July 26, 2015 News

Birthdays: July 29, Annette Chestnut, Gerald Walker, Kathy Dugan, Bobby Peters; July 30, Malena Thyfault; July 31, Brenda Clancy, Joyce Rogers; August 1, Betty Mills, Sandy Oakley; August 2, Katie Casey, Jerry Casey, Cheryl Hinman, Suzanne Azzarella, Thaddous Albers; August 3, Aaron McGaughey; August 4, Jennifer Johnson, Kelly Petz, Mary Higgins, Zachary Elmore, Benjamin Mills, Jackson Mills

Anniversaries: July 29, Martin and Julie Pfannenstiel; July 30, Daryl and Barbara Casey; July 31, Lee and Debra Oelkers, Clark and Nicole Kirk; August 1, Chris and Cindy Petz; August 2, Babe and Arlene Gilbert, Mike and Sharolyn Legleiter; August 3, Ronn and Laura Martin, August 4, Mark and Ann Baus.

Recent visitors of Hoop and Twila Higgins were Mike and Nancy Wiebe and grandchildren Kellan and Oliver Wiebe, Ashley Higgins, Hayley Robertson and children Carly and Cay, Rich Higgins, Allen and De Roth, Vic and Susie Parsons and granddaughter, Lindy and great-granddaughter Avery.

In the June issue of The Explorer in the section of “Things that are steep, some that are scary”, the Bazine bridge in Ness County was featured. It is on the southeast corner of Bazine - the Walnut Creek bridge was built in 1905. Corrugated tin has been placed as the flooring. It is pretty darn scary to drive a car across corrugated tin and the sound doesn't help. Marci Penner and WenDee LePlant have now visited 341 incorporated cities in 59 counties. They have only 285 more cities to go before publishing their new travel book for Kansas which will be ready by Christmas 2016.

Suzanne Randa has found us a copy of postcard on E-Bay of West Main Street looking south in McCracken, Kans. It is on a postcard also ion page 29 of the Rush County History Book Volume 1 in the upper right hand corner.so it is about 1891.

Harry Connick, Jr. appeared in concert at the Historic Stiefel Theatre in Salina on July 24, 2015. Those attending were Carolyn Thompson; John and Melanie Zeller, Jason and his friend; Mike and Susan Keith. It was the Keith's 22nd wedding anniversary.

The 42nd annual Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star football game was this past weekend in Hays. Scott Keener, McCracken, is president of the Fort Hays Shrine Club. LaCrosse's Sheldon Schmidt was on the West squad. Courtney Gilbert, daughter of Brett and Holly Gilbert, was one of the cheerleaders. Shannon Keith, Ellsworth, was a member of the Shrine band. Red Legleiter rode in the parade with the Fort Hays Shriners. Edgar Schadel rode a Shrine scooter and was pictured in the Hays Daily News. Those attending the parade were Arlene Gilbert, Mike and Susan Keith, Carolyn Thompson, Al and Judy Hugh. Diz and Wilma Washaliski joined them for the Football Classic. The East Squad won 21-0.

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, August 1, in Bazine Cemetery for Donnie R. Wittman, 44, who died in Colorado Springs on July 15. He was the son of Vernon and Estella Boese Wittman. He attended McCracken grade school and graduated from Bazine High School. He is survived by his mother Estella Miller, brothers Richard and Scott and sister, Connie Nelson. Memorials are to McCracken Golf Club. A luncheon will be served immediately after the graveside service at the Bazine Senior Center on the west side of Bazine

Danny and Marilyn Mills of Gorham were Sunday afternoon visitors of Addie Mills.

Linda Dale and Joann Micheli attended the baby shower for Audra Holland in Albuquerque, July 18 at the home of Chris and Maureen Holland and their daughter, Alana. Evan Dale flew in from Denver and spent time with his sister, mother and grandmother. They saw their many friends who attended the wedding in McCracken last year. Joann celebrated her July 20 birthday with a SURPRISE party with singing of Happy Birthday! Many friends and relatives attended with good wishes and good food!!

Norma McNair attended a 3 day Mission in Salina at KWU for United Methodist women and children. The program was for spiritual growth and to learn more about Missions in Latin America. The last night they all learned the Salsa dance; the kids broke a piñata and they all had ice cream.

Ron Baker was chosen to play in the Pan American games in Ryerson Athletic Stadium, Toronto. Ron will again play for Wichita State this fall.

Teresa Lovitt and Lora Faiman painted the house of their parents, Bill and Sharon Lovitt in Ransom. The house had some hail damage.

Grandsons, Tyler and Jesse McNair were guests of their grandparents, Arky and Diana McNair last week.

NOTICE: Sunday, August 2, 8:30 a.m. 2 person scramble/alternate shot..$50 per team - McCracken Golf Course. Weather permitting on all tourneys. Meals served. Questions call les Diehl 785-230-4433 or Bruce Davis 785-384-1048
On Sunday, Mary Steitz, (great-grandmother) and Patricia Petz traveled to Salina to help Morgan Foos celebrate her 9th birthday. Morgan is the daughter of Jeremy and Lisa Foos from Goddard. Morgan had a fun and unique "Glow in the Dark" party. Others from the area that attended her party were: her brother Cody, De.Wayne and Vicky Foos, (grandparents), Jendee, Gratton, and Rennick Dalton, John and Rita Liggett, and Trent, Angie, Tyler, Drake, and Grant Timson.

Les and Rose Diehl attended the wedding of Spenser Diehl and Abbie Balkom-Smith in Davenport, Iowa, the first of last week, 2 days later they flew to San Francisco on business.

Jerry, Tanner and Jenna Higgins drove to Kansas City where Jenna flew to Minneapolis to meet her room-mate this coming fall at KU......Jerry and Tanner were guests of the Jennings family. They, Jeff and Nick went to the Royals game Friday night, Saturday evening they ate at Rancho-Grande.

History Notes: 7/1889:

A sidetrack 1600 feet long has been ordered put in at a point 8 miles west of LaCrosse on the land owned by Messrs. DeTar and Davis, of this city, and a station will be built. It is likely that the new station will be called Hargrave, in honor of Honorable John Hargrave, out popular county attorney.

5/1890: Mr. Barnard’s advice for teachers: In every school you teach, try to leave something tangible behind to remember you by, have trees planted about the yard, a library commenced, a fence about the ground, a US flag floating from the schoolhouse, hitching posts erected, children provided with a full set of school books suited for their grade.

8/1891: The persons who sneaked the Sunday school organ from the schoolhouse last week may save themselves trouble by returning it before next Sunday.

8/1892: Start’s threshing crew is just dying for a ball game and are willing to play a picked nine from all the threshers in the county.

6/1893: Miss Mamie Start delivered the valedictory address in the commencement exercises of the Hays City schools yesterday evening. She stood highest in scholarship in a large graduating class.

The World’s Fair is being held in Chicago. A round trip ticket from McCracken to Chicago is $28.90. H.R. Barnard got a good claim down in the Strip but gave it away and walked home in time to commence school at Hampton Monday.

2/1894: The Derr boys killed one hundred jackrabbits in a couple days hunting southeast of town. The bargain counter at J.P. Warden has the following items: 2 qt. coffee pot - .10; copper bottom tea kettle - .50; granite wash pan -.25;

8/1895: Wheat brought from 48 to 53 cents this week in McCracken. The Kansas State Fair will be held in Wichita October 1st to 5th.

9/1896: Teachers of the fall term are: Principal A.F. Watson; Intermediate F.L. Snodgrass; Primary C.M. Huntoon.

1/1897: We met Ed Thompson on the street last Friday and knew by the smile on his face that they a new boy at their house.

3/1898: The news reached here Tuesday morning that Al Start had shot a man near LaCrosse. (Mary Ann P. & Gloria A. remember this) ?? Big Timber was about 4 feet over the bridge last Friday morning. Those coming to town had to swim or borrow a horse to do it for them.

3/1899: At McCracken Tuesday night an exhibition of Edison’s famous animated moving pictures will be given. Admission 25 cents, children 10 cents.