April 5

The Easter egg hunt sponsored by the United Methodist Church will be held Saturday, April 7 at the McCracken City Park beginning 1:30.

Kaden Derr celebrated his 1st birthday Tuesday evening at the home of his parents, Allen at and Bailey Morgan.  He celebrated with cake and ice cream.  The following guests were present:  Dave, Derek and Carly Derr, Layne, Kerri, Katelyn and Angela Morgan, Michael and  Jeridy Morgan,  Pat Derr, Debbie Rogers, Kevin and Valerie Anderson, Lexi, Zoe and Rylan. 

Congratulations to Michael and Jen Harp on the upcoming birth of their baby in October.

Nicole Ryan presented her grandmother, Lorraine Ryan, with a wonderful cedar chest that she made in school.

Kelli Cole was selected for the Cheyenne conference all-league 1st team; her sister Allison Cole made 2nd team all league.  Both girls play for Northern Valley and are the daughters of Jim and Monica Cole. 

Four area school 4th graders from Ness City, Larned, Stafford and St. John spent Wednesday at the Pawnee County Fairgrounds for a farm tour.  First up was a demonstration on electrical safety. Mason Weber was outfitted as a linewoman and instructed to pretend she was a top of a utility pole and had to repair a wire nut. The special rubber gloves Mason donned, worn by linemen and women, protect the wearer up to 20,000 volts.  The line personnel also wear shirts made of special fire-resistant material.  Midwest Energy sponsored the demonstration.  The article and Mason’s picture appeared in the Thursday edition of the Great Bend Tribune.  Mason is the daughter of Michael and Kelly Weber and granddaughter of Bob and Marlene Wilson Funk.

It is tough to get an all-league selection in the 12-school Mid Central Activities Association League.  Wichita Collegiate was the 3A state champion and did not end up with one first-team selection.  Cameron Horesky was an unanimous first-team selection and team mate Zac Stetler was honorable mention.  Both are players for Hoisington.  Cameron was chosen as an All Class boys honorable mention.

Gerald Walker, Corning, IA, Wendell and Gladys Hinman and Pat Derr enjoyed lunch together at 4-Corners Café in LaCrosse.

Jeff McCormick and Julie Cordell, Hutchinson, came back to visit friends in McCracken Friday night.

Dean Gilbert was a patient at Hays Medical Center several days this week.  He hoped he would be going home on Friday.

Nicole and Bart Tarbell hosted a birthday supper for her dad, Bob and Margaret Fear on Wednesday, March 28.

The swimming pool committee will host a Sunday dinner, April 15 beginning at noon at the McCracken Community Building.  They will service fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, roll, drink and dessert.

Some of the ladies ‘braving’ the rain Saturday morning and attending Ladies Day Out in LaCrosse were Laura Linsey, Jean Schutte, Pat Derr, Twila Higgins, Lorraine Ryan, Carolyn Thompson, Tammy Irvin, Machree Jones, Norma McNair, Shirley Higgins, Arlene Gilbert, Sarah Priddy, Ruthetta Hansen, Jean Oelkers, Lynnette Dornabos, Jan North and Shirley Harp, presenter.  The breakfast was again wonderful as were the door prizes, the speakers and the many booths.  Thanks again to the committee.

Thursday, April 19 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the McCracken Community Building the Walnut Creek Extension District will host a program on flowers and trees.  David Coltrain, Walnut Creek Extension Agent will present the program.  You must pre-register by April 18 by calling 1-800-460-9079.    There are flyers posted at the library and post office.  There must be 8 registrations for each meeting, so please call and attend this worth while program.

Fran Work, Gladstone, Illinois has given a donation to the Jail/Museum in memory of Vic Higgins.  She is also a renewing member from 2007-2008.

From Wednesday through Monday Arlyn and Jan North were in Texas to visit Ronn and Laura Martin, Sarah and Aiden.  Ronn, Arlyn and Aiden spent Thursday on a successful fishing expedition.  Friday lunch was deep fried stripper in the backyard.  Jan, Laura and Sarah took in the Dallas Quilt Guild Show.

Our sympathy to the family of Neil G. Dirks, 55, Rush Center, who died March 29, 2007 at Hays Medical Center.  He was the son of Fred H. and Leona A. Misegadis Dirks.  He married Kristy J. Mendenhall on December 8, 1984 at LaCrosse.  He is survived by his wife, a daughter, Jeridy D. Morgan and son-in –law Michael Morgan, McCracken; brother Paul Dirks and sister Elaine Wolter.  Burial was in Locust Hill Cemetery, Rush Center.

McCracken History Notes April 1887 Star School District #30, Directors:  John Fudge, John Farley and James Start.  Students:  Robert, Albert, Frank, Charley  and Mamie Start, Sherman, Dora, Seigel and Dahlgreen Potts, Simon and Dennis Brandt, Annie, Albert and Nellie Dailey,  Mary E., Mirian, Lavina, Maggie, Elvira and Theodosia Fudge, Oda Irvin and ? Armstrong.

A baseball club has been organized.  F. D. Clark, Manager, J. P. Warden, President, J. M. Temple, Vice-President, E. C. Tritt, Treasurer, A. B. Hill, Secretary, E. H. Clark, Captain, H. Hunter, Property Manager.  Players, E. M. Clark, J. Doolin, L. Sanford,   J. P. Love, P. Higgins, A. Hill, F. D. Clark. W. Duddelson. 

April 1907 Miss Minnie McGimsey’s school at Pleasant Hill closed last Friday.  She says Archy Murphy made the best record in the school, going the full term without being absent or tardy.

Miss Bessie McCaskey and Mr. Robert Lippard of Bison were married Wednesday at high noon at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. McCaskey, six miles north of this city.  Only immediate relatives and friends witnessed the ceremony.

April 1937 R. C. Buxton has sold the Garden Theatre to his son, Mont Buxton, who for the past three years has operated theatres in Nebraska.  Tonight is their first show, all seats 10 cents.

Wm. F. Schutte, 95, one of the last of Rush County’s Civil War veterans, died at his home.

Mrs. M. T. Moran, nee Sweeney, died March 28, 1937, and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.  She is survived by her husband; children, Martin, Loretta, Francis and Alice and her mother, Mrs. Mary Sweeney.

April 1947 Dr. C. D. Blake died at Hadley Memorial hospital in Hays.  Dr. Blake was one of the most widely known surgeons of western Kansas.  It was largely through his efforts that the hospital which is now known as Hadley Memorial was established.  He was chief of staff of this institution at his death.  Services were held at St. Michael’s Episcopal church in Hays.  His daughter Helen Blake Caraway, formerly of LaCrosse, was killed in an automobile crash in Wyoming in December.

Rush county Selective Service board No. 1 has held its final meeting and preparations are being made for the complete liquidation of this war-born agency by May 31.  Miss Hazel Thee is chief clerk of the board having served since the board’s first meeting in 1940.  The original draft board members were Frank Pivonka, Geo. Nickel and James Schroeder.  Others serving were Oscar Showalter, James R. Raup, Fritz Kerbs, John Sell, J. C. Meyer.  Those working with Miss Thee were Dorothy West, Venita Kreie Hoskinson, Beverly Wiechen Arensman, Mrs. H. J. Walker.  The draft board served without compensation examining a total of 2,846 cases

April 1957 Movies advertised at the Paramount in LaCrosse:  “Battle Cry”, “Rock
Pretty Baby”, “Battle Hymn” and “Mister Roberts”.

Jay L. Frazier has been named basketball coach at McPherson High School.  In his five years of coaching, Frazier’s team have won 102 games and lost 19.

April 1967 Don Buster was reelected to the USD 395 School Board at the Tuesday election.

Those attending the surprise birthday party for Patricia Foss on her 26th birthday were Jan and Doris Halbleib, Duane Williams, Kathy Huddleston, Lana Scheuerman, Dan Petz, Dixie Walker, Jerry Dugan, Kathy Casey, Terry Peters, Kirby Wendler, Susie Reinhardt, Doug Whitis, Rich and Doug Higgins, Karen Casey, Mike Peters, Penny Irvin, Dennis Elias and Valandia Derr.

Kerri Jo Derr underwent a tonsillectomy at Hadley Saturday morning.

April 1977 James Bromlow was elected mayor of Alexander.

Gloria Baus Bland and Eddie Blackwell were married April 6 at the First Lutheran Church in LaCrosse.

April 1987 A second blizzard in less than a week blasted Rush county depositing another six to twelve inches of snow.  The storm dealt a hardship to area farmers as there were cattle deaths.  Power was restored to McCracken after being out for over 30 hours.  The storm was reminiscent of the storm in 1957.

April 1997 Lance McCormick underwent surgery after the car that he had jacked up to change a flat tire fell against him hurting his shoulder.