By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Conservation Director Brad Halterman provided a departmental update during the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors meeting on Sept. 16. Halterman told of the farmers market events that were held at the Guthrie County Historical Village (GCHV) in Panora every other Saturday.

“It was a big success,” he said. “We had the last one last Saturday.”

Halterman said overall, the GCHV saw good attendance this summer and remains open until mid-October.

“It was a pretty busy summer down there,” Halterman said. “Our annual Haunted Village is Sunday, Oct. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m.  It’s a pretty huge event. A lot of volunteers make that happen.”

Halterman reported on usage of Guthrie County’s camping areas and trails.

“We’ve had a pretty steady camping season,” he said. “The holiday weekends were really busy. We’ve seen a lot of activity on the Raccoon River Valley Trail throughout the summer.”

Halterman noted that water will likely be shut off in the county parks around Oct. 15, but he said that date is “weather dependent,” meaning that the shut-off may happen sooner if a freeze is expected.

Board Chair Maggie Armstrong talked about her participation in the National Association of Counties (“NACo”).

“I had an introductory call to the Rural Action Caucus,” Armstrong said. “They meet quarterly. We had a great conversation about what we see here and how we’re not the only ones dealing with the same issues. It’s more of an idea exchange.”

As part of the consent agenda items, the supervisors approved two payroll change notices for new staff. Amanda Claussen was hired as a part-time dispatcher at a rate of $21 per hour. Noah Sargent was hired as a fulltime roadside technician at $28.37 per hour.

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#.

Special to the Times Vedette

Nearly 300 people attended the 2025 Tori’s Angels Gala at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds Event Center on Saturday evening, and close to $200,000 was raised. 

“We want to thank those attending or donating,” Julie Dent‑Zajicek, CEO and chairman of the organization, said. “We also want to thank the many Tori’s Angels volunteers who organized and staged the event. We extend a special thank you to Brian and Melissa Bahrenfuss, who coordinated volunteers from Panorama and ACGC, and worked with members of the Greenfield and Villisca Lions Club who volunteered to help during the event.” 

Highlights of the evening included a welcome from the first sponsored child and namesake, Tori Heckman, and hearing from two of the sponsored families: Casey and John Wheeler, parents of Everleigh, and Christina DeShaw, mother of Ava . 

Barb Bahde was honored for 14 years of service as secretary/treasurer of the foundation. The Greenfield Lions also presented a donation.

Tori’s Angels Foundation, founded in 2011, assists Iowa children with life-threatening medical challenges. Benefits provided include insurance copays and deductibles, prescription medicine approved by insurance, travel expenses associated with treatment including mileage, airfare, lodging and meals. 

Each child is supported from date of acceptance to his or her 19^th birthday. Tori’s Angels has supported 187 children to date. In 2024, the foundation provided benefits in the total amount of $646,500. 

The cost of support has nearly tripled since 2022, and the board has taken several steps to promote sustainability. These steps include working with a consultant on growth strategies, purchasing donor management software to improve donor relations, expanding the footprint with a Des Moines fundraising committee, and the decision to hire an administrative assistant to manage communications and coordination.  Anyone interested in the position can email admin@torisangels.org.  A job description will soon be available at www.torisangels.org. 

“We thank Guthrie County Community Foundation and Ten Squared Men of Guthrie County for grants that will assist with expenses associated with our initiatives to manage growth,” Dent‑Zajicek said.

More information on Tori’s Angels can be found at www.torisangels.org.

Special to the Times Vedette

Whiterock Conservancy’s next Slow Sunday Drive is Sunday, Sept. 21 starting at the Historic Garst Farmhouse (1390 Highway 141, Coon Rapids) at 1 p.m.. The ride will be two to three hours along the scenic trails of Whiterock Conservancy.

Parking is available for trailers in the overflow lot of the Bur Oak Visitors Center (1436 Highway 141, Coon Rapids). Price per vehicle is $30 (cash) that participants pay at registration along with providing proof of insurance and valid driver’s license.

Organizers say to arrive early so the event can start at 1 p.m. Watch the website and event page for any weather updates. If the trails are wet, the Slow Sunday Drive will be cancelled or rescheduled. Call 712-790-8221 or email guestinfo@whiterockconservancy.org for more information.

Private ATVs are only allowed on Whiterock land during the Slow Sunday Drives. Visitors may not bring their own ATVs on the land outside of this event.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On Saturday, Sept. 13, a car accident claimed the life of a Guthrie County teen. According to the report from the Iowa State Patrol, 17-year-old Savannah Matthias was driving westbound on Highway 44 and failed to navigate a curve, crossing into the eastbound lane, where the Matthias vehicle struck a vehicle driven by 37-year-old Noelle Bubeck of Redfield.

Matthias died at the scene. A 10-year-old passenger in the Bubeck vehicle was taken by Lifeflight with suspected serious injuries. Others in the Bubeck vehicle received suspected minor injuries. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident.

Matthias was a student at Panorama High School. Panorama Homecoming activities originally scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 14 were postponed in the aftermath of the accident.

Special to the Times Vedette

The University of Central Arkansas held August commencement on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in the Reynolds Performance Hall on campus.

The university conferred approximately 460 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Business; College of Education; College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and the Graduate School.

Daminiben Patel of Guthrie Center graduated with a Graduate Certificate.

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Hospital is recognizing Pain Awareness Month, a nationwide initiative dedicated to raising awareness about chronic pain, its impact on daily life, and the resources available for effective management.

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans each year and is one of the leading causes of long-term disability. For individuals in Guthrie County and the surrounding communities, Guthrie County Hospital provides comprehensive care designed to help patients regain mobility, improve quality of life and reduce the burden of pain.

“Pain is not something people should have to ‘just live with,’ ” Chris Hanson, CRNA, ARNP, NSPM-C., said. “Whether it’s related to headaches, arthritis, back and neck issues or conditions like fibromyalgia, there are safe, effective treatment options available right here in Guthrie County.”

The hospital’s pain management program offers services tailored to individual needs, including:

• Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for spine and joint pain
• Treatment for neuropathic pain caused by conditions such as shingles or nerve injuries
• Comprehensive care for patients with fibromyalgia and chronic headaches
• Personalized rehabilitation and wellness planning

By observing Pain Awareness Month, Guthrie County Hospital emphasizes its ongoing commitment to helping patients not only manage pain but also achieve better overall health.

Community members are encouraged to reach out to the Pain Management Clinic at Guthrie County Hospital to learn more about available services and schedule consultations by calling 641-332-3900.