Reunion Time

     It's reunion time at the Korner and we love it, love it, love it.
     This Saturday's edition is made up almost entirely of, not newcomers, but folks we haven't heard from for awhile. It's great to "catch up" with them.
     Andy Anderson, BHS-62 and a Cedar Rapids viewer, simply wanted to tell us we're appreciated. He wrote, "heard an announcer's voice the other day and thought of you and all those tournaments you did in Des Moines. Thanks for the blog. I don't want you to quit.....ever. I really appreciate your columns. Keep  them coming!!"
     Ross Hanson, BHS-74, wrote from Wisconsin, "I remember in the mid-60's going to the Hamburger Inn, next to the tackle shop on Story Street by the railroad tracks. Burgers were, I think, 15-cents and chili 25-cents and there were only about seven or eight seats in the place. I also remember when Larry Kelley, BHS-64, who worked for the FM station, 104.1 in the 70's, invited me and my brother, Kirk, BHS-78, when he did the 24-hour Christmas music program during the holidays overnight to keep him company. Will see you next week as it is my niece's graduation. Alex Mullins, your neighbor, will be graduating. She plans to attend UNI next year. She did very well in BHS track the past few years."
     Quite some time ago, the Kornerman attempted to contact classmate Roma Achenbach Hare, BHS-53, who I assumed was still in the Washington D.C. area. She worked for many years as an assistant to Jim Lehrer.........yes, that famous newsman who told us about the world's happenings each evening via the PBS News Hour on television.
     Quite a period of time passed and there was no reply. The Kornerman was thinking I had an outdated email address and she never received my note. Then, this week, I very happily heard from her.
     She indicated she had been beset by numerous distractions recently and simply hadn't had time to get back to me.
     Roma wrote, "I've followed your recent discussions of the coney islands and the Canakes family. As I remember, Canakes were located at 12th and Story, next to the North Side Cleaners. My dad, Carl Achenbach, would occasionally walk up there from home, 12th and Greene, on a Sunday evening and bring a bag of coneys home for supper. Also, I remember Dean Canakes coming down 12th street to our neighborhood to play with us and the Pepper family who lived on the corner. I remember sitting with Dean in our sandbox. We called him Deano."
     Roma has a sister, Caryl Achenbach Poshusta, BHS-56. Her husband is another Kornerman classmate, Ron Poshusta, BHS-53, and the couple lives in Spokane, WA.
     Roma's reply contains some other interesting info that we will post in the near future.
K-----K
     The Kornerman likes to keep in touch with Gordon Severson, who was a longtime teacher/coach at Luther and United Community and who still calls Luther home. AND, we communicate the old-fashioned way.........we write to each other.
     At 90 plus years, Gordon is such an insightful guy with good thoughts galore. He wrote, "I've always enjoyed doing lots of reading. My children and grandchildren have heard me say many times, "reading.....that's the cheapest form of entertainment."
     Gordon added, "studies have shown that the genes that go into a good athlete come from mom, not dad. There also are some different types of nationalities that stand out in sports. Size, quickness, intelligence and other such traits that help individuals excel. But whether you are great, good, or not so good, giving sports a try......most of all, you do it for the enjoyment and fun of participating. Play by the rules, know your opponent, speak to them and congratulate them, regardless of the final result, when the game is over."
     Great advice as always from Gordon. It's easy to understand how Gordon was such a success leading all those students and athletes through the years. They were fortunate to have received his guidance.
K-----K
     Boone Area Deaths: JoAnn Minnig, 71, Omaha. BHS-63. Daughter of LeRoy and Mary Foster. Graduate of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College. Homemaker and bookkeeper. Boone area survivors include sisters Arlene Browning and Rose Wilhite of Boone...........Rosemary Cavanaugh, 80, Ankeny. Born in Madrid and attended Madrid schools. Was a teacher at Grand Junction, Woodward and Ankeny...........Ardys Walker, 91, Boone. Formerly of Estherville and Fort Dodge. Boone area survivors include a daughter, Gloria Stearns, and a son, Dean Walker, both of Boone.
K-----K
     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.