RCNews June 12
Lee Roy Schrader, 87, died June 2, 2008 at South Wind Hospice, Pratt.  He married Viola Dome in 1947.  He is survived by his wife, 4 daughters and a sister Vida Irvin, Hays.
 
The Hutch Hawks 13U baseball team finished second in the 10 team USSSA AA baseball tournament held at Fun Valley on Saturday, May 31st and Sunday, June 1st.  The Hawks won their opener on Saturday over the Wichita Jets 6-4 and then lost to the Hays Indians 9-3.  On Sunday the Hawks beat the Mid Kansas Dirt Bags 12-11, the Hays Indians 15-9, and the Salina Vipers 7-3 before losing the championship game to the Scott City Giants 4-1.  Team members include Hector Amato, Dakota Brower, JaMon Cotton, Tyler Cox, Cole Cruz, Jarod Gagnebin, Tanner Higgins, Travis Hirt, Ryan O'Toole, Trevor Turner, and Seaver Williams. Team coaches are Bob Brower, Jerry Higgins, Terry Turner, and Steve Williams.
 
Evelyn Cosby and Addie Mills enjoyed supper at the Rooster Café in LaCrosse celebrating Evelyn’s birthday one day this past week.
 
LOOKING BACK:  McCracken School News – September 1940:  The following persons in the third and fourth grades received a perfect score in spelling Friday were: Wayne Irvin, Edith Moses, William Spomer, Charles Sweeney, Julius Unrein and Beverly Moses.  Dean Groves and Edith Moses missed one day of school last week because of illness.    Those making perfect grades in spelling in the fifth and sixth grades on Friday were:  Guy Conner, Phyllis Cheney, Virginia Dugan, Johnny Elmore, James Higgins, Rosalyn Mullenix, Helen Marie Thompson, Bertie Joy Twiselton, Georgina Unrein, Warren Irvin, Dorothy Klug, Dicky Shiney, Pauline Walker and Orin Webster.
 
Addie Mills was an overnight guest at the Howard Johnson junior home in Wichita.  Lucille Williams, Puyallup, Washington was also a guest.  Addie and Lucille have been friends for more than 60 years.
 
Kenneth and Lou Thompson will be unable to attend the alumni reunion this year because Lou has another treatment scheduled in Little Rock, Arkansas.
 
A rodeo meeting was held Sunday evening at the city building with Tom Prosser and Cody, Roger and Norma McNair, Gladys and Wendell Hinman, Colleen Kerns, Brett Gilbert, Ty Elias, Gary Barnes, William Greenway, Ava North, Jerilyn Stull and Colby, Mark Brackney and Mikaela, Shirley Higgins, Bill Greenway and Brenda Boese. 
 
Addie Mills was a Wednesday luncheon guest of Francis Klee.
 
DiAnn Jarman, sister of Carol Weber and her friend Ellie Colitti, Denver, were guests this weekend of Carol.  They went to Paradise where they were looking for the graves of Ellie’s grandparents.  They had lunch at Gella’s in Hays.
 
It was overheard Sunday evening that Brett Gilbert received a letter of the alphabet at a
basketball game this weekend.
 
Pauline Frazier, Shirley Higgins, Bob Fear and John Walker went on a ‘memory’ trip last Tuesday when they toured Dutch Hollow.  They all had lunch in Sonny’s at Liebenthal.
 
Congratulations to Kellye and Diana Hart on their 50th anniversary.
 
In regard to the temporary closing of the McCracken Post Office, let us remain positive.  We have to believe that we will have our full service post office up and running in a very short time.  It is certainly apparent that the patrons want the post office and we do not want to “settle” for something less than a full service operation.  The community and county leaders are committed to this project and once again the local people have shown their willingness to do whatever it takes to make known to the USPS and our U. S. Senators and Representative, State Senator and State Representative our desire for the USPS to continue providing these services to our people.  Volunteers have worked many hours to provide for the recreation of the community – the newly renovated swimming pool and the beautifully equipped Municipal Park.  A post office is our link to the wider world – our businesses depend on the services provided.  McCrackenites are eternally optimistic.  We think there is a place for the small town and we continue to look for opportunities to attract young families and new businesses.   Our senior citizens deserve to be able to stay here.   We expect to have some presence of the United States Government.  
 
Our sympathy to the family of Jerry D. Bell, 68, Great Bend, who died June 3, 2008 at Hutchinson.  He was manager of the Alexander Co-op for several years. Survivors include his wife, Marva, son J. D. and daughter, Sonya Foos, four grandchildren.   Burial was at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Wellington.
 
Had a nice visit with Helen Yost at the Mall in Hays where she and Howard run a kiosk with all kinds of items to buy.  For you KU fans, they have an excellent selection of flags, license plates and banners. 
 
Al and Judy Hugh attended the high school graduation of their grandson, T. J. Milam, on June 6, in Houston.  He will attend college in the fall at College Station, Texas.
 
Eunice North brought a picture for the museum of McCracken looking south on Main Street.  The picture was probably taken in front of the hardware.  The Farwell building (recently torn down) is the first building.  Views of the entire east side of Main are shown down to the Ryan elevator on the south.  The street is lined with horses and buggies.  This gift is very much appreciated.
 
RODEO NEWS  by Jerilyn Stull:
The winning design of the Rodeo T-shirt is Jeremy Oborny of Rush Center.
 
There will be a raffle for a gun at the rodeo – contact Gladys and Wendell Hinman for tickets.
 
If you are interested in a long sleeve shirt such as the rodeo workers wear in the arena, they are $25.  Orders need to be placed shortly and paid for at order time.  They are tan with a navy embroidery with McCracken Rodeo and a colored bull rider on the logo along with McCracken, Kansas.  A woman’s style polo shirt any color can be ordered for $15 with McCracken Rodeo on the front.  Please tell Jerilyn if you want either.
 
There will be a contest on the radio to win “Best Seats in the House” at the rodeo.  Harries Motor of WaKeeney will provide a pickup for the best seats.  The winner will also receive a free t-shirt, food and beverages of their choice.
 
Hats have been ordered from Mr. Embroidery in LaCrosse to be sold at the rodeo or hopefully in advance.
 
Leigh Ann Brackney will help with the First McCracken Rodeo Princess contest.    Leigh Ann’s phone number is 785-432-0517.
 
Gina Riedl is in charge of the Rodeo Queen contest.
 
Brenda Boese reported on the trail ride.  There is a Poker Run to be included for $5 per hand.  The route has not yet been determined.
 
The next meeting is Sunday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m.
 
 
Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith attended the Kansas Volleyball Association All State Match at Lee Arena at Washburn University in Topeka on Saturday.  Laura Macek was on the red team.  She will be attending Barton County on a Volleyball scholarship.  Laura was a member of the Ellsworth volleyball team.
 
McCracken History Notes
June 1908
 
Charles Rodarmel, Hoisington and Miss Bessie Irvin were married at LaCrosse with the probate judge officiating.
 
Saturday afternoon the Free Masons and the Modern Woodman of American enjoyed a baseball game.  All players were required to wear Mother Hubbard dresses.  Players for the Masons:  John R. Lovitt, Perry and Scott Yawger, D. D. Hunt, Rush Brenner, Will and Percy Grumbein and Clay Farwell.  Woodmen:  Frank and C. Irvin, Paul Warden, Frank Hicks, I. Ferris, E. McCaskey, B. Juvenal, Jas. Rixon and Robert Belcher.  The two clubs made a parade through town headed by the McCracken band.
 
June 1938
Among the boxing fans here who attended the fights at Great Bend Tuesday night were Cecil Brackney, Benny Peer, Ivy Irvin, Dean Irvin, Shack Stephens, Herman Pratt, Hank Ree, Reuben Blehm, John Thies, Bard Stephens, Harry Tanck and Frank Irvin.
 
When “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” appeared at the Garden Theatre last weekend, local rural mail carrier, Sid Saunders was eager to see it.  He and Walt Disney are first cousins.  Mr. Disney was raised near Ellis.  His father and Sid’s mother were brother and sister.
 
Hal Sieling, formerly of McCracken and son of Harry Sieling, last week reported to manager Joe Cronin of the Boston Red Sox for a shot at big league baseball.
 
June 1948
Gwen Grove, was soloist and director for the Kappa chorus and wrote the words and music for one of the competing songs used by her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma at K-State in Manhattan in the intra-fraternity sing presented by all sororities and fraternities.  Miss Grove will be music supervisor in the McCracken schools next year.  Her mother, the late Mrs. James Grove was a former teacher in McCracken.
 
Mrs. Carl Grate gave a surprise party Tuesday for her mother, Mrs. Dora Washaliski on her 86th birthday.
 
The McCracken post office windows will be closed hereafter on Saturday afternoons.  The post office doors will remain open until six o’clock p.m. and all first class mail mailed before that time will be sent out.
 
June 1958
Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Jennings were honored for their 60th wedding anniversary.
 
Wilma Baus has received a two semester scholarship from a Hays typewriter company to Fort Hays State College.  Miss Baus is a sophomore majoring in economics and business.
 
Guy Basil VanWinkle was born on a farm near Brownell January 14, 1902 and died of a coronary condition June 3, 1958.
 
Diana Walker and Kelly Hart were married in LaCrosse, June 14, 1958.  Assisting with the reception were Helen VanWinkle, Margaret Buxton, Ruby VanWinkle, Carrie Davis and Fern Miller.
 
June 1968
Kirby Wendler was elected student council president for the 1968-69 school years.  This is the first year MHS will have a student council.
 
Ruby Ryan received her 50 year pin from the McCracken Chapter No. 261 Order of Eastern Star on June 3.
 
Adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Littler, a boy, Scott Alan, June 5.  (Scott’s 40th birthday was on May 25).
 
Gary Turner and Elaine Burg were married Saturday at the Methodist Church in Oberlin.  (Happy 40th).
 
Ronnie Rein is stationed with the Army at Fort Ord, California.
 
June 1978
Seaman Kenneth A. Foster recently departed for an extended deployment in the Mediterranean Sea.
 
Winners are the Kansas Track Club Championships held in LaCrosse were in Bantam, Kaira Miller, lst in race walk; Debra Gaunt, 3rd; Susan Thompson second in baseball throw; Midgets, Shawn McKinney lst in shot-put; intermediate, Craig Stull, 100 and 200 yard dash and 3rd on relay team; Seniors, Shannon McKinney, 2nd in 100, 3rd in 220 and 880.  Sean Miller also participated.
 
Jeff Scheuerman has his photograph project on display at Farmers and Merchants Bank in LaCrosse with those of other 4-H clubs.
 
June 1988
Bill Harp was recently selected to attend the Kansas Regents Honors Academy to be held this summer at Kansas State University.  He is the son of Tony Harp and Shirley Harp.
 
Florence H. “Casey” Janke Crawford, 74, died May 26, 1988.  She was born January 31, 1914 in McCracken to Albert G. and Emma F. Koch Janke.  She married Lewie C. Crawford June 12, 1944.  Survivors are her husband and son, Keith Crawford.  Burial was in the McCracken Cemetery.
 
June 1998
Lee Roy Schuckman, Almena, is retiring this year and is planning to move to Hays.
 
Bob Thompson, Pflugerville, Texas is now a full time professor of Electronics at Austin Community College.
 
Sixteen teams attended the 2 man scramble golf tournament held in McCracken on Sunday.  Winners were:  Championship flight, lst place, Joe and Guy Conner, 2nd place Kellye and Chris Irvin.  First flight, lst place, Wilfrid Higgins and Marvin Thomas, 2nd place, Bet McCormick and Babe Gilbert.  Second flight; 2nd place Brett Gilbert and Clayton Wilson.