Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Pufferbilly Week Rewind

     Pufferbilly 2017 has come and gone and another edition of the Super National races has also disappeared after being a huge part of the Boone community for a good week.
     The Pufferbilly parade was the usual 90-minute affair minus any horses this year. The Boone High School band, with its nifty uniforms, was impressive and the extra huge Ames High School band was also outstanding. Although both the Republican and Democratic parties were well represented, it was noted that there were few "live" state/national politicians this year with one exception.
     That one exception has received special local attention.  Steven Ray, BHS-88, is doing something he has always wanted to do. He's running for Governor of the state of Iowa on the Republican ticket. He's facing long odds and he knows that but does anybody remember Democrat Jimmy Carter or Republican Donald Trump?? They weren't given much of a chance either.
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     Those Super Nationals? What a story. As a reporter, I, the Kornerman never feels I give them adequate coverage. Maybe because its an impossible task. Unless you have closely experienced that event, you just can't imagine it. I don't think I can adequately describe its impact.
     For the entire week, starting on Labor Day, an entire separate city, Boone South, emerges all around the Boone Speedway area as well as other surrounding areas. On the grounds themselves, camper after camper after other similar forms of living accomodations develop side by side......a number I wouldn't attempt to cite.
     The races, themselves, bring in 850-900 race cars from all over the nation. The Des Moines Register gives the event no coverage at all but I was able to obtain a list of top 20 finishers in the main event, the modified class, from the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
     Among the top 20 finishers in that one of numerous races, were cars/drivers from Chandler and Buckeye, AZ; Torrance, Winton and Olivehurst, CA; Delta, CO; Minot and Ray, ND; Great Bend, KS; Beatrice, NE and Mooresville, NC. Despite the national competition, it was a Richie Gustin of little old Gilman, IA. (pop - 509) that won that feature race last Saturday night.
     This is an amazing event that has to be seen to be fully realized.
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     An item or two or three: (1) Rosemary Runyan Mitchum, BHS-64, wondered if I could produce a recipe for the famous mexiburgers we all enjoyed in our younger days. Yes, I was able to find it, send it on and Rosemary said she was going to "give it a try." (2) Regarding the mention of the book, "Caught in the Middle," written by my classmate, Richard Longworth, BHS-53, in the last edition, John Kueck, BHS-61, wrote to remind me that Dick's dad, Dr. Wallace H. Longworth, was also an author. He wrote a book, "History of Medicine in Boone County," many years ago. (3) Nick Collison, a member of the National Basketball Association Oklahoma City Thunder, has had and does have many relatives in the Boone area. In fact, his parents, Dave and Judy Collison, BHS-72, were raised in the Boone community. Nick recently signed a one year, $2.3 million extension to his contract. So, he will return to the Thunder for his 10th season with them and 14th NBA season overall. He's 36 years old and there was speculation that last year might have been his last as a player. He'll soldier on at least one more year. 
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Paul Siegfried, 85, Boone. Formerly of Niota, IL. Service vet. Farmed. Moved to Boone in 2014. Boone area survivors include his wife, Bonnie, and daughter, Alison Purtle, both of Boone.........Marjorie Buechler, 90, Boone. Boone area survivors include her daughter, Deb Nelson, of rural Boone..........Eldon Blanshan, 86, Escondido, CA. Formerly a long time Boone resident. Eldon passed in March of 2017 but memorial services will be held in Boone. He was a vet, a rural mail carrier for 30 years here and worked for Boone County Transportaton for 17 years. His daughter, Dr. Bridget Blanshan, of California survives..........Saundra Grabau, 51, Gilbert. Attended Boone campus of DMACC..........Virgil Calkins, 69, Huxley. Worked at the Woodward State Hospital.
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     21 more days
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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.
    
    

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