September 20, 2017 News

Birthdays: September 20, Trina Casey, Kamryn Anderson; September 21, Phil Wiesner, Jamie Sewell; September 22, Lisa Irvin Collings, Iyslee Wilson; September 23, Mark Brackney, Jerry Schutte, Cathie Ryan Shapiro, Taylor Doornbos, Elizabeth Showalter, Jeffrey Norlin, Kevin Anderson, Lexea Barnes, Antonella Foster; September 24, Mark Derr, Andrew Taylor, Cassandra Ohmes; September 25, Leila Barnett; September 26, Melissa House Bowersock.

Anniversaries: September 21, Ron and Cathy Casey, Grayson and Vickie Hampton; September 22, James and Billie Slemp.

McCracken Public Library will host 'Women Writers on the Santa Fe Trail'- a presentation and discussion by Leo. E. Oliva on Saturday, September 23rd at 7 p.m. at the McCracken City Building. A soup supper and desserts will precede the presentation from 5 pm to 7 p.m at the McCracken City Building. A Free Will donation is suggested. The program is made possible by the Kansas Humanities Council.

The following article will give you a feel for the progress of the Trail when you come to the program.

David Clappsaddle's article continued: “In the following summer, the railroad reached Fort Harker, the successor to Fort Ellsworth, located one mile north of the original post, superceding Junction City as the Union Pacific railhead. Fort Harker became the eastern terminus of the Santa Fe Trail dispatching freight wagons and stagecoaches down the forty mile road to the Santa Fe Trail junction at Fort Zarah on Walnut Creek (near Great Bend). By October 1867, the railroad had pushed westward to Hays City. The newly organized town only one-half mile from Fort Hays became at once the Union Pacific railhead and the eastern terminus of the Santa Fe Trail. Thus was born the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Road, an artery which ran seventy-five miles southwest to strike the established route at the Santa Fe Trail at Fort Dodge.
As the railroad continued westward, an end- of-the-tracks town named Phil Sheridan was established in May 1968 in present day Logan County, Kansas, and a new road from Sheridan running southwest through Fort Wallace to Fort Lyon superceded the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Road to the eastern leg of the Santa Fe Trail.

However, the army continued to use the road between Fort Hays and Fort Dodge until the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway at Dodge in 1872. From that date, the army used the Road infrequently, but it continued to be used by local civilian traffic through 1879 (Mostly as a postal delivery and passenger service).”

Mark Eisenhour of Phoenix, Arizona, has spent the past week at the home of Arlyn and Jan North. A memorial service was held Saturday for his mother, Helen Eisenhour, formerly of LaCrosse. Burial was in Ransom with her husband Doyle and son Jim.

On Wednesday, Shirley Gabel and Ken Brackney, Ness City, came to visit the Jail/Museum, McCracken Public Library and McCracken City Cemetery. They were doing research on the Brackney family history and the McKittricks. Afterwards they went to LaCrosse to have lunch at the Highway 4 Diner. Carolyn Thompson joined them.

Brandon North represented Ellis High School FFA this year at the Kansas State Fair in the Agricultural Mechanics competition. He placed Grand Champion in that division, as well as, earning a $200.00 scholarship for the Reserved Champion Kuhn Krause Incorporated Choice Award for Innovation. Brandon built a tandem axle, 600 gallon fuel trailer with a 100 gallon DEF to be utilized by North Brothers Harvesting.

Our sympathy to the family of Ross Potter, 91 who died At Rhode Island Suites in Ransom on September 9, 2017. His daughter-in-law is Reni Albers Potter-Wood of Orlando, Florida. Burial was in the Arnold Cemetery.

Our sympathy to the family of Basil Marhofer, 92, who died September 6, 2017 at Ness County Hospital Basil was an attorney in Ness City from 1951 until he retired. He was a U.S. Army veterans who served in the 61st Infantry Division during WW11 in Europe. He was the Vice President of Rotary International in 1988-89 and a member of the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star. He married Cecilia Lewand September 5, 1987. She and his sister Betty Clark survive. We will miss his kindness and his expertise.

I think I’m ‘supporting’ a wildlife ‘sanctuary’ in my back yard, 3 humongous raccoons walked across the back yard a couple of days ago, have caught a possum in a cage.......I’ll probably be contending with mice in the near future. GRRR

Results for the 3 man scramble golf tournament held at the McCracken Golf Club September 10: Sean Peters, Mike Felder, 1st; Smoky Fairbanks, Norbert Flax, 2nd; Gene Erb, Larry Kraft, Richard and Johnny Mac Showalter, tied for 3rd, other golfers Mike and Mary Beth Peach; Les Diehl, Ken Foster, Lance and Garrett McCormick; Martin and Jerry Higgins; Brian Bozarth, Tony Gall; Chad Oberhelman, Chris Brooke. Women’s longest drive, Mary Beth Peach; Men’s longest drive Brian Bozarth; Longest putt Norbert Flax; Closest to pin #3 Lance McCormick; closest to pin #4 Chris Brooke; closest to pin #8 Garrett McCormick. Special thanks to Mike and Mary Beth for furnishing hole prizes.

Mark Eisenhour of Phoenix AZ has spent the past week at the home of Arlyn and Jan North. A memorial service was held Saturday for his mother Helen Eisenhour, formerly of LaCrosse. Burial was in Ransom with her husband Doyle and son Jim.

Brandon North represented Ellis High School FFA this year at the Kansas State Fair in the Agricultural Mechanics competition. He placed Grand Champion in that division, as well as, earning a $200 scholarship for the Reserved Champion Kuhn Krause Incorporated Choice Award for Innovation. Brandon built a tandem axle, 600 gallon fuel trailer with a 100 gallon DEF to be utilized by North Brothers Harvesting.

Congratulations to Tyler Trauer and Kayla Irvin on their marriage, Saturday, September 26 at the First United Methodist Church in Hays.

We were very glad to read that Austin McGaughey is home from the hospital.

McCracken Public Library will host “Women Writers on the Santa Fe Trail,” a presentation and discussion by Leo E. Oliva on Saturday, September 23rd at 7 pm at the McCracken City Building - 401 1st Street Also, a soup supper and desserts before the presentation from 5 pm - 7 pm at the McCracken City Building. Free will donation.

It was so nice to visit with Nicole Vonlehe at the Irvin - Trauer wedding Saturday. She said they had received snow so hopefully that will help with the fires.

Carolyn and Shirley attended the ‘Dreamers’ workshop at the home of Christine Wagner, Monday afternoon. Carol Heiman and Kathleen Kuchar were also in attendance.

History notes: 1965

Margaret Hair has purchased the Whitey Wierman home and Al Rues as bought the Pat Higgins home; Velma Morgan is the new correspondent from Alexander; REN tournament began January 22 at Bison. League members are Ransom, Bison, McCracken, Odin, Bazine, Alexander and Schoenchen; Gerald Walker is manager of the Farmer’s Coop; today’s market, wheat $1.97, Milo $l.60; McCracken Mustangs won over the Alexander Whippets 76-62. Baus was high point for McCracken and Lonnie Morgan for the Whippets; Connie and LeeRoy Schuckman have moved into the Virgil Huxolresidence; Those participating in the grade music festival at LaCrosse were David Halbleib, Bill Wetzel, Patricia Casey, Gloria Baus, Ann North, Carolyn Stremel, Kent Bible, Kim Elmore, Joy North and Cheryl Casey; Boy Scouting has been chartered in McCracken. The leadersip will be Al Rues, Harmel Moss, Duane Harms, Joann Sloan, Donets Parsons, Joan Buster, Evelyn Higgins, Velma Legleiter, Don Buster, Calvin Parsons, Raymond Mills, Bob Derr, Emerson Sloan, Carl Legleiter, Pete Derr and Don Greenway; Bobby Peters arrived home from Korea where he has spent 13 months.


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Patricia Petz

The alarm clock rang early on Monday morning (3:30 am, to be exact) so that mom and I could be in Hays by 5:15 for the Eagle Radio sponsored bus trip to Branson.  A total of 33 people boarded the bus and we were off for 4 exciting days of fun!  We stayed at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Branson and arrived  in time to freshen up before our first dinner and show.  Dinner was at the Plaza and the show was at the Presley's Jubilee Theater.  The Presley family is celebrating their 50 years with four generations of family that has taken the stage in Branson.  We had a fun time listening to their awesome music and laughing at their hilarious comedy. 

Tuesday  was one of our favorite days as were able to take a "Behind the Scenes Tour" of the show of "Moses!"  It is simply amazing to see the work that goes into the props, the dressing rooms, and even the care of the animals.  The show begins as Moses is put into the water as a small infant and found by the royal members of the palace.  After growing up in the royal palace, Moses rejects his inheritance, flees Egypt, wanders the desert and becomes a shepherd.  Then God gives him a huge assignment: Free the Israelites from slavery.  From the depths of the Red Sea to the mountaintop where Moses receives the 10 Commandments, the stage is filled with an exceptional cast, spectacular special effects and live animals - on stage and in the aisles! 

After the outstanding show of Moses, we headed to the Welk Resort where we had an awesome dinner buffet followed by the show: The Million Dollar Quartet.  This was a reenactment of December 4, 1956, when Sam Phillips with Sun Records brought together: Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley for the first and only time to make Rock and Roll History! It amazes me how these productions can make the characters and their voices sound so much like the originals! 

Wednesday was our last day in Branson, but it was not at all disappointing!  In the morning we attended the show with the "Brett Family" at the Dick Clark's American Bandstand.  It was an excellent show filled with beautiful music as well as a splash of comedy from their youngest son.  In the afternoon we were bused downtown to do a little shopping.  Many of us toured "Dick's 5 & 10 Store."  This store was filled with many items "from the past."  It was a real treat just to see what was in the store! Many of us found an ice-cream store and mom and I decided to share a "banana split" and we were greeted by a couple from Australia that told us that they had never seen anything like it.  They had ice-cream in Australia, but no banana splits.  They were fun to visit with! 

After our shopping adventure, we were off to the Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show.  Dolly Parton wanted us to have a home cooked meal along with some fascinating entertainment.  Our meal served (without any utensils) consisted of creamy vegetable soup, a whole rotisserie chicken, a slice of hickory smoked barbequed pork loin, corn on the cob, a herb-basted potato, a hot homemade drop biscuit, and a very tasty apple turnover.  While we ate, the show began with a journey to the West with wagon trains of high-spirited settlers, we felt a buffalo stampede and witnessed Native American legends as they came to life in an aerial exhibition of skill and daring.  In the 35,000 sq. ft. arena we experience the live entertainment of 32 magnificent horses and a cast of top-notch riders, spectacular special effects and stirring musical productions. 

Even though our experience in Branson was fantastic, it was time for us to hit the road once again Thursday morning.  After breakfast we loaded the bus.  Half way between Branson and Kansas City we made our first stop at the Osceola Cheese Store in Oscelola, MO, the largest cheese store in the United States.  The store carries over 200 kinds of domestic cheeses.  On an average day, the Osceola Cheese Store sells about 1,000 pounds of cheese, along with crackers, sauces, jams and other goodies. Many of us, picked up a variety of goodies to take home. 

Once we arrived in Abilene, it was time for another stop at "Russell Stovers."  Oh my goodness, what a store filled with your every desire of candy you could wish for.  This outlet store features the entire line of Russell Stover, Whitman's and Pangburn's candies, plus seasonal close outs, and "factory seconds." Of course, mom and I had to pick up a few boxes to enjoy once we made it home.
We were back to Hays by 6:30 Thursday evening, and would like to express our gratitude to Scott Boomer and Scarlet Deutscher from Eagle Radio of Hays who made this a fun and enjoyable trip! 

After a little rest, mom and I were back on the road Friday afternoon headed for McPherson.  Once there, we picked up Angie and headed to Marion to set up for the 39th Annual Art in the Park and Craft show.  We had a great show on Saturday, however, the rain had spoiled the atmosphere for about an hour as it poured!  We were hoping that the rain would find it's way back to Rush county, but it doesn't appear to have done that.  We certainly need it! 

Sunday morning, mom and I attended mass at St. Joseph's Church in McPherson.  After church, the boys and I went rock hunting and hid several "McPherson Rocks" in a couple of different parks.  They just love this activity.  We were planning to attend the State Fair, but mom wasn't feeling well, so we decided to let the Timson's take care of the fair for us this year and we would try to attend next year.  I hope many of you were able to attend as well.  Hope you all have a blessed week!