BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Raymond Leslie "Ray"  LeMaster, 89, Ames. Born in Ogden. The family moved to Boone in 1950. BHS-54. Married Shirley Munsen Mestdaugh in 1956. He became an immediate father, via Shirley's three-year old who he eventually adopted. Shirley and Ray also became the parents of son Jeff Jay and daughter Koreen Kay. As an Iowa Air Guard veteran, he served from 1956-64 and was activated during the Berlin crisis, serving a year in France. In 1959, he began a career with the John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny. He became a union rep, supervisor and finally, night shift supervisor until retirement in 1999 after 40 years. In 1994, his marraige to Shirley was disolved and in 1996, he married Anita Marie Laisure Wirtz. The couple made their home in Ames. Ray enjoyed golf, was a Hawkeye fan and loved his miniature schnauzers. Ray served as a volunteer firefighter, worked at a gas station and a salesman at J.C. Peterson Clothing store in his early years, He also served as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon at Boone's Central Christian church and religion was an important part of his life. Survivors include his wife, Anita, her children, Joshua, Courtney and Justin Wirtz and spouses and his children, Robin Gogerty of Madrid, Jeff and Koreen and their spouses. Services in Ames.    

       Dave Keithley, 82, Boone. Born in Oklahoma. Navy vet. Married Carol Kaufman Portkonak in Oklahoma in 1987. Dave worked and traveled 50 countries repairing electrical equipment and computers. He worked thirty days and then took thirty days off. He said he enjoyed getting paid yearly but only working six months a year. A VFW member, he enjoyed watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Survivors include his wife, Carol, a step-son, Dan (Mary Jo)  Potkonak, a daughter, Erin Keithley, and two sisters. A private service will be held.     

        David Lee Tesdahl, 78, Marion. Born in Boone. Parents were David and Virginia (Clark) Tesdahl. Iowa City HS. Associate degree from Orange Coast College in California. Marine vet. Married Catherine Marie Madden in 1997. Retired from Nordstrom Direct A man of deep faith and unwavering pride in his Norwegian heritage. Very active religiously. Enjoyed sports and was an avid fisherman. Honor Flight member. Survivors include his wife, Catherine, and a sister, Suzetta Miller, of Hawkeye, IA. Was cremated. 

NEWS VETERANS RESPOND TO NEWSPAPER CLOSURES

        Occasionally, we say......"no news is".......but golly, I don't know anymore......it seems there's more bad than good news.

        Haven't got any more particulars to report on the recent Ogden Reporter/Madrid Register News story.  The proposed closure date has silently passed and there have been small rumbles of some one or groups as potential buyers. But no dramatic conclusions have been aired.

        Of course, the Korner does have access to a pair of local, long time communication experts who serve as our go-toos when it comes to such matters. So, let's lean to some of their thinking in this regard.

         I'm proud to call Richard Longworth, BHS-53, a classmate of mine. Dick has reached the pinnacle of journalistic success in many ways, including Pulitzer Prize nominations, during his long career, primarily with the Chicago Tribune and United Press International and now, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. For 20 years, he served as the Tribune's Chief European Correspondent with work in 80 countries over five continents.

          We've been in contact and I gladly lean on his perspective on this issue. In fact, he informs me that he has forwarded our story to the Local News Initiative at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Dick's alma mater.

           Richard wrote, "that group is doing the best scholarly work on the decline of local newspapers. They tell me, no fewer than 3,500 American Newspapers, mostly small town papers, have vanished in the past 20 years. The result is "news deserts," which they define as "counties with no locally based source of original news at grass-roots levels that meets community needs." Sounds like Boone County right now."

           He continued, "So what? What do we need newspapers for anyway? The usual answer is the keeping of an eye on local government and our tax dollars at work. But, I think there's an even more important reason. Local newspapers are a public diary, printing the every-day stuff that adds up to life in a real community. Good journalism is a conversation between reporters and readers and between the readers themselves, sort of a corner table in a cafe with the entire town listening. A newspaper chronicles a town's past and present. If you don't know where you've been or where you are, how can you decide, as a community, where you want to go?"

           In a nice conclusion to his remarks, Richard said, "there's no real replacement for dead newspapers. Kelley's Korner, or the like, is one that comes closest, a real conversation between you and your readers. You do such valuable work. Keep it up."

           Your editor replies, "the blood still flows and oxygen is fairly consistent BUT at 91, I wonder how much of my time remains and is there someone out there to "fill the gap" when needed?"

            Another good friend, Vern Modeland, BHS-50, adds, "here's another example of a way of life fading away. Or is it pushed away? Things fade from age, weakness or a lack of interest, but fade when there is no one left who cares or can push'em along. You've done that for the News Republican. You keep alive a twinkle of the good "old" Boone that had a vibrant downtown, a bustling community with a twinkle in its eye when we all, young and old alike, used to see Saturday nights downtown to be a humming place to park, walk and talk to each other. But, today's media for the lazy has taken over or is being steered to put face-to-face communications on the chopping block. More and more someone else is doing the thinking and pushing. Big entities with lots of money and lots of one mission, to do our thinking for us and making big seem better. Do the homework and it appears the only "Big" in history took something away to get there. However, it's the ants that keep the colony humming, not whatever you call the one at the top."

             Vern, of course, is another hero of mine, who took his great BHS education further than many with broadcasting work at KWBG, KFJB of Marshalltown, KJFJ of Webster City and then 10 years as an assignment news journalist for WHO radio and television in Des Moines. He added later work in marketing communications and photography for  Beech Aircraft and Gates Lear Jet in Wichita, communications for Silver Dollar City in Branson, Cox Medical Centers in Missouri and finally, at the Food and Drug Administration in Washington D.C..

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            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. 

 

            

            

BOONE/AREA CONNECED DEATHS

       Fred Hagaman, 76, Ames. Born in Boone. BHS-68 where he participated in cross country. Fred married Kathy James in 1992 in Minnesota. He started work as a semi-truck driver, became a custodian at Iowa State and Mary Greeley and then a stocker at HyVee. He was an active member of the Moose Lodge and a lifetime sports fan, playing for and managing various youth teams. The couple also enjoyed fishing at Don Williams. Survivors include his wife, Kathy, a daughter, Amy (Mike) Deaton, three step-children, Chris (Laura) Goodwin, Ben (Heather) Goodwin and Laura Sauceda, and a sister, Jan Price. Service in Boone.

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

       Brenda Lee Steuerwald McMahon, 67, Boone. Born in Fort Dodge. Stratford HS-77. Married Steve McMahon in Boone in 1980. Started work at the Stratford Nursing Home but in 1979, she joined Fareway as a secretary and was, later, promoted to Assistant Buyer. She retired from Fareway in 2021 after 42 years of service there. Brenda was a loyal Hawkeye fan, a bowling team member and when the couple purchased a speed boat, she loved water activities such as skiing and fishing. With a positive attitude and kind heart, Brenda found the best in everyone. Survivors include her husband, Steve, daughters Erin (Brad) Kleinwolterink and Tory (Lane) McKay as well as sisters, Carol, Donna and Lynn. Services in Boone.

     Dietrich (Deke) Becker, 74, Moore, OK. Born in Oelwein. Former Ogden resident. Married to Dianna McCoy. He enjoyed fishing, car shows and was known for a strong work ethic and sense of humor. Deke worked as an engineer for the BAFS railroad. Survivors include his wife and three children. Services in Ogden with burial in Beaver.

     Timothy Joseph (Tim) McCoy, 75, Jefferson. Big St. Louis Cardinal fan. Attended DMACC, Boone Campus. Services in Jefferson. 

FACING THE FINAL CURTAIN

     Perhaps we knew it was coming.........but didn't know when.

     And now, it appears, the time HAS come. 

     Two longtime Boone County newspapers will apparently shut down their operations for good in very short order. In fact, the end of publication of both the Ogden Reporter and Madrid Register News will be this coming Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

      The Ogden and Madrid newspapers are not alone. Small town newspapers in 15 Iowa counties are affected. All of the affected newspapers have been guided by an Iowa based publishing company, Mid America Publishing of Hampton, which has announced its permanent closure.

      The Ogden/Madrid editor for those two publications has indicated that no one has expressed interest in buying them, thus, the difficult decision to conclude operations.

       Madrid editor Craig Schultz was quoted as saying, "there's still a chance if someone wants to come in on the 11th hour to buy the publications, it's possible. But, as it stands, this is the end." A few other newspapers are still hopeful of survival also, due to pending discussions of possible purchase.

       Many of these newspapers have been in operation for many years, some since before 1900.

       A Mid-America Regional Editor said that dwindling readership and advertising revenue have taken their toll on newspapers across the country. He said it was " a sad time for both our company and the communities we have served."

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       Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone Iowa, 50036-4892. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email stories/memories/comments/death notices........https:/kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com. 

        

        

BOONE/AREA CONNECTED DEATHS

        Pamela Sue Blaskey Farris, 63, Des Moines. Born in Boone. BHS-81. Married Thomas Farris. Pamela spent many years working in the food industry as well as other jobs. She was known for a strong work ethic, determination and with a caring heart and gentle spirit. Survivors include her husband, Thomas Farris, a son, Jason Blaskey, her mother, Sharon Loehr Blaskey of Boone and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Blaskey, who passed away on February 6, 2026. COL in Des Moines    

        Karen Kay Anderson Lind, 83, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-60. Earned an Associates of Art Degree. Married Lyle Jim Lind in 1960. An active church member, she taught piano to many students in the Boone area and enjoyed working as an administrative assistant at Iowa State for over 15 years. Three children survive, Lisa, Jeff and Steve. A sister, Dianne, of Boone also survives. Services in Boone.       

       Glenda Jean Hall Monson, 89, Boone/Eastern Star. Born in Webster City. Stratford HS-55. Married James Ernest Monson in 1955 in Stratford. The couple farmed north and south of Stratford. Jim passed in 2016. Glenda enjoyed watching the orioles and hummingbirds, caring for her flowers, decorating for the holidays and watching college sports.Survivors include three children, including Michael (Sandra) Monson and Kendra (Mark) Stumpenhorst both of Stratford. Son Steve also survives. A private family graveside service will be held.

GREAT NEWS....THEN, NO CBS NEWS?

       Great news for Boone, courtesy of Fareway.

       On Monday, the Iowa grocery legend, which began in Boone in 1938, broke ground on a 105,000 square foot expansion of the freezer building at the company's distribution center at the east side of town.

        Reynold's Cramer, BHS-87, CEO of Fareway Stores Inc. said, "this project reflects our continued commitment to remain the best in meat and grocery, by ensuring we have the infrastructure to support our current locations and future growth. This is also an investment in Boone and in our employees that call the Boone area home. Finally, we want to thank the Boone County Supervisors, City of Boone, and other local leaders for their support of this important project."

         It was explained that, "the freezer expansion would deliver substantial improvements, by nearly doubling pallet capacity, increasing pallet facings by 33-percent, improving functionality in dual temperature environments, adding additional dock space, and allowing current freezer space to be repurposed into additional storage space. The freezer expansion is also foundational for future investments in technology and automation at the Fareway distribution center."

         The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2027 and will increase Fareway's distribution capabilities to accomodate up to 200 additional stores as the chain grows.

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         Some interesting news Korner viewers might have missed concerns the approval of a merger between communication giants, Nexstar and Tegna, that could result in some Iowa television changes.

          Thursday, March 19, the $3.5 billion deal was approved by the Federal Communications division and Department of Justice.

          Two well know Central Iowa television stations are involved. Tegna has been the owner of WOI-TV, channel five, formerly of Ames but more recently of Des Moines, while Nexstar has owned WHO-TV, channel 13 of Des Moines.

          This sale could, possibly, move the two stations into the same studio and produce various other changes. The new owners have pledged to increase the amount of local news and programs offered by these stations.

          Good friend and former Boone resident Vern Modeland, BHS-50, who, prior to retirement, had a long career in the broadcast field, which included radio and TV time at WHO and KWBG in Boone among others.

           Vern has his opinions about the changing broadcast landscape. He thinks broadcasting is on its way into the dark ages. He wrote, "podcasting has made everybody who has an ego into a specialist in something. And that thinly veiled attempt to put an end to AM broadcast radio in vehicles to get rid of the annoyance to them to have to clean up all this solid state dashboard stuff."

           What? No more AM radio in are cars?  

           To add to all this......CBS News Radio is set to cease operations on May 22, 2026, marking the end of nearly a century of service. The decision is said to be part of a restructuring effort, which includes significant layoffs.

           Reasons given for the closure are the difficult economic conditions affecting the media industry and the fact there has been a shift in how radio stations approach programming, making it unsustainable for CBS News Radio to continue.

          CBS News has had a rich history, having been established in 1927, and featuring notable journalists like Edward R. Murrow. The service has provided news updates to some 700 affiliate stations across the country. 

          No more CBS News breaks "on the hour" and etc. Change can be good......sometimes but, on occasion, sad news also.

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          I would be remiss if I didn't publicly thank all of you who were so kind in reminding me I'm getting older. My 91st birthday brought many kind comments in many ways. I started listing those that I had heard from in various ways.......but decided if I took the chance of listing responders, I would surely miss some. 

          So, simply.....thank you all so much and let's plan to do this again next March 18.

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         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.