RCNews September 18
We would like to say "Thank You" to the following people for helping out with the mass Sept. 6th.  Father Kraus, Bet & Jeanette McCormick with gifts, Bet McCormick & Francis Weirman ushers, Deanna Bergquist , Lecture and Arlene Rues for leading with singing.  Also thanks for Jim Schaffer for his helping with the mass.  ‘Fritz’ & Laura Casey said the rosary. And if we forgot anybody else a big Thanks. 
 
Mary and Leland Steitz were treated to a 30th Anniversary dinner at Montana Mike's on Sunday.  To help them celebrate was Danny and Patricia Petz, McCracken, Kelly, Melanie, Nathan, Nicholas, Kallynn, and Cameron Petz of Hays, and Angie Huggard, and Trent and Tyler Timson of McPherson.
 
At the Larned game in LaCrosse, Clinton Kershner had 10 stops and 2 sacks in the game.
 
When friends of Rose & Les Diehl in McCracken, Nancy and Dick Baker from Manhattan, came for a visit (Aug 21st news item in Mc news) they hit a deer going back to Manhattan.  They just got their car out of the shop and thank goodness no one was hurt.  See Dick.  See the deer.  See Dick hit the deer.
 
Apologies to Frank and Elaine Littler who helped with the cemetery directory last Sunday.  Their names were missed in the paper.
 
Shirley Higgins accompanied Lorraine Ryan to Hutchinson Thursday morning for an appointment for Lorraine.  Jerry Higgins took us to lunch at Prairie Dunes then we went on a tour of the golf course.  What a beautiful tour.
 
Congratulations to Michael and Jerridy Morgan on the birth of a son, Eli Glen, born September 7, 2008.  Grand parents are Layne and Kerri Morgan, Christy and the late Neil Dirks. 
 
Congratulations to Lee and Rachel Legleiter on the birth of a son, Hayden Lee, born September 10, 2008.  Grandparents are Mike and Sharolyn Legleiter and John and Melanie Zeller.  Great grand parents are Carl and Velma Legleiter, Ruth Axman and the late James Horachek.
 
Hoisington High School football team won their game against Nickerson there Friday night in a downpour. They won 44-6.  Jerry, Chuck, Tammy, Lonnie and Shirley had a very nice surprise at the game.  Billy Hughes, Sherman Oaks, CA came to watch the football games.  He accompanied Tammy and Lonnie to Garden City Saturday evening and watched Garden Juco win over the Air Force Prep team.  He has not been back in the area for 9 years. 
 
Josh Moran, who plays for the Great Bend Recreation 6th graders football team, won from McPherson 42-6. The boys play their games on Saturdays at Barton County.  Josh had 7 tackles for the team.
 
The Hutch Trinity middle school won their football game over Bennington Thursday night in Hutchinson.  Tanner made 3 out of the 4 touchdowns.  He rushed for 48 yds; 46 yds and caught a 10 yard pass for TD’s.   His grandparents, Milo & Ann Oyler, Dallas, attended the game.
 
Bob House was treated to dinner at the community center for his 78th birthday by Ellen Kershner, Clinton, Clayton & Addie.  They spent the afternoon in McCracken.  Addie was seen jumping on the trampoline with Kate and Emma Rues.
 
Clarence W. "C. W." Deutscher, 87, died September 10, 2008 at Trego County Hospital in Wakeeney. He was born June 12, 1921 north of Ellis to John and Clara Huber Deutscher.  He married Marlene Schoenthaler November 25, 1945 in Ellis.  He was a US Army Air Force veteran serving during WWII.  He was a retired real estate and insurance agent from his own agency.  Survivors include his wife Marlene, 2 sons, Steven and Stanley.  Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ellis.
 
Carolyn Davenport was pictured in Thursday's edition of the Hutchinson News as a "Cow Chip Throwing Contestant".  She had on her red hat and purple 'outfit'.
 
Shirley & Carolyn are 'treating' Anna Mae Kreutzer by having a 'Home Interior' party at Shirley's.  It is a come and go party on Monday the 22nd from 5:30 - 7:30.  Please come.
 
Billy Hughes is now a scouting supervisor for the LosAngeles Angels.  He has the whole western part of the US.  Now is his down time, will start getting busy after January.  His son Will is a junior and has made the swim team for Notre Dame high school.  His daughter Mary Megan is a 6th grader.
 
 The KPRA finals are this weekend in Scott City performance times are as follows:
 Friday, September 19th - 7:30 P.M.
Saturday, September 20th - 7:30 P.M.
Sunday, September 21st - 2:00 P.M.
 This year they have dubbed Saturday as "Committee Appreciation Night" and will be presenting the plaques to the "Rodeo of the Year" and the "Committee of the Year" that evening, we are assuming through the rodeo. We have RSVP'd that at least 6-10 people from McCracken will be attending the Saturday performance.  We have also volunteered to help serve at either hotdog feed, watermelon feed, BBQ.  I am still waiting on a phone call back from Nanci Pratt to let us know where help might be needed.  She and Rod (KPRA President) just got back from their son's wedding in Mexico she told me last evening.  So things are still a little bit up in the air.  As soon as I hear, I will let you know. 
 
Tony Harp is 'reaping' lots of benefits from his garden.  He made the remark that he is tired of doing all this domestic 'stuff' like canning beets, carrots, pears etc. 
 
We missed Donna & Allan Hill’s anniversary on September 16.  It was their second.  Congratulations.
 
Red, Betty and Brian Fear also wanted a personal thank you to all those who participated and donated to the Benefit Dove Hunt in their behalf in this column.
 
The Book Club in McCracken met Tuesday evening. Those present were Tomi Rues, Shirley Higgins, Ruth Crawshaw, Arline Rues, Lorraine Ryan, Thayne Jones, Susan Rebel, and Carolyn Thompson. They shared the books they read over the summer and had an open dialogue on how the club would run this fall. For September, members will continue to bring books they are reading and discuss them, but they will also all read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and discuss this book on September 30th. As always, everyone is welcome to attend.
 
 Our sympathy to the family of William J. (Bill) Moran, age 77, who died September 8, 2008 at Rush County Memorial Hospital in LaCrosse.  His daughter, Nicole Kirk read the eulogy and an Irish poem at the funeral and his son David Moran, sang “Danny Boy” in honor of Bill’s Irish heritage.  His grandchildren, Nicholas, Joshua, Zachary and Abigail Moran and Madison Kirk brought up the gifts at the mass.  Bill was beloved by his wife Marge and his children, John, Michele, Jason, David and Nicole. His daughter Sara pre-deceased him as well as his parents, William P and Rosa Marak Moran, brothers, James and Vincent and sisters. Marcelline Wendling and Mary Ann Moran.  He is also survived by two sisters, Jean Moran and Rita Pumilia, two daughters-in-law, Ellen Moran and Stacy Moran and a son-in-law, Clark Kirk.  He was a faithful member of his church.  He served his country in the U. S. Army in Alaska during the Korean Conflict.  Bill loved to attend sporting events and was a faithful follower of his children’s and grandchildren’s school and sports activities
 
Gloria Blackwell appeared on the front of the Friday, September 12, 2008 Hays Daily News.  She is an elementary music teacher at Wilson Elementary in Hays.  His students took part in the National Anthem Day activities by forming an American flag on the school’s playground and singing the National Anthem.
 
LouElla Thompson, 81, Bucklin, died September 11, 2008 at Hospice in Salina.  She was born July 20, 1927 to Frank and Josephine Brejcha Doubrave in Holyrood.  She married Kenneth Thompson on May 21, 1950, in Bushton.  She was co-owner of Ken’s Sundries in Bucklin.  She is survived by her husband, Ken, son Bryan and his wife Cynthia, grandchildren, Emily, Arthur, Frank, John and Laurel;  three sisters, Delores Hinde, Rose Small and Alice Malir.  She was preceded in death by a son, Kevin G. Thompson and a grandson, Ralph Thompson.  Burial was in the Bucklin Cemetery.
 
Carolyn Thompson visited Ken Thompson, Bryan and Cynthia Thompson and family on Friday at Salina.
 
Daryl North and Eunice North attended the funeral of Lou Thompson at Bucklin United Methodist Church on Saturday.
 
Obituaries in the McCracken History Volume 111 for 1990:  Charlotte C. Herdman Giess, Raymond Lowell “Hammer” Mills, Irene Sanders Lovitt, Everett K. Reinhardt, Joseph G. Warta, Edna Frances Anderson Dieffenbach, Herbert G. Doerr, Joy C. Mills Gifford, Fannie Christina Lovitt Davenport, Steve Randy McFarren, Charles A. Hansen, Larry Rome, Cory Aaron Stull, Mary Kathryn Hall Young, Faye Ellen Allen Smith, John B. Kober, Ted E. Burk, Arietta Foster Plaunty, Willis Moses, Charlotte L. Jennings Fluharty, William R. Potter, Fern C. Jones, Eric Michael Petz, Marine Lance Cpl. Ronald Ray Podrybau, Peter M. Derr, Leona F. Seaman.
 
McCracken History Notes
September 1908
Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Irvin, Mr. and Mrs. Chess Irvin and Mrs. Charles Rodarmel went to Kansas City Sunday night and returned Wednesday.
 
The Santa Fe pump house at Alexander caught fire Tuesday afternoon and burned to the ground.  It is supposed to have been caused by the sparks from a locomotive.
 
September 1938
Mrs. Elbert (Neva) Twiselton this week became the new owner of the Vanity Fair beauty shop purchasing it from Miss Alvina Zordel.
 
2200 students are enrolled in schools of Rush County.  Those enrolled high school number 600 while 1600 are enrolled in the grade schools.  McCracken has an increase in high school from 70 last year to 92 this year.
 
Miss Katherine Higgins and Mr. Richard Ryan were married in Raton, New Mexico on Saturday.
 
September 1948
J. M. Wilkins has purchased the residence of Mrs. Ida Casey in west McCracken and will take possession October 1.  Mrs. Casey will move to her property in the north part of town which has been occupied by Miss Marie McCormick who is moving to her new home in west McCracken.
 
M/Sgt. Keith Grumbein returned home after spending 20 months in Korea where he was stationed with the army engineers.  His wife, Marjorie and their two children, Karen and Charlotte Ann, have been making their home in LaCrosse.  His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Grumbein of Alexander.  Grumbein has re-enlisted in the army for a three year period.
 
September 1958
Mr. and Mrs. George Gerritzen moved this week into their home in McCracken which they purchase recently from Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Marak.
 
Mrs. Bert Whitis died August 24, 1958 at Cambridge, Ohio.  She was the mother of Vic Whitis and Mrs. Alta Nuss.
 
Harry Juvenal was shot in the left hip by a .22 caliber rifle.  The shooting was termed accidental.
 
September 1968
Mrs. Signe Barnes has been elected president of Athenian Club.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Mont Buxton are teaching in the Ransom school district this year.
 
September 1978
McCracken dismantled the Golden Plains football team 56-0 on Friday night.  Jeff McCormick recorded eight solo stops, eight assists and recovered a fumble.  Dale Elias pounced on a fumble to get credit for a 2 point conversion.
 
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Betz, a daughter, Jennifer Louise, September 17.
 
September 1988
Francis H. “Fritz” Flax, 63 died Sunday, September 18 at Ransom.  He had ten sons and five daughters.  Bernadette Taylor, McCracken is one of his daughters.
 
September 1998
Thayne and Machree Jones left for Pierce City, Missouri to attend the wedding of her great-niece, Stephanie Crawford to Lance Etheridge.
 
Joy and George Hunter attended the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson on Friday.