You'll recall from our September 30 edition that we provided some information about a monument in southwestern Boone County paying tribute to some military personnel killed in the crash of a B-24 Air Force bomber during a severe storm in July of 1943. There were no survivors.
Although some interested citizens had seen that the monument was erected and had made sure it was cared for, at least for a time after the installation, it seems that the monument has never received much countywide exposure or recognition. In fact, the current Boone County Historical Society Executive Director was unaware but assured that she would check into it and add it to their map of places to visit in Boone County.
The Korner has followed up. We sent the Korner's Director of Boone County Memorial Facilities to the site for a "hands-on" report. Yes indeed, there is a monument that is easily located on "K" Avenue, a mile south of road E57. Our ace reporter said it appeared that there had been recent activity at the cleared monument area, there are some flowers and flags visible, and he even took a picture to show. It's a nice looking monument with what appears to be a metal-like front featuring pertinent information on the crash and even a listing of the personnel killed in the mishap. At the top of the monument is a wooden replica of a B-24 bomber. Our correspondent said that replica does show wear and tear and could use an update.
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Adding to our recent mention of the 70th anniversary of the BHS and Sacred Heart classes of 1944, we're sure some of you "more mature" aka older viewers might appreciate knowing who some of the attendees were: Jim Ash, Kenny and Helen Barnes, Bill and Jodie Beckwith, Eugene and Emogene (Olson) Criss, Bill Dahlien, Clarence and Marge Dixon, Margaret (Flynn) Ewing, Betty (Gutteridge) Ferry, Daryl and Betty (Fagin) Haerther, Helen (Rosengreen) Johnson, Clavonne (Dahlien) Kading, Jean (Wiley) King, Lovey (Budd) Mondt, Charles (Dutch) Nelson, Roger and Louise Oxenford, Bonnie (Weber) Peppas, Don Shaw, John and Barb Veale, Iline (Welch) Westberg and Beverly (Wilson) Sellers.
Nine actual '44 classmates attended. The remainder were invited members of other classes of the early 1940's.
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Al Roeder wrote this week, "I noted the mention of the 70th class reunion held recently by the class of 1944. My mother, Jo Roeder, graduated in 1929 from Boone High. She and the few surviving classmates met periodically into the early 2000's for a mini-reunion. I think the last few years, 2004 or 2005, there were only three of them left, she, Sanky Sunstrom and Jack Shelley. But, they would get together every few months for a mini-reunion. All three are now deceased. Still enjoying the Korner. Keep up the good work."
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Still on the subject of reunions, we received word from Jayne Clark Baugh and Loren Frazier about an interesting proposal. BHS classmates of 1958, Jayne and Loren are going to attempt a 75th birthday celebration in the fall of 2015 since most of those class members will be turning 75. It seems that Jayne had the short stick and was nominated by several classmates, spouses, and husbands to organize this event and Loren has agreed to help.
What makes this interesting is the fact that the proposal is to have the event many miles from Boonetown. There has been talk of meeting at Graceland in Memphis with an alternate choice of Branson. Classmates who are interested are being polled as to their location choice. The organizers said the plan is for a two-day get-together next September. They're asking for a response by November 5. First, are you interested and secondly, where would you like the event to be held?
Jayne can be contacted at 954-426-6443 or
nanajayneb@aol.com.
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The next hometown reunion we know about will be held the weekend of October 18 when the BHS and Sacred Heart classes of 1959 get together for their 55th event.
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The mind is a strange thing or is it just the Kornerman's mind? Coming by the new Redeker's location recently I immediately drifted back to my KWBG radio days. We seemed to do lots of advertising for Brin's in Webster City.......just around the corner on Seneca Street. I can remember that so clearly but why?........especially when there are so many more important issues I can't command. I guess Brin's was a well known furniture store with a large following in the central part of Iowa.
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Boone Area Deaths: Paul Whannell, 93, Boone. After farming, moved to Boone in 1971. Worked in maintenance at the Eastern Star and Boone Hospital and served the Iowa High School Athletic Association for 22 years. No Boone surivivors...........Doris Rogers Nordskog, 87, Britt, IA. BHS grad. Played trumpet in the BHS jazz band. Was a farmer's wife. No Boone survivors..........Violet Iles, 87, Boone. Formerly of Ogden. Pilot Mound High-45. Worked for Treloar's Hatchery, Ogden Telephone and Super Value in Ogden. Boone area survivors include step son Craig Iles of Boone..........John Flugstad, 68, Boone. Worked for the DOT, Quinn's and Electrolux. Boone area survivors include a son Mike and daughter Jill Harrington both of Boone.
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Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Saturday, October 4, 2014
A Great Success
The 70th.....that's right......the 70th BHS class reunion is history and according to Gretchen Otis, who coordinated the event, it was a huge success. Gretchen mentioned that she had, some years ago, assisted Thelma Nelson Boyd with a 69th reunion by mail.....that would be the class of 1934.......but she still wonders if anyone knows of any previous 70th or beyond gathering?
This most recent event actually drew grads from 1940 through 1946, ages 85 to 95. Five states were represented. A total of 36 attended the Open House, 30 to 35 the breakfast and train ride. The official '44 class dinner, hosted by Bill and Jodie Beckwith at their home, was enjoyed by nine classmates.
Gretchen praised Fenner Stevenson and his son and the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad for their assistance. Fenner, Bill Beckwith and the late Marshall King were instrumental in obtaining and bringing "new wheels" from Nebraska to Boone for the handicapped accessable railroad car. It and a regular car were used for the group's train ride. Fenner's son applied the wheels and replaced a window and had it up and running shortly after it's arrival from Nebraska.
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We heard from former Booneite Jeff Tyrie this week but with sorrowful news. Jeff reported that his brother Dan, 72, had passed away last June but he doubted if any of his Boone acqaintences were aware of that. Jeff wrote, "even though he wasn't a native, he loved Boone when we lived there and he returned several times a year to visit with friends and in-laws. Dan worked at Gambles for several years and opened up his own store, C+D TV and Appliance. He also ran a route for Archway for a time. He also built a race car that ran every weekend at the Boone Speedway with Larry Brown as the driver. For over 25 years in Lafayette, IN he ran a shop that he started as a small engine repair shop out of his garage that grew into a successful retail store that sold all types of mowers and landscaping gear. He wife, Kate (Crocheck) survives, along with three sons, all of whom were born in Boone."
Jeff said the family lived in Boone from 1960-70. Dan came here before the rest of the family and remained here three or four years after the others had moved on. Wilbur, who was connected with Archway, was the dad of the family.
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In our last edition we mentioned receiving information from former Booneite Gene Keys and his wife, Karen (Helm) about a monument........a tribute to victims of a 1943 military plane crash in Boone County.
A little more info now on Gene and Karen. Gene wrote, "I wasn't the most popular guy in school and was always in trouble. Not only did I grow up on the wrong side of the tracks, I grew up "between" the tracks. We had the Chicago and Northwestern in our back yard and right across the street in front was the old Fort Dodge, Des Moines/Southern interurban maintenence yards. Before the ink was even dry on my diploma, I was on a plane to Navy basic training. I made up for my earlier bad behavior while in the Navy, staying nine years. I then came back to Boone but couldn't find steady work. The only job I could get was as an electrician's helper at Quinn's. After a year there, several broken bones, a bad welding burn and so much black sand in the pores of my skin, I looked like a coal miner. I received my appointment letter from J. Edgar Hoover and was off on a 26-year career with the FBI which took me all over the world. My first field office assignment was at Albuquerque, NM where I stayed for eight years. Then it was off to Washington D.C. where I transferred to the Intelligence Division and traveled the world. My last few years were spent at the FBI Academy at Quantico, VA. Karen came to Colorado in the early 70's and retired from Hewlett Packard and after that, ten years at Walmart. We were reunited via the internet and married a few years ago."
Gene and Karen's older sister, Kay, were 1961 BHS grads. Another of Karen's sisters, LaVonne, lives in Castle Rock, CO. and there's a "little brother," Mel Helm, also in that family. Mel is retired and living in Tama. Mother Helm is Ruth who Gene said, "volunteered at the Boone hospital since "Moby Dick was a tad pole" and at the Mamie Eisenhower birth place. She also worked at Bournes for quite some time."
P.S. We had mentioned in the last edition that former Ogden residents, Warren and Ruth Christensen, had a special interest in that monument. Now living in Loveland, CO where Gene and Karen live, the Christensen's, former owners of the Ogden roller rink, have a son, Mike, a retired Air Force Colonel who is married to LaVonne, Karen's sister.
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Boone Area Deaths: Esther May Schoff Barnhart,101, Boone. Moved to Boone after the death of her second husband, C.J. Barnhart. Four children survive, Elizabeth Nelson, Valenette Heldt, Roland Schoff and Evelyn Stockman.........Arvid Miller, 74, Ogden. OHS-60. Worked at Rolfes, Sears and Sonoco. Boone area survivors include his wife, Janet, son Kevin and sister, Lila Mallicoat of Boone........Janice Smith, 76, Boone. Longtime secretary at Bourns and after retirement, was a secretary at the Boone and Scenic Valley. Boone area survivors include daughters, Jacquelynn Smith and Jill Smith Ginther, and a sister, Betty Miller all of Boone..........Rev. Tom Geelan, 78, Ruthven, IA. Served Boone Sacred Heart parish for a time. Retired in 2007..........Randy Newton, 60, Ogden. OHS-72. A longtime employee of Ogden Municipal Utilities. Boone area survivors include his wife, Erica Fleming, son Bart and daughters, JoAnne Kirton and Amanda Mortensen of Ogden, and son, Justin, of Boone........Jeffrey Smiley, 55, Boone. BHS-78. Jeff worked 34 years for Besser Quinn Machine and Foundry in Boone. Then worked for Seneca in Webster City until retirement this year. Boone area survivors include his wife, Shelli, sons Aaron and Austin and daughter, Alyssa, father and mother-in-law, Jack and Bev Coffman, and brother-in-law, Chuck Coffman all of Boone.
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Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
This most recent event actually drew grads from 1940 through 1946, ages 85 to 95. Five states were represented. A total of 36 attended the Open House, 30 to 35 the breakfast and train ride. The official '44 class dinner, hosted by Bill and Jodie Beckwith at their home, was enjoyed by nine classmates.
Gretchen praised Fenner Stevenson and his son and the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad for their assistance. Fenner, Bill Beckwith and the late Marshall King were instrumental in obtaining and bringing "new wheels" from Nebraska to Boone for the handicapped accessable railroad car. It and a regular car were used for the group's train ride. Fenner's son applied the wheels and replaced a window and had it up and running shortly after it's arrival from Nebraska.
K-----K
We heard from former Booneite Jeff Tyrie this week but with sorrowful news. Jeff reported that his brother Dan, 72, had passed away last June but he doubted if any of his Boone acqaintences were aware of that. Jeff wrote, "even though he wasn't a native, he loved Boone when we lived there and he returned several times a year to visit with friends and in-laws. Dan worked at Gambles for several years and opened up his own store, C+D TV and Appliance. He also ran a route for Archway for a time. He also built a race car that ran every weekend at the Boone Speedway with Larry Brown as the driver. For over 25 years in Lafayette, IN he ran a shop that he started as a small engine repair shop out of his garage that grew into a successful retail store that sold all types of mowers and landscaping gear. He wife, Kate (Crocheck) survives, along with three sons, all of whom were born in Boone."
Jeff said the family lived in Boone from 1960-70. Dan came here before the rest of the family and remained here three or four years after the others had moved on. Wilbur, who was connected with Archway, was the dad of the family.
K-----K
In our last edition we mentioned receiving information from former Booneite Gene Keys and his wife, Karen (Helm) about a monument........a tribute to victims of a 1943 military plane crash in Boone County.
A little more info now on Gene and Karen. Gene wrote, "I wasn't the most popular guy in school and was always in trouble. Not only did I grow up on the wrong side of the tracks, I grew up "between" the tracks. We had the Chicago and Northwestern in our back yard and right across the street in front was the old Fort Dodge, Des Moines/Southern interurban maintenence yards. Before the ink was even dry on my diploma, I was on a plane to Navy basic training. I made up for my earlier bad behavior while in the Navy, staying nine years. I then came back to Boone but couldn't find steady work. The only job I could get was as an electrician's helper at Quinn's. After a year there, several broken bones, a bad welding burn and so much black sand in the pores of my skin, I looked like a coal miner. I received my appointment letter from J. Edgar Hoover and was off on a 26-year career with the FBI which took me all over the world. My first field office assignment was at Albuquerque, NM where I stayed for eight years. Then it was off to Washington D.C. where I transferred to the Intelligence Division and traveled the world. My last few years were spent at the FBI Academy at Quantico, VA. Karen came to Colorado in the early 70's and retired from Hewlett Packard and after that, ten years at Walmart. We were reunited via the internet and married a few years ago."
Gene and Karen's older sister, Kay, were 1961 BHS grads. Another of Karen's sisters, LaVonne, lives in Castle Rock, CO. and there's a "little brother," Mel Helm, also in that family. Mel is retired and living in Tama. Mother Helm is Ruth who Gene said, "volunteered at the Boone hospital since "Moby Dick was a tad pole" and at the Mamie Eisenhower birth place. She also worked at Bournes for quite some time."
P.S. We had mentioned in the last edition that former Ogden residents, Warren and Ruth Christensen, had a special interest in that monument. Now living in Loveland, CO where Gene and Karen live, the Christensen's, former owners of the Ogden roller rink, have a son, Mike, a retired Air Force Colonel who is married to LaVonne, Karen's sister.
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Boone Area Deaths: Esther May Schoff Barnhart,101, Boone. Moved to Boone after the death of her second husband, C.J. Barnhart. Four children survive, Elizabeth Nelson, Valenette Heldt, Roland Schoff and Evelyn Stockman.........Arvid Miller, 74, Ogden. OHS-60. Worked at Rolfes, Sears and Sonoco. Boone area survivors include his wife, Janet, son Kevin and sister, Lila Mallicoat of Boone........Janice Smith, 76, Boone. Longtime secretary at Bourns and after retirement, was a secretary at the Boone and Scenic Valley. Boone area survivors include daughters, Jacquelynn Smith and Jill Smith Ginther, and a sister, Betty Miller all of Boone..........Rev. Tom Geelan, 78, Ruthven, IA. Served Boone Sacred Heart parish for a time. Retired in 2007..........Randy Newton, 60, Ogden. OHS-72. A longtime employee of Ogden Municipal Utilities. Boone area survivors include his wife, Erica Fleming, son Bart and daughters, JoAnne Kirton and Amanda Mortensen of Ogden, and son, Justin, of Boone........Jeffrey Smiley, 55, Boone. BHS-78. Jeff worked 34 years for Besser Quinn Machine and Foundry in Boone. Then worked for Seneca in Webster City until retirement this year. Boone area survivors include his wife, Shelli, sons Aaron and Austin and daughter, Alyssa, father and mother-in-law, Jack and Bev Coffman, and brother-in-law, Chuck Coffman all of Boone.
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Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Remembering Telephone Operators
Anybody remember telephone operator days and............
At a recent family reunion, the subject of telephone operators came up AND when/how a business transaction suddenly became much more personal.
Example: Jo said that one time she attempted to call a girlfriend time after time but continued getting a "busy" signal. Finally, the operator chimed in, "Jo, your girlfriend lives just up the street, why don't you just walk up there."
Then too, it was mentioned that one individual called a couple of different people seeking a certain relative but with no luck. Finally, again, an operator spoke up telling her the exact location she could find the person she was looking for........."no, no, she's not there or there, she's at so and so's house," the caller was told.
How about it! Anybody out there got any other telephone operator stories?
K-----K
Those of you who are historically minded, particularly regarding Boone County happenings, may find this interesting. The Kornerman was unaware and, perhaps, you are too.
It comes courtesy of former residents Gene Keys and his wife Karen (Helm) who reside in Loveland, CO. The former owners of the Ogden roller rink, Warren and Ruth Christensen, who also now live in Loveland, asked that Gene and Karen do some investigative work while in Boone for Pufferbilly. Specifically, they were asked to find and get some pictures of a monument dedicated to the crash of an Air Force B-24 bomber that had gone down about 10 miles southeast of Boone. Warren had been interested in erecting a monument honoring the crew of that plane and, in fact, put up his own money to have such a project completed. He and some Ogden friends cared for it and the surrounding area but he never took a picture of it before moving west.
Gene said the Boone County Historical Society was checked but had no knowledge of the monument so he and Karen started their own search. He wrote, "we started west bound on E57 south of Boone and across the river. We met several "dead ends" but finally found a farmer that told us exactly where it was located."
"The monument is located on "K" Avenue, a mile south of E57 on the east side of the road. On E57, there is a green marker before you get to "K," indicating with an arrow pointing south, "Historical Marker 1 Mile." The site can also be reached from Highway 169 south of Ogden and turning east on E57.
Editor's Note: It sounds as if the monument may be 10 miles southwest of Boone rather than southeast as Gene had written.
A picture was taken, then at the Ericson Public Library, the couple found a BNR article describing the crash. On July 31, 1943, the plane was on a training mission from Topeka, KS to Duluth, MN when it encountered a severe storm and crashed. Witnesses said it went down in a "ball of flames" and there were no survivors.
Due to the work of Gene and Karen, the Christensen's received a picture of the monument and a copy of the newspaper story and they were " very happy to receive them." Pam Schwartz, Executive Director of the Boone Historical Society, was also provided with the info and said she plans to do more research on the site so they can add it to their historical attractions map contained in the brochure they provide visitors.
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Happy to hear from Tom Burke who has been missing from the Korner for a time. Tom wrote, " It's been my fault. I have been overly busy on several fronts and have, consequently, been a bit remiss in some of my communication. We had an issue in town here that split residents into two camps regarding some of the rebuilding after the hurricane Sandy. Not being shy, I got myself in the middle of the issue which led to a referendum and special election which the side I was supporting won. That was intertwined with some minor, yet significant, issues I have been having physically."
Tom also explained he had to get a new computer and lost some email addresses during the transition, including that of the Korner.
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One of Tom's buddies, John Kueck, informed us of a web link that proved interesting. It was a pictorial tour of all of major league baseball's parks. John said he and wife, Sue, live just a few blocks, walking distance, from Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins and when he was a kid, the family went to Milwaukee and Wrigley Field for games.
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A couple of people who were important to our community have passed recently. Rev. Thomas Geelan, 78, who served Boone Sacred Heart for several years, died in Ruthven, IA and his services were held there.
James Henry Andrew of Jefferson, 93, passed away and services will be held Thursday in Jefferson. Andrew is the gentleman who had some 5,000 railroad items that he donated to the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum here at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad site in 2012. He was also a main financial contributor to the Museum.
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Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
At a recent family reunion, the subject of telephone operators came up AND when/how a business transaction suddenly became much more personal.
Example: Jo said that one time she attempted to call a girlfriend time after time but continued getting a "busy" signal. Finally, the operator chimed in, "Jo, your girlfriend lives just up the street, why don't you just walk up there."
Then too, it was mentioned that one individual called a couple of different people seeking a certain relative but with no luck. Finally, again, an operator spoke up telling her the exact location she could find the person she was looking for........."no, no, she's not there or there, she's at so and so's house," the caller was told.
How about it! Anybody out there got any other telephone operator stories?
K-----K
Those of you who are historically minded, particularly regarding Boone County happenings, may find this interesting. The Kornerman was unaware and, perhaps, you are too.
It comes courtesy of former residents Gene Keys and his wife Karen (Helm) who reside in Loveland, CO. The former owners of the Ogden roller rink, Warren and Ruth Christensen, who also now live in Loveland, asked that Gene and Karen do some investigative work while in Boone for Pufferbilly. Specifically, they were asked to find and get some pictures of a monument dedicated to the crash of an Air Force B-24 bomber that had gone down about 10 miles southeast of Boone. Warren had been interested in erecting a monument honoring the crew of that plane and, in fact, put up his own money to have such a project completed. He and some Ogden friends cared for it and the surrounding area but he never took a picture of it before moving west.
Gene said the Boone County Historical Society was checked but had no knowledge of the monument so he and Karen started their own search. He wrote, "we started west bound on E57 south of Boone and across the river. We met several "dead ends" but finally found a farmer that told us exactly where it was located."
"The monument is located on "K" Avenue, a mile south of E57 on the east side of the road. On E57, there is a green marker before you get to "K," indicating with an arrow pointing south, "Historical Marker 1 Mile." The site can also be reached from Highway 169 south of Ogden and turning east on E57.
Editor's Note: It sounds as if the monument may be 10 miles southwest of Boone rather than southeast as Gene had written.
A picture was taken, then at the Ericson Public Library, the couple found a BNR article describing the crash. On July 31, 1943, the plane was on a training mission from Topeka, KS to Duluth, MN when it encountered a severe storm and crashed. Witnesses said it went down in a "ball of flames" and there were no survivors.
Due to the work of Gene and Karen, the Christensen's received a picture of the monument and a copy of the newspaper story and they were " very happy to receive them." Pam Schwartz, Executive Director of the Boone Historical Society, was also provided with the info and said she plans to do more research on the site so they can add it to their historical attractions map contained in the brochure they provide visitors.
K-----K
Happy to hear from Tom Burke who has been missing from the Korner for a time. Tom wrote, " It's been my fault. I have been overly busy on several fronts and have, consequently, been a bit remiss in some of my communication. We had an issue in town here that split residents into two camps regarding some of the rebuilding after the hurricane Sandy. Not being shy, I got myself in the middle of the issue which led to a referendum and special election which the side I was supporting won. That was intertwined with some minor, yet significant, issues I have been having physically."
Tom also explained he had to get a new computer and lost some email addresses during the transition, including that of the Korner.
K-----K
One of Tom's buddies, John Kueck, informed us of a web link that proved interesting. It was a pictorial tour of all of major league baseball's parks. John said he and wife, Sue, live just a few blocks, walking distance, from Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins and when he was a kid, the family went to Milwaukee and Wrigley Field for games.
K-----K
A couple of people who were important to our community have passed recently. Rev. Thomas Geelan, 78, who served Boone Sacred Heart for several years, died in Ruthven, IA and his services were held there.
James Henry Andrew of Jefferson, 93, passed away and services will be held Thursday in Jefferson. Andrew is the gentleman who had some 5,000 railroad items that he donated to the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum here at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad site in 2012. He was also a main financial contributor to the Museum.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Teammates, but A Long Time Ago
Keep in mind, they were teammates a long time ago, like maybe 60 years ago. But much more recently than that, the two had a business transaction not realizing they were teammate members of one of Boone High's best two-mile relay teams.
Willie explained, "yes, that was Miller Drug that sat across from the Citizens National Bank and sitting in my living room is one of the two National Cash Registers from that store. While in Ogden a few years ago, Barbara's brother (Barbara is the former Barbara Rodgers, Willie's wife) Tom Rodgers, had a similar machine that was not in good condition. Tom said he knew someone who had a register that might be better. I talked to the guy on the phone and offered to come and look at it. This didn't seem like a good idea to the fellow who said he would bring it over to me with the caveat that I would buy it if it was in good condition. I agreed. The machine didn't have any serious problems so I forked over the money and took possession. The fellow's name was Joe and his wife was Andrea. I was able to restore the machine to it's original operable condition. Several years later, we were in Ogden again and Barb's dad mentioned my name in a conversation about the cash register with his neighbor Joe and Joe said, "I ran track with Willie." We hadn't recognized each other during that earlier transaction. The members of the two-mile relay team were Joe Smith, me, Pat Ferry and Charlie Hancock and I've always felt lucky to be a part of that, we were the best in Iowa, failed to win just one time and that was because of an accident. I went across the street and visited with Joe."
Editor's note: Joe Smith passed away recently. His wife Andrea, who survives, is the former Andrea Dorman, a former BHS Homecoming Queen.
Willie said there is a picture of the Miller Drug cash register in one of those Pictorial History's of Boone County published by the Boone Today. "It's behind the counter where my sister, Helen, would take me for ice cream sodas in the 1940's."
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We heard from Mike Sundall recently that his dad, Kenny, was now residing in Cedar Rapids and we encouraged our viewers who knew Kenny to send him a card to let him know we Boone friends hadn't forgotten him. Mike wrote, "Thanks for sending my dad a card. He has it right on his dresser. He's also received other cards and calls from his Boone friends."
Editor's Note: It's not too late to send a card......Living Center East, 1220 5th Avenue S.E., Room 113. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403.
Mike added, "I have a question about the former Boone Golf and County Club that may stimulate some activity. If I remember right, the club had a pro who provided golf lessons to the youth in the late 50's or early 60's. Does anybody remember? Also, there have been many great golfers from Boone......Charlie Updegraff, Max Hall, Bob Fisher, Wayne Harrell, Jim Curell etc. Are there others I am missing? The Boone Amateur tournament used to draw top golfers from the region."
Editor's note: Amy Updegraff deserves lots of credit for those golf opportunities for young people back in the 50's and 60's. She was resolute in organizing golf days, golf lessons and tournaments which really spurred much interest among youths about the sport.
Mike mentioned some of the great group of golfers this community has produced but I'll add a few more that come to mind.......Dick Schultz, Bill Modeland, Dick Anderson, Brad Post and I'm, no doubt, missing others who deserve mention.
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Boone Area Deaths: Leona Clark, 85, Boone. Luther High grad. Worked at Spurgeon's, Cardinal Cleaners and tailored clothing for Dad and Lad. Boone area survivors include sons Brad and Breck Clark and daughter Brenda Haglund all of Boone...........Margaret Gauger, 90, Boone. Pilot Mound grad-42. Worked in food service for Boone Community schools and was a volunteer at the Boone Hospital gift shop. Boone area survivors include her daughter, Jean Torkildson of Boone.........Carroll Anderson, 79, Boone. Worked with his father and brother in a heating/air conditioning business and then worked at Percival Company. Boone area survivors include his wife, Martha, and son, Greg, and brother, Duane, all of Boone.
Loren Frazier, BHS-58, informs us of two deaths that effect members of the '58 BHS class.
Joy Pollard White's husband, Bill, 81, passed away recently in Odessa, TX. and the wife of Loren Vogler, Eleanore Vogler, 73, passed away in Elk River.
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Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Willie explained, "yes, that was Miller Drug that sat across from the Citizens National Bank and sitting in my living room is one of the two National Cash Registers from that store. While in Ogden a few years ago, Barbara's brother (Barbara is the former Barbara Rodgers, Willie's wife) Tom Rodgers, had a similar machine that was not in good condition. Tom said he knew someone who had a register that might be better. I talked to the guy on the phone and offered to come and look at it. This didn't seem like a good idea to the fellow who said he would bring it over to me with the caveat that I would buy it if it was in good condition. I agreed. The machine didn't have any serious problems so I forked over the money and took possession. The fellow's name was Joe and his wife was Andrea. I was able to restore the machine to it's original operable condition. Several years later, we were in Ogden again and Barb's dad mentioned my name in a conversation about the cash register with his neighbor Joe and Joe said, "I ran track with Willie." We hadn't recognized each other during that earlier transaction. The members of the two-mile relay team were Joe Smith, me, Pat Ferry and Charlie Hancock and I've always felt lucky to be a part of that, we were the best in Iowa, failed to win just one time and that was because of an accident. I went across the street and visited with Joe."
Editor's note: Joe Smith passed away recently. His wife Andrea, who survives, is the former Andrea Dorman, a former BHS Homecoming Queen.
Willie said there is a picture of the Miller Drug cash register in one of those Pictorial History's of Boone County published by the Boone Today. "It's behind the counter where my sister, Helen, would take me for ice cream sodas in the 1940's."
K-----K
We heard from Mike Sundall recently that his dad, Kenny, was now residing in Cedar Rapids and we encouraged our viewers who knew Kenny to send him a card to let him know we Boone friends hadn't forgotten him. Mike wrote, "Thanks for sending my dad a card. He has it right on his dresser. He's also received other cards and calls from his Boone friends."
Editor's Note: It's not too late to send a card......Living Center East, 1220 5th Avenue S.E., Room 113. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403.
Mike added, "I have a question about the former Boone Golf and County Club that may stimulate some activity. If I remember right, the club had a pro who provided golf lessons to the youth in the late 50's or early 60's. Does anybody remember? Also, there have been many great golfers from Boone......Charlie Updegraff, Max Hall, Bob Fisher, Wayne Harrell, Jim Curell etc. Are there others I am missing? The Boone Amateur tournament used to draw top golfers from the region."
Editor's note: Amy Updegraff deserves lots of credit for those golf opportunities for young people back in the 50's and 60's. She was resolute in organizing golf days, golf lessons and tournaments which really spurred much interest among youths about the sport.
Mike mentioned some of the great group of golfers this community has produced but I'll add a few more that come to mind.......Dick Schultz, Bill Modeland, Dick Anderson, Brad Post and I'm, no doubt, missing others who deserve mention.
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Leona Clark, 85, Boone. Luther High grad. Worked at Spurgeon's, Cardinal Cleaners and tailored clothing for Dad and Lad. Boone area survivors include sons Brad and Breck Clark and daughter Brenda Haglund all of Boone...........Margaret Gauger, 90, Boone. Pilot Mound grad-42. Worked in food service for Boone Community schools and was a volunteer at the Boone Hospital gift shop. Boone area survivors include her daughter, Jean Torkildson of Boone.........Carroll Anderson, 79, Boone. Worked with his father and brother in a heating/air conditioning business and then worked at Percival Company. Boone area survivors include his wife, Martha, and son, Greg, and brother, Duane, all of Boone.
Loren Frazier, BHS-58, informs us of two deaths that effect members of the '58 BHS class.
Joy Pollard White's husband, Bill, 81, passed away recently in Odessa, TX. and the wife of Loren Vogler, Eleanore Vogler, 73, passed away in Elk River.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Fun Memories
Area business news: The Korner's Ames informant tells us that the popular restaurant, Crackerbarrel, is slated for a location east of Ames proper near the new location of Deery Brothers and that Popeye's Chicken will replace the area formerly occupied by Long John Silver's. That's across the street north of Village Inn in downtown Ames.
K-----K
Pat Ahlstrom and Jim Harken have saved the Korner from an absence this day.
Pat wrote from Colorado, "I just caught up with a number of the Korner man's fabulous blogs and am inspired by the good memories of the elevator in the Citizen's Bank. I recall a nice person operating it for my mother and me on our way to Dr. Longworth's office. If you were brave for your shot or stitches you got a certificate for an ice cream cone at the drug store/soda counter across the street. What drug store was that....Keck's maybe? (Miller Drug?). The Y? I loved the Y. Carl Saubert was the Director when I spent many days there in that concrete gym and at the well worn ping pong table. Barry Wills was a young man who worked there and gave us good guidance. Junior High Grid and High School Grid were boy/girl social events. I don't remember trouble of any kind, just kids having fun....no alcohol and we never even heard of drugs. Baseball memories...my brother Mike played the first year of Little League which I'm nearly certain was 1955. Dale Ray was his coach on the Elks Club Cardinals. Then, I played 1956-58 on the Lions Club Cubs and after that, the Kiwanis Tigers in the Babe Ruth league. With Mo Kelley as all-star coach, we finished second at the state championship tournament held in the former minor league park in Sioux City. Then, I played high school ball under Bill Sapp three years, plus American Legion ball, followed by stints with the Boone Falcons so called semi-pro team. There were a lot of good players in the 50's and 60's out of Boone. We were very competitive playing against larger schools and towns."
K-----K
Jim wrote, "I've been thinking a lot about Boone. This morning, I had a little memory bring a smile to my face. There is the company called CDS Global that has an office in the Boone business park just south of Highway 30 south of where Moffitt's Ford is located. Part of their global business is being the service company for magazine subscriptions across the country. One day when I was working at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, I heard the woman who oversaw the department magazine subscriptions telling someone on the phone that they needed to send their information to CDS in Boone, Iowa, 50036. Of course, hearing Boone and the zip code, my ears perked right up. I jumped out of my chair and ran to the other cubicle asking why our magazine was sending someone to Boone, Iowa? It turned out that CDS was the service company that managed the subscriptions for Arizona Wildlife Views, the department's official magazine. We all had a good laugh when I told them Boone was my hometown! They thought that was pretty cool and later I helped some folks that had questions about subscriptions and was able to give them the Boone info as well. Pretty cool that a company in my hometown was helping people from all over the country and around the world!"
Jim added, "I also had a buddy who recently sent me a photo message on my phone of a Fareway truck on the interstate somewhere between Phoenix, Ariz. and Los Angeles, Calif. He was on his way back to Phoenix and there had been an accident on the freeway tying up traffic. Traffic was backed up so much so that people were out of their cars and walking around. He said he was about two cars behind a Fareway truck. When he saw Boone, Iowa on the mud flaps, he thought of me and took a photo.He didn't have a chance to speak to the driver, but he had a good smile thinking about ol' jimbo back in Iowa."
K-----K
Will be have any more "fun" or other kind of memories for a Saturday edition or will be draw a blank again??
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Laberta Paslay, 89, Topeka, KS. and formerly of Boone. Her late husband was a Boone pastor............Donna Kluckman, 92, San Antonio, TX. and formerly of Boone.................
Betty Ruth Hoyt Benson, 90, Ames and formerly of Boone. BHS-42. Served as a secretary for the Iowa DOT and for WOI radio/television.............Lois Walters, 84, Lakewood, CO. and formerly of Boone. Pilot Mound High grad. Worked at Bourns, ISU and Bryant School food service. Boone area survivors include her daughter, Charisse Cook of Boone and her brother, James Phipps of Pilot Mound.............H. Marian Carter, 100, Boone. Worked at Bourns. Boone area survivors include a daughter, Marcia Godfrey of Boone..........Phyliss McCormick, 77, Des Moines. Formerly of Boone.........Leona Clark, 85, Boone........Margaret Gauger, 90, Boone..............Anna Swanson, 88, Boone
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/ support.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
K-----K
Pat Ahlstrom and Jim Harken have saved the Korner from an absence this day.
Pat wrote from Colorado, "I just caught up with a number of the Korner man's fabulous blogs and am inspired by the good memories of the elevator in the Citizen's Bank. I recall a nice person operating it for my mother and me on our way to Dr. Longworth's office. If you were brave for your shot or stitches you got a certificate for an ice cream cone at the drug store/soda counter across the street. What drug store was that....Keck's maybe? (Miller Drug?). The Y? I loved the Y. Carl Saubert was the Director when I spent many days there in that concrete gym and at the well worn ping pong table. Barry Wills was a young man who worked there and gave us good guidance. Junior High Grid and High School Grid were boy/girl social events. I don't remember trouble of any kind, just kids having fun....no alcohol and we never even heard of drugs. Baseball memories...my brother Mike played the first year of Little League which I'm nearly certain was 1955. Dale Ray was his coach on the Elks Club Cardinals. Then, I played 1956-58 on the Lions Club Cubs and after that, the Kiwanis Tigers in the Babe Ruth league. With Mo Kelley as all-star coach, we finished second at the state championship tournament held in the former minor league park in Sioux City. Then, I played high school ball under Bill Sapp three years, plus American Legion ball, followed by stints with the Boone Falcons so called semi-pro team. There were a lot of good players in the 50's and 60's out of Boone. We were very competitive playing against larger schools and towns."
K-----K
Jim wrote, "I've been thinking a lot about Boone. This morning, I had a little memory bring a smile to my face. There is the company called CDS Global that has an office in the Boone business park just south of Highway 30 south of where Moffitt's Ford is located. Part of their global business is being the service company for magazine subscriptions across the country. One day when I was working at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, I heard the woman who oversaw the department magazine subscriptions telling someone on the phone that they needed to send their information to CDS in Boone, Iowa, 50036. Of course, hearing Boone and the zip code, my ears perked right up. I jumped out of my chair and ran to the other cubicle asking why our magazine was sending someone to Boone, Iowa? It turned out that CDS was the service company that managed the subscriptions for Arizona Wildlife Views, the department's official magazine. We all had a good laugh when I told them Boone was my hometown! They thought that was pretty cool and later I helped some folks that had questions about subscriptions and was able to give them the Boone info as well. Pretty cool that a company in my hometown was helping people from all over the country and around the world!"
Jim added, "I also had a buddy who recently sent me a photo message on my phone of a Fareway truck on the interstate somewhere between Phoenix, Ariz. and Los Angeles, Calif. He was on his way back to Phoenix and there had been an accident on the freeway tying up traffic. Traffic was backed up so much so that people were out of their cars and walking around. He said he was about two cars behind a Fareway truck. When he saw Boone, Iowa on the mud flaps, he thought of me and took a photo.He didn't have a chance to speak to the driver, but he had a good smile thinking about ol' jimbo back in Iowa."
K-----K
Will be have any more "fun" or other kind of memories for a Saturday edition or will be draw a blank again??
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Laberta Paslay, 89, Topeka, KS. and formerly of Boone. Her late husband was a Boone pastor............Donna Kluckman, 92, San Antonio, TX. and formerly of Boone.................
Betty Ruth Hoyt Benson, 90, Ames and formerly of Boone. BHS-42. Served as a secretary for the Iowa DOT and for WOI radio/television.............Lois Walters, 84, Lakewood, CO. and formerly of Boone. Pilot Mound High grad. Worked at Bourns, ISU and Bryant School food service. Boone area survivors include her daughter, Charisse Cook of Boone and her brother, James Phipps of Pilot Mound.............H. Marian Carter, 100, Boone. Worked at Bourns. Boone area survivors include a daughter, Marcia Godfrey of Boone..........Phyliss McCormick, 77, Des Moines. Formerly of Boone.........Leona Clark, 85, Boone........Margaret Gauger, 90, Boone..............Anna Swanson, 88, Boone
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/ support.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
More Ups and Downs
Great to hear from Jim Harken this week. Jim lived in Arizona for a time, suddenly had an awakening and realized Iowa was "home territory." He moved his family to Des Moines, worked there for a time and still lives there but now is working out of Ames for Iowa State Extension. He intends to eventually move his family to Ames.
Jim wrote, "got to thinking about the ups and downs of elevators. The elevator at Citizens had been updated to push button by the time we moved to Boone. That would have been the mid-80's, making me the kid in this group. I've ridden it all the way to the top and, as a kid, that was pretty special. I had an aunt that was an elevator operator at Shrams Department Store in Burlington. It had the lever that she moved back and forth to get the car to go up and down. I remember going to see her a couple times and her taking us up and down. I think the building was five or six floors tall. She had to move the lever just right and do a little timing to line up the floor of the car with the floor of the building. It was pretty cool as a kid! She, too, knew what was on each floor. We lived in Jesup when I was a little kid and the funeral home across the street had an elevator that was moved by a rope and pulley system. It was inside the back door of the house and went from the basement all the way to the second floor. I think it was a 10 x 10 platform that was lifted by someone pulling on the ropes. It creaked and moaned and was pretty freaky for us kids, but did a good job lifting stuff. I'm told it got replaced in the late 1990's with a hydraulic number."
Jim added, "I was in Boonetown a few weeks back and was amazed at the changes. The high school being gone was probably the most surprising. I knew it was being demolished but to see it gone..WOW! All the development on the southside. WOW! I remember talk as a kid that things would head that way, it's amazing to see it happen. I'm glad to see Boone still growing.......I guess KWBG still fits. You and Boone cross my mind a lot. Thanks Mo for all you do to promote."
K-----K
The Kornerman says, "I don't think the courthouse elevator has been mentioned. I remember years ago when the elevator there reminded me of a jail cell. As far as operating it, as Jim mentioned, I remember when you had to line up the "floor of the car with the floor of the building." If not, there was a chance for a big time stumble.
K-----K
Regarding our recent talk about collecting for papers, John Kueck wrote, "I was a Boone News Republican paperboy for more than five years. I banked at Boone State Bank. As I recall, if you had a savings account, they were more than happy to count out your change. I would take my collections to the teller window and the teller would efficiently count the money and give you your bills. Doing this weekly, 52 times a year, made you well know and the clerks would recognize you by name. It made me feel like a little business man."
K-----K
Bill Wallace wrote in from Iowa City about a new high school football rivalry. He wrote, "the Ames High Little Cyclones are going to play the Iowa City Little Hawks in their first meeting ever. HyVee has sponsored a traveling trophy for the winner of this game so it appears there will be more of these games to come. This HyVee trophy got me to thinking about "the Bell" that went to the winner of the Boone-Ames football game. When did Boone and Ames stop playing each other in football and who has "the Bell? I always read your column and enjoy the mental images of the Boone I grew up in."
Bill followed his initial note with the information that it actually was the second time the two schools had met on the football field. The first time was in the state playoffs. But, this was the first regular season meeting. By now, the game has been played and Ames won.
Editor's note: Boone and Ames have not played football games for quite some time now but I can't give you an exact date. The Korner, quite some time ago, had some talk about the Bell and it seems to me that Ames was the last "owner."
K-----K
From Alan Munson to Emily Munson and then to Tom Matt, the Korner received news of the BHS class of 1959 reunion. It will be held the weekend of October 17-18. This coming weekend, the class of 1969 will be gathering at the Adobe on Friday and Cedar Pointe on Saturday and then, of course, the class of 1944 will be having a 70th reunion September 26-27.
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Dale Bergman, 74, Stratford. Stratford High grad. Worked at Farmer's Co-op, Westrum Motors and was a farmer. Boone Area survivors include his wife, Louise, son Shawn, and daughter Jan Scheuermann all of Stratford.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Jim wrote, "got to thinking about the ups and downs of elevators. The elevator at Citizens had been updated to push button by the time we moved to Boone. That would have been the mid-80's, making me the kid in this group. I've ridden it all the way to the top and, as a kid, that was pretty special. I had an aunt that was an elevator operator at Shrams Department Store in Burlington. It had the lever that she moved back and forth to get the car to go up and down. I remember going to see her a couple times and her taking us up and down. I think the building was five or six floors tall. She had to move the lever just right and do a little timing to line up the floor of the car with the floor of the building. It was pretty cool as a kid! She, too, knew what was on each floor. We lived in Jesup when I was a little kid and the funeral home across the street had an elevator that was moved by a rope and pulley system. It was inside the back door of the house and went from the basement all the way to the second floor. I think it was a 10 x 10 platform that was lifted by someone pulling on the ropes. It creaked and moaned and was pretty freaky for us kids, but did a good job lifting stuff. I'm told it got replaced in the late 1990's with a hydraulic number."
Jim added, "I was in Boonetown a few weeks back and was amazed at the changes. The high school being gone was probably the most surprising. I knew it was being demolished but to see it gone..WOW! All the development on the southside. WOW! I remember talk as a kid that things would head that way, it's amazing to see it happen. I'm glad to see Boone still growing.......I guess KWBG still fits. You and Boone cross my mind a lot. Thanks Mo for all you do to promote."
K-----K
The Kornerman says, "I don't think the courthouse elevator has been mentioned. I remember years ago when the elevator there reminded me of a jail cell. As far as operating it, as Jim mentioned, I remember when you had to line up the "floor of the car with the floor of the building." If not, there was a chance for a big time stumble.
K-----K
Regarding our recent talk about collecting for papers, John Kueck wrote, "I was a Boone News Republican paperboy for more than five years. I banked at Boone State Bank. As I recall, if you had a savings account, they were more than happy to count out your change. I would take my collections to the teller window and the teller would efficiently count the money and give you your bills. Doing this weekly, 52 times a year, made you well know and the clerks would recognize you by name. It made me feel like a little business man."
K-----K
Bill Wallace wrote in from Iowa City about a new high school football rivalry. He wrote, "the Ames High Little Cyclones are going to play the Iowa City Little Hawks in their first meeting ever. HyVee has sponsored a traveling trophy for the winner of this game so it appears there will be more of these games to come. This HyVee trophy got me to thinking about "the Bell" that went to the winner of the Boone-Ames football game. When did Boone and Ames stop playing each other in football and who has "the Bell? I always read your column and enjoy the mental images of the Boone I grew up in."
Bill followed his initial note with the information that it actually was the second time the two schools had met on the football field. The first time was in the state playoffs. But, this was the first regular season meeting. By now, the game has been played and Ames won.
Editor's note: Boone and Ames have not played football games for quite some time now but I can't give you an exact date. The Korner, quite some time ago, had some talk about the Bell and it seems to me that Ames was the last "owner."
K-----K
From Alan Munson to Emily Munson and then to Tom Matt, the Korner received news of the BHS class of 1959 reunion. It will be held the weekend of October 17-18. This coming weekend, the class of 1969 will be gathering at the Adobe on Friday and Cedar Pointe on Saturday and then, of course, the class of 1944 will be having a 70th reunion September 26-27.
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Dale Bergman, 74, Stratford. Stratford High grad. Worked at Farmer's Co-op, Westrum Motors and was a farmer. Boone Area survivors include his wife, Louise, son Shawn, and daughter Jan Scheuermann all of Stratford.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
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