TUESDAY, DEC. 24, 2024

Our Christmas classic for the holidays

Story by Robert Hullihan, Illustrations by Brian Duffy | Special to the Times Vedette

The waterbug had grown old and weary. And he was alone. He was the only one of his kind left in the house. He knew he would never survive the next spring cleaning. He could not scurry away from the poison sprays anymore. Still, the waterbug had been so clever in his youth, and he had lived so long, that now he was the senior creature in the house. He knew that he had a last duty to perform.

So, as Christmas Eve approached, he called a meeting of all the creatures in the house. They met at a dark joint in the woodwork. It was a place that had happy memories of youth for the old waterbug. Once he had gathered with old friends here. Now all the old friends were gone. The waterbug did not recognize any of the young creatures who began to assemble around him.

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Guthrie County Supervisors discuss adding mental health therapist

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the Dec. 23 regular meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Health Service Director Jotham Arber updated the supervisors on plans to add a mental health therapist in an office in Stuart.

“We sent out those mental health budgets to the Board of Health, and they approved them. They wanted a few changes,” Arber said.

He explained that the plan is to hire a therapist to see patients in an office in Stuart but added that the owner/landlord is seeking a three-year lease rather than yearly with auto-renewal.

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Special to the Times Vedette

After a weeklong delay, Santa Claus finally made his way to the Panora Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 21 as part of the Santa’s Workshop event, which was hosted by the Panora Chamber of Commerce. A free will pancake breakfast was held along with Camp Candy Cane Crafts. Proceeds from the breakfast are going to the Panora Christmas Light fund for continued improvements.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

By night or day, the annual holiday lights display in the Mitchell City Park in Guthrie Center is worth a look. Many local businesses and families have designed displays of lights, signs and inflatables to make the holidays more festive. Free will donations are welcomed.

Monteith ‘City Council Meeting’ minutes from Dec. 17

Submitted by Barb Rees Bachman, secretary/treasurer, Monteith City Council

There were 21 people in attendance at the Monteith City Council Meeting/Christmas Celebration on Dec. 17. Mayor JD Kuster called the meeting to order, starting with the Pledge of Allegiance.

December birthdays included Carrie Dideriksen, Barry Branson, Deanne Sewell Sheley and Julie Rinehart Gilge. No December anniversaries were reported.

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Area Christmas church services

Special to the Times Vedette

Adair:
First Presbyterian Church – 5 p.m.
405 Audubon St.

United Methodist Church – 5 p.m.
404 Cass St.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4 p.m.
Services at Schafer Barn on the Hill, 1459 White Pole Road

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With regular gun seasons over, deer hunting shifts to late season mode

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

With the two regular gun seasons now in the books, Iowa’s deer hunting shifts to a more solitary endeavor with the opening of the late muzzleloader season and the reopening of the archery season.

Jace Elliott, state deer biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said roughly 15-20,000 hunters will participate in the late muzzleloader season and likely harvest about 10,000 deer.

[...]

Cribbage results from Dec. 20

Special to the Times Vedette

On Friday, Dec. 20, a total of six players participated. Clint Malbon got a 16, and Robert Klever got two 16s.

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.

Bunde, Mahaffey named to Central College Dean's List

Special to the Times Vedette

Central College in Pella recognized 411 students named to the Fall 2024 dean's list. The honor is awarded to full-time students who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale while taking 12 or more graded credit hours for the semester.

• Alaina D. Bunde, Class of 2026, from Guthrie Center
• Andrew R. Mahaffey, Class of 2028, from Guthrie Center

More than 70 calls this week including Guthrie County Deputies serving an arrest warrant in Guthrie Center and transporting one individual to the Guthrie County Jail; Stuart Police assisting Adair County in locating an individual from an accident on I-80. Panora Police responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle on Highway 44.

12-16-24

• 12:10 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
• 1:05 a.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital back to Panora Specialty Care
• 8:30 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a noise complaint in Guthrie Center
• 8:40 a.m. Stuart Fire and Stuart Rescue responded to a residential alarm in Stuart
• 9:14 a.m. Stuart Rescue responded to a medical call in Stuart

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Clover Kids After School Meeting Dates

Panora

• Jan. 7, 2025, 3:30-5 p.m.
• March 4, 2025, 3:30-5 p.m.
• May 6, 2025, 3:30-5 p.m.
• All meetings to be held at Panora Public Library

[...]

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Panorama girls basketball (6-2) battled with No. 15 ACGC (6-0) away from home on Friday, Dec. 20. The Panthers’ slow start to the game cost them in this one. Panorama trailed ACGC 19-4 after the first quarter. However, Panorama showed its ability to hang with one of the toughest teams in 1A for the rest of the game. Panorama won the second quarter, 12-11, lost the third, 14-12 and lost the fourth, 17-12. The early deficit was just too much for the Panthers to overcome. Panorama’s leading scorer, Morgan Crees, had another solid performance, scoring 26 points and collecting eight rebounds. The Panthers go on break and will not be back in action until Friday, Jan. 3 when they host Pleasantville (5-2).

PICTURED: No. 12 Morgan Crees was the top scorer for the Panthers in Friday's game against ACGC. Photo by Mark Reno

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Panorama boys basketball (1-6) made the short trip to compete against ACGC (5-0) on Friday, Dec. 20. ACGC jumped out to an early 25-12 lead and would only extend it over the game. Panorama did have a bright spot in AJ Draper's performance. The senior scored 13 points and collected six rebounds. The Panthers will hope to regroup over winter break and end their losing streak when they host Pleasantville (2-3) on Friday, Jan. 3.

PICTURED: No. 13 Cruz Randall finds the open pass to No. 2 AJ Draper in the Panthers' game Friday against ACGC. Photo by Mark Reno

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Panorama boys wrestling competed at the Trojan Duals hosted by Pleasantville on Saturday, Dec. 21. Panorama won two duals against Colfax-Mingo, 54-29, and West Central Valley, 60-14. The Panthers lost their other three against Albia, 52-18; Pleasantville, 39-36; and Williamsburg, 71-4. In the process, three Panthers hit 100 career wins: Joel Cooper, Will Knapp and Landon Kirtley.

PICTURED: Will Knapp, Joel Cooper and Landon Kirtley each achieved 100 career wins for Panorama on Saturday at the Trojan Duals. Photo by Betty Cooper

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

ACGC boys basketball (5-0) won in dominant fashion at home against WCAC rival Panorama (1-6) on Friday, Dec. 20. ACGC jumped out to an early lead and never took its foot off the gas pedal. The 40-point victory had several impressive ACGC performances, but Noah Kading’s was one to highlight. The senior had a game-high 25 points on 9/17 shooting and 14 rebounds to complete the double-double and eight assists to nearly give him the triple-double. Add on four steals on defense, and Kading had his fingerprints all over this game. Payton Policky had a solid performance with 16 points and seven rebounds.

PICTURED: No. 14 Noah Kading drives to the basket in the Chargers' game against Panorama on Dec. 20. Photo by Mark Reno

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

No. 15 ACGC girls basketball (6-0) broke its 32-game losing streak against Panorama (6-2) on Friday, Dec. 20. ACGC led the game at the end of the first quarter, 19-4, and weathered a Panorama comeback attempt, but that lead proved enough to give the Chargers a statement win early in their season. Camdyn Richter scored a game-high 30 points, trading baskets with Panorama’s Morgan Crees (26 points) all game long. Richter shot 11/18 from the field and 7/10 from the free-throw line. Richter added 11 rebounds to give her the double-double. Shay Lemke scored 13 points with seven assists and six steals.

PICTURED: ACGC's Camdyn Richter hustles for the loose ball in Friday's victory over Panorama. Photo by Mark Reno

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

ACGC boys wrestling traveled to Carroll High School for the Tiger Invite on Saturday, Dec. 21. Several Chargers competed at the tournament with Gavin Sloss (132) taking first place, defeating Owen Scott of Westwood. Ty Ganzer (138) also won his bracket, defeating Jarett Pritchard of Westwood.

ACGC results at Tiger Invite

• Chase Slaybaugh (126): Fifth place
• Gavin Sloss (132): First place
• Ty Ganzer (138): First place
• Lane Stringer (144): Second place
• Angel Martinez (165): Fifth place
• Jackson Pfrang (175): Second place

PICTURED: Gavin Sloss (132), shown here in a photo from earlier this season, took first place at the Tiger Invite in Carroll on Saturday, Dec. 21. Photo by Mark Reno

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.

From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, Dec. 22, 2004

TOYS FOR TOTS. Elementary student council officers load boxes of toys onto principal Randy Mohning's pickup. The elementary students collected 193 toys for Toys for Tots which were delivered to KCCI-8 studios last week. Left to right, Shaun Finnegan, Heather Brusman, Megan Johnson, Lesley Pearey.

Steven and Judy’s garage stores a red 1938 Ford Convertible, a tan 1941 Lincoln Zephyr sedan, and a black 1947 Ford Super Deluxe 4-door sedan.

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, December 2024

A step into the garage of Steven and Judy Kroeger feels like a step back in time. Their garage houses three beautiful classic cars, with the “newest” being more than 75 years old. The Kroegers live along Highway 25 between Menlo and Casey. Steven recently took time to tell the story of the vehicles.

“I grew up on a farm out in eastern Iowa, and my high school car was a 1940 Ford two-door sedan. So, I grew up with these old cars, and you could buy one for $100 or $200 back then, and gas was about 20 cents a gallon,” Kroeger said.

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