July 2025 - Page 10 of 34

Wedemeyers named 2025 Casey Citizens of the Year

Jul 22, 2025 | News

Left to right: Jessica Davis and Cheinie Case, service club members and Stacey and Matt Wedemeyer, recipients.

Special to the Times Vedette

The 2025 Citizens of the Year for 2025 are Matt and Stacey Wedemeyer.

Matt, a Casey native, started his love of community when he was a toddler. He and his brother were in the kids parade and then later the big parade with their various organizations. His real community service projects started from 4-H membership with the Way-Out Walnuts and then when he was a member of the AC FFA group. He served in various leadership roles through both organizations.

After completing college, Matt came home to farm and sell real estate and decided to run for the Adair County Supervisor seat in his district. He won the election and has represented Adair County as a supervisor.

He and Stacey married and immediately immersed themselves in remodeling projects from their rental home business to the beautiful former funeral home. They decided to continue their entrepreneur efforts by purchasing Howard Messinger’s barber shop and turning it into Stacey’s dream of owning an ice cream shop — the Casey Creamery.

Stacey, a registered nurse, has spent years taking care of others. One of the highlights of her career were her years as the ACGC elementary nurse. She enjoyed looking after the children’s medical needs. She did it all from giving prescriptions, evaluating potential broken bones to passing out an occasional aspirin along with very special band aids. She has been available when needed for community service in her various hometowns.

Stacey has been the Casey Service Club president for the last two years and before that was willing to help with many community events. Her empathy and compassion for others is where she gained her knowledge of wanting to go into the nursing field. From a young age, she was watching out for others. At one time, she had five sets of grandparents. She loved all of them. So, in her field of nursing, she came by it naturally. With her determination and compassion, she has been the go-getter. When she moved to Casey, she found her town and made it her own.

The latest acquisition for Matt and Stacey is the former grocery store purchased from Marge Sublett. This building has been rehabilitated from top to bottom, making it a dual-purpose building with a two-bedroom apartment on the upper level and a new retail store, Hometown Basics, on the main. The apartment is furnished for extended stay or a quiet weekend getaway.

Both Matt and Stacey have embraced the history of the community. With the restoration of the buildings, they have tried to keep some of the characteristics of the original buildings intact while giving them an updated look.

Ranger strikes dog on Frontier Road

Jul 22, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Josh Armstrong reported a car vs. dog accident occurring at 4:40 p.m. on July 18 on Frontier Road. Elisha Brogan, 44, of Bradford, Ohio, was driving a 2021 Ford Ranger south on Frontier Road when a dog chasing a UTV ran onto the highway in front of the Ranger from the property at 2667 Frontier Road. The dog was struck and killed. Estimated damage to the Ranger is $1,501.

Lindberg honored with Casey’s Distinguished Service Award

Jul 22, 2025 | News

Casey Distinguished Service Award recipient Nicholas Lindberg and his wife, Isabella, in the parade.

Special to the Times Vedette

Nicholas Lindberg has been named as the recipient of the 2025 Casey Distinguished Service Award. He graduated from Adair-Casey High School in 2015 and showed an interest in government at an early age when he was chosen to be a personal secretary at the Iowa House of Representatives as Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer’s page. He continued to work in the Iowa House as a confidential assistant.

Nick was elected in November of 2015, fresh out of high school, as a council member for the City of Casey. Nick then took on the role of mayor of Casey. He has cared deeply about the town from an early age.

The role of mayor is not an easy one, but Nick took it on with grace, strength and dignity. Often a thankless job, Nick marched forward with his team to implement improvements that were needed to help get Casey moving in the right direction again. Nick helped implement the sewer project to improve sewer lines and sewer plant operation.

Nick also worked extensively with the Iowa DNR when the city wells dried up in the drought to get a new well as quickly as possible. He also helped obtain the grant that paid for the new well.

Nick, tech savvy and knowledgeable, created and maintained the city’s website. He also worked to get help for the federal funding needed for the bridge replacement on West Thomas Road.

Nick made it a priority to attend training to keep abreast with current and new laws and state requirements. He also studied and became certified in the National Incident Management System as part of his service of an elected official, and in 2022, the Iowa League of Cities awarded him CEMO designation in recognition of his time spent taking voluntary courses to further develop his knowledge.

Nick stepped up to the plate to address as many nuisance issues in town as possible, which is not an easy feat. City clerk Gwen Blass said, “Nick always strived to do what was in the best interest of the City of Casey. It was a pleasure to work with Nick. He was a wealth of knowledge, and if he didn’t know the answer, he wasn’t afraid to do the work to get it. Nick was very professional and always conscientious of how he treated the people of Casey.”

Today, Nick continues his career with the City of West Des Moines as a community compliance specialist. He is settled in his historic home with his wife, Isabella. Although they will not live in Casey anymore, Nick will remain a “true Caseyian,” and a piece of his heart belongs here forever.

South selected for Iowa Shrine Bowl

Jul 22, 2025 | Sports

ACGC’s No. 3 Jathan South leaps for the pass against Ogden earlier this season. Photo by Mark Reno

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

ACGC’s Jathan South was selected to compete in the Iowa Shrine Bowl on July 19. The Shrine Bowl All-Star Classic is an annual game featuring 92 of the state’s best players. South suffered an injury during track season which did not allow him to play in the game.

South’s nomination was earned for his performances during the 2025 football season, including being named to The Des Moines Register All-State team. As quarterback for the Chargers, South threw for 499 yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, he crossed the century mark with 1,153 rushing yards and scored 21 touchdowns. South also had 48 total tackles and six tackles for loss on defense.

More than just books

Jul 22, 2025 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The annual library book sale is currently underway. Stop in and take a look. We have children’s books, fiction, cookbooks, craft books, gardening, home improvement books and nonfiction. Books are available for a free will donation. You receive new books, and your donation to Friends of the Guthrie Center Library helps provide items to support special projects to help your local library thrive. So come in, take a look at the vast selection of books, and take some new reads home with you.

Friends of the Guthrie Center Library will have their regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 5, at 6:15 p.m. at the MJB Library. Please join us to support the library. New members are welcome to attend.

The Iowa Adventure Pass is up and running again. Sponsored by Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, the Iowa Adventure Pass gives library cardholders the opportunity to discover and explore museums, gardens, zoos, and other destinations across Iowa — for free. How It Works: reserve your pass online at www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us/iowa-libraries-adventure-pass, print or download your confirmation, present your confirmation and a valid ID at the destination for free admission for two adults and two children (unless otherwise specified). Passes from the Mary J Barnett Memorial Public Library are available exclusively for Guthrie Center residents.

On Thursday, July 24, at 4 p.m., the library will be hosting Creation Corner for youth of all ages. Be sure to pre-register to participate in the creative crafts that we have planned. Our next LEGO Mania Day will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7; registration is open now.

Preschool Story Hour is at 10 a.m. every Friday. The next story hour will be Christmas in July. Join us for fun stories followed by a special craft project.

Both book clubs have extra copies of books available if you would like to join either or both of them. The afternoon book club is reading “The Trouble with You” by Ellen Feldman, a historical fiction novel set after World War II. It tells the story of a young woman navigating the changing roles of women in post-war society. Meanwhile, the evening book club is reading Jeneva Rose’s debut novel, “The Perfect Marriage.” This thrilling and twisty story will keep you engrossed until the surprising ending that you won’t see coming.

Remember that every Monday from 9-11 a.m., cribbage players meet in the Taylor meeting room. On Wednesdays, the bridge club also meets from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room. All interested card players are welcome.