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3-vehicle crash occurs on Highway 141

Aug 25, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Kent Gries reported at three-vehicle accident occurring on Aug. 22 at 4:25 p.m. on Highway 141. Mason Robert Kinsey, 17, of Jefferson was driving a 2003 Chevrolet K1500 pickup westbound approaching three vehicles that were stopped on Highway 141. The first vehicle, a non-contact vehicle, was stopped and waiting to turn off of Highway 141 on to 120th St. Unit 1 (Kinsey) failed to see unit 2 (a 2021 Ford F150 Supercrew pickup driven by Jack Joseph Tiefenthaler, 22, of Breda) and unit 3 (a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 ST pickup driven by Jammy Ray Kenneth Thornock, 43, of Carroll), and the non-contact vehicle stopped in front of him. Kinsey stated he looked at his cell phone for GPS directions as it was sitting in the center console. Kinsey rear-ended Tiefenthaler’s vehicle. Tiefenthaler’s vehicle then rear-ended Thornock’s vehicle. Thornock was able to stop before striking the front vehicle that was turning. No injuries were reported. Unit 1 and 2 were towed from the scene, and unit 3 was driven away. Kinsey was written a citation for failure to stop in assured clear distance. His vehicle sustained an estimated $5,000 in damage. Tiefenthaler’s vehicle sustained an estimated $10,000 in damage.  Thornock’s vehicle sustained an estimated $5,000 in damage. 

Patrecia Emley 

Aug 25, 2025 | Obituaries

1948-2025

Patrecia Emley, age 76, of Slater, passed away Friday, Aug. 22, at the Israel Family Hospice House.

Patrecia Ann (Hodges) Emley was born at Guthrie Center on Nov. 12, 1948, the eldest daughter of John and LaVaun Hodges. She grew up on a farm near Yale and graduated “Class Valedictorian” from Yale-Jamaica-Bagley Consolidated High School in 1967. Pat was an accomplished musician, active in band and high school state competitions. Her talents went beyond music, attending a ballet school of dance instructed by the internationally renowned Betty Mae Harris in Boone. Pat attended Drake University, majoring in music.

Pat was united in marriage with her high school sweetheart, William Emley, at the “Little Brown Church” in Nashua on March 16, 1968. They made their first home in Long Beach, California, while Will served in the U.S. Navy. She was the proud mother of one son, Troy Matthew.

While Will was serving in the U.S. Navy, Pat found employment in a clerical position with the County of Los Angeles in the Department of Social Services. She advanced to the position of “Supervisor.”

Pat and Will moved to Ames in 1974. While Will attended Iowa State University, Pat found employment as a Budget Analyst with the Ames Laboratory on campus. She was employed with the Ames Laboratory for 40 years, retiring in 2015.

Pat and Will joined the North Grand Church of Christ in 1975. Pat used her God-given talents at the church. She played the piano, organ and keyboard regularly for 39 years.

As a hobby, Pat knit and crocheted. For a few years, she entered many of her creations in the Iowa State Fair, earning a showcase full of ribbons. In 1994, the Iowa State Fair offered the “Fastest Fingers in Iowa” competition. Pat was crowned the very first “Champion.” She was the reigning champion for several more years. Later in life, she crocheted hats for babies in hospitals and the annual North Grand Christian Church garage sale.

Pat enjoyed traveling and camping. She and Will traveled all over the United States, exploring historical sites, observing natural wonders and experiencing regional cultures. They visited most of the national parks in the United States and Canada, and many state parks. She enjoyed the cultural experiences. When the grandchildren were old enough, they became involved in the explorations.

Pat enjoyed retirement, with more time for the activities she wanted to do. She operated her life at the pace she enjoyed.

Mourning the loss of Pat is her husband, Will Emley; son, Troy (Jordan) Emley; grandchildren, Nolen Emley, Elizabeth (Brandon) Venneman and Spencer Emley; brother, Mike (Susan) Hodges; sister, Joy (Alan) Barnhart; and several beloved church sisters, brothers and family friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 29 at North Grand Christian Church with a visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the North Grand Christian Church Music Ministry.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.adamssoderstrum.com

Adams Funeral Home in Ames is assisting the family with arrangements.

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report — Week of Aug. 25, 2025 

Aug 25, 2025 | 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.

“Farmers across Iowa enjoyed a welcome break from the rain last week along with cooler temperatures and less humidity,” Secretary Naig said. “As we finish out August, the forecast calls for more of the same this week. Looking ahead, initial outlooks are pointing toward a potentially warmer September as harvest approaches.”

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

Crop report

Iowa had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 24, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. The week started with warm temperatures but closed with much cooler weekend weather. Field activities included harvesting oats and hay. Reports noted increasing levels of disease in field crops.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus.

Corn in the dough stage reached 88 percent, 1 day behind last year’s pace and 3 days behind normal. Corn in the dent stage reached 45 percent, 1 day ahead of last year, but 1 day behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 56 percent good and 28 percent excellent. Ninety percent of soybeans were setting pods, 1 day ahead of last year, but 4 days behind normal. Soybeans coloring reached 8 percent. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 59 percent good and 20 percent excellent. At 97 percent, almost all Iowa’s oat for grain crop has been harvested.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 78 percent complete. Pasture condition rated 80 percent good to excellent.

Weather summary

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

Early-week rainfall gave way to quieter conditions toward the weekend, with unseasonably high totals at several northeastern Iowa stations. Temperatures remained unseasonably warm for most of the reporting period, though a late-week cold front ushered in cooler and less humid air; the statewide average temperature was 73.0 degrees, 1.3 degrees above normal.

Sunday (17th) afternoon was hot and muggy across southern Iowa, where temperatures rose into the low 90s under sunny skies. Farther north, a stationary front was situated near the Iowa-Minnesota border, with highs in the mid- to upper 80s. This boundary was the forcing mechanism for slow-moving thunderstorms into the evening hours, one of which became severe and produced a weak tornado near Crystal Lake (Winnebago County). A broader complex of showers and thunderstorms formed in northwestern Iowa into Monday (18th) morning and pushed through the state before exiting northeastern Iowa after noon. Flash flood warnings were issued for northeastern counties due to heavy rain. Several stations from north-central to northeast Iowa reported significant rainfall, including 4.15 inches in Fort Atkinson (Winneshiek County), 6.51 inches in Elma (Howard County), and 8.64 inches in Decorah (Winneshiek County), which was the week’s highest amount. Nearly 35 stations recorded totals in the 2.00-to-4.00-inch range, with numerous 1.00-inch amounts in western and northern Iowa. Winds turned to a westerly direction into the afternoon as highs held in the low 80s north to the low 90s south. Clouds remained over northern Iowa through sunrise on Tuesday (19th), with widespread fog and temperatures in the mid 60s to low 70s. Daytime conditions were mostly sunny with light northerly winds and highs in the mid 80s statewide. Wednesday (20th) dawned with partly cloudy conditions, patchy fog and morning temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Afternoon temperatures warmed by 10–20 degrees, with spotty showers reported southeast; a handful of stations observed a few tenths of an inch, including 0.35 inch at Bellevue Lock and Dam (Jackson County) and 0.43 inch in Wapello (Louisa County). Winds shifted to the east later in the night as starry skies appeared in the cloudless sky.

Thursday (21st) began a stretch of pleasant days as high pressure dominated the Upper Midwest. Daytime temperatures peaked in the upper 70s and low 80s, with a gradually shifting southwesterly wind into the evening hours. Overnight lows became more seasonal – in the upper 50s and low 60s – as clouds dotted portions of Iowa and fog developed at sunrise on Friday (22nd). Winds began shifting to the northwest through the late afternoon as a cold front dropped southeast through the state. Highs remained in the low 70s in northwest Iowa as the front passed, with upper 70s and low 80s elsewhere. Showers and a few thunderstorms formed along the surface boundary through the nighttime hours, with the front fully exiting the state by daybreak on Saturday (23rd). Rainfall was widespread, though very light, with most stations receiving less than 0.20 inch. Sioux City (Woodbury County) reported 1.05 inches from a thunderstorm, while two stations in Dallas Center (Dallas County) measured 0.75 to 0.81 inch from an overnight thundershower. The rest of the day was clear and breezy, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the 70s. The remaining clouds cleared by Sunday (24th) morning, which began chilly with lows in the upper 40s and low 50s.

The lowest reported weekly precipitation total was no accumulation at stations in south-central Iowa. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.87 inch, compared with a normal of 0.93 inch. Ames (Story County) reported the week’s highest temperature of 97 degrees on the 17th, 16 degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) recorded the week’s lowest temperature of 45 degrees on the 24th, 13 degrees below normal.

ACGC FFA members show out at the Iowa State Fair 

Aug 25, 2025 | News

By Ava Sneller and Gracie Hodges, Chapter Reporters | Special to the Times Vedette

The Iowa State Fair is the largest single event in our state and also is one of the oldest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. This year, nine ACGC FFA members participated in this event, presenting their hard work and dedication toward their projects. Four of these members were in the breeding beef show, exhibiting their heifer projects. Hunter Kress exhibited the champion High Maine breeding heifer, receiving multiple awards along with a purple ribbon for his project. Gracie and Blake Hodges both received a blue ribbon and fourth place in their respective classes with their Simmental heifer classes. Blake Hodges also placed in the top 10 as a Junior Beef Showman. Stella Largent exhibited her Angus heifer project, receiving a blue ribbon and placed in the top 10 Senior Beef Showman. The chapter also received a blue ribbon honor for herdsmanship as well.

Two of the nine members participated in the breeding and market swine shows on Thursday and Friday of the fair. Rylee Robson exhibited her commercial breeding gilt and received second in her class with a purple ribbon. Lilly Rochholz received all blues with her three exhibits, two in the commercial breeding gilt classes and one in the market barrow show. In the sheep show, Jarrett McClain exhibited seven of his projects at the fair. Both of his market wethers received a purple ribbon placing fifth and sixth in their classes. His market ewe received a blue ribbon. During the breeding sheep show, two of his breeding ewes received a purple ribbon, placing second and fourth while the other two received blue ribbons. Lilah Heinz exhibited her broiler project and received third overall with a blue ribbon and a blue for herdsmanship as well. Rounding out our chapter exhibitors, Calleigh Wolfe took two photos to the fair and received a red and white ribbon for her two projects in the Animals-Birds and Wildlife projects and Tractor Class.

Grief support options offered

Aug 25, 2025 | News

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Carla Kem, Bereavement Coordinator/Social Worker at Hospice of the Midwest, will lead three local options for those grieving a loved one.

Griefshare is a 13-week program, which Kem will cohost with Carolyn Koberg. The sessions will meet at the Restore Wellness building in Panora (102 S.E. 13th St.) on Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Sept. 8 through Dec. 1. Register at www.griefshare.org.

The other two offerings are called “4Cs” (Community Comfort Coffee with Carla). These meet monthly with one at Gardens Assisted Living in Jefferson and the other at Greenfield Assisted Living in Greenfield.

More information can be obtained by emailing carla.kem@hospiceofthemidwest.com.