The Guthrie County Times Vedette Oct. 4: 10-4, good buddy!

FRIDAY, OCT. 4, 2024

10-4, good buddy!

10-4. It’s today’s date. It was also a popular response when you acknowledged that you heard someone, especially in the 1970s. The phrase was often followed by “good buddy.” 10-4 was a way of saying the message was received on radio communications. “10-4, good buddy” was CB talk — that’s citizen’s band radio for those of you who didn’t experience it.

The phrase spread into popular culture when it was used in C.W. McCall’s No. 1 song in 1975 called “Convoy.” That song, and a related movie, introduced us to Rubber Duck, Pig Pen, Sod Buster and, of course, the smokeys and bears. About that same time, the “Smokey and the Bandit” movie took the trucking lifestyle and CB communication to a new level. Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and that really cool 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, helped, too.

A few years ago, some good buddies of mine and I were feeling nostalgic and decided we would buy and install CB radios in our vehicles. What we were quickly reminded of was the importance of a quality antenna. And since none of us wanted to install a whip antenna on our vehicles, we settled for limited range and, as a result, only picked up the local school bus communication. I had a magnetic antenna that I put out through the moonroof on my truck when I wanted to use it. Seemed like a good idea, until the wind whipped it off and it slammed back and forth on the side panels. Regardless, we relived our youth and tried to recall all that CB lingo. It might seem silly with today’s technology, but the recent hurricane devastation and loss of power and modern communication methods remind me how important citizen’s band radio can be in emergency situations.

Back to 10-4. Ever wonder where the phrase originated? It is one of the “ten-codes,” or radio signals, invented by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International. The ten-codes are credited to Illinois State Police Communications Director Charles Hopper, who created them between 1937-1940 for use in quick and clear radio communications among police officers.

According to policecodes.net and other sources, the use of the number 10 before all of the codes wasn’t too important, as it was simply a placeholder to give the motor-generator time to speed up enough to hear the second part of the code. The 4 was chosen to mean “acknowledgement” of a message. These handy codes were quickly adopted by CB radio enthusiasts and truckers. Now you know.

So, as a salute to the 1970s, truckers, radio operators and CBs in general, I challenge you to say “10-4, good buddy” as many times as you can today.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-755-2115

Burn ban in place for Guthrie County

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

All of Guthrie County is now under a burn ban as ordered by the State Fire Marshal. Jeremy Cooper, director of the Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency, requested the burn ban based on continuing dry conditions.

The proclamation stated, in part, “The Fire Marshal finds that conditions in Guthrie County are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property. It is therefore ordered that no person shall engage in open burning in Guthrie County… except as specifically permitted by Iowa Code 100.40 (3) until such time as Jeremy Cooper… notifies the State Fire Marshal that such conditions dangerous to life or property no longer exists.”

Guthrie County 14-day weather forecast is for mostly sunny and sometimes breezy weather with little to no chances of rain, so the heightened danger is likely to persist for much of October.

	10 Squared Women present $14,600 to Guthrie County First Responders

	Special to the Times Vedette The 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County held its third-quarter meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Twin Vines in Panora. Forty women attended in person, and six members attended via Zoom. After hearing presentations from Friends of the Mary J Barnett Library (Guthrie Center), Guthrie County First Responders and Guthrie Center Farmer’s Market, the group announced a lump sum of $14,600 would be presented to Guthrie County First Responders. This consists of member donations and several employer matches. [...]

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	ACGC FFA represents well at Guthrie County Fair

	By Stella Largent \| ACGC FFA Reporter ACGC FFA had 10 members participate in the Guthrie County Fair over the Labor Day weekend. The members saw a lot of success while having fun showing off their projects. For the beef show, five members brought lead cattle as well as pens. Will Kading, Braydon Betts, and Hali Klingenberg all received blue ribbons for their cow/calf pen exhibits. Lilly Rochholz exhibited her junior feeder pen and also received a blue ribbon. Stella Largent exhibited her lead cattle receiving grand champion with her cow calf pair and reserve champion senior showmanship. [...]

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	Bairds have Guthrie Center Yard of the Month

	Special to the Times Vedette Roger and Marie Baird at 1101 North St. in Guthrie Center are the winners of $100 in chamber bucks from the Guthrie Center Lions Club and the Guthrie Center Chamber of Commerce for the Yard of the Month contest for September. These two organizations have teamed up to award citizens who maintain and take pride in their yard with this monthly contest. This is the last award for the season.

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	Drivers urged to stay alert for deer movement

	From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Drivers are advised to stay alert as they travel Iowa’s roads over the coming weeks. Autumn deer behavior, crop harvest and peak travel times for motorists combine to hike the risk of vehicle-deer collisions in Iowa. From the middle of October until the third week of November, Iowa bucks become more active in the pursuit of does during the breeding season. Motorists may be distracted by the first deer that crosses not seeing the pursuing buck. This adds to multiple scenarios of fast moving, unpredictable deer crossing highways. [...]

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	Wait until after Oct. 15 to prune oak trees

	From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree during the growing season. “It’s best to wait until after Oct. 15 to start pruning oak trees,” Tivon Feeley with the Iowa DNR’s forest health program says. “Then you can prune your oaks all winter long with the goal to stop pruning by March 1.” [...]

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Upcoming events at Jamaica Library

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Jamaica Library has a variety of public events planned this month including:
Sunday, Oct. 6: Guthrie County Genealogy Monthly Meeting, 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10: Coffee Chat with RSVP 55-plus Community Needs, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 17: Coffee Chat with Hospice, 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 17 and Oct. 31: Food Hive Fresh Food Delivery (all are welcome), 2-7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 24: Kids Craft with Guthrie County Hope, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29: JPL Trustees meeting, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: Drop-in costume party (prizes, games, treats) and “almost scary” story hour, 4-7 p.m. (pizza at 5 p.m.)

The Jamaica Public Library is located at 316 Main St. in Jamaica. Call 641-429-3362, email jampublib@netins.net or visit www.jamaica.lib.ia.us.

Grants available for community tree plantings

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Through the USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received funds for tree planting grants for communities.

The Iowa Tree Planting Grant provides reimbursable grants to purchase trees, mulch, tree staking/protection and supplemental watering by contractor or city staff. The grant is a two-year program allowing for planting to take place in the spring and fall of 2025 and 2026. Grant funding is competitive, non-match, and awarded in amounts between $10,000 to $30,000 per applicant.

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Appreciation Dinner for Guthrie Livestock Auction held Sept. 28

Special to the Times Vedette

Hosting the Annual Appreciation Dinner for Guthrie Livestock Auction on Sept. 28 were Dan and Terry Laughery. The event was held at 5:30 p.m. at Café on The Hill in Guthrie Center with Sarah Messinger assisting. Sarah furnished the hors d’oeuvres along with the salads, vegetables and twice-baked potatoes, and Dan and Terry grilled the steaks and loins. A decorated red velvet cake was furnished by Marcia Koepke.

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Cribbage results from Oct. 2

Special to the Times Vedette

On Oct. 2, a total of 13 players participated. Wayne Nickel got a 24, Sandy Rumelhart got a 16 and a 20, Jim Carico had a 16, Dan Webb got a 17, Lela Schwartz brought in an 18, and Robert Klever came up with a 16 and a 24.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library on Mondays at 8 a.m., at the New Homestead independent living rec room at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays, and at the Guthrie Center Activity Center at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.

Correction

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

An article in the September 2024 Panora Times and the Aug. 30 Guthrie County Times Vedette on the hiring of Panorama Schools graduate Janelle Higgins at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) included inaccurate family information regarding Higgins. Her father is Lyle Higgins (deceased), and she was raised by Dennis and LeeAnn Pittman.