Special to the Times Vedette

Art on State held a class on Saturday decorating cloth pouches with fabric mod podge and  glitter.  An upcoming class on March 15 at 10 a.m. will use napkins and mod podge on glass. Treats are included. All free.

Art on State is an art gallery created by the Guthrie County Arts Council as an opportunity to bring together the artists of the county, encouraging them in their talents by providing means to display and sell their work and to bring awareness of artistic endeavors to the community at large by presenting performing and visual arts programs. Art on State is located at 320 State St. in Guthrie Center. Learn more at www.guthriecountyartscouncil.org or call 641-332-2267.

Alyssa Westphal and Shua Westphal with their finished pouches.

Hadley Knobbe painting on her pouch.

Wanda Knobbe painting.

Kathy Feilmeyer with her pouches.

Hadley Knobbe and her mom, Wanda Knobbe.

Panora Fiber board members, back row: Ron Reynolds, Chris Arganbright, Trudy Hastings and Lynnea Anderson. Front row: Leroy Oxley, Dave Ryan and Kelvin Hafner.

By Shane Goodman | Times Vedette 

Panora Fiber held its annual meeting on March 3 in Panora at the Community Center. The agenda included the election of directors and the sharing of financial and operating reports.

Chris Arganbright, Mark Cates and Kelvin Hafner were running for two open seats. Arganbright and Hafner were both incumbents, and both were reelected to the board. 

Board President Ron Reynolds recognized years of service for staff members, including Plant Manager Bill Dorsett with 45 years, General Manager/CEO Andrew Randol with 30 years, and Customer Service Specialist Pam Klinkefus with 30 years. Combination Technicians Mike Moore and Paul Brewster each have served 25 years as well. 

General Manager/CEO Andrew Randol shared the company’s balance sheet and statements of operations while also sharing maps with the territory growth of fiber connections in Dallas and Madison counties, as well as in the Bagley area. 

Drawings were also held for numerous door prizes for attendees. 

Panora Fiber staff in attendance at the annual meeting on March 3, back row: Bill Dorsett, Andrew Randol, Paul Brewster, Andy Carson, Nathan Van Zee, Shane Murphy, Dave Garland, Mike Moore and Curtis Thornberry. Front row: Jaime Waddle, Geri Thompson and Pam Klinkefus.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the March 4 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, the supervisors discussed the county’s funding of the Guthrie County Libraries Association. The libraries asked for a 7% increase from the current fiscal year.

Supervisor Steve Smith shared his view that libraries are an important community hub, especially in the smaller cities in the county.

“I think they’re pretty essential,” Smith said. “Their ask is 7%. For me, that might be a stretch. I’m probably thinking more about 4 ½ to 6%.”

“I’d like to look at 5 ½ or 6%,” Supervisor Brian Johnson said.

After discussion, the supervisors unanimously voted to approve a 5% increase.

The supervisors discussed the Feb. 28 payroll, with Supervisor Mike Dickson objecting to the Secondary Roads department payroll.

“I just don’t approve of the way it’s computed,” Dickson said. “Using personal time to gain comp time… They’re using sick time personal time to gain overtime.”

Smith said he feels that issue could be addressed at another time, but he made a motion to approve the Secondary Roads payroll as submitted. The payroll was approved by a 4-1 vote with Dickson opposed.

A public hearing on the Proposed Property Tax Notice was set for Tuesday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m.

Supervisor JD Kuster said he has been asked by several citizens when the supervisors will return to the issue of a possible countywide EMS plan. After discussion, the supervisors agreed to revisit the issue after budgeting, which is expected to wrap up around the end of March.

Through March, the Board of Supervisors meets regularly Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. at the courthouse. 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

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, announced that Guthrie Center native Charlotte Colling has been awarded third place in the Haslam College of Business’ Vol Court pitch competition.

Vol Court is a four-week program that concludes with a 90-second business pitch competition. The event allows students to apply insights from the speaker sessions by presenting their business ideas to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs. Participants compete for a grand prize of $1,500.

Colling, a senior marketing and business management double major, took home the third-place prize for her business Ellie & Shell, a company that creates handmade, one-of-a-kind quilted bags while fostering a community that values authenticity, creativity and philanthropy through literacy initiatives.

Special to the Times Vedette

Joanne Zieser, Sandy Rumelhart, Cliff Wendel and Robert Klever all got a 16.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library on Mondays at 8 a.m., at the New Homestead independent living rec room at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays, and at the Guthrie Center Activity Center 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.

Another person joins Friends of the Jamaica Public Library.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On Saturday, March 1, the Jamaica Public Library hosted an event for the community. Visitors were able to enjoy a light breakfast, talk with library staff, see the latest improvements and additions to the library, and visit with representatives of the Guthrie County Genealogical Society.

In addition, the event was an effort to grow the new Friends of the Jamaica Public Library group. The group, which was formed late in 2024, surpassed 30 members during the March 1 event. Annual dues are just $5. Anyone interested can contact the library at jampublib@netins.net or 641-429-3362.