By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Chills and thrills await at the Main Street Guthrie Center haunted house this weekend at the Laughery Construction building, 302 Prairie St. in Guthrie Center. The event will be open 7-11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26. Admission is $10/person. Funds will be used for the lighting project in downtown Guthrie Center.

Lorrie Massengale at Gap Creek Quilting is heading up the decorations for the haunted house, and she provided information on the event.

“One hundred percent of the ticket sales are going toward the new downtown lighting, where we’ve put new lights on top of the buildings,” Massengale said. “Halloween is my favorite holiday, so all my monsters and skeletons get to come out and play.”

She added that the haunted house is generally geared toward middle school kids and older. 

Massengale also said that Bean Box will be onsite selling hot cocoa and coffee.

Lastly, Massengale shared a suggestion for the weekend.

“Come out and get scared,” she said.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Many people new to central Iowa have never heard of Beggars Night until they are in the area this time of year. Beggars Night was implemented in Des Moines almost a century ago, in response to concerns about vandalism and safety on Halloween night. Generally, Beggars Night is held on Oct. 30.  Not only did this result in decreased vandalism, but the tradition of Beggars Night caught on and became a tradition in much of central Iowa.

For any monsters and spooks looking to get out of the house this week, here is a partial listing of official Trick-or-Treating times (if applicable) and related events in the area.

Adair:

• Trick-or-Treating Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.
• A Trunk-or-Treat event will be held Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m. at the Community Center, with face painting by Art by Kat.

Bagley:

• A Trick-or-Treat parade will be held on Oct. 31, beginning at 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Bagley Fire Department and Ruth Riley.

Bayard:

• Halloween Legos party at Bayard Library on Monday, Oct. 28, 405 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.

Casey:

• Casey Service Club hosts Trunk-or-Treat on Sunday, Oct. 27, 4-5 p.m. Hot dogs until gone.

Guthrie Center:

• Trick-or-treating 5-8 p.m. (5-6 p.m. in the business district, 6-8 p.m. in residential areas)
• New Homestead is hosting a Trunk-or-Treat event on Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.

Jamaica:

• Jamaica Library will host an “Almost Scary Costume Party” Oct. 31, 2-7 p.m. Pizza and story time at 5 p.m.

Linden:

• Beggars Night, Oct. 30, 5-7 p.m.
• Tripple Berry Farm will host a free movie night (Ghost Busters: Frozen Empire) on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. with free popcorn. Burgers, hot dogs and smoked wings will also be available.

Panora:

• Downtown businesses, Oct. 30, 5-6 p.m.
• Beggars Night, Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Lakeside Village welcomes Trick-or-Treaters on Oct. 30, 5-8 p.m.
• Panora Library will hold an event for neurodivergent (and neurotypical) children on Saturday, Oct. 26, 10-11 a.m. Costumes are encouraged. Treats will be available.

Stuart:

• Trick-or-Treating Oct. 31, downtown 5-6:30 p.m.; residential areas 6-8 p.m.
• During Trick-or-Treat, at the Stuart Library, Ms. Lisa will hand out kids’ books while they last.

Yale:

• Beggars Night, Oct. 30, 5-7 p.m.
• Yale Saddle Club hosts a free Children’s Halloween Festival, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m. at the Community Building.

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Chief Deputy Jeremy Bennett reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on Oct. 18 at 9:40 a.m. on Sycamore Avenue. 

Michael Lynn Vangundy, 47, of Yale was driving a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado K2500 pickup northbound on Sycamore Avenue and 160^th Road and failed to stop at the stop sign and struck the rear end of a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Nathan Matthew Van Zee, 42, of Guthrie Center. Estimated damage to Vangundy’s truck is $3,500. Estimated damage to Van Zee’s truck is $2,500. Vangundy received a citation for failing to obey stop sign. 

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Chief Deputy Jeremy Bennett reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on Oct. 18 at 7:24 a.m. on Highway 141. 

Allyn James Case, 37, of Jefferson was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup westbound on Highway 141 and was behind a semi. Tony Lynn Chapman, 35, of Jefferson was driving a 1988 Ford F350 truck with a 2006 flatbed trailer and stopped to make a left-hand turn onto Quail Road. A westbound semi was stopped to make a left-hand turn. Chapman made the left-hand turn. Case passed the stopped semi and struck the passenger side of the towed trailer. the Ford Truck and trailer incurred an estimated $2,000 in damage. The Chevrolet pickup incurred an estimated $8,000 in damage. Case received a citation for passing on wrong side. 

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Sergeant Kent Gries reported a tractor rollover accident occurring on Oct. 18 at 12:10 p.m. near North Sixth Street Place in rural Guthrie Center. 

Howie Eugene Hockenberry, 65, of Guthrie Center was driving a Ford 901 farm tractor with a front end loader attachment. Hockenberry had a large, heavy rock in the loader and was attempting to move it. Hockenberry was backing across the roadway and got onto grass. It is believed the weight of the rock in the front loader caused the back tires to lose traction on the dry grass. Hockenberry proceeded in reverse downhill without the ability to stop. He took evasive action and spun the front tires around, which caused the tractor to overturn an unknown amount of times. Hockenberry was pinned under the tractor but was able to get himself removed through his own strength. He was significantly injured and was transported to the Guthrie County Hospital landing zone by Panora EMS and was then transported to Iowa Methodist in Des Moines by air ambulance. Law enforcement contacted Wetzel’s Towing at the owner’s request. They responded and tipped the tractor back over. Panora EMS, Guthrie Center Fire Department and the Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene. Estimated damage to the tractor is $1,500. 

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the regular Oct. 22 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, a light agenda led to a short meeting. The supervisors heard a quarterly departmental report on Veterans Affairs from department head Beth Watson.

“We held a veterans’ mobile clinic. VA of Des Moines’ health care system comes out,” Watson said.

Watson suggested having the event next year in April in Panora.

The supervisors discussed the possibility of canceling their regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 5 due to that being Election Day. After discussion, the supervisors unanimously voted to cancel that meeting.

County Auditor Dani Fink updated the supervisors on the popularity of early voting this year.

“In person, we’ve been averaging 108 people a day over the last four days,” Fink said.

She noted that in previous elections, 80 in one day was considered a busy day.

“It’s good that people are interested in getting out to vote,” Board Chair JD Kuster said.

Fink was asked what happens if someone votes early but then dies prior to Election Day. She explained that in such a situation, that vote would then be voided.

Supervisor Maggie Armstrong shared information on mental health services.

“We had a really great Heart of Iowa meeting yesterday, our mental health region,” she said.

Armstrong explained that Health Service Director Jotham Arber helped develop a plan and funding request to renovate facilities in Exira, Guthrie Center and Stuart at which mental health services can be provided. She said Heart of Iowa approved $107,000 in funding for these purposes.

The next regular meeting of the supervisors will be Tuesday, Oct. 29 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#.