Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Erase It, Move On

     The Kornerman has been preaching about too much me, me, me and wouldn't you know, for at least one more edition, I can't escape personal involvement. Sorry.
     The Kornerman's dad, Clinton Kelley, was the owner-operator of the Superette Grocery at 521 17th street from 1950-1967. Closing the store at 8 p.m. one evening in 1960, he backed out of the back door holding a money sack and some bottles of pop. Somebody jumped out from behind and demanded the day's receipts. Dad had always said, if he was ever robbed, he would simply hand over the money. However, on this occasion, as he turned to hand over the money sack, the robber apparently panicked, thinking he was turning to take a swing at him. Shots were fired as the two wrestled to the ground........three of them hitting Clint Kelley. The robber ran away but was eventually captured and served time in prison.
     Dr. Greco performed surgery on Clint and said one of the bullets was a "miracle miss," landing just an inch or so from a prime organ. It could have resulted in murder rather than robbery.  Dad was 49 years old at the time and the good news is, he went on to a great 45 more years. He passed away at 94 years of age in 2004.
     You've now read the introduction but here is the real story of the day.
     Bill Olson, BHS-62, called the Kornerman from Blairsville, GA. Its located 75 miles from Atlanta and Bill says the population changes from 500 to several thousand, "depending on the snowbirds we get, at times, from both the northern and southern states."In its less populated times, it can remind me of Boone," he said.
     Bill had called to tell me of this oddity.......his wife, Jean, patronized a fitness center and became acquainted with a lady that was shocked to hear that her (Jean's) husband was a native of Boone, Iowa. This lady was also a former Boone resident. That resulted in lots of Boone talk and eventually it was learned that the lady the Olson's met was a sister of the man that robbed Clint Kelley's grocery store on that night in 1960.
     A few hours after Bill's call, I received an email from that lady who started with, "never in a million years did I think I would be communicating with you." She went on, "I am so sorry this happened and put your family through this. Myself and all my siblings and parents have been horrified by this all of our lives. We were afraid to say our name at school and were looked down on and ridiculed many a time. Its still hard for my older brother and sister to talk about. My sister and I bought many a penny candy and sodas and those wonderful drumsticks from your dad's store. We were so ashamed, it was a long time before we went back, hoping your dad didn't know who we were. I was nine years old at the time and I remember when the police came and got my brother, we had no idea."
     I, the Kornerman, replied with forgiveness........that the incident was a long time ago but we eventually got over it and "your family should also." I told her I much appreciated her courageous call and "tell your entire family all is forgiven. Erase it and move on."
     She followed up with, "it was such an awkward time but we adjusted better when we moved from Boone. My brother got paroled and did very well, found God in prison, married and had two children before passing away in 1982. I felt real bad when we would go to the store and see your dad's injured hand. You are right, I did have to think a lot about pressing the email send button but I thought if I was in your shoes, I would like to hear the other side of the incident."
     Bill Olson's late stepfather was well known guardsman Col. Errol Olson. Bill's looking forward to the BHS class of 1962's 55th anniversary reunion in August.
     My, my.......how this world of ours does take crazy turns on occasion.
K-----K
     EXTRA....EXTRA......With a 32-30 victory over Dallas Center-Grimes at DCG Tuesday night, the Boone High School girls basketball team earned their way into the upcoming Iowa State High School Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. DCG was rated ninth and Boone was rated 14th in  class 4-A in  the season ending poll. Boone and seven other teams will compete for the state title in that class.
     The Boone girls (19-5) will open their state tourney play on Wednesday, March 1, at 10 a.m. when they oppose Marion (22-1). Marion is the top-rated team in class 4-A.
     Its the first time a BHS girls team has entered state tourney play since the changeover from six to five-girl play. In 1958 and again in 1989, Toreador girls teams were members of the six-on-six state tourney teams.
     CONGRATULATIONS.......
     While we're at it, congrats also to our two Toreador wrestlers who competed in the state meet. Mason Hulse finished in seventh place in the state at class 3-A, 145 pounds, while Jacob Melton was eighth in that class at 225 pounds.
K-----K
     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Charles (Dutch) Nelson, 91, Waterloo. BHS-44.........Norman Milledge, Pleasantville, 80. Boone area survivor is his sister, Judy Moore of Boone.........Mary Kay Barkey, 64, Madrid. U.S. Army vet. Worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Des Moines. Boone area survivor is her father, Jack Toepfer, of Madrid..........Elise Sturtz Huffman, 60, Boone. BHS-75. An ISU grad. Worked 25 years at the ISU College of Vet Medicine. Boone area survivors include her husband, Dave, daughter, Ashley Purdum, son, Ryan, and mother, Bev Sturtz, of Boone. Surviving sisters include Cindy Christensen, Dee Eckley and Florilea Dennert.
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.
    

     
    

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