Yester Years

Jul 30, 2024 | Yester Years

10 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie County Vedette, July 31, 2014

I’LL BET A FIDDLE OF GOLD AGAINST YOUR SOUL. Country music legend Charlie Daniels and his band perform Friday evening at the Guthrie River Ruckus.

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20 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, July 28, 2004

SECOND IN STATE. The American Legion State Runner-Up Guthrie Center Pee Wees. Front, left to right, Adam Courtney, Trey Imerman, Caleb Courtney, Payden Willms, Clay Stetzel and Cole Larsen. Back, from left, Dylan Robson, Dustin Clark, Garrett Eivins, Brandon Clark, Justin Clark and Brick Imerman.

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30 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, July 27, 1994

LET’S DO THAT TWIST. Molly Hennigar proves that size is no object when hoola hooping. It’s the twist that counts. The hoola hoops were left over from an earlier contest during Adair’s Jesse James Chuck Wagon Days, July 23. Molly is the daughter of Linda and Randy Hennigar of Greenfield.

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40 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie County Vedette, Aug. 2, 1984

BUILDING BOOM CONTINUES. Ground was broken for the Clover Ridge Conference Center, located in the middle of the front nine at the Lake Panorama National Golf Course. The conference center will be nearly 16,000 square feet and will be 2½ stories with an outdoor swimming pool. In the background is the Clover Ridge townhouse development. The conference center is located southwest of number one green.

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 50 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrian, July 29, 1974

CONTEST WINNERS. Julie Jorgensen (right), Susan Hollar (center), and Marj Ocheltree (left) won first, second and third place in the costume contest held Friday during Sidewalk Days. Julie is employed at Beulah’s Dress Shop, while Susan and Mari are employees of Dowd Drug.

Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report — July 30, 2024

Jul 30, 2024 | Crop Report

Released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented 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.

“Sweltering temperatures and scattered thunderstorms dotted much of Iowa over the weekend,” said Secretary Naig. “The mid-growing season heat and timely rain helped push crops along through the pivotal weeks of July. August looks to start warmer and drier and will shift toward more seasonal conditions through the beginning of the Iowa State Fair.”

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

Crop report

Scattered rainfall allowed Iowa farmers 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 28, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and applying fungicides.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.

Corn silking hit 85 percent this week, 2 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Thirty-four percent of the corn crop has reached dough stage or beyond, 1 day ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of average. Two percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage. Corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent. Eighty-three percent of soybeans were blooming, 4 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of normal. Soybeans setting pods reached 43 percent, 2 days behind last year. Soybean condition was 76 percent good to excellent. Ninety-six percent of oats were turning color or beyond. The oat harvest for grain reached 67 percent complete, 6 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the five-year average.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 87 percent complete, 4 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 16 percent, 6 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent.  Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent. Heat stress in livestock was reported. 

Weather summary

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

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms were observed almost every day of the reporting period, though most of Iowa’s stations experienced drier than normal conditions. Weekly temperatures varied from slightly above average across portions of central to northwestern Iowa to cooler east; the statewide average temperature was 73.9 degrees, 0.4 degree below normal.

Winds were light and variable through Sunday (21st) afternoon with partly to mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s. Scattered thundershowers formed over the evening hours in eastern Iowa before dissipating by midnight. Rain totals were under a few tenths of an inch, though Waterloo (Black Hawk County) observed 1.02 inches. Northern and eastern Iowa encountered foggy conditions at daybreak on Monday (22nd) where morning temperatures were in the low to mid 60s. Later in the day, Canadian wildfire smoke filtered into the state, giving a copper-colored fringe to developing cumulus clouds. Isolated pop-up thunderstorms fired in the afternoon across central and southern Iowa before diminishing with the loss of daytime heating. Rain amounts were at or above 0.50 inch at nearly 30 stations with 1.85 inches in Ames (Story County) to 2.13 inches in Lucas (Lucas County). Overnight lows into Tuesday (23rd) held in the low to mid 60s with patchy fog visible across much of the state. Winds swung to the southwest as daytime highs varied from the 70s east to mid 80s west. Scattered thunderstorms refired along an existing outflow boundary from central to eastern Iowa through the afternoon hours with a secondary cluster later in the evening over northwestern Iowa. A new area of convection pushed into east-central Iowa around sunrise on Wednesday (24th) before moving into Illinois by late morning. Rainfall totals were more widespread with a broad swath of 0.50-1.00 inch amounts from northwest to east-central Iowa; two stations, Swisher (Johnson County) and Central City (Linn County) registered 2.10 and 2.60 inches, respectively. Cloud cover remained over northern Iowa through the afternoon behind a southerly moving cold front, holding highs in the mid to upper 70s while clear skies allowed upper 80s and some low 90s farther south. Scattered thunderstorms developed along the boundary later in the day. Lamoni (Decatur County) collected 1.05 inches while Burlington (Des Moines County) reported 1.58 inches; four stations in Lee County reported totals in the 1.07 to 1.48-inch range.

Thursday (25th) morning started with upper 50s and low 60s northeast to widespread upper 60s southwest under overcast skies. Winds shifted to an easterly direction through the daylight hours as highs rose into the upper 70s and low 80s under partly cloudy conditions. Clouds spread over most of Iowa into Friday (26th) with very spotty, slow-moving thunderstorms in southeastern Iowa. Rathbun Dam (Appanoose County) measured 1.40 inches with 2.13 inches in Keokuk (Lee County). A southerly shifting wind helped boost temperatures into the 90s across western Iowa while conditions farther east were more than 10 degrees cooler. A few pulse thunderstorms developed in central Iowa towards the evening with five stations in Dallas and Warren counties collecting more than an inch. Morning lows on Saturday (27th) remained unseasonably warm, in the upper 60s and low 70s, with foggy conditions from south-central to northern Iowa. Afternoon conditions were mostly sunny statewide with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. A weak low pressure center over Missouri spun showers into eastern Iowa later in the evening and persisted through Sunday (28th) morning; only a handful of stations observed light rainfall totals.

Iowa Hereford breeders to honor Tiernan at state fair

Jul 30, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

The late Eric Tiernan of Stuart is one of three longtime Hereford breeders to be honored by the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association (IHBA) during the Iowa State Fair.

The barn quilt installed on the Gammon Barn.

In a ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association (IHBA) will dedicate a custom-created barn quilt given in memory of Tiernan; Dan McFarland, Fredericksburg; and Ray Sorensen, Fontanelle. The event will take place at 3 p.m. on the west side of the Gammon Barn on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, followed by an ice cream social in the Sheri Avis Horner Pavilion just north of the barn museum.

Designed and created by Freedom Rock artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, the 8-foot by 8-foot barn quilt was given in memory of the three men by their families, who wished to honor their loved ones at a place that was dear to their hearts. In appreciation, each family was given a signed and numbered canvas replica of the quilt.

Moved to the State Fairgrounds in 1991, the Gammon Barn was the site of the birthplace of Polled Herefords, the first major beef breed of American origin. Its original location near St. Marys/New Virginia, in rural Warren County, was named a National Historic Site in 1984.  Today the upper portion of the barn serves as the National Polled Hereford Museum and houses the National Polled Hereford Hall of Fame as well as more than a century’s worth of breed memorabilia.

Eric Tiernan spent many years volunteering at the museum during the Iowa State Fair, where he welcomed visitors and shared information on the displays.  The unofficial historian of the Polled Hereford breed, Dan McFarland was instrumental in getting the barn relocated to the State Fairgrounds and oversaw the initial installation of the artifacts now housed in the museum.  Ray Sorensen loved Hereford cattle, which he raised well into his later years, and spent a lot of time at the Iowa State Fair. 

The Gammon Barn Museum, located north of the Cattle Barn and east of Pioneer Pavilion, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Iowa State Fair and at other times by appointment. Admission is free.

Visiting grandkids create snake made of rocks for Panora Library

Jul 30, 2024 | News

Cousins Sydney Mcllhon, Jetson Keller and Dashel Keller gather around their grandparents’ table to paint rocks for a project they hope Panora area children will finish.

By Susan Thompson | Special to the Times Vedette

Three cousins visiting their grandparents in early July started a creative project for the Panora Library with the hope other children will add to what they started.

Jetson Keller, Sydney Mcllhon and Dashel Keller pose with their snake made of painted rocks they helped install near the Panora Library.

Mike and Joan Trebon live in a Boulder Cove townhome at Lake Panorama. Each year, two grandsons who live in Greenwood, Indiana, travel to Iowa to visit them the week before the Fourth of July. Joining the boys for this time with their grandparents is their cousin, Sydney, who lives in Urbandale.  

“We saw this idea at a park in Indiana when I was visiting the boys earlier this year,” Joan Trebon says. “I thought it would be fun for them to initiate the project when they came to Iowa over the Fourth of July.”

The project was a snake made of painted rocks. Trebon talked with Kim Finnegan, director of the Panora Library, to see if she would be interested in her grandkids painting some rocks to get a snake started that then could be added to by children in the Panora community.

“It was placed outside the library along the sidewalk so everyone can enjoy it,” Finnegan says. “We will have a craft day sometime in the future and paint more rocks to add to the snake. But anyone can stop into the library whenever they want and paint a rock to add. It doesn’t have to be a craft day.”

Trebon says her grandchildren chose from small rocks from a rock garden at the Trebon home to paint.

Brothers Jetson and Dashel Keller show off some of the rocks they painted to create Rocco the Snake at the Panora Library.

“We had to search a while for a good rock for the head of the snake,” she says. “I purchased acrylic paints for us to use and then shared the paint with the library for other children to use. The cousins had fun coming up with different designs.”

Jetsen Keller is 7 years old, and his brother Dashel Keller is 5 years old. Sydney Mcllhon is 12 years old. Trebon says she and the cousins hope Sydney’s 2-year-old sister, Collins, will be able to join the fun next year.

So much more than books

Jul 30, 2024 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

What’s the Director reading? 

Our library director Jerri is currently reading “The Paradise Problem” by Christina Lauren. This summer romance is filled with witty banter, a complicated situation, and interesting characters.

When Anna Green was in college, she agreed to marry her friend’s brother, Liam Weston, so they could live in subsidized family housing while he was a graduate student and she was an art student at UCLA. Two years later, they both got their degrees and went their separate ways.

Three years after college, Anna is a starving artist, and Liam is a Stanford professor who happens to be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate and stands to inherit 100 million dollars. The only catch is that his grandfather’s will includes an antiquated clause that requires Liam to be happily married for five years before he sees a penny of the money.

Just when Liam thinks the problem is solved, his family demands to meet his mystery wife. So he is forced to reconnect with his not-so-ex-wife Anna and invite her to a family destination wedding. Liam quickly goes from worrying whether foul-mouthed, spunky Anna will be able to fit in with the family to being concerned that the toxic family and their wealth will corrupt the surprisingly pure-hearted Anna. Liam is forced to decide if the money is worth losing true love that started out as a lie.

Jerri says it’s a fun read so far. MJB Library has this book in regular and large print. If you enjoy it, check out “The Unhoneymooners” by the same author. See our book display for additional librarian recommendations.

Celebrate National Golf Month

August is National Golf Month.  Celebrate by checking out “Tiger, Tiger: His Life as it’s never been told before” by James Patterson, the only major author who has nine holes-in-one. James Patterson reveals how Tiger became the G.O.A.T., what drove him to fall so spectacularly, and how he has made his way back to the pinnacle of golf.

Author Event for tweens and teens

Iowa sportscaster and hit author Scott Reister will be appearing at  the MJB Library on Wednesday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m.  This event is open to all ages but especially is geared to upper elementary through early high school patrons. Following the program, Reister will sell autographed copies of his books for $16.

Magic Show

Magic fans of all ages need to mark their calendars for Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Our library will be hosting an exciting magic show from the same people who presented the Absolute Science Foam Show.

Between the Covers

Books are ready to be picked up for the August book club meeting.  The August book will be “The Villa” by Rachel Hawkins. Book club will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club will meet Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. to share dishes from “The Farm Made Cookbook: Traditional Recipes from America’s Farm”. Stop in and select a recipe that you’d like to share at the meeting on Aug. 15.

Adult Programs

Cribbage Club will meet each Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room.  Bridge Club will meet every Wednesday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room.  Card Making Club meets the third Thursday of each month also in the Taylor meeting room from 9-11 a.m. The August Card Making Club will be Aug. 15.  A reminder that all materials are provided for a $5 fee.