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ACGC FFA members show at Iowa State Fair

Special to the Times Vedette

ACGC FFA members traveled to the Iowa State Fair Aug. 12-13 to compete in the FFA shows, bringing home numerous blue and purple ribbons, class placings and several top overall honors.

The Iowa State Fair FFA Shows provide students with an opportunity to showcase the time and effort they have invested in their agricultural projects throughout the year while competing against FFA members from across Iowa. ACGC members represented the chapter in beef, sheep, swine, meat goat, dairy goat, horse, poultry and photography competitions.

Tatum Brittain had a successful State Fair experience, competing in the horse show. Brittain placed third in the Aged Mare class and earned a blue ribbon in Horsemanship. Brittain also showed Charli in multiple riding classes, earning one purple ribbon and three blue ribbons during the first day of showing.

Lilah Heinz had an impressive showing in the Broiler Show. Heinz’s broiler pen placed fourth Overall, and she was recognized as a Top Twelve Showman. The pen also earned a purple ribbon for Herdsmanship. Heinz also competed in Photography, earning three red ribbons and one blue ribbon.

Several ACGC members competed in the Breeding Beef Show. Stella Largent placed second in her class with her bull, receiving Reserve Champion Angus Bull and third in her class with her Angus heifer. Largent also earned three red ribbons in Photography. Blair Brown placed second in her class with her Angus heifer, while Gracie Hodges earned fourth in her class with an Angus heifer. Blake Hodges placed second in his class with his Foundation Simmental. Hunter Kress earned several top honors in the Breeding Beef Show. Kress was named Reserve Champion in the AOB Cow/Calf Division, Champion Maintainer Heifer and fourth Overall Breeding Heifer.

ACGC sheep exhibitors also experienced success at the State Fair. Creighton Suhr placed third Overall Market Ewe Lamb and placed fourth in his class, earning a purple ribbon. Suhr also competed in the Meat Goat Breeding Show, placing fifth in class and receiving a purple ribbon. Rylee Robson placed fourth in her class with her Purebred Dorset, earning a purple ribbon, and also received a blue ribbon with her crossbred ewe. Blaire Robson competed in Junior Sheep Showmanship and earned a blue ribbon with her White-Faced wether. She also received a blue ribbon in another sheep class. Cash Suhr earned both blue and purple ribbons with his market sheep entries. In the Meat Goat Market Show, Suhr placed sixth in one class and received a blue ribbon, while placing second in a second class, receiving a purple ribbon.

The ACGC FFA swine exhibitors also brought home several strong results. Colt Wilson competed in Junior Swine Showmanship and earned a blue ribbon with his gilt. Wilson also received two blue ribbons after placing seventh in his classes. His carcass entry, Forest, was one of his highlights of the show, placing first in class and sixth Overall. Alli Wiers earned blue ribbons on all three of her Purebred Poland China entries. Lilly Rochholz competed in the Purebred Duroc class and later earned three blue ribbons with her crossbred swine.

Nora Langgaard represented ACGC FFA in the Dairy Show, earning Senior Division Grade Doe before going on to be named Overall Grand Champion Grade Doe. Shelby Gustin also represented the chapter in Photography, earning two red ribbons and two blue ribbons.

The Iowa State Fair marked another opportunity for ACGC FFA members to put their hard work and dedication on display. Preparing an animal or project for the State Fair requires months of commitment, and students gained valuable experience through competition, showmanship and interaction with other exhibitors from across the state. The ACGC FFA Chapter congratulates all of its members who participated in the Iowa State Fair FFA Shows. The chapter also extends its appreciation to the parents, families, supporters and volunteers who helped students prepare for and participate in this year’s State Fair.

Tatum Brittain with her third place Aged Mare.

Rylee and Blaire Robson with their sheep entries.

Nora Langgaard with her Overall Grand Champion Grade Doe.

Hunter Kress with his fourth overall heifer.

Martinez sentenced to 20 years

By Luann Waldo | Special to the Times Vedette

A local family is finding some resolution to their grief in the loss of their son, brother and grandson following the conviction and sentencing of an illegal immigrant in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 22.

Matthew Allen Carney, 42, known by his friends as Matt, died from injuries sustained while trying to stop Ulises Martinez, 31, from stealing tools and items from his vehicle located in the parking lot of his restaurant business, Smokin’ Thighs, in Wedgewood, Tennessee, on June 19, 2024.

Martinez entered a guilty plea to one count of second degree murder, one count of theft over $2,500, one count of theft over $10,000 and one count of tampering with evidence. Additional charges were dismissed in a plea agreement.

He was ordered to serve 20 years in prison. Following his release, it is anticipated he will be returned to his home country of Mexico. More than 50 of Carney’s relatives and friends were in the courtroom to witness the guilty plea.

Martinez and another illegal immigrant (Adrian Diaz-Aguirre, 26) arrived at the restaurant in a stolen vehicle. Carney caught them in the act of stealing items from the back of his vehicle. The two climbed into the stolen vehicle and attempted to leave, but Carney was in front of them. Martinez allegedly accelerated the vehicle, causing Carney to be slid onto the hood. As the vehicle sped away, Carney was ejected, falling onto the street.

Carney suffered a serious brain injury along with broken ribs and chest injuries. He fought for life for 15 days in the intensive care unit of Vanderbilt University Medical Center but succumbed on July 4, 2024.

Martinez was on the run after the incident. He was arrested on July 18, 2024.

Matt’s brother, Adam Carney told The Tennessean that two things have made his brother’s death especially difficult: Martinez’ immigration status and his previous charges. Records show three criminal charges against Martinez in Nashville were dismissed in March of 2024. He was accused of vehicular burglary and two counts of theft.

His loved ones are serving a “lifetime sentence of grief,” Adam Carney said. He stressed that people who loved Carney, relied on him for their livelihoods or found his restaurant a place to call home will all feel his loss much longer.

Without Matt Carney to run the business, the restaurant closed in October of 2024 after 10 years in Wedgewood-Houston.

“Places like this do not just exist everywhere and in every neighborhood,” Landon Allen said in The Tennesean. Allen, who managed Smokin’ Thighs, commented, “When he was taken from us, it all died with him.”

“When you lose somebody that you love and care about, I don’t know that there’s any sentence that’s going to feel like justice to you,” Allen stated to WKRN.com. “The way that he cared about the people that he loved was unwavering, unfaltering and always there.”

Allen and Carney shared what type of man Matthew Carney was: a hard-working Iowa farm boy with a big, cackling laugh who seemed to know how to fix anything, always kept those he loved safe and secure, loved to cook and was always ready to go to the lake.

Carney is survived by his wife, Molly; father, Clifford (Lori) Carney of Adair; mother, Debra Taylor; brother, Adam (Amy) Carney; sister, Katelin (Chad) Jeffers; grandmother, Patricia Carney of Adair; other relatives and many friends.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security weighed into the conviction, issuing this statement on July 24, 2026. “This criminal illegal alien pleaded guilty to murder, theft, and tampering with evidence after he ran over and killed Matt Carney in Nashville, Tennessee,” Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said. “This criminal illegal alien should NEVER have been in our country to commit this heinous murder. We will work with our state and local partners in Tennessee to ensure that he is handed over to ICE custody once his sentence is complete, so that we can remove him from our country.”

Martinez claims to have illegally entered the United States through Texas in 2021.

Information for this report was gleaned from The Nashville Tennessean, Evan Malins, July 22, 2026; dailywire.com, Leif Le Mahieu, July 23, 2026; WKRN.com, Katelyn Quisenberry, July 23, 2026, and foxnews.com, Brittany Miller, July 24, 2026.

Cribbage results from Aug. 21 and Aug. 24

Special to the Times Vedette

On Aug. 21, a total of 10 players participated. Dave Richter, Sandy Rumelhart, got a 16 and a 17; Bill Sheeder and Dick Ellis each got a 17; Kathy Feilmeier got an 18; Lela Schwartz got a 21; and Roy Carl got a 24. 

On Aug. 24, a total of six players participated. Robert Klever and Dave Kading got a 16; and Roy Carl got a 17.

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.

Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Weekly Report — Aug. 17-23, 2026

8-17-26

  • 7:15 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Bagley 
  • 7:55 a.m. Stuart Police assisted a motorist 
  • 8:59 a.m. Stuart Police responded to an animal complaint 
  • 10:01 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy performed a welfare check on a driver in Yale 
  • 10:50 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy took a complaint from Bayard 
  • 3:38 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Panora 
  • 4:45 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve civil papers in Bayard 
  • 5:18 p.m. Guthrie County Sheriff took a report of harassment in rural Bagley 
  • 5:27 p.m. Stuart Ambulance and Police responded to a medical call in Stuart 
  • 5:34 p.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital to Lutheran 
  • 6:21 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve civil papers in rural Panora 
  • 6:25 p.m. Stuart Ambulance responded to a medical call in Casey 
  • 6:34 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served civil papers in rural Panora 
  • 6:34 p.m. Stuart Police assisted a motorist on I-80
  • 6:59 p.m. Panora Fire and Ambulance and Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputy checked on a house in Panora

 

8-18-26

  • 12:08 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in rural Panora 
  • 5:15 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a suspicious person
  • 7:44 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a family situation 
  • 11:35 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy transported one male to Oakdale Prison 
  • 1:41 p.m. Guthrie County Sheriff performed a welfare check in Menlo 
  • 2:16 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call at Lake Panorama 
  • 2:29 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Bayard 
  • 7:57 a.m. Stuart Ambulance responded to a medical call in Casey 
  • 3:34 p.m. Guthrie County Sheriff, Guthrie County Deputies and Stuart Police responded to an active shooter in Stuart 
  • 4:28 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to an assault in Guthrie Center 
  • 5:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a commercial burglar alarm in Guthrie Center 
  • 8:29 p.m. Stuart Ambulance responded to a medical call in Stuart 
  • 10:14 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call at Lake Panorama 

 

8-19-26

  • 12:31 a.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital to Mercy 
  • 4:29 a.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital back to LakeSide Village 
  • 6:54 a.m. Panora Police responded to an animal complaint 
  • 10:55 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of harassment 
  • 11:58 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Bayard 
  • 12:18 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a complaint 
  • 12:26 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center 
  • 1:36 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of criminal mischief in Bayard 
  • 1:42 p.m. Stuart Police performed a welfare check 
  • 3:29 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call at Lake Panorama 
  • 3:58 p.m. Guthrie County Sheriff investigated an iPhone Crash detection notification 
  • 4:13 p.m. Panora Police took a theft report 
  • 4:59 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in rural Coon Rapids 
  • 5:29 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served civil papers in Guthrie Center 
  • 5:54 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in rural Casey
  • 5:57 p.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient back to LakeSide Village 
  • 8:39 p.m. Stuart Police took a theft report 
  • 9:42 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a parking complaint 
  • 9:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of suspicious activity in Guthrie Center 

 

8-20-26

  • 2:52 a.m. Guthrie Center Fire and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a house fire in Guthrie Center
  • 7:55 a.m. Panora Fire, Ambulance and Police and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a two-vehicle accident in Panora 
  • 9:31 a.m. Stuart Ambulance and Police responded to a medical call in Stuart 
  • 10:39 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy performed a case follow up in Guthrie Center 
  • 11:08 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Panora 
  • 2:28 p.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient to The New Homestead 
  • 3:01 p.m. Panora Police responded to a complaint 
  • 3:02 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a suspicious person
  • 3:18 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy performed a welfare check in Bagley 
  • 6:45 p.m. Stuart Ambulance and Police responded to a medical call in Stuart 
  • 7:09 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a scam call
  • 7:10 p.m. Panora Police responded to a complaint 
  • 8 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of suspicious activity in Guthrie Center 
  • 8:51 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on Highway 25

 

8-21-26

  • 8:01 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy assisted a motorist in Guthrie Center 
  • 8:19 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center 
  • 9:36 a.m. Stuart Ambulance responded to a medical call in Stuart
  • 10:01 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a driving complaint 
  • 11:32 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of harassment in Casey 
  • 12:01 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in rural Dexter 
  • 1 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy took a complaint from Bayard 
  • 2:48 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy checked on an open 911 line at Lake Diamondhead
  • 3:33 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center 
  • 3:55 p.m. Stuart Ambulance responded to a medical call in rural Casey 
  • 4:05 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a driving complaint 
  • 4:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy took a theft report in Bayard 
  • 5:52 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy and Stuart Police performed a welfare check in rural Stuart 
  • 6:28 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy and Stuart Police performed a warrant check in Stuart 
  • 6:51 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy transported one male to Guthrie County Jail 
  • 8:25 p.m. Stuart Police assisted a motorist 
  • 9:48 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy took a complaint from Bagley 

 

8-22-26

  • 12:45 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a driving complaint
  • 2:09 a.m. Stuart Police and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a domestic situation in Stuart 
  • 3:53 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a family situation at Lake Panorama 
  • 8:15 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Lake Panorama 
  • 10:34 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a scam 
  • 10:37 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy assisted a motorist at Lake Diamondhead 
  • 12:21 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a complaint 
  • 1:41 p.m. Bayard Fire and Panora Ambulance responded to a smell of gas in a building in Bayard 
  • 2:22 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy removed debris from the roadway in Guthrie Center 
  • 2:38 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a 911 hang up call in rural Guthrie Center 
  • 7:31 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve civil papers in Casey 
  • 8:03 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served papers at Lake Diamondhead 
  • 11:24 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy assisted a pedestrian in Bagley 
  • 11:43 p.m. Stuart Police assisted a pedestrian 

 

8-23-26

  • 12:13 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a gas smell in Guthrie Center
  • 1:08 a.m. Stuart Police transported a transient to DeSoto
  • 6 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy took a fraud call from Jamaica 
  • 7:08 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy performed a welfare check in Guthrie Center 
  • 12:06 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to locate a subject in Bagley for another agency
  • 2:40 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call at Lake Panorama 
  • 2:58 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call at Lake Panorama 
  • 4:40 p.m. Panora Police performed a welfare check 
  • 4:54 p.m. Bayard Fire responded to a camper fire in Bayard 
  • 3:08 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served civil papers in Menlo
  • 3:24 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve civil papers in Casey 
  • 4:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served civil papers in Casey

Age is just a number — until your knees start keeping score

Do you ever wonder when you stopped feeling young? Maybe you remember the exact moment. Maybe it happened so gradually that you didn’t notice. Or perhaps you are still young enough to believe your knees will never make that noise again.

Des Moines fitness guru LeMar Koethe, who launched 7 Flags Fitness Center in Clive in the early 1990s, used to tell me that age was only a number. Your real age, he said, was determined largely by how well you took care of your body. LeMar was right. At least partially. The body is only one part of the equation. You also have to take care of your mind and soul. But even if you do all three, aging apparently keeps moving forward anyway. It is the one treadmill nobody figures out how to turn off.

Veteran newsman Michael Gartner once told me he was invigorated by working with young people, and that connection is what he misses most in retirement. I understand that. I enjoy working with people younger than me, too. But I have also discovered something that I really enjoy friendships with people older than me. They tend to have accumulated wisdom, stories and the ability to tell me that whatever I am worried about probably isn’t worth worrying about.

Clare Ansberry wrote in The Wall Street Journal several years ago about the age when people stop feeling young. She noted how Millennials were beginning to feel old. According to a study by the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research, the average age when Americans stop feeling young is 43. Forty-three. That seems awfully young to be surrendering your youth. At 43, I was still making decisions that proved I was young.

Another study, from weight-management company Found, put the age when Americans begin noticing physical signs of aging at 42. Those signs include achy joints and gray hair. So, basically, the body starts sending warning notices before the mind has received the memo.

The people around us also influence how old we feel. I used to often be the youngest person in the room. Not anymore. These days, I look around and realize I am no longer the young guy. I am now the guy who younger people assume knows how to fix something.

The equally interesting question is when we start feeling old. That number, according to the same research, is 52. Well, I have passed 52, as well, which is obvious by my vision and hearing problems. Fortunately, my sense of smell still works just fine. I know this because I truly appreciate the scent of Bengay.

My wife has long been asked by other moms what the best stage of parenting is. Her answer has always been, “The current stage.” That applies to aging, too. There may be a number when we stop feeling young and another when we start feeling old, but I would rather judge my age by the people I enjoy, the things I still want to learn and the number of reasons I can find to laugh.

Happy aging, Millennials. The rest of us will try to keep up.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707