RCNews
Scott Littler spent Thanksgiving week-end in Blacksburg, VA with Terry & Carol Herdman.  Also spending the week-end were Kirk & Janie Herdman & family and Darwin & Dawn Herdman & family.  Kimbra Melton & family joined them for dinner on Thanksgiving.
 
Stephen and Sharon Anderson spent Thanksgiving with Olivia & Adam Bates in Claflin. Shane Anderson is to start for home the 16th of this month from Montana.  His family is very anxious to see him.
 
Please don’t forget to give generously to the McCracken Community Club.  Santa would greatly appreciate your donations so our youngsters don’t receive a sack of ‘coal’.
 
Brenda & Tom Prosser, Kristy & Cody entertained on Friday with a belated Thanksgiving dinner.  Those attending were Frank & Elaine Littler, LaCrosse and Stacey Prosser, Trevor Steinert & Brennan, McCracken.  Also we celebrated Cody's 16th birthday on Sunday evening.  His birthday was on Monday, but he thought he might want to drive around legally then, so we celebrated early!!!!
 
The McCracken American Legion would like to purchase a Ceremonial Bugle.  If you would like to help with this worthy cause it would be very much appreciated. Our little ‘village’ has to depend on the generosity of those with McCracken or American Legion ties.  You may mail your checks to Bill Zeller.  Thanks in advance.
 
Jeff and Mandy Malloy, Lexi and Colton, Topeka, were guests of his mother, Norma and Roger McNair this weekend.
 
Our Columbia, Mo. connection, Lora Faiman, reports they had 20 inches of snow this past week.
 
Kyra Horesky was voted to the MCAA all league volley ball first team.  In addition she was also an honorable mention pick to the Hutchinson News all area class 3A volleyball team.  Kayla Irvin was voted as honorable mention selection to the Central Prairie League volley ball team.
 
Lorraine Ryan, Crystal Ryan, Chad Foust Anton and Kaden attended the memorial services for Elmore Ryan held at Janousek Funeral Home on Saturday.
An angel was presented to each family.  Wilbur Brack was also remembered.
 
Check out the web site http://www.sistersstitchings.com for some unique hand-made gifts.  Vicky Overley and Sally Irvin are the ‘afghan, tablecloth, bedspread, doilie etc. makers’.   
 
Walter and Janey Rogers met Patrick and Betty Keener at J.D.’s Chicken in Hays and had supper Monday evening.
 
Memorials have been given in memory of Vic Higgins to the American Legion, McCracken Alumni, St. Mary’s Heritage, McCracken Library, American Legion Ceremonial Bugle Fund and McCracken Jail/Museum.
 
Those attending the performance of STOMP at Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Hays on Tuesday evening were Helena McGaughey, Austin McGaughey, Shirley Higgins, Carol Weber, Derek Derr, D. J. Carlton, Zelda Brack,  Ruthetta Irvin, John and Janice Stull, and John and Sharon Irvin.  Francis and Julia Zeller and Richard and Phyllis Stull attended on Wednesday evening.
 
Budget problems have prompted the state to end regular visiting hours at Constitution Hall in Lecompton until February 28.  Appointments can be made however.  Tim Rues is the curator at Lecompton.
 
Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 23 at 4:00 p.m.   There will be a mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father David Kraus presiding.
 
There were lots of deer hunters out on Saturday and the deer seemed to be hiding.  There seemed to be enough deer to go around, but everyone was looking for the trophy buck.
 
Al and Judy Hugh and mother, Ruth Yawger, went to Texas for Thanksgiving.  First, to daughter Stacey and family in Houston.  This was their first time to see the 5 Milam’s new house, and grand daughter, Valree’s horse, Willow Wisp.  The weather was warm, the flowers blooming, and the traffic zooming!  Then, on to Austin (Buda) to see son, Michael and family and celebrate a slightly belated, but nonetheless, very thankful Thanksgiving with them also.  They, also, have a new house in a quiet and historic area. Grandson, Chris, recently became a teenager!  An interesting sidelight of the trip was the realization of the varied climate changes driving from Houston to Hays:  warm and green, though crisp with autumn colors, to very cold and brown. A wonderful time was had by all, very thankful to enjoy four generations, together.
 
A memorial service was held at Janousek Funeral Home on Saturday for all the deceased buried from there this past year.  Those attending in memory of Jack Wilson were Verlene Wilson, Babe Gilbert, Bob, Marlene and Sherry Funk, Treva, Anna and Audra Bergquist, Clayton, Kizmin and Gunner Wilson. 
 
Those attending the production by the Fort Hays Singers of The Reluctant Dragon on Sunday afternoon were Al and Judy Hugh, Galen Allen and Carolyn Thompson at the new Fox Pavilion.
 
McCracken History Notes
December 1906
 
The bridge gang has been doing repair work along here this week, putting a new office floor in the depot.
 
While the Missouri Pacific has decreased the daily wages of its section hands to $1.25 a day, the Santa Fe has increased its wages to section hands to $1.50 a day.
 
December 1936
A boy, Elven LaVern, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Elven ‘Bus’ Showalter on December 2.
 
Gloyd Vogle is the new clerk in the Phillips grocery store.
 
December 1946
Robert Muller who had spent the weekend at the J. R. Elmore home here returned to Dallas, Texas, Saturday accompanied by Mrs. Muller and their son Bobby.
 
While out hunting with some other boys at Pratt, Roy Gene Saunders fell from the running board of a moving car, the car passing over his left leg, breaking it.  Mr. and Mrs. Howard Carman and Mrs. Oliver Saunders visited Roy Gene and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. McManis at Pratt, Saturday.
 
Doyle Hicks and Bob Tanck, who brought cattle down to put on wheat pasture, returned to Arlington, Colo., Wednesday.
 
December 1956
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Richardson, McCracken, on a daughter born November 30, 1956 in LaCrosse.  She has been named Jo Linn.
 
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bisagno, Augusta, on a daughter born November 26, 1956 in Wichita.
 
December 1966
The 50-6 league has accepted three new members, Bazine, McCracken and Hanston.  Other schools in the league are Bison, Pawnee Rock, Haviland Academy, Garfield and Hudson.
 
A 1957 Buick driven by M. M. Stephens was completely demolished when hit by a train at the east crossing in McCracken.
 
The Mustang basketball squad includes:  Doug Higgins, Mike Peters, Terry Peters, Doug Whitis, Richard Higgins and Jim Brack.  Other members are Bennie Rogers, Kirby Wendler, Tim Brown, Dave Davenport, Lance Morgan, Donnie Schuckman, Bill Wetzel, Richard Showalter, Dave Halbleib, Duane Williams, Robert Mason, Cecil (Tom) Tomlinson, Jim Rein, Bobby Foster, Floyd Norlin, Kent Bible, Jerry Schutte and Scott Moses.
 
December 1976
1,380 bushels of wheat were delivered to White Water Mill on November 30 from the McCracken and Alexander communities.  McCracken convassers for the CROP drive were Father Rory O’Neill, Robert Janke, George Halbleib, LeeRoy Schuckman, Joe Casey, Floyd Thompson, John Hanson, Arlyn North, John Stull, Harlon Anderson and Harry Janke.
 
MHS basketball opened its season with a 51-47 win over Lucas.  Mike Conner had 16 points, Layne Morgan 12 and Mark Baus 8.
 
December 1986
Wednesday evening, Fred Taylor, Jr., Coldwell and Sandra Taylor, Loveland, Colo., arrived to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with the Fred Taylors.
 
Memorials to the library were in honor of Perry Van Winkle, Marjorie Irvin, John Elias, Lloyd Conner, Blanche and Jobe Swisher, Roy and Bessie Langdon and Stella Irvin.
 
December 1996
Karen and Larry Clark have moved from Derby to Shawnee.
 
Congratulations to Lewie and Bonnie Crawford on their recent marriage.
 
Jim Schafer is in Intensive Care at Via Christi in Wichita.  Father Kenny took him to the hospital.