Mark Billinger began work at Webster State Park in his official position as Natural Resource Officer I. Some of Billinger’s duties included administrating and participating in law enforcement activities in assigned state park areas, enforcing license and permit requirements, detecting violations, and making arrests.

Kori Bigge was back home in the arms of her family, friends, and neighbors in Plainville. She had not been inside her home since September, when she had suffered a debilitating heart attack. She, her husband Doug, and two-year-old daughter Kourtney had been living in Salt Lake City, Utah, where her doctors and caregivers could monitor her 24 hours a day while waiting to get to the top of the transplant list. The plan was to stay in Plainville for a week and then return to Utah. If all went well during this visit Kori could return to Kansas every other month while awaiting her transplant.

Stockton Interim City Manager Keith Schlaegel started in his position on February 12th. He was the Heartland Building Center Manager for many years. His responsibilities included the day-today operations of the City, personnel management, public relations, long and short-term planning, and preparation of the budget and management of the City’s finances. His wife, Mendy (Baughman), was the owner and operator of Prairie Classics.

Caitlin Lingg, daughter of Pat and Sandy Lingg of Stockton, was the Rooks County Spelling Bee Champion, winning the honors after spelling “planetarium” and “narthex” correctly. Caitlin would go on to represent the county at the State Spelling Bee in Great Bend in March.

More than 30 citizens attended the public meeting held February 3 at City Hall to discuss the future direction of the Solomon Valley Manor. The Stockton City Commission was also present. City commissioner Mike Heenan gave a presentation from the information he accumulated on the Solomon Valley Manor, stating this was his pitch, not only to the public but to his fellow commissioners as well, on a plan for the future of the facility.

Stockton’s fear of losing the prison had become a reality. It had been just a year since Rooks County got the crushing news that Schult Homes in Plainville would be closing, with over 100 jobs to be lost. Those affiliated with the minimum-security prison in Stockton had heard rumors of closing for years, but nothing had materialized. But the announcement came February 1, 2009, that the Stockton facility would be closed, which was scheduled for June 30 to coincide with the end of the state’s budget year. The early closing was expected to save the state $339,000. Thirty- three employees would lose their jobs, although all were offered transfers to the Norton facility.

The deadline for candidates to file for the spring elections had passed, and the names of all the Rooks County residents seeking city offices or school board seats was final. No primary election would be necessary, but there were not enough candidates to fill all the open seats in the county, so write-in candidates would play a role in filling those seats.

A Phillipsburg teenager, Trenton Taylor Hoft, 15, was killed in a one-vehicle accident on Jan. 17, 2009, when the vehicle in which he was a passenger began to skid broadside and then rolled three or four times. In addition to Hoft, the driver and another occupant in the vehicle were all taken to Rooks County Health Center in Plainville. None of the occupants were wearing safety belts.

Just as we hear about “5 Star Restaurants” or “5 Star Hotels,” indicating the best of the best in their accommodations, the Solomon Valley Manor had recently been awarded a 5 Star-rating as determined by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), ranking the facility in the Top 12% nationally. In addition, the Manor was also recognized as a nursing home with zero deficiencies in the previous year, and five or fewer inspection deficiencies in the previous three inspections. The national average is nine, with the range of nursing home inspection deficiencies in Kansas ranging from 0 to 69.

What Was Going On 14 Years Ago The Kansas Sampler Foundation announced the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce finalists on January 5th, 2009. Baxter’s Bait & Tackle of Stockton and Dessin Fournir of Plainville had been selected in the 24 finalists of over 100 that the public had nominated.