McCracken native has vision for school
BY DALE HOGG
dhogg@gbtribune.com
McCRACKEN – Debi Schuckman has a dream, a dream that is starting to catch on in McCracken, a western Rush County community of 190 souls.
A year and a half ago, Schuckman purchased the long-abandoned McCracken Grade School with the oft reluctant support of her husband Myron. Although the couple lives in Wichita, they both attended elementary school here and graduated from McCracken High.
There are no schools here now. McCracken has since consolidated with LaCrosse-based Unified School District 395 and students are now bussed elsewhere.
But, “I have lots of visions,” Debi said. She sees the building as becoming a center for community activities and a shopping mall of sorts.
“I just want the community to do things,” said Debi, who also serves on the McCracken Beautification Committee. Her voice echoed as she stood in the empty school cafeteria.
Debi talked about housing a farmers market on the school grounds, and offering the classrooms to businesses, ranging from shops to a grocery store to an eatery. She also operates Hope for the Hometown, a service that offers used household items to the needy at no cost, out of the facility.
“I’d like to see it open all the time,” she said.
She would also like to utilize the stage and gymnasium as a site for family nights – complete with movies and popcorn, and live plays. There is already a Christmas event in the works for this year.
Built in 1926, the red brick grade school has been closed for over a decade. It and the high school were purchased by an out-of-state gentleman, but neither were in use.
“It was just deteriorating,” Debi said of the grade school. With just too many memories attached to the structure, she had to do something.
When she and Myron were dating, they performed as Sonny and Cher on that stage. They held their wedding reception in that gym.
But, there was a lot of work to do to get the building ready to meet the public once again. Her goal was to have it prepared for a grand reopening as the site for the annual McCracken Family Fall Fest set for Saturday, Nov. 2.
To make this happen, volunteers pitched in on the effort. They repaired plumbing, painted and cleaned.
“I just want to thank the people of this community,” she said. “I am overwhelmed and humbled.”
And, it’s not just McCracken. Support and vendors for the fest are coming from several area town.
“I’m so proud of everyone out here,” Debi said of how folks pulled together.
In years past, the fest has drawn about 150 people. Debi has a goals of 400 to 500 for this year.
The Schuckmans also own a home in McCracken where Debi’s parents live. So, she spends about four days per week here, taking care of her mom and dad.
McCRACKEN – The annual McCracken Family Fall Fest will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the former grade school in here.
This is also a coming out party for the school house which has been closed for over a decade. Debi and Myron Schuckman, McCracken graduates who split their time between McCracken and Wichita, purchased the grade school building a year and a half ago, and the community has been helping them get it ready for this grand reopening.
The event is sponsored by the McCracken Beautification Committee with help from the La Crosse Lions Club.
There will be activities for all ages. The schedule includes polka music and dancing provided by Accent Mobile Music. In addition, there will be a cake walk, face painting, inflatable bounce house, caricature drawings and bingo.
At noon there will be beer and bratwursts. Gella’s Liquid Bread brewery from Hays will be sampling their specialty beers along with the brats.
Vendors from Hays, Wichita, Hill City, Alexander, Ransom and McCracken and other communities will be displaying their goods.
Bingo with prizes will be played throughout the day and massage therapist Jodi Wolf will be giving chair massages.
Fall Fest evening activities begin with a chili cook-off starting at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. The menu includes soups, hot dogs, homemade cinnamon rolls and homemade ice cream.
The live auction starts at 7 p.m. Silent auction items will be available to bid on throughout the day and end at 7:30 p.m.
Local artist Ed Jumper will be taking orders for handcrafted wooden pens made from the McCracken basketball high school gym floor, and the McCracken grade school basketball goal brackets. Part of the proceeds will go to the beautification committee.
Also at the Fall Fest will be the McCracken Beautification Committee’s booth. One can purchase a flag and flag pole for the cost of $100 in memory of or in honor of a loved one.
The beautification committee will then put a small engraved piece on the flag pole with the information provided by buyer. The cost will also include erecting the flag poles in the McCracken City Cemetery. Flags will be displayed on appropriate days of honor.
