RCNews Jan. 28

Jeff and Kathy Hurd will go to the pro bowl this next week where Jeff is the strength coach.  It is to be held in Miami. Brad “Uncle Buck” Lovitt is going to stay with the Hurd kids, Austin, Audra and Eric in San Diego.
 
Tyrel Elias had hunters here from Fort Scott and Arkansas.
 
Addie Mills was a Sunday morning visitor of Donnie Schuckman and his daughters, Stacy Scheetz, Hailee and Braydon and Melissa Thompson and Davis LeRoy.  The girls were home for an early birthday celebration for their dad.   
 
Mike Karlin was a Monday and Tuesday guest of Addie Mills.  Addie returned him to Hays to meet his father on Tuesday evening and also visited with Jack Klee.
 
Two birthday parties were held Saturday evening at Boondocks Café in McCracken.  Arlene Gilbert and Marlene Funk celebrated their ?? with family and friends; Lisa Day also had a surprise birthday party which wasn’t really a surprise.  Family and friends of both attended.
 
Don’t ask Marge Moran if you want to have the car doors locked while ‘running’ into Dillon’s.  There was horn honking etc. etc. while trying to get the doors open.
 
Eunice North is having a birthday January 29th.  We know she would enjoy your cards.  Please send them to Good Samaritan Center – 1101 Spruce Street – Ellis, KS  67637
 
This has been a difficult week as we have lost three of our own.
 
Marguerite Washaliski Holmes, 79, was buried on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at McCracken City Cemetery.  She was born August 3, 1930, to Max and Loretta Higgins Washaliski, at McCracken and died January 16, 2010 at Topeka.  Her brother Diz lives here.  Her full obituary was in the week’s RCN.  A memorial has been received in her memory to the Jail/Museum.
 
If you should travel down Highway 14 through the town of Ellsworth you will think you are on an airport landing strip.  The lights are so bright no thieves would dare to try to rob any business.  The bulbs are said to be energy efficient. 
 
Cheryl A. Wiesner, 56, died January 20, 2010 at Tulsa, Okla.  She was born July 7, 1953 in LaCrosse to Patrick M. and Frances R. (Kisslinger) Casey.  She was a 1971 graduate of McCracken High School.  She married Phillip Wiesner on November 10, 1973 in McCracken.  She is survived by her husband, Phillip; her mother, Frances Casey; six brothers, Daryl, Donald, Jim, Jerry, Kevin and Chris; three sisters, Karen Shumake, Carolyn Schadel and Laura Linsey.  She worked at admissions at Hays Medical Center and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays.  Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays.
 
Tribute to Jim Schafer by the late Msgr. P. J. Leahy:  “Through the years, McCracken has been noted for its interest in sports and its pride in the teams by which it was represented.  This is particularly true of its baseball representatives.  Though St. Mary’s, as a parish, never sponsored a team, its members were included annually in the “Cookie League”.  This, officially the kindergarten through 18-year-old Cookie League baseball, was organized in 1949 and headquartered in Lucas, Kansas.  When businessman Jim Schafer, fresh out of the U. S. Navy, came to town he was invited (dragooned might be a better description) to take charge of the community baseball program for Cookie-leaguers in the age bracket of nine to 15.  He inherited it lock, stock and barrel, or bat, mitt and ball, save that he had to supply most of the equipment.  He thus became owner, trainer, coach, public relations man, groundskeeper, transportation agent, van driver and catcher all wrapped in one.  In his 20 years at the helm, his teams have won 382 games and lost 107, for a phenomenal 70 percent.  Jim’s teams have won state championships in 1974 and 1979 and have amassed 45 trophies (which may be found at McCracken Public Library) and of these 21 for first place in tournaments”.  On his teams in the intervening score of years were representatives of most of the families of McCracken and the area. 
Jim came to town as a barber.  In the 70’s he was located on the west side of the street and sold older furniture and was a coin dealer in the Hastings Building which burned down.  He decided to become a furniture store owner (selling LaCrosse sofa sleepers) and do barbering in his large building on the east side of the street.  He employed many of his ballplayers and they were all devoted to him.  He organized a Baseball Hall of Fame to honor former and current ballplayers. 
He was a spiritual man who was devoted to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  At mass on June 7, 1986, he was commissioned as a Eucharistic minister.  He distributed communion at mass and took communion to the sick and shut-ins in the absence of the pastor.  Each day found him at the church and rectory making sure that it was well maintained.  He was a sacristan for mass, serving mass whenever a young person was not available.  He was always at daily mass until the church closed.
He loved to visit and was a regular at the coffee shop.  He patronized the cafes throughout the years.  He organized 4th of July fireworks at the ball field.  He supported all causes.  He was a Boy Scoutmaster.   
He just recently felt the need to go to the Rush County Nursing Home for extra care.  His stay was not long.  God called him home – Come, good and faithful servant, a job well done.
 
 
McCracken History Notes
 
January 1910
The lamps in use on the fronts of the Methodist and United Brethren churches are a demonstration of what a few on the streets would look like.  These lamps furnish light for nearly a block and are of great assistance to people who have been paddling over slippery side walks for the past two weeks.
 
January 1920
The influenza wave reached McCracken the first of the week and nearly every family in town is suffering with it.
 
Ray Irvin purchased a Hudson touring car from J. E. Elmore the first of the week.
 
January 1940
Miss Lucille Frazier will work as beauty operator in the Twiselton beauty Shop.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Mullins have a baby girl, Claudia Lou, born January 25 in LaCrosse.
 
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wilson, twin girls weighing six and eight pounds in Hays on Thursday morning (January 25).  Congratulations to Arlene Gilbert and Marlene Funk on their 70th birthdays.
 
January 1960
Mr. and Mrs. Kellye Hart have moved into the Freeman Barnes house in the west part of town.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Funk moved to WaKeeney where he is employed by the Roberts Construction Co.
 
January 1980
The cookbooks sponsored by St. Mary’s Altar Society have arrived and are one sale.  Those on the committee to compile the cookbooks were Lucy Unrein, Twila Higgins, Carolyn Thompson and Shirley Higgins.  A picture of Main Street McCracken in 1955 was shown on the cover of the book.