CLEARING THE DESK

     Lets do some ketchup!

 

     (1)  Carolyn Ades Durham, BHS-58, called with some thoughts about those good old West Boone days. Our conversation covered many of the business names always discussed when there's West Boone talk. But there was at least one business I was completely unaware of......Mac's Drug Store. I've known all about Forest Thompson's drug store, Nancy's Cafe, Munson's grocery, Lamb's furniture, Miller Oil and Verne Whitmer's grocery and, of course, Bob Culver's famous Cookie Jar tenderloins. Maybe it was turkey day that prompted Carolyn's memories or, of course, the long COVID shutdown might have played a part.

     (2) The recent death of Marv Nicholson, BHS-64, resulted in a call from Vern Schmickley, BHS-64, who was seeking additional information. Vern lives in Raleigh, NC. In a similar situation, Dick Musser, BHS-64, sent me a California newspaper clipping of Don "Red" Houser's, BHS-49, obituary. A California friend had sent it to Dick. We had already noted that passing in the Korner but the obit provided a few more details. I've previously mentioned in the Korner that both of those guys, Marv and "Red," provided the Kornerman with some memories. Marv was on one of my first Babe Ruth baseball teams and later, was a good basketball baseball player at BHS, an important member of the State Basketball tournament team of 1963. And, I clearly remember feeling great pride as I watched "Red," a former Toreador, catch an opening kickoff and run it back for a touchdown for the Cyclones in an Iowa State University football game at old Clyde Williams field. As a younger person, the Kornerman was  thrilled that a former Toreador performed so well for ISU.

     (3) The last couple editions we've mentioned Richard Longworth, BHS-53, a lot as we visited the subject of journalism.....past and present. Many of Richard's accomplishments in that field were mentioned but Sara Jane Shaler Harwood, BHS-55, has added to the list. Sally emailed, "Richard had an even earlier start on his career path than those things mentioned in your column. He was editor of the acclaimed "Sixth Grade Siren" at Page School. I, a lowly fourth grader at the time, was much impressed by his journalistic abilities even then."

     (4) Richard also replied to the recent columns. He wrote, "many thanks for reprinting my thoughts on our business path. You're right, those BNR days were wonderful times. I never did get over my amazement that we got paid for having so much fun. And now we seem to be living together through the end of an era. But, oh my, it was great while it lasted."

     (5) Vern Modeland, BHS-50, of course added his two cents worth. He emailed, "sad that journalism has gone the way of dinosaurs and other things that don't fit the scheme of this "modern world" of divisiveness, anger and revisionism. Welcome to the New World Order."

     (6) The passing of Mrs B, Lorraine Belluci, brought some memories. She and her husband, Jim, started Belluci's Pizza House in 1965 and yours truly was there on that opening day/night. As a matter of fact, I was working radio at that time and we did a live broadcast from their opening. Seems to me there was some type of pizza eating contest involved as well as all the other traditional opening things.....the cake and flowers and good wishes etc. Whatever, I'm sure the Kornerman had his share of offerings on that opening day.

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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Bethel Hurley, 96, Boone. Formerly of Grand Island, NE. Survivors include her daughter, Carlotte Paulsen, of Ogden, a son and five grandchildren, including Kendal Paulsen of Ogden. A sister also survives......... Alan Lee Johnson, 53, Boone.BHS-85.........Rick Anderson, 59, Ogden. Formerly of Stratford. Born in Fort Dodge. Stratford HS-81. Survivors include special friends Rev. David and Gretchen Fernlund, Steve and Lana Watne..........Kevin Kordick,56, Boone. Corning HS-83. Earned a degree from Northwest Missouri State. Married Julie Maher in 1992. Was a Soil and Water Conservationist and worked in several Iowa communities before landing in Boone.Survivors include his wife, Julie, two sons, Matthew and Andrew, his mother, a sister, brother and sister and brothers-in-law.........Lorraine "Mrs  B" Belluci, 98, Boone. A Minnesota native. Married James Belluci in 1946. The couple lived in Duluth and Guthrie Center before moving to Boone in 1960. In 1965, they established the famous Belluci Pizza House. They retired in 1987. Survivors include daughters, Kristine Fisher, BHS-65, and Lynn Belluci-Adams, BHS-66, both of Boone........Gary Wiggins, 77, Ames. Formerly of St. Croix Falls,WI. Navy vet. Earned a degree from the University of Minnesota. Married Diane Lotvedt in 1969. Worked for Bankers Life in Des Moines,1969-72. Moved to Ames in 1972 and went to work for ISU as Benefits Coordinator. Retired in 2000. Survivors include his wife, Diane, a son, Matt Wiggins, of Boone and a daughter, Janine Tellinghuisen of Ames........Raechel Hollingshead, 98, Ogden. Born in Boone County. OHS-40. Married Donald Hollingshead in 1943 and he passed away in 1998. At the end of WWII, the couple moved to a farm north of Boone. In 1952, they moved to a farm north of Ogden. Survivors include a son, Tom, of Ogden, a daughter-in-law, Lucinda Hollingshead,  of Ogden and three grandsons, Ben, Alex and Chet Hollingshead all of Ogden.

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