Special to the Times Vedette
The Bruce Riddle family, 100 West Third St. in Casey, is collecting donations for the Adair Casey Food Pantry during the holiday season from 3-9:30 p.m. Simply leave items in the sleigh, located in one of the most decorated yards in town. They empty it daily.
Special to the Times Vedette
The winter holidays are right around the corner. We often think of warm, cozy gatherings with family and friends, sharing our favorite foods, beverages and seasonal treats.
But, did you know that another holiday tradition some people enjoy is gambling? It’s no longer limited to casinos. Gambling takes on many forms, and research shows that children as young as 10 have engaged in some type of gambling activity.
Here’s why this matters: gambling activates the brain’s reward system much like alcohol and other drugs do. Some people may be more prone to developing problems, and as gambling continues, it can overstimulate the brain’s reward system. Over time, this reduces the level of pleasure felt, leading individuals to gamble more in an attempt to recapture that initial excitement.
As the holidays approach, be aware of the warning signs of problem gambling, such as:
If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing a problem with gambling, reach out to 1-800-BETS-OFF from Your Life Iowa for free, confidential support. New Opportunities, Inc. is part of the Iowa Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Service System with services funded by the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRS BG). For more information on problem gambling, visit the Your Life Iowa website at www.yourlifeiowa.org or contact New Opportunities Inc. Behavioral Health Department for Problem Gambling treatment at 712-792-9266.
Special to the Times Vedette
EXIT Country Realty announced that Joel Hester has joined its team of real estate sales professionals. EXIT Country Realty, located at 108 E. Main St. in Panora, is a member of EXIT Realty Upper Midwest’s network of independently owned and operated brokerages across the region. Founded in Canada in 1996, EXIT Realty is a real estate franchisor with offices across North America.
Special to the Times Vedette
On Nov. 19, a total of 13 players participated. Paul McCool and Dennis Betts each got a 16; Rhonda Titus and Robert Klever got two 16s; and Richard Ellis, Dave Richter and Lela Schwartz won with a 20.
The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library, 400 Grand St., on Mondays at 8 a.m. and at the New Homestead independent living dining hall, 2306 State St., at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.
Willis Sheeder has the equipment to get you rolling again.
By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, November 2025
HawkGuy’s logo shows his love of bikes and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Willis Sheeder of Guthrie Center enjoys riding his bicycle, and that has led to him working on bikes as well. His business name is “HawkGuy The Bike Guy.”
“Originally, it was Sheeder Cycling Company, but I’m a Hawkeye fan since birth, so that’s where that name came from,” Sheeder said. “This is more me.”
Sheeder began working on bikes gradually.
“When I started out, everything I did was on my own bike, so I just kind of learned as I went — with a lot of trial and error every step of the way,” Sheeder said. “I previously worked at a bike shop in Des Moines while I lived in Waukee from 2007 to 2014,” Sheeder said.
Although he is operating his shop as a part-time job, Sheeder is mostly focused on customer satisfaction.
“What’s unique about my shop is I put my whole heart into it. I only fix the bikes as if I would be the one to ride them. I want the community to have a resource to fix bicycles for both youth and adults,” he said. “Plus, when I work on them, it’s never work. It’s pure joy.”
Sheeder estimates that he works on kids’ bikes and adults’ bikes in roughly equal shares, and he enjoys the wide variety of bike styles and accessories that he sees.
Sheeder is offering a $75 “tune-up” for bikes, but he said it is not a limited time offer. Generally, he can perform a tune-up and have the bike back to the customer within two days, unless additional issues are found.
Wheel truing at HawkGuy will take away the wobble.
“The tune-up includes making sure your shifting and brakes work and everything is up to date. I will grease the ball bearings to keep things smoothly operating and a cleaning of the bike,” he said. “I don’t foresee that price changing. I try to be lower than the big-name bike shops. I don’t charge per hour; I charge per job. If anything additional arises, I stay in communication with the customer.”
Sheeder added that he can pick up and drop off bikes if the owner is not able to get to him.
“And I will do service calls,” he said.
Besides tune-ups, common services Sheeder performs include wheel truing, wheel building, brake/shifting service, cable/chain/spoke replacement, and overall bicycle cleaning.
In addition to bicycles, Sheeder can work on some similar items, such as e-bikes.
“For e-bikes, I can do everything but the electric part of them,” he said.
Anyone interested in contacting Sheeder for bike repair can contact him by email (hawkguythebikeguy@yahoo.com) or text at 641-740-7643.
One of Sheeder’s favorite tasks is when a customer brings in a bike that has not been ridden in a long time and needs repair to be useable.
“I really like giving it another life. All I want is to see people ride a bike and operate it efficiently and have a big smile on their face,” Sheeder said. “Biking is true freedom.”