November 28, 2018 News

Birthdays: November 28, Amy Jacobs; November 29, Doug Higgins, Tanner Yohe, Arky McNair, Sheri Mills, Sharla Schwien; November 30, Arlyn North, Olivia Anderson, Diane McNair; December 1, Carter Higgins; December 2, Terry Herdman, Marilyn Sommers, Ashlin Rogers, Vern Showalter; December 3, Trevor Steinert; December 4, Mike McCormick, Rashell Mills, Bobby Mills, Jennie Grimme, Sofia Foster.

Anniversaries: November 29, Roy and Phyllis Conrad, Fred and Mary Anne Taylor;

In Linda Kenyon's article of 75 years ago, November 18, 1943, she told of the five army airmen, from a crew of a B-29 bomber who perished when their plane from Walker air base crashed north of Otis. It brought memories of one who observed airmen falling from the plane. Barbara Baus, McCracken, was 12 years old and happened to be in the yard near Otis when the event occurred. It was a traumatic experience and one that she has kept all her life. A week later she lost a relative who was a gunner in the war.

Jail/Museum news:

Joy E. (North) Schell is a new member of the museum. She also gave a generous donation in memory of her parents, “Billie” and Keith North.

A few of the items donated the late Carrie Davis House and Bob House include a book of signatures from the Bikers of 1976 beginning in June and ending in September. Out of country visitors were from Holland, England and Israel. It also lists everyone's occupations. It will be an invaluable addition as we have the sign from the event that marked the route. There are many items but two others are a Davis Café calendar “Best Cup of Coffee in Town” and a spoon holder from Rush County Grain Co of McCracken, Kansas.

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Mike, Susan and Shannon Keith have returned from Minneapolis, Minnesota for a Thanksgiving visit with Mike's brother, Rich and family.

Our sympathy to the family of Johnny Mac Showalter who died November 17, 2018 at the home of Rob and Helena McGaughey surrounded by family. The funeral service's celebrant was Father Erik Awuah Gyamfi. Music was provided by Katie Flax and Emma Showalter, Cantors with Jerilynn Stull, organist. Active Casket Bearers were Lance McCormick, Pat Victor, Mitch Jacobs, Steve Hamlin, Spanky McGaughey and Dan Edwards. Honorary Casket Bearers were Vic Parsons, John Evans, Rob McGaughey, Lee Allen Showalter, Jerry Dugan, Pat Murray and Arky McNair. The men wore racing shirts. A race car and Johnny's golf cart was placed outside the church. Burial was at McCracken City Cemetery.

Mary Healy resigned as Rush County News Correspondent in March, 1991, Carolyn and Shirley started that same month........27 years if I can count........

Many thanks to our Lane- Scott employees who were out in the wind and snow ‘hooking’ our power lines together.

A surprise 60th birthday celebration for Chuck Higgins and an early Thanksgiving get to gather was held the weekend of November 17. All the family was/were home except Lindsey who had to work. Those who came were Jerry, Jodi, Tanner Jenna Higgins, Alyssa Talbott; Zach Higgins, Brady and Becca Demel, Danton Riedl, Tammy and John Horesky, Kayla Weskamp, Nicole Tacha, Bryant and Kyra Reese, Cameron, Courtney and Elliott Horesky. Chuck was very surprised and it was nice for everyone to be home.

Carrie Higgins enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Martin, Mary, Joe, Cyndi and Ryan Higgins. A delicious dinner of turkey, prime rib and all the accompanying sides were served."

Thanksgiving weekend guests of Joann Micheli were Audra, Flynn and Perrin Holland from Albuquerque NM and Evan Dale from Denver, Co. They were joined by Linda Dale and Mark McCormick for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a wonderful visit and we all anxiously await the next get together.

John and Melanie Zeller celebrated Thanksgiving in Rush Center at the Walnut Valley Senior Center with family. Those who attended were Sarah, Kiel, Amelia and Oliver Emerson, Hays. Rachel, Lance, Haydn, Tessa, and Lexi Legleiter, Olathe. Kathy and Verlyn Rossman, Albert. Gary, April, Chyanne and Spencer Dienes and Friend Otis. Lisa, Ethan and Eli Gamber, Valley Center. Hope and Bob Ney, Hoisington. Lindsey Ney, Cassandra, Zane, Camden and Mollie Ochs, Wichita. Chelsea, Marissa, Kaitlin and Isaac Pechanec, Will And Bodhi Zeller, LaCrosse. Dan Zeller, McCracken.

Lance McCormick, Arky McNair, Butch Harp, Garrett McCormick, Pat and Angela Murray enjoyed card playing at the home of the McNairs during Thanksgiving week-end.

Les Diehl, with his lawyer shoes, and Mark McCormick helped Lance McCormick and Butch Harp with cattle this past week. What a rodeo!!

It is wonderful to see lights on in the former Larry Edmundson and John and Phoebe Elias home on West Locust. Norma McNair has moved from her home on West Beech. Her daughter, Jamie and Dallas Dewitt, Mason, Hunter and Maverick have moved from Carbondale and have taken up residence in McCracken. Nice to have young couples move in town.

Dan and Kim Townsend treated her mother, Mary McCormick to Thanksgiving dinner at the American Legion in Ransom. They stayed Thanksgiving week-end with Mary.

Diane McFarren hosted Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday for Spanky, Leslie, Jackson and Lillian McGaughey, Rob and Helena McGaughey, Amanda Showalter, Kyson and Terren, Austin McGaughey, Marcus Allen, Rianne and the new great grandbaby Jayde, Jason Showalter, Jessica Berg and family.

Ron and Cathy Casey hosted Thanksgiving in McCracken with guests, Alex, John and Catherine Casey, Rose and Les Diehl, Mary Dunn, Alicia and Leigh Barrett. Tom Rues stayed in New Hampshire and enjoyed dinner with friends, Tim Rues and Kathleen Wallace hosted dinner in LeCompton.

Mitchell Jacobs hosted Thanksgiving dinner at his home with guests Chad, Crystal, Anton and Kaden Foust, Blue; Sandra Jacobs, James Seifert, Nicole and Drew VonLehe.

Jason Showalter and Jessica Berg, Hayvn, Shaili, Taybree and Ryker spent Thanksgiving in Rush Center at the home of Jessica’s brother, Charlie and Shelby Nelson.

Overnight pre-Thanksgiving guests of Hoop and Twila Higgins were Ashley Higgins and friend Jimmy, Denver; Michelle and Mike Nelson, g granddaughter Bailey Higgins were Wednesday guests and traveled to Lyons to celebrate Thanksgiving with Doug and Mary Higgins, Danielle Higgins and boys Di, Dev and Dez, Wichita; Jeremy and Ashley Higgins and family, Olathe; Brett, Loren Higgins, McKinney, Texas; lots of card playing and 5 dogs.

Priscilla Jacobs motored to Wichita where she spent Thanksgiving with Neal and Amy Jacobs. Other guests were Jaden, Jenna, Harley and Hudson Jacobs.

Thanksgiving guests of Shirley Higgins were Tammy and John Horesky, Bryant and Kyra Reese and Payton and Chuck Higgins.

History Notes: 1991

Clinton Edward Kershner, son of Bruce and Ellen Kershner, was Rush County’s first 1991 baby boy. He was born January 9, 1991 at Rush County Hospital; Donald Greenway, 61, died January 11, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Hays; Frank Stejskal, 80, died January 18 in Wichita. Marjorie Moran, his daughter, was a survivor; John Grumbein, 67, died January 19 at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City. He was the son of Edwin and Clara Haas Grumbein; Paul Moran was presented the Goodyear Conservation award at the Rush County conservation district’s annual meeting; Margaret Higgins has resigned from the library board, Bernadette Taylor is the new trustee; the power plant was torn down this week by Centel. It was built in May 1922 on the corner opposite the Elmore Lumber Company; McCracken Middle School 7th grade girls finished their basketball season undefeated by edging out Ness City Eagles 17-14 and winning ten games. Team members are Marcia Werth, Molly Lohrey, Sara Kay, Stacy Schuckman, Amber Leiker, Angie Petz, Amy Barton and Jennifer DiLoreto. Coaches, Benny Viegra and Christopher, managers, Amy Basgall and Jendee Foos.

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Patricia Petz:

Monday and Tuesday were spent at the LaCrosse Elementary School working in the Office.  There were many band aids distributed, temperatures taken, and phone calls to be answered.  All in all, it was a fun two days working with the staff and children.  Since Tuesday was the last day of school before Thanksgiving, everyone was super excited and antsy for the end of the day to arrive. 

I hope everyone had a super nice Thanksgiving Day.  My mom, Mary Steitz, hosted the day for myself, my children, and grandchildren.  She prepared a delicious ham and scalloped potatoes and it was followed with lots of goodies by the rest of us.  Those in attendance from McPherson were Trent and Angie Timson and their boys, Drake and Grant.  Kelly and Melanie Petz and their children, Nathan, Nicholas, Kallynn, Kameron, and Easton (mom's great-great grandson) from Hays also enjoyed being at mom's house.  

Angie's family spent the night with me and then Angie and I went to Ellis to see Grandma Dolores Petz on Friday morning.  While we were visiting with her, Sherry and Hal Witthuhn stopped in to pick up mom to take her to their house for a Thanksgiving meal.   Then Angie and I went shopping in Hays while Trent stayed at the house to watch the boys.  After  we picked up our Hallmark ornaments, we decided that it was time for lunch at Guttierez's (our favorite place to eat).  Then we picked up several items that were on the Christmas Wish List for my grandchildren.  Trent and the boys picked up Angie mid-afternoon and then they proceeded to head back to McPherson.  

I was up early Saturday morning as I had a show at the 18th Annual Christmas Bazaar in WaKeeney.  They couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to host this event.  Normally, I'm not very lucky with door prizes, however, I believe I won the jack pot at this show.  I won a $50 gift certificate from Heartland Foods in WaKeeney. It was so much fun trying to decide what groceries that I wanted to pick up for FREE!  

Sunday became a nice day to stay inside and bundle up with some hot chocolate and watch some Hallmark movies.  The snow is always beautiful, but the wind was absolutely unreal.  I hope everyone enjoyed their day off and stayed home where they were safe.  A special thank you needs to go out for the people trying to get the electricity back on and running, and to the people who worked on our water wells at Mc Cracken. It had to be horrid to be working in that weather! THANK-YOU to our many heroes!