RCNews

November 5
Congratulations to Jeremy and Ashley Slemp on the birth of an 8 lb. son, Dillon James, born October 27, 2009 in Pacific Junction, IA.  Grandparents are Joe and Kay Slemp, McCracken; great grandparents, James and Billie Slemp, LaCrosse.
 
Joe and Kay Slemp were dinner guests of James and Billie Slemp on Sunday.  It was Joe’s ?? birthday.
 
Three bow hunters from South Carolina were coming to hunt on the property of Walter Rogers, came as far as Independence, Mo their first night.  They woke up the next morning, looked out the door and their vehicle and trailer was gone.  It was a 1974 Ford Diesel pickup and an enclosed trailer with all their hunting gear and clothing.  They decided they were going to lease a car and drive home, then thought,  “Hey we have insurance” so they went to Cabalas and purchased all new ‘stuff’.     On their way home they stopped by Independence where their trailer was found ‘empty’ in a grove of trees about 6 miles from town (it was empty) and their pickup was found in Oak Grove, KS.
 
Thanks to the work crew who worked on the Liebenthal road.
 
Jerry and Kathy Dugan were in Charlie’s service station in town on Friday.  They were just ‘passing’ through. 
 
Tom and Lois Lacock, Rossville, Kansas was in attendance at the Garden City Juco and Hutch Juco football game held in Hutchinson Saturday evening. Their grandson, Justin Skelton, Larned, is a member of the Garden City team.  Tom and Lois are the parents of Kerrie and Teresa Lacock who live in McCracken.
 
Richard and Nancy Baker, Manhattan and John Grissinger, Kansas were Halloween weekend guests of Rose and Les Diehl who hosted a neighborhood Halloween party Saturday evening.  John is now a true McCrackenite as are Richard and Nancy.  John made liquid nitrogen ice cream; flavors included Vanilla, Baileys, Kaluhe, Blueberry and Peach.  Yummy!!
 
Walter Rogers received a phone call from Jerry Brackney, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. 
He said they have received 71 inches of rain since the first of the year.
 
Grandama Pat, Aunt Debi Rogers, Layne & Kerri Morgan & Angela; Bailey and Allen Morgan, Caden and Carter were guests for the 2nd birthday party held for Reece Morgan.  His parents, Michael & Jerridy Morgan and little brother Eli were also in attendance.
 
The Western Kansas Football League had their Championship playoffs on Sunday at the Lewis Field Stadium in Hays.  Tyler Timson, son of Angie and Trent Timson was on the fourth grade Bullpups team from McPherson.  The McPherson Bullpups played against the Hays Outlaws defeating them 24-0.  To help cheer on the team were Danny and Pat Petz, McCracken; Leland and Mary Steitz, LaCrosse; Kelly, Nicholas, Kallynn and Kameron Petz, Hays.  The McPherson team travels to Lawrence next weekend.
 
The Shafer Memorial Art Gallery on the campus of Barton County Community College presents Studio Lindsborg from October 25 to December 7, 2009.  Six artists with Lindsborg connections are Lee Becker, Ron Michael, Phyllis Liljegren-Newson, Don Weddle, Gene Holdsworth and Jim Richardson.
 
Angie, Trent and Tyler Timson, McPherson and Danny and Pat Petz, McCracken met Dolores Petz at Antonio for their Fall Fest supper at the Out Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Sunday evening.  It was a delicious meal.
 
We mentioned in our history notes a few weeks ago the first grade class of 30 years ago.  This was the first year of teaching for Pat Petz and that was her first grade class.  She is now teaching Shelly Sewell’s son, Brad Pfannenstiel.  We all ask, where have all those years gone???  Loved it!!!
 
November 5, 2009 News
 
Birthdays:  November 5, Mel Basgall, Lnnette Doornbos; November 7, Troy Petz, Dave Libberton, Doneta Parsons; November 8, Chris Jones, Francis Wierman, Janice Stull, Kim Townsend, Charlotte Ochs;  November 9, Chuck Higgins, Virginia Taylor, Gavin O’Conner Hayes; November 10, Machree Jones; November 11, Danny Mills, Janice Haney, Kelli Sloan.
 
Anniversaries:  November 7, Chad and Norma Herdman, November 8, Darwin and Lnnette Grumbein; November 10, Melvin and Karen Simmerman, Phil and Cheryl Wiesner, November 11, Vic and Susie Parsons.
 
We have had word from Stephanie Stephens of the death of her mother, Kathryn Stephens on October 5.  An obituary will appear in the RCN.  She was the wife of the late Bard Stephens.
 
Judy Dennis, Bayfield, Colorado, was here for a week visiting her cousin, Carolyn Thompson.  They also visited her cousins, David and Janet Dennis, Danny and Gail Dennis, Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith.
 
I hope the children enjoyed Halloween as much as I did.  The weather was perfect on Saturday for the best Halloween in many years.   There were so many young children that turned out for Trick and Treating.  It is a joy to have some many wonderful, beautiful children in our community.  A special thanks to all the parents. 
 
McCracken History Notes
 
November 1889
The editor visited Hampton Farms in November.  Those living in that area were N. H. Giffin near the town of Roland, L. L. Darkes, Peter Metz, George Tope, J. M. Shepherd, J. H. Dougherty, William Briggs, J. T. Anderson ( proprietor of the Hampton store); A. C. North, W. E. Holdgate, H. A. Durbon, F. A. East, L. F. and T. J. Derrick, W. L. Brazelton, E. A. Farrington, F. A. and H. L. Jameson, C. G. Plotner, K. C. Plotner, Chas. Lovitt, Mrs. Kerr and John, W. H. Ford and John Metz.
 
Wm. Neal moved his family to the new section house at Hargrave last week.  He is the first settler of that little city.
 
November 1909
Announcement – McCracken Opera House, Tuesday evening, November 9, presents the event of the season.  Mr. Gilmor Brown supported by is Elizabeth Patterson, “The Merchant of Venice”.  Prices 35 and 50 cents.
 
The truth of the matter is we cannot see why McCracken cannot have some street lamps these dark nights.  Twelve or fifteen lamps strung around town would be a wonderful help.
 
November 1939
The home of Mrs. Susie Lent, east of Art Shaeffers, is nearing completion.  A living room facing the north has been built and a small utility room at the back of the house.  (Now Charlotte Ochs)
 
A Pawnee Indian Chief “White Eagle” was a speaker at the Grade School Auditorium at 3:00 o’clock Tuesday afternoon.  He lectured on Indians and Indian ways of living, performed many sleight-of-hand tricks and did an Indian war dance.  A nickel admission was charged.
 
November 1959
McCracken squeezed past Ransom 25-10 at Ransom in their final game of the season.  Glen Smith is their coach.
 
Claude and Ruth Stephens, Ben and Nina Steinshouer visited the Boot Hill Museum at Dodge City on Sunday.
 
November 1979
Cindy Lee Walker has enrolled at K-State for the fall semester.  Kim McCormick is at Pittsburg State.
 
The window at the McCracken Public Library has been replaced by a gift of State Glass Company at Hays.  Those helping replace the glass were Dan Slavin, King Mason, Bill Moran, Wayne Brackney, Ron Crawshaw and Floyd Thompson.  (old library)