September 2, 2015 News

Birthdays: September 2, Ashley Higgins, Sandy Irvin, Bill Cole, Andrew Casey, Lacey Bookstore, Mike Peach, Mildred Littler; September 3, Ruth Crawshaw; September 4, Stephen Anderson; September 5, Ashley McGaughey, John Elmore; September 6, John Zeller, Jean Oelkers, Morgan Deines; September 7, Alicia Rues, Holly Anders, Jessica Casey, Eli Morgan, T. J. Steinert; September 8, Gerald Barnes, Daryl North.

Anniversaries: September 2, Marty and Tina Mills; September 5, Marvin and Virginia Schneider; September 6, James and Kerry Elson, Kiel and Sarah Emerson, September 7, Harold and Janet Herdman; September 8, Leigh Barrett and Alicia Rues.

McCracken Main Street Literary Society book club will meet on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at McCracken Public Library. All are welcome. We read individual books and share them with the group.

A picture of the Old Grove School House in McPherson County has been given to the Jail/Museum. The teacher was Corrinne (Rinna) Zink. It was a gift of John and Carol Waelchli.

Pastor Tricia North, of the Ellis and Palco United Methodist Churches, was featured in the September issue of the ONE publication of the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance in the Hays Daily News. Tricia taught twelve years as a social studies teacher at Wallace County High School in Sharon Springs, but felt a call to the ministry.

Jackie Joe Klee celebrated his birthday at Centennial Towers last Saturday. Aunt Addie Mills brought the ice cream and cake.

Congratulations to Josh and Hannah Enslow on the birth of a daughter, Hattie Kay born August 16. Brother Bryson is calling her “Patty Cake”. Grandparents are Dave and Sharla Albers.

Saturday, August 30, the McCracken Country Club held its late summer golf classic tournament. It was a beautiful day with no wind and temperatures in the 50’s to start! There were 31 gofers for the 4 person scramble tournament. Those who played and had a great day were: Tony Harp, Sean Peters, Jason Showalter, Mitch Keeley, Les Diehl, Lance McCormick, Bruce Davis, Norbert Flax, Smokey Fairbanks, Zach Schweitzer, Ken Flax, Ty Elias, Ken Foster, Jason and Richard Showalter, George Washburn, Tanner Archer, Kolt Sashburn, Shelby Crabel, Chad Oberhelman, Marr and Larry Kraft, Lane Pfannenstiel. Jeff Werth, Bret Corsair, Shane Corsair, Dennis Brungardt, Scott Foos, Gene Erb, Mike Weber and Les Stecklein. In a very generous gesture of support for the golf course, the 2nd and 3rd place winners donated ALL of their winnings back to the course! Thanks guys! It means a lot!! The winners were: 1st place: Tony Harp, Sean Peters, Jason Showalter, Mitch Keeley; 2nd Jeff Werth, Bret Corsair, Shane Corsair and Dennis Brungardt: 3rd: Scott Foos, Gene Erb, Mike Weber and Les Stecklein. Contest winners were: Longest putt- Smokey Fairbanks; Closest to pin- Norbert Flax; Longest drive- Kolt Washburn. The ladies of McCracken a great lunch which was the perfect end to a great golf day! The next (and last) tournament of the season is Sunday, September 27 at 8:30 a.m. The tournament is a 2 person scramble and lunch is planned. Make plans now to play and enjoy our “beautiful” golf course.

Shirley Higgins attended an 80th birthday celebration for Mylo Oyler at Prairie Dunnes in Hutchinson Saturday afternoon and evening. Those attending were his brother Gary and wife Karen of St. George, Utah. Gary was celebrating his 70th birthday. Joining them were his wife Ann, son Stan, Terry and Kyle Oyler, daughter Jodi, Jerry, Tanner and Jenna Higgins, Cynthia Riley, Patty, John, Aiden and Addie Davis, Dallas; Robert Riley, Hutchinson.

Kassie Pechanec will be competing in the CPRA Rodeo Pageant in Hutchinson, October 2 & 3. She invites everyone to come and enjoy a great weekend of rodeo.

Les and Rose Diehl were home in McCracken over the weekend. They did a road trip or two and Les had the golf tournament. Always nice to have them in McCracken.

History Notes

April 1940: The Athenian Club planted 20 trees in the city park with the help of Jack Edwards. Fred Foster’s orchestra practiced at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Doerr. The physical science team of MHS won 1st place in scholarship. Members were Clyde Hinman, Melvin Metz, Albert Donecker, Maurice Klee, Donald Ramsey and Francis Klee. The new Catholic priest for St. Mary’s is Rev. J.P. O’Flynn.

March 1941: At the spelling contest at Thistle Grove, Malcolm Washaliski spelled a perfect paper for 1st grade. Farmers Co-op is building an addition to the warehouse west of their filling station. Emil Jonach will use the building south of the Nash Hotel for his funeral home. Walton Gilbert is in Manila, Philippines helping build an air base.

January 1942: Avery Norlin is being transferred from Wichita to Seattle where the Boeing aircraft company is opening a new factory. The Whitehead Grille has installed a nifty new beer dispenser. They will have a 1 cent beer sale on Saturday. Dean Ward is a new pupil in the 1st grade. Three hundred students participated in the Rush County spelling contest. Winners from McCracken were Gladys Thompson, Shirley Lovitt, Julius Unrein, Robert Thompson, Wayne Irvin Dicky Shiney. (Lots of news about enlistments and where the fellas are stationed)

March 1943: Construction of the Otis helium plant is underway. John Schlitter has purchased the Tom Neal property, formerly occupied by the Birdsongs. One new W-C Allis-Chalmers tractor, ration to Rush County, Donecker Garage. Tom Holden purchased Mrs. D.D. Hunt’s property on North Main. The H.F. Sweeney family closed their house the first of the week and have moved to Salina where they have jobs.

January 1944: The Lyle Dugan home west of McCracken was completely destroyed by fire Sunday morning. Pete Diehl and family have moved into the M.L. Haag house and he will open a shoe repair shop. The Lubri-Gel began setting up their buildings and equipment including an elevator located west of the depot. Population for McCracken in 1944 is 368.

March 1945: In the four and one half years since the selective service act went into effect, 1828 have registered with Rush County board. No high school commencement will be held at McCracken. All are boys and are expected to be called into the armed services. They are Kenneth Mills, Pete Derr, Augustine Unrein and Joe Klee. The post office was moved from the Scheideman building to the Conner building.

January 1946: The American Legion Post has raised half of the funds to build a new $20,000 community memorial hall. Lee Fear has bought the house on the Start farm and will move it to the lots adjoining Elizabeth McKittrick’s place. Mrs. Anna Smith is opening a new restaurant on the east side of Main Street. Population in 1946 is 437. Mrs. Hattie Nash is retiring after 40 years in the hotel business. Benny Peer is employed at the Klema Store.

May 1947: Ray S. Irvin has purchased the residence property of Mrs. Martha Fellers. A cyclone struck Saturday night at the from home of Mrs. George Foster damaging a barn and windmill, Mr. and Mrs. Guy VanWinkle are driving a new DeSota purchased of the John Elias agency. Gerald Whitis and family have moved into the Foster home in the north part of town. Herman Pratt and Pete Brackney will build a new packing and slaughtering plant in Hays. It will be located south of the Hays Sales Pavilion.

February 1948: Every city, town and farm was isolated as the worst snow storm hit most of Kansas. Temperature was an all-time cold record when the thermometer dipped to 23 degrees below zero. McCracken was to have played in the Hays B Regional tournament but snow-blocked roads kept the basketball team at home. The game was forfeited between McCracken and Beverly. Mr. and Mrs. Gloyd Vogle and family have moved into their residence and will take charge of the Stein Taylor Shop.

March 1949: Work on the Cedar Bluff Dam will start the 1st of April. The formal opening of the Dugan Implement Company will be held Friday, May 6. A free dance and drawing will be held. Lyle and Leonard Dugan are the operators. McCracken has a new deep well. Water from the Darkes well has been burned in the city water mains. Fr. George McLaughlin is pastor of St. Mary’s Church.