February 1, 2017 News

Birthdays: February 1, Joshua Moran, Justin Georg, Mason Brackney, Karen Simmerman; February 2, Neal Jacobs, Patty Miller, Doug Elias, Michael Showalter, Donny Anderson; February 3, Don Irvin, Elaine Albright; February 4, Earl Brenner, Darian Rogers, Everett Legleiter; February 5, Haily Rogers, Rhonda Allen, Austin Pfannenstiel; February 6, Reba Baker; February 7, Jim Wierman, Pat Derr, Adam North, Mamie Rogers, Owen Keener. No anniversaries.

The granddaughter of Albert and Doris Oller of Holyrood, Elizabeth “Libby” Van Houten, was recently named a Distinguished Honor Graduate for the faculty of Texas A & M University's College of Education and Human Development. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health. She has been accepted into the School of Nursing at A & M and will start the accelerated program in January. She is the daughter of Gary and Lori Van Houten of Abilene, Texas. Her grandfather Albert is a former resident of McCracken. This was reported in the Ellsworth paper. Albert is a county commissioner in Ellsworth County.

The Second Bleeding Kansas Program on Sunday, February 5 at 2:00 p.m. at Lecompton is “Ride with the Devil: Hollywood and the Border Wars” by Dr. Carl Graves, historian and educator.

There is now on display at McCracken Public Library of handmade cross stitch pictures that have been hand stitched by Mary Zeller Higgins and Kathy Marion. There will be a drawing for a special picture Mary did for the event. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the library. The picture will be given away at Rodeo time. There will be a spaghetti dinner and a chocolate desert extravaganza on Saturday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m at McCracken City Building. The dinner will be a “free will donation” All are invited!

Zack Moran is on the President's Honor Roll at Butler Community College for a 4.0 for his first semester of college. He took 16 hours while being a senior at high school. He is the son of David and Stacy Moran and grandson of Marge Moran of McCracken.

Tony Schlitter, Class of 1950, has spent the last week in ICU. He is improving and they took the ventilator off. Keep him in your prayers. He only has 15% of his heart function.

K-State student Sarah Martin, daughter of Ronn and Laura North Martin has a paid summer internship this coming summer with Bell Helicopter. She is the granddaughter of Arlyn and Jan North and great-granddaughter of Eunice North.
Al and Judy Hugh celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary on Saturday, January 28, at Pasta Joe's in Hays. They were joined by Mike and Susan Keith and Carolyn Thompson.

Sheila Brown and her friend Nat were here from Oklahoma to visit her mother, Cecelia Gilbert and Sheila's grandmother at the rest home in Ness this past weekend. Nat was recently in an accident riding his motorcycle and had a cracked vertebrae in his neck. He is wearing a brace but is recovering.

Mike and Susan Keith were walking around the quarry at the top of the hill south of the ranch house when he encountered the buzz of a rattlesnake on Sunday afternoon. The warmer weather must have brought it out. Interesting weekend because when cleaning in the basement at my house on Saturday Susan found a gecko and a small snake both dehydrated!!!

Jason Moran, Michele Moran and Marge Moran were at John and Ellen Moran's house to celebrate Josh Moran's birthday on Saturday. On Sunday they went to Burrton to visit Clark, Nicole and Madison Kirk.

On Friday morning February 17, there will be a retirement party for Charmaine Wolfe at the Post Office. Cupcakes and coffee will be served.