News Oct 5
A book has been written by Steven Michael Farney entitled “Title Towns Class BB Boys Basketball Champions of Kansas 1952-1968”.  Jay Frazier is featured as one of the coaches who won the state championship in 1954 while coaching for Burdett High School.  Other schools mentioned were Brookville, Dorrance, Brewester, Winona, Rozel, Burdett, Tescott, Dwight, Wilsey, Durham, Strong City, Quenemo, Burns, Mullenville, Montezuma
and Rolla.  All these school are now consolidated.
 
Dinner guests Saturday evening in McCracken of Martin and Mary Higgins were Bill Zeller, Cecilia Gilbert, Francis and Julia Zeller, Les and Rose Diehl and Cindy Yauger.  Les says it is nice to NOT have someone cooking in his kitchen. 
 
Gary Barnes, Roger Legleiter and Lisa, Coleen Kerns and her son Jeff Kerns drove “Molly” (the turquoise station wagon) in the Homecoming Parade in Hays on Saturday promoting the McCracken Rodeo.
 
Dennis and Jeannie Elias and Marge Elias attended the 4th grade football game in Hays on Saturday.  Tanner Elias, son of Travis and Tina Elias, participated in the game.  He is a 3rd grader at Oakley.
 
Memorials have been given to the McCracken Alumni in memory of Duane Guy from Carolyn Thompson and Vic and Shirley Higgins; in memory of Joe Jennings from Vic and Shirley Higgins.
 
Thursday Gladys and Wendell visited with Ray and Laura Wierman, Jennifer and Jerod.  Jerod was home on school break from the Art Institute of Colorado.
 
 Beulah Irvin, 88, died September 28, 2006 at Hays.  She was born February 11, 1918, in McCracken to Arthur and Carrie (Herdman) North.  She married Lester V. Irvin on April 17, 1938 at McCracken.  He died December 20, 1997.  She is survived by a son, Stanley Irvin and daughter, Cheryl Long, five grandchildren, a step-grandchild, seven great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.  Her brother Albert North and twin brothers preceded her in death.  Her sister-in-law, Eunice North survives. Burial was in McCracken City Cemetery.  Beulah was a descendant of McCracken's earliest settlers.  She was a 1935 graduate of McCracken High School and a supporter of the McCracken Alumni Association.  In July she was here for the alumni dinner and rode in the 20th Anniversary Rodeo Parade.
 
SADDLE CLUB NEWS:  McCracken Saddle Club is now recruiting new members from age 10 and up to join their organization. You may contact Austin McGaughey at 394-2596 and leave a message.  At their recent meeting they discussed fund raising, membership, tee-shirt plans, attendance at other rodeos, planning meetings around school schedule, bake sale at the annual craft show.  Club includes Nicole Ryan, Lisa Legleiter,  Carly Derr, Sierra Jones and Austin McGaughey. Honorary member is Tomi Rues.   Meetings will be on Mondays from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.  Officers include Austin McGaughey, president; Nicole Ryan, Vice-President/Treasurer; Lisa Legleiter, Secretary; Carly Derr, Reporter; Sierra Jones, Event Planner.  Hope to see you at the next meeting. 
 
 Marjorie Scheuerman, 84, Alexander, died September 25, 2006 at LaCrosse.  She married Clarence Scheuerman on July 24, 1940.  He died February 20, 1987.  She is survived by a son, Terry and daughter, Lana Randel; sister Marilea Wender, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
 
Reva (Rodeman) and Judson Lloyd, Wheat Ridge, Colo. were Sunday dinner guests of Ruth Yawger and Al and Judy Hugh.  They then came by McCracken and stopped at the cemetery before going to Patrick and Jan O'Toole's at Arnold to spend the night before returning to Colorado.
 
Chet Rogers called to say how beautiful the sunflowers were in the CRP.  They were on a long stem.  They are called Maxmilian sunflowers.  They were planted with the grass seed when the CRP was seeded.  They bloom August through October.  The Indians ate the tuberous root raw or cooked.  They grow between 3 and 6 foot tall.
 
Graveside services for Joe Jennings will be Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 a.m. at McCracken City Cemetery.  A Remembrance will be at the McCracken United Methodist Church following the services.  Joe was a former student at McCracken High School and enjoyed attending the annual alumni get together and rodeo.  He was a supporter of the Jail/Museum and provided Jennings family information to the museum.
 
A wedding shower was held for Lesley Heidrick on Saturday, September 30, 2006, at Rush Center.  She is the bride-elect of Aaron McGaughey.  The hostesses for the shower were Hilary Wilhelm and Ashley McGaughey.
 
Chet and Joyce Rogers, Leslie Rogers, Roxie and Ron Dechant attended funeral services for Kenneth Kirby in Great Bend on Saturday.
 
Marge Elias treated her sister, Lavon Helms to dinner Sunday in Ness City for her 86th birthday.
 
Our thanks to Bishop Gilmore and Father Rene for permission for the mass celebrating the 120th anniversary at St. Mary's.  Father Kraus presided, Jim Schafer was sacristan, Roy Conrad was a server, Michele Moran lead the singing, Wilfrid and Francis Wierman, collection, Francis and Roberta Wierman, gifts, Frances Casey and Laura Linsey, rosary.  Phyllis Conrad decorated the altar with fall cornucopia baskets and fall flowers obtained by Laura and Jackie, DeAnna Berquist and Carolyn Thompson were eucharistic ministers and lector.  We are grateful to all who attended to honor all those who have been members both living and dead for the past 120 years.
 
October 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the McCracken Community Building there will be a presentation by Ann Birney of Admire, Kansas, who portrays Amelia Earhart.  There will be a drawing for the decorated pumpkins.  Admission is free.  The Friends of the Library will accept free will offerings for future activities and programs.
 
John and Kayla Tacha, Nicole and Lindsey, Rose and Les Diehl attended the Hoisington – Marion football in Hoisington Friday night.  Hoisington won 41-19.
 
We thank Jerilyn Stull and Tayler for mowing around the bell at Entre Nous.
 
Graveside services were held on Saturday, September 30, for Fate Moses, son of William and Susan Davenport Moses.  Fate was 104.  He married Mae Thompson August 1933 in Lincoln Nebraska.  He is survived by son Don Moses, Green Valley, Ariz. and daughter Beth Marcey, Olathe; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  The Moses, Davenports and Thompsons were early settlers of McCracken and Brownell area.  Friends gathered for fellowship at the McCracken United Methodist Church following the services.  Don mentioned that in later years Fate only remembered the old times, so they read and re-read the McCracken History. 
 
We had a letter from Sr. Elaine Eggert, Dominician Sister from Akron, Ohio, who attended the McCracken Rodeo in July with Sister Martina.  She says "After riding a roller coaster thirty five times in one day years ago, I thought my "thrilling days" were over.  But, I was wrong.  I was an attendee for two nights at the rodeo -- a new experience!  I was soon joining the crowd in cheering on the riders, feeling like I was one of them!  From now on, at age 86, I'll attend rodeos, if possible, and give up thrilling rides on roller coasters".
 
McCracken History Notes
October 1906
G. C. Clemens, a cousin of Mark Twain, died at his home in Topeka.  He once ran on the Socialist ticket for governor of Kansas.
 
Mr. "Lander" Davenport was married to Miss Fannie Lovitt at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lovitt, north of McCracken on Monday evening. Rev. Alex Walker officiated.  The bride and groom took the ten o'clock flyer for a visit of some days at Kansas City.
 
October 1936
Jim Rixon is adding an addition to his home southeast of town.
 
Beverly Irvin broke his arm at the elbow in the LaCrosse game on Friday.
 
October 1946
Margaret Shiney left Friday to resume her studies at Bryn Mawr College and her brother Scotty Shiney went to Columbia, Mo., Tuesday where he is a junior at the University of Missouri.
 
Wendell Sieling is the proud owner of a new Ford, town club convertible coupe.
 
October 1956
Congratulations to Mr.and Mrs. Richard Gordon on the birth of a son, Glen Emern, October 5, 1956 in LaCrosse.
 
Bazine's new elementary school will be dedicated the first week in November.
 
October 1966
Thayne Jones is president of the Rush County Irrigation Association.
 
Measles vaccine will be available for all children between the ages of 12 months and 12 years of age.
 
Benny Rogers returned home Tuesday from the Hadley Hospital where he had been a patient following an appendectomy.
 
October 1976
The Noxious Weed Department supervised by Rush County Sheriff Jack Mendenhall sprayed 2-4D on marijuana plants which were at least 15 feet high.  Others helping with the spraying were Joe Casey, Deputy Sheriff and Raymond Mills with noxious weeds.
 
J. H. (Bus) Brown, Artesia, New Mexico, and James H. Brown, Mission, Texas, spent a week with their sister, Mrs. Ann Tanck.
 
October 1986
Trenton Herdman and Vikki Hopkins were Bazine High School football Homecoming attendants.  The old McCracken fire truck was used to chauffeur the queen candidates.
 
The voters will go to the polls to decide on liquor by the drink and the lottery.
 
October 1996
McCracken City Commission sold the stone building on the corner of Main and Beech on Monday evening to Marty and Tina Mills.
 
Bill and Dan Zeller moved Saturday into the former Willa Start house.
 
McCracken Methodist Bell Choir went to Lindsborg on Saturday for a workshop. Ten members were on the trip.