The mural is visible to those heading west down “Old Tank Hill.”

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On a beautiful sunny afternoon on Oct. 12, a crowd estimated at 60 showed up for the dedication of the new Guthrie County mural, which was installed on the side of the Guthrie Center Fire Station. The dedication was hosted by Art on State, which brings awareness of artistic endeavors to the community at large by presenting performing and visual arts programs.

Flyers for the dedication included artist Chad Elliott’s explanation for the visual imagery in the mural.

“I chose agriculture as the overall theme, as it is an integral part of the Guthrie County community. This image in particular also is meant to symbolize our history of hard work and tradition. It is about hope and the future, as the farmer plows a field to grow a new crop,” Elliott said.

After introductory remarks by Debbie Menning on behalf of the Guthrie County Arts Council, Elliott spoke and played music for the crowd. Elliott’s songs, including the first public performance of his “Song of Guthrie County,” entertained the crowd through harmonica, guitar and vocals. The talented artist received a standing ovation. Elliott also talked of his childhood years in Guthrie Center, and he sang a song about “Old Tank Hill.”

Following the performance, the crowd was welcomed into the fire hall for a freewill donation meal and silent auction of various items, with all proceeds going toward the mural project and its lighting.

Chad Elliott strums and sings one of the songs he has written about life in Guthrie County.

A large crowd enjoys Chad Elliot’s music, history and humor.

Special to the Times Vedette

Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) announced Kelli Wicks as its new director of government relations and public policy.

Wicks’ most recent roles as the manager of market growth and manager of international market development with the National Pork Board hold many parallels. In these roles, she was responsible for international initiatives, consumer segmentation insight integration, innovation, and the introduction of new technologies. Throughout her time with the National Pork Board, Wicks points out that knowledgeably showcasing their work for stakeholder buy-in was a top priority and has positioned her well for similar work with legislators.

Prior to the National Pork Board, Wicks served as a two-time Wallace-Carver Fellow with the USDA – ARS and FAS and as a farmer relations intern with Midwest Dairy. She also was a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the International Livestock Research Institute.

Wicks holds a master’s degree in international agriculture with a focus on international trade and development from Oklahoma State University. She has a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University where she double-majored in agriculture and society and international agriculture with a minor in animal science. Wicks grew up on a small cattle operation in north central Iowa. She raised and showed purebred cattle across the state and the nation.

“I have a deep passion for the agriculture industry,” Wicks said. “I am constantly striving to advocate for agriculture and everyone it impacts. In my previous work experiences, I have worked to serve producers in all facets of agriculture to make sure their voices are heard. I can’t think of a better way to utilize my skills for Iowa’s cattle farmers than by serving the members of ICA as the director of government relations and public policy.”

ICA is currently working on policy development and priorities for the upcoming year. Wicks joins the team at an opportune time to take part in this process, work collaboratively with policy committees, and strategize with ICA’s lobbyist and leadership to build upon the momentum of last year’s legislative session.

“We are excited to welcome Kelli to ICA and look forward to the unique perspective she will bring to the role,” Bryan Whaley, ICA CEO, said. “Her demonstrated dedication to serving producers through her work experience with member-driven organizations and background to guide decision-making with strong buy-in will be great tools she can leverage to promote policy priorities that matter to our members.”

Wicks’ first day will be Nov. 4.

Special to the Times Vedette

Audrey Stowe of Guthrie Center was chosen as homecoming queen at the University of Missouri on Oct. 19. She is majoring in both marketing and strategic communications and is also the president of Mizzou’s Panhellenic Association, which encourages and facilitates community relations, membership development and social awareness for the sorority community. 

By Luann Waldo | Special to the Times Vedette

Voters in the Nov. 5 Guthrie County General Election will decide the fate of a new proposal that is to provide funding for Emergency Medical Services. Public Measure IU asks voters to approve a 75-cent per $1,000 of taxable value on their property with the funding to be shared by the ambulances serving Guthrie County residents. A 60% approval is needed for the measure to pass.

Recognizing the need for a more unified and efficient EMS system, Guthrie County is proposing the establishment of a county-wide EMS framework. The revenue generated from this levy would be used to contract with the existing EMS services and enhance their capabilities, ensuring that high-quality emergency medical care is accessible throughout the entire county.

Last informational meeting is Oct. 29

Meetings have been held by the Board of Supervisors around the county to provide information about EMS and the impending vote. A final meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Guthrie County Courthouse to allow people who may have been unable to attend the previous meeting to learn more about the matter.

How did we get here?

Bringing the EMS Essential Service levy to a vote has been a more than two-year process by the Board of Supervisors. An Advisory Council was appointed by the Board to research, study and suggest the levy amount needed as well as solutions with the focus on reducing response time in cases of emergencies and providing necessary EMS to all residents of the county, no matter where the call is located. 

Guthrie County currently receives most of its Emergency Medical Services from three entities: Panora EMS, Stuart Rescue, and Adair Fire and Rescue. Each of these organizations plays a crucial role in delivering timely and effective emergency medical care to residents and visitors across the county. However, the existing structure presents challenges in terms of coordination, resource allocation and comprehensive coverage.

Responding to western and northwestern parts of the county by the current EMS providers results in response times that are longer than many residents like. However, if this levy is approved, plans are to house and staff an additional ambulance in Guthrie Center that will improve response time in western and northwestern areas of the county as well as add a third staffed ambulance in the county.

Early in 2024, the Board of Supervisors submitted RFPs (request for proposals) to the three entities as well as Carroll County Ambulance, which has provided service south of Coon Rapids, and Audubon and Exira EMS, which have small areas in the western region of the county. Only Panora, Stuart, Adair and a professional service out of Des Moines submitted proposals. The metro firm was ruled out almost immediately as it was cost prohibitive.

EMS by the numbers

The 75-cent tax levy will generate $750,000-$800,000 in tax revenue each year. There are state rules and regulations on how that funding can be spent. Iowa code dictates an advisory council (appointed by the board of supervisors) will make recommendations to the supervisors on the reimbursements that need to be paid based on the expenses received from each service.

This committee will be responsible for overseeing the integration of services, managing contracts with Panora EMS, Stuart Rescue, and Adair Fire and Rescue, and ensuring that resources are distributed effectively to meet the needs of all county residents. The committee’s role would also include strategizing improvements, standardizing protocols, and driving initiatives to expand EMS coverage and response times.

The Supervisors looked at call volume and population for each township and city within the current service districts.

Valuation………………………… Population … Call Volume . Service Provider

77% ………………………………… 71%……………. 70% …………… Panora EMS

15% ………………………………… 22% …………… 23% …………… Stuart Rescue

8% ………………………………….. 7% …………….. 7%……………… Adair Fire & Rescue

100% ………………………………. 100% …………. 100%………….. TOTAL

Approximately 1,600 calls for EMS assistance are made each year in the county. Each call costs the EMS provider about $650 per run, but the average payment from insurance and Medicare is $463, leaving an almost $200 deficit for each trip.

Guthrie County officials estimate the average homeowner in Guthrie County will pay about $150 more in taxes for the EMS levy. You can figure how much this levy will cost you by taking your taxable value divided by 1,000, then multiplying it by the levy amount of .75.

Additional information

Proponents of the levy say approving EMS as an Essential Service will support a coordinated EMS system that will provide all Guthrie County residents access to timely emergency response and that working with all current EMS providers to expand services and reduce times throughout Guthrie County is the most important priority of the EMS system. They also say an integral part of this initiative is addressing the critical need to build a robust volunteer base and improve the recruitment and retention of EMS professionals. With a coordinated county-wide approach, Guthrie County aims to offer better training programs, provide incentives for volunteers, and create career development opportunities to attract and retain skilled EMS personnel.

Vote in person on Nov. 5 or by absentee in the Courthouse

Absentee voting is underway now, but the deadline to receive mailed ballots has passed. You can vote in person at the Guthrie County Courthouse at the Auditor’s Office in Guthrie Center during regular hours (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) Monday through Friday. The Auditor’s Office will be open for voting on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Voters are reminded of the voter registration laws and must present a valid identification card at the time of voting.

Polls will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Locations are: Bayard Community Center, Casey Community Building, Christian Church Fellowship Hall in Guthrie Center, Veteran’s Auditorium in Panora, Congregational Church in Stuart and Yale Community Building. If you don’t know where to vote, contact the Auditor’s Office at 641-747-3619.

Special to the Times Vedette

Jotham Arber of Panora was conferred a Certificate in Emergency Medical Services by Mercy College of Health Sciences, 928 Sixth Ave., Des Moines, on Aug. 17. 

To learn more about the health science programs offered at Mercy College visit our website at www.mchs.edu. Mercy College is the only Catholic college in Central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.