Skip to main content

Mary L. Branson 

Apr 2, 2024 | Obituaries

1930-2024                      

Mary Louise Branson, 93, daughter of Harold and Eva (Laughlin) Moraine, was born July 31, 1930, in Glendon. She passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the New Homestead, Guthrie Center.

Mary graduated from Guthrie Center High School. In 1948, she married Robert Wesley Branson at the Christian Church in Guthrie Center. They made their home in Guthrie Center for 35 years. Mary owned and operated Branson’s Beauti-Rama until they moved to Lake Panorama in 1983. In 2010, they became residents of the Lakeside Village in Panora until July of 2012 when they moved into the New Homestead. Bob passed away in November of 2012.

Mary enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, fishing, cooking, gambling, her love for her cat, Gracie, and, most of all, spending time with her family, especially wrestling with the grandchildren. Mary also was a collector of antiques (blue glassware especially), and while she was a resident of the New Homestead, she enjoyed watching the birds, playing bingo and having visitors.

She volunteered with the WSO and First Christian Church. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center and then the First Christian Church in Panora.

Mary is survived by her children, Kristi (Doug Hickman) Branson of San Diego, California, Barry (Vanessa) Branson of Panora, and Kathi (Dave) Sherby of Austin, Texas; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; two brothers; and a sister.

Cremation has taken place, and graveside services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Union Cemetery, Guthrie Center.

Memorials may be left to the New Homestead beauty shop for upgrading of the facilities and may be mailed to Branson’s, 5017 Panorama Drive, Panora, IA 50216.

Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, is entrusted with her services.

Charles Davis

Apr 2, 2024 | Obituaries

1964-2024

Charles (Chuck) Anthony Davis was born on April 10, 1964, to Earle and Joy (Lydon) Davis in Ogallala, Nebraska. He passed away on Monday, March 25, 2024, at Bethany Life in Story City.

Chuck graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1982 where he participated in football, wrestling, track and chorus.

In his early years, Chuck enjoyed his time on the Davis family farm near Guthrie Center. After graduating high school, Chuck attended Palmer College of Chiropractic and graduated in 1992 with honors.

His career as a chiropractor led him to Clarion where he purchased Clarion Chiropractic Clinic and served Clarion and surrounding communities for more than 25 years. Chuck’s chiropractic work was a source of joy, and he developed lasting relationships with many patients. He loved his patients and was known as Doc Davis to many. Chuck enjoyed volunteering as the team doctor for Clarion Goldfield high school athletes for many years and gave free care to any active athlete.

Chuck and Mary (Caslavka) Davis were married May 2, 1987, in Iowa City. Chuck found a lot of joy in watching his five children grow up. He loved his family deeply. He enjoyed supporting them through their sports, dance and many other school and church activities. He never missed an opportunity to cheer them on. Chuck, along with his wife, Mary, celebrated their kids through many milestones. From high school and college graduations, to seeing them start families of their own. One of Chuck’s most important and loved roles was “Grandpa.” As Grandpa, he adored his three grandchildren more than anything and would show you pictures any chance he got.

Chuck will always be remembered for his big smile and his ability to make every stranger a friend.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to joke around. He was passionate about helping people.

Chuck was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church for many years and volunteered for various committees and activities in the church. He was deeply faithful and loved delivering cross necklaces to his caregivers so that they would know the love of Jesus.

Chuck was preceded in death by his loving parents, Joy and Earle Davis, and his grandparents, Tom and Ila Lydon and Glen and Mary Davis, and his uncles, Paul Lydon and Noel Johnson.

Chuck is survived by his wife of 36 years, Mary, and their five children: Anthony (Megan) Davis, Nathan (Maggie) Davis, Claire Davis, Brendan Davis, and Isaac Davis; his three grandchildren, Alder, Madison and Prim; his siblings, Brian (Jean) Davis, Jodi (John) Russell, and Mike (Sonia) Davis; and his many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

We will miss his sense of humor and his contagious laugh that filled a room. We will simply miss our dad, husband, grandpa and brother.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Chuck Davis will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 Second Avenue North East in Clarion with Father Jerry Blake Officiating. Burial will take place at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Ave. East in Clarion. Rosary will at 4:30 p.m. prior to visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Chuck’s name may be directed to Blank Children’s Hospital Child Life Program.

Making cents

Apr 2, 2024 | Publisher's Column

“Find a penny, pick it up; all day long you will have good luck.” 

Admit it. You have done this. You have picked up a penny, hoping for good luck. Any why not?  We could all use some of that stuff. But where did this penny phrase come from? 

Some say the origins of the superstition stem from ancient times when metals were believed to offer protection from evil and harmful spirits, according to psychiclibrary.com. When coins began to be used for currency, those who had a lot of them were considered wealthy or “lucky.” Thus, the accumulation of money translated into good fortune.

But does it matter if the penny is found heads up or tails up? According to the same website, if you see a penny on the ground with heads up, you should pick it up to experience good luck. If the penny faces tails up, you could pick it up and turn it over for the next person, but you should not take it with you, as you will be bringing bad luck to yourself.

I was inspired to research this superstition after receiving a note from my friend Pat, who was shopping for groceries recently. When checking out, Pat accidentally dropped a quarter and a penny on the floor. He was able to pick up the quarter but struggled to get a fingernail under the penny to do the same. To prevent holding up the line, Pat gave up on the penny and left it on the floor. 

Meanwhile an employee of the store proceeded to wheel Pat’s groceries out to his car and place them in his trunk. Pat said this seemed to take a bit longer than normal, but he didn’t think much about it. When he reached home and unloaded his groceries, he found a penny in the bottom of one of the bags. Pat was so impressed with this gesture that he drove back to the store to tell the young man thank you and to inform the manager about this deed. The young man said, “I noticed you dropped your penny, sir, and I happened to have an extra one in my pocket.”

It made sense for the store employee to do this, and it made a cent for Pat, too. For the rest of us, it is a reassuring reminder that good people do still exist. This young man’s parents, and his employer, should be proud. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thank you for reading.

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

Sheriff’s Office reports March revenues of $26,140 for processing of out-of-county inmates 

Apr 2, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reported incoming revenue of $26,140 from processing of out-of-county inmates at the jail during March. A total of 71 inmates were processed through the facility during the month including 25 from out of the county. Greene County had seven inmates for 142 days with charges of $8,520, Polk County had 13 inmates for 222 days with $13,320, Webster County had three inmates for 55 days with $3,330, and the Department of Corrections had two inmates for 20 days with charges of $1,000.

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Apr 2, 2024 | Crop Report

Special to the Times Vedette

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented Monday on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Whether it’s the birth of a new calf or the emergence of the first seedlings popping through the soil, spring always brings a feeling of renewal, anticipation and optimism,” said Secretary Naig. “As Iowa farmers look ahead to this growing season and make planting preparations, we are encouraged by the more active weather patterns. While our historic streak of 195 weeks of D1 drought continues and we still have significant moisture deficits to make up, longer term outlooks appear to be favorable for more consistent rainfall.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop report

Much of the State experienced cooler than normal temperatures and much needed rain/snow showers which left Iowa farmers with 1.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending March 31, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although minimal fieldwork occurred over the last week, some producers were able to apply anhydrous, manure, and dry fertilizer.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 22 percent very short, 37 percent short, 37 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 35 percent very short, 41 percent short, 22 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Oats seeding has already reached 21 percent complete, 11 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Much of the seeding took place prior to the week ending March 31. Some seeding took place several weeks ago and is starting to emerge.

No reports of cattle turned out onto pasture yet as many pastures are just beginning to green up with little new growth. Calving was in full swing.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

An active storm track brought unseasonably wet conditions to Iowa’s northwestern two-thirds, leading to widespread improvement in drought conditions. Temperatures during the first reporting period of 2024 varied from cooler conditions in the northwest to marginal warmth in the southeast; the statewide average temperature was 40.2 degrees, 2.3 degrees below normal.

Several waves of showers and a few thunderstorms continued across Iowa through Sunday (24th) afternoon and evening with east-southeasterly winds. Daytime highs ranged from the mid-30s north to low 50s south, where periodic peaks of sun were observed. A southerly shift in the wind occurred overnight as the large-scale, low-pressure center pushed into western Iowa. Muddy rain was reported on Monday (25th) morning as a large dust plume from New Mexico was lofted into the atmosphere and transported northeast via the mid-level steering flow. A dry slot with minimal cloud cover formed in the early afternoon allowing highs to rise into the low 60s across central and southern Iowa. Showers and thunderstorms reformed in southeastern Iowa and then across a broader area in western Iowa through the remainder of the day. The low-pressure center finally exited Iowa early on Tuesday (26th) with some snowflakes flying as colder air wrapped in behind the system. Event rain totals were well above average for most locations with over 140 stations collecting at least an inch in Iowa’s northwestern half; more than one-third of the stations in west-central to northwest Iowa measured 2.00 to 3.00 inches with 3.05 inches in Jefferson (Greene County). Strong northwesterly winds developed in the afternoon with mid 20s northwest to mid-30s southeast under overcast skies. Clouds gradually cleared west to east before sunrise on Wednesday (27th) with morning lows in the teens under clear skies and in the mid-20s farther east where stratus clouds were present. Unseasonable cool afternoon temperatures held in the 30s with westerly winds. 

Partly cloudy skies persisted into Thursday (28th) morning as light winds became variable with temperatures across western Iowa in the 20s to low 30s southeast. Winds shifted to the east through the daylight hours with temperatures reaching into the upper 60s in the southwest counties while conditions were up to 25 degrees cooler to the northeast. Spotty and light showers developed in eastern Iowa with several stations picking up a trace of rainfall; Muscatine (Muscatine County) measured 0.12 inch. Morning temperatures on Friday (29th) were in the 30s as persistent easterly winds gained strength. A warm front lifted north into the state as winds shifted to the south in advance of a low-pressure system approaching Iowa. Highs reached into the mid-70s south of the front while conditions held in the upper 50s in northern Iowa. Isolated strong to severe storms fired in eastern Iowa after sunset. Stations that received rain generally reported under 0.20 inch though locations under heavier storms observed totals ranging from 0.56 inch in Dubuque (Dubuque County) to 0.79 inch in Hopkinton (Delaware County). Saturday (30th) was somewhat of a chilly day with clear skies, gusty northerly winds and temperatures in the low 40s northwest to low 60s southeast. Overcast conditions developed into Sunday (31st) morning with low temperatures dropping into the upper 30s across northern Iowa.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.03 inch in Moulton (Davis County) to 3.11 inches in Eagle Grove (Wright County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.20 inches, almost double the normal of 0.64 inch. Shenandoah (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 76 degrees on the 29th, 18 degrees above average. Primghar (O’Brien County) and Sibley (Osceola County) reported the week’s low temperature of nine degrees on the 27th, on average 19 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures ranged from the low 40s north to upper 40s south as of Sunday.