RCNews November 13
Tuesday election night supper guests of Thayne and Machree Jones were Galen and Mary Schwindt, Timken.
 
Featured in the November 2008 issue of Kansas Country Living was Ulysses High School senior, Charles Hart who drove the school’s electric car in the first race at the KAN-AM Electric Challenge in Kansas City in October.  He managed speeds of over 40 miles per hour.   Charles is the grandson of Kelly and Diana Hart, Ulysses.
 
On Wednesday, October 15th Nikki Sandefur and Riley, Enid, OK arrived in LaCrosse and spent the night with her sister, Kathy Bracken and Hayden.  On Thursday Jeannie Elias spent the night with her daughters in LaCrosse.  On Friday Nikki and Riley Sandefur and Hayden Bracken traveled to Ransom to spend time with Steve Phelps.  Saturday the 18th Dennis and Jeannie Elias and Kathy met Travis, Tina and Katie Elias in Hays and watched Tanner Elias play football.  That evening Kathy, Nikki and Hayden returned to LaCrosse and spent the night, Riley spent the night with Dennis and Jeannie.  Ty Elias, Tina and Quintin Harris, Dennis, Jeannie and Riley joined Nikki and Hayden in LaCrosse on Sunday for lunch at Kathy’s.
 
The hamburger/French fry get together held at the American Legion Saturday evening was very well attended.  A memorial for Kay “Red” Fear was also held.  Many of his friends and relatives were in attendance.
 
The McCracken United Methodist Church held a bell choir tribute honoring our veterans on Sunday; AND Arlene Gilbert was honored for her 22 years as director.  Her family members attending were husband Mr. Babe; Brett, Holly, Haily, Courtney and Erica; Bob and Marlene Funk; Shari Funk; Jeff, Anita and Ursula Butler; Ursula’s friend, Olivia; Kelly and Mason Weber and Levi White. 
 
Last weekend Greg & Sheila Hinman, Wade & Zaccary Hinman, and Bob Durban & Connor, and several other hunters from the Kansas City area were out for the opening day of pheasant season.
 
Saturday the 25th Dennis and Jeannie Elias motored to Enid where they visited with Gary, Nikki and Taylor Sandefur.  Taylor was home after taking training in Fort Hood before being deployed to Iraq.
 
Congratulations to Gary Boese and Lindsey Patton on their marriage at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ness City on Saturday, November 8.
 
Congratulations to the Oakley girl’s 7th grade volleyball team that captured 1st place in the NW Kansas area volleyball tournament recently.  They defeated Goodland in the finals, 25-18 and 25-10.  Katie Elias is a member of the team.  She is the daughter of Travis and Tina Elias, granddaughter of Dennis and Jeannie Elias.
 
Guests of Arlyn and Jan North on Sunday were Larry and Joyce Eisenhour.  They all attended the tribute to the veterans and Arlene by the bell choir.
 
Mildred F. Skelton, 90, died November 4, 2008 at Springfield, Missouri.  She was born September 13, 1918 the daughter of Staten and Anna May Davis Lovitt.  She was married in 1938 to Lemmie Skelton.  He died in 1984.  She was a long time resident of Larned.  Burial was in the Larned Cemetery.
 
The Soweto Gospel Choir appeared at the Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Hays on Monday evening.  They presented their program African Spirit.  Attending were John and Melanie Zeller, Francis and Julia Zeller, William Zeller, Lorraine Ryan, Susan Rebel, Zelda Brack, Tillie Miller, Shirley Higgins, Joan Micheli, Carolyn Thompson, Galen Allen, Sharon Irvin, John and Janice Stull, Don and Sharon Urban. 
 
Tomi Rues reports that over $1,200.00 was given from McCracken to the Rush County United Fund.  The response was absolutely wonderful.
A big thanks to everyone
 
Marie Cofer died November 4, 2008 at her home in Ransom.  She was born in 1922 the daughter of Bohuslav and Matilda Andrasek.  She married Virgil Cofer, September 18, 1940.  He died in 1995.  Survivors include a son Dale and daughter Virginia Toedman.  Burial was in the Ransom Cemetery.  .
 
Our thanks to all those who helped with the election and for all the candidates who ran for office.  Those helping at the polls for Hampton-Fairview were Ruth Crawshaw, Phyllis Higgins, Twila Higgins, Pat Derr and Betty Greenway.  Those here for Alexander were Judy Schwindt and Barbara Baus.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Ruth Yawger, 98, who died November 4, 2008.   She was born in Big Sandy, Tennessee on July 20, 1910 to Isaac Newton Akers and Nancy Du Vall Akers.  Her father was a veteran of the Civil War so that makes her a true daughter of the Confederacy.  The Akers family moved here to McCracken and she graduated with  the class of 1928 McCracken High School.  She was honored last rodeo/alumni weekend as being the oldest living member of the alumni.   She was a teacher at Happy Hollow northeast of LaCrosse and Hampton.  She married Jacob Glenn Yawger.  Their children were Jacob Benjamin Yawger, Joyce Elaine Yawger and Judith Ann Yawger Hugh.  Judy survives along with daughter-in-law, Wanda Luft, four grandchildren Debra, Joyce, Michael and Stacey and four great grandchildren, T. J., Christopher, Valree and Joannah, nieces and nephews and many friends. The funeral was held at the Hays First United Methodist Church on Monday November 10 with burial at McCracken City Cemetery, beside her husband, Glenn and her children J. B. and Joyce nearby in Yawger lots and her mother and sisters in nearby Akers lots.
 
A friend has provided us with some quotes that you might enjoy from past McCrackenites. Here is the first one:   One lady was asked what color she would like to paint a room in her house.  Her reply was “Oh, any color so long as it is green!”
 
 Kathy Hanks of the Hutchinson News did a feature article on Janice Brack Haney of Greensburg in regard to her book “Greensburg:  The Twisted Tales”, which was published in April.  Janice is a Rush County native who graduated from McCracken High School.  She had such a good response to her book she is collecting stories for volume two of the Greensburg tornado.  If you haven’t purchased the first book, contact Janice at R. R 1, Box 130, 16472 B. Street, Greensburg 67054.
 
Vivian L. (Washaliski) Simmons would enjoy hearing from you.  She is now living at Sterling House, Apt 103, 2400 N. 14th Avenue, Dodge City, Kansas 67801.  Her phone number is 620-227-2729.
 
 Our congratulations to LaCrosse and Ellis for reaching the sectional championship in football.  The games on Friday night should be exciting for both.   LaCrosse takes on Smith Center and Ellis will play Meade.  Both teams have been featured by the Hays Daily News.  Former McCrackenite, Butch Hayes, is the coach for the Railroaders.
 
David Dennis, Wichita, brother of Carolyn Thompson, won his bid for the State School Board from the 10th district.  He received 67,729 votes for 64%.
 
Amanda Dennis celebrated her sixth birthday on Saturday at the home of her grandparents, David and Janet Dennis, in Wichita.  Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith, Carolyn Thompson and Galen Allen were some who attended. 
 
Our sympathy to the family of Wayne Becker, 71, who died November 5, 2008 at Great Bend.  Wayne was chairman and chief executive officer of Becker Tire, Inc.  He was on the board for Farmers Bank and Trust.  His first wife was Karen Brenner.
 
Obituaries in Volume 111 McCracken History for 1998:  Lester Irvin, Janice Lovitt, John Jacob Keener, King Mason, Mabel Pearl Anderson, Augustine “Hippy” Thompson, Celly Stremel, Larry Wassinger, Alta Wagner, Alva L. Ryan, Edythe Allbert Teater Reeves, Orva Jean Schmidt, Dennis Doerr, Ora Ware, Esther Rogers, Willard Thompson, Mabel Phillips, Elmer Pabst, Carl Rixon, Norma Swartz, Mildred Anderson, Glenna Lucille Elias, Orvin Jones,  John McGuigan, Russell Peters, Helen VanWinkle, Clara McCormick, Leon “Pad” Higgins, Terry Stull, Juanita Moses, James Edward Casey, Alvin Ray Mendenhall, Benjamin Peer, Travis Reinhardt, Mollie Moore, Robert Bisagno, Vincent Higgins, Jessie Justice,  Barbara Starrett Wilson, Fred Webster, Marie Turley, Harold Boone, Merle  “Tom” O’Loughlin, Mabel Irvin.
 
McCracken History Notes
 
November 1908
Smith and Smith are putting in the foundation for a new building 50 x 70 which they will erect on the lots south of the Farwell hardware store.
 
Quite a lot of interest was taken in the races here Saturday and a big crowd was present.  Irvin’s horse ran against Burch’s horse and the Burch horse won.  Considerable money was wagered.
 
November 1938
The third and fourth graders have been studying about Pilgrim life and are making a Pilgrim notebook.  Bobby Derr and Phyllis Cheney have been absent due to sickness.  Those making perfect scores in spelling were James Higgins, Berty Twiselton, Willard Thompson, Uberta Warta, Donald Greenway, Warren Irvin, Dorothy Klug, Blanche Pratt, Dickie Shiney and Orin Webster.
 
Jimmy Foxx, slugging first baseman of the Boston Red Soc is the first man in baseball history to be named the most valuable player three times.  He batted 349 and made 50 home runs.  He led the American league in hitting and is 31 years old.
 
November 1948
Alvin, Lloyd and Freddie Lazelle of Arkansas City came for the pheasant season and were visitors at the home of their grandmother, Mrs. Alice Lazelle.
 
Guests at the birthday party for Janice Myers on her seventh birthday were Kathleen O’Loughlin, Dorothy Hagarty, Judy Whitis, Carol Faye and Ellen Bible, Jolene and Arlyn North, Diana and Buddy Walker.
 
November 1958
Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Hinman and family will move to Albert where Mr. Hinman is employed by the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America.
 
Richard Ryan was elected chairman of the Rush County Agricultural Extension Council
 
November 1968
Susan Walker is student teaching in the second grade in Hays.
 
Dennis Irvin is a member of the college choir at Bethany College in Lindsborg.
 
November 1978
Marsha Healy has been inducted into Omicron Nu, home economics honor society at Kansas State University.
 
Officers of McCracken Lodge No. 58 are Clifford B. Gilbert, Worshipful Master; David Rogers, Senior Warden; Jack P. Wilson, Junior Warden; Chester Rogers, Treasurer; Walter Rogers, Secretary; Charles Walker, Chaplain, John Stull, Senior Deacon; Marlin McGinnis, Junior Deacon; John Kober, Senior Steward; Chester Irvin, Junior Steward; Reginald Washaliski, Tyler; Elmore Ryan, Chester Irvin and Donald Buster, Trustees.
 
November 1988
Bryan Bergquist underwent surgery on his left hand Tuesday due to an injury in a football game.  Bryan is a member of the LaCrosse High School football team.
 
Teresa Moran and Loretta Moran returned home Tuesday night from a trip to Rome.  They were there to witness the anniversary celebration of Pope John’s election to the papacy 10 years ago.
 
November 1998
Congratulations to Heath and Paula North on the birth of a son, Brandon.
 
Todd Barber is one of two propulsion engineers of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., assigned to the Cassini mission to Saturn.