Special to the Times Vedette

Lyle and Carol Laughery will celebrate their 60-year wedding anniversary on Sept. 11. 

Hannah Beveridge creates soaps and related products with fewer chemicals and artificial ingredients.

 

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, August 2025

In most any shopping mall, the stores selling scented lotions and similar products are usually some of the busiest because the pleasant aromas tend to draw people in. That experience has led to a hobby for Hannah Beveridge of Guthrie Center. 

Like many people, Beveridge enjoys the various scented products available from a wide range of manufacturers, but in June of 2024, after moving from Johnston to Guthrie Center, she decided to try making her own. After reading the labels of the mass-produced products, she felt there must be a way to create products with fewer chemicals and artificial ingredients.

During that time, Beveridge was taking classes toward her goal of achieving a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance. She also has a fulltime job as a bank teller in Adel. On top of all that, she and her fiancé are planning a wedding this October. Obviously, time has been a precious commodity, and Beveridge found herself multitasking when she first began working on making scented soaps.

“It was a challenge to be writing a paper while stirring a pot of soap while making sure my lotion didn’t bubble over,” Beveridge said. 

As she gained experience and found out what mixtures she liked best, Beveridge realized others might enjoy her products as well.

“If I’m going to make this for myself, I might as well share it with the community,” she said.

Beveridge began displaying some of her products at Art on State in Guthrie Center and at Hometown Basics in Casey. Her business is called Hannah Rae’s Home Goods.

Over the past year, Beveridge’s methods have evolved, and her product line has grown. 

“I started working with cold processed soaps, but that takes a long time because there’s a 30-day curing process,” Beveridge said. “I recently switched to hot processed soaps, and I’ve been selling them in those lather bags, which work like a loofah.”

Beveridge’s philosophy is simple.

“I wanted to make it my own and use local ingredients when I can. I try to find local honey when I can,” she said.

After starting with soaps, she has since branched out into other scented products. She now creates soaps, lotions, lip balms, room sprays and car fresheners. 

“I make handcrafted body care and fragrance items in small batches, with fewer additives and chemicals than most commercially produced products,” Beveridge said. “My goal is to develop a local line of products similar to Bath & Body Works.”

Beveridge continues to experiment with different products and scents but has a handful of favorite items. She has also found that, sometimes, the best scent is no scent at all. She named her unscented products “Plain Jane” because she feels it is more appealing that way. 

Beveridge’s soaps come in several scents, including black raspberry, mahogany teakwood, The Bee’s Knees, Razzle Dazzle and Plain Jane. Car fresheners are available in maple, sugar cookie, vanilla, apple pie, mahogany, Dreamsicle, and Fruit Loops. Lotion bars and body butter are available in vanilla, lavender or Plain Jane.

Beveridge noted that black raspberry soap is currently her most popular item.

“And all my mahogany products sell really well, too,” she said. 

Although Beveridge is mostly a one-person operation, she appreciates the help of her future mother-in-law, Debra Lemke, who assists at farmers markets and events.

Currently, Beveridge’s products are available at Art on State, Hometown Basics, the Panora and Guthrie Center farmers markets, and on her website and Facebook page. What began as simply an experiment and hobby is growing, and Beveridge welcomes the progression.

“I hope to become a household name in Guthrie County and make homemade products more accessible,” she said.

Beveridge’s array of products can be seen and ordered at www.hannahraeshomegoods.com.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the Sept. 9 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, the supervisors heard from Brett Michael, Mental Health Advocate, who serves an area including Guthrie County and six other counties. Board Chair Maggie Armstrong shared why she felt it would be helpful for the supervisors to hear from Michael.

Michael explained how he is assigned to work with individuals who are deemed by the court to be in need of involuntary mental health services.

“I get appointed to basically work with people through the process,” Michael said. “Overall, part of it is making sure people know what their rights are through the process. It can be a really confusing time for people. Some people are perfectly able to advocate for themselves.”

Supervisor Mike Dickson asked about the need for the advocate position, saying that county staff are already able to provide such services.

“We’re setting things up within the county ourselves,” Dickson said.

Armstrong said the county’s advocate cost is reimbursed by the State of Iowa, and she added that Michael’s position has been operating at the same hourly rate of $19.30 per hour for more than a decade. She asked the supervisors to consider a cost-of-living increase in that rate. No formal action was taken at this time. Michael said his time spent dealing with Guthrie County has ranged from seven to 32 hours per month.

Health Services Director Jotham Arber addressed the supervisors, reporting on status of Public Health and Environmental Health services.

“COVID vaccines are a big thing right now,” Arber said.

Arber shared a plan that is in the initial stages.

“I am working with the schools to try to get a 28E agreement drafted that would allow them to all share mental health services,” Arber said. “I talked to all the superintendents and all the school counselors, and I think there’s a great appetite to work together to get more mental health services into our schools.”

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#.