Our sympathy to the family of Doris L. McMurphy, 82, who died October 13, 2003 at Overland Park, Kansas.  She was born December 26, 1920 in McCracken to Milo W. and Cora Mae (Fear) Sidebottom.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Emmett Sloan, 85, Ponca City, OK, who died at his home, November 2, 2003.  He was born January 6, 1918 in McCracken, the son of Robert J. and Hannah M. (Derr) Sloan.  On October 26, 1947 he married Marjorie Davis in McCracken.  Survivors are his wife; three daughters; Ruth Ann Sissel, Norma Jean Leiker and Gail Lynn Nickels; sisters, June Higgins and Georgia Mills; brother, Emerson Sloan.  Burial in Ponca City.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Velma Keener who died November 8, 2003.  Her step-children, Dena Irvin, Dan Keener and Donna Schmidt are among the survivors.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Fern Jameson, 97, who died November 11, 2003 in Kansas City.  She was born September 2, 1906 in rural Rush county, the daughter of Amos and Zettie (Rixon) Derr.  She married William A. Jameson, February 8, 1930.  She was a 1923 graduate of MHS.  Burial in McCracken  Cemetery.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Delores Ilenne Hawley, 85, who died November 17, 2003, in Medford, Oregon.  She was born September 4, 1918 to George W. and Dora Jane (Foster) Ree on a farm north of McCracken called 'Dutch Holler'. She married Wilbur Hawley.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, a daughter, sisters, Hattie Conner, Juanita Davenport and Mabel Phillips.  Burial in Medford, Oregon.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Erman Oelkers, 74, who died November 20, 2003 at his home near McCracken.  He was born October 28, 1929 in rural Rush county, the son of John B. and Ethel R. (Carman) Oelkers.  He married Jean Hardwick August 1, 1952.  Survivors include his wife, one son, Galen Oelkers, one daughter, Dr. Shelly J. Oelkers, brother, Lawrence Oelkers and sister, Fern Zimmerman.  Burial in the LaCrosse Cemetery.
 
Congratulations to Daniel and Niki Halbleib on the birth of a son, Daniel Leroy, October 27, 2003 at Via Christi-St. Joseph in Wichita.  He joins brothers Robert 13 and Gerrit 4.  Grandmother is Eleanor Halbleib, Brownell.
 
Congratulations to Will and Suzanne Washington, Virginia, on the birth of a daughter, Kizzie Lorraine, born November 1, 2003.  Grandparents are Floyd and Kathy Norlin and great-grandmother, Lorraine Norlin.
 
The "passenger list" for the Biloxie - New Orleans trip included Bill and Barbara Baus, Henry and Shirley Swartz, Leland and Mary Steitz, Philena Baus, Francis and Julia Zeller, John and Melanie Zeller, Carl and Velma Legleiter, John and Janice Stull, Pat Derr, Sonja Conner and Twila Higgins.  Couples from Great Bend, LaCrosse, Hoisington, Nebraska and Colorado also attended. 
 
The annual spook parade, sponsored by the McCracken Public Library, was held October 25.  There were 24 children participating.
 
Roy, Phyllis and Sylvester Conrad were in Englewood, CO for three days visiting Diana Wheat, granddaughter of Sylvester.  She had just adopted a 4 year old girl, luliana, from Romania.
 
LeRoy and Sandy Gilbert, Salina, treated a bus load of Lakin High school students to a 'tour' of the Haunted House they always have on Halloween.  The Lakin students were in Salina for the 3A State volleyball tournament.
 
Congratulations to Jake Tomlinson who was the winner of the quilt raffle held the last of November.
 
Walter Rogers returned home last Saturday after surgery on his hip Tuesday.  He is doing therapy and getting along very well.
 
Evan and Audra Dale are organizing a roller hockey team in McCracken.  Players are Derek and Carly Derr, Sierra Jones, Sheila Brown, Angela Morgan, Austin McGaughey, Scott Irvin, Evan and Audra.
 
A large crowd of Veterans and those who appreciate their sacrifices attended a special service at the McCracken Methodist Church on Wednesday.  The bell choir provided the background as Babe Gilbert read about each fold of the flag.  Bill Zeller and Bob Wolfe did the folding.  A reception followed in the church hall.
 
Kelsee Rogers is on the Gold Honor roll; Jessica Casey and William Greenway are on the Silver Honor roll and Jordan Janke and Chase Rogers are on the Bronze Honor roll at Bazine High School.  Les and  Sheryl Rogers are the parents of Kelsee and Chase; Pat and Jackie Casey the parents of Jessica; Bill and Paula Greenway the parents of William; Ivan and Peggy Janke the parents of Jordan.
 
Linda Sloan Dale has started work at the Hays Medical Center in Hays.
 
The Helen Davis Scholarship was established in 1997 with a preference for students from Rush and Ness counties.  Helen Davis was born in McCracken to Lester and Eva C. Campbell Davis.  She attended Fort Hays State for two years and later completed her degree at the University of Kansas.
 
The McCracken Rodeo was highlighted in the 'Happenings' section of the American Profile supplement in Nashville, Tennessee's, Devil's Lake Journal.  The profile read with a Kansas overline: "McCracken Rodeo -- McCracken, July 11-12.  Bareback riding, calf roping, women's barrel racing and a queen contest highlight this Kansas Professional Rodeo Association-sanctioned event at the Jack Wilson Mustang Arena". Circulation of the supplement is 2.3 million.
 
Congratulations to Chase Rogers, senior at Bazine High School, who was named to the 8 man All League football team in the Western Kansas Education Association.  He is the son of Les and Sheryl Rogers.  He has also been nominated to the the East-West Shrine Bowl football game to be held in Emporia on July 31, 2004.
 
Lucy Vogle has retired as a Senior Companion.  Our thanks for all the service she gave to the people of the community.
 
Veronica Baus, daughter of Mark and Ann Baus, had the leading part in the play 'Cold Comfort Farm, presented by LaCrosse High School Friday night.
 
Roy and Phyllis Conrad, Wendell and Gladys Hinman, Pat Derr, Jean Schutte and Twila Higgins decorated the City Park for Christmas recently.
 
Since August 1, 2003, our McCracken Web site has had 2,990 'hits'.  We attribute most of this to the McCracken School being on e Bay.  We are grateful to Suzanne Randa for having the expertise to promote this sale of the McCracken School Buildings.  We had e mails and calls from all over the country who showed interest in our area.  Jan North received a call from Newport, CA wondering if we had a McDonald's; a lady from Lancaster, CA ask if we had buffalo, tracks from wagon trains in the prairie, how far away were we from lakes, creeks  . .  an artist and his parents from Alabama checked out the school and he left one of his paintings at the Smoky Hill Traders Antique Store.
 
Megan Conrad, daughter of Randy and Robin Conrad, was one of the performers in the Hays High musical,  'Singing in the Rain'.  She is the granddaughter of Roy and Phyllis Conrad.  Cassie Karlin, granddaughter of Addie Mills was also one of the performers.
 
The first Holiday Craft and Bake Sale was a success.  It was held in the McCracken Community Center on Saturday.
 
The McCracken Middle School was sold to David Libberton, Phoeniz, Arizona for $49,500.  He is owner of Engine Powered Products.   A total of 73 bids were offered for the building.  Engine Powered Products is an Internet warehouse centered around the sale of snowmobiles, mini-bikes and go-carts.  He has 40 years of business experience and the company currently has over 10,000 customers.  His business partner, Suzanne Azzarella will also be joining Libberton in the move to McCracken.  The group visited our community before making their initial bid.  "What we saw we really liked.  We also liked that McCracken is so civic minded.  They may be a small community, but they are a proud small community.  The people there are so friendly and what I liked most was the air.  It's so clean and so invigorating.  It's so loaded with oxygen."  Bids came from 23 states and such countries as the Netherlands, United Kingdon, Canada, South America, Italy, Japan and Mexico. 

Roy and Phyllis Conrad, Wendell and Gladys Hinman, Pat Derr, Jean Schutte and Twila Higgins decorated the McCracken Park for Christmas this past week. 
 
 
We wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.