RCNews Dec 23

Birthdays:
December 23, Sue Davis; December 24, Gage Podrybau; December 25, Martha House; December 26, Bruce Davis, Mary McCormick, Audra Dale; December 27, Jay Georg, Vickie Hampton, Tambra Pfeifer, Karen Casey; December 28, Linda Doerr Cook, Sally Irvin, Sarah Martin, John Doornbos, Leigh Ann Brackney, Jacob Showalter, Shianne Shelit; December 29, Hayley Higgins, Melanie Zeller.
 
Anniversaries:  December 27, Tom and Nettie Chestnut; December 28, George and Joy Hunter, Bob and Margaret Fear.
 
Merry Christmas to one and all
 
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, McCracken, will have mass on Saturday, January 1st, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.  Father Kraus presiding.  All are invited to attend.
 
Mike Karlin was a last Monday through Wednesday guest of Addie Mills while his parents were at KU Medical Center.
 
Althea ‘Polly’ Owen Lovitt died December 12, 2010, after a series of illnesses. She was born September 24, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois but grew up in Emporia, Kansas. Her father was an English professor at Emporia State University and her mother was a music teacher in the public schools.  On her graduation from high school she attended the University of Kansas where her major was music education. She graduated in 1952 and married her husband, Thomas Lovitt that same year.  She traveled with him to his various posts in the US Air Force. After his discharge they moved to Overland Park where she was a music teacher for Roeland Park Schools. She also earned her master’s degree in special education from KU.  In 1966 she, her husband and children moved to Kirkland, Washington. She taught music in elementary and middle schools. She is survived by her husband Tom of 58 years, four children, Kathleen, Mark, Bryan and Dan; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  The memorial service was held Sunday, December 19 at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church.
 
Marty and Tina Mills met her parents, Bob and Della Miller in Hays on Sunday for lunch and Christmas shopping.
 
Danny and Marilyn Mills were Sunday afternoon visitors of Addie Mills.
 
Shirley Higgins spent Thursday-Friday in Hutchinson and attended the 8th grade girl’s game, Hutch vs. Prairie Hills. The girls were ahead by 4 points with 2:15 left to play and they stalled using McCracken’s wagon-wheel only it was ? of a ‘wheel’.  Friday night the Hutch boys lost to Maize in a last second shot. The junior varsity boys won.
 
Addie Mills enjoyed coffee and cookies with Evelyn Cosby at LaCrosse on Monday afternoon.
 
Jeff Jennings, whom many have met when he and his ‘crew’ are here from Kansas City pheasant hunting, has spent the past few days playing Santa Claus.  He was at the Homeless Center, The Wyandotte Museum and the KU Medical Center with the kids with cancer.
 
The Alexander road was driven over a few days ago and it seemed almost as if you were driving on inter-state compared to the dirt road four miles north of McCracken. We even had our Kansas City friends complain about how dangerous it is.  I for one can’t understand why money was spent to narrow the road, making a dangerous sand ridge with ditches many feet deep.  WHY?
 
LeRoy and Sandy Gilbert and Dean Gilbert spent the weekend visiting with Babe and Arlene Gilbert.
  
Congratulations to Tayler Stull on his selection to the Hutchinson News' 11-Man Top 33 Selections. He was named as a 3rd team member. Tayler is a 6-1, 175 jr., QB-S and plays for LaCrosse High School. He is the son of Mike and Jerilyn Stull.
 
Congratulations to Tanner Higgins on his selection to the Hutchinson News' 11 Man All Class Teams. He was honorable mention for the class 5A team. He is a sophomore at Hutchinson High School and the son of Jerry and Jodi Higgins.
 
Family and friends gathered on Saturday evening at Boondocks to celebrate the 90th birthday of Julia Zeller.  Julia is a bright star in the McCracken community.  We look forward to celebrating with her on her 100th
 
Bill and Barbara Baus and Myron and Debi Schuckman hosted a Family and Friends Christmas Celebration at their home in McCracken on Saturday evening.  Their home was decorated throughout with trees, nativity sets, wreaths and a magnificent red bow on the grand piano. 
 
McCracken History Notes
December 1910
Mrs. Frank West drew the sewing machine at Wardens Wednesday afternoon
 
World was received here of the marriage of Miss Elva Lindbloom to a wealthy ranchman at Harlowton, Montana.
 
December 1940
Dean Birdsong, Fort Hays State College student is home for the Christmas vacation as is Melvin Metz, who attends the Salt City Business College at Hutchinson.
 
Tommy Nash of Dove Creek, Colorado, is home visiting his mother, Mrs. Hattie Nash.    
 
Santa letters:   Dear Santa Claus – Please bring me a pair of cowboy boots.  I have twin sisters and they would like to have a doll apiece and maybe a rattle.  Your friend, Jack Wilson    
 
 Dear Santa Claus.  Dear Santa Claus – Please bring me a bb gun.  I will hang a stocking on the stove.  I hope you will go down the chimney.  Sincerely yours, Julius Unrein.    
 
Dear Santa – Please bring me a bicycle, bb gun and doll for Patricia Ruth.  Robert Thompson.
 
Dear Santa Claus – Please bring me a drum and story book.  John A. Rixon      
 
December 1960
 
Bobby Higgins recently returned from a seven months cruise with the Navy in the Pacific including Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines.
   
Xavier Nabackaban, India, who is a student at St. Mary of the Plains College, was a guest of Gerald Barnes a few days last week.