November 18, 2015 News

Birthdays: November 19, Madeline Petz, Jennifer Anderson; November 20, Bruce Barnes, Verlene Wilson, Lance McCormick, Ellen Moran, Marietta Kirk, Marjorie Sloan, Micheala Ehrlich; November 21, Sandy Gilbert, Norma Herdman; November 22, Gracie Tomlinson, Tyler Seltmann; November 23, Martin Shapiro, Blayke Mintner; November 24, Cory Betz, Seth Packard.

Anniversary: November 23, Francis and Roberta Wierman. Congratulations to the Wiermans who will celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary.

Our sympathy to the family of Michael “Mike” Paul Whiteman 52, who died August 23, 2015 in Araphoe, Nebraska. He was born August 21, 1963 to Sheila Sander and Duane “Big Mike” Whiteman in Burlington, Colorado. His grandparents were William and Alvina (Bieker) Wierman. He was cremated and was buried at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery near his grandparents in a private family service.

Our sympathy to the family of Blake Nickelson, 22, who was killed in a wreck in rural Wichita County on November 8, 2015. He was the son of Michael and Diane Nickelson. He farmed for the Thompsons in Wichita County.

The Museum has received some items that are about St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bazine and St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Nonchlanta, both in Ness County. These will be part of our collection on churches in the area.

The Christmas lights are up on Main Street.

Cathie Ryan Shapiro has sent a membership in the Jail/Museum. She also gave a donation.

Colby Eagles ended their season with winning their district invitational and losing the sub state playoff last Friday to Hugoton 20-14. Tanner Elias is a senior and is the son of Travis and Tina Elias. Attending the game was Travis and Tina Elias, Katie Elias, Carolyn and Dave Davenport, and Dennis and Jeannie Elias.

I watched KU-Texas girls’ volleyball Wednesday night and noticed Tina Johnson, Hutchinson coach, in the crowd. .

An early Thanksgiving dinner and get to gather was held at the home of Bill and Sharon Lovitt on Saturday. Guests were Scott and Lora Faiman, Columbia; Teresa Lovitt and Jennifer Lovitt, Dodge City; Brad Lovitt, Phoenix, John Squier, Brownell.

Jeff and Anita Butler hosted 2 friends, Cynthia Woodard and Brenda Gunder this past weekend; they're friends of Anita's from Rolling Hills Zoo. Saturday Anita met them in Hays and she took them to the Scottish store, Cerv's for popcorn and then downtown for shopping and lunch at Gella's. On to McCracken for a tour of the town and a tasty supper at the Library's Soup Supper. Plans are already being made for another visit to include a spa day at Rock Haven, hiking at Cedar Bluff and a visit to historical Nicodemus.

Frank and Elaine Littler and Arlyn and Jan North attended the funeral of their Aunt Edna Grate in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Monday. Edna was a sister to their mom Icis Eisenhour. Burial took place here in McCracken on Tuesday. Many attended the beautiful and personal graveside services. Edna and husband Paul (known as Billie Grate in McCracken) lived here for a few years in the early 50s. Their son Bennett attended McCracken Grade School for a short time. On the way home from Iowa, Frank and Elaine and Arlyn and Jan stopped at the Manhattan, Kansas airport to pick up Laura North Martin. She was grateful to be able to attend the services

and enjoyed her time with her Eisenhour cousins. Arlyn and Jan drove her back to Texas and stayed to enjoy a few days with her and husband Ronn.

Pam Harp Bankhead and Wanda Harp Bankhead, Oscala, Florida, Don Harp, Council Grove and Rick Winter, Sterling visited with Lynnette Doornbos Saturday. They all came to visit the museum. Taylor Doornbos joined them at the museum.

Dean Kolich, Steve Orendac, Jeff Jennings, Phil and Tanner Phieschl, Chuck Hamm, Roy Powers, were here for the opening of pheasant, they were joined by John Horesky and Tammy Irvin and attended the McCracken Fire Department hamburger supper held in the fire building Friday night; Saturday evening they were all joined by Jerry Higgins and Jeff McCormick and attended the supper held at the American Legion in Brownell. (The fellas from Kansas City went to school together and played football. Three or four of them played for Hutch Juco when Jerry and Chuck were there). A good group of guys!!!

John Brown, Marty Stover, Clarence Morris, Roy Langdon, Ted Pervis and another friend, Wes, Columbia, Missouri, were here for pheasant season. They all stayed at their hunting lodge on North Main.

Kurt McNair, Ray Ducero, Nick Sieler, and Shaun Reynolds, Denver, were here over the weekend pheasant hunting. They appreciate Carl Legleiter and an unnamed land owner for allowing them to hunt on their land .They all were guests of Arky and Diana McNair and Charlotte Ochs.Hutch News 11/13/15: The State of Kansas gave up $15M in federal aid for the disabled to help people with disabilities to join the work force. Michael Donnelly, director of rehabilitation services within the Department of Children and Families explained that demand for the department’s help in finding unemployment was down. That signaled to Donnelly that the economy was up. “There are employers in areas of our state that are begging for employees and for the first time are looking to people with disabilities as a good resource.” The state turned down $7.5 million in federal funds returned in a prior fiscal year. Oh, in case you didn’t see the news on TV, they also gave themselves, an 8% raise......

History Notes:

1971 Floyd Norlin is in Wichita with the Family Tree group who are playing a two week stand at a Wichita Club. Dennis Elias will serve 7 weeks in the US Army intelligence Center at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. Team members of the Brownell American Legion baseball are: James Flax, Don Irvin, Galen and Tim Pfannenstiel, Steve Sloan, John Walker, Rod Taylor, Nolan Cromwell, Darwin Grumbein, Lonnie Irvin, Lyle Pfannenstiel, Myron Schuckman, Kirby Stegman and Robert Walker. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Kaster have moved into the Methodist parsonage. Mrs. Kaster is the home economics teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Marty Reed will move into the George Brown property, she is the new business teacher. Don Irvin and Galen Pfannenstiel were chosen to play in the American Legion All-Star game in Lincoln. First graders are Sandy Taylor, Rhonda Conrad, Doug Elias, Janet Conner, Joy Mills, Chad Herdman, Kayla Higgins, Kevin Casey, Carl Dome and Brenda Barnes. Vic Parsons is attending Dodge City Juco. The Mustangs had an impressive win over Odin 42-14, Craig Wendler ran 67 yards for the 1st touchdown. Lonnie Irvin passed to Mark Derr for the second. USD 395 enrollment is 790. MHS 72; Grade School 63; and Alexander Grade 57. Jerry Schutte is treasurer of the Art Club at Barton County Juco. McCracken Grade football team defeated Ransom in their 1st game of the season 18-6. Team members are Gene Schlegel, Mike Conner, Scott Kershner, Bruce Davis, Jim Casey, Leslie Rogers, Steve Foreman, Tim Rues, Robin Schuckman, Chuck Higgins, Rick Boese, Don Phillips, Mark McCormick and Bennie Pfaff. The junior high football team is undefeated. The team is coached by Hays High All-Stater Ron Goates, has only 12 players and they play 11 man football. John Irvin is the state 4-H award winner in the wheat project. Lonnie Irvin sustained a broken ankle in a football game recently.