Looking Back
What Was Going On 14 Years Ago
The Stockton area was again hit with a severe thunderstorm. Not only did we experience the usual heavy wind and small hail, but the city of Woodston saw firsthand the fury of a tornado. It felt like a storm was brewing all day long as the air was heavy with humidity and it was hot at 90 degrees. That evening we received another inch and a half of rain and small hail being thrown at us by very strong winds. North and west of town was hit harder with enough hail to look like snow drifts on some wheat fields, taking care of the harvest for their owners.
The effects of the 10-15 inches of rain we had received in the past 10 days remained with us as flooding damaged all low-lying areas and many country roads. Local lakes and rivers were at levels we hadn’t seen in years. Even if we would have dry weather for a time, it would take a lot of hard work, time and money to put everything to right.
The family of Frank Smith celebrated, not only his 81st birthday on Sunday, but the dedication of the Rooks County Fair horse arena which now bears his name.
The Stockton High School Alumni Reunion was held Sunday, May 25, 2008, at St. Thomas Parish Center in Stockton with 96 graduates, spouses and guests attending, down from the 130 attending the previous year. Severe storm warnings and high gas prices contributed to the smaller attendance.
At a joint Court of Honor held May 10, 2008 at the Scout Cabin in Osborne, Troop 105 presented its two newest Eagle Scouts, Alexander James Henry of Stockton, and James Daniel Floyd of Osborne. Both Eagle Scouts passed their Board of Review and earned their Eagle rank as sophomores, which is a high achievement. The Eagle Scout rank is the highest advancement rank a Scout can earn in the Boy Scouts of America.
Jessy Ross and Ruby competed in Topeka over the Memorial Weekend at the State NBHA Finals. Jessy got into the finals and they placed 8th in the 4D for the State.
Tatum Hamilton, aka “Tater Tot,” proudly showed off her daddy, Bart Hamilton’s first turkey, called in and bagged on an exciting hunt Saturday, May 31st, the last day of the 2008 turkey season. The turkey weighed exactly 19 pounds, had an 8 1/2-inch beard, and had a one-inch spur.
Showing at the Nova Theatre was “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” in C. S. Lewis’ timeless fantasy.
Deaths — Obituaries were published for Deanna Marie Normandin (1941); Grant Conger (1946); Leonard Erle Muir (1931); and Raymond O. Reding (1925).
Looking Back 14 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1994 — Attendance numbers at the local alumni reunion were as follows: Stockton, 225; Woodston, 80; and Webster, 49. Driver Sean Guffey, 15, Codell, and passengers Ronald Sherard III, 16, Plainville and Jennifer Dumler, 13, Hays, were in a car accident on Codell Road. Dumler was killed.
56 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1952 — The unofficial population in Stockton was a count of 1,889. Kenneth Mock of Plainville took over the duties of cashier at the Stockton National Bank succeeding J.C. Dillingham who was set to resume his farming and livestock operations. (ASTS) Mrs. Curtis Fry of Webster: “Nowadays teachers think their rooms are overcrowded—why, I had sixty-four in my primary room once.”
What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1910 — After the commencement exercises at the Opera House, while a young man was going to his home, he was seized by a quartet of schoolmates, and despite his struggles and protests, was blindfolded and led around town, and finally taken to J.L. Stevens’ residence west of the high school where he was dunked in a horse tank. He was taken by his heels, head downwards and his head submerged. He was then taken to a nearby field and allowed to find his way home as best he could. His four assailants were masked but he was able to recognize them by their voices, and on the following day he entered a complaint against them, charging them with assault. Two of the boys got wind of it and exercises at the Opera House, while a young man was going to his home, he was seized by a quartet of schoolmates, and despite his struggles and protests, was blindfolded and led around town, and finally taken to J.L. Stevens’ residence west of the high school where he was dunked in a horse tank. He was taken by his heels, head downwards and his head submerged. He was then taken to a nearby field and allowed to find his way home as best he could. His four assailants were masked but he was able to recognize them by their voices, and on the following day he entered a complaint against them, charging them with assault. Two of the boys got wind of it and before the papers could be served, went before J.L. Stevens, plead guilty, and were assessed $3.00 each and costs, amounting to $4.60. The other two boys were served with papers by the sheriff and concluded to stand trial. They then concluded to settle and get out of the scrape as soon as possible, each getting fined $3.00 and total costs of $3.60 each.
