June 20, 2013 News

Birthdays: June 21, Harold Herdman, Joyce Luft; June 22, John Moran, Bernadette Taylor, Scott Wittman, Arlene Mills Schmidt, Jennifer Wierman , Jerod Wierman; June 23, Mike Stull, Sarah Hinman, Carson North; June 25, Tanner Higgins, Will Zeller, Joe Higgins; January 26, Brenda Rogers Keener, Landon Davis, Tracee Berger, Jason Moran.

Anniversaries: June 20, Mike and Mary Beth Peach; June 22, Martin and Cathie Shapiro.

$160.00 was sent to Habitat for Humanity by the Family and Friends Campaign, Homes and Hope. This will help provide families in need with safe and affordable housing. We are grateful to those who supported this campaign.

June birthdays were celebrated at The Garage in Ransom on Friday evening. Those attending were Sharon and Bill Lovitt, Wilma and Diz Washaliski, Carolyn Thompson and Arlene and Babe Gilbert. Bill said that he and Babe were in Liebenthal and Schoenchen last week and never ever had a beer (poor planning I think).

Interesting Facts

Chang and Eng Bunker were Siamese twins. They shared a liver. They were exploited by P.T. Barnum,and were in a sideshow and on the carnival circuit in the early and mid-nineteenth century. Even though the country of their birth provided the name Siamese, they were actually three-quarters Chinese. They married twin sisters and fathered twenty-two children.

The First World countries are the Western bloc, the Second World Countries were aligned with the Communist world and the Third World Countries originally referred to nonaligned countries. Basically, a third world country acknowledges the pecking order. They have neither the political and economic clout that the other two do. In our times, we of the central United States are often called the Third World because of the above - lack of political and economic clout.

Current members of the Jail/Museum will receive their membership notice in the mail this week. If you did not receive a renewal notice, let Carolyn know and she will mail you one. The dues are $5.00 per person. You also have the opportunity to make a memorial donation for a loved one or friend. The Museum operates only on donations and memorials.

June 22, Territorial Days, Lecompton. The festival celebrates the town's role as the capital city of territorial Kansas. Pioneer skill demonstrations, living history re-enactments, kids games, and re-dedication of the newly-reconstructed 1892 city jail.

We have two new bookshelves at the museum. Roy and Phyllis Conrad picked them up at Hays and Sid Osborne and his son put them together on Monday.

For information for the Trail Ride call Lynn Kochenower at 620-786-9764 or John Ficken at 785-356-1425. On Saturday July 13 at 9:00 a.m. we will leave on the ride. Come between 8:00 and 8:45 a.m. Breakfast with sweet rolls, fresh fruit, biscuits and gravy will be served before the ride. Lunch will be served when we get back - fresh ham sandwiches with chips and salad. Directions: From McCracken go north two miles to Avenue “G” then eight miles east to CR190, then l/2 mile back north. From Liebenthal go south to McCracken/Liebenthal blacktop, then five and one half west to CR 190 then one and one half miles south. See ya'll there!!

Paul Moses Jr., San Antonio, Texas, stopped by 2nd Chance Shop Friday afternoon, he is the son of Paul Moses, who lives in San Antonio. Paul Jr. had me write down my name etc. as he said his dad would want to know who he visited with. I told him he needed to go to Williamsburg, Kentucky. Going to Wolfe Creek Cemetery is almost like going to the McCracken City Cemetery. Bullock, Davenport, Lovitt, Harp, Ryan, Stephens, Shepherd are just some of the same names.

The McCracken Public library is proud to present during rodeo weekend David Zerfas. David Zerfas -"Zerf" is a singer/songwriter and Manhattan, Kansas native. His repertoire consists of Kansas cowboy and pioneer tunes, and original songs of Kansas frontier towns and characters. Zerf is equally at home performing fireside or on a stage. Zerf will be performing on Saturday, July 13th at 3 pm in the blue room of the McCracken Community Building. This event is sponsored by the McCracken Public Library, A free will donation.

Neil and Rhonda Allen, Chandler and Ashleigh, were Father's Day weekend guests of her parents, Roy and Phyllis Conrad. Also visiting Roy and Phyllis is Wendell (Butch) Conrad.

Pris Jacobs and her roommate Tessa Jacobs spent the weekend in Wichita with Neal and Amy Jacobs. Joining them were Jaden, Jenna and Hadley Jacobs.

Those children attending the Rolling Hills Zoo program held at the McCracken Library Thursday afternoon were Colby Stull, Clay, Carson and Dalton North, Tenley Wittman, Clayton and Kaylen Sewell, Brayden and Emily Angell, Eva and Evan Betz.

The 2013 All-Area Baseball Team includes Tanner Higgins, - Hutchinson. After missing his junior year with a wrist injury, the second baseman led the Salthawks in batting average (.458) and hits (33) and tied Trevor Turner with 16 stolen bases on his way to an all-AVCTL-l selection. (Coincidentally his granddad, Vic Higgins, had the same batting average in 1957 when he was a member of the Hays Larks).

Ardyth LaNell Anderson Johnson, died April 19, 2013 of a long battle with Parkinson's disease. She was born in McCracken to Merle and Faye Anderson. Ben and Nancy Anderson are survivors (brother). Burial in Imperial Memorial Gardens, Aurora.

Shirley Higgins and Tammy Irvin attended the wedding ceremony for Lauren McCafferty and Michael DeGraffenreid at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Wichita Saturday afternoon. Lauren is the granddaughter of the late Woodrow and Lois Lovitt.

A McNair family reunion was held at the home of 'Arky' and Diana McNair this weekend. Those attending were Norma McNair, Charlotte Ochs, Betty Fear, McCracken; Steve and Denise Watkins, Paulding, Ohio; Barry and Susie Polzin, Peshtigo, Wisconsin; Shawn, Maggie, Hayden, Oliver & Parker Polzin, Lawton, Oklahoma; Cathy 'KC' Cooper, Memphis, Indiana; Bay Edgin, Joyce Goodson and Debby Bolden, Marianna, Arkansas; Gaylon Watkins, Wichita. Their nephew Steve made a sign for their porch that reads McNAIR RULES: Sit, relax, chat, wave, sip a drink, dream, be a blessing, tell tall tales, smile and wave to all who pass by!

Gary Stark, his daughter Samantha, Jessica Watson, Russell and BreAnne Stark Hernandez, Carlos, Garrett and Mathew, spent the weekend in McCracken. They enjoyed the Farmer's Market in LaCrosse, 2nd Chance Thrift Shop and the swimming pool in McCracken. Of course the kids love the golf cart rides.

Rodeo History

July 1987

A Rodeo will kick off the McCracken Centennial party when the celebration opens Friday. Balloons will be released at 6 p.m. marking the opening. This will be followed by the first night of the state-sanctioned rodeo. More than 200 entries have been enrolled; tickets will cost $4.50 in advance and $5 at the gate. New pens, chutes, corrals, panels and an announcer's box were built and added to the grounds. Bleachers have also been set up to seat over 1,000 people. The Rodeo lunch stand will be run by Janet Herdman, Willetta Herdman, Jan North, Priscella Jacobs and Mary McCormick. A quilt show will be held at the former Assembly of God Church. Saturday a parade will begin with over 100 entries at 11 a.m.; afternoon events include pony rides, miniature train rides, food and craft booths. A melodrama is scheduled in the grade school auditorium at 2:00 followed by kid's games in the park. A beef and buffalo barbecue will begin at 4:00 in the park with tickets costing $2. A quilt was sewn by a group of women and is designed in a wagon wheel with historic buildings illustrated. The center design was drawn by Paulette Zeller. It is to be raffled Saturday. (Grace Thompson won the quilt and is on display at the McCracken Jail/Museum). History books were compiled by Carolyn Thompson and Shirley Higgins and will be for sale.

McCracken History Notes

July 1953

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Klee and Jackie Joe moved to Pratt last week. Klee is employed at a body and fender shop there.

A boy, Richard Lee was born July 3 to Mr. and Mrs. Beverly Baldwin.

A girl, Cheryl Ann, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Casey, July 7.

Lovina McKinstry Garrogies died July 5 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Webster. Burial was in White Rock cemetery near Pendennis.

McCracken received between 3 & 4 inches of rain last week.

Tony Schlitter is stationed with the Marines in Santa Ana, California.

A girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Baldwin.

Benny Anderson is stationed with the Army at Ft. Riley.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Davenport and daughters moved to Alma this weekend.

Billy Wierman won a free trip to St. Louis in the IGA contest sponsored by the Dell Klema grocery store.

A girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Wendling, Halstead, July 23.

Mrs. Lena Elias Barnett died Sunday. Mrs. B.U. Anderson, Mrs. Emma Start, Mrs. J.S. Wagner, Mr. A.E. Elias and Mr. O.B. Elias are her survivors.

Dora Washaliski, 91, died Sunday afternoon.

Joe Casey purchased the A.F. Marak house and moved in with his family on Monday.

J.F. Pauley sold his barber shop to Mr. and Mrs. Dawson. The Pauley's moved to Greenleaf.

Charles Lovitt was honored on his 89th birthday with a supper at his home Sunday evening.

A boy, Michael Thomas, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. R. Potter July 22.

Harry Teter, Long Beach, died July 28. His wife and two daughters, Joyce Hunter & Patty Earl survive him.