News Feb 21
Jyl Dechant and Emily accompanied Jerry Higgins and Jenna to Salina this past weekend to a Club Volley tournament.  The girls are members of the Club TC Team.
 
Kate, Emma and Will Rues, Taylor and Katelyn Doornbos were those who enjoyed Story Hour this past Saturday.  Thanks to Laura Schmidt for being a special guest and helper at Story Hour.
 
Hamburger Helper is again offering their grant money.  The Golden Agers, McCracken, have posted their need for a new furnace.  Please go to the site and post your comments.
 
Jerry, Jodi, Tanner and Jenna attended the KU – Colorado basketball game on Saturday afternoon.  Jeff and Liz Jennings accompanied them.  Afterwards they attended an
anniversary get to gather for Phil and Connie McNaul.  They were overnight guests of Jeff and Liz.
 
LOOKING BACK:  1942 More than three hundred pupils participated in the Rush County Spelling Contest.  The following is a list of winners in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades.
First Grade:  LaCrosse, Catherine Rupp, Marilyn Bitter; Liebenthal, Karl Legleiter and Norma Dechant; Alexander, Arlene Jones and Norma Jean Yeager; Bison, Norma LaRue Neve and Shirley Jean Grumbein; Otis, Charley Trailer.
Second Grade:  Liebenthal, Lillian Randa; Otis, Victoria Lebsack, Donna Jean Miller; McCracken, Gladys Thompson, Shirley Lovitt; Alexander, Cordelia Schadel; LaCrosse, Alfreda Abenhaus, Shirley Ann Stapp and Martha Ann Yost.
Third Grade:  Bison, Ruberta Bieber; Otis, Leona Keiser; LaCrosse, Dorothy J. Harman, J.D. Wilson, Zita Rupp, Joyce Renberger; Alexander, Norma Jean Auston, Edna Ebert and Max Newcomer.
 
We wish to wish Harley North a late happy birthday.  It was February 11.  He wondered if we thought he had died!!  Our apologies.  He and Donna visited the library on Tuesday and brought a lot of books from Billie North.
 
The Moran family was here to celebrate Bill’s birthday on Sunday February 10.  John and Josh Moran, Nicole, Clark and Madison Kirk, Michele Moran and Marge went to Ransom hospital to be with him   Jason Moran and friend Joya came in the evening and brought supper to the Moran house.
 
We understand that there has been a lot of coughing, fever and flu around.
 
Andy Hansen and friend Nicole of Hays were Thursday morning visitors of Marty, Tina and Addie Mills.
 
A Lenten Retreat was held Wednesday, February 13 at Liebenhaus.  Sister Martina Stegman was in charge.  Those attending were Lydia Schuckman, Joan Schulz, Twila Herrman, Joan Micheli, Shirley Higgins, Rosarie Jecha, Mary Ann Legleiter, Carolyn Thompson, Lucy Dechant, Rita Oborny, Maggie Dechant, Blanche Tomachek, Judy Hoffman, Nancy Meitel and Eleanor Moeder.
 
A SMALL WORLD:  Leslie Rogers was at Hays Airport waiting for a plane to go to Denver.  It had a malfunction so he began visiting with a fellow formerly from Hays.  He graduated from Hays High in 1974.  He left Hays twenty years ago.  Leslie asked him if he knew any of the Robinson boys from Hays and he said no, but he knew Sheryl Robinson.  Leslie decided to play along and said, “Sheryl has a twin named Sharon, doesn’t she?”  “Yes”, he said.  “I took Sheryl to the Hays High prom when I was a Junior”. “Well”, says Les, “I’m married Sheryl”.  He said “Get out of there – you’re kidding’ me”. His name is Charles Reidel.   Charles was here for a funeral.  P. S.  The plane never left the gate so Leslie didn’t get to take his flight.
 
Thursday afternoon Marty and Addie Mills attended funeral services at LaCrosse for cousin, Golda Miller.  Burial was at the Nekoma Cemetery.
 
The final Bleeding Kansas 2008 series will be held on February 24 at 2:00 p.m. at Constitution Hall in Lecompton.  Admission is free.  The program is entitled “Danger at My Very Door:  Betsy Hoole’s Southern View of Kansas Territory.”  It is a first-person portrayal by Michelle Martin of Discovering History, LLC.
 
The Dream group met at Liebenhaus on February 15 and celebrated Valentine’s Day.  Carol Heiman brought heart sugar cookies made with butter.  Kathleen Kuchar presented each member a Valentine’s Card with a print of one of her pieces of art work.  It featured Miss Scusi and Mr. Wooley.  Others attending were Sr. Joel Christoph, Sr. Martina Stegman, Shirley Higgins, Christine Wagner and Carolyn Thompson.
 
 Our sympathy to the family of Edward O’Brien 11, age 78, of Moline, Illinois, died Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at Moline, Illinois.  He was born June 8, 1930 to Edward O’Brien and Georgia Jackson O’Brien.  He married Doris, who died in the early 70’s.  Later he married Joan.  She survives.  Other survivors include sons, Edward 111, William and Lawrence and daughters, Jackie, Annette and Vanette.  He is also survived by his niece, Debra Gaunt and brother-in-law, Orville Durand.  His sister was the late Caroline Durand.  He was retired from the Navy.  He visited McCracken many times and helped Orville with the cattle.  The funeral was in Bettendorf, Iowa.
 
Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith were Sunday afternoon and night guests of Carolyn Thompson.  Mike and Susan attended an In-Service at Hays on Monday.  Shannon and Carolyn attended the Wilson land sale at LaCrosse.
 
McCracken History Notes
 
February 1908
Leonard and Meikle Ryan have joined the U. S. Navy and are stationed in San Francisco.
 
Carol Rose delivered a fine organ at the school house Wednesday which was recently purchased by the school children.
 
February 1938
After a long dry spell, moisture finally fell in Western Kansas and made chances for a wheat crop better than usual.
 
Ruby Littler, senior, is the chief school pianist.  She plays for both glee clubs.
 
Leo Murphy Higgins died February 3, 1938 after a brief illness of influenza, developing into pneumonia.  He was born in 1892 southwest of McCracken.  He leaves to mourn his wife Teresa, five sons, Vincent, Leon, Wilfrid, James and Victor.  Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
 
February 1948
Mr. and Mrs. John Oelkers and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Oelkers and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Doerr left Tuesday of last week for a trip to Old Mexico, Arizona, California and other points in the Southwest.
 
Harold Walker, Past Master of the McCracken Lodge No. 58, has been appointed District Deputy Grand Master of AF & AM of 47 District of Kansas.
 
 
February 1958
The tall McCracken Junior High Colts beat the LaCrosse Wolves 30-24 Thursday afternoon in LaCrosse.  McCracken players:  Grumbein, Jones, Conrad, Irvin, Herdman and Walker.  LaCrosse:  Pfeiffer, Ficken, Bunker, Stephens, Basgall, Rife, Lee and Kelley.
 
Grace Barnes, 68, died February 2, 1958. She was the daughter of Isaac and Lilly Brown Green.  She married Troy Barnes in 1915.
 
February 1968
The government has decided to close the helium plant at Otis.
 
McCracken Grade School brought their record to 11 wins and no losses when they defeated Alexander 47-22 for lst place.
 
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Casey, a son, Christopher Stephen, February 27 at Ransom.
 
February 1978
The open house and dedication of the Rush County Nursing Home was held February 26 in LaCrosse.
 
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Dechant, a daughter, Tamara Renee, born February 22 in Ransom.
 
 
February 1988
A reception was hosted by Rod, Bernie, Adam, Anthony and Ashley Taylor honoring Kristopher Taylor on his baptism.  Kristopher is the son of Lisa and Randy Taylor.
 
Inez D. Showalter North Mills, 86, died February 14, 1988.  She was born Inez D. Showalter, July 10, 1901 near McCracken.  She married George H. North September 4, 1916.  He died April 27, 1936.  She married Rollie Mills in 1951.  Burial was in the LaCrosse Cemetery.
 
February  1998
Kevin Anderson, brother of Kathy Severson, from Colorado, has purchased the Mildred Rein house from Francis Zeller.
 
Rashell Mills participated in the District KMEA in Dodge City last week.
 
Tina Mills has replaced Carol Rixon at the lunch room at McCracken Middle School.