THOUGHTS ON UKRAINE

   With the Russian situation dominating a major portion of the news these days (except in Iowa where our ISU and UOI men's and women's basketball teams are performing so well), the Kornerman has turned to his 1953 BHS classmate, Richard Longworth, for his insights on the horrific scene being played out in the Ukraine area. 

   Richard's background and his world experiences are innumerable and solidified by achievement. For 20 years, he was a foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and United Press International. As chief European correspondent, he reported from 80 countries on five continents. He is a recipient of Northwestern University's Alumni Merit Award, was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard, a two-time winner of the Overseas Press Club award and in both 1980 and 2003, a finalist for the famed Pulitzer Prize. He's won every major national award for economic reporting.

   Richard lived in Moscow for four years in the mid 60's and returned there regularly in the 80's and 90's. He was there in 1991 when the Soviet Union was breaking up, was in Kiev to cover Ukraine's independence, covered the fall of the Berlin wall and the 1989 anti-communist revolutions in Eastern Europe, the revolutions that, among other things, put Putin out of his KGB job in East Germany. He said, "I never knew him, but saw the events that shaped or twisted his thinking to this day."

  Yes, both the Kornerman and Richard agree, "but that was a long time ago and he's (Richard's) somewhat "out of touch" with current events". However, "I do recognize some of the themes that echo today,"he said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As is necessary, this "deep" subject and Richard's analysis requires some lengthy and somewhat technical explanation. The Kornerman will make every effort to pinpoint the areas that are found to be particularly interesting and most pertinent to today's story while also attempting to relate the thoughts as close as possible to Richard's feelings on the subject.

   Richard said the Russians really do look at the Ukrainians as their little brothers and feels that Kiev is the seedbed of Russian civilization, going back 1,000 years. In other words, "there's an emotional and historical tug between the two that is deeper than any link we may have with, say, Mexico or Canada."

   He feels the Russians are obsessed with defense and protection from invasion, especially from the West. This is why they held on to the East European satellites, as a sort of buffer zone against the West. Belarus and Ukraine serve this purpose now. "having a Western-linked Ukraine on their southern border really does give them nightmares. But none of this justifies the terrors that Putin is visiting on Ukraine now."

   Richard explained, "I  think its necessary to understand the other side's thinking. You take all this history and defensiveness, and then plant that in the mind of an old KGB guy who saw his country fall apart, and is now isolated in the Kremlin, obviously getting more paranoic and demented by the day, and who is surrounded by a tiny band of toadies who tell him only what he wants to hear, and you've got a murderous situation."

   Dick is betting that Putin will keep trying to conquer Ukraine and make it a part of the new Russian empire but he'd be surprised if he went further, particularly against any NATO countries. He feels if Putin really wants to conquer Ukraine, "there isn't anything we can do about it, short of starting World War III. All this assumes that while Putin is nuts, he's not suicidal. If he were suicidal, our only hope then is that Putin's toadies don't feel like going up in a nuclear blast and will do what they should have done by now, which is put him in a straitjacket and haul him off to the gulag."

   In conclusion, Richard said, "this is all guesswork on my part, but it comes from breathing the Moscow air all those years ago. Russia is really different from us, in so many ways. All we can do now is try to understand it, so we can make them see the limits of what they're doing."

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   John Kueck, BHS-61, wrote to tell us one of his neighbors in a Minneapolis senior community in Bloomington, MN is Boone native, Stephen Jon Hamilton, BHS-66. John wrote, "when we moved in he sent me a letter introducing himself and, if I recall, he's the son of the Hamilton Hardware owner of year's past. I have not met him eye-to-eye yet."

   The Kornerman says, "yes, Stephen and his brothers, Bob, BHS-57, who passed away in 2001, and Dick, BHS-58, grew up in Boone while their parents owned and operated Hamilton Hardware. Stephen is quite the celebrity, a world renowned organist, who has performed worldwide and at some of the world's most prestigious venues. One review stated, "throughout his distinguished career, critical review has earned him acclaim as a thoroughly engaging and popular personality and has firmly established his reputation as a leading and most sought after virtuoso." The Kornerman adds, "certainly, Stephen Hamilton is another of numerous Boone national "treasures".........local natives who, through their many achievements, have brought tremendous pride to our community through the years ."

   John added, "actually, there is another gentleman from Boone, John Morton, BHS-65, and many ISU grads are here too." 

  The Kornerman says, "and there are even more. I know, personally, many other Boone natives who have, seemingly, made the Minneapolis area..."Boone North."

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   BOONE CONNECTED AND AREA DEATHS

    Bette Jean Wilson, 92, Johnston. Formerly of Boone. Lived in Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah and California. Married Charles (Chuck) Wilson in 1957 and the couple moved to Chuck's hometown of Boone. Worked at Osco Drug and was a well known seamstress. In 1971, the couple opened the Colonial House Restaurant which they operated for 20 years. Bette dedicated 50 years to Eastern Star activities. In 1995, they retired and moved to Bayard, NE. Chuck died in 1996 and in 2004, Bette moved back to Iowa at Waukee. Survivors include two daughters, Tammy Kenworthy of West Des Moines and Dee Erickson of Boone. A grandson and granddaughters also survive. Services in Urbandale with burial at Pleasant Hill cemetery near Boone.

   Stephanie Marie Salama, 34, Boone. Survivors include her husband, Mike, of Boone, her son, Milo, her parents, Joanna and Mark Sims, her brother, Vaughn and his wife, Chloe Sims, of Ogden, and their two daughters. Stephanie requested there be no ceremony.

   Raymond (Ray) Teasdale, 87, Ogden. Born in Madrid. Perry HS. U.S. Air Force Veteran, 1958-75. After retirement, worked as an assistant supervisor of the custodial department at the DOT. Married Sylvia Diane Currier in 1957, till 1978. In 1984, he married Jean Ann Ball. In 1985, he won the Iowa State pipe smoking championship at the Iowa State Fair. Survivors include his wife, Jean, of Ogden, five children, including Rita Brueland, of Boone and four step-children, including Marsha Lincoln of Woodward and Sandra Matthews of Ogden. Services in Ogden.

   Scott Jenison, 38, Ames. AHS-2001. Had a real talent for woodworking and that got started at Wooden Concepts near Boone as a high school student. He lived in Colorado and the Red Wing, MN area, was a truck driver and ultimate outdoorsman. Survivors include his mother, two sisters, a brother, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

   Donna Rae Satre, 82, Ames/Boone-Westhaven. Services in Ames.

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   KORNERMAN'S COMMENTS: Bette Wilson's passing triggers so many wonderful memories of the Colonial House restaurant she and husband, Chuck, operated for 20 years in the 70's and 80's, at the southwest corner of Ninth and Keeler. Prior to that, of course, they worked at the Bon Appetite on Story Street. Bette was such a talented and creative person. As a seamstress, she created many dresses, formals, wedding gowns and in one year, 96 dance recital costumes. At the Colonial House, her pies and pecan cinnamon rolls were a "must do" for the restaurant's customers. The Wilson's were also well known for their catered parties and events. She was another of those special Boone "treasures."

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   Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number if 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/death notices.....

kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.