RCNews
Feb 10

Birthdays:  February 10, Kim Jay, Marilyn Hopper; February 11, Priscilla Jacobs, Sierra Pfeifer, Harley North, Jeanette McCormick, Kelsee Rogers; February 12, Bridger Baus; February 13, Seth Albers; February 14, Maurice Klee, Kathleen Stremel; February 15, Jana Herdman; February 16, Adelaide Mills, Katherine Casey, Alex Casey, Clayton Sewell, Charmaine Wolfe.
 
Anniversaries:  February 10, Michael and Jerridy Morgan; February 14, Dave and Carolyn Davenport; February 16, Bruce and Ellen Kershner.
 
Those attending story hour Saturday at the McCracken Library were Clay and Dalton North,
Rylin, Kameron and Quinn Anderson, Logan and Carson North. The children spent their time making valentines.
 
Don’t forget the Valentine’s Dinner for two at Boondock’s Friday, February 11. They will serve you an appetizer for two, two surf and turf entrees and a dessert to share.  Saturday, February 12 they will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Café will be closed in the evening for a private business party.  Sunday you may eat some great home-style fried chicken.
 
A generous donation was given to the McCracken American Legion raised last weekend by The Rush County Upwind Shootout, a competition team pheasant hunt. The donation was very much appreciated.
 
If you have seen a white cat with a black tail and one black ear it belongs to Shirley and Sandra. Please give one of us a call.
 
The American Legion is having hamburgers and fries Saturday, February 12 from 5:30 – 7:00 at the Legion.
 
Shirley Higgins spent most of last week in Hutchinson with Jerry, Jodi, Tanner and Jenna.
She attended a ball game in Hutchinson Monday evening, Hutch 8th grade girls against Hayesville which they won; Thursday evening in Andover where the high school boys played Andover and the 8th grade girls played at Andover Central. They both lost.
 
Donny Joseph Anderson was born on Feb. 2, 2011 at 1435.  He weighed 7# 9oz and is 20 ? long. Mom, Jennifer Anderson, is doing fine. Dad, Shane Anderson, was on pins and needles, waiting for word of Donny’s birth.  Shane is in Afghanistan and won’t be home until April.  But when he does come home that will be one spoiled little boy..
 
Rodeo meeting, Sunday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m.
 
Chuck and Shari Pollard have renewed their membership in the Jail/Museum and also sent a donation.  They also informed us of the death of of Chuck's uncle, R. Keith Ryan.
 
Obituary of R. Keith Ryan, 96, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, died November 8, 2010 at his residence.  He was born in Alexander, Kansas on September 24, 1914.  Mr. Ryan moved to Hilton Head in 1979 from Syracuse, New York where he was an Executive Vice President of Carrier Corp.  He was a founding member of Bear Creek Golf Club on Hilton Head.  Mrs. Ryan is survived by his daughter, Sherry Ryan Perry of Alameda, California; son, Keith Price Ryan of Lake Forest, California; grandchildren, Gregory Ryan, Ryan Perry, Holly Perry, Kelly Keene and 6 great grandchildre.  He was preceded in death by Mary Price Ryan, Pauline O'Connell Ryan and grandson, Patrick Ryan.  Chuck also sent a photograph of R. Keith Ryan which will be placed in our genealogical section of the museum.
 
Kennedy Irish Wrestling Invitational was held at Hays High School on Saturday.  Ellis and Ellsworth were two of the teams participating.  Stephanie Greenway is a cheerleader for Ellis Middle School and Shannon Keith is a cheerleader for Ellsworth Junior High School. 
 
The Bleeding Kansas 2011 series continues at Lecompton at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 13.  The program to be presented by Diane Mutti Burke, Associate Professor of History, University of Missouri-Kansas City is "On Slavery's Border:  Missouri's Small Slaveholding Households, 1815-1865".
 
Les and Rose Diehl donated two pictures to the Jail/Museum.  One is West Main St. Looking North in McCracken, Kans and the other is the Bank and store Building in Brownell, Kans.  They were sent to Ness City from McCracken in 1908 and 1909, mailed to Mr. O. R. Abel and Mr. Ronald Abel.  We have never seen these pictures before so they are a valuable addition to our collection.  There are buildings on each lot from the Hastings store to the Bank of McCracken.  This was before the 1909 fire which took out everything but the Hastings store and the Bank of McCracken.
 
Do you know your Kansas Supreme Court justices?  They are Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, Marla J. Luckert, Carol A. Beier, Eric S. Rosen, Lee A. Johnson, Dan Biles and Nancy L. Moritz. 
 
Do you have old sheets, mattress pads or other items that could be used as filler for quilts?  The ladies of the Lutheran Church in Rush Center make quilts for charity and could use these items.  Please contact Gladys Hinman.
 
Kansas History Notes
 
1827:  Fort Leavenworth was established as an army post to protect the western frontier and Santa Fe Trail travelers.
 
1853  Fort Riley was founded to protect settlers and traders moving across Kansas to the West.
 
1859  Fort Larned was established to protect the United States mail wagons and Santa Fe Trail traffic. (The Explorer)
 
McCracken History Notes
 
February 1891
There seems to be considerable rivalry as to who shall be the champion slayer of jack rabbits of Hampton township.  John Edsall, Ed Farrington and Charley Lovitt all claim it is nip and tuck to see who can tell the largest stories of the big hunts.
 
A new arrival in the person of a bouncing boy at Will Neal's Wednesday and a new baby girl for Marion Ryan of north Waring.
 
February 1911
The drouth was broken here Monday by a good rain.  This is the first rain we have had here since August, although it is reported that it came in time to save a part of the wheat.  About two inches fell all together.  (Let's hope we have a repeat of that)
 
February 1941
The Hadley family of Ellis County gave $45,000 to the Protestant Hospital in Hays.  The money will be used for a two-story addition of 33 rooms.
 
The annual meeting of the Farmers Union Co-operative Business Association of McCracken will be held in the basement room of the Norlin building.
 
February 1961
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Moran, McCracken, on the birth of a daughter born February 7 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Hays.
 
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. LeeRoy Schuckman, McCracken, on the birth of a daughter, Lisa Luan, born February 9 weighing 6 lbs and 8 ounces at the Rush County Hospital.
 
February 1981
The population of Rush County is 4,524.  McCracken 291.
 
Robin Schuckman will be student teaching in elementary education in Hays; Kim Cooper in the high school business department in LaCrosse and Janet Herdman in elementary education in LaCrosse.