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Cutting glass and making mosaic stepping stones 

Apr 8, 2024 | News

Gayla Wasson

Special to the Times Vedette

Art on State had a class with Kathy Wallander from Audubon on Saturday. Wallander taught participants how to make a mosaic using materials and tools to make a stepping stone that could be outside. Eight students, including Chris Eighmy, Gayla Wasson, Katlyn Wasson, Roxann Wicks, Cindy Tripp and Cathy Ballard, were able to cut glass and make mosaic stepping stones.

Art on State is an art gallery created by the Guthrie County Arts Council as an opportunity to bring together the artists of the county, encouraging them in their talents by providing means to display and sell their work and to bring awareness of artistic endeavors to the community at large by presenting performing and visual arts programs.​ Art on State is located at 320 State St. in Guthrie Center. Learn more at www.guthriecountyartscouncil.org.

Roxann Wicks

Stepping stones created at Art on State on Saturday.

Katlyn Wasson

Doreen Buls and Tracy Griffith

A mosaic stepping stone created at Art on State on Saturday.

Art on State announces watercolor class by Mary Johnson

Apr 8, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

A special Mother’s Day class will be held on May 5 at 2 p.m. Mary Johnson will help participants create a loose floral bouquet using water colors. All who are older than age 9 with mothers or grandmothers are encouraged to work as a pair to create an awesome picture. Participants can also paint this on their own. Space is limited, so stop in or call for a reservation at 641-332-2267. The cost is $25 for a young student and adult or $25 for an adult alone.

Art on State is an art gallery created by the Guthrie County Arts Council as an opportunity to bring together the artists of the county, encouraging them in their talents by providing means to display and sell their work and to bring awareness of artistic endeavors to the community at large by presenting performing and visual arts programs.​ Art on State is located at 320 State St. in Guthrie Center. Learn more at www.guthriecountyartscouncil.org.

Creating advertising that ‘works’

Apr 8, 2024 | Publisher's Column

“Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.”

John Wanamaker is credited with that great quote. The founder of the chain of department stores that eventually became part of Macy’s was considered to be a pioneer in marketing. And he was right. Knowing what advertising is working and what isn’t is a challenge for most every business or organization, even in today’s world of verified audits and analytical reports. 

The real trick with advertising is defining “working,” as it is different for each customer. Some expect a specific number of direct leads. Others want to sell a certain amount of product. And some simply want to “get their name out there.” And, to be fair, selling sneakers is a lot different than selling insurance. One size doesn’t fit all. 

Despite what some in our industry claim, advertising really isn’t that complicated. Determine your goal. Define your message. Deliver it to the appropriate audience. And then, as best as you can, measure the results.

But for the consumer, advertising is about emotions, or how a campaign makes a person feel. Does the ad make you smile? Does it make you hungry? Does it engage you in a positive way? 

Or, on the other hand, does the advertising annoy or even anger you? Make you want to turn the channel? Flip the page? Close the website or social medium? Swear that you will never buy that product or service? 

In my career, I have experienced the value of advertising that is highly sought out, as well as the dangers of advertising that is considered bothersome.

When I worked at The Des Moines Register in the 1990s, the phones would ring off the hooks when the Target insert was left out of the Sunday Register. Readers wanted that advertising and demanded that they receive it. Years later, when I was managing community publications in Boone, we would receive calls throughout the night if a carrier route for the shopper was not delivered. Residents demanded their free shopper with the grocery and classified advertising. Today, readers of our publications tell me they enjoy our advertising as much as our editorial content. I take pride in that as I, too, can become annoyed by various forms of advertising that flood my phone, computer screen and TV. Creating effective advertising is both an art form and a science, and we are fortunate to have talented people to help our customers manage through this.

Can we do better? Absolutely. We have to, or we won’t be here. We have to continually improve our editorial content, our print quality, our distribution methods and our communication with our readers and advertisers. And we have to help our customers determine their goals and identify which half of their advertising is working and which half isn’t. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thank you for reading.

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

MARILYN (MOLLY) GERLICH 

Apr 8, 2024 | Obituaries

1927-2024

Marilyn (Molly) Jane Gerlich, 96, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2024, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center. She was the daughter of Paul and Gladys Adams and was born April 22, 1927, in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Molly graduated from Galena High School in Galena, Illinois, in 1945.

On June 10, 1946, Molly was united in marriage to Irvin Gerlich in their hometown of Galena. To this union, five children were born. In 1964, The Gerlich family moved to West Des Moines. Molly was a homemaker and loving mother, always placing the needs and happiness of her children and family above her own. After Irv’s retirement, the couple moved to Lake Panorama where they made their home in 1979. They developed Boulder Cove Colony and Clover Ridge, then leased Lake Panorama National Golf Course to construct the Conference Center. Before his passing in 1997, Molly and Irv made significant contributions to the foundation of what Lake Panorama is today.

At age 78 and while at a 60th class reunion, Molly reunited with her childhood friend, Jim Hartman. Their friendship grew, and they were married on Dec. 31, 2005. They lived at Lake Panorama and then moved to a retirement community in West Des Moines for 12 years until Jim’s death in 2018.

Molly is survived by her son, Jay (Karen) Gerlich of Panora; daughter, Jule (Ted) Reynolds of Des Moines; daughter, Lonna (Kevin) Nauman of Panora; son-in-law Stan (Kim) Thornberry; special nieces Ellen (Dave) Elliott, Jane (Bob) Frazier; and nephews Jack (Jackie) Lickes and Keith (Donna) Gerlich; her deeply loved eight grandchildren, Ann Stutler, Curt Thornberry, Maggie Armstrong, Mari Brown, Erin Gerlich, Adam Reynolds, Liz Ratcliff and Wyatt Nauman; nine great-grandchildren; and her amazing life-long friends, Norma Clegg and Marilee Rice.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; her husband, Irv Gerlich; infant daughter, Lora Lee; daughter, Lynn Thornberry; second husband, Jim Hartman; sister, Carmen; and brother, Jack.

Molly was very active and enjoyed life to the fullest. There was seldom an empty day on her calendar. She loved dancing, big band music, golf, bridge and many long-lasting friendships. She was a member of PEO Chapter BY, Questers, United Methodist Church, and Lake Panorama Women’s Golf League.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Friday, April 12, 2024, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Brethren Cemetery, Panora.

Memorial contributions can be made in Molly’s memory to the Panora United Methodist Church.

ACGC FFA members present for National Agriculture Day

Apr 8, 2024 | News

By FFA Reporters Stella Largent and Lilah Heinz

Thirteen ACGC FFA Chapter Officers and members traveled to the middle school on March 19 to present about the importance of agriculture and how FFA helps members prepare for careers in agriculture. Members presented about the following topics: soils evaluation, public speaking, creed speaking, livestock evaluation, general FFA and agriculture knowledge and agricultural career pathways for our students.

When asked about why she wanted to participate in this activity with the middle school students, Irelyn Wirt stated, “I enjoyed the National Ag Activities because it allowed me to give back to the community and organization that has given me so much.” Wirt also stated that the activities were something she was proud to be a part of because it allows our middle school students to start to learn and also take every advantage of the activities that agriculture and FFA have to offer within the students’ academic career.

Iowa Corn was also a part of the activities at the middle school building. They brought their Biofuels Mobile Education Center to help educate the students. The Iowa Corn Promotion Board teamed up with Absolute Energy, Big River Resources, Golden Grain Energy and Homeland Energy Solutions to create this fun and immersive experience that explains to rural, urban and people of all ages how biofuels are produced here in Iowa, contribute to our economy, improve our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The chapter was excited to bring this opportunity in for the students to learn about.

To learn more about the biofuels trailer, visit the Iowa Corn Growers website.

To learn more about how your students can become involved in agriculture or FFA, contact ffa@acgcschools.org.