November 13, 2014 News

Birthdays: November 13, Deb Rogers; November 14, Kayla Weskamp, Jeff McCormick, Heather Hart, Khloe Boese; November 15, Aaron Hale; November 16, Adam Taylor, Twilla Grumbein, Robert Thompson, Sr., Emma Rues, Kevin Miller; Nvoember 17, Larry Brenner, Layne Morgan, Hailey Herschbach, Brayden Herschbach; November 19, Madeline Petz, Jennifer Anderson.

Anniversaries: November 13, Sean and Laura Bookstore; November 15, Neil and Rhonda Allen, November 16, Richard and Corrine Baldwin.

Those serving on the election board for McCracken on November 4 were Ruth Crawshaw, Betty Greenway, Twila Higgins, Pat Derr and Marge Moran; for Alexander, Terry Seltman, Cynthia Seltman and Naida Wells. Terry and Cynthia had just returned from a mission trip to Kenya.

Hampton Items; J. C. Littler: Mr. Littler homestead here in the pioneer days. He tells that originally Hampton was the “big township” embracing all the corner of the county. Later, when the population became greater and possible with some political motives behind the move, the township was split up. Fairview was carved off the east side and portions also went to Alexander and Brookdale. The Littler homestead, which originally was in Hampton was put in Fairview township by the division. Mr. Littler landed in Hays City the first of March back in 1878 coming her from Iowa. He applied at the land office for a plat of Rush County, and coming down the old Hays City-Dodge City trail, the only road in the county at that time, he staked out a half section of government land. On this claim he put up a sod shanty and began breaking out the sod.

Sarah and Ryan Mills hosted a welcome home party at the Sunflower Bank meeting room in Salina on Saturday for their twin sons, Benjamin and Jackson. Those in attendance included Danny and Marilyn Mills and Brandon, Addie Mills, Jean and Linda Mick, Lee and Danelle Mick, Marsha Mick, Rita and Cindy Moritz, Lesley Johnson and Ryan's friends from Sunflower Bank.

St. Mary's Catholic Church was decorated for Christmas on Sunday afternoon by Bet and Jeanette McCormick, Marge Moran, Roy and Phyllis Conrad, Jean Schutte and Twila Higgins. The Cantata will be held on Sunday, December 7 at 4:30 P.M. All are welcome.

In the November issue of the Explorer there was a section on the Out-of-the-Way Markers. One was 7 miles south of Bazine. It is in memory of John O'Brien, January 25, 1849 to June 26, 1876. He was the son of Thomas and Rose O'Brien. He was a member of Seventh Cavalry, Company 1 who was massacred with General George Armstrong Custer and 261 men in the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana. He is buried with fellow Cavalry men at the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument in Montana. Directions: Leave Bazine on Austin Street and continue on Dd Road until you arrive at St. John the Baptist Cemetery. You'll easily find a limestone marker with John O'Brien's name.

A three-man crew of Midwest Energy linemen from Hays, WaKeeney and Russell took first place at the 2014 International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs in the Journeyman Senior’s Division, with the only perfect score among 24 teams from the country’s largest utilities. Mike Stremel,, operations training manager in Hays; John Horesky, line forman in Russell and Bill Nowlin, line foreman at WaKeeney, comprised Midwest Energy’s senior journeyman team. The event is the largest lineman’s rodeo in the nation, drawing 203 teams from 40 states and countries. This event took place 3 weeks ago.

Layne and Kerri Morgan motored to Independence this past weekend where they met Wade and Leanne Russell and attended the Neewollah festival. Their daughter Reva and husband Andrew were also in attendance. Wade and Leanne are currently living in South Carolina.

Thanks to our road grader, Mike Conner, the streets in McCracken are much easier to drive. We don’t have those ‘little round holes’ in the streets anymore!

Ellsworth County Commissioner Albert Oller says he’s ‘an endangered speces..’. The Democrat won re- election Tuesday to a third term, drawing no Republican challenger. Congratulations!!!

Brad Lovitt, Phoenix, came Thursday for a visit with his parents, Bill and Sharon Lovitt, Ransom. He was also on the lookout for pheasants.

John and Tonya Gaugh, Spring, Texas, Galen & Kathy Watkins, Kansas City were weekend visitors of Arky and Diane McNair. They celebrated the birthday of Charlotte Ochs.

The tower on the north side of Bruce and Susan Davis house is being ‘installed’ by Verizon. It will be 240’ when completed.

History Notes

McCracken High and Grade School will enroll Saturday, August 24th from 9 a.m. until noon. School will begin Tuesday.

McCracken cooks are Bonnie Zeller, Grace Lovitt and Doneta Parsons. Lee and Gladys Fear are janitors.

First grade students are: William Greenway, Sherry Petz, Gary Schuckman, Ruth Johnston, Rosemary Rues, Joyce & Jacque Gaschler, Donald Casey, Jerry Higgins, LuJan Moss, Suellen Higgins, Linda Sloan, Cindy Walker, James Unrein, Lyle Osborn, Nancy Higgins, Sally Buster, Fritz Foster, Michael Dugan, Robbie McGaughey, Richard Conrad, Glen Ryan and Kent Brown.

Twenty-one new teachers have been hired to teach in the Rush County Schools this term.

The fifth and sixth grades at McCracken Grade School will be taught by Mont D. Buxton who is replacing Dight House. The third grade school students will have a new teacher, Mrs. Audrey McMullen, who replaces Mrs. Geneva Rife.

Miss Patricia Ann Hahn, Hanston, will teach commerce at MHS replacing Kellye Hart.

Six man football will be played this year and coached by Glenn Conner.

The McCracken band will have a carnival in the grade school auditorium, November 22, 1964.

Zip codes have been added to the McCracken Postal Department. Zip code for McCracken is 67556. Crowds of well over 100 persons were on hand at both McCracken and LaCrosse for school unification informative meetings. The west district would encompass both the present McCracken and Alexander Districts.

Thayne and Machree Jones have purchased the home of Kathryn Stephens (now Sandra Jacobs).

Total school enrollment for Rush County is 1,588.

LeeRoy Schuckman will assume the position of superintendent of schools this fall. He replaces Oliver Pearson who has been superintendent for 30 years. Mr. Pearson will teach mathematics and Geneva Rife will be grade school principal. New teachers are Byron Gilbert, Louise and Werner Wendler. Cooks are Grace Lovitt, Evelyn Higgins and Elizabeth Elias.

There are 53 students at MHS and 141 at the grade school.