Its Always Our Pleasure

     Hey, this Korner elicits a variety of emotions for the Kornerman. The happiness of learning about the many successes of our viewers and their families and the joy of knowing something we provided was important to somebody.......anybody. But then, there's also the sadness of reporting the deaths or struggles of many friends and acquaintances. And yes, there are other "down" times......such as when the response to our effort is limited or completely dry. However, I must admit, up or down, its the Kornerman's pleasure to come forward twice each week with whatever material is available and deemed of interest. I always look forward to it.
     As I've often stated, "I shouldn't be allowed to have this much fun" and its you and you and you "out there" that make it possible. So, I truly do thank you for staying with us for almost eight years, as of next Tuesday.
     Now, back to work.
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     Seems like a share of our audience have become authors and we've told you, previously, about some of their work.
     This week, Verne Lyon, BHS-61, wrote us about his book published earlier this month by McFarland. Its also available from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
     According to reviews in Google, the book, "Eyes on Havana" is "a memoir of an American spy betrayed by the CIA." The story of an Iowa farm boy, away at college, and inducted into the CIA to spy on his professors and fellow students as part of Operation Chaos, a massive domestic surveillance program carried out at the height of the Viet Nam war. The review goes on, "framed by his handlers for an airport bombing, he was later dispatched to Cuba to subvert the Castro regime."
     In the book's introduction, Lyon writes, "this is about the transformation of a young, patriotic engineer with some great promise into the second class citizen I am today, a convicted felon (he served some time in Leavenworth penitentiary) who has survived fear, prosecution and the utter collapse of my dreams and yet survived and I hope, flourished."
     He wrote that his friends and family had warned him not to write the book for fear of reprisals but now, "as a free man, I thought it was time to tell my side of the story."
     The Kornerman has not read the book but I've scanned some of it on Google and noted that the book contains  quite a bit of talk and pictures highlighting Boonetown.
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     In the last edition, we talked about watching the Boone girls state tournament basketball game at home on our computer via a process called, "streaming."
      Tom Peterson, BHS-67, said he watched the same way in Cedar Falls and it was even available far outside Iowa to some of Pete's classmates. Kevin Quarnstrom watched in Florida and Sally Radnich saw the game in Colorado.
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     John Kueck, BHS-61, wrote, "your mention of the accomplishments of Boone runners triggered me to brag a bit. For the last three years, I have won the Coronado, CA Valentines 5K race in my age group. While, as you get older, the competition decreases I still beat those in  the age group below me and also 50% of the 700 plus runners of all ages. I consider this even a bigger accomplishment, considering the Californians can run all year and I am limited by Minnesota's winters. I still remember my very first race in sixth grade when each of the Boone grade schools fielded a 440 relay team to run in the Toreador Relays. Now, at 75, and with osteoarthritis in one knee, I may have run my last race, but I went out on top. I've enjoyed 63 years of running. I wonder how many miles that is? Keep up your excellent reporting."
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Andrew Lee Nelson, 49, Des Moines. Survivors include his parents, Sharyn and Gary Nelson. He was preceeded in death by his grandparents, former Boone residents, Fran and Ed Thompson. The family is requesting memorials to the ISU Boone County 4-H Fran Thompson Memorial via Boone County Extension Service.........Doris Henderson, 72, Adel. Her husband, Doug Henderson, United HS grad, preceeded her in death. A son and daughter also survive........LaVerne Baker, 88, Boone. BHS-48..........Doris Phipps, 88, Boone. BHS-47. Worked at Oshkosh Tanning for 27 years. Retired in 1997. Boone area survivors include nieces and nephews including David Phipps of Ogden and Leona Viau of Boone........DeWayne Frampton, 90, Boone. Born in Boone. Jordan HS-45. A vet and worked for the railroad for a time. Was a state patrol officer for 27 years prior to retirement in 1983. His wife, Marilyn Jo Freel, of Boone survives. Two sons also survive.........Claudia Jean Baker, 65, Boone........Jeff (Bubba) Wildt, 53, Jewell. Formerly of Boone. His parents were Harlan and Dorothy Wildt. He was a cook and worked at Land of Lakes Company. Married Charity Robinson in 1983 and they were later divorced. Two sons of Boone, Josh and Jacob, survive.......Rick Ralston, 65, Boone. BHS-71. Earned a degree at ISU and worked for Polk County as a clinical psychologist and substance abuse counselor. Boone area survivors include his brother, Randy, of Boone and two sisters, including Ruth Ann Ralston of Boone.........Al Halfpap, 83, Boone. Worked for the railroad until retirement in 1994. A vet, he loved antique cars. Married Katherine Thompson and she passed away in 1992. Then married Mary Johnston in 1995. She survives and a son and daughter also survive.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.