At the regular meeting of the Stockton City Commission, held on Thursday, February 20th, the commissioners met with two property owners who have PODs on their land. Don and Diane Maddy were present and stated they had asked to talk with the commissioners after they received a letter about the City’s POD ordinance. Don Maddy, who lives in a commercial zone, stated that they did come to the City to get approval to place a POD on their land. He said they had received city manager Keith Schlaegel’s approval for the placement five years ago, and now they have been notified through a letter from the City that they are not in compliance with the ordinance, which had gone into effect in 2012. He asked what they were supposed to do. Also, Mike Williams stated that he had received approval from the city manager on where he could place his storage container, though he did not receive any paperwork. Neither of the two parties had received a building permit, though it was noted that PODs don’t need to have a building permit. Williams noted that he is in a residential area and asked if there was a way to mitigate a compromise with the City. Both parties stated that they would not have spent the time and money on the PODS if there was any way down the road that they would not be in compliance. It was asked if their PODS could be grandfathered in.

The annual St. Thomas Mardi Gras! will be held this Sunday, February 23rd.

Sheriff Gary Knight and Emergency Management Director Butch Post were at the Rooks County Commission meeting on Tuesday, February 11th to update the commissioners on the radio tower project. Knight informed the commissioners that the tower will be installed on the Schult tower in Plainville. The City of Plainville will help with a fourth of the cost for the installation. Road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey and Knight will attend the next regular commission meeting to go over the plans and final costs for the project. Knight would like to have it installed by the end of March. Before leaving the meeting, Post also reported on the training he had recently attended in Salina.

In March, mailboxes across the country will bring an opportunity that only comes around once in a decade – the chance to be counted during the U.S. Census.

On Saturday February 8th, Stockton High School students Beatrice Griebel, Ellie Bellerive, Isaac Reed and Cappi Hoeting competed in the KSHSAA Regional Piano Festival held in Malloy Hall on the campus of Fort Hays State University.

Members of the PRIDE committee met during the noon hour at the Chamber Office on Tuesday, February 11th. After President Amber Muir called the meeting to order, she read last month’s minutes, which were approved as presented. Next, a thank you note/email from Ron Gallaway for the Chamber Check he received for taking second place in the Christmas Lighting Contest was read. The Treasurer’s Report was then given with the bank balance being $1,381.52 as of February 11th.

If you’ve lived in Stockton for quite a few years, or your entire life, you may remember the plays directed or sponsored by the Stockton Area Arts Council. Some of

There will be a government surplus commodities distribution in Stockton Friday, January 31st, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., at the Stockton VFW (please enter through the front door at 314