* And So They Say: Jerry Riseley: “Of course you will always find someone complaining about something in the paper, but there is no one who would want to live in a town without a newspaper.” Don Peebles: “We were in a regular ‘dirty thirty’ dust storm between Burlington and Limon going out to Colorado Springs and coming back it poured on us in the same area.” City Manager Harper: “Everyone had a freezing good time at the pool on opening day.”

SOLOMON VALLEY MANOR Activities Director Judy Sander (standing in center of picture) and Manor residents prepare for the balloon lift-off held in conjunction with the recent celebration of Nursing Home Week in the spring of 1997.

Rooks County Health Nurse Lorraine Baughman said there were 12 confirmed cases of mumps in Rooks County. In addition, there were 14 probable cases, waiting for results of blood work. Across the State of Kansas, there were 719 mumps cases (confirmed/probable) cases in 65 counties with the majority of those in Douglas County with 258.

News of the death of this fine old gentleman caused sorrow among his many friends in this community. W.S. Bird was apparently in his usual health, when the summons came. He was driving a lot of chickens into the chicken yard and probably overexerted himself, causing a stoppage of the heart, and he died before he could be brought into the house. Bird, a Civil War veteran, began his earthly pilgrimage on April 23rd, 1846, which extended through a period of 76 years and six days.

Teachers Ginger Kollman and Barb Henson were honored for 25 years of service at Stockton Grade School.

* And So They Say: Mary Alice Boethin: “I don’t see why they don’t open the swimming pool on the last day of school.” Erma Jean Price: “I made a mistake when I didn’t plant my garden in the dirt that had blown onto my window sill since that way it would have also been inside and protected from the sun and wind.” Matt Mullen: “When I catch ten walleyes—now that will be a news item!”

THE STOCKTON LIONS CLUB presented a closed-captioned television to Harvey Rogers in 1997. Those present for the event were Lions Club members Dennis Bedore, Chuck Williams, recipient Harvey Rogers, and Lions Club member Roque Garcia.

It takes a long time to fill the big swimming pool, which takes on the appearance of a little lake as it widens out towards the top. The pump commenced Tuesday morning and is still going. Mr. Dryden hopes to have it filled to the top by Saturday. The pool holds 100,000 gallons. Water will be drawn off every evening and fresh water running in all the time. The dressings rooms are about completed. There are 18 of these rooms on each side of the corridor, besides shower baths and toilets. A seat for spectators extends clear around the pool. Most of the young people and many of the older ones already have their own bathing suits. For those not already provided, Mr. Dryden has 100 suits to rent. The swimming pool promises to be the most popular resort in Stockton during the summer.

* And So They Say: A. L. Pettijohn: “I’m getting meaner all the time and proud of it.” Lee Robinson: “Most of the things I think I know, turn out to not be so.” Lee Phelps: “When we were tearing out that partition in the store the other day, you would have thought the ‘Dirty Thirties’ were back again.” Merton Van Eaton: “I think kids should be given more responsibility so that it won’t come as such a jolt to them when they get older.”

AT THE END OF THE 1997 SCHOOL YEAR, Pat Nichols and Ivalee Bennett had been honored at a retirement luncheon by the Stockton Grade School faculty. Pat had served as the school’s librarian for 25 years, and Ivalee Bennett had taught first grade for 26 years.