Greg Beougher, Sharri Coffey, Nicole Pulec, and Randal Riffel ran for the Stockton school board positions. Harry Purdum, Sandi Rogers, Donald McLaughlin, and Darrell Sammons were running for the two Stockton City Commission positions.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago Present for the groundbreaking of the new Stockton Estates Apartments were county commissioner Ted Lambert, Dr. Raquelle Bainter, Wes Bainter of Bainter Construction, city commissioners Kim Thomas, Wayne Madison, and Don McLaughlin, zoning appeals board chairman Vince Williams, Chamber president Denae Denio- Odle, Virginia Bice (SNB), Linda McLaughlin, county economic development director Roger Hrabe, city clerk Doug Conn, Dave Steeples (SNB), Loren Goodheart, city manager Keith Schlaegel, Anita Conger (SNB), and Diane Keirns (SNB).

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago Celebrating the 99th anniversary of the Girl Scout organization were Junior, Brownie and Daisy Troop members Shayanne Wente, Tierney Kester, Jayden Spresser, Katy Kriley, Toriana Bouchey, Delaney Colburn, Haven Hamilton, Chloe Scott, Annabelle Kester, Olivia Dix, Tatum Hamilton, Madison Moffet, Emil Benavides, Bailee Hemphill, Jazlynn Creighton, Brianna Johnston, Delanee Bedore, Taigen Kerr, Logan Winklepleck, Kaelyn Means, Janae Keller, Jasmine Kester, Jolee Sterling, Shaylee Benoit, Natalie Bolling, Laura King, Brianna Pulec, Kaylee Willey, Ryanne Berwert, Rilee Brown, Kyra Horn, Kianna Hubble, troop leaders Heather Winklepleck, Nancy Sterling, Donna Hamilton, Nicole Pulec, Libby Kester, and Mona Bouchey. Stockton Junior High music student Anna Hahn received an Advanced Performance (AP) for her vocal solo at the MCEL Music Festival.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago Cecelia Beck placed third in the State Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest in the 12-year-old girls category. Three Stockton Tiger seniors, Austin Smith, Jesse Prockish, and Chance Miller, were chosen to play in the first annual Sunflower Shootout All-Star basketball game at Smith Center, with Stockton’s coach Adam North selected as one of the team’s coaches.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago The Pop Simpson Shelter House at the City Park, erected in 1963 by the Stockton VFW in memory of the town’s beloved police chief, Pop Simpson, was getting a muchneeded renovation. The roof was preserved, and the brick fireplace was kept intact.

The Rooks County Spelling Bee Champion was Dene Dryden of Palco, with Cecelia Beck from Stockton as runner-up. Groundwork had begun for the independent living complex, Stockton Estates.

Viola Paulson and Leonard Vohs were the Solomon Valley Manor Valentine’s Day Queen and King. Pam Harmon, RN, had accepted the new director of nursing position at the Rooks County Health Center.

Miss Leigha Marie Balthazor was the Sentinel’s New Year’s Baby winner, born on February 3rd to parents Jamie and Adam Balthazor. The Rooks County Boom MAYB Basketball team was the runner-up at the Minden Optimist Basketball Tournament.

Sparks from cutting torches were the cause of two small grass fires during the week. The first was at the Jack Kollman residence at Woodston when a cutting torch was being used in the garage and sparks ignited the tall grass near it. The Woodston Fire Department quickly had the fire out. The second was at the Tom Bigge residence west of Stockton when sparks from a cutting torch again ignited dry grass. The Stockton Fire Department quickly extinguished the flames.

School was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday of the week and paralyzed many normal operations with a wind chill of -27 and the wind blowing up to 38 mph. Harry and Willardene Purdum were appointed the Rooks County representatives to the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, which encompasses 18 counties.