| | All tied up
I am not a cowboy, but I do have the boots — or at least I used to.
Here’s the story. For one reason or another, I was late to the game in learning how to tie my shoes. In fact, I was the only kid in my kindergarten class who failed to figure it out. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort on my part. I tried and tried to learn how to tie my shoes. All I ended up doing was tying strings around my fingers. It was frustrating, even for a 5-year-old. I have a similar struggle today with an iron, as I just seem to iron one wrinkle into another. Someday I will figure it out, but back to the shoe-tying dilemma of my youth.
No worries. I had a solution — cowboy boots. Yes, cowboy boots. Simple to put on. Simple to take off. And none of those annoying shoelaces. They weren’t fashion friendly with shorts, but I mostly went barefoot in the summer months anyway. When the school year rolled around, this kid looked like Roy Rogers, sans Trigger, of course.
In case you are wondering, I wasn’t a farm kid. I grew up in town, so I was urban cowboy before urban cowboy was cool. But a trendsetter, I was not. No other kid in my class wore cowboy boots, not even the farm kids. They all knew how to tie their shoes.
I did eventually learn this life skill, sometime in the first grade. I may not remember the exact date, but I know it was a glorious moment. After a few years of others showing me how easy this was, I finally figured it out. Something just clicked, and I then proudly showed everyone how I could tie my shoes. Most didn’t understand my moment of pride, but that’s OK. They also didn’t wear cowboy boots to kindergarten class.
Now if I could just figure out the iron.
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707 | |
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 | | | Drive Your Tractor to School Day | | | | | | | | By Kerry Jacobsen | Times Vedette
Panorama schools held its annual Drive Your Tractor to School Day on Thursday, April 3 with many students participating. It was open to both FFA members and non-FFA members who have their school permit or license. | | | | | | | | See more photos | |
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 | | | Children’s Clothes Closet receives $14,200 from 10 Squared Women | | | | | | | | By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
The 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County held the first meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall in Guthrie Center. Thirty-nine women attended in person or via Zoom.
Julie Dent-Zajicek presented for Tori’s Angels Foundation, Paulette Chambers presented for Children’s Clothes Closet (3C’s), and Devan Seeck presented for St. Thomas More Center. After hearing all three presentations, the group voted to approve a lump sum of $14,200 from member donations and several employer matches to Children’s Clothes Closet.
[..] | | | | | | | | Read the full story | |
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 | | | Iowa boat registrations expire April 30 | | | | | | | | From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Iowans will register more than 220,000 boats before April 30 when current boat registrations expire. Boat registrations are good for three years. Registration fees support boater education and safety, water trails, navigation enforcement and aquatic invasive species.
Boat owners may bring their current registration to any Iowa county recorder’s office when they renew. Nonresidents who register their boat in Iowa must go to the county where the boat is primarily used.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full story | |
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| | Farmers State Bank of Yale welcomes new director, David Wagler | | | | | | | | By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Farmers State Bank of Yale announced the appointment of David Wagler to its board of directors.
Wagler has more than three decades of experience in engineering, construction estimating and real estate. A 1984 graduate of Sigourney High School, he earned an associate of applied science degree from Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo in 1986.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full story | |
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| | Panora Easter Fun April 19 at Veterans Auditorium and the Panora Square
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
This year, the Panora Chamber of Commerce’s Easter activities will be held on Saturday, April 19 at Veterans Auditorium and the Panora Square rather than at the Guthrie County Historical Village. Everyone is welcome. The fun begins with crafts and games in Vet’s Auditorium from 9-10 a.m. At 10, the fun moves outside onto the Square, with kids participating in the annual Easter Egg Hunt. | |
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| | Legislative Coffee April 5
Special to the Times Vedette
State Sen. Jesse Green and State Rep. Carter Nordman will be meeting with constituents for a legislative coffee on April 5. The coffee will be from 8-9 a.m. at the Guthrie County Farm Bureau, 203 N. Fourth St, Guthrie Center. | |
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| | Fin and Feather Banquet May 10
Special to the Times Vedette
The Fin and Feather Banquet will be held at the Lake Panorama National Conference Center on May 10. The doors will open at 5 p.m. with dinner starting at 6 p.m. A live auction and silent auction will be held, along with other games to play for people of all ages. Anyone looking to purchase tickets early may do so at www.panoramafinandfeather.com/banquet. This committee stocks Lake Panorama each year and completes other various projects to support fish and wildlife around the lake. | |
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| | Upcoming fundraiser meals — tenderloins and fish
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
American Legion Post No. 124 will sponsor a fresh-cut breaded tenderloin meal at Café on the Hill (2303 State St., Guthrie Center) on Sunday, April 6. Serving will begin at 5 p.m. and last until all tenderloins are gone. A suggested donation of $12 is requested for each meal. Dine-in or carry-out.
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church (603 Main St., Guthrie Center) will hold an all-you-can-eat fish fry, with free beer, from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 11. The meal also includes homemade cornbread muffins, coleslaw, au gratin potatoes, dessert, lemonade and tea. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for kids. A cheese pizza option is also available for kids. Meals are available for dine-in or drive-through. | |
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| | Burn ban lifted
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
State Fire Marshal Dan Wood announced that the open burn ban in Guthrie County has been lifted, effective 2:30 p.m. on April 2. Anyone wishing to check the county’s status regarding burn bans or other emergency information can access the county’s website, www.guthriecounty.gov and then go to the Emergency Management page under Departments. | |
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| | Events at the Casey Library
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Librarian Leah Becker at the Casey Public Library reminds readers that National Library Week is April 6-12. The Casey Library has events going on that week and throughout the month. Offerings include:
Wednesday, April 9 at 4 p.m.: Guthrie County ISU Outreach and Extension presents “Dirt-n-Worms: Learn about worms and their four main parts.”
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| | Prom season is here
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
April is prom season in Guthrie County. The ACGC Prom will be held April 5 at the high school, with the Grand March at 5 p.m.
Panorama High School will host its prom on April 12, with the Grand March at 4:30 p.m. | |
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| | Cribbage results from April 2
Special to the Times Vedette
A total of 14 players participated on April 2. Allen Pierce got a 17 and an 18, Jim Carico got an 18, Dan Webb got a 20, Gary Evans got the 24, Dick Ellis got a 21, and Clint Malbon and Robert Klever each got a 16.
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. | |
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| | Shelley Hayes | | | | | | | | 1966-2025
Shelley Renae Hayes, 58, daughter of Darrell and Ida Gayle (Freeman) Kromrie, was born June 22, 1966, at the Guthrie County Hospital, Guthrie Center. She gained her eternal freedom from pain on Monday, March 31, 2025, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines.
Shelley grew up in Guthrie Center and graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1985. She worked many jobs in the community: a CNA at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center, in-home day care, and, finally, as a teacher associate at the Guthrie Center High School.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full obituary | |
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 | | | Panorama soccer comes away with win against Kuemper Catholic | | | | | | | | By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
Panorama boys soccer (1-1) defeated Kuemper Catholic (0-1) by a score of 1-2 at home on Tuesday, April 1. The Panthers face West Central Valley tonight.
PICTURED: No.17 Landon Kirtley celebrates while the Kuemper Catholic goalie retrieves the ball during Panorama's 2-1 win on April 1. Photo by Mark Reno | | | | | | | | See more photos | |
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 | | | Panorama girls forced to forfeit game against Kuemper Catholic | | | | | | | | By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The Panorama girls soccer team was forced to forfeit a game the team initially won, 4-1, against Kuemper Catholic on April 1 due to inadvertently playing an ineligible player, according to Activities Director Bruce Dahlhauser.
“Upon realizing the error, Panorama Community Schools promptly reported the situation to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union,” he said. “While Panorama initially won the match with a final score of 4-1, the team has officially forfeited the contest in accordance with IGHSAU guidelines.”
The girls face West Central Valley tonight.
PICTURED: No. 15 Faith Recker prepares to shoot against Kuemper Catholic on April 1. Photo by Mark Reno | | | | | | | | See more photos | |
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| | Panorama boys 11th at Ogden Early Bird
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The Panorama boys track team finished in 11th place with 34 points at the Ogden Coed meet Thursday, April 3. Atlantic captured first with 96 points.
“It was good to get our first outdoor meet under our belts, especially for our freshmen who hadn't experienced a true high school meet yet,” Coach Bruce Dahlhauser said. “Our biggest takeaway as coaches was that these young guys weren't fazed or intimidated by the atmosphere or the competition. It ended up being a fairly large meet on the boys side, and we were certainly one of the smallest schools in the group. Our guys gave tremendous effort and competed very well. While points and placings don't always show that, I do think our kids deserve a lot of credit for their performance.”
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| | Panther girls land in 6th place at Ogden Early Bird
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The Panorama track team came away from the Ogden Coed meet Thursday, April 3 in sixth place with 66 points, inched out by St. Edmond’s 66.5 points and Winterset’s 68. Van Meter won with 123 points, followed by host Ogden with 104.5. Maddy Lutz came away with the sole first-place finish with her 400-meter dash time of 1:03.40. Kylie Rochholz provided another highlight with her second-place 800-meter run time of 2:31.45. | |
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| | Panorama girls and boys golf tees off Monday
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
Panorama boys and girls golf teams will start their seasons on Monday, April 7 at Deer Run Golf Club. The meet is hosted by Interstate 35. Panorama will compete against Interstate 35, Earlham and Van Meter. | |
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| | Boys win at Griswold/Stanton Relays
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The ACGC boys track team took first place in a field of 15 teams at the Griswold/Stanton Relays Thursday, April 3 with 125 points, 10 more than second-place Griswold with 115. Leading the way with first place finishes were the ACGC 4x100 meter relay team with a time of 44.79; the 800-medley relay team in a time of 1:38.09; the 4x110-meter shuttle hurdle relay team in 1:02.72; and Mike Fuller in the discus, 149-02.
Placing second were the 4x400-meter relay team in 3:37.95; Joe Crawford in the 100-meter dash in a time of 11.60; and Tate Fever in the 400-meter hurdles, 57.62. Round out the top-three finishers in third place were Dean Vela in the 100-meter dash, 23.76; Tate Fever in the 110-meter hurdles, 15.54; Jathan South in the high jump, 5-08.00; and Mike Fuller in the shot put, 44-09.5
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| | Girls finish seventh at Griswold/Stanton Relays
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The ACGC girls track team finished seventh with 51 points in a field of 13 teams at the Griswold/Stanton Relays Thursday, April 3. Tri-Center won with 149 points. Ava Campbell garnered the team’s sole first place finish in the 1500-Meter Run in 5:00.31. She also placed second in the 800-meter run in 2:23.00. The only other top-three finish was by the 4x400 meter relay in 4:31.80. | |
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| | Charger golf hits the links for first time next Monday
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The ACGC boys and girls golf teams will compete at their season debut at Woodward Golf Club, hosted by Madrid, on Monday, April 7. ACGC will compete against Madrid, Pleasantville and West Central Valley. | |
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| | Congregate Meals are served at Sneakers Café, Monday through Friday, in the Guthrie County Hospital. No meals are available on major holidays or during inclement weather. This service is available for seniors ages 60 and older. No reservation is needed. All menus follow Elderbridge-approved menus and provide at least one-third of the nutritional needs of individuals 60 and older. Menus are subject to change. For more information on these services, call 641-332-3818. | |
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| | Boulder Cove Condos is currently taking proposals for a Landscape/Maintenance contractor. This is a full-time position taking care of landscaping, snow removal and general maintenance of the 46-unit subdivision. This position starting April 16 would require the contractor to provide all equipment needed to maintain grounds. For more information, please contact Duane Baedke at 515-570-6774. | |
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| | Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker: Provides grounds maintenance services for parks, municipal building grounds, and along right of ways. Primary duties would be mowing with other duties performed to include trash and litter removal, possible flower bed cleaning, minor tree trimming, and equipment maintenance. Average duration of seasonal employment is 4 to 9 months. Click HERE.
Teachers, Coaches, Paraeductor at Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Schools: Teaching Positions: MS Science, MS English Language Arts, HS Language Arts, Special Education, MS-HS Spanish, K-12 TAG, Elementary Paraeducator, Anticipated Industrial Technology Athletic Positions: HS Head Coach Softball, HS Assistant Softball, JH Boys and Girls Track, HS Boys Track, HS Head Coach Baseball, HS Assistant Baseball. Click HERE.
Veterans Service Officer and General Assistance for Greene County: Oversight and administration of office operations for Greene County Veterans Affairs Office. Direct and coordinate Veterans assistance programs throughout the county in accordance with Chapter 35B of the Code of Iowa. Assist veterans and/or their eligible dependents n securing local, state and federal benefits. Provide outreach services to Veterans and serve as Veteran advocate in the community. Position also includes assisting the public with needs regarding he General Assistance program in Greene County. Click HERE.
See more job listings at https://gctimesnews.com/job-board. | |
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 | | | 20 years ago | | | | | | | | From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, April 6, 2005
COLORADO KIDS. This Odyssey of the Mind team from GCHS advanced to World Competition in Boulder, Colorado, in May. Accompanied by Jordan Sorensen, left, Mary Mortensen, Shannon Rees, Tyler Norgart (dust bunny) and Neil Myers sing and dance during their performance Saturday. | | | | | | | | See more Yester Years | |
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 | | | Celebrate spring's arrival with a skillet fish fry | | | | | | | | By Jolene Goodman | Lake Panorama Times, March 2025
I am a fan of fish and seafood in general. Healthy and light, it satisfies my hunger every time. Grilling is typically my preparation method, as it is easy with little clean-up and no “fishy” smell.
This time of year, I look forward to the local fish fries. I must confess, “fried” foods do delight my taste buds. So, when I saw this recipe recently, I wanted to give it a try. The Pan-Fried Catfish recipe is perfect for enjoying flaky fillets without the mess. Because this catfish is pan-fried instead of deep-fried, I recommend using butter and olive oil. The mixture adds a delicious, creamy flavor, and it is easy to work with.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full recipe | |
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Submit your answers at the bottom of our website at gctimesnews.com | |
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