Nathalia Santos Cruz was one of two foreign exchange students who was living in Stockton for the 2008-09 school year. Nathalia, age 16, was from Maringa, Brazil (pop. 380,000). Host family for Nathalia was Dale and Heather Winklepleck and their girls, Lexie and Logan. Nathalia stated that getting to be a foreign exchange student6 was like being in a competition with just the best competitors making the grade so they could be good representatives for their country.

Rustin and Holly Odle had the most unusual pumpkin patch this season, the result of a May 29th flooding rain. The Odles had just planted their garden a week or two before the rains and had planted pumpkins, watermelons, tomatoes and onions. Their garden was located beside their pasture fenceline that goes down into a draw. The tiny plants had just started to grow, but after the area flooded, they hadn’t paid attention to their garden, giving it up for loss. But Rustin had a big surprise some weeks later when he had to go down into the draw to check on a cow. He went home to tell Holly she had to go check their garden. There were pumpkin vines growing all over the place, with pumpkins hanging from a pile of dead trees. The Odles counted around 15 to 20 of the orange globes, having grown into odd pear shapes as they grew among the trees.

It hadn’t happened since 2000, but the Stockton Tigers finally got the monkey off their backs as they won a Homecoming football game, defeating the visiting Wilson Dragons by a score of 50-36. Homecoming 2008 Royalty crowned the previous Friday night at Tiger Stadium were King Ty Winters and Queen Jennifer Nelson, who presided over the festivities that evening.

World War II Veterans from northcentral Kansas were honored at the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C. on September 10, 2008. U.S. Representative Jerry Moran posed for group and individual pictures and spent the day with the heroes. Moran’s father was one of the members on this Honor Flight.

Rooks County Health Center board president Jeff VanDyke cut the ribbon amid thunderous applause, as the new facility was dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 7. Pictured were: Plainville Chamber of Commerce representative Jacque Bartunek, COO Bill Stahl, Governor Kathleen Sebelius, board member Jon Voss, Chief of Staff Jennifer Brull, MD, board members Chuck Comeau and Sheila Hachmeister, director of the Rooks County Healthcare Foundation and Communications & Development Director Kathy Ramsay, CEO Julie Price, U.S. Representative Jerry Moran, and board member Charles Allphin.

The new 59,410 sq. ft. Rooks County Health Center (RCH), located one mile north of Plainville on U.S. Highway 183

Ronald McDonald was posed with Larry and B J Poore at the Ronald McDonald House auction in St. Louis.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago A whole new set of administrators was featured in a color photo on the front page of the Aug. 21, 2008 Sentinel.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago This was Fair Week, 2008! The 129th Rooks County Free Fair got off to a fantastic start with the Free Hamburger Feed held on Sunday, Aug. 10th.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago As you look at the new Rooks County Health Center nearing completion one mile north of Plainville, you might wonder how this building design came to pass. Before thedesign was completed, the board of directors, administration and many staff members in a collaborative effort considered how the health center could continue to provide and improve their quality of care.