RCNews July 10
Congratulations to Brian and Lisa Davis, Hutchinson, on the birth of a son, Hunter Robert, born May 22, 2008. Bruce and Sue Davis are the proud grandparents.
 
The Jail/Museum thanks Arky McNair for selling raffle tickets for the $150 gift certificate to Vanderbilts.   He is a good salesman!!
 
Memorials given to the McCracken Alumni in memory of Donna Davis Schuckman from Bruce & Sue Davis; Oliver & Willetta Gordon Herdman from Terry & Carol Littler Herdman; Jack Wilson, Liz Conner and Lorraine Norlin from Lynnette Harp Doornbos; Leonard and Elma Yost from Mike and Sharolyn Jones Legleiter; Celestin Stremel memorial to rodeo from Lanette Mathews; Elmore Ryan from Lorraine Ryan; Bob Derr from Patricia Derr; Lyle Davenport & Celly Stremel from Dave & Carolyn Davenport; Lyle Davenport from Midge Davenport; Vic Higgins from Shirley Higgins; Norma Jean Heiser from Terry Peters;
 
Mackenzie Derr celebrated her 2nd birthday with a party at the home of her grandparents, Pete and Rhonda Derr recently.  Guests included Dennis, Judy and Lindsey Frick and Dennis’ nephew; Helena, Rob and Austin McGaughey; Dylan and Ben Derr; great grandmother Dee Trout; Cecily Miller; Terrill Trout, Valandia and Danny Brady and Danny’s sister. They all enjoyed a bar-b-que, birthday cake and home made ice cream. A 2nd party was held at RCNH with a lasagna dinner and guest’s great-great grandmother Ruby Trout, great grandmother Nap Derr; Cecily Miller, Dylan Derr, Pete and Rhonda Derr, Kelsey Mitchell, Austin McGaughey and great grandmother Dee Trout.  They enjoyed opening gifts and eating the rest of the cake and ice cream!
 
Sarah Urban left Saturday for France to study French civilization, reading and composition.
She plans to visit a friend in Marseilles for a week and enjoy sight-seeing.
 
Those enjoying good food, great company and fireworks Friday evening at the home of Rose and Les Diehl were John and Melanie Zeller, Thayne and Machree Jones, Francis and Julia Zeller, Arline Rues, Shirley Higgins, Bruce and Sue Davis, Tony, Tomi, Emma, Shelby, Kate and Will Rues, Ron and Cathy Casey, Alex, John and Catherine, Ellen Kershner and Addie, Sarah Urban, Jonathan Straus, Sheryl Skillett, Rob McGaughey and Austin.  Late-comers were Roger and Norma McNair.  
 
Congratulations to the following who received their CNA Certificates on Tuesday, July 1.  Cake and punch was provided by RCNH for Kelsey Schuckman, LaCrosse; Kelsey Mitchell, Loretto;, Austin McGaughey, McCracken; and Lindsey Engling, LaCrosse.  Those attending ceremonies were Kate Ryan, Phyllis Showalter, Edna Hensley, Frances Janke, Ashley McGaughey and Carly Derr. 
 
Addie Kershner celebrated her 8th birthday June 10 at her home with all the girls from her 2nd grade class.
 
A baby shower was given was Rachel Urban Legleiter Saturday afternoon at the Community Center.  Many relatives and friends were in attendance.
 
Donnie Schuckman shattered his ankle Monday while up on his grain bin opening the lid.  A couple of rungs on the ladder broke; he fell to the ground on his ankle.  He had surgery at Hays Medical Center in Hays which lasted 2-3 hours.  He is now at home in LaCrosse.  His daughters, Jarrod and Stacy Sheetz & family and Melissa Schuckman came home to help.  His neighbors got together and finished his harvest.  We know he would appreciate your cards.
 
Friday/Saturday guests of Arky and Diana McNair were his sister, Sarah DeSante and her son Dave, DeSante, Browne Valley, Minnesota.  John and Ellen Evans, Denver, Colorado were also guests.  John and Ellen plan to stay for rodeo week. 
 
Sonny and Betty Dykes, Kingman, spent the weekend at their home in McCracken on 1st Street!!
 
Nicole Tacha spent Friday overnight at Lake Sebelius with her friend Kenzie Esslinger and her parents.  They camped out, went boating and watched the huge fireworks display.
 
Shirley Higgins accompanied Lonnie and Tammy Irvin, Kyra Horesky and Chuck Higgins to Nickerson Sunday for a Hoisington American Legion baseball doubleheader.  We saw two good games, Hoisington coming out on the loser’s end 10-8 in the first game.  In the second game, they lost 8-7 in the last of the 7th.  Zach Higgins pitched for 4 innings, Cameron Horesky pitched for 3.  Joining them for the last game was Jerry and Tanner Higgins.  Carl Hickel hit a home run for Hoisington.
 
Janice Brack Haney will be at the McCracken Public Library on Saturday morning at 10:00 with her book, “Twisted Tales”. 
 
The afghan that was made by Sally Irvin will be on display at the McCracken Library beginning Monday.  It will also be shown at the dinner in the park on Saturday beginning at 12:30. The drawing will be held after the dinner!!
 
Congratulations to Kevin Anderson and Valerie Rogers on their marriage Saturday evening in McCracken.  It was held in the beautiful back yard of her grandmother, Pat Derr.  Their many friends and relatives were in attendance.
 
We wanted to give you just a little background on our webmaster that does such a wonderful job with the McCracken Alumni website.  Todd Frazier grew up in southwest Iowa, went to college in Northern Arizona to earn a degree in music education.  He met his wife in college and after graduation in 1988, tried his hand at teaching high school.  In 1992, his wife got a good job offer and they moved to Topeka, where Todd worked as a D.J. at KMAJ along with Rose Rues Diehl.  He also worked as a business office manager for a local DISH Network retailer.  He was hired away and moved his family to Seattle, Washington in 2001.  He is married to Leslie and has three lovely daughters; Heather, Holly, and Hannah.    Todd plays semi-professionally on his French horn with several music groups in the area, including the Rainier Symphony, The Gateway Concert Band, and the Black Diamond Brass Quintet.  He's also active as a part-time minister in the Community of Christ church, and works for a small Linux software company as business office manager.  When he's not busy with the above, he maintains a few websites.  He also enjoys a good book, a good movie, or a game of golf.
 
We received phone calls from Ben Anderson, Curly Juvenal and Leslie Underwood who inform us that they are unable to come for the rodeo.  Marlene Pfannenstiel Bronish and her daughter Betty will be able to attend.
 
Mary Dekerlegand, Carenco, Louisiana came July 1st to spend through July 22nd with her good friend, Charmaine Wolfe and Charmaine’s mother, Dorothy Guidry.
 
Kelly and Sandy Biesner and family came Thursday and spent until Monday with her parents, Fred and Mary Anne Taylor.
 
Welcome to the 22nd Annual McCracken Rodeo/Alumni Week.  Activities abound.  Check the ad in the Rush County News for times of events.
 
Rich and Linda Conrad, Andrew and Mike, St. Louis, are here for a week visiting his dad, Sylvester Conrad, and other family and friends.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Richard “Shindig” Schindler, age 39, of Lake Elsinore, Calif. who died June 21, 2008 at Skydive Elsinore.   He was a 20 year veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps, serving 12 years in the Special Forces.  He was recently employed by the Riverside County, Calif. Sheriff’s department.  He married Setsuko Reich, February 18, 2002. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Gage and Gavin;  his father, Henry Schindler and mother, Bernadine Schultz of McCracken, a brother, Don Schindler of Newton; his grandparents, Harold Schultz of Hays and Iola Depperschmidt of Hays; a step-mother, Judy Schindler; step-brothers, Kenny Pedigo and Darrell Pedigo; step-sister, Tammy Wheeler.  He was a decorated Marine having the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, with two gold stars, Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars, Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star; Good Conduct Medal with six stars and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with seven stars.
 
There were spectacular fireworks displays all over McCracken 4th of July weekend. 
 
Harvest is over in our immediate area.  There are a few mop up areas.   Generally the wheat crop was good.  I noticed one field west of town that was harvested by a “picker” instead of a combine.  It leaves the stubble and just picks off the heads.  I heard of some 64 pound wheat.
 
The museum will be open on Friday afternoon if you want a book, raffle tickets or pins.
On Saturday the museum opens at 9:30 a.m.
 
Renewing members of the Jail/Museum are Galen Lee Oelkers, George and Joy Hunter,  Dight and Leonore House, Ruthetta Irvin, Dennis Irvin, Galen Irvin, Don Irvin, Kellye Irvin, Bill Cole, Bill and Marge Moran, Shirley Higgins, Chuck Pollard, Dave and Carolyn Davenport, Tom Rues, Tim, Stacy, Maddie and Lily Rues, Rich Conrad, Vivian Simmon, Adelaide Mills, Louise Burnham.
 
Memorial received by the museum are for Alvina Cole and Augie Schutte from Bill Cole; Chet Irvin from Ruthetta, Dennis, Galen, Don and Kellye Irvin; Lyle Davenport and Celly Stremel from Dave and Carolyn Davenport; Max, Loretta, Harriett and Ethelda Washaliski from Vivian Simmons; Joy Mills Gifford from Adelaide Mills.
 
Bryan Bergquist is a member of the Trego County Fair Board.  The 98th Annual Trego County Fair is July 19-24, 2008.
 
Gerald Crotinger brought some pictures that he took in the 50’s and had developed at Bryant Pharmacy.  You will have the opportunity to guess who the students are in the pictures at the museum.  Many other pictures are on display of “our locals”.  Our special thanks to Roy and Phyllis Conrad for preparing the picture display, cleaning and painting at the museum.
 
Bob and Marlene Funk and family, Babe and Arlene Gilbert and family and friends gathered on the 4th of July for golf, a cookout, volleyball and fireworks.  It was held at the Wilson farm home which is now owned by Jeff and Anita Butler. 
 
Welcome to our new residents who purchased the home of Mike and Mary Beth Peach.  They are Kerry and Teresa Lacock, Krew and Terra.  The moved here from Brownell.  They are administrators at Western Plains.
 
4th of July guests of Mike and Mary Beth Peach, Zack and Brandon at LaCrosse were Roy and Phyllis Conrad.
 
McCracken History Notes
 
July 1908
The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Tack died Wednesday and was buried in the City Cemetery.
 
Lon Irvin started the first thresher Monday.  About 2,000 bushels of wheat was threshed which ran fifteen bushels to the acre and tested 59.
 
July 1938
The McCracken grocery & dry goods stores are now closing evenings at 6:30 o’clock.  Harvest is over and the need for later store hours is passed with it – Phillips Grocery, Roughton’s Market, Barr Mercantile and Norlin’s Store.
 
“Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”, starring Shirley Temple, comes to the Garden Theatre Friday and Saturday night.  This movie is proclaimed by critics to be her best picture.
 
July 1948
Mrs. Susan Wagner was hostess of the WSCS Thursday afternoon.  Guests were Mrs. D. K. North, Mrs. A. S. Metz, Mrs. Etta Rose, Mrs. J. T. VanWinkle, Mrs. B. H. Yawger, Mrs. Grace Colvin, Mrs. Edith Chenoweth and Mrs. Avery Norlin.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Phillips and Bobby Elmore and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Davenport and daughters who had been visiting McCracken relatives and friends left Wednesday to return to their home at Salem, Oregon.
 
July 1958
Perry J. Irvin and Bobby Higgins have enlisted in the Navy and will leave this Friday for Omaha, Nebraska to take their physical examination.
 
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Conner on the birth of a son, Michael James, born July 16, 1958 in Hays.
 
July 1968
McCracken Health and Home Unit has been named as the most active HDU Unit in Western Kansas.  The club was organized in 1935.  Charter members still in the unit are Cora Derr, Anna and Ruth Stephens, Edythe Baldwin and Gladys Fear.  Projects throughout the years were:  organizing the PTA, the hot-lunch program, landscaping and installing playground equipment at the City Park, donating books to the library, donating money for band uniforms, presenting living redbud trees to graduating members of the eighth grade classes.
 
Roxann Rogers, Alicia Rues and Debbie Derr will attend Turkey Creek Girl Scout Camp near Pratt.
 
July 1978
USD 395 Board of Education named the following banks as depositories for district funds for 1978-79.  They are Home State, Citizens State, Farmers and Merchants, Nekoma State and Alexander Store.
 
McCracken Cookie team defeated Otis 1-0 with Jeff McCormick pitching a no-hitter.  Troy Zinn had one hit.
 
July 1988
There will be a pit barbecue at the City Park at the After Harvest Festival Rodeo.  A street dance will top off the day’s activities following the rodeo.
 
Grace Thompson has donated an afghan for a drawing at the Saturday evening rodeo.
 
July 1998
Francis and Julia Zeller have returned from a 10 day trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they attended the National Square Dance Convention.
 
Jaden Jacobs has been chosen to play baseball at the All-Star Game to be held in Pratt.