What Was Going On 14 Years Ago • For December 14th • The annual Parade of Christmas Trees celebrated its 25th year at the Stockton Public Library. A weather system holding heavy snow and frigid cold had taken over the area, and when it finally stopped snowing, there was a total of 11 inches of snow accumulation.

Janel Odle won the Farmers Union Elevator contest by guessing the closest to how many bushels of milo the facility took in during the harvest season. Janel’s guess was 136,492 bushes, with the correct number 140,878 bushels.

The David Reed family was named one of the ten Kansas Farm Bureau Families of the Year at the KFB annual meeting in Manhattan. The cast and crew of the Stockton High School play, “Kokonut Island” included Brooke Kee, Hannah Lindsey, Alyssa Conyac, Macee Kellner, Amber Kriley, Hayley Strutt, Nolan Weiser, Phoenix Hobdell, Taylor Morgan, Jordann Wiltfong, Delilah Griebel, Maggie Spires, MaryLynn Griebel, Brenna Schlaegel, Audrey Green, Chrissie Cox, Paige Kriley, Amanda Rubottom, Billie Chesney, Jon Reed, Stephen Moll, Chandler Nyp, Dustin Kriley, Jameson Nyp, Alex Henry, Franklin Brown, Austin Wieden, and Sage Penner.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago Father and son archery team Bob and Matt Ward of Arkansas brought down two deer with their bows and arrows, with Matt taking down a non-typical 16-point whitetail, which scored 196 5/8 SCI points. It was the first time Bob and Matt had made a trip to Stockton and Mickey’s Outfitting.

What was supposed to have been a pleasant afternoon of horseback riding didn’t turn out that way for Victor Bird. The three-year-old colt he was riding did some crow hopping and bucking, and Victor fell and hit his left shoulder. The colt had nowhere to go, so he went back over Victor again, kicking him behind the left ear. He also dislocated his right ring finger.

The FUSION Christian Youth Association was gifted a building for creating a youth center by the employees and directors of the Stockton National Bank to provide a fun, safe Christian environment for the junior high and senior high youth of Rooks County.

Stockton High School and Junior High/Grade Schools received the Spring 2009 Standard of Excellence building awards in all five test categories of Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and SocialStudies/History-Government.

The Area United Fund Telethon was deemed a success, with a total of $3,472.00 raised. Venture Corporation was doing an economic stimulus-paving project south of Woodston.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago The Rooks County Health Center celebrated the first anniversary of the new facility. The David and Karen Reed family were named the 2009 Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year.