| | Don’t purse your lips
Can you tell when someone is lying to you? If not, would you like to learn how? I would. And that’s why I continue to read the works of Vanessa Van Edwards.
Van Edwards is a behavioral investigator, author and body language trainer. She runs Science of People, a human behavior research lab where she studies charisma, influence and power body language. Basically, she is an expert on lying and says we should all pay close attention to the body language of liars. She suggests the following steps:
Step 1: Determine a person’s baseline, which Van Edwards says is how he or she acts when under normal, non-threatening conditions. She says to take note when talking casually to people about topics they would have no reason to lie about. Once you gain an understanding of their cues, she says you can then focus on when they tend to use those gestures. When you see sudden differences in the baseline, she says it might be a sign they are lying.
Step 2: Look for red flags like lip pursing, question inflections, a lack of contractions, a lack of personal pronouns, sudden distancing, or the presence of microexpressions. She explains all in further detail, and, thank goodness, as I didn’t know what lip pursing or microexpressions were. Back to Step 1 for a moment. Van Edwards says to remember these signs are only red flags if they differ from a person’s baseline.
Step 3: Find a cluster of three and don’t take a single red flag as a sure sign of lying. Van Edwards claims most liars leak more than one lying cue in a matter of minutes — or even seconds. Yikes.
I once worked for a guy who said he would always tell me the truth because he wasn’t capable of keeping a bunch of lies straight. I was good with that. Van Edwards says it’s better to assume the truth from people, but you should protect yourself from liars by taking note of the baselines of the people you engage with. Any deviations from this behavior can be a warning.
I had a business partner many years ago who, in a quite convincing way, would look me in the eyes and nod while he was lying to me. I would find myself nodding back and accepting his stories, at least until I caught on to his tactics.
I have a good friend today who can spot liars in seconds, and he says some of them simply can’t seem to help themselves. “She would lie when the truth would fit better,” he would say.
How about you? What signs tell you someone is lying? Send me a note and share. Meanwhile, whether you are attempting to call out a liar or, heaven forbid, cover up some lies of your own, use these three steps as a guide. Just don’t purse your lips.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
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| | Guthrie County Supervisors hear update on expanding mental health services
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the March 11 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Jotham Arber, Health Services Director, provided an update Guthrie County’s plans to expand mental health services.
“This is the culmination of five years’ worth of work,” Arber said. “Finally, I feel like we’ve gone from the ‘identify’ phase into the ‘we can actually do something about it’ phase. Our hope is, over the next few weeks, to start getting out into the community… so that when folks are in Guthrie County and they need access to mental health services, they have it.”
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| | Panora City Council approves 5% water and sewer rate increases
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
At the March 10 meeting of the Panora City Council, the councilmembers voted to approve the utility rate changes recommended by Susanne Gerlach (Public Financial Management) during her presentation at the Feb. 24 meeting. The increases will be 5% each on water and sewer rates.
The council also considered the situation brought up by citizen Josh Calmer during the Feb. 24 meeting. At that time, he described the charges he incurred due to a sewer line that was blocked when work was done by Accu-Jet. Mayor Curt Thornberry repeated his Feb. 24 statement that he agrees Calmer should not be liable for the charges.
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| | Guthrie Center City Council considers financial management services
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the March 10 meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council, Susanne Gerlach of Public Financial Management (PFM) addressed the councilmembers regarding the financial advisory services PFM can provide to the city. She explained that PFM serves Panora and many other cities throughout Iowa and the nation.
Gerlach said if they wish to partner with PFM, she suggests the city contract with PFM at a cost of $10,000 per year, plus an additional $5,000 the first year for collecting information to build models of the city’s situation and projects.
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 | | | Puzzles event draws large crowd | | | | | | | | By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Saturday, March 8 proved to be a puzzling evening in Guthrie Center, as 21 teams of four competed at the Guthrie Center Activity Center in the first-ever “Puzzles, Pies and Pints” event. Proceeds supported the Activity Center.
When the signal was given to begin, each team raced to put together a 300-piece puzzle while also eating a large pizza and downing 12 pints of beverage. | | | | | | | | See more photos | |
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 | | | More than 300 fed at Paul’s Fish Fry on Sunday | | | | | | | | By Kerry Jacobsen | Times Vedette
American Legion Post 372 and VFW Post 5510 held Paul’s Fish Fry at The Port on Sunday, March 9, and it was another huge success with more than 300 fish dinners served. | | | | | | | | See more photos | |
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| | Panorama Schools add April 18 as snow day make-up
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the March 11 meeting of the Panorama School Board, discussion of recent weather cancellations was held. The board approved making Friday, April 18 a student contact day. It will be a typical Friday schedule with a 1:45 p.m. dismissal. The final day of the school year is still set for May 23.
The board also approved the 2025-2026 school year calendar with one possible change to come, depending on a decision of the Iowa Legislature.
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| | Cribbage results from March 10
Special to the Times Vedette
A total of nine players participated on March 10. Sandy Rumelhart got a 20. Rhonda Titus and Allen Pierce each got a 16. Robert Klever got two 16s, Joanne Zieser brought in a 21.
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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| | Kerry K. Sheeder | | | | | | | | 1960-2025
Kerry K. Sheeder was born Dec, 6, 1960, in Guthrie Center, to Richard and Betty (Sheley) Sheeder. He passed away on March 8, 2025, at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center.
He grew up on a farm west of Guthrie Center. He graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1979. On May 26, 1990, he married Brenda Barnard in Pickrell, Nebraska. They were blessed with two children, Richard and Kassandra. They were his life, and he enjoyed showing his passion of farming with them.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full obituary | |
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| | More than 120 calls this week including Guthrie County Deputies, Panora Police, and Panora Ambulance Unit 2 responding to a report of an assault in rural Panora. Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputy responding to a report of a jack-knifed semi in rural Panora and multiple motorists assists in the area. Guthrie County Deputy responding to a report of a theft in Bayard.
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9:15 a.m. Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputies followed up on an investigation in rural Menlo
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10:20 a.m. Casey Fire Department assisted Adair Fire Department with a grass fire in rural Adair
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10:45 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident
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10:55 a.m. Panora Police responded to a driving complaint
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11:30 a.m. Stuart Police assisted an individual
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| | Panther girls track gets early start to season at IATC Indoor Championships this Friday
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The Panorama girls track and field team will hit the track early this season when the team competes at the 2025 2A Girls IATC Indoor Championships on Friday, March 14 in Ames. Panorama will compete against 59 other teams at the event. | |
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| | ACGC boys track off to the races this Thursday in Ames
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The ACGC boys track and field team will compete for the first time this season on Thursday, March 13 in Ames at the 2025 Boys 1A IATC Indoor Championships. The Chargers will compete against 60 other teams. | |
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| | Charger girls track and field team starts season in Ames at IATC Indoor Championship
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The ACGC girls track and field team hits the blocks for the first time this year at the 2025 1A Girls IATC Indoor Championships on Friday, March 14 in Ames. ACGC will compete against 56 other teams at the event. | |
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Stem Fest
- Guthrie County Extension and Outreach presents Guthrie County STEM FEST 2025 Saturday, March 29, 9-11 a.m.
- Guthrie Elementary School, 900 North Fourth St., Guthrie Center
- Open to all youth and families grades K-sixth
Seed Starting Workshop
- Wednesday, March 19, 6 p.m.
- Panorama High School Greenhouse
- Participants will learn how to start vegetables from seed and plant seeds to grow bedding plants for your garden. Seed and planting materials provided. Cost $10.
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| | More than just books | | | | | | | | By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
Despite last week’s crazy weather, spring is just around the corner. That means adjusting to Daylight Savings Time, tulips and spring cleaning. As you clean your closets, many people think of the library as a place to donate things. We appreciate donations, but we do have some limitations on what we can accept. Unfortunately, we do not have unlimited space, so we have to be judicious with the donations we accept.
We would be thrilled to have donations of Guthrie Center High School and ACGC High School Yearbooks. We are working on a grant to digitize our collection of yearbooks, so the more complete our collection, the better.
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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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 | | | 30 years ago | | | | | | | | From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, March 8, 1995
GCHS BOWLERS TO MUSCATINE. The Guthrie Center High School girls and boys bowling teams advanced to state competition in Muscatine April 22 due to their finishes in districts at Manning Sunday. The girls were first with 2,104 pins in a three-game scratch series, and the boys placed second with 2,460 pins in a three-game scratch series. Front row, from left, sponsor Dave Litterer, Gary Albaugh, Tina Schnetter, Carrie Albaugh and Wanda Michaelson. Back row: Stacy Harwood, Travis Heckman, David Sheeder, Kyle Chance, Jenni Wedemeyer and Kris Stringham. | | | | | | | | See more Yester Years | |
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 | | | Meatball tortellini soup | | | | | | | | By Jolene Goodman | Lake Panorama Times, February 2025
Quick, easy and super-yummy. Those words describe this month’s recipe. If your schedule is like mine this time of year, it is packed with events. As such, meal preparation cannot take an entire night. You will love this recipe for its ease, as it comes together in about 30 minutes. Here are a few bits of advice. First, use frozen, cooked, mini meatballs. Second, I made it without the heavy cream and enjoyed the broth, saved on the calories and eliminated the dairy. Next, have an extra 32-ounce box of beef broth on hand, as the noodles really soak up the broth. I used the entire extra 32-ounce box in the soup by the time we consumed a double batch. Lastly, do make a double batch, as it truly, tastes better the next day. Extra soup means leftovers, and you’ll appreciate this quick-and-easy, ready-made meal. Try it tonight and let me know what you think. Do you have other recipes to share? Send them my way. Happy cooking!
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full recipe | |
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