Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Blake Michelsen reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on June 3 east of Fig Avenue on Highway 141 at 9:56 a.m. Thomas Eugene Darveau, 63, of Manning, was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS and attempted to pass a 2023 Nissan Rogue driven by Abigail Mary Platt and hydroplaned, spinning around. Both vehicles bounced off each other and landed in opposite ditches. According to the report, there was heavy rain at the time of the collision, and neither driver showed signs of impairment or intoxication.  Estimated damage is $2,500 to the Camaro and $2,500 to the Rogue.  A no passing zone sign was also damaged with an estimated replacement cost of $1,000. 

When I eat fruit, it is usually a banana. I am not sure why. They are easy and convenient, and they are apparently good for you, too. 

Bananas are rich in nutrients with a fair amount of fiber and several antioxidants including flavonoids and amines and other things I can’t spell. They are also a great source of potassium, a mineral that’s vital for heart health, blood pressure management and healthy kidney function. And with only 100 or so calories, they are also quite filling. 

But what does it mean to “go bananas,” and where did that phrase come from? When we use the phrase, we typically mean someone has lost his or her mind, or, in a kinder sense, has become excited or angry. I prefer “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs,” but that’s just me. 

Some of you may recall the 1987 movie, “Going Bananas,” starring David Mendenhall, Dom DeLuise and Jimmie Walker. The plot involved these three trying to save a talking chimp named Bonzo from the bad guys. If you missed it, don’t worry; you didn’t miss much. 

I read a magazine as a kid in the 1970s called Bananas, which was published by Scholastic, Inc. as an attempt to cash in on the teen magazine craze of the time and featured stars from “Three’s Company,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Welcome Back, Kotter” “Starsky & Hutch” and more. I loved it.

The “going bananas” phrase and modern meaning likely stem from 1960s American college campuses. The phase is believed to have evolved from the then-popular phrase “going ape,” which also meant “to go crazy, to explode with anger or to erupt with enthusiasm.”

Dan Koeppel, author of the book “Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World,” wrote that “going bananas” might have arisen from the collegiate myth that one could get high by smoking banana peels.

No bananas with this one, and certainly not exploding with anger, but Neil Sedaka even sang about “going ape” a few years earlier in his 1959 single, “I Go Ape.”

“Going bananas” was meant to be funny, but it also apparently had a dark and unflattering usage in the 1930s when the expression was used to refer to perverted individuals.

Now you know. Go bananas. Or not. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the June 3 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Health Service Director Jotham Arber addressed the supervisors regarding the use of opioid funds from state and national settlements with companies over lawsuits stemming from the opioid crisis. He told of the need for EMS services to have naloxone for use with patients experiencing opioid addiction. Arber also explained Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), in which a patient is given another medication to replace the dangerous drug the patient is addicted to.

Arber explained that he is a strong believer in making sure that resources are available in this county, because many patients will not follow through on appointments further away due to transportation or time constraints.

Arber explained his thinking in targeting youth education.

“Another huge area is developing youth prevention programs and service navigation,” Arber said. “We’ve talked with all three of the schools, and we’re going to be having some pretty in-depth conversations over the next three months about the needs that they have in the social work space. I think we can avoid some things going forward. It’s that ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure methodology.”

Sheriff Matt Harmann spoke to the supervisors about planned vehicle purchases. Supervisors Chair Maggie Armstrong said she appreciates the information even though the purchases planned are already in the budget, so no board action was needed.

The supervisors discussed the county’s employee evaluation process and possible improvements. The discussion included the inherent challenges of evaluations being done by the five supervisors, meaning that employees essentially have five “bosses” who each will see things differently. There was also a suggestion to have a six-month “check-in” to review if annual goals are progressing. After discussion, Supervisor Steve Smith said he will work on creating a first draft of an amended format for the supervisors to review at an upcoming meeting.

The supervisors meet regularly on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend in person or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#.