By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the Dec. 15 meeting of the Adair-Casey School Board, Superintendent Josh Rasmussen shared data on the Comprehensive Financial Projection Model for the next five years. One area noted was the Unspent Authority Balance (UAB), which has been steadily increasing in recent years. He explained that the reasons for this include the Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center school boards working toward the possibility of consolidation.

“We’ve gotten really efficient,” Rasmussen said. “We have money we can spend on some programs.”

Rasmussen said he is concerned that school districts with very high UAB balances may see less funding from the state. Board members discussed the need to spend UAB funds wisely rather than haphazardly.

The board reviewed projections on student enrollment, revenues and expenses.

Rasmussen provided a legislative update and encouraged board members to advocate with lawmakers.

“I would say whenever you get a chance to meet or email our representatives (to do so), because operational sharing, there’s some discussion about limiting that,” Rasmussen said. “We don’t want that to go away.”

The board discussed the facility upgrade recommendations made by consulting firm Denovo. Each board member shared which projects they felt were priorities. Those included secure entrances, making an ADA-compliant bathroom, and walls and doors at the elementary. Board member Lindsay Dinkla advocated for strongly considering some of the classroom improvements suggested by teachers. No formal decisions were made.

Principal Ed Den Beste said the recent music concert was well attended and went smoothly.

The board held its annual organizational meeting. Blair Carney was reelected as board president, with Justin Crawford as vice president.

The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be a joint meeting of the Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center school boards on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at the high school in Guthrie Center. The public is welcome.

Special to the Times Vedette

Mia Waddle of Panora was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Iowa State University.

Waddle is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10% of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and its territories. Its mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”

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Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Blake Michelsen reported a two-vehicle collision occurring on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. on Lincoln Street in Yale. Larry Dee Glade, 61, of Guthrie Center, was moving snow with a 2000 Bobcat 743B skid steer and backed up into a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado K2500 driven by Clinton Michael Deardorff, 44, of Yale, causing an estimated $5,000 to the pickup. 

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Guthrie County Sheriff Reserve Dillan Cooper reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on Dec. 13 at 8:40 a.m. on Highway 141. Chadd Anthony Pranger, 31, of Ankeny, was driving a 2022 Freightliner east on Highway 141 when an unknown vehicle attempted to pass him and reportedly side-swiped the vehicle, causing an estimated $2,500 in damage to the step on the Freightliner. 

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Guthrie County Sheriff Matt Harmann reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on Dec. 9 at 11:12 a.m. on Brown Street in Guthrie Center. Joaquina Reyes, 72, of Guthrie Center, was driving a 2000 Honda Civic LX west on Brown Street, failed to stop at a posted stop sign and collided with a 2021 Jeep Wrangler driven by Lisa Reriche Schwandt, 58, of Guthrie Center, that was heading south on North Seventh Street. Reyes received citations for no valid driver’s license, failure to provide proof of financial liability, and failing to obey stop sign and yield right of way.  Damage to the Honda is estimated at $1,200. Damage to the Jeep is estimated at $750. 

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Taylor Wheatley reported a car vs. deer accident occurring on Dec. 9 at 5:36 p.m. on Highway 44.  Patricia Lee Schreck, 41, of Guthrie Center, was driving a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastbound on Highway 44 and struck a deer, causing an estimated $5,000 in damage.