RCNews 7/16
 
Memorials have been given to the McCracken Alumni in memory of Leonard & Elma Yost from Mike & Sharolyn Jones Legleiter; Donald Greenway from Bill & Paula Crawshaw Greenway; Beverly C. Irvin from Gerald & Linda Irvin Bittel; Norma J. Fear Heiser from Jametta Basgall;
 
Don and Arlene Dykes, Loveland, Colorado and Chris Jones, Wichita attended funeral services for Andrew Jones this past week.
 
The 2009 golf tournament held Saturday at the McCracken golf course was again a success.  We appreciate all those who ‘braved’ the heat and humidity and had fun. Those in the Championship flight were Jon Webster, Mitch Conner & Sean Peters; 1st flight Chris Long, Joe Gabel, George Sommers; 2nd flight Mark Baus, Kerry Lacock, Bob Fear; 3rd flight Trent Witthuhn, Billy Arnold & Crystal Ryan.  Other golfers were Andrew & Nick Dennison, Chase Schreiber, Cody Jaynes, Scott Keener, Nick Tuzicka, Jared Sanders, Shane & Casey Brethowr, Cindy Wierman, Babe Gilbert, Amber Georg, Scott Littler, Fuzz Irvin, Holly Gilbert, Jason Pavlu, Ryan Martin, Trey Klausten, Larry Eisenhour, Jerry Higgins, Albert Albers, Martin Higgins, Diz & Wilma Washaliski, Mark Baus, Dave Coletrain, Les Diehl, Pat Salisbury, Bruce Davis, Mike Conner, Clayton & Kizmin Wilson, Bryan & Treva Bergquist, LeeRoy Schuckman, Alan Baus, Brandon Emery, Ray Baus, Joe Jennings, Blake & Clinton Swan, Adrian Jennings, Les, Sheryl, Kelsee & Chase Rogers, Mike Legleiter, Hayden Buhr, Ruth Hauffel, Ty Elias, Woody Williams, Mike Miller, Don, Chad & Chris Irvin, Heath Morgan, Rodney Humbert, Taylor & Tyler Whitaker, Jacob Lynch, Gary Barnes, Tony Harp, Jenna Jacobs, Ed Skerko, Dennis Shell, Jeff Jennings, Steve Orendac, Teresa Lacock, Mark Dudney, Kim Feldcamp, Scott Foos, Gene Erb, Elexis Nicapone, Justin Richardson, Dennis Peters, Robert Rein, Benny McCaskey, Ronnie Rein, Brad Launchbaugh, Alan Westfall, Greg Copeland, Dusty Witthuhn, Jeff Werth, Bret Cosair, Allen & Michael Morgan, Kyle Wherry,
Kris Venturs, Arkie & Curtis McNair, Ray Lucero, Jason Barnett, Chad Foust, Ricky McMillian, Todd Sharkey, Ben Mitchum, Matt Peach, Johnny Mac Showalter, Mitch Keeley, Shelby Burke, Jason Showalter, Nick Chambers, Mike Vernon, Chris Lohrey, Ken & Austin Stonecipher, Lanny & Vickie Wilson, Shane Corsair, David King, Brad Erb & Dillon Stum.  Apologies for any misspelled names.
 
Congratulations to Joe and Cindy Yawger Higgins who were married in Las Vegas, July 8, 2009 and spent their honeymoon in McCracken the following weekend. 
 
Those helping with mass at McCracken Saturday evening were ‘our one and only’ Father Rene of LaCrosse officiating; Servers: Josh Moran and Emma Showalter, Organist;  Katie Showalter; Choir: Janice Showalter, Arlene Rues, Bill Lovitt, Michelle Moran, and Rhonda Allen; Ushers: Bet McCormick, Hoop Higgins, Roy Conrad & Ray Wireman; Lector: DeAnna Berqguist; Gifts Jean Schutte & Joann Micheli; Comm: Carolyn Thompson and Phyllis Conrad;
 Rosary:  Frances Casey & family and of course all the wonderful people who attended Mass.
 
Those in the class of 1961 that attended the alumni dinner:  Carolyn Higgins Sekavec, Hoisington; Lavona Peters Supper, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Shirley Stremel Bundy, Hutchinson; Phyllis Gerritzen Conrad.  Also in McCracken but not attending was Lenny Higgins, Oregon.
 
Lenora Stremel, Shirley Bundy, Carolyn Davenport, Hutchinson; Lanette Mathews, Lawrence and Kathleen Stremel, Leawood, and families would like to thank the rodeo committee, the community, and everyone involved in making the 23rd annual rodeo a success. The hard work and dedication is appreciated. We know Celly and Jack are looking down and smiling.
 
Those attending the class reunion of 1969 were Kathy (Huddleston) Coen, Osage City; Dave Davenport, Hutchinson; Donnie Schuckman, LaCrosse; Doug Whitis, LaCrosse; Robert Mason, Hugoton, Bill Wetzel, Augusta and Richard Showalter.
 
Week-end guests at the Benton Lodge were David Kaster, Lanette Mathews and Lilly, Shannon and Donna McKinney, Joe Conner, and Dave and Carolyn Davenport.
 
Judith Whitis Carver, Bagley, Minnesota; Gerald Barnes & Janice Myers Stull were the 3 out of 5 that attended their 50th class reunion.
 
Jill Herschbach, Cindy Wierman, Laura & Ray Wierman & Jennifer;Tonya & Coty Hinman; Ellen & Larry Hinman, Cheryl & Sarah Hinman; Jeannie & Casey Grimme, Conner & Claire; Sheila & Greg Hinman, Jessica Hinman & Jeff Hinman were Rodeo weekend guests of Gladys & Wendell Hinman. Ellen, Cheryl & Sarah Hinman; Tonya Hinman, Jill Herschbach,
and Jeannie Grimme took part in the Relay For Life Walk/Run.  Cindy Wierman & Casey Grimme played in the golf tournament. Tonya Hinman, Larry Hinman & Ray Wierman were here for their Class Reunions.
 
The 1984 last graduating class of MHS attending the festivities were Gary Barnes, Shawn McKinney, Ellis, Sarena Higgins, New Strawn; Tonya Mangold Hinman, KC, Kansas; Kenny Hughes, Wichita & Jeff Scheuerman.  There were 9 in the class.
 
The descendants of Henry and Mary Wasinger Higgins met over rodeo weekend for their tri-annual family reunion. It kicked off with a cookout in the park at Hoisington hosted by Jim and Carolyn Higgins Sekavec.  After the meal, everyone either participated in or watched several matches of horseshoes. (Some of the guys even got beat by a GIRL!) There was a lot of visiting and catching up during the fun evening. Those attending were: Jim & Carolyn Higgins Sekavec, Robert & Mary Beth Higgins, Tim & Nicole Higgins, Lauren & Thomas, Hoisington; Keith & Bev Higgins, Marienthal; Andrew Higgins, Topeka; Jerry & Sally Higgins, Lacy, WA; Martin & Mary Ann Higgins, Carrie Higgins, Joe & Cindy Higgins, Lenexa; Doris Higgins Schaffer, Hays;  Jim & Donna Schaffer, Ulysses; Larry & Suellen Higgins Amateis Aurora, CO; Tracy & Leanne Higgins Lakeside, CA; Mary Vogle McCormick, McCracken; Jan Higgins, Bayard, NE; Misty Higgins, Seeley Lake, MT; Lennie  Higgins & Spencer, Brownsville, OR.
On Saturday after the McCracken parade they met for supper at the community building and more visiting.  Attending were: Lucy Higgins Vogle, McCracken; Doris Higgins Schaffer, Hays; Mary Vogle McCormick, John Showalter, Lance McCormick, Helena Showalter McGaughey, Richard Showalter, McCracken; Larry & Suellen Higgins Amateis, Aurora, CO;Jim & Donna Schaffer, Ulysses; Pat & Angela Schaffer Murray, LaCrosse; Robert & MaryBeth Higgins, Jim & Carolyn Higgins Sekavec, Hoisington; Lennie  Higgins & Spencer, Brownsville, OR; Jerry & Sally Higgins, Lacy, WA; Christie Kleweno , Travis, Trenton,Talyn, Hays; Martin & Mary Ann Higgins, Joe & Cindy Higgins, Carrie Higgins, Lenexa; Pat Ryan Miles, Lynn Summers, Tulsa, OK; Aaron & Leslie McGaughey & Lillian, LaCrosse; Ashley McGaughey, Salina; Mark McCormick & Lucas, Yvonne Lane, Merriam; Jeffrey & Julie McCormick, Hutchinson; Dan & Kim McCormick Townsend & Jacob, Saline, MI; Amanda Showalter, Rianne, Kyson & Terren, ElDorado; Darrin & Melissa Murray, Cole & Caitlin, Maize; Dennis & Elizabeth Higgins & Chaytea, Albuquerque, NM. 
Weekend guests of Shirley Higgins were Jerry Higgins, Tanner & Jenna; Chuck Higgins & Zach; Tammy Irvin, Cameron & Kyra; Kayla Tacha, Lindsey & Nicole; Jesika Smith; Kenzie Esslinger, Ryan Moore & Danton Riedel and my e-bay friend, Leslie Underwood, Lancaster, CA. 
Don’t forget to get on facebook.com for the McCracken Alumni!! 
Congratulations to Jim and Karin on their 30th anniversary.
 
What a fantastic rodeo/alumni week.  Thanks to everyone who made it possible.
 
There was an article in the Sunday, Hays Daily News about the McCracken rodeo.  In the picture in the foreground were Chad Foust, Crystal Ryan and Mitch Conner.
 
Renewing members of the Jail/Museum are Chuck Higgins, Arline Rues, Tom Rues, Ruthetta Irvin, Dennis Irvin, Galen Irvin, Don Irvin, Kellye Irvin, Billie North, Fred and Mary Anne Taylor, John and Janice Stull, Harold “Curly” Juvenal, Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith,  Joan Buster, Jim, Kathy and  Justin Coen, Wendell and Gladys Hinman, Mary McCormick, Francis and Roberta Wierman.
 
Memorial to the Jail/Museum are in memory of Glenn Ryan and Ruth and Ralph Tanck from Chuck Higgins, Al Rues, Frances Janke and Glenn Ryan from Arline Rues, Keith North from Wilma “Billie” North, Kevin Rixon from Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith, Donald Buster from Joan Buster, Ralph and Mabel Hinman from Wendell and Gladys Hinman; Gloyd Vogle, Bill Moran, Goldie Showalter from Mary McCormick and donations from Tom Rues and Ben and Nancy Anderson.
 
Roxene Fletcher Kaltenbaugh gave the museum two trophies that were awarded to Ben McCaskey as High Area Distributor by Kirby.  Archie Galen Allen donated the Bronc Buster.
 
Those who signed in at the museum were Leslie Underwood, Lancaster, California; Joyce Eisenhour, Salina; Curly Juvenal, Dothan, Alabama; Tonya Mangold Hinman, Kansas City; Cheryl Hinman, Lenexa; Ben and Nancy Anderson, Northridge, California, Arline Rues, Pat Derr, Gerald and Signe Barnes, Adelaide Mills, Roberta Wierman, Mc Cracken;  Jim and Kathy Coen, Dodge City, Fred and Luke Taylor, Colby; Wendell Hinman, Brownell, Larry Hinman, Lenexa, Greg Hinman, Lewis; Jeff and Julie McCormick Hutchinson, Al and Doris Oller, Holyrood, David and Janet Dennis and David Dennis, Wichita; Roxene Fletcher Kaltenbaugh, Welch, Oklahoma; Yvonne, Lane and Mark M., Merriam; Dorothy Graham, Kingman; Dean Gilbert, Logan; Terry Peters, LaCrosse, Rick and Crystal Hester, Wichita, Richard and Karol Gordon, Mullinville; Lavona Suppes, Dayna Anderson, Kristina Anderson, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Spencer Higgins, Portland, Oregon, Misty Higgins, Seeley Lake, Montana, Joy Higgins, Baynard, Nebraska,  Marilyn Sommers, Silver Lake, Gayle and Cindy Smith,  Mitchell and Robin Pfannenstiel, Hutchinson, Miki Fukuda and Wayne Irvin, Burke, Virginia.; Kay Conrad.
 
Twenty-six riders participated on the trail ride from the corner of Road 170 and McCracken-Libenthal road to the arena.
 
McCracken History Notes
July 1899
 
McCracken coronet band has the following members:  Samuel Twisleton, M. S. Brevoort, Wm. Starrett, H. P. Williams, Clyde Robertson, D. M Snodgrass, Drew Robertson, W. F. Putnam, J. P. Warden, F. L. Snodgrass, Hays Floyd and G. A. Ryan.
 
July 1909
Harley Burch has matched his horse, Serley, against Tibbet Giffin’s Red Bird, the race to be run July 31, the day of the big hotel opening.
 
July 1919
Mr. and Mrs. James McCormick have a baby boy born, Tuesday, July 8.
 
Born to Rev. and Mrs. M. H. Matthaei, July 17 a girl.
 
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Start Monday, July 21, a fine girl.
 
July 1939
Miss Lavonne Casey expects to leave next week to enter nurse’s training school in St. Rose Hospital at Great Bend.  She has worked in the Whitehead Grill here for the past two years.
 
July 1959
Davenport Davenport, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Davenport, underwent an appendectomy at the Rush County Hospital on Saturday.
 
July 1979
Karin Seltmann and Jim Casey were married July 21 at her home south of McCracken.
 
Layne Morgan won 3rd and a prize of $200.00 in the demolition derby Sunday at LaCrosse.