The Korner's last edition story about newspapers drew some reaction.
Wouldn't you know that the first reactor would be classmate Richard Longworth, BHS-53, who at an early age, joined me in securing lots of ink on our fingers......the Kornerman at the "old and genuine" Boone News Republican and Richard at the BNR, but later as a highly respected and longtime employee of the Chicago Tribune. In plain talk, our experiences, his and mine, were miles and miles apart but during our time we both came to appreciate and still savor those years we devoted to such a worthy venture.
Richard wrote, "that's fascinating stuff on the CR Gazette and other papers. I've spent some time at the Gazette and I knew some staffers there. Apart from the loss of printers' jobs, moving the printing to Des Moines means that the papers will now have to be trucked to CR from Des Moines, an hour-plus trip, which, in turn, means that the paper's deadline will be at least an hour earlier, which, in turn, means that an hour's worth of local news, including the evening sports scores, won't make it into the paper. Just another money-saving move that nibbles a bit more away of the quality of the finished product."
He questioned, "out of curiosity, do you know what the BNR's circulation was back in our day, the 40's and 50's, when we first got involved there? Back then, the paper blanketed the town. Almost every family took it."
I indicated the figure 6,500 comes easily to mind and Dick replied, "that figures sounds about right.....the number of households in a town of 12,000. That means the BNR hit every front porch in town."
Dick was also curious about the Des Moines Register and whether it was even available in the Boone area anymore. I also provided some answers for that.
Finally, Dick wrote, "yes, I'm in mourning for the Tribune, where I spent the best 30 years of my professional life. After 20 years dismal management, its been bought by a NY hedge fund with a well-deserved reputation for slashing and burning any paper it buys. There's no pretense of covering the news...just making money for the hedge fund. One-quarter of the newsroom has taken a buyout, including all the best columnists, and the paper's been ordered to cut everything, including the size of the paper and the news hole, by 20 per cent. You're right, its heartbreaking."
Mike Loehrer, BHS-64, wrote, "that's really sad about the Gazette because its one of my favorite papers. Sadly, what they are doing is the wave of the future. Columbus, Ohio is the 14th largest city in the country and the Columbus dispatch used to be a great paper but not so anymore. They have done, for a couple years, what the Gazette is doing now. All printing of the paper is done in Indianapolis, three hours away. If the Buckeyes play a Saturday game and its over at 3 p.m., the Dispatch won't have the results until Monday. High school sports info is nil. Friday night games aren't published until Sunday. With modern day instant info on the web, I know international stories almost instantly. If some leader is assassinated the paper won't have the info for 48 hours. Strange world we live in, isn't it?"
K-----K
The Kornerman normally doesn't get involved with coverage of funeral services, celebration of life etc.
However, I'm making an exception. Jim Hallihan was well known in our area as an assistant basketball coach at Iowa State for many years and as the Executive Director of the Iowa Games.
Jim passed away November 20, 2020, and a celebration of life has now been scheduled. It will be held Sunday, August 8, starting at 1 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.
K-----K
O.K. Wouldn't you know, on the same day I hear of Hallihan's Celebration of Life, Ken Aldag, BHS-54, informs me that one of my old radio compadre's Ev Hickman's Celebration of Life is now set also.
It will take place, Saturday, September 4, at the First Presbyterian Church in Boone at 11 a.m..
K-----K
BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Dave Stuckey, 83, Mesquite, NV. Was a twin born in Fort Dodge. Family moved to Boone. BSH-56. Army vet. Worked 30 years for the railroad. Married Portia Gabrielson Stuckey in Boone. They lived at various times in Riverside, CA and Ogden, UT but moved to Mesquite, NV in 2009. Survivors include his wife, Portia, two sons and grandchildren........Heather Pollard Bowers, 53, Southlake, TX. BHS-86. University of Iowa-91. Survivors include her husband, Mike Bowers of Southlake, a sister, Holly, her mother, Colleen Pollard and brother Hans Pollard both of Boone..........Leo Charles Johnson, 92, Ogden. Army vet. Married Rose Marie Sweeney in Ames in 1956. The couple made their home in Ogden. Leo worked over 40 years for Northern Natural Gas. Survivors include a daughter and grandchildren.........Mildred (Millie) Buckley Quarnstrom, 101, Boone. Born in Ogden. OHS-37. AIB of Des Moines. Married Harry Quarnstrom in Ogden in 1941. Worked at the Boone News Republican and then at the Clerk of Court's office of the Boone County Courthouse until retirement. Survivors include a daughter, Kathi Robbins, and a son, Mark, both of Boone, and a son, Kevin, plus grandchildren.
K-----K
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/death notices.........kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
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