Believe it or Not........Still Growing

     It's taken awhile but the Korner is finally "catching on."
     We are beyond five years and still growing, as evidenced by the fact that, just in the last week, the Kornerman has been stopped twice, while roaming the city, by people wanting the Korner's web site address. Our counter shows that we have a solid 400-450 viewers twice each week, last month 3,980 folks joined us and the overall total now stands at 207,367 "watches" since we started in 2010.
     The Kornerman is amazed but thankful that so many of you look forward to what your fellow viewers offer in the way of their stories, memories etc.. Thanks to all of you who take time to provide us with material for this effort.
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     Tom Burke, BHS-61, from out in New Jersey wrote, "many BHS football players, I'm sure, have stories and memories surrounding football coach Merle Harris and, in my era, his sidekick, Larry Parr. Now we all know that coach was a firm believer in conditioning. He felt that given equal talent or even slightly superior talent, conditioning would win. My wife brought home some watermelon today from the grocery store and every time she does, I am reminded of BHS football and the dreaded two-a-day practices that came along every August. I think, in my senior year, the 1960 football squad was Merle's third season as head coach. During those hot August days a group of us made an almost daily ritual between the morning and afternoon sessions to re-hydrate by buying a couple of watermelons and driving to the Ledges, sitting in the creek and eating them all until they were gone. I don't recall any of us having anything to eat but the melons or we would get sick and throw up. We did, however, successfully de-hydrate and get into fantastic condition. I think it was the conditioning that made our team one of the more successful teams to that date at BHS. Our only loss was 9-7 to Ames who was ranked #1 in the state. I think the next year Boone did beat Ames in those old glory days of the Central Iowa Conference, which included Boone, Ames, Marshalltown, Oskaloosa, Newton and Grinnell. Fond memories indeed."
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     Davi Mondt Lowman, BHS-67, wrote from beautiful east Boone, "spring is springing finally and Boone is about to become 150 years old. I am, somewhat, disheartened that the citizens of our fine city are having trouble putting together a celebration. On facebook there is a page called "Boone, Iowa 150th Anniversary Volunteers and Committees." After an original group failed at attempting to produce a one-day event, others are attempting to take up the slack. I hope enough people gather to honor our good old hometown. Also, because we now live in the age of instantaneous everything, Jim Case, BHS-67, and I have created a facebook page entitled, "Boone, Iowa History and Memories." It's a "members only" page so we can control the imput a bit. We want to encourage conversations regarding, not only the history of Boone, but personal stories and memories and photos. With this in mind, may I copy some of your postings?"
     The Kornerman says, "Hmmmm! Those objectives have kind of a familiar ring to them, sort of like the Korner but heck yes, go for it and use any of our stuff you desire."
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     Anybody familiar with Ogden native, Greg Suckow? He was featured in a recent State University of Iowa publication.
     Greg is a commercial real estate attorney in Minneapolis but, of course, his REAL job is serving as Hawkeye Elvis. Yes, he dresses up in Elvis-like costumes decorated with sequins, rhinestones etc. and made by his mother, Maggie Suchow, and he attends numerous Hawkeye athletic events at home and on the road urging the Hawkeye teams on. He's been doing this for four years, the voice, the moves, the singing and all. It said that when the Iowa basketball team played at North Carolina, Greg, as Elvis, treated a restaurant group to a rousing dance performance of "Hound Dog." Some 4,000 fans follow him on twitter and that makes him second only to Herky in Hawkeyeland popularity.
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     A very big congratulations to Boone's Tom Venner who ran, amidst all of those thousand's, in last weekend's Boston marathon. Tom finished the 26.2-mile event in just under four hours, 3:58 to be exact, and he was listed as number 11,129th best. But hey......that was great.......outstanding. A life's milestone event he will always remember.
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     A Kelley's Korner prediction. They are or soon will be in the area.  It's about that time that a Minnesota-Iowa group, headed by Steve Shaler, BHS-59, Tim Croxen, BHS-59, and Barry Wills, BHS-58, converge on the Metro area for the Drake Relays. It's an annual get-together and the Kornerman is betting there are good times ahead for those mentioned and additional companions.
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     Boone Area Deaths: Eleanor Redmond, 87, Boone. Moved to Westhaven last year. Her husband, James, also a Westhaven resident, survives...........Doris Jensen, 65, Boone. Will be buried in Ogden's Glenwood Cemetery...........Verna Wikre, 102, Colorado. Former Boxholm resident. Homemaker and also worked at Westeen's Cafe in Boxholm. Her husband, Ted, passed away in  1980. Carson-Stapp Funeral Home of Ogden is handling arrangements..........Paul Dautremont, Boone..........Karl Schaudt, 62, Des Moines. Ballard High-71. Was employed in recent years as a Boone/Story County Mental Health Advocate..........Helen Valvoda, 89, Oelwein. Was a musician, nursing assistant, bookkeeper and legal secretary. Boone area survivor is a daughter, Sherry Hurst, of Boone..........Chris Veeder, 87, Boone. Boone area survivor is a daughter, Corky Anderson of Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.