RCNews Oct 20

Have you driven the new and improved sanded/crushed cement road four miles north of McCracken to the Ellis county line? Were you one who drove into the ditch running into the pasture fence of Dolores Petz…..or got stuck and didn’t get out for over a day? This happened with .80 in rain, BUT it is now fixed.
 
Dena Irvin, Audrey Irvin, Chet Irvin and Ruth Irvin traveled to Scott City on Saturday, October 15, to celebrate Dena's grandaughter, Crissa Beth, fourth birthday at her home.  Hosting the party was Chris and Jana Irvin, brother Cooper and baby sister Jaisa.  Others attending were Tod, Niki, Maili, Max Depperschmidt, Scott City, Steve and Ann O'Neil, Denver, Ken, Janet, and Brianne Dennis.
 
Sharon Lovitt has been a patient in the Hays Med Center after falling down a couple of  steps in her basement breaking her hip. She is doing well.
 
We wish all the area volleyball teams the best of luck this coming weekend. Chuck Higgins is officiating in Hugoton and Jerry officiating in Lyons. 
 
The McCracken Library thanks Sandra Jacobs and the McCracken Alumni for the new book cart at the library.
 
Craig & Kim Cooper, Gunnison; her mother Elizabeth, Kansas City; and Christi Cooper, California, were here Saturday and had lunch at Boondocks with Jean Schutte.
 
Priscella Jacobs motored to Wichita this past weekend where she helped Jaden and Jenna Jacobs move into their new residence. Jaden is working at the Sunflower Bank in Wichita, Jenna is teaching school.
 
Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!!  A casserole supper beginning at 5:30 will be held Sunday evening, October 23 at the McCracken Community Building. A variety of casseroles, salad, rolls, drink and desserts will be available. The proceeds will go to Christmas wreaths for the deceased veterans of the McCracken City Cemetery and St. Mary’s Cemetery; also the McCracken Swimming Pool. There will also be a ‘fun’ raffle. Please come and enjoy!!
 
The gazebo looks very, very nice with its new green, tin roof. Thanks to Sid Osbourne and his crew!
 
October 20, 2011 News
 
Birthdays:  October 20, Larry Buster, Kyra Horesky; October 21, Cindy Petz, Kevin Casey, Brady Whitis, Sonny Showalter; October 23, Terri Everhart, Donna Hill, Mary Peach, Brandon Mills, Stephanie Anderson; October 24, Doug Keady, Aiden Anderson; October 25, Jean Herdman, Janet Miller, Maverick DeWitt; October 26, Mitchell Jacobs, Lanette Mathews.
 
Anniversaries:  October 21, Aaron and Lesley McGaughey; October 23, Josh and Hannah Enslow; October 26, Mark and Rhonda Derr.
 
Happy 50th to Lanette Stremel Mathews and Mitchell Jacobs
 
On Tuesday Danny Downs, Topeka, son of the late Doris Birdsong Downs and nephew of Dean Birdsong, was in town.
He stopped by and visited with Priscilla Jacobs at Charlie’s.  Shirley Higgins and Carolyn Thompson took him to the Jail/Museum, McCracken City Cemetery and the McCracken Public Library.  He met Marilyn Sommers and Lynnette and John Doornbos at the library.  He then visited with Francis and Julia Zeller, Bill Zeller and John and Melanie Zeller. Francis and Julia went to school with the Birdsong twins.  Danny is the shop foreman for The Topeka Foundry and Iron Works Co.  In his spare time he makes brass and copper models of unusual old-time vehicles.  He designs the instrument to make each part.   They are works of art.  You can check out his website at http://picasaweb.google.com/BrassModels.  After visiting with the Zellers he went to see where his grandparents lived a mile north of Darrel Sunley's. Both Doris and Dean Birdsong graduated from McCracken High School.
 
Congratulations to Sharon Lytle and Brett Murrison on the birth of a son, Silas Murrison, born September 30, 2011 at Wesley Hospital in Wichita.  Silas weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 18 inches long.  He has two brothers, Jesse age 3 and Brayden age 1.  Georgia Lytle, McCracken, is his grandmother and James Wilbert Higley, Smith Center is his great-grandfather.
 
Glenn Conner returned home from the hospital.  Mike and Shelly will stay with him at the farm.
 
Roy Conrad had another stroke on Monday.  He is at Hays Med.  We wish him a speedy recovery.
 
Margaret Shauers, Great Bend, has donated her collection of books to McCracken Public Library.  Gerald Crotinger helped package them up for transport. 
  
Marilyn Sommers was here for a few days working at the computer at McCracken Public Library.
 
The Ploutz family left the two big boxes of new books in front of the library.  They are  appreciated. . The McCracken Main Street Literary Society sorted out the books prior to their meeting on Thursday evening
 
 Martin and Mary Higgins were in Nashville last week end for Martin's Navy
reunion.  Martin served on the USS Richard E. Byrd, DDG23, and over the last 8
or so years the shipmates have held reunions every two years.  This year, being
in Nashville, Friday night was spent at the Grand Old Opry, and Saturday
afternoon most of the folks went on the General Jackson, a riverboat with dinner
and show.  The boat cruised up into the downtown area of Nashville so we were
able to observe the skyline.  It's a very pretty city.  We also toured the
Country Music Hall of Fame Museum and the Ryman Auditorium.  Very interesting
items there including the Cadillac that belonged to Elvis.  It was painted white
with crushed diamonds and rubies in the paint to make it sparkle.  Those old
cars were almost big enough to live in.   This was one of the most fun trips
we've had.  It's always nice to see the "old" friends we've met and then we
usually get acquainted with new ones each time.  In two years the reunion will
be held in Jacksonville, Fla.  We're looking forward to that one.  We all keep
looking for more folks that the shipmates worked with.  More is better in this
case.  Fun times!" We had a great time !  It was just about the best
reunion we've had.  I really liked the one we had in Charleston too.  But
they're all fun.  Such nice people.
 
Kansas History Notes
 
In April 1897, a great oil refinery was built at Neodesha.  Eighty-seven wells produced daily an average of four barrels of oil each.  The stock of oil accumulated at Neodesha before the opening was 300,000 barrels.  Kansas was rated eighth in the U. S. in men employed in coal mining.  The sale producing capacity at Hutchinson was 1,650,000 barrels per annum.
 
Theodore Roosevelt visited Kansas in 1900.  A reception was held to honor the illustrious hero of San Juan.
 
McCracken History Notes
October 1911
 
McCracken  Post Office is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.;  on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
 
Paul Warden drove his car home from LaCrosse Sunday, where he was forced to leave it the first of the week on account of wet roads.
 
October 1941
The McCracken grade school defeated the LaCrosse School in softball 17 to 12 in LaCrosse on Tuesday.  The game, played in an hour, was featured by the LaCrosse rally in the fourth with four hits scoring nine runs to overcome a 3 to 1 lead.  McCracken opened the seventh with a 12 run barrage and then retired the side in order in the last of the seventh to win.  Glenn Conner pitched eight hit ball getting two strike outs and walking two.  Players:  Wilfred Bieker, Guy Conner, Glenn Conner, Willard Thompson, John Elmore, Jim Higgins, Unrein, Juvenal, Foster, Irvin, Thompson, Birdsong and Greenway.  LaCrosse - Frazier, Swick, Stang, Showalter, Opdyke, N. Krug, Shaffer, Smith, Allen, Weiser, Schwartzkopf.
 
October 1961
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jacobs on the birth of a son born October 26 at the Rush County Hospital.
 
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Celly Stremel on the birth of a daughter, Lanette Kay, born October 26 in Hays.
 
October 1981
A five generation picture appeared in the Rush County News of great-great grandmother, Fay (Allen) Smith of Belvidere, New Jersey; great grandmother, Lucille Crotinger of McCracken; grandmother, Dorothy Crotinger Graham of Kingman; mother, Gayle Hamblin of Kingman and the 5th generation, Clint Allen Hamblin.
 
Lonnie Irvin is student teaching in health and physical education in LaCrosse.
 
Lee Roy Schuckman has moved from McCracken to LaCrosse.