A massive winter ice storm, coupled with high winds, caused a widespread power outage for more than 20,000 customers. According to Sunflower Electric and the six rural electric cooperatives it serves in 34 western Kansas counties, more than 5,000 poles and 21 steel towers had sustained damage or were destroyed, with losses continuing to rise. It was estimated the total loss from the storm damage would exceed $10 million, and it could be seven to ten days before service was restored to all customers across the region.

The New Year was just arriving and Stockton merchants were prepared to greet the First Baby of 2007 with many fine gifts, cash and gift certificates. The previous year, the 2006 Stork Derby was won by Brayden Payne Taylor, son of Clayton and Dr. Ann Taylor, who kept us all waiting until February 2.

This issue, dated December 21, 2006, featured the Sentinel’s gift to our readers: the Eleventh Annual Offering of Santa’s ‘Deer Ones, with 320 pictures inside! The Stockton Tigers hosted Norton on Saturday in Mid-Continent League basketball action. Stockton was swept by the Blue Jays in all three games.

The Student Councils of Stockton High School and Grade School, under the supervision of their sponsors Jessica Billinger and Jana Griffin, had been very busy with several community projects, with the Angel Giving Tree their main focus for the Christmas season. They set a goal of $300, with the incentive being that high school principal, Mr. Keith Hall, and grade school principal, Mr. Elton Armbrister, would dress up like turkeys during an assembly if the students met their goal. The students not only met their goal but far exceeded it, raising a total of $973.72. No turkey costumes could be found, but the two principals owned up to the challenge, and each wore chicken costumes for the day, going so far as to perform their version of the “Chicken Dance” for an all-school assembly.

Well over 150 citizens from Rooks County were present for the Groundbreaking Ceremony at the site of the new Rooks County Health Center held on December 4, 2006. On hand to put a shovel in the ground were COO William Stahl, board member Jon Voss, board member Chuck Comeau, board member Charles Allphin, CEO Julie Price, board president Jeff VanDyke and board member Sheila Hachmeister.

Santa Claus was pictured on the front page, holding five-week-old Deacon Creighton, dressed just like the elder Santa, at the Olde Tyme Christmas on Nov. 24.

An Alton landmark, Hartzler’s Store, burned to the ground Nov. 16, 2006. The cause of the fire had yet to be determined. The Stockton Fire Department was called to assist at around 6 a.m. that morning.

An article about the Poore Farm, written by and published on the Kansas AgriTourism website, was republished and featured in the November 16, 2006 Stockton Sentinel. The farm, owned by BJ and Larry Poore, was originally established in 1905 by R. D. Poore, then passed down to Alvin and Venda Poore, Larry’s parents. In addition to growing wheat, milo and forage sorghum crops on the farm, Larry and BJ have been raising and selling high quality registered Labradors with a proven hunting instinct, and in recent years, they decided to begin making the land available for hunters.

Robert Schamel retained his position on the county commission with 411 votes to Eleanor Buss’ 297 votes. On the state level, Rooks County voted to re-elect the Sebelius/Parkinson ticket for Governor/Lt. Governor over Barnett/Wagle, 1,102 to 934. In the only national race on the ballot, for U.S. House of Representatives, 1st District, Jerry Moran easily carried Rooks County with 1,801 votes over John Doll, 212.

Drs. Craig and Jessica Iwanski, DVM, have announced that Central Veterinary Services large animal facility, located one half mile east of Stockton, was open for business.