News Jan 17
Terry and Carol Herdman attended the Orange Bowl in Miama where KU defeated Virginia Tech 24-21.  Terry is a teacher at Virginia Tech.
 
Received a note from Marlene Pfannenstiel Bronish, her daughter, George and Mary Mansfield reside in Hong Kong.  Mary teaches English at a prison there in Hong Kong.  She attended graduation for the prisoners where 6 of her former students received certificates in various subjects.  One of her students graduated in a robe with the sash for his Masters Degree.  These ‘prisoners’ are all guys that were into trouble in their teens, involved in gangs and many of them have been in prision for 20+ years.  A few have been moved to category B, which means they will be released in 5 years or less.  All of the prisoners were dressed in dark blue slacks, navy sweaters, white shirts and a tie that their families bought for them.  Usually they have their visits behind glass, no physical contact is allowed, but on this day, they can sit with their families and eat to gather.  Several of the guys do volunteer work, making Christmas cards for charities to sell.  They pay for all of the supplies with their earnings.  The first group of prisoners sent their savings to the tsunami survivors. The men attend church services every Sunday in prison, if they chose to.  The first group of prisoners that Mary taught were all Christians.  They do not have hot water, there is not cable TV but they are encouraged to read.  They have to pay for their educational classes.  Their meals are usually rice, vegetables, 3 eggs per week, bread but no butter, tofu.
 
The fish fry held Saturday evening at the American Legion was well attended.  If you did not attend, you missed some great food.

News from an alumni:  Lydia Buster graduated from KU in May and was looking for a little adventure.  She is teaching in an English Language School in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).  She works with both adults and children.  Greg will be visiting her at the end of January and then her mother, Beverly, will visit in late May.  She is having a great time.  People are very friendly and accommodating.  Greg said he was a little worried about the carry over from the war, but Lydia pointed out to him that the time from the end of the Vietnam War until her graduation from HS was the same as the time from the end of WWII to Greg’s HS graduation.
Riley Buster graduated from that other university in Kansas.  He received his degree in golf course management and is currently the Assistant Superintendent at the Teton Springs Golf Resort in Victor, Idaho www.tetonsprings.com  Victor is about 25 miles from Jackson Hole, Wyoming,   Lydia and Riley are the daughter and son of Greg and Beverly Buster, grandkids of Joan and the late Don Buster.

The Norton girl’s junior varsity basketball team placed 1st in a tournament held in Norton this past weekend.  Lindsey Tacha is a member of the Norton team.
 
Marge Sloan, Ponca City, was a long weekend guest of her daughter, Roger and Norma McNair and other family members.
 
Evelyn Higgins and family appreciated the cards, notes and memorials given for her sister, Ceil Plotner.
 
Bruce Hertel and Bob Lutz have a sports talk show everyday on radio station 98.7 out of Wichita.  A caller from Dodge City called and mentioned the basketball ‘dynasty’ in the 70’s in a little town in western Kansas, McCracken.  The two commentators said they remembered and mentioned Myron Schuckman.  They visited on the air about 5 minutes.
 
Dennis Peters had a wonderful Christmas and New Years with his daughter Sherrina, husband Mario and two grandsons Lorenzo (8) and Christian (5 ?).  They spend most of the time eating, drinking and enjoyed their time together.  They all enjoyed both Christmas and New Years Eve dinner at Mario mother’s, no turkey and dressing here, pastas, fish and veal with lots of deserts!!!    They also spent 2 days along the Mediterranean coast between Le Specia and Genova, Italy.  This area is called “Cinque Terra” and is very picturesque.  It did require a great deal of walking, which helped with all the food and drink!!!  Dennis returned home on the 2nd of January and has been kept very busy with catching up at work.
 
Hoisington High senior, Cameron Horesky has received several honors during his high school career, but one of the most prestigious was recently handed out – being selected to play in the Shrine Bowl.  Cameron will play on the West team.  He played in 12 games this season for the Cardinals, carried the ball 196 times and gained 1969 yards.  He had 31 touchdowns.  In addition to the rushing yards he had 132 receiving yards, 361 kickoff returns, 136 punt returns and 19 interceptions for 2,598 yards or 215 per game average.  Cameron was chosen Hovensports Fab 50 running back and currently has received a two-star rating from Rivals.  He was first team all 3A running back both his sophomore and junior years.  He was a top 11 pre-season pick in the Hutchinson paper, Wichita paper and Hovensports.  Hovensports has him listed as one of the top five backs, all classes, for the 2007 year.  Mid Central Activities Association League honors included unanimous running back 2005, 2006 and 2007; unanimous returner 2006 and 2007; and first team defensive back 2006 and 2007.  Cameron is also the all time leading rusher for Hoisington High School.  The Shrine Bowl game will be played July 26 at Emporia.  He is the son of Lonnie and Tammy Irvin, grandson of Shirley and the late Vic Higgins.
 
Jerry Higgins officiated in Augusta Friday night, between games Joe Conner came and visited with him for a few minutes.  He said he didn’t realize it was Jerry until well into the second half, so he guessed that meant the officials were doing a pretty good job.  After the game Jerry accompanied one of his officiating partners to a friends house there in Augusta, they got to visiting where they were from and when Jerry said “McCracken” the wife of the official’s friend said, “Oh my gosh, that is where Sally Buster was from.”  There was also another gal there and they both were sorority sisters of Sally at KSU.  They got out the year book and they all had a good visit about Sally.  One of the women was Lisa Montgomery Brookover, now the assistant superintendent of Augusta and the other was Leslie Evans English and she teaches the visually impaired.  They said they remember Sally having a couple of ‘cool’ things; a hot red car and a credit card!!
 
Saturday there was a modern day cattle drive down Highway 4 complete with the use of 4-wheelers. 
 
The Fish Fry at the Legion on Saturday night was enjoyed by all.  One man after finishing said “Bring on the Dancing Girls”.  Gladys, Arlene and Priscilla arrived to do just that, but his next request was they dance on the tables so they demurred.  Sometimes there is no satisfying some men!
 
Faith Sharing will continue to be on Wednesday, but at a new time – 2:00 P.M.  Everyone is welcome.
 
It is not too early to make plans to attend our 22nd Annual Rodeo/Alumni weekend.  Classes of 1938, 1948, 1958, 1968, 1978, 1983 will have anniversaries.  The events will be on July 11 and 12.  Pre-events begin on Wednesday, July 9.
 
Nicole, Clark and Maddie Kirk, Burrton, and Michele Moran, Rush Center, were here for the weekend to spend time with Bill and Marge Moran.
 
Francis Zeller is taking therapy at LaCrosse following his surgery at Hays Medical Center.  It is so good to see him home and out and around.
 
Michael Conrad, son of Rich and Linda Conrad, St. Louis, had an accident with an electric table saw and it mangled three fingers on his right hand.  He had bone grafting and tendons and ligaments re-attached.  He is doing well.   He will miss second semester of his College Freshman year and he may have to have further re-constructive surgery.
 
 
McCracken History Notes
January 1908
The play of Monte Cristo appeared in the Opera house Tuesday evening.  Brownell sent down a nice delegation, among the crowd was Ben Skaggs, Wm. Peters, Harve Richardson, George Norris, Roy Barnett, Jack Neal, Roy Leisure, Guy and Claude Ryan, Cap Vastine and Lester Davis.
 
The section men along here are now getting about $1.12 a days, or about enough to feed a strong healthy man and a little over for the family.
 
January 1938
Willis Redding and Adrian Doerr played and sang over the Great Bend radio station last Saturday afternoon.
 
The political football was booted down the field in our own county last week.  The agency for driver’s licenses was moved from the county treasurer’s office to a LaCrosse business house and the license plates are being sold by the former county treasurer.  Why can’t an arrangement be made whereby registration certificates must be purchased at Otis and permits to wash and polish cars can be obtained in McCracken.
 
January 1948
Land transfer:  G. W. Anderson to Heiskell S. Bryant, E/2 Lot 8 and W/2 Lot 9, block 17, McCracken by Warranty deed.
 
 Land transfer:  Robert J. Peters to J. T. Jennings, Lot 17 and 18, block 29, McCracken by Warranty deed.
 
Harold P. Walker, Past Master of the McCracken Lodge No. 58, has been appointed District Deputy Grand Master of AF and AM of 47 District of Kansas.
 
Jos. C. Wharton is closing his shoe repair shop in LaCrosse and moving to Rush Center.  He will locate in the building of Carl Solomon, who has a mattress factory in Rush Center.
 
January 1958
Allan Thompson is stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington.
 
The band mothers have for sale plates with the picture of the old McCracken High school building
 
January 1968
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Baus, Jr., a son, Shawn Leonard, January 15 at Salina.
 
Sgt. Tony Harp has just completed a tour of duty with the Army in Vietnam.  He has been assigned for technical training in Albany, Georgia.
 
January 1978
Those receiving scholastic honors at K-State are John Elmore 111, Allen Kober, Patricia Littler, Shelly Oelkers and Patricia Muller Pinaire.  
 
John Hanson received his degree in psychology from Ft. Hays at the end of the fall term.
 
January 1988
Della Anna (Bullock) Edwards was born June 13, 1900 at Big Patterson Creek, Whitley County, Kentucky.  She was the daughter of George Shelby and Julia Ann Harp Bullock.  As a small child she came to Kansas with her parents so that they might establish home sites in Rush County under the Homestead Act of 1904.  The Bullock Homestead is eight miles north of McCracken. She attended school at Whitehead School, later named Pleasant Hill.  She spent her entire life in the McCracken area.  She married Jake Edwards, April 20, 1948.  She died January 4, 1988 at the Rush County Memorial Hospital in LaCrosse.  Burial was in the McCracken City Cemetery.
 
January 1998
Jill Garrett Deges, the first McCracken Rodeo Queen, now lives in Asbury, Missouri with her husband, Larry Deges, one of the first McCracken Rodeo Clowns.  Jill is an English teacher at Frontenac High School.  Larry recently went to Philadelphia to ride a camel and an ostrich.  This is his 12th years as a clown.
 
The cost of building the restrooms and shower house at the rodeo grounds was $5,400.00.  It was built through the generosity of Mark Brackney, Francis Wierman and Duane Brackney along with volunteer help.