News Dec 20
Friday night Austin and Ashley McGaughey were ‘messing’ around Main Street, they hit a slick spot and got stuck by the home of Tony and Tomi Rues.   They were assisted by Dave and Derek Derr, Rob McGaughey and Glen Ryan in getting the car ‘unstuck’.  Does anyone remember sledding down Mail Street behind cars, going to Brick Hill and playing cards at Tillie’s?  Good memories.
 
After Mass on Saturday, December 29, don’t forget to attend the soup supper at the Community Center sponsored by the pool committee.
 
Kathy Lovitt Hurd sent the Heloise column from the San Diego paper to her mom, Sharon Lovitt.  It had two hints printed from Doris Oller, Holyrood. 
 
A former McCracken couple will be celebrating their 45th anniversary on December 22.  After the wedding the uncle of the groom made the remark “married on the shortest day and longest night”!!!
 
Returning home from the Hoisington basketball game Thursday night, it was weird having patches of fog in the ‘low places’ and coming upon the home of Jay Pfeiffer without the yard or house lights.  Roger Legleiter’s home was dark as well and you could see the McCracken lights off in the distance. It was also dark south of the highway where Don Irvin should have had lights.  Their power was restored early this week after being almost a week without electricity. 
 
The McCracken Alumni gave a donation to the McCracken Community Club for Christmas candy from Santa.
 
We wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and many blessings in the coming New Year.
 
December 20, 2007 News
Family members who attended the funeral service for Joan Klee on Monday morning included Bob House, Addie Mills, Ellen Kershner, Thayne and Machree Jones and Jack Klee.
 
There are two new books out by David Hann.  One is Sampling Kansas, A Guide to the Curious and the other Kansas Past, Pieces of the 34th Star.  Items included in Sampling Kansas include the Pony Express, Grave of Unknown Indian, Madstones used by Indians for rabies, Windwagons, Kansas Spirit Rock in Lawrence.  In Kansas Past are articles about the Black Exodusters of Nicodemus, “Potato King of the West”, Fort Larned:  The Camp at Pawnee Fork, pioneer nurses and doctors.
 
We wish to commend the state highway workers in Rush County.  After the recent snowstorm, they did a marvelous job of cleaning off the highways.  On Monday morning everything from the Barton-Rush County Line to McCracken was dry.  That was not so in Barton County where the roads were snow packed and difficult to drive on.  The roads were bad on both 96 and Highway 4 in Barton County.
 
The Winter Issue of the Kansas Traveler is now available at the Post Office.  In the article 2008 – Leap and Learn Year we are reminded that 2008 is a Leap Year.  Fellows remember there are ladies out there looking for a rich, good-looking husband.  The late Fred Black always said, “It is better to marry a rich man”.
 
A soup supper on an icy night is just the ticket.  We enjoyed the supper at the home of Roger and Norma McNair.  Their guests were Arky and Diane McNair, Charlotte Ochs, Shirley Higgins and Carolyn Thompson.  Following the supper we played Mexican dominoes.
 
Francis Zeller had a total hip replacement at Hays Medical Center.  We wish him a rapid recovery.
 
It is hoped that you are finding a break in the weather to get your shopping done for Christmas.  Keep in mind that the day after Christmas all the sales begin and you may have received extra Christmas cash.
 
McCracken History Notes
December 1887
 
Dr. Dutton moved to town Tuesday.  He took a cold day for it.  Doctor, we welcome you to the fold.
 
Oysters in bulk served in any style in City Restaurant.
 
December 1907
 
Ads in Christmas issue of McCracken Enterprise:  Stone Store, J. M. Hastings; Ryan Lumber Co.; Wilson and Ward Dry Goods and Groceries; John R. Lovitt, Real Estate and Insurance Business;  Bank of McCracken, Directors are G. M. Ryan, J. T. Warden, J. E. Andrew, E. S. Chenoweth, Wm. Sutton, Thomas Ryan, Frank Wray and J. W. Chenoweth; Stout’s City Restaurant, Earnest Stout; McCracken Enterprise, C. P. Dutton, Editor and Proprietor; The Cash Store, Kelly and Grumbein; J. P. Warden, Agent; G. W. Farwell, Hardware; F. P. Starretts; The Elmore Lumber Company; P. H. Roser, Agent for Farm Machinery.
 
December 1937
More than 300 persons registered last Saturday for the drawing sponsored by the merchants of McCracken.  Those who received one dollar credit slips were Mrs. Fred Webster, Willa Lee Webster, Bonnie Foster, Carl Barnes, Mrs. Adam Conrad, Mrs. Fannie Davenport, Leonard Mills, Lillian Murphy, Ida Casey, Mrs. Ed Rein, J. McClendon, Goldie Higgins, Bob Rhoades and H. M. McGaughey.
 
Lovely evening wedding of Dorothy Dickerson and Percival Grumbein was solemnized by Rev. E. W. Dettweiler at the first United Brethren Church, November 24
 
December 1947
Miss Marie Brenner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Brenner and Mr. Wilbur Brack, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brack were married December fifteenth at St. Luke’s Lutheran church in Bazine.
 
December 1957
Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Marak moved into the Warta house which they purchased recently from Mrs. Pete Hoff, Victoria.  Mr. and Mrs. Fred Foster moved Monday into the house vacated by the Maraks.  Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Parsons and family moved into Mrs. Janeal Ryan’s house the last of the week.  Mr. and Mrs. August Schutte moved into the house vacated by the Parsons.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Dugan and Jerry are moving from Brush, Colo. to make their home in McCracken.
 
Students home to spend the Christmas holidays are Bennie Thompson and Clyde Hinman, Kansas State College; Dorothy Elmore, Colorado University; Joan Ryan, Stephens College; Jean and Teresa Moran, Mt. St. Scholastica, Atchison; Orville Wahl, Glenn Conner, Norman Baldwin, Ft. Hays State College; Guy Conner, LaCrosse; Warren Irvin, Salt City Business College; Billy Joe Moran, St. Joseph’s Academy, Hays; Margaret Shiney, Missouri University, Columbia.
 
December 1967
Santa Letters from first grade
 
Dear Santa, Please bring me a Polaroid swinger, cattle truck and a bow and arrow.  Love Joe Conner
 
Dear Santa, I want a yellow bike.  Could you send a “Snakes Alive” game too? Love Lisa Schuckman.
 
Dear Santa, My name is Larry.  Please bring me the motorific torture track. Love, Larry Hinman;
 
Dear Santa, I would like a Little Miss Fussy doll.  I will put cookies and milk on the table for you.  Bring something for my sister too.  Thank you, Keri Jo Derr; 
 
Dear Santa, I am six years old and in the first grade.  I would like a toy piano.  Lanette Stremel
 
Dear Santa, Bring me toys, dishes and paper dolls, Cecilia Augustine
 
Dear Santa, I would like paper dolls and a red purse.  Love, Loretta Augustine
 
Dear Santa, I love you.  Please bring me a motor dump truck.  Love Kell Wendler.
 
 
December 1977
Boy’s basketball team members are Kellye Irvin, Jerry Casey, Mark Baus, Dale Swindler, Joe Conner, Shannon McKinney, Layne Morgan, Randy Conrad, Craig Stull, Dale Elias, Mitchell Jacobs, Jeff McCormick, Wade Hinman, Craig Rixon and coach Glenn Conner.
 
The 8th grade and high school graduates will have a combined graduation ceremony in the spring.  Approval was given by the board.
 
December 1987
Lynnette Harp was named to the all academic basketball team at the Quinter tournament.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Davis have moved to Albany, Georgia where Bruce is employed.
 
December 1997
Christmas decorations keep appearing on Main Street.  There is a candy cane, wreath, tree and Santa.
 
Sharon Bearley had kidney surgery- transplant last week.