the “Youth Community Service Award” for designing and building the sign for the entrance of Ross-Schafer Park.

Adam North spent some time in July of 2006 as part of a mission trip to Nairobi, Africa with the organization known as New Directions International, based out of North Carolina. Michael McShea, formerly of Stockton, and Coy Brandenberg also participated.

TierOne Bank announced September 27, 2006 that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Plainville and Stockton branch offices to Stockton National Bank of Stockton. Under the terms of the agreement, Stockton National Bank purchased all deposits and other assets related to the two branch offices. All loans and investment accounts remained with TierOne Bank.

The West Nile Virus hit close to home as Maxine Dibble of Stockton was diagnosed with it at the end of August when she was taken to the hospital due to her being weak, dehydrated and disoriented. She was tested for stroke but the tests came back negative. Then her son, Bill, requested that a blood test be taken, and those results officially diagnosed the West Nile Virus. Maxine spent the next three weeks in the hospital, being treated mostly for dehydration.