Tuesday, August 27, 2024

REPAIRING SOME "MISSES"

     
     As I, the Kornerman, posted in an earlier edition of the Korner, the famous Union Pacific Big Boy #4014 steam locomotive will be coming to Boone during the September 4-5 period.

     That brought a response.....maybe even a tear or two in remembrance from our old Korner friend, Vern Modeland, BHS-50. Vern wrote, "thanks for the alert. I wish I could get there to see it again. I remember taking my dad to work or picking him up after his duties on the C&NW passenger service trains. I'll always remember steam powered railroading for the size and sounds of the locomotives with all that steam hissing and coming out, seemingly, everywhere on the engine. It made them seem alive and, they were, I guess."

     Vern also added a health update. He said he was just home from his annual visit with his cardiologist and there was some good news. "He marveled that my heart shows, on a sonogram, that it has improved remarkably and is in more of an "acceptable" condition than it was six months ago. He asked what I was doing for exercise and I had to admit I was down somewhat from my regular walking routine. Hippocrates is to have noted first that, "walking is man's best medicine." I follow that rigorously as weather allows."

K-----K

     I don't like to have to apologize BUT ya, everybody, including me, makes mistakes now and then, certainly not on purpose. So, its time to "fess up."

    I'm not a good "tech guy".......I can just do enough computer work to "get by." Somehow, I initially missed a good email from Davi Mondt, BHS-67, Lowman that spoke of a unique Iowan, Iowa State legislator J.D. Scholten who had previously been a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Iowa's fourth congressional district. Sorry Davi.

    Scholten is 44 years old and can't get baseball out of his mind. He played baseball and basketball at Sioux City East high school, was the son of a college baseball coach and after high school, played baseball  at Morningside College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Professionally, he was a pitcher in the Canadian Baseball League, with the Sioux City Explorers and with teams in seven foreign countries.

     As late as July of this year, he served as a starting pitcher for the Explorers after receiving a last-minute phone call request from the team's manager. Scholten threw 100 pitches over six innings and the Explorers were 11-2 winners. The Explorers immediately signed him.

     But here's what Davi wanted us to know. Scholten made five pitching starts, earned a 4-0 record with a 2.83 ERA, better than his marks during his first professional baseball stint from 2003-07, AND his dedicated journey has garnered the attention of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

     The Hall asked for his game-worn hat from his July 6 start. However, the team's bus caught fire and it was feared the hat would be lost or too damaged to send. The good ending to the story is that the hat was retrieved and became "Cooperstown bound."

     Davi also remembers meeting J.D. right here in Boonetown at Toby K's when he was a lad of 11-12 years old. His dad was the baseball coach at Morningside at the time.

K-----K

     And then, another email that, somehow, escaped my view was sent by Martha Warrick, BHS-62, Hilsabeck who wrote regarding that recent Boone Little League team that performed so well.

     She wrote, "Nate Ross is indeed the coach of this team but it should also be mentioned that he was assisted by Jon Strabley, Kurt Hilsabeck and Tony Eckard who were all great helpers. Nate did a great job but it was a good team effort, both on the field and in the team management."

K-----K

     Encouragement is always acceptable and Joe R. recently commented, "I look up your blog every day." Very nice to hear. Thanks Joe.

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......https://kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com.

    

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