Glenn Braun, chief judge of the 23rd Judicial District for Rooks, Ellis, Trego and Gove counties, was recently recognized with the Distinguished Service Award by the Kansas Bar Association. The award recognizes an individual or continuous long-standing service on behalf of the legal profession or the public.

The Rooks County Commission met on Monday, July 31st, to conduct its weekly business meeting and work on end-ofthe- month vouchers and payroll. The first portion of the meeting started with the reports from the commissioners.

The Central Kansas, Phillips-Rooks, Post Rock, and River Valley Extension Districts will be hosting conferences this August aimed to help farmers and ranchers plan the transition of their farm. According to the 2016 Family Business Survey by the National Bureau of Economic Research Family Business Alliance, 43% of family-owned businesses don’t have a succession plan, yet 75% want the business to continue through family.

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin a resurfacing project on K-258 in Rooks County around Wednesday, Aug. 9.

On Sunday, July 30th, the Stockton Fire Department responded to a fire call at 1:00 p.m. to the Don Lucky residence on Highway 24 and 17 Road, west of Stockton. A semi was on fire, and when the volunteers arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The firefighters worked the scene for an hour and a half with the vehicle/engine, a total loss.

A pair of chip seal projects will be starting in Trego and Russell counties soon. The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin working on K-147 in Trego County starting around Monday, Aug.

The organization of a land bank for the City of Stockton was one of the items on the agenda at the commission meeting held on Tuesday, August 1st. City attorney Joe Gasper was at the meeting to explain to the commissioners the premise of a land bank and the advantages to the City organizing one to help clean up old properties.

The Rooks County Free Fair kicked off a fun week for everyone with two exciting nights of IMCA Racing in the grandstand on Sunday and Monday evenings. So, even with two nights of the Fair behind us, there is still plenty to see, do, and eat for the remainder of the week.

Come support the Rooks County youth at the 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale on Friday, August 11th. The event will be held at the Sutor-Blauer Arena at the Rooks County Fairgrounds. The Buyers’ Hospitality Hour will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the sale to start promptly at 6:00 p.m. Market Lambs, Market Steers, Market Goats and Market Hogs will be sold. If you have any questions, please call Tom Benoit at 785-839-4378 or 785-7373874 (cell).

At a special USD 271 Board of Education meeting held on Monday, July 31st, the school board members voted to hire Danielle Berland as the junior high head volleyball coach with a vote of yes five (Jesse Stithem, Daphne Plumer, Chad Sterling, BJ Hoeting, and Stephanie Niblock) no one (Thelma Berland abstained), and one absent (LeAnn Dix). They also approved the bus driver salaries as discussed.