| | Start earlier
Rush! Hurry! Urgent! And a couple hundred other words to tell us to get moving. The dictionary is full of them, and so are each one of us. But why do we seem to be in such a hurry?
When I was a young man at my first out-of-college job at The Des Moines Register, I would debate whether to take I-235 or Grand Avenue to work each morning from my apartment in West Des Moines to downtown. That was like debating between a punch in the kidney or a kick in the face. Neither was appealing. And neither was predictable. But what was predicable was that I would wait till the last minute to leave for work and then drive in a panic to avoid being late. It wasn’t a nice way to start the day. I eventually learned that if I left for work 30 minutes earlier, I could avoid the traffic, get to work with a smile on my face, and actually get a head start on my tasks. What a concept!
I remember having the same debate — and stress — on the way home from work. Cranking out a Red Hot Chili Peppers CD on my car stereo likely didn’t lessen my stress levels. As a young, single guy in an apartment in the early 1990s, what was I in a hurry for? To play a game of darts with my roommates? To get to 7 Flags for a workout? To join friends at Clive After Five?
Many years later, when I first became acquainted with my friend and CITYVIEW columnist Joe Weeg, we met at our office in Des Moines. I joined him in the conference room with my yellow pad and a pen. He immediately started laughing. “I remember rushing from one meeting to another, taking notes on those yellow pads,” he told me. The retired Polk County prosecutor then said, “Now all I rush for is another cup of coffee.”
Retirement certainly helps many people to avoid being in a hurry — but not everyone. I am convinced that some people simply choose to be in hurry. Always.
A Georgian proverb says, “He who is in a hurry always arrives late.” There is a simple truth in that Georgian message. There is also a simple solution that I learned the hard way: start earlier.
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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| | Supervisors discuss weather closure policy for county offices
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the regular meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors on March 6, discussion was held regarding county offices and/or the courthouse being closed during inclement weather events. Supervisor Steve Smith asked if there is a standard process and if each department makes a decision.
“If you close the courthouse, there are essential workers that have to work, and that puts them into overtime then,” Supervisor Mike Dickson said.
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 | | | Guthrie County 4-H Awards held Feb. 10 | | | | | | | | By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
On Feb. 10, Guthrie County 4-H youth were honored during the annual awards ceremony at the Guthrie County Events Center. | | | | | | | | See another photo from the event | |
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 | | | ACGC FFA wins awards at district contests | | | | | | | | Special to the Times Vedette
On March 1, ACGC FFA members competed at the SW District Contests at Greene County Schools. Members competed against approximately 30 other FFA chapters from southwest Iowa.
Two members earned the right to advance to the State FFA Leadership Conference for their officer book records and will take these to the conference April 13-15. Advancing to State are the Treasurer’s Book, by Blaise Tallman, which received first place and a gold rating, and the Chapter Scrapbook, by Lilah Heinz, which received second place and a gold rating.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full story | |
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 | | | Finish pruning oak trees now due to unseasonably warm temperatures | | | | | | | | From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) suggests immediately finishing pruning oak trees to prevent the spread of oak wilt.
“We typically suggest to stop pruning oaks around March 15,” Tivon Feeley, forest health program leader with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, explains. “The unseasonably warm February has moved up that date. Pruning oak trees should stop out of an abundance of caution.”
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full story | |
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 | | | Panora Library events in March | | | | | | | | By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
The Panora Library offers many events this month, as shown here.
- March 12 at 4 p.m.: Bingo for kids.
- March 13 at 4 p.m.: All ages Author Talk with Jacqueline Reinig, author of “Faery Academy of Quillsnap.”
- March 14, 10-11 a.m.: Story time for ages 0-5.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full list of events | |
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| | Author to talk at Panora Library | | | | | | | | By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Author Jacqueline Reinig will be on hand at the Panora Library on Thursday, March 13 at 4 p.m. to talk about her book, “Faery Academy of Quillsnap: Night of the Purple Moon.”
The novel tells the story of Tansy, who exists in the Faery Realm. Tansy faces a cruel guardian and a dangerous enchanted forest to save her school but accidentally uncovers secrets of her mother's disappearance and the realm itself.
The Panora Library owns one copy of the book. Additional copies will be available for purchase during the author talk. | |
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| | Remember to spring forward
Special to the Times Vedette
Daylight savings time begins this weekend. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday evening. | |
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| | Lake Panorama road embargo begins March 10
Special to the Times Vedette
A 5-ton vehicle weight limit on Lake Panorama roads will begin Monday, March 10 due to roadbeds being soft and incapable of holding heavy loads. The 5-ton weight limit will continue until roadbeds dry out enough to support heavy loads.
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| | Panorama to offer free preschool for 4-year-olds
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
For the 2025-2026 school year, Panorama Elementary will offer preschool for 4-year-olds on four full days per week at no cost to families. To be eligible, the child must be 4 years old by Sept. 15. The program will run Mondays through Thursdays with an option for noon pick-up if desired.
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| | Guthrie County Pheasants/Quail Forever banquet set
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
The annual Guthrie County Pheasants/Quail Forever banquet will be held at the Lake Panorama Conference Center, 5071 Clover Ridge Road, on Saturday, April 5. Doors open at 5 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Dan Brubaker at 515-238-7875 or Cindy Kisting at 515-339-5226. | |
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| | Mildred Kent | | | | | | | | 1926-2025
Mildred (Millie) Sloss Kent was born Nov. 24, 1926, at the family farm home of her parents, Samuel and Mary (Shroyer) Sloss, Sr., south of Guthrie Center. Millie and her twin brother, Willard, were so tiny that they initially slept in a warm chicken incubator in the
storm cellar. In 1943, she graduated from Guthrie Center High School.
Millie married John Brotherson, and, to this union, two sons were born, Ronnie and Gary. In 1954, she married Ivyl Kent, and they had two sons, Doug and Dan.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full obituary | |
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| | William (Bill) Warren Masters | | | | | | | | 1946-2025
William (Bill) Warren Masters, 78, son of Alva C. and Ruby Myrnell (Knauer), was born in Des Moines on Nov. 14, 1946, and passed away at his home in Guthrie Center surrounded by his loved ones on Jan 3, 2025.
Bill spent the younger years of his childhood in Guthrie Center. After his father’s death in 1953, Myrnell moved Bill and the rest of the family to San Diego, California, in 1954.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full obituary | |
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 | | | Crees named to WCAC First Team All-Conference; Laabs and Recker earn Honorable Mention | | | | | | | | By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
Three Panorama girls basketball players were named to the West Central Activities All-Conference teams. Morgan Crees was named to the WCAC First Team. She led Panorama with 15.1 points per game, five steals and four assists and she was second on the team in rebounds per game with 6.5. Kelsey Laabs and Faith Recker earned Honorable Mention. Laabs averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks. Recker averaged 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.9 steals.
Crees was also named to the IBCA 2A Region 3 All Region Team.
PICTURED: No. 30 Kelsey Laabs earned Honorable Mention in the 2024-2025 WCAC All-Conference awards. Laabs averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks. Photo by Mark Reno | |
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 | | | 5 ACGC girls named WCAC All-Conference; Baudler earns Coach of the Year | | | | | | | | By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
Five ACGC girls basketball players made either First Team, Second Team or Honorable Mention in the 2024-2025 WCAC All-Conference teams.
Shay Lemke and Camdyn Richter were named to the First Team. Richter was one of two unanimous selections alongside Des Moines Christian’s Addy Oetker. Richter led the team in scoring at 15 points per game and rebounds at 7.2 while averaging three steals and one assist.
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PICTURED: ACGC's No. 32 Camdyn Richter was a unanimous selection the 2024-2025 WCAC All-Conference First Team. Richter averaged 15 points, 7.2 rebounds, three steals and one assist. Photo by Mark Reno | | | | | | | | Read the full story | |
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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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 | | | 20 years ago | | | | | | | | From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, March 9, 2005
BASKETBALL CHEERLEADERS. Front row, Jessica Slater, Brittney Gilge and Mindi Callison. Back row, Ashley Moreland, Stacy Henson and Christina Murphy. | | | | | | | | See more Yester Years | |
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 | | | Greens share art that heals | | | | | | | | Bud Green discovered his artistic talent was literally right under his feet.
By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, February 2025
“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That quotation is sometimes attributed to Mark Twain and sometimes to Confucius. But regardless of who said it, the concept fits the situation of Bud and Doreen Green of Panora.
After a career spent in the technology and business world, Bud and Doreen moved to rural Panora and found a different calling. They now spend their time on something called B&D HeartArt. Bud recently showed examples and explained how he became an artist, despite not considering himself artistic while growing up.
[...] | | | | | | | | Read the full story | |
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