Looking Back
What Was Going on 14 Years Ago
With the retirement of some of Stockton’s teachers at the end of the 2005-2006 school year, students returning in the fall would be greeted by several new faces. Stockton High School was welcoming three new teachers: Lucas Moll, science; Benjamin T. Clark, Jr., history, current events and government; and Melissa Runnion, Special Education. The grade school was introducing four new teachers: Elizabeth (Beth) McDonald, first grade; Andrea Dix, fifth grade; Ali Bell, second grade; and Jennifer Kesler, K-5 Interrelated.
Lisa Lu’s Cafe, located on Highway 183 just south of Stockton, opened for business on Aug. 14. The family-themed restaurant was owned by Lisa and Frank Brown.
Homecoming 2006 was set for Friday, Sept. 15 with plenty of activities lined up throughout the week by STUCO to add to the spirit and fun of the time-honored tradition. Monday’s dress-up theme was designated as Camo Day; Tuesday was Hat Day; Wednesday was Hippie Day; Thursday was TV or Movie Character Day; and of course, Friday would be Blue & White Spirit Day. Queen and King candidates were: Charley Campbell, Kristen Lingg, Heather Murchie, Luke Kriley, Leneal Weiser and Logan Bennett. Crowning of Homecoming royalty was scheduled for Sept. 16, at Tiger Stadium.
The Stockton Tigers won the season opener with a shutout over the visiting Osborne Bulldogs.
The Lady Tigers split in their season opener at Plainville, defeating Victoria in three games, but losing to the host Lady Cardinals.
The family of Grace Turnbull invited everyone to help in celebrating her 94th birthday on Sept. 9 with a card shower.
Two interesting feature stories were shared: first, a reprint of a story taken from the June 10, 1990 Wichita Eagle, telling the history of the Big Barn, which stood sentinel over the Rooks-Osborne county line for nearly 80 years but had tragically burned down in 1995 when lightening struck, just after it had been restored. The second story shared was the first segment in a series of memories of World War II, written by Chuck Hageman.
The Rooks County Health Center had provided a timeline for the new hospital, beginning in August through December of 2006.
Showing at the Nova Theatre was “World Trade Center,” which painted a painful portrait of two real New York cops and their stories on that now historic day of September 11, 2001. Nicolas Cage portrayed John McLoughlin, a respected NYPD veteran who lead a group of officers who were the first to arrive at the stricken towers.
And So They Say — Dee Sammons, Bella Vista, Ark.: “My wife and I spent 10 straight days at home. We had to get up during the night to go to the bathroom and couldn’t remember where it was.”
Obituaries were published for George D. Whisman (1925) and Donald E. Meistrell (1920).
Looking Back 14 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1992 —A field of special hybrid marijuana plants with a street value of $150,000 was seized by county law enforcement, located six miles east and two and a half miles south of Plainville. Mark A. Murphy of Natoma was arrested.
56 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1950 — Bryan Look was in serious condition as a result of injuries sustained on Sept. 2 about a half mile east of Stockton when a car, also traveling east, struck the blower which was being pulled by the tractor on which Bryan was riding. The impact broke his right leg in two places, and he was wedged against the steering wheel in such a manner that it was necessary to use a torch to cut the steering rod before he could be moved.
What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1908 — Dr. Book had remodeled his barn, adding a cement floor and placing everything in shipshape order to accommodate his touring car and the runabout. H. V. Morris of southwest Phillips County was in Stockton on business. Mr. Morris is one of the heaviest landowners and largest farmers in that section, owning 2,300 acres lying partly in Rooks and across the line in Phillips, his home being on the Phillips side.
