By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on May 7. Health Services Director Jotham Arber provided an update on his department, telling of efforts to expand the county’s mental health services.

“Our goal is to add an office down in Stuart,” Arber said. “That’s a desert for mental health resources. So that’s going to mean needing to bring on another mental health provider and then some wrap-around social services.”

Arber also updated the supervisors regarding the county’s recycling and the transfer station. Supervisor Mike Dickson asked about the amount of material taken at the transfer station.

“We’re averaging about 700-800 tons of garbage per month,” Arber said.

Arber also provided an update on the landfill, which he said is three years away from the targeted official closing date.

“We passed our landfill inspection…with flying colors,” Arber said.

Arber talked of the current expenses involved in mowing and maintaining the former landfill. He said in three years, the county can consider uses for the area, and he noted that some former landfills have been used for shooting ranges or similar purposes.

Jamie Lindsay provided an update on human resources for county employees. She noted that open enrollment for benefits is currently open through May 24.

The supervisors approved two payroll changes. The first was for new hire Ben Kingery, who will be paid $23 per hour to work as a part-time jailer. The second was for Brooke Halterman, who will be a seasonal environmental health employee. Halterman was paid $14.50 per hour in 2023, and will be paid $15 per hour this year.

The next regular meeting of the board will be Tuesday, May 14. The public is welcome. Attendees may participate in person or by calling 323-792-6123 and inputting conference ID 547029216#.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Guthrie Center School Board announced the appointment of Mr. Brian Sauser as the new 9-12 Principal for ACGC High School. Mr. Sauser currently serves as a Special Education Teacher and Head Football Coach at Ames High School. He brings with him more than 25 years of teaching and leadership experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from Loras College, and a master’s degree in education administration from Grand Canyon University.         In his personal life, Sauser and his wife, Mandy, who works as a special education consultant for Heartland AEA, have a daughter, Emma (24), who is a CPA in Dallas, Texas; a son, Dodge (21), who attends Kennesaw State in Atlanta, Georgia, on a football scholarship; and another son, Dallas (19), who attends Iowa Central and plays football there. They also share their home with two dogs, English bulldog “Frankie” and French bulldog “Chico.”

“When we’re not traveling the country to see our kids, we absolutely love country music and attending concerts when we can,” Sauser said. “Football has been, and continues to be, a huge part of our lives, but, personally, I also really enjoy powerlifting, officiating high school and college basketball, umpiring high school baseball, and decked-out pickup trucks. I am incredibly excited to be a part of an amazing, high-achieving, very successful school district. The amount of pride the community has for all activities and events at the high school is amazing. It is an honor to be chosen to lead and work to continue to advance ACGC High School to new heights, while being a part of this great community.”           

Sauser replaces current principal, Ethan Lensch, who recently accepted the principal position at Western Dubuque High School.