OUR CHANGING WORLD

     Oh oh......I, the Kornerman, has been thinking and that, oftentimes, develops danger.
     Remember all those things in our past that seemed like 'sacred cows," never to be replaced but then, were replaced or even forgotten?
     Just thinkin'.
     I remember years ago when television anchorman Russ Van Dyck did his "own" weather segment, in addition to the news. Remember? Then, Connie McBurney, Mike Lozano and others became weather celebrities,"part of our family," as they explained all the various weather twists and turns as part of the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.  Then, came a time, I guess it was due to satellite-induced technology, that exploded with......doppler/accuweather..... and that added greatly to standard weather information. 
     These days, it seems most television stations employ up to three, four, five weather forecasters who parade the viewers with great detail as part of  regular newscasts, in addition to smaller portions on what seems like an hourly basis, both on TV and radio.
     The question I pose is, "would there ever come a time when television weather forecasters were  either greatly curtailed or even eliminated?" Don't laugh. Think about it.
     Perhaps these fine people have extra duties in addition to their weather casting? I don't know. I do know we're talking about lots of jobs and, thus, lots of salaries. I can just imagine television executives scanning their spread sheets and salivating at the prospect of cutting out some weather expenses to improve their "bottom line."
     Perhaps these weather people have done their job way too well. Maybe they've been their own worst enemy. With today's advanced technology, they've taught their most average viewers so well with that satellite information, including up-to-date maps etc., just what to look for in various weather situations.
     Those colorful maps seem to be very self-describing. By now, any of us, who watch regularly, seem able to determine when and where the skies are clear or cloudy and can pretty well pinpoint areas that show rain or snow, their density and what direction they're headed. And, are voices needed as yesterday and today's highs and lows and precipitation amounts are shown? Just asking?
     Heavens, even those hand-held devices, everyone seems to have these days, can tell their viewer at what exact minute their area can expect rainfall to start.
     Is it my imagination or ? But, it seems lately that "idle chatter" about "other things" have started creeping into the weathercasts. Ed and Kurtis and Megan and Jeriann now promote community activities and there are tributes to senior citizens, veterans etc. as part of their segment. Is this an  indication of more such non-weather activity to come in weather promoted minutes?
     I can think of one important caveat. A week or so ago, there were several tornadoes roaming around the Iowa countryside and it was very assuring when our weather folks came on, and in great detail, kept us abreast of potential dangers minute-by-minute. But even then, surely a person or two, regularly on-staff, and with a weather background, could be called forward on those very specific occasions.
     The Kornerman certainly has no animosity at all about weather casters and I'm certainly not advocating a sincere desire for immediately getting rid of them. I'm just wondering if all this new weather related technology could shut down weathercasting as we now know it?
     But, crazy talk? Who knows? Just think of all the things that were essential to our lives 10/20 years ago that now are "long gone." And, advanced technology has had a lot to do with much of this change. Ask me. At least a portion of the reason my real working days were shut down earlier than I anticipated was my absence of early technology training. When I first started my working career I thought it was just going to entail sports announcing. As time passed, I found out that it was important that I had enough "regular news" knowledge that I could announce that as well. Then, came a time when being able to write sports and news were important AND even being able to take a photo now and then may have kept me employed. In this changing world, I would certainly urge young people to maintain a wide variety of interests in their toolbox because.......you never know.
K-----K
     Regarding a recent edition that centered on local educational facilities, I found this reply from Dave Germer, BHS-69, very interesting. I surely don't remember the info he provided.
     Dave wrote, "I thought maybe no one knew about the first grade school closing which occurred in 1960 or 61. A small amount of us kids in the north part of town attended North Marion Street School, K through third, which was in what we called the "little room" and, fourth through sixth, which was in the "big room." There was a row or two of each grade."
     He added, "Ms Roberts was the "little room" teacher and Ms. Jackson was the "big room" teacher. I think it was a unique teaching approach, as you did your assignments you were also being exposed to a grade or two ahead. When I was going to fifth grade, we were split up and the school was closed. Some went to Lincoln and some to Franklin, which is where my sister and I finished up. That was quite a shock, going from 20 or so students to two classes for each grade."
K-----K
     Vern Modeland, BHS-50, had this reaction to the education mentions, "hundreds of thousands of dollars go into creating bigger and shiny sports facilities rather than putting that money and energy into reading, writing and arithmetic as a foundation for higher education and the skills and judgement to understand the Constitution and make sure that it works. Which is real progress?"
     The Kornerman understands that is probably a fair criticism in some cases. However, keep in mind that in many instances, gigantic fundraising efforts provide funding, minus any tax involvement.
K-----K
     Many thanks to Diane Lewis, BHS-65, for her belated birthday wish and her thanks for "keeping us Boone connected.". She sent a very nice card from Sun City, AZ on a day that registered 108 degrees on her thermometer. She said she and I actually share the same birthday date.......month and day anyway. The year? We're worlds apart there.
K-----K
     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Joanne Butler, 90, Boone. Grew up in Madrid. Madrid HS-48. Was trained for nursing at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines. Moved to Chicago and had a long career as a surgical nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Cubs season ticket holder and Bears and ISU fan. Survivors include two sisters, Barbara Butler and Susan Slight, both of Boone. Also surviving are nephews Michael and John Slight and families, niece Tamra Slight and her daughter, Mollie Fraizer, all of the Boone area........Debra Pearl Roberts, 63, Boone........Ralph Kanne, 83, Boone. A native of Carroll. Carroll HS-55. Army vet. Married Jan Wittry in 1958. Started work for Fareway in 1951. Served in Carroll, Clear Lake, Indianola and Boone for a total of 51 years, eventually, as a retail corporate supervisor. Survivors include his wife, Jan, of Boone, a son, two daughters, a brother and three sisters........Mary Cathryn Pearson, 90, Boone. Lohrville HS-47. Tobin Business College in Fort Dodge, 1948. Married Carold Pearson in 1950. Was a homemaker and bookkeeper. Worked for the Jefferson newspaper,1948-50, before the couple moved to Des Moines, 1950-67. In 1967, they purchased the Boone Freight Lines where Mary worked until her retirement in 1983. Survivors are three sons, including Kevin and Kelcy of Boone, and a daughter, Carol Ann Pearson of Ames.
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.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.