Lt. Col. Jessica “Jess” (Stewart) Pratt was the recent recipient of the Polaris Award for Connection given to a Guardian in the Space Force who best represents that core Guardian value. She received her reward at the 2024 AFA Warfare Symposium held in Aurora, Colo. on February 12-14.

(Written collaboratively by the Stockton Grade School Fourth-Grade Class; Mrs. Martha Fleck, teacher) The SGS fourth-grade students have been learning about energy sources, including renewable and nonrenewable resources. So, on Friday, February 23, we visited the Stockton Power Plant.

The Rooks County Commission started its weekly meeting on Tuesday, February 27th, with two executive sessions to discuss attorney/client privileges with county attorney Danielle Muir. There was no further discussion when they returned to the open meeting, so they turned their attention to the next item on the agenda: an update from highway supervisor Eric Biggs and Tim Colburn.

The first of two bridge projects along K-9 in Phillips County was expected to begin this week. The Kansas Department of Transportation project will replace the bridge over Wolf Creek, located approximately 3.5 miles east of Logan.

Twenty-three teams from Rooks County schools competed this year on Thursday, February 29, at the annual Rooks County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge at Plainville High School’s Cardinal Gym. The 23 teams were made up of 46 students.

Although Adam Bryant was officially hired as the Rooks County Emergency Management Director on January 8th of this year, he will step into the position on his own when outgoing director Butch Post retires on April 1st.

The Rooks County Commission meeting was held on Tuesday, February 20th, and they first met with the register of deeds, April Brown, who asked about a credit card to use for her office to pay bills, etc. The County has a credit card with multiple accounts for use, but having her own would help keep each department’s accounts separate. Also, with the one card the County does have, only the administrator can call in to ask questions.

District Magistrate Judge Richard Flax of Trego County received the Lee Nusser Award for Outstanding Magistrate Judge of 2023 at the association’s annual meeting. Flax serves in the 23rd Judicial District, which consists of Ellis, Gove, Rooks, and Trego counties.

At the Stockton City Commission meeting held on Tuesday, February 20th, the commissioners reviewed the city code, Ordinance 588, and the state regulations for propane tanks within the city limits. Since there are some slight differences between the two, mainly dealing with the size of the tanks, the commissioners will get legal opinions. City manager Kayla Hilbrink will also attain more information from the League so the commissioners can revise the codes as needed.