RCNews Jan 8

Birthdays: January 8, Randy Taylor, Jeffrey Anderson, Stuart Clancy; January 9, Jason Casey, Clinton Kershner, Robert David Bisagno; January 10, Rachel Grumbein, Brad Pfannenstiel, Linda North, Terry Showalter, Angie Tomlinson; January 11, Hailey Clancy, Joyce Eisenhour, Amber Littler, Cody Pfeifer; January 12, Tony Harp, Terry Don Doerr; January 14, Maggie Elias.

No Anniversaries:

John and Sharon Irvin flew from Denver and Lance and Jessie Irvin flew from Kansas City to visit Allan and Kayla Casey in Moscow, Idaho for Christmas. Allan was transferred to Pullman, Washington with the USDA at Washington State University. Kayla works for the Endowment at the University of Idaho in Moscow.

Wilfrid and Twila Higgins celebrated “Three Days of Christmas” at their home. Their family attending were Doug and Mary Higgins, Danielle Higgins, Dez and Devin, Rich and Mary Lou Higgins and Nancy and Mike Wiebe.

Friday after Christmas guests of Marge Moran were Clark, Nicole and Madison Kirk, John, Ellen and Josh Moran, Jason Moran and Michele Moran.

Suzanne Randa obtained a gold Centennial belt buckle #432 on Ebay for the Jail Museum. The engraving reads 1887 - McCracken - 1987. Dedicated to the McCracken pioneers who broke the vastness of the plains with barbed wire and post of stone. The Buffalo giving away to the Missouri Pacific Railroad and cattle. The seemingly endless wind to windmills. The soil to the plow; And the prairie to Turkey Red Wheat.

Judy Dennis, Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith and Carolyn Thompson attended the “Les Lankhorst for the Holiday's” musical show at Salina Community Theatre on Saturday evening December 27.

Stories from Volume 11, McCracken History April 12, 1975 - KATE MARAK - Kate Marak, 92, makes it sound like fun to live in a sod house, work in the fields and have to deal with snakes, rats, bedbugs and skunks. Kate moved to Ness County in 1885 and an uncle plowed the sod for their home. It was just a basement at first, then added on. We had 3 rooms with dirt floors. The roof was covered with willows and soil on top of that. We lined it with muslin so the dirt wouldn't sift through. We made paint out of red clay soaked overnight…worked real well. The beds first had straw ticks and later then made corn shucks mattresses. We kept the bedposts in cans of coal oil to get rid of bedbugs. Milk and butter were hung in the well bucket to keep cool and meal was salted down. Shoes were store bought and usually painful. Her parents raised 5 boys and 6 girls in the soddie. Mrs. Marak's mother made her own yeast from corn meal and hops. When it was mixed she spread it out and cut it into squares. Each square made 9 loaves of bread.

Casey Brown was home to visit his mother, Cecilia Gilbert, and his sister, Sheila Brown, during Christmas vacation.  He also went to Sedalia, Missouri to visit his father, Eugene Brown.  Casey has been in the Navy for nine years and is stationed in San Diego, California.

The Mass on Christmas Day at St. Michael's Church in La Crosse was in honor of Danny Petz, so Patricia Petz and Mary Steitz attended the mass and then visited with the Dolores Petz family at the farm and had lunch with her. Also attending were: Chansler, Kaylyn, and Brooklyn Petz, Joy Petz, Chris and Cindy Petz, Curt, Chelsea, Preslea, and Paislea Wells, Hal Witthuhn and Sherry Petz. Later in the day Trent, Angie, Drake, and Grant Timson stopped by and had a nice visit and shared in the evening meal with Grandma Dolores.

On Friday, December 26, Patricia Petz was the hostess for the "Foos" family. Those attending were: Mary Steitz, Trent, Angie, Drake, and Grant Timson, De.Wayne and Vicky Foos, Jeremy, Lisa, Cody, and Morgan Foos, Jendee, Gratton, and Rennick Dalton. Lots of good food, presents, and visiting were enjoyed by all.

In the evening of Saturday, December 27, Patricia Petz was the hostess for her family gathering. Mary Steitz (Grandma Mary), Trent, Angie, Drake, and Grant Timson, and Kelly, Melanie, Nicholas, Kallynn, and Kameron Petz. Also attending was Savannah Rose, Nicholas' girlfriend. Of course, our hearts were filled with sadness as we were missing Grandpa Leland and Danny sitting amongst us this year. But we knew that they were no longer suffering here on Earth and that they were enjoying their new home in Heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A teacher at Hutch High saw this ‘ratty’ looking car drive up and pick up a student, (Jenna) then noticed it was Jerry Higgins. She asked him ‘from what barn did you get this car’? Still driving that old two door Buick.

Eric Hurd, son of Jeff and Kathy Lovitt Hurd, is manager of the UCLA football team. We saw a glimpse of him at the game!!

If the weather report on the TV says snow for 19 counties in Kansas and Rush happens to be one of them, please pay attention. Carolyn and I went to church at Liebenthal Saturday evening at 4:30, when we left at 5:30 you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face for wind and blowing snow. She drove her Durango with 4-wheel drive thinking we would be safe....wrong. Just before we got to Scott Littler’s farm we slid off into the south ditch. The doors and windows were frozen shut, the wind and snow were howling but thank heavens she had almost 1/ 2 tank of gas. Our Kansas City friends were behind us and Jerilyn drove by called 911 so we were ‘rescued’. Laura Pivonka came by herself from Timken and she said she stayed all night with Pat Oborny. Thank heavens for cell phones.

January 1965

History notes Kathlyn Georg, Alexander, a freshman at FHSU was one of eight music students performing in a recital Tuesday morning.

Carol Ann Staab and James Elias announce their engagement. Mr. Elias is manager of Kuhn’s jewelers and Miss Staab is employed in the Hays City Manager’s Office.

REN League ratings: McCracken 5-0; Bison 4-1; Alexander 2-2; Bazine 2-2; Odin 1-4; Schoenchen 05.

Dance, Saturday, January 23 at Whitey’s Club in LaCrosse for members and their guests. Admission $1.00 with music by Black & Whites.

Dinner guests at the home of Ruby VanWinkle Wednesday evening honoring the birthday of Drewie McGaughey were Lester & Loraine Ramsey, Audice & Ruby Thompson, Floyd & Carolyn Thompson, Frank & Drewie McGaughey & Robbie.

Lloyd & Hattie Conner attended a school carnival at Dighton last Saturday night.

Eighty-one Masons from the District attended the district meeting & banquet held Friday afternoon and evening. The ladies of the McCracken chapter OES served the banquet in the evening.

Lola Rixon & Leila spent last week with her parents, Sam & Eunice Oller in Sylvan Grove. Martha Shaefer, Hannah Sloan & Elsie Showalter were in LaCrosse Tuesday afternoon. Glenn & Icis Eisenhour, Mac & Helen Showalter spent Sunday at the home of Larry & Joyce Eisenhour, Concordia.

Bob Fear was promoted to store manager at Humburg’s store in LaCrosse and former store manager Roy Baier is general manager in charge of heating, plumbing & air-conditioning for all five Humburg stores in North Central Kansas. Fear started to work for the Humburg Company at their lumber yard in McCracken.