Vernon Sammons was celebrating his 100th birthday on May 8, 2006, and family, friends and neighbors were invited to a Celebration, planned by his kids and grandkids on Sunday, May 7th at the Solomon Valley Manor.

* And So They Say: Wimp Hulse: “Since the episode near the Marina on Saturday, I’m going to start advertising a three-minute car wash.” Don Peebles: “They complain about kids having nothing to do in the small towns, but in the cities, where there is surely plenty of recreation facilities, they seem to commit more vandalism.” Frank Tyson: “With this sour puss of mine, I can’t smile.” Harold Copper: “Mickey Spillane was a fraternity brother of mine at Fort Hays State, but I don’t think he based any of his characters on me.”

On Tuesday evening two or three auto loads of young people started out to the Muir place north of town to serenade the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. George Muir. In the rear car were Ronald Cooper, Dorothy Stewart, Albert Hindman and Jessie Hammond. Ronald was driving. Near the schoolhouse south of Muir’s he turned out to avoid a mud hole and struck some rough ground when the radius rod broke. The car turned over and completely around facing the south. The occupants were thrown out and received various injuries. Hindman was knocked senseless for awhile, Miss Stewart was bruised and cut in many places over her body, but Ronald fared the worst for his right forearm was broken and crushed so that the bones protruded through the flesh. Frank Hus came along with his car and brought the victims to the Land & McMillen operating rooms. An x-ray of Cooper’s arm showed that he would need hospital care, and it was decided to take him to Concordia for treatment. At one o’clock in the night Dr. McMillen started with his patient, accompanied by Mrs. P. H. Cooper for that place. Mrs. Cooper returned the next day as the surgeons decided to wait some time before setting the bone which was broken in two places and badly splintered. At last report, Ronald was suffering considerably.

SPOTLIGHTING THE YEAR…1963

The Stockton Sentinel is always looking for pictures for our “Yesteryear” page. If you have a picture that you’d be willing to share with our readers (preferably at least 20 years old), send it to Stockton Sentinel, P.O. Box 521, Stockton, KS 67669, e-mail it to: stkpaper@ruraltel.net or bring it in to our office and we’ll be sure you get it back.

Pursuant to the time-honored custom, Stockton’s oldest ladies study club gave its annual banquet to which the husbands and friends of members were bidden. These occasions have been so attractive as feasts for the mind as well as the body that from the start they have always been important events in the social life of the community. The dinner was served in the basement of the Christian Church and pronounced perfect in every respect. Roast turkey and customary trimmings followed the consumme, with apple pie and frozen cream as the finale. The intellectual spread and music were equally enjoyable. Mrs. J. M. Wells, the president of the 20 Century Club made the introductions with original witticisms of laughter-provoking quality. H. C. Sweet gave a brief history of early Stockton. Mrs. May White spoke about “Our Ideals,” saying that Stockton was always a progressive town as she knew it years ago while living in Kirwin. Mrs. Florence Wallace sang “Why April Weeps,’’ her clear, well-modulated tones producing a fine effect. She responded to an encore with a musical gem, “Morning Glories.” Mrs. O. S. Ellvin gave an artistic rendition of Marguerite’s “Flower Song” from Faust in Swedish, which was enthusiastically received. Mrs. Vern Bloom accompanied both ladies on the piano. During the evening classic selections were rendered on the Victrola.

Candidates for 2006 Stockton High School Prom were Derry Dibble, Heath Muir and Levi Earl, Rachel Moll, Savannah Lowry and Lizzy Moll.

THE STOCKTON GRADE SCHOOL had held its D.A.R.E. graduation in April of 1997. Pictured are the students who completed the course (front row, from left): Drew Waller, Walter Lowry, Clayton Thayer, Jessi Brooks, Danielle Beougher, Jonelle Forshee, Katie Hagan, Brett Schlaegel; (middle row) Kara Thomsen, Bonnie Carsten, Shane Hull, Lindsey Thayer, Alexa Rogers, Kimberlynn Lockhart, Lindsay Paulson, Amanda Moran, Rachel Denton; (back row) Heather McNulty, Jesse Swaney, Heather Gartrell, Doug Cooper, Sherrie Thomas, Daniel Atkisson, Ty Brown, Jamie Fenton, Gabriel Miller, Justin Nelson, Kyle Glassman, Trina Cikanek, Irvin Earl, Megan Lingg, Leah Moll and Amber Kollman.

* And So They Say: Lester Eckart: “Coming home in that wind Sunday I had the pickup wide open but couldn’t get it past 35 miles per hour.” Don Peebles: “We dodged tornadoes all the way home from Kansas City on Sunday.” Stanley Krysl: “Now that income tax time is over, maybe I’ll have time to find out something.”

A terrible tragedy occurred when Mr. and Mrs. Upton Douglas were driving to their country home. They had secured Frank Munn’s incubator at the George Crain place and were proceeding to the Dan Douglas place northwest of town in a lumber wagon drawn by a frisky team. Mrs. Minnie Douglas was seated on the incubator box until the railroad track east of town when the team became unmanageable and Mrs. Douglas, becoming frightened, got hold of the lines with her husband and started pulling with all her might. When they got past the Frank McManis house, the team was still running very fast. She told Upton she was afraid to stay on the wagon, and that her hands were tired so she let go of the reins. She told him she would get out before they got to the corner. Since her husband’s whole attention was given to guiding the horses, he does not know whether she fell out or jumped. The last he noted she was in the back of the wagon. The team sped on and did not make the turn but went straight ahead through the fence into a field before they finally stopped. Looking back he saw his wife lying in the road. He turned and drove back as quickly as possible. An auto from Woodston had come upon the scene and Mrs. Douglas was lifted into it and taken at once to Dr. Travis’s office. When lifted up she breathed once or twice, but was dead when the doctor’s office was reached. He found that her neck was broken and the top of her head was crushed. We linger today amidst the uncertainties of life and remember Mrs. Minnie Douglass who was active in life, radiant in hope, strong in courage, a helpful companion, a devoted mother, toiling and planning for the welfare of her home and children when without warning, answered the final call, joining the silent throng of the shadowland at the age of 34 years, ten months and fourteen days. “Her sun had gone down while it was yet day.”