We Thank Our Partners

     The Kornerman was so pleased to receive a pair of great contacts this week which led to, what I think, are great stories.
     Remember now, I'm basically a news guy who loves to obtain a hint of a story and follow up so I can relate the full facts of that story to other people...........in  this case, to Korner viewers. It's very satisfying. Remember, however, in many cases, it does require you partners out there in Kornerland to provide those hints.
     It goes, almost without saying, that when this old geezer can report these stories exclusively, a real "high" occurs. With help from Tom Matt and others, who heard about it on a television report, we were able to follow up on the details and relate a great story last time about former Boone resident Pete Kostelnick's great running accomplishment. You haven't read that in the Ames/Boone BNR. And, we've got a couple more items for today that will, no doubt, never earn local recognition.........except in the Korner.
     (1) The Kornerman received a phone call from Ann Henry Coe, BHS-46. Ann lives in the Urbana, IL area and has had a lifelong love of the theatre. She was very interested in knowing if there was any kind of Boone theatre group in operation. In fact, Ann said if  there were any upcoming productions, she intended to come to her old hometown to attend. The Kornerman promised I would check that out and provide the information I could find in the Korner. So here goes Ann.
     Susan Howard Herrick, BHS-67, is heavily involved in Boone's Community Theatre group and said, "sure, we have some things lined up." Here's the intended schedule: An Agatha Christie mystery, "Cards on the Table" will be presented September 18-19 and 25-26. In December, "Benefit in the Park" is scheduled for 4, 5 and 6 as well as 11 and 12. Next February, "A Diary of Adam and Eve" will play, with dinner shows 12 and 13 and other showings 14, 19 and 20. Next April "Godspell" will be the feature with dinner shows 29 and 30 and other showings May 1, 6 and 7.
     Ann expressed her appreciation for the Korner and, in an unanticipated tidbit, the Kornerman learned that "way back" Ann and I have some family ties. Yes, she has  connection with Coe's Flower Shop in Ames and I knew I did  too. As a child, I remember, in the company of my grandmother, going to Ames for a visit with her relative Hannah Coe. I remember  a Steve Coe and a Dave Coe. One of the Coe boys was quite successful as a race car driver.
     (2) The Kornerman hadn't heard from the Des Moines Register's former Iowa Boy, Chuck Offenburger, for a period of time but he did email the Korner this week. He wrote, "I'm so glad I've found my way to "Kelley's Korner." I didn't know you were online until I started browsing to see if I could find your email address. I wanted to alert you that I'm still telling Jack Mustapha stories. Hope all is well with you. After our cancer battles in  2009 and 2010, Carla and I have both recovered well and are feeling very blessed and lucky. We continue to live just outside Cooper (Greene County), and ride our bikes all the time on the Raccoon River Valley Trail, just up the rise from our place. I'll check in on you sometime when I'm coming to Boone. I'd love to have a good visit."
     Regarding the Mustapha story, Chuck has always been obsessed with the baseball pitching talent of Boone's Jack Mustapha, who was one of the prime leaders of the group of Toreadors who captured the state high school baseball championship in 1965. It just so happens that Chuck Offenburger was a member of a Shenandoah High School team that lost to Mustapha and the Toreadors, 6-0, that year in a game that decided who would be a state championship game contender.
     Chuck has written a wonderful story about Mustapha, how he (Chuck) became a three-time strikeout victim of the hard-throwing Toreador and of the highs and lows of Jack's life, including several tours of military duties and subsequent serious injuries suffered during that service. It's very interesting reading and can be found at http://offenburger.com/index.php/we-got-beat-by-the-best-50-years-ago-in-high-school-baseball. Or, you can just go to www.Offenburger.com and track the story down that way.
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     Great to hear from Larry Ford (Hi Larry), BHS-59, this week. He wrote, "great story last time on Grid. I really enjoy your newsletter. Thank you so much." Larry is a financial advisor in the Minneapolis area.
     Should also note that I saw Stan Redeker, BHS-44, the other day and Stan related how much he enjoys "taking a look at the Korner."
     Still, there are so many folks out there unaware of what we have to offer on a twice weekly basis. Heard reports this past week of a gathering where the Korner was mentioned but several in attendance were completely unaware of it's existence until an address was provided.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Marjorie Nutt, 94, Ogden. Formerly of Boone. Farmed with her husband, Paul, in the Luther area until Paul's death in 1991. Marjorie moved to Boone in 1993. Boone survivors include her son, Tom, and daughter, Carolyn Bass............Gladys John, 95, Boone. Graduated from county school in Marcy Township. Farmed with her husband, Vern, in Greene County near Jamaica. Boone survivor is her son, Junior John.........Mildred Paulson,95, Ogden. Worked as an Ames telephone operator for over 20 years........Ruth Swope, 62, Boone........Daniel Dyvig, 73, Arizona. Formerly of Boone..........Bob Constable, 58, Fort Dodge. Worked at C and M Sand and Gravel in Stratford for a time. Boone area survivor is a sister, Pamela Constable of Pilot Mound.
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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.