Carla Jean Menough Alban, 91, Orland, Ca. Born in Boone. Her parents were John and Marie Menough. Attended school in Boone. BHS-53. Married Ron Alban in 1954. In 1956, the couple moved to Orland, Ca. Carla had a strong faith, worked at a library, loved to garden, sew, craft, bake, play cards, read and go to the Opera. However, RVing was what she loved most. Survivors include three children, Sherry, Brian and Brenda, and two brothers, Gerry Menough, BHS-57, and John Menough, BHS-67. Preceding Carla in death, among others, were sisters, Judy Menough, BHS-63, and Karen Menough, BHS-55, and brother, Ron Menough, BHS-61. Services in Orland.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026
SOME EXPLANATION OF THE AM RADIO CRISIS
Some time back in the Korner, Vern Modeland, BHS-50, and Mark Campbell, BHS-67, had shown their disdain for the story that continues to erupt about the demise of AM radio. Both, of course, have experience in that type of communication and simply "aren't likin' that continuing talk" about their old gigs.
They, of course, are not alone. Many long-time listeners and "old-timers" are deeply upset by the rapid closure of AM radio stations because these frequencies serve as an irreplaceable lifeline for emergency information, local news and community connection.
Unfortunately, there are legitimate concerns for these closures and, of course, money, money, money is one of the main evils. Hundreds of AM stations are suffering from severe economic pressures and declining ad revenues as well as the impact created by interference issues from all of these modern devices, even such as electric vehicles.
Being ignored are several positives that AM frequencies supply, information that was needed and supplied. Perhaps most important is the fact that local AM stations are the soul of many communities, particularly farm towns and isolated frontier areas.
This community bulletin board provides local crop pricing, high school sports coverage, local obituaries and weather reports all tailored to the exact area.
Unlike FM signals or cellular data, AM radio waves travel incredible distances by bouncing off the atmosphere, especially at night. This allows a single transmitter to cover an entire region, reaching people who are completely cut off from other networks.
In severe storms, floods, or grid failures, cell towers and internet routers routinely fail. AM transmitters are heavily armored with backup power, making them the primary source for emergency broadcasts and severe weather updates.
AM has, also, historically, been a low cost haven for foreign language programming, religious broadcasts and talk formats that streaming platforms largely ignore.
Automakers are increasingly removing AM radios from new electric vehicles due to electromagnetic motor interference. For older drivers, the dashboard AM dial is a decades-long habit that is deeply ingrained in their daily commute or long distance travel routine.
So, what's the end game here? As my dear mother used to say, "wait and see."
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are still 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
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
BOONE/AREA COMMUNITY DEATHS
Marilyn J. Davison, 100, Mason City/Westhaven.
Paul Nicholas Franetovich, 84, Shawnee, OK. Survivors include a daughter, Lori (Roger) Weyhrich, of Boone. Services in Shawnee.
Charles "Chuck" Robert Linden, 94, West Des Moines. Earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in health care administration from the University of Iowa. Married Judith "Jude" McNabb in Cedar Rapids in 1958. Devoted his entire career to hospital administration, serving communities in Cedar Rapids, Superior, Ws,, Boone and Des Moines. Retired in 1997, after a career marked by thoughtful leadership and a deep commitment to improving health care. After 32 years in Des Moines, the couple spent the last eight years in West Des Moines and much of each winter in Arizona. Chuck was always active in the Iowa Hospital Association, enjoyed tennis, sailing, serving on a hot-air-balloon chase crew and family trips to the Boundary Waters. Survivors include his wife, Judith, and his three children, Todd, BHS-80; Erika, BHS-82, Ann(Randy) Smith and Teresa, BHS-84, (Mark) Hinricks. A COL is scheduled for West Des Moines.
Robert Wesley Hayden, 83, Oregon City, Ore. Born in Ida Grove. Coast Guard vet. Earned a degree in electrical engineering and a masters at Iowa State. Married Alice and the couple settled in Boone as his new wife taught high school math while Robert finished his education. Moved to Portland after graduation. Survivors include his wife, Alice, two children, Christine Jones and Debra (Rick) Carino, and a sister.
Mary Francis (McCollum) Shearer, 95, Ames. Was a resident of the Boone Eastern Star Home. No services schedued.
BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS
Loren Frazier, BHS-58, from over Council Bluffs way has chipped in with some comments regarding the discussion of all-time record temperatures recorded.
He says, "Not that it matters....but when it's hot, it's hot. I remember Larry Gibbs, BHS-60, who was an Air Force member stationed in India telling about working on planes on the runway and how hot that duty was. I think it depends on where the temperature is taken, how far above the surface of the ground. We both know that touching a car sitting in the sun can burn fingers even though the rest of the body does not burn. If Atherton was reporting the temp on or near a hot surface, it might have been 170 degrees. A few feet above that surface its going to be cooler. Our national weather bureau bases their local temperature on readings taken from Omaha's Eppley Airport where there's plenty of asphalt and concrete and their reading is always higher than in Council Bluffs. As they say in real estate....location, location."
K-----K
Kenneth Eugene Thomas, 81, Sac City. There are five surviving step-children, including Owen (Tasha) Lasher of Boone. Services in Sac City.
Jeffrey David Rule, 58, Waterloo. Born in Boone. His parents are William and Jacquelin Brown Rule. His mother, Jacquelin, survives. Services in Waterloo.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
In a recent post from Bobby Atherton, BHS-65, he told of his father's four-year deployment with the U.S. Army in Iran during World War II.
In describing some of the conditions faced by our military at that place and in this time, Bob Senior, BHS-36, stated, "working in heat that hit 170 degrees and better in the sun." That quote and others was picked up by a publication....The Army Weekly.
Jim Pratt, BHS-71, didn't think that was quite right. He said that the highest temperature ever recorded was the 134 degree mark in Death Valley California on July of 1913. That's 56.7 celsius. Number two on the list was 55 celcius recorded in Tunisia and those figures are supported by Wikepedia and others.
Anyway you describe it......it was d...HOT.
K-----K
Gary Albaugh, 51, Boone. Born in Guthrie Center. GCHS-95. Army vet. Moved to Boone after discharge and worked as kitchen manager at the Boone Country Club. Later, he began a career with Fareway as a receiver in the cooler area. Married Jenny Lane McCloud at Camp Hantesa in 2002. Gary enjoyed weightlifting, bowling, attending Wrestlemania and playing bass guitar. He was a talented artist who especially enjoyed creating portraits. Survivors include his wife, Jenny, his stepmother, Laura Albaugh, his parents-in-law Brad and Dawn McCloud and seven siblings. Services later.
Hazel Buffington Lease, 98, Grinnell. Born in Kansas. Was a Navy wife. Earned a B.A. in Education at the University of Rhode Island, followed by a Master's Degree in Learning Disabilities from Iowa State. Married Garland Simpson Lease in Fort Madison in 1946. After Garland retired, the couple lived in Boone where Hazel established a Learning Disabilities program. In retirement, she continued to teach reading for adults as a volunteer. Three children survive, including Linda (Paul) Millis of Boone. A memorial service will be held in Grinnell.
Friday, September 4, 2026
BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS
Don Wright, 89, Jefferson/Eastern Star. Three children survive including Kelly (Mark) Olson of Boone. A private burial at a later date.
Gary Sherman Clark, 90, Ames. Formerly of Roland and Boone. Born in Boone. BSH-54. Started work with his uncle, parttime, at Duffy's Appliance. National Guard and U.S.Air Force vet. Married Mary Elizabeth Adams in Racine, WS in 1963. Gary held various jobs in management and sales and retired from the Iowa State University Bookstore Textbook Department. Gary enjoyed coaching Little League, drawing, reading, listening to talk shows and especially following Cyclone sports. Above all, he was filled with a renewed faith in God, the center of his life. Survivors include a daughter, Catherine (Jeff) Boman, a son, Dave (Missy) Clark and a sister, Joanne Hansson of Boone. Services in Boone.
Sharon Steadman, 85, Jefferson. Six children survive, including LeRoy Jr. Steadman of Boone. Services in Jefferson.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS
Gregory Alan Evenson, 69, Boone. Born in Mason City. Worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad since 1976. Started as a brakeman, worked up to Engineer, and later to Director. He retired in 2019. Greg enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing, He also enjoyed motorcycling, becoming a member of several bike clubs and taking part in various charitable riding events. Survivors include a daughter, Amy (John) Patterson, a son, Joshua (Sadie) Evenson, grandchildren and a sister, Carolyn Smit. A private family burial will be held later in Mason City.
Robert "Jim" James Snider, 91, Boone. Born in Madrid. Napier HS-53. Married Carol Lou Springer in 1953. Carol died in 2004. National Guard vet. Jim was an entrepreneur, owning Snider Logging Co. for over 40 years. He worked closely with Bill and Billy Thorp at Thorp Sawmill, logging and clearing land all over Iowa. In 2006, he married Sue and the couple enjoyed traveling and feeding the wildlife that would congregate nightly at their homestead. Jim enjoyed fishing in Canada, bowling in Madrid, snowboarding in Texas and Arizona, playing cards, specifically pitch, and dancing. He'll be remembered by his family and many others he touched. He was known as a great friend, mentor and neighbor. Survivors include his wife, Sue, sisters Wanda (Mark) Nord and Norma (Denny) Johnson, daughters Shawna (Ron) Kilstrom and Cristy McIntyre and Sue's children Mandy and Justin. A private family graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Ronette Alane Adams Bonnell, 66, Boone.Born in Boone. BHS-79. Her parents were John and Lila
Adams. She attended PCI Academy and opened her own in-home hair salon, a 40-year investment. She had an eye for gardening and floral arrangements, loved attending community events, rooting for the Hawkeyes, enjoying music, riding motorcycles and cooking enough food to feed a village. Best of all, she loved being a mom. There were seasons that tested her in ways most people never saw, but Ronette met them with grit and grace, never losing herself in the process. She loved boldly and faced life head-on. Her children, Johnna (Jason) Toth, Adam (Alexia) Bonnell and Austin Bonnell survive. Services in Boone.
Martha "Hannie" Anne Javellana, 70, Boone/Westhaven. Born in Florida. Miami Beach Sr. HS-74. Earned an Associate in Science Degree from DMACC. An avid fan of the Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricane and Miami Heat. A bird watcher, she enjoyed Pokemon Go stops, Prairie Meadows, watching baking shows, Bible studies and music documentaries. Four children survive, two of Des Moines, one from Arizona and John Javellana of Woodward. A COL will be held at Westhaven.
Claudia Marie Fisher, nee Mattos, 94, Colo. Was the Colo Chapter President, held state office and was an Eastern Star Home Board Member.
