Saturday, July 9, 2022

WARREN COUNTY NEWSPAPER IS SAVED

   Excuse me. I'm dreaming again.

   In an instant, I discovered you CAN inhale excitement and disappointment via the same breath.

   There it was, a Des Moines Register headline, "Warren County residents BUY weekly newspaper." I was truly excited........but then I remembered, "Oh no, I'm 87 years old." What a disappointment that I can't "bite the bullet" and make an effort to  renew the Boone News Republican as we once knew it......with some real Boone news prevalent.

   Showing a strong commitment to the print media industry, a pair of real newspaper veterans, boasting over 50 years of such dedication, have saved Warren Counties newspaper AND Amy Duncan is 56 and her husband, Mark Davitt, is 70 years of age. Wow! Good for them.

   The purchase was made from Gannett, of course, and the plan is to continue publishing a weekly print edition, while also offering its news online. The Indianola couple are the founders and current publishers of the Indianola Independent Advocate online news site.

   The couple are certainly not outsiders. They have deep roots in the county, they live there and they're writing about their friends and neighbors who also live there, as well as coverage of all the local services offered...........obligation number one.

   Why can't someone in Boone County echo those feelings?  Naysayers will comment, "its what it is because of a lack of support."  I can't completely disagree with that. In recent years, some businesses, counted on for needed revenue, were forced to cut back or even close down. But, let's face it, for years now, since the Schaub's, Bob and Jeannine, lived and worked here and were in control,  succeeding ownership has paid little attention to knuckle down, door-to-door, person-to-person BOONE NEWS. The community has suffered a serious news dearth, without question. But who knows if a determined LOCAL effort couldn't revive that lost interest?

   I still think of those days when residents knew, on a timely basis, exactly what government entities, local and county, were doing, how businesses were faring, what organizations were "up to," what county sports coverage was provided, with an emphasis on BHS, and  enjoyed personal stories about those "friends and neighbors," their work and their achievements. Boone residents were able to keep up with what was happening here, good and, perhaps, some bad, but, at least, REAL HOMETOWN Boone news was available for local consumption.

   Yes, I guess I am dreaming that some day, some way, there will be a return to a deserved form of, at least, weekly, local communication. If so, I'm sorry I'll miss it, but those of you still available will know what's happening in this place you've chosen to call,"home."

K-----K

   CALENDAR UPDATE

   That Boone 11-year old all star baseball team defeated Johnston, 10-7, Thursday, as they progress through round-robin tournament competition. Yesterday, Friday, was to be their latest game.

   The Boone Historical Society has a series underway,"Saturday with a Scholar," and today, Saturday, July 9, Fred Greiner, former Fareway executive, is the speaker. He'll tell about his 50 year journey with Fareway, from being a carry-out boy to, eventually, becoming CEO. He's now retired. The event is from 1 to 3 p.m. in the lower level and there's no charge.

   Its a busy time in Boonetown. The 30th annual Iowa Municipal Band Festival is today, Saturday, July 9, with eight Iowa bands ready to perform, starting at 11 a.m. and concluding with the Boone band's 6 p.m. concert.

   The Boone County Fair is slated for this coming week, July 14-17, and Pufferbilly Days will be here, August 4-7.

   AND, you BHS/BSH graduates of 1957 have a 65 year reunion coming up August 19-20, 2022. That's a ways off but please let your committee know of your attendance plans by July 25.

K-----K

   BOONE CONNECTED/AREA DEATHS 

    Dennis R. Cooper, 71, Ames. Born in Ames. UnitedCHS-68. Earned an Ag Engineering degree from ISU in 1972. Married Joyce Pyle in Ames in 1985.Worked briefly at Caterpiller in Illinois but then returned to farm with his dad. Retired in 2022. He loved cycling and skiing and was a regular at Seven Oaks. Survivors include two sons and five siblings. Graveside service in Ames and a Celebration of Life at Seven Oaks near Boone.

   Norman Leroy Van Den Baard, 88, Cedar Rapids. Formerly of Boone.

   Michael Anthony Edwards, 54, Madrid. Born in Des Moines. MHS-85. Lived his entire life in Madrid. Married Desiree Fleming Grams in Ottumwa in 2002. Began working for the U.S. Postal Service in 1986 and retired in 2021. He was an ISU and Madrid Tiger fan. Survivors include his wife, Desiree, a son, a daughter, sister and brothers-in-law. Services in Madrid.

   Clarine Iola Steffensen, 100, Lake Mills. Survivors include four daughters, including Julie Foster of Boone. Services in Lake Mills.

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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