Camp participants and leaders pause for a group photo.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
The eighth annual ACGC football youth camp recently finished. Nearly 100 young athletes were led by members of the current ACGC Chargers varsity team. Participants learned skills at various offensive and defensive stations.
Young athletes go through drills led by varsity Chargers.
Rob Sand, Democrat candidate for Iowa Governor, addresses a crowd at the Guthrie Center Library.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
A standing-room-only crowd estimated at 80 packed into the Guthrie Center Library on Aug. 19 to hear Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for Iowa Governor. Prior to the town hall, Sand sat with members of the local press to answer questions.
When asked about the reason for and timing of his candidacy, Sand spoke of his time as State Auditor and a recent change related to the Auditor’s access to records.
“They passed a law allowing state government to hide waste and abuse from the Auditor’s office. So, I’m not particularly inclined to continue being State Auditor when we can be told that we can’t dig in on an important issue,” Sand said. “But it also makes it that much more important that we have new leadership, because who on Earth, in their right mind, would vote for or sign a law like that? Every single government watchdog in America, as well as the auditing profession, said this law will increase waste, fraud and abuse of tax dollars. They made it the law anyway. Time to change.”
When asked how he would approach a strong Republican majority in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate if he becomes governor, Sand smiled.
“Joyfully. I have no problem working with people I disagree with,” Sand said. “I think actually, a structure that forces both parties to work together would get better results. I couldn’t do much without them, and they couldn’t do much without me, so we’d have to meet in the middle.”
Sand was asked how he would reach the large number of eligible voters who do not choose to vote.
“A lot of people who aren’t voters, aren’t voters because they think the system is broken. I agree with them,” Sand said. “I’m not really interested in right versus left. I’m focused on right versus wrong. And the idea is not to have Iowa be redder or bluer, but better and truer. That resonates with people, and I’ve had people come up and tell me, ‘I’ve never voted in my life, but I’m going to vote for you because of that message.’ ”
Asked about what he enjoys away from work, the Decorah native talked about his family (wife, Christine, and two sons) and his love of the outdoors.
“My favorite hobby is bow hunting. Every year, it recenters me, grounds me, gives me a great deal of enjoyment just being out in the woods by myself,” Sand said.
Special to the Times Vedette
Tori’s Angels Foundation will hold its annual gala on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds in Guthrie Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. This year, the theme is “Angels Under the Big Top,” and the event is shaping up to be exciting and fun.
A live auction and silent auction will be held, and attendees will hear from several Tori’s Angels families including its namesake, Tori Heckman. Many people have followed Tori’s journey through the years, and event organizers say the fact that she has “graduated” from being a supported child in the organization illustrates her fighting spirit. Organizers also say she is a living testament to what can happen with superior medical care and community support.
“Our mission is to help Iowa families who have a child with a life-threatening illness or condition,” Julie Dent-Zajicek, president of Tori’s Angels Foundation, says. “Among other services, our 501c3 non-profit organization provides financial support by paying for medical expenses that insurance does not cover, including insurance co-pays, deductibles, travel costs to obtain medical treatment and more.”
This assistance relieves some of the financial burden associated with having a child who needs help and allows families to seek the best available care for their child anywhere in the country.
Tori’s Angels Foundation began in 2011 and has helped 186 families since that time. It continues to add 25 to 30 children each year, which organizers say is both good and bad.
“It is sad that so many Iowa children have life-threatening illnesses, but it is gratifying to know that Tori’s Angels Foundation is ready and available to help them,” Dent-Zajicek says.
This growing need means fundraising is critical to the long-range success and solvency of the organization, and the fall gala is the organization’s biggest event of the year. Individual tickets are $125 each and tables of eight can be purchased for $1,000. Availability is limited. Call JoAnn Alumbaugh at 641-431-0257 or email her at joann.alumbaugh@gmail.comto reserve your spot today.
“We are so appreciative of the generous donations that individuals and businesses in our local communities have given us in the past,” Alumbaugh says. “We look forward to seeing many of you on Sept. 13, and we thank you for your continued support.”
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
A community drive-through meal will be held Wednesday, Aug. 27 from 4-7 p.m. at Riverside Park in Guthrie Center (on School Street, near the high school). All proceeds will be split between the families of Haeleigh Busse and Alison Herron. The meal will include choice of hamburger or hot dog with chips and a cookie. A freewill donation of $10 per meal is suggested.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the Aug. 20 meeting of the Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center school boards, Superintendent Josh Rasmussen discussed the option to have Denovo Construction Solutions perform a facility assessment for each school district. He said Denovo could also be the contractor for any projects the districts may choose to do, or Denovo could simply provide the assessment of which projects are most in need. Rasmussen added that he himself will not have much spare time for facility planning in the coming months.
“If we want to get anything done by next summer, we probably need to start,” Rasmussen said. “I don’t have a lot of extra time right now, but I think Denovo could do some of that work for us, if we ask them.”
The Adair-Casey School Board voted to approve a facility conditions assessment by Denovo. The Guthrie Center School Board tabled the issue for possible consideration in the coming months.
Rasmussen said the Adair-Casey Junior High roofing project is completed, other than an upcoming “walk-through” that will satisfy warranty requirements. A large pile of “roof rock” will be offered on a “first come, first served, freewill donation” basis for anyone interested in taking the rock by Sept. 15.
Principal Ed Den Beste said the preliminary activities and meetings related to the upcoming school year have gone well.
“Good start to the year and looking forward to getting the kids back in,” he said.
Staff and the boards discussed and approved the second reading of the “Student use of Personal Electronic Devices Policy.” Rasmussen explained that a new law requires all school to comply with the expectation, although exact procedures will be developed at each school. Rasmussen and Principals Tandem Eischeid and Den Beste said they have had relatively few problems related to this issue.
The Adair-Casey board and the Guthrie Center board each unanimously approved the Student Handbook as proposed.
Rasmussen talked about career education, explaining it is a requirement and something Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center Schools want to pursue. He said it will be integrated into all grade levels in some manner.
Upcoming dates noted include the first day of school Aug. 25, no school on Aug. 29 (Guthrie County Fair) and no school on Sept. 1 (Labor Day).
The next regular meeting of the Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center school boards is set for Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the ACGC High School Media Center in Guthrie Center. The public is welcome.