TIME MARCHES ON

     Change at Fareway stores? Truly, not much has changed, other than personnel, since May 12, 1938, when Paul S. Beckwith and Fred E. Vitt opened their first Fareway grocery. Wayne Cramer, the husband of Beckwith's daughter, Pauline, was also part of the original administrative team.
     Yes, its been an 80-year success story and that birthday will be celebrated this coming May 12, 2018.
     BUT, in addition to celebrating its success and longevity, the big news is that the company is looking forward to the next 80 years through some NEW and DIFFERENT lenses.
     Current Fareway CEO Reynolds Cramer verified with this comment, "we know who we are at Fareway. We are evolving our brand to better tell our story and to meet the needs of our customers going forward."
     A new, fresh design will soon replace the storied shield that has been prominently displayed for all those years on all of the Fareway trucks, buildings etc..
     Cramer commented, "this new design focuses on what we do best - meat and groceries. While this new design focuses on Fareway's strengths, it also symbolizes a fresh perspective. As part of this effort, we're committed to refreshing your Fareway experience. Customers have already seen architectural and in-store fixture changes."
     In addition to a fresh logo and building updates, other changes were promised soon. A new shield of quality icon will mark a product that is high in quality and value, such as fresh items from the meat markets.
     And get this, the very familiar employee black slacks with white shirts and black tie are on the chopping block. Over the next year, customers are promised to see Fareway employees in new uniforms, which will be "professional, yet functional."
     Customers can only wonder if/when Sunday sales at Fareway will ever be offered. Locally, as well as at most other sites statewide, HyVee and even Walmart, "are currently commandeering that market."
K-----K
     Bomgaars is the business that has purchased the old Walmart property which has recently been occupied by Farner Bocken.
     Bomgaars is described as a broad-line farm, home and ranch retailer.
     They have 84 stores in seven states. One of their stores is in Carroll, the community that is the home base for Farner Bocken. If you want to take an early look-see, you might take the hour drive to Carroll.
K-----K
     Pufferbilly days, 2018, is making some news. The 42nd annual event will become a three-day, rather than four-day event, September 7-9.
     The carnival will be expanded, the food court will be moved inside the entertainment area and all of the Sunday events will be relocated from the park to the main festival area downtown.
     Quite a re-shuffling.
K-----K
     There's old and then there's even older and it ain't no fun when it gets personal.
     When the Kornerman retired from the Iowa High School Athletic Association in 2000, Bud Legg was HIRED to assume some of my former duties. NOW, guess who is retiring? Yup! Bud Legg has announced he will yield the reins at the end of June after 18 years at the IHSAA.
     When the guy who replaced you when you retired and now he's retiring........that, my friends, makes you older than old.
K-----K
     A local reminder: The Boone County Courthouse is 100 years old and this Friday, the Mason's of Grand Lodge of Iowa, will rededicate the cornerstone laid at the courthouse on May 1, 1918. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. outside of the north side of the courthouse. An open house and reception, including tours of the courthouse, will be held after the ceremony.
K-----K
     Our Boone campus, Des Moines Area Community College, women's softball team certainly deserves a "shout-out" in the Korner.
     All the Bears have done is complete a perfect regular season with a 40-0 record. They are rated number one nationally and will soon be involved in the tournaments that officially decide the national championship.
     The old Kornerman can't help but have a strange thought regarding an occurrence like this. I don't know that I've ever visited with any coach about it BUT does their come a time when you would really prefer a loss or maybe even two or three prior to competing for an exceptional conclusion to your season?
     The thought, of course, is that a first loss or two might alleviate some of the huge pressure that must have been building throughout this perfect campaign and high national ranking.
K-----K
     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Mark Stone, 61, Boone.........Gary Carlson, 73, Jewell.....Todd Craven, 47, Boone........Bobby Clayton, 80, Boone. Boone area survivors include his wife, Barbara, daughter, Cyndi Roberts, and son, Jason Clayton, all of Boone. Two other sons also survive......Lorna West, 81, Des Moines, formerly of the Ogden area..........David Huinker, 83, Ames/ISU. Boone area survivor is a daughter, Doreen Blackmer, of Madrid.......Timothy Anderson, 48, Boone, son of Maribel Anderson and George Smith. BHS-89. Army vet. Worked at Thermal Mass, formerly Composite Technologies. Boone area survivors include his sons, Zane and Zeth, his sister, Monica Miller, and brothers, Mike and David Anderson, all of Boone.
K-----K
     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.