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Traffic safety concern discussed at Guthrie Center City Council meeting

Oct 28, 2025 | News

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the regular meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council on Oct. 27, Councilmember Garold Thomas brought up a safety concern at the intersection of Highway 44 (State Street) and 12th Street. He explained that the two westbound lanes merge into one lane shortly before 12th Street, but some drivers do not merge early enough, which causes a problem because cars at the 12th Street stop sign need to “inch out” to see if traffic is coming on Highway 44/State Street.

Thomas suggested something should be done to help assure drivers know to merge before the curve and intersection with 12th Street.

“The line is faded so bad you can’t see it anymore,” Thomas said.

City Administrator Kris Arrasmith said the city is not able to make any such changes but will bring the issue up to the DOT.

As part of the consent agenda, the council approved a fence permit for 807 Oak St. (Jacobs). Arrasmith said Compliance Officer Wes Clark had reviewed the request and property and had no concerns.

The next regular meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

Auto services and equipment rental in Linden

Oct 28, 2025 | News

Korey Maynes is comfortable under the hood.

Linden Tire, Brake and Oil owner Korey Maynes says “service” sets his shop apart.

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, October 2025

Korey Maynes of Linden formerly owned and operated the Korey’s Tire and Auto Repair shop in Linden, then he chose to retire. But, as many retirees find, there are lots of hours to fill. So, after a few months, he decided to return to the working world, opening up his shop as Linden Tire, Brake and Oil.

“My mom’s from Adel. My dad’s from Stuart. I was born in southern California. So, I’ve moved home to a place I’d never been before,” Maynes said.

Korey’s Tire and Auto Repair, located at 401 W. North St. in Linden, provides auto service and equipment rental.

The first auto shop Maynes operated was in Adel, from 2009 to 2014, before getting the opportunity to open in Linden, at 401 W. North St. Maynes has spent his lifetime around cars.

“I’ve been working on cars since I was about 19, and I just turned 69,” he said.

“I had talked to the city of Linden, and they had vacated this street, so I offered to build my shop here, and that was approved,” Maynes said. “I had retired last year, for about three months. That was about nine or 10 months ago,” Maynes said.

When asked what sets his shop apart from others, Maynes short answer was “service.”

“When I do an oil change, I don’t just change the oil and filter. I have a whole list that comes out on the computer. I vacuum the floorboards, check all the fluid levels, fill the washer fluid, check all the tires, check the belts, battery and wiper blades, air filter,” Maynes said.

“I sell a lot of tires. I have pretty good prices on tires, from what everybody has told me,” Maynes said.

Maynes said for tires, the busiest season is right now. He said from October through December, as drivers prepare for snowy roads, demand for tire replacement is at its peak. Otherwise, Maynes said his business runs fairly steady year-round. Maynes said he usually has a lineup of vehicle to be worked on, but he strives to juggle things around when a customer needs a car fixed fast. 

Maynes recently chose to expand his business by adding Linden Rental at the same locale as his auto shop. The demand for rental equipment has already been a pleasant surprise.

“I’d talked about adding that for years, and then I decided now was the time. I’ve got the location, and I’m here anyway, so I started it about three weeks ago, and I’m already having trouble keeping my equipment here,” he said.

Available rental equipment includes a telescoping boom lift, a truck loader, stump grinder, car hauler, dump trailer, and many other machines coming soon. Maynes is proud to offer equipment rental locally, so customers don’t need to drive long distance to complete their projects. He encourages customers to speak up if they have any specific equipment they’re looking for.

Knowing that many equipment rental customers work Mondays through Fridays, Maynes offers a “weekend warrior” discounted rate on most of his rental equipment, giving a price break to those who want to rent equipment through the weekend, rather than paying a daily rate.

Maynes’ equipment and rental information can be seen online at www.lindenrentals.com. 

Although Maynes is currently working alone, he has realized that needs to change soon, due to the growth of his business.

“Right now, it’s just me, but I’m already looking to hire somebody. Ideally, full-time,” Maynes said.

Maynes’ shop is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone interested in making an appointment is encouraged to call Maynes at 515-664-8910. n

More than just books

Oct 28, 2025 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

Saturdays at the MJB Library are filled with young patrons who like to hang out. These guys are busy coloring some Halloween pages.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie Center residents with a library card, have you been utilizing your Iowa Adventure Pass (IAP)? As many of you are aware, due to the financial commitment of the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, which sponsors the IAP, patrons with a Guthrie Center address are currently able to use their library cards to obtain Iowa Adventure Passes for two central Iowa destinations. 

The Iowa Adventure Pass will still allow two adults and two children to have admission to the Blank Park Zoo and the Science Center of Iowa, but it also offers new perks. Blue Zoo Aquarium in West Des Moines will have a Buy One, Get Two Free offer: Buy one adult admission and get two free child admissions. This feature should be active at the IAP link on our library website.  

Located on Mills Civic Parkway, The Blue Zoo Aquarium offers many things to see as well as touch and feed opportunities. Programs change daily and include touch and feed stingrays and reptiles, opportunities to feed birds as well as sharks, clown fish, seahorses, birds and lizards. Visitors can watch mermaid shows and pirate ships, as well as enjoy the freshwater center and the saltwater center. Water play tables and opportunities for interactive play are available as well.

The final addition to the Iowa Adventure Pass is available only to students aged 7-18 years of age. In conjunction with the Des Moines Performing Arts, the IAP is offering admission to the Wellmark Family Series shows this year to students. Ticket passes are reserved on the IAP website and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The pass confirmation will need to be reserved in person up to 60 days before the event. These reservations must be made in person at the box office of the Civic Center or Hoyt Sherman Place. Students present their library card and proof of reservation at the box office of the appropriate venue, select their seat, and leave with either a paper or electronic ticket to the shows. For more information, contact the venues directly. 

The first show is “Sugar Skull! A Dia de Muertos Musical Adventure” on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.  Other shows in the series include “Forward,” Sept. 3-19; “The Nutcracker,” Oct. 27 – Dec. 5; “Nothing Holds Still,” Jan. 13 – Feb. 20; and “Cinderella,” April 3 – May 8. 

Remember that our annual Li-BOO-ary Bash will be Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-7:15 p.m. at the MJB Library. The event will feature plenty of not-so-scary fun and a treat.  

Story hour for preschoolers and their caretakers is each Friday at 11 a.m. The final story hour of October will be all about witches. On Nov. 7, the library will have a special guest, as Lori with Overall Buddies will be here. Lori will have her guitar and puppet friends to entertain our young guests. For adults attending, she will offer tips for improving reading readiness in preschoolers. 

For our patrons who are looking for the latest releases in our new book section, thank you for being patient with us. Baker and Taylor, the main book vendor for public libraries, is in the process of closing following financial difficulties. This unexpected situation has created a difficulty in our supply chain, as some of our other vendors were not prepared to meet the increased demand that Baker and Taylor’s closing has caused. Consequently, we are dealing with severe back orders and delays. If there’s a specific book you thought we would have, be sure to mention it to us, and we will do our best to get it in.

Joseph Edmund Louis

Oct 28, 2025 | Obituaries

1932-2025

Joseph Louis, 93, was born Oct. 22, 1932, on a farm just south of Dwight, Illinois, the fifth child of Ludwig and Margaret (Goley) Louis. He was a graduate of Saint Paul Catholic High School class of 1950 in Odell, Illinois. Joe worked for Caterpillar Inc. as a crane operator in Joliet, Illinois, for a brief period before serving in the U.S. Army Infantry during the Korean War conflict. Following his honorable discharge in 1954, he attended the University of Illinois where he would receive his B.S. in mechanical engineering. 

While attending U of I, and during a visit back home, he met the love of his life, Joyce M. Coughlin. They were married in Kinsman, Illinois, on Sept. 8, 1956. Joe worked his entire career (35 years) for Sundstrand Corporation, initially in Rockford, Illinois, then loading the station wagon with their five kids to transfer to the new factory in Ames. Joe and Joyce remained in Ames until his retirement from Sundstrand in 1993, when they built and moved to their retirement lake home in Panora. They enjoyed their time on Lake Panorama boating, golfing, and teaching their grandchildren water sports. They also enjoyed wintering in Lakeland, Florida. Several years after Joyce passed, Joe relocated to a very nice independent living facility in Leawood, Kansas, in 2024 where his family visited him often.

Joe was always focused on his faith and family, and his interests included golfing, boating, hunting, woodworking and problem solving. He never argued but loved spirited discussions, sometimes stating, “I’m probably telling you more than I know.” Joe was a devoted Catholic, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and eventually joined a veterans’ group in Florida. 

Survivors include his five children: Michael (Kim) Louis of Ames; Robert (Diane) Louis of Davenport; Kevin (Ronnie) Louis of Casa Grande, Arizona; Jane Wasel of Scituate, Massachusetts; and Gary (Loretta) Louis of Overland Park, Kansas. He had 14 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. 

Preceding him in death were his wife of 55 years, Joyce; his parents; his siblings: Mary Margaret (Lee) Masching, John (Kay) Louis, Vince (Jean) Louis, and Louise (Clarence) Masching; and a grandson, Joey Louis.

Services will be held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Panora on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, with visitation at 10:30 a.m. and mass starting at 11:30 a.m. A veteran’s graveside service will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in rural Guthrie Center. 

Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, is entrusted with his services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kansas City Hospice House.

Iowa Weekly Weather Summary

Oct 28, 2025 | Weather Summary

Released by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s weekly weather summary released today. Information from the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, which is released weekly by the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service from April through November, was not available due to the federal government shutdown.

“Looking at the five-year average, Iowa typically has more than 90% of soybeans and three-quarters of corn harvested by the last week in October. The dry conditions have allowed farmers to push that pace, with farmers in some parts of the state wrapping up harvest and transitioning to other field work,” Secretary Naig said. “Much of Iowa also experienced the first hard freeze of the season as overnight temperatures dropped. Though scattered rain is possible in parts of the state this week, any pause in field work is likely to be short-lived. Outlooks indicate warmer and drier conditions returning as we head into November.”

Weather summary

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

After a six-week stretch of unseasonably warm temperatures, conditions moderated to near normal across much of Iowa during the reporting period. The first widespread frost and freeze event also occurred, with numerous stations reporting the end of the growing season. The statewide average temperature was 50.0 degrees Fahrenheit, which matches the 30-year climatological mean. Most of the state also experienced unseasonably dry conditions, with departures of more than 0.50 inch at many stations.

Gusty westerly winds subsided through Sunday (19ᵗʰ) afternoon under sunny skies, with daytime highs in the upper 50s and low 60s. Starry skies were visible into early Monday (20ᵗʰ) morning as winds shifted to a southerly direction and temperatures remained in the 40s statewide. A cold front associated with a low-pressure center moving across northern Minnesota gradually crossed the state, producing light showers. Afternoon temperatures reached the upper 50s behind the front, while cloud cover in eastern Iowa held readings in the upper 60s and low 70s. Skies cleared by midnight as winds returned to a westerly direction, though clouds redeveloped by sunrise on Tuesday (21ˢᵗ). Rain totals from the system were generally light, with the highest amounts in northeastern Iowa; Lansing (Allamakee County) recorded 0.10 inch, while Waterloo (Black Hawk County) observed 0.16 inch. Many stations farther south and west reported less than 0.10 inch. Strong northwesterly winds developed through the day as low stratus clouds blanketed the state, producing chilly temperatures ranging from the upper 40s in the north to the mid 50s in the south. Mason City Municipal Airport (Cerro Gordo County) registered a 53-mph gust, with sustained winds in the 20- to 30-mph range statewide. A few light showers wrapped in behind the low-pressure system, bringing additional totals under 0.10 inch to northeastern stations. Clouds lingered over eastern Iowa into Wednesday (22ⁿᵈ), with the rest of the state under clear skies. Morning lows dropped below freezing on a widespread basis for the first time this season; stations in western and northern Iowa reported temperatures in the mid 20s, with Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) recording 25 degrees — ten degrees below normal. Afternoon conditions were calm as high pressure dominated the Upper Midwest, with highs in the low 50s across northern Iowa and up to ten degrees warmer in the south.

Thursday (23ʳᵈ) began chilly, as 35 stations recorded temperatures at or below 28 degrees — the threshold for a killing freeze. The statewide average low was 30 degrees, seven degrees below normal under mostly clear skies. Daytime highs rose into the upper 50s and low 60s as northwesterly winds lightened and ample sunshine prevailed. Easterly winds developed on Friday (24ᵗʰ) morning, accompanied by pockets of frozen fog in northeastern Iowa. Temperatures held in the upper 20s across northern stations and the upper 30s farther south; stations in extreme southwest Iowa reported upper 40s under cloudy skies. Daytime conditions were near seasonal, with increasing cloud cover across western Iowa and southeasterly winds. Overcast conditions persisted into Saturday (25ᵗʰ), with overnight lows in the upper 40s and low 50s—much warmer than during previous mornings. Scattered showers developed across a north-central corridor of Iowa later in the evening and continued overnight, yielding 0.10 inch in Mason City and 0.35 inch in Osage (Mitchell County). Cloudiness continued into Sunday (26ᵗʰ), with lows ranging from the mid- to upper 40s statewide.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no measurable accumulation in western and southern Iowa to 0.44 inch in Osage. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.01 inch, compared with a normal of 0.63 inch. Clarinda (Page County) reported the week’s highest temperature of 74 degrees on the 19ᵗʰ, ten degrees above normal. Vinton (Benton County) recorded the week’s lowest temperature of 21 degrees on the 24ᵗʰ, thirteen degrees below normal.