August 10
Congratulations to Jerrod and Stacy Sheetz on the birth of a son, Braydon, born August 1, 2006.  Donald Schuckman is the proud granddad.
 
Gary Barnes thinks “two out of three ain’t bad” after killing two rattle snakes last Tuesday on the Schwartzkopf place northwest of town.
 
Weekend guests of ‘Arky’ and Diana McNair were John and Ellen Evans and grandkids Cody and Olivia of Denver.
 
If you have not paid your dues to the McCracken Alumni, it isn’t too late.  Our income this year was $5,120; our expenses were $4,930, a profit of $190.  A detailed account was posted at Charlie’s and at the post office.  Our dues were down from last year $280.  
 
Kathy Hurd, Eric, Austin and Audra, Lora Faiman, Rae and Clay and Teresa Lovitt were guests of their parents Bill and Sharon Lovitt in Ransom Wednesday – Saturday,
 
Priscella Jacobs accompanied Neal, Amy, Tessa and Jaden Jacobs to Colorado this past week.  They visited with Frank and Sarah Foster, the fellas went fishing and the gals went shopping.
 
Pete and Lola Rixon and grandson Ben Wolfe returned home after spending a month in Alaska.  This week Lola was visiting her mother Eunice Harding in Ellsworth and Pete was visiting with his sister Priscella Jacobs in McCracken.  On Sunday they attended the Oller reunion in Pratt. 
 
Don and Dena Keener Irvin attended their 35th LaCrosse High School class reunion which was held at the Rush County Fair on Saturday evening.
 
WE KAN! Is a bimonthly rural cultural newsletter which had an article in their newsletter this month about grocery store facts.  It stated that for a wholesale truck to stop at a grocery store, a $10,000 minimum must be purchased PER WEEK.  There was also an article 2 months ago about the post office in Morrill that was going to be closed, but We Kanners and Kansas Explorer Club members sent in money to order stamps by mail to keep the office open. The U.S.P.S. has given the Post Office at least five more years.  So, you may order stamps from a small town post office to help keep it open.
 
Icis Eisenhour is now in rehab at Hays Medical Center.  We are happy to report she is improving.
 
Family and friends gathered at Hays on Saturday evening, August 5, for a 50th anniversary celebration for Julius and Lucy Schuckman Unrein.
 
Congratulations to Albert Oller, who won the Democratic nomination for County Commissioner for Ellsworth County at the primary election.
 
3 of a Kind band of Hays and Manhattan, entertained at the 40th birthday surprise party for Mike Keith at Ellsworth on Saturday evening.
 
McCracken History Notes
 
August 1906
Miss Mollie Snodgrass has been employed as principal of the Otis school for the coming term at $60 per month.
 
A marriage ceremony was performed between Mr. William T. J. Seiling and Miss May Rixon at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. John Rixon.  The young couple will go to housekeeping on the Schutte farm northeast of town.
 
August 1936
Pat McCormick, Adam Conrad, Jr. and Avery Norlin were all painfully burned when steam from their tractors exploded on them.
 
Inez Brackney is the new fountain clerk at the Bakery.
 
August 1946
Gerald Anderson and Pete Moses trucked Rev. L. W. Robbins' household goods to Mapleton Tuesday.  Rev. Robbins will teach school and also serve as pastor of a church there.
 
Mrs. Mary Zeller Graham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Zeller of Ellis, and her husband, Bruce Graham, are in the Hawaiian Islands where they went recently to engage in teaching.  They made the trip by plane.
 
Mrs. Geo. Joseph has purchased the Whiteman property, now occupied by the Wm. Leonhart family.
 
August 1956
The Farmers Telephone Company began construction on a new office building to be completed in two weeks.  The 22 x 16 foot building will be of cement blocks.  Richard Schlegel is the contractor.
 
Martha Shaefer returned to her work at the telephone office after a short vacation.  Gladys Fear worked during her absence.
 
August 1966
Miss Ruth Ann Sloan, Russell, was honored with a bridal shower in the McCracken Hotel Friday evening.  She is the bride elect of Howard Sissell of Palco.  An arrangement of white crepe paper wedding bells centered the serving table.
 
USD #395 will begin on Friday, August 26.  Grades l through 4 will pay 25 cents per meal, grades 5-8 30 cents and high school students, 35 cents and faculty 40 cents.
 
Otis became the helium capital of the world with the completion of the new plant by Airco Industrial Gases Division of Air Reduction Company.
 
August 1976
Kim McCormick, Paulette Healy, Cheryl Foreman, Janet Unrein and Sandy Foreman attended cheerleaders camp at Ft. Hays.
 
Debi Baus and Myron Schuckman were married July 24, at St. Mary's Church.
 
August 1986
McCracken grade school staff include Francis Petitjean, Elizabeth Conner, Glenn  Conner, Arlene Gilbert and Patricia Petz.
 
Tracee Borger, student at Wichita State University, came Saturday and was a supper guest of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Elven Showalter.
 
Mrs. Elsie Showalter celebrated her 94th birthday.
 
August 1996
Gene and Maddy Petz and Benny and Sheryl McCaskey spent the weekend with relatives and attended the Willa Start auction.
 
Another wind, rain and hail storm struck the McCracken area Wednesday evening. Mike and Jerilyn Stull had all their north windows broken in their house by hail.