Special to the Times Vedette

The Guthrie Center Lions Club will be commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2024 with a Centennial Celebration and Dinner on June 10 at the Guthrie County Events Center at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. Tickets for this event are $25 and can be purchased at Guthrie County State Bank (Guthrie Center branch), Peoples Bank, or from any Lions Club member.

The purposes of the celebration are to honor a century of dedicated service to the Guthrie Center community and to raise funds crucial for the construction of the new kitchen facility at the Little Charger Early Learning Center. 

Quality day care is important to the future of Guthrie Center, as attracting and retaining young families in and around Guthrie Center is a pivotal step for the future of the Guthrie Center area. The goal of the Little Charger Early Learning Center is to create an asset that will aide local employers in attracting and retaining employees, create a stable workforce, drive community growth, and reverse a three-year trend of enrollment decline in the school district.

The cost of the kitchen is estimated to be $45,000, and the Lions Club has set a goal of raising $50,000 for this project. An anonymous donor has already gifted the Lions Club $10,000 toward this goal, and the Guthrie Center Lions club has matched that donation with $11,000. The Lions Club would has challenged the Guthrie Center community (individuals, families, businesses and civic groups) to match this $21,000 committed.

Donations can be large or small and can be given at the Guthrie County State Bank in care of the Guthrie Center Lions Club, or mailed to Guthrie Center Lions Club, c/o GCSB, P.O. Box 8, Guthrie Center, IA 50115. Write “100^thanniversary donation” in the memo line or supply a note with the donation. The Lions Club is a 501(c)3 organization. Receipts will be issued for donations $250 or more. Check with your accountant or attorney for information regarding the deductibility of your donation.

Lions Club members: 

• Kelly Bast
• Dale Behrends
• Mark Benton
• Larry Brandt
• Kristen Crouthamel
• Dennis Flanery
• Diane Flanery
• Joe Hanner
• Ed Haver
• George Hemmen
• Darwin Hughes
• George Hunt
• Kris Langgaard
• Melissa Loest
• Barry Monaghan
• Shannon Neff-Muell
• Cozy Nelsen
• Shawna Nelson
• Jennifer Policky
• Wes Policky
• Josh Rasmussen
• Gary Rees
• Eric Reinhart
• Rex Schoonover
• Dwayne Seeck
• Bill Sheeder
• Ben Smith
• Steve Smith
• Craig Twigg
• Mike Underwood
• Roger Underwood
• Ed Wright

From ISU Extension and Outreach

Planting season has begun with vigor, and it is crucial for motorists to be aware of safety precautions while sharing the roadways with farm machinery.

Steven Freeman, a professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University, shares his top advice for motorists, along with farm equipment operators. 

“We all rely on farmers who are in the fields planting and doing their job. It is important for them to get to those fields safely to do what they need to do,” Freeman said. “Both farmers and motorists need to be reminded that they need to share the roads.”

As a motorist, you are almost always traveling at a higher speed than those driving farm equipment. When traveling at these speeds, the gap between farm equipment and motorists closes very quickly. Therefore, it is extremely important to remember to slow down early on, when approaching farm machinery.

Motorists are also advised to be patient. Pass with care and avoid inappropriate honking. The reason the farmer may not be pulling over could be due to unforeseen safety concerns. For example, the edges of roadways along county highways cannot always support the weight of the machine to allow the farmer to pull over.

Safety tips for farmers

Along with motorists, farm machinery operators also have safety precautions to be aware of. While driving a piece of equipment onto the roadways, it is important to check that all lights and reflective markers on the machine are working, visible and clear. During this time of the year, the Iowa sun is low in the sky, making it extremely difficult to see what is in front of you, especially at dusk. If possible, try not to travel during these busy times.

Freeman also wants to remind farmers to take care of themselves. Even when the rush is on to get crops in the ground, farmers should still be getting enough sleep and eating healthy to minimize unfortunate events.

By remembering to share the road safely, the risk for disaster can be minimized.

Tips for the rural driver

• Be prepared for farm vehicles. Farm vehicles travel significantly slower than automobiles. You may only have a few seconds to react and slow down before overtaking a farm vehicle. Be prepared to slow down and follow; you may not have room to pass.
• Slow down and keep your distance. Don’t assume that the farmer can pull over and let you pass. Shoulder conditions may make it unsafe for the farmer to pull heavy equipment to the side of the road.
• Be sure of the farmer’s intentions before passing. Don’t assume that a farm vehicle is turning right or pulling over to let you pass if it pulls to the right side of the road. A farmer may have to swing right in order to make a left turn. Wait until you know what the farmer is planning to do.
• Be patient and enjoy the scenery if you find yourself following a farm vehicle. Even if you have to follow a farm vehicle for a couple of miles, it will only take a few minutes of your time.
• Be especially alert in the evenings; farmers are returning from the fields and dusk makes farm vehicles more difficult to see.

Tips for the farmer

• Only allow licensed, or appropriately trained, operators to take farm machinery onto the road. Youth who are able to operate machinery in the field may not be able to deal safely with traffic and other road hazards.
• Make sure farm machinery is equipped with the lighting and marking safety devices recommended by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and required by state and local laws. Be sure to remind all operators to use the appropriate hazard lights and turn signals when traveling on roads.
• Minimize total vehicle width and secure equipment in the transport position before entering roadways.
• Watch for approaching traffic and vehicles trying to pass. If possible, pull over and let traffic pass safely, but be alert for roadside hazards.
• Obey all traffic laws and signs.
• Signal intentions to motorists and avoid sudden or unexpected maneuvers.
• Exercise additional care when entering roadways, approaching unsigned or “blind” intersections, crossing narrow bridges, going around sharp corners or going over hills.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Guthrie Center cribbage players meet at Guthrie Center Library on Mondays at 8 a.m., at the assisted 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.

On April 24, a total of 12 players participated. Dennis Betts rolled up a 16, 20 and 18. Lela Schwartz got a 16. Allen Pierce got a 16 and an 18. Dick Ellis played a 16. Rhonda Titus got a 16 and a 20, Bill Eby rolled in a 16 and a 20. Clint Malbon got a 16. Robert Klever raked in a 20, 16 and a 20, and Wayne Nickel got lucky with a 24.                

They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday. For more information, email 58chevy@netins.net.

Senator Grassley meets with local residents.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Sen. Chuck Grassley visited Panora on April 25 for a town meeting at the Panora Community Center. He shared that this was his fourth such meeting of the day. After giving opening remarks, he fielded questions from those in attendance on topics including veterans, abortion, trade and border legislation.

Attendees included Guthrie County law enforcement staff, Guthrie County supervisors, Panora city staff, and others. Total attendance was estimated at 50.