News July 26
 
Memorials have been given to the McCracken Alumni in memory of Paul & Mary Healy from Paulette Healy Thompson; Vic Higgins from Lynne Hinman Reckling, Chuck Higgins, Kayla Higgins Tacha, Lonnie & Tammy Higgins Irvin, Nancy Higgins Wiebe; Charles Jacobs from Priscilla Rixon Jacobs; Patricia Casey Harmon from LaVone Casey Helms; Thomas & Mary Barnes from Gerald Barnes, David Rogers from Walter & Janey Rogers,
 
A list of the memorials, to & from, has been posted at the Library, Smoky Hill & Post Office.
 
Lanette Stremel Mathews and Shannon McKinney are searching for 1981 MHS yearbooks.  If anyone has an extra, they would really appreciate it.  Theirs are lost.
 
There are a few golf shirts left if anyone is interested.
 
The McCracken Library received $70 in donations for books this weekend.  The board thanks everyone who contributed.
 
Andy Hansen was a Saturday overnight guest of his grandmother, Addie Mills.  They both attended the rodeo that evening.
 
Tayler Stull is a member of the Hays Striders Track Club again this summer, competing in the High Jump Sub-Youth Division, which consists of 13 year olds.  He has participated in several meets, with results as follows:  Garden Plain (1st Place).  The following are qualifying meets to advance to the Junior Olympics in Knoxville, TN.  To advance must place in the top four places to advance to the next meet:  Kansas AAU State Meet at Manhattan (1st Place), Missouri Valley Meet at Topeka (1st Place); Region 8 AAU Meet in Joplin, Missouri, which consists of the states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas (2nd Place).  By placing 2nd at Joplin qualifies him to participate in the Junior Olympics in Knoxville, TN.  Tayler will jump Tuesday, July 31st at Tom Black Track at the University of Tennessee.
 
Jeanine Stolzenburg, former resident of McCracken and Rush County, sang the National Anthem at the rodeo on Saturday evening.
 
Larry & Suellen Amateis, Denver, spent rodeo weekend with Martin & Mary Higgins.  Mary stayed a few extra days, left for home on Wednesday and was an overnight guest of her aunt Rena Ryan in Salina.
 
Sanford Foreman was a weekend rodeo guest of his daughter & family, Kellye & Sandy Irvin.
 
Mary DeKerlegand, Carencro, LA is here visiting with Dorothy Guidry.  They attended the rodeo this weekend.
 
The family of Carol Weber, Callie & Christopher, Denver were here for the rodeo weekend.
 
Friday afternoon Jean Schutte, Shirley Higgins, Carolyn Davenport, Deb Rogers, Deanna Bergquist & Dena Irvin met at the Dena’s home for refreshments.  These girls all worked at one time or another at the Citizens State Bank, McCracken.  Lots of memories were shared along with lots of laughs.  Paulette Harp was unable to attend.
 
We received a letter from Mary Jane Kamieniecki, a friend from Canada. She writes their health care system.  Her brother had injured his knee and had been doctoring it for over a month.  They have come and go doctors & get shipped (ambulance or handibus) to see a doctor 300 miles away.  There are no beds in the hospital so you drive daily for checkups at your local hospital after they operate.  In the past month they have had to go 5 times to different hospitals for treatments.  Mary Jane said “what a health care system”.  Maybe we shouldn’t complain here in Kansas!
 
Ray Ohlemeier called Thursday afternoon.  His mother, Ethel Ohlemeier died Wednesday, July 18.  She was 95 years old.  He said he would send us an obituary.
 
Jeff & Liz Jennings, his sister Dennis and Jamie Shell and Jerry & Pam Sipes, Kansas City was here for the rodeo weekend.  This was their first time and plan on attending next year.  Jeff was a student and football player at Hutch Juco when Chuck & Jerry Higgins attended the college.  He loved coming to McCracken for pheasant hunting, Vic would tell him he hoped he played football better than he could shoot.
 
Donna Hill has been off work for 3 weeks, having a partial knee put in her left knee. It is called a Uni Knee.  She & Allan were guests of her mother, Betty Greenway over the week end.  Joining them were Jerry, Karen & Levi Greenway & Kathy Lenz, Chelan, Wash.  Visitors were Bill, Paula, William, Michael & Stephanie Greenway, Francis & Roberta Wierman, Ray Wierman & Marilyn Sommers.
 
Shannon & Donna McKinney were rodeo weekend guests of Lorraine Ryan.
 
Check out the website for the KPRA rodeo, www.kansasprorodeo.com  Linda Kenyon took an awesome picture of the cowboy prayer and it is posted on the website.  It was a good picture in the RCNews, but look at it on the web.
 
Rodeo guests of Ty Elias were Carolyn & Dave Davenport, Hutchinson.  Saturday, Tina Harris & Quintin, David Kaster, Lanette Mathews, Dave & Carolyn, Travis, Tina, Katie & Tanner Elias celebrated the 34th birthday of Travis with a luncheon.  Ty was busy golfing!!
 
Sue Davis, her granddaughter Madison Davis and her sister Cheryl Skillett spent the weekend with Bob House.  They also visited with Ellen Kershner & family.
 
Dean Gilbert was a Friday guest of Babe & Arlene Gilbert.  Saturday guests were Marlene & Bob Funk, Anita Butler, Shari Funk, Valerie, Michael, & Bob Warwick, Sean Smith, and LeRoy Gilbert. Lora, 'Baby Rae' Faiman, Bill, & Sharon Lovitt stopped by for a few minutes....waiting until time for church. 
 
Monday evening Shirley Higgins & Leslie Underwood attended the Hoisington-Ellis American Legion baseball game in Ellis.  Spencer White, grandson of Bob & Marlene Funk was a player for the Ellis team.  He drives from Ness City to play ball.  Another player on their team drives from Quinter.  Very sad they don’t have enough kids interested or a dad that wants to coach.

 Those attending the 1967 class reunion were:  Elaine (Wetzel) Albright and her husband, Merle, Manhattan.  That durned Merle was looking for bricks so he could weight me down and dump Debbie (Rogers) Smith in Tuttle Creek!  Elaine and I have kept in touch, so Merle and I give each other a hard time whenever we see each other.  Elaine is a nurse in Manhattan.
                                                Doug Higgins, his wife and at least one grandchild, Lyons.  We made Doug take off his sunglasses, and sure enough, it was Doug under them!!  Doug has retired from his teaching job and is a computer consultant for the Lyons school district.
                                            Karen (Casey) Shumake, Fort Worth/Dallas and her two children and grandkids.  Karen brought her mom, Frances, along, too.  That, and her Texas tag were the only way I could even guess who she was.  Karen said for her 50th birthday, she got her tummy button pierced - it's cool.  Way to go, Karen!  She DOES NOT LIVE ON A FARM, but does work with computers every day.
                                            Linda (Irvin) Bittle, and her husband, Jerald, LaCrosse.  They almost didn't come because it was their 17th anniversary.  Imagine, spending your anniversary anywhere else on such a beautiful day!  Linda has retired from being an art teacher and now divides her time between subbing in LaCrosse, and creating beautiful machine quilts!
                                            Janice (Halblieb) Stevens,  her husband, Marty, and their kids and grandkids, Wichita.  Jan's mom, Eleanor was there too - she taught me how to sex chinchillas: you just pick them up by the tail and blow!!!!  Janice is a PA at the Wichita VA hospital.
                                            Danny Petz, McCracken.  Danny was by himself because his wife Pat was selling her magnetic jewelry at the fair in Great Bend.  Don't tell her, but I managed to get two really good hugs from him before the afternoon was over.  Danny farms near McCracken.
                                            Jerry Dugan his wife, Kathy, and some really cute red-headed grandchildren, from somewhere in the panhandle of Texas, durned if I can remember where exactly.  I feel bad, but I don't know what Jerry does for a living.  There was so much going on, I just never had a chance to ask.
                                            Debbie (Rogers) Smith, and her husband Bob, Lenora.  Karen said that Bob needed a medal for putting up with me - I can't imagine why she would say that.
                                         Other students unable to attend: Sarah Casey, Penny Irvin Betz, Mike Peters, Terry Peters, Susan Reinhardt, Benny Rogers & Dixie Walker Williams.
Deb said we had such a wonderful time!  On one hand, it seemed that we had seen each other just days before, but then again, we have all married, have families and have lived a large portion of our lives without seeing each other. It was great seeing everyone.
 
.A belated congratulations to Gail Conner Keady on her 70th birthday, July 19.
 
Jeanine Stoltzenburg was watching the parade with two beautiful boys.  She recently adopted them from Kazakastan.  One is four and one is six.  They loved retrieving the candy thrown from the parade participants.
 
It was wonderful having a “band” at the parade – the Herdman children ably filled in.
 
It was awesome to have the veterans on the Legion float.  Thank you for your service from a grateful McCracken.
 
Norman Fletcher is a collector of wooden money.  He is interested in buying a McCracken 1962 Diamond Jubilee 5 cent black Indian and 5 cent red/green buffalo.  If you have some you would like to sell to him write him at 1102 NW End Blvd., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.
 
Dave and Carolyn Davenport have donated a Davenport Repair notebook and key chain and a John Elias invoice to the Jail/Museum.
 
Renewing members of the Jail/Museum are Kris Holm, Walter and Janie Rogers and Marlene Bronish.  Memorials are to Pat and Louise Klee by Addie Mills and Al Rues by Rose and Les Diehl.  Donations have been received from Kris Holm and Marlene Bronish.
 
The participants in the Relay for Life Fun Run/Walk were Russell King, Ben King, Kyle Calvin and Dustin Foster of Ness City; Nita Caviness of Prattville, Alabama; Zachery and Mary Beth Peach, Tomi Rues, Carolyn Thompson of McCracken; Nicole Tacha of Norton; Carolyn Davenport of Hutchinson; Lanette Mathews of Lawrence; David Kaster of Overland Park; June Rockey, Cathy Casey of Topeka; Linda and Audra Dale of Littleton, Colorado; Ann Baus of Alexander; Shannon Keith of Ellsworth; Tom Rues of Concord, New Hampshire; and Cathy, Brittany and Amanda Dennis, Wichita.   Jim Schafer donated to a good cause, but did not walk with the group.  These are the names that go with the picture that was in the Rush County News this past week.
 
Phyllis Higgins was in Stilwell this past weekend babysitting with her grandson Sam.  He is the son of Sabrina and Ron Hurt. 
 
Rose Jones was recognized by CEO Mike Pivonka of Flame Engineering for her 10 years of employment.
 
Linda Dale and Audra and Curly Juvenal were rodeo weekend guest of Joann Micheli.
 
While working at the ticket booth on Saturday night, we were introduced to the most unusual attendees, two baby black and white rats in a wicker basket.  The owners said they couldn’t leave them home so had to bring them to the Rodeo.
 
Judy and Al Hugh hosted a spaghetti supper for Ruth Yawger on Thursday evening in honor of her birthday.  Ben Thompson and Carolyn Thompson were guests.  Ruth wants all her friends to know how much she appreciated all the cards sent to her for her 97th birthday.
 
A combined birthday party was held for John Moran, Jason Moran and Michele Moran on Saturday at the home of their parents, Bill and Marge Moran.  Others attending were Ellen and Josh Moran, Clark and Nicole Kirk and Madison.
 
Mark Miller, former teacher at MHS, has retired from teaching. 
 
McCracken History Notes
July 1887
 
Mr. Chenoweth has put up a neat wire railing around his bank counter.  He has recently received a handsome desk ordered from St. Louis through Mr. Stock
 
McCracken is only seven months old and has a population of over 400 people.  The first lot was sold on December 6, 1886.  Today we have about one hundred and fifty house completed.
 
July 1907
Owing to the scarcity of hands, two young ladies go into the header box and manage a team while one man loads the box.  Miss Ruby Davis of Brownell and Mamie Darkes of McCracken are each filling this important position this week.
 
A devastating rain and wind storm hit the area Friday and Saturday.  Buildings and homes were demolished, wind mills blown down, header boxes smashed and wheat stacks uncovered and ruined.  Northeast of here, the side of and along the Smoky a tornado and floods in every stream and draw was the result.
 
July 1937
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Conner are the proud parents of a girl, Helen Gail, born July 19, 1937.
 
Miss Muriel Murphy and Mr. Sylvester Conrad were united in marriage Tuesday, July 20, 1937, at St. Mary’s Church in McCracken.
 
July 1947
Miss Teresa Casey of Great Bend is working in the Baker hospital at LaCrosse during the absence of her sister, Mrs. Martin Helms.
 
Announcement appeared recently in an Orange, Calif. Daily of the sale of the Mode O’Day store in that city to Mrs. W. S. Akers.  Mrs. Akers had for the past ten years been associated with Neely’s Dry Goods store in Orange.
 
Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Davenport and G. V. Davenport moved the first of the week into the Davenport property in the east part of town.  Mr. and Mrs. Francis Zeller will make their home on the farm vacated by the Davenports.
 
July 1957
Harry McCaskey, 74, died July 22, 1957.  He was born near Columbia, Missouri.  When he was three years old, he moved with his parents to a homestead near McCracken.  Burial was in the McCracken City Cemetery.
 
Mrs. Lee Fear is working in the telephone office this week while Martha Shaefer is taking her vacation.
 
July 1967
These members of the Methodist junior and senior high school division attended an outing in Hays on Sunday:  Donna Davis, Janice North, Frances Bullock, Patty Littler, Kent Bible, Mike Legleiter, Danny Conner, Danny Mills and Floyd Norlin.   Their teachers are Liz Conner and Lorraine Norlin.
 
Sarah Casey and Luann Grumbein have pre-enrolled at Ft. Hays.
 
Patricia Foos, Carolyn Stremel, Lana Scheuerman and Kathy Huddleston attended cheerleading camp a Wichita University.  Rita Wierman attended the twirling camp.
 
July 1977
Brenda and Gary Barnes and Tonya Mangold attended the 4-H camp at Rock Springs Ranch.
 
Duane Williams has been hired as vocal director in Ness City USD 303.
 
July 1987
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wendler will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday in Kueffer Hall in Alexander.
 
Frank Foster is second grade teacher and boys’ high school basketball coach in Kiowa, Colorado.
 
July 1997
Sandy Jacobs has added a deck to the back of her house.
 
Congratulations to Jeff and Karen Showalter, Towanda, Illinois on the birth of a son, Nicholas Allen.