Its safe to say, that, for a good portion of our working lives, Boone High School 1953 classmates, Richard Longworth and I, the Kornerman, have dedicated our heart and soul to the newspaper industry.
I'm giggling to myself as I add, "but certainly at very different levels."
In a little old town in central Iowa, I've tried to make a positive difference reporting local sports results, adding an occasional feature story on a Boone area resident and chasing down police and fire calls. So, what has my friend Richard done? Nothing, OTHER THAN 20 years of foreign reporting service for the Chicago Tribune and United Press International, which included travel to 80 countries over five continents. THAT'S ALL.
Not forgotten are numerous honors for his excellent work AND, IN FACT, being a Pultizer Prize finalist on two different occasions.
Quite a contrast in experiences there, Richard and I.
Yet.....when I think of Richard way back, I can't help but think of him excitedly running across the floor after a winning Toreador basketball game and then......probably........running down to the Boone News Republican office to quickly record his thoughts on the big victory. Yup! He had the "bug" early and even as a high schooler, the BNR was happy to accept his reporting acumen.
But you know something? I've never asked him but I will assume that those days, those early days when we first connected with what became a lifelong love, were among the happiest of our lives.
As you viewers know, the last couple editions I've been expressing my disappointment in our current local written news coverage or lack thereof. And we know, Richard and I, that its not a lone problem. Most newspapers all over the country, big and small, are suffering and no solid solutions seem in sight.
Richard has replied to our recent editions with some interesting observations about the current state of that lifelong love.
I have complained about what I have felt was a lack of coverage for a BHS girls swim team that has completed one of the best seasons in that events history.
Richard analyzed, "a town can't be proud of something its kids do, if it doesn't know they're doing it. This is the way a good newspaper ties a town together, gives it community spirit. But, apart from nobody reporting on the BHS teams, nobody's thoroughly reporting on the other parts of local life.....city council, police, school board......that Boone residents pay for. They have a right, a need to know, how their money is being spent but, if the newspaper doesn't report on it, nobody does. Maybe these local worthies are doing a good job or maybe they aren't, but who knows if no nosy reporter keeps an eye on them."
He added, "all across the country good people are trying to come up with a solution. In some places, local citizens are starting on-line newspapers focusing on events and other information that knits a community together. In some places, this is being done through libraries which, after all, are also a source of knowledge. Some philanthropies, recognizing the vital role that newspapers play in a democracy, are funding local efforts. I'm sure the journalism schools at Iowa State and SUI are concerned about this: after all, it's what their grads will do, if they're lucky. I wonder if the journalism students at ISU might take on Boone's situation as a project. Any solution takes money, of course, but not as much as it used to; digital is a whole lot cheaper than the linotypes, printing presses and delivery costs of the News Republican of our youth. I wonder if there are some philanthropic dollars around Boone, controlled by people who make their money in the town. If they care about Boone and its future, they must know that, without the spark and glue provided by a good newspaper, the future could be grim."
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BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Regan Marie Overton-Walker, 49, Fort Dodge. Formerly of Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-91. Enjoyed work at the Boone Theatre. Survivors include her mother, Georgette Overton, a sister, Andrea Van Balaan, brother Beau Overton and her daughter, Sierra........Joe Dodson, 61, Boone. Formerly of Dayton.........Gale "Dutch" Eshelman, 90, Ogden. Army vet. Married Sharon Lee Kipp in 1950. Was a coach and administrator at Minden, Lenox, Exira and Griswold schools, retiring in 1981. Moved to Ogden and was a resident of the Stratford Care Center when he passed. Survivors include a daughter, Lynn Smith, of Ogden, a son, a brother, Roger Eshelman, of Ogden, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law........Myron Lieske, 84, Long Lake. Born and raised in Ogden. Married Marion Mann in 1961. Worked in Houston, Seattle and Minneapolis.........LuVerne "Lou" Ensley, 95, Ogden. Born in Boone. Coast Guard vet. Farmed north of Ogden. Married Mildred Roisen in 1948 and she passed away in 1987. The couple left the farm and moved into Ogden in 1982. Married Elizabeth Meyer in 1995 and she passed away in 2006. Survivors include three sons and a daughter......Robert Mathiason, 96, Story City. Navy vet. Married Audrey Ahrens in 1944. Farmed and worked construction. Survivors include his wife, Audrey, and a daughter, Krisha Stoll of Boone.........Stan Redeker, 94, Boone.........Don Shirley, 85, Boone. Algona HS-52. Married Karen Grauer in 1957. Worked for the Iowa DOT for 46 years. Survivors include his wife, Karen, daughter, Renee and son, Kevin, all of Boone. A brother-in-law also survives.........Marilyn Eckhart Miller, 77, Boone. Worked at Miller Drug, the ISU bookstore, Spurgeons and Westhaven. Married Gerald Miller in 1974 and they divorced but remained lifetime friends. Survivors include a daughter, Susan Wheeler, of Boone and two sons.
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Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
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