Smooth as Silk

     There was a time a few years back, (quite a few by now I guess), when WHO radio/TV featured newscasts by Boone native Ev Hickman. Day or night, there he was, a voice smooth as silk and very authoritatively, relaying the news of the day to HO listeners. I believe there's a prestigious all-Iowa award, named for Boone native and fellow WHO broadcaster Jack Shelley, presented to outstanding Iowa news broadcasters annually and yes, Ev Hickman is on that list of recipients.
     Anyway, it was great to hear from one of Ev's Boone buddies this week. Ken Aldag, BHS-54, wrote, "was reading your memories of KWBG and you questioned if Ev ever worked at BG. Yes, he did, DJ/announcing I believe his and my junior and senior years of high school, 1953-54. After BHS graduation, he went to Drake but continued to come back for weekend duties at BG. If memory serves me right, WHO hired him for announcer duties in 1956 and he continued there, primarily as a news reporter/broadcaster, for both WHO and WHO-TV into about the late 1990's. He and I were college dorm roommates at Drake for three years and he was the best man at LaVonne's and my wedding, 58 years ago. Ev now lives in Charlotte, NC, where his daughter also lives. I last saw him at our 60th BHS class reunion in 2014, but we occasionally talk via telephone. Enjoy your work Mo, keep it up. You're about my only connection to my home town now."
     The Kornerman says, "hey, I bet good Korner friend, Vern Modeland, who I'm sure worked at HO along with Ev, will have some "tales to tell.""
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     I've read this before but thoroughly enjoyed reading it again courtesy of Barry Wills, BHS-58. It is a story written by Michael Gartner about his dad and its wonderful. I wish I could send the entire thing to all of you viewers but its pretty lengthy.
     Gartner, of course, is the one-time publisher of the Des Moines Register, a one-time co-owner of the Ames Tribune, a one-time President of CBS news and a 1997 winner of a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
     Maybe on occasion the Kornerman can include some snippets of the story.
     Since this is baseball playoff season let's go with this. Gartner wrote about his dad waiting in the car while his wife was in the beauty parlor. "if it was in the summer, he would have her (his wife, cause he never drove) leave the car running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. In the evening I'd stop by and he'd explain, "the Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base so the multimillionaire on third base was able to score.""
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     One of Boone's most popular restaurants, Legal Limits, has closed. Word is the owner/operator simply "ran out of steam." I hear she's hoping someone will step forward to get it reopened. Then too, Facebook, reportedly, indicated the Tic Toc has been closed for at least a few days, supposedly due to the departure of their chef.
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      The "Travel Iowa" website, on its page devoted to Boone's Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace, says, "CLOSING: site needs repairs and administrators have decided to close Mamie's for up to two years. The primary function of the facility could change."
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS:  Norman Knight, 83, Des Moines. Boone area survivor is a daughter, Kelli Belden, of rural Madrid..........Cedric Guy Hall, 87, Ames. Formerly of Boone. BHS-48. Drove trucks for Fareway for over 43 years. Retired in 1993 but then served as an RV Tech for Twin Anchors RV Center near Colo. Boone area  survivors include his wife, Helen Springer Hall, of Ames, formerly of Boone, and daughter, Becky Caskey, of Ames, formerly of Boone. Three sons survive as well as his sister, Doris Eastlund of Boone.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson Street, Boone, Iowa, 50036-4932. Phone number is still 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT.........kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.