Deer season brings the locker a significant increase in business. 

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times

Any business that has been around for 100 years has obviously figured out how to meet the needs of local customers, and that’s certainly true of Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker at 111 W. Third St. in Bagley. Jared and Kaitlin Dahl worked at the locker for years before they bought it in 2019. Besides the two of them, three other employees help out — as well as some supervision from their children, Samuel, 11, and Stella, 3.  

Operating a small locker in a small town, the Dahls are not trying to expand by leaps and bounds. Rather, they simply want to be responsive to the needs of the community. Therefore, the Dahls process a large variety of meat. Basically, if it’s an animal and you want to eat it, Jared, Kaitlin and their crew can process it for you. 

“We’re pretty much your one-stop locker. We do chickens, to beef, to wild hog, wild elk, deer, bear, moose,” Dahl said. “We do pretty much anything.”

Dahl explained that deer season always brings the locker a significant increase in business, but she added that this year the increase has been even larger and more immediate.

“Usually, October to January, we’re pretty busy with deer. This year, we’ve gotten super busy right away,” Dahl said. “We’ve probably had 40 deer roll through here already. So, I envision shotgun season is going to be absolutely insane.”

Because the locker isn’t planning any major changes, the Dahls simply let the customers guide them to any adjustments needed.

“Everything is a work in progress. We’re approaching 100 years in 2028,” Dahl said. “We probably want to expand our poultry processing a little bit to include more ducks and geese.”

Dahl shared that she and Jared believe strongly in supporting the local community, so they frequently give to local events and charitable needs.

Asked about any notable story since taking over the business, Dahl told of the smokehouse fire in 2020. She explained that an employee told her the smokehouse was burning. By the time she came to check, it was not salvageable. But Dahl found the silver lining to this storm cloud, saying that the old smokehouse was ready to be replaced anyway.

For anyone interested in having an animal butchered and processed, or for anyone just interested in picking up snack sticks or other retail meats, Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker will treat you like a friend. The locker’s standard hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and other times by appointment.

“We’re small, so we pretty much know everybody on a first-name basis,” Dahl said.

Special to the Times Vedette

A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Casey City Park (Abram Rutt Park) in recognition of the volunteers, donors and supporters of the Abram Rutt Park Improvement Project.

The project committee was formed by the Casey Grant Committee in collaboration with members from the Casey Service Club, the Casey Historical Society, and the City of Casey. The committee has been working to improve the city park since 2017 and has relied heavily on community input and support to achieve their initiatives.

Project goals reflect results from a community survey that was sent out in 2019 asking residents, friends and neighbors what improvements they would like to see made in the town of Casey. Since that time, the committee has worked to achieve the goals established for the initial phase of the Abram Rutt Park Improvement Project, which included electrical upgrades at all campsites, clearing of dead or dying trees, tiling to assist with drainage, installation of a paved walkway throughout the park, a new basketball hoop, new play equipment, new picnic tables and new trash receptacles. Additional signage and the installation of a water fountain will complete this phase of the project.

The committee is already working to secure funding for phase two, which includes the addition of more lighting throughout the park, upgrades to the bath house and a new park shelter.

With funds secured through grants, fundraisers, private donations and in-kind services, the Casey Grant Committee has successfully raised more than $477,000 for city improvement projects, with more than $307,000 of that funding dedicated to go toward efforts in the park.

For information on volunteering or contributing to the committee’s efforts, contact Stacey Wedemeyer, Casey City Park member. Track progress and watch for updates by joining the Casey Hometown page through Facebook: “Casey, Iowa: This is My Hometown!”

Special to the Times Vedette

Cecilia Colleen Patrick was born Sept. 28, 2024, weighing 8 pounds, 5.5 ounces and measuring 21.75 inches long. Her parents are Denton and Julia Patrick of Waukee, and her grandparents are Jerry and Nancy Hagan of Coon Rapids and Dennis and Kim Patrick of Guthrie Center.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The fall color season is winding down in northeast Iowa. Oak trees are providing most of the fall color with shades of red, yellow, and bronze.

Central Iowa will be at peak fall color through this weekend. Lots of yellows including cottonwood, elm, walnut, hackberry, ash, hickory and others. Red and crimson colors are good on sumac, dogwood, Virginia creeper and some maples. Oaks are turning red.

Maples in urban settings are showing various red, orange and brown colors in southeast Iowa. The forested landscape is dotted with yellow, brown and green. Roadside and field edge shrubs are red, purple, brown and green. Virginia creeper and poison ivy are red. 

Yellow colors are plentiful (hickories, elm, cottonwood) in south central Iowa. Many trees are losing their leaves quickly due to high wind and drought. Oaks are starting to turn color but are still very green. They will be very showy by the end of this week and weekend.

Fall colors are in full swing across Lucas and Monroe counties. Oaks are starting to show brilliant colors. Yellows shown by hickories and cottonwood are nearing the end of their season.

Enjoy a scenic drive through the Central Loess Hills this week. Yellow color near Pisgah is vibrant.

White ash are very colorful in southwest Iowa. White, red and black oaks, along with black cherry, are turning reds and purples. Urban maples are showing reds, pinks and oranges. Many typically vibrant shrubs like sumac may be muted due to prolonged drought and last week’s frost.

 

Fall color in Iowa

With all of Iowa’s beautiful state parks and wooded areas, there are so many places to enjoy this beautiful annual experience. 

Leaf color characteristics of some common plants:

• Walnut: Turns yellow in fall. One of the first to turn and drop leaves. One of the last to leaf out in spring.
• Red Oak: Brilliant red leaves in fall. Color probably not as intense as some hard maples.
• White Oak: Subdued red color of leaves in fall. Then turning brown and often staying on the tree until new leaves begin to grow in the spring.
• Bur Oak: Buff to yellow. Turning brown before falling.
• Hickory: Leaves turn yellow, then brown before falling.
• Ash: Leaves turn yellow, but some have a purplish cast. Leaves fall after walnut but earlier than oaks and maples.
• Elms: Leaves turn yellow, some turn brown before falling, others while still yellow.
• Soft Maple: Leaves turn yellow. They don’t turn brown before falling.
• Hard Maple: Brilliant red hues. Red pigmentation of some leaves breaks down before falling.
• Sumac: Redder and anything, but often overlooked because it is a small tree confined to openings and edges.
• Virginia Creeper: Bright red. Very spectacular when it grows on dead snags.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Big Green Umbrella Media held its official ribbon cutting for its new office space at 104 Industrial Road in Guthrie Center on Wednesday with a business after hours for members of the local chambers of commerce, economic development groups and members of the business community.

Big Green Umbrella Media publishes the Times Vedette, Panora Times, Guthrie Center Times and Lake Panorama Times from the Guthrie Center office.