THE 1997 VALENTINE ROYALTY AND CANDIDATES at Solomon Valley Manor were (from left): Geneva Robinson, Maude Dryden, Queen Lola Prettyman, King Willis Johnston, Lawrence Bice and Amos Hrabe (not pictured).

* And So They Say: Dan Stewart: “That thirty-yearold car we sold on Saturday is more valuable now than when it was new.” Doyle Cook: “Our town basketball team has good players, but it needs more followers.” Roy Nichols: “From now on, I’m only going to watch happy TV shows. I’ve got too many troubles of my own.”

The Stockton Area Arts Council and the Rooks County Historical Society hosted a “Speaking of Kansas” program in honor of Kansas Day at the Nova Theatre on February 1, 2007. Two “attic snoops,” Jonathan Reed and MaryLynn Griebel, were on the stage, which had been transformed into an old attic, rummaging through a trunk they had found and discovering some interesting facts about people from Kansas. Making an appearance during the program were Elam Bartholomew, a farmer, pioneer and world-renowned botanist who lived on Bow Creek (Leo Bird); Peggy Hull, one of the first female war correspondents (Becca Jackson); the sad-faced clown, Emmett Kelly, a native of Sedan (Sally Lowry); Charles Curtis, the first Native American to become vice president of the United States (Roque Garcia); Private John Calvin Rooks, namesake of Rooks County (David Reed); and Martin and Osa Johnson, world-renowned naturalists and photographers (Clint Strutt and Stephanie Lowry). Coordinators for the event were Ruth Phelps and Donna Griebel.

The Stockton Sentinel is always looking for pictures for our “Yesteryear” page. If you have a picture that you’d be willing to share with our readers (preferably at least 20 years old), send it to Stockton Sentinel, P.O. Box 521, Stockton, KS 67669, e-mail it to: stkpaper@ruraltel.net or bring it in to our office and we’ll be sure you get it back.

James Bird Low was born on March 8th, 1861 and departed this life on January 26th, 1923. On January 20 he was feeling in excellent spirits and health and going about his work as usual. In the evening of the same day while about the evening chores he became overexerted wile he and Grace were trying to drive a contrary heifer into the barn. Grace returned to the house leaving him to finish the chores, not knowing anything was wrong with him until he came to the house a short time later utterly exhausted and in great pain. Dr. Nelson of Phillipsburg was called and pronounced the trouble a leakage of the heart, from which he never recovered.

THE 1994 EIGHTH GRADE BASKETBALL TEAM placed fourth in the MCEL Tournament. Pictured are (top row, from left): coach Jimmy Jackson, Joey Casad, Bob Kriley, Jamie Vermillion, Adam Glendening, Jonathan Haines, assistant coach Marcy Kee; (middle row) Damion Dix, Chris Look, Josh Foster, Josh Zamboni, Nathan Roy; (bottom row) Seph Bellerive, Chad LeBarge, Joey Berland and Josh Perez.

* And So They Say: Kenneth Medley: “You think you have got troubles! Well, we are breaking in a new cash register, and it is a mess.” Alan Stewart: “The kind of news I want to read is the kind you won’t print.” Stanley Krysl: “Can a lawyer do anything to make news during income tax time?”

Excavation was underway at the site of the new Rooks County Health Center. Shelby Moore of Stockton, and Colt McCune of Plainville, both injured in a car accident on Jan.

Shortly before noon on Sunday, Mrs. Simpson, living next door, discovered smoke issuing from the roof of the E. F. Vallette residence. The alarm was given and the fire whistle blew at five minutes to 12:00. Mrs. and Mrs. Vallette were at home—the former had been endeavoring to clean the flue of soot so it would draw. Some defect in the chimney passed through the attic and set fire to the roof. The fire department was promptly on the scene and made heroic efforts to put out the blaze with the chemical engine. For a while it looked as though the house was doomed, but finally, when a stream of water was thrown into the attic, the fire was quickly extinguished. Every effort was made to prevent damage by water and the boys succeeded in keeping it from injuring anything on the lower floor. Plastering fell in the upper rooms, but not very great damage was done to the contents. Everything is covered by insurance and all the repairs to the building have been completed. That the loss to the beautiful Vallette home was not far greater is due to the splendid service given by the members of the fire department. In most cases a fire so difficult to handle would have resulted in a complete wreck.

THE FIRST PLACE WINNERS of the 1997 Rooks County Conservation District poster contest were (front row, from left): Butch Hamel, Kinley Kee, Lyndsey Gilmore, Brandon Frederking; (back row) Dusty Karlin, Summer Steeples and Jordyn Wilkens. (Not pictured were Jason Williams and Jessica Benoit.)