Special to the Times Vedette

A festive group of proactive holiday celebraters decorated their golf carts, ATVs and anything else with wheels and helped spread holiday cheer while cruising the roads of Lake Panorama on Saturday, Nov. 16. Contests were held for Best Decorated Vehicle and Best Ugly Sweater.

Free will donations were encouraged for A Giving Christmas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports families and children during the holiday season. Last year, A Giving Christmas was able to adopt 42 children in Guthrie County. This effort began in Panora in 2017, though the program’s roots go back 11 years when first launched in Perry. The goal is to expand countywide within the next five years, ensuring every child in need has a magical Christmas.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette 

At the Nov. 18 joint meeting of the Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center school boards, the bulk of the discussion was on the possibility of consolidating the two districts into one. Currently, the districts have a “Whole Grade Sharing” agreement. Board members, principals and Superintendent Josh Rasmussen shared their thoughts.

Rasmussen said if the districts were to pursue consolidation, several basic steps would be involved. First, each district would need to submit a petition with signatures (400 or 20% of registered voters, whichever is fewer). Then the matter would be put to voters. If passed, the soonest that the boards would look to have the potential consolidation go into effect is July 1, 2026.

Several in the room pointed out that there seems to be a fairly common belief in the county that the two districts have already consolidated. They said that seems to indicate that a possible consolidation would likely be well received by the public.

Rasmussen pointed out that the continuing trend of declining enrollment creates long-term challenges for both districts. Guthrie Center board chair Matt Van Meter said the only solutions are to increase enrollment and/or to cut expenses.

“Next year is the last year of the Whole Grade Sharing agreement between Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center,” Rasmussen said. “A lot of great things. I think our communities really do well together. Our students do well together. And I think it’s also a chance to take a look at whether we either continue that whole grade sharing, or we talk about reorganization and consolidation.”

Rasmussen also said the most challenging factors have already been handled through whole grade sharing, and that students, staff and the public have largely embraced the partnership.

Adair-Casey board chair Randy Carney shared his feelings on the issue, and he stressed that the focus needs to be on what’s best for the students.

“I believe we’ll both be stronger together,” Randy Carney said.

Each board member had an opportunity to share thoughts on the topic.

“I was on the fence, but I think now is a good opportunity. If not now, when?” Lindsay Dinkla asked.

The consensus of the board members was to look further into the possibility of consolidation. A work session on the issue was set for Monday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.

In discussing enrollment numbers, Rasmussen said both districts are seeing a downward trend.

“I wouldn’t call it a worst-case scenario, but it’s not rosy,” Rasmussen said.

In other matters, the boards formally approved partnering with Panorama for girls wrestling.

The next regular meetings of the school boards will include the annual organizational meeting. The meetings are both set for Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. (for Adair-Casey) and at 7 p.m. (for Guthrie Center). The meetings will be at the junior high school. In Adair The public is welcome.

The Kelly Nielsen mural will show many of Guthrie Center’s iconic landmarks.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Artist Kelly Nielsen of Bayard announced she has finished a Guthrie Center mural to be displayed in the city in the near future. The finished work measures 9 feet by 11 feet. The location and date of unveiling have not yet been announced.

Deputy Sheriff Matt Losee of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reported a car vs. deer accident occurring on Nov. 16 at 6:16 p.m. on 180^th Trail. Connie Marie Daggett, 48, of Guthrie Center was driving a 2014 Cadillac Escalade SUV west on 180^th Trail and struck a deer on the right side of the vehicle, causing an estimated $3,000 in damage. No injuries were reported.

Sergeant Kent Gries of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on Nov. 15 at 2:34 p.m. Morgan James Staab, 26, of Remsen was driving a 2007 Dodge RAM 1500 eastbound and turning into the drive of 3055 Highway 44 (Panorama Gardens) and struck a 1999 Dodge RAM 1500 driven by Nancy Carol Squires, 68, of Guthrie Center that turned in front of her. No injuries were reported. Both vehicles incurred an estimated $4,000 in damage. Staab was written a citation for failing to yield upon left turn. 

Sergeant Kent Gries of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reported a single-vehicle accident on Nov. 14 at 4:40 p.m. on 315^th Street involving a cement truck.  Jamal Brenard Jones, 37, of West Des Moines was driving a fully loaded 2014 Freightliner cement truck  of Liberty Ready Mix westbound on 315^th Street west of Talon Avenue and got too close to the north ditch and the soft shoulder on the gravel road and was pulled into the north ditch and overturned. The driver was distracted because his cement drum was not spinning and he was trying to get it to work. Jones had to break the windshield out of the truck to escape. He sustained minor injuries and was treated by Stuart EMS. Estimated damage to the cement truck is $50,000.