Like the engines he repairs, Wilbur Bates just keeps on going.

Wilbur Bates continues serving customers with fast repairs, low prices and a passion for the work.

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, June 2026

After doing the same type of work for more than 60 years, a considerable amount of expertise builds up. But for Wilbur Bates of Guthrie Center, the years have not dulled his enjoyment of the work. He recently took a few minutes to tell his story.

“I started in 1959, March 3, up on top of the hill here, right beside where the café is now,” Bates said. “From 1959 to 1969, we were at Midway Oil, and we had small engines there. In 1969, we got so darn busy because we were the only ones doing it in Guthrie County, so we turned it over to Keith Brubaker at NAPA. We got too busy with the automotive part of it.”

Wilbur Bates uses a low-tech but highly effective scheduling system.

Over the years, Bates has seen a gradual decline in the number of shops working on small engines. But he continues repairing golf carts, mowers, tillers, power washers, leaf blowers, snow blowers and almost any type of small gasoline engine.

“Now, a lot of these shops are drying up. A lot of them don’t want to do small engines anymore, partly because electric is coming in, and partly because it’s tough to find trained help,” Bates said. “So this year, I have a lot of customers coming from Audubon and south of Stuart, Perry, Waukee. I just had a log-splitter come in yesterday from northeast Iowa.”

Despite changes in technology and business, Bates continues to run his shop the way he has for decades, providing prompt service to get customers and their equipment back up and running. He has no computerized scheduling system. Bates pointed to a bulletin board in the garage where a variety of sticky notes are posted.

Wilbur Bates’ workshop is in his garage, behind his home.

“I don’t book ahead on anything. I just have a wall there with tickets,” Bates said. “I don’t like to have anything here over three days. I try to get them out in a day and a half.”

Bates himself has needed some maintenance over the years, and he has handled that with the same work ethic he brings to his business. In 2008, he was diagnosed with cancer. Then another obstacle arose, but he found a way to manage it.

“I had COPD so bad in 2013, I could hardly talk, and they wanted to put me on oxygen,” he said. “I refused it, and in six months I figured out my own program. Ever since then, I’ve been running 5K runs with my grandkids. That keeps my lungs open.”

Bates’ can-do attitude has served him well, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

A 1963 newspaper ad shows Wilbur Bates and his father, Don Bates.

“It’s a joy to be able to do it, because I’ve had cancer three times,” Bates said. “With the good Lord’s help, I always get by it and everything’s fine.”

Before moving back to Guthrie Center, Bates operated his business just north of Panora. While there, he also sold automotive tires in addition to working on small engines. The proximity to Lake Panorama led to some of Bates’ most memorable stories, when lake residents ended up with lawn mowers submerged underwater.

“We’ve had a few lawn mowers go in the lake, and they don’t swim well,” Bates said, adding how he was up to the challenge of flushing out such engines so the mowers could be back up and running promptly.

For Bates, winter offers a brief slowdown in his schedule. He has a pool table in his garage, allowing him to play a game with willing customers as time permits. But once warmer weather arrives, he stays busy.

According to Bates, the types of equipment he most commonly works on are mowers, tillers and golf carts. Therefore, his busiest season begins each spring, when many machines are brought in for repairs ahead of the warmer months. Throughout the summer, additional machines arrive because of equipment breakdowns. But Bates does not complain about his workload. He takes it all in stride and enjoys staying active. Somehow, he also finds time to grow flowers and vegetables.

“I enjoy it. I enjoy the people coming in and out. In the spring and summer, I belong to the triple seven club,” Bates said. “Seven in the morning until seven every night, and seven days a week.”

The Bates business model focuses on prompt service, low prices and free pickup and delivery. The shop is located in the garage behind his home at 602 State St. in Guthrie Center. The phone number is 641-757-1243.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the June 23 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Maggie Armstrong provided an update on the P28/Wagon Road project. She explained that this is one of the largest road projects the county has undertaken in terms of the number of property owners along the route of the project. She added that no firm end date is known due to possible weather delays or other factors.

“It is a very active construction site. There are flaggers,” Armstrong said. “It is closed to through traffic. We appreciate everybody’s patience.”

Auditor Dani Fink asked the supervisors to consider approving Resolution 26-38 (Designating the Official Physical Location for Posting Public Meeting Notices). She said this is simply putting the process into a formal document. The supervisors approved the resolution.

As part of the consent agenda items, the supervisors approved a temporary liquor license for Exile Brewing Company and a liquor license renewal for the Adair Casey Tour Abroad Group.

The supervisors meet regularly on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend in person at the courthouse or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the June 22 regular meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council, discussion was held regarding the need to assure that adequate lifeguard service is being provided at the city’s aquatic center. Faith Laboy attended the meeting and shared her observations.

“I’ve been taking my daycare kids to the pool this summer, and we’ve got some issues down there,” Laboy said. “At one point, one of our lifeguards was sleeping up in the chair.”

Laboy went on to describe seeing other concerning situations, including inadequate lifeguard staffing and inadequate scanning of the pool by lifeguards on duty.

City Administrator Kris Arrasmith said she reminded the lifeguards that the staffing requirements for the pool are based on the size of the pool, not on how many people are in the pool at any given time.

In other news, Arrasmith provided an update regarding the city’s preparations for RAGBRAI.

“We are going to offer showers down at the bath house. We are going to be selling those. We will use the money from that to go toward a Frisbee golf course, maybe next year or the year after,” Arrasmith said.

Arrasmith also noted that some city staff/volunteers will be able to use golf carts rather than trying to navigate busy city streets when thousands of visitors are in town on July 20.

“Jeremy over at Panora NAPA is going to donate golf carts for us to use during RAGBRAI, because getting vehicles around town will not be a good time,” she said.

The council set a public hearing regarding the proposed sale of slightly more than six acres of real estate near the cemetery. The hearing will be at the beginning of the next council meeting, July 13.

As part of the consent agenda, the council approved building and/or fence permits for 101 Main St. (J. Coons, screened-in porch), 309 South Seventh St. (C. Newman, fence) and 506 North Fifth St. (R. Edgington, small portable shed).

Arrasmith said on Sunday afternoon, July 19, the city will ask that no vehicles be parked along certain streets in the downtown area in preparation for RAGBRAI.

The next regular meeting of the council is set for Monday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Sheriff Matt Harmann reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on June 19 at 10:40 a.m. Mandy Jean Rath, 45, of Audubon, was driving a 2022 Chevy Express 2500 and was yielding to oncoming traffic on Highway 141 to make a left hand turn north on to Main Street. Abram Matthew Lynn Miller, 22, of Decorah, was driving a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan in the same direction and did not realize Rath’s vehicle was stopped until he rear ended it. Estimated damage to the Chevy is $1,500. Estimated damage to the Dodge is $3,500. No citations were issued.

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Josh Armstrong reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on June 18 at 11:25 a.m. Lynn Roy Sparks, 80, of Guthrie Center, was driving a 2015 Ford Edge SEL east on Bluff Street and turned left at the intersection of 13^th Street. Sparks cut the turn short, crossing into the opposite lane and striking Tanya Renee Sneller, 56, of Panora, who was driving a 2021 Hyundai Elantra SEL that was stopped at the stop sign of the intersection. Estimated damage to both vehicles is $1,501. No citations were issued.