By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

All of Guthrie County is now under a burn ban as ordered by the State Fire Marshal. Jeremy Cooper, director of the Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency, requested the burn ban based on continuing dry conditions.

The proclamation stated, in part, “The Fire Marshal finds that conditions in Guthrie County are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property. It is therefore ordered that no person shall engage in open burning in Guthrie County… except as specifically permitted by Iowa Code 100.40 (3) until such time as Jeremy Cooper… notifies the State Fire Marshal that such conditions dangerous to life or property no longer exists.”

The Guthrie County 14-day weather forecast is for mostly sunny and sometimes breezy weather with little to no chances of rain, so the heightened danger is likely to persist for much of October.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree during the growing season.

“It’s best to wait until after Oct. 15 to start pruning oak trees,” Tivon Feeley with the Iowa DNR’s forest health program says. “Then you can prune your oaks all winter long with the goal to stop pruning by March 1.”

Oak wilt, caused by a fungus, has been present in Iowa for many years. Iowa’s red, black and pin oak are more susceptible to oak wilt, but it can also infect white and bur oak. Black, pin or red oak usually die within the same summer they are infected. White oak and bur oak can often take a number of years before they succumb to this disease.

Oak wilt can spread from infected trees to healthy trees in two ways: a small beetle that carries spores of the fungus from a diseased tree to a healthy tree with an open wound during the growing season, and through root grafts connecting nearby oaks. For example, if a red oak is infected and there is another red oak within 50 to 100 feet, there is a good chance that the roots of these trees are grafted and the fungus can move from the diseased tree to the healthy tree.

Feeley says symptoms to look for on infected trees usually include leaves turning a bronzed brown along the outer margins of the leaves. These leaves can often still have some green on them as they fall from the tree. The defoliation tends to start at the top of the tree. 

If a tree is wounded from storm damage or pruning is required during the growing season, treat the wounds immediately with a wound dressing such as acrylic paint. Do not purchase pruning paints/sealants. Those products slow the tree’s ability to seal over the wound.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources 

Through the USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received funds for tree planting grants for communities. 

The Iowa Tree Planting Grant provides reimbursable grants to purchase trees, mulch, tree staking/protection and supplemental watering by contractor or city staff. The grant is a two-year program allowing for planting to take place in the spring and fall of 2025 and 2026. Grant funding is competitive, non-match, and awarded in amounts between $10,000 to $30,000 per applicant.

The Iowa Tree Planting grants are available to community governmental entities, volunteer organizations, and service organizations involved with local urban and community forest services, to plant trees on publicly owned properties within the community to diversify the tree canopy, increase tree benefits, and help disadvantaged populations with energy costs and health disparities, and increase access to parks and nature. Eligibility is determined by the Forest Cover and Socioeconomic Assessment Tool.

To Apply, go to the Iowa DNR Urban Forestry website. Iowa Tree Planting applications are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. Award recipients will be notified by Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.

For questions about the application, reimbursement and rules, contact Chip Murrow at chip.murrow@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-822-1031.

For application assistance or to set up a site visit, contact Laurie Dams at lauren.dams@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-782-6414.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Drivers are advised to stay alert as they travel Iowa’s roadsides over the coming weeks. Autumn deer behavior, crop harvest and peak travel times for motorists combine to hike the risk of vehicle-deer collisions in Iowa.

From the middle of October until the third week of November, Iowa bucks become more active in the pursuit of does during the breeding season. Motorist may be distracted by the first deer that crosses not seeing the pursuing buck. This adds to multiple scenarios of fast moving, unpredictable deer crossing highways.

The crop harvest is already in full swing, concentrating deer into remaining cover that is often brushy creeks, trees or fence lines which often intersect with roads. A third factor will be the change away from daylight savings time on Nov. 3, placing more Iowans behind the wheel during the deer-heavy dawn and dusk periods.

A few ways to give drivers an edge during this period are to reduce speed, increase following distance from other cars, and to sweep eye movements from ditch to ditch, especially during those low light periods and when approaching those brushy or tree-lined “funnels” near roads. Drivers are also encouraged not to “veer for deer,” leaving the lane of traffic could cause a collision with another vehicle or a roadside obstacle, such as a utility pole or culvert.

Iowa’s deer herd is managed to balance recreational opportunities, such as wildlife viewing and hunting, with negative impacts like crop and property damage. Iowa’s deer management relies on an engaged stakeholder process to make science-based decisions for the benefit of all Iowans.

Special to the Times Vedette

Hosting the Annual Appreciation Dinner for Guthrie Livestock Auction on Sept. 28 were Dan and Terry Laughery. The event was held at 5:30 p.m. at Café on The Hill in Guthrie Center with Sarah Messinger assisting. Sarah furnished the hors d’oeuvres along with the salads, vegetables and twice-baked potatoes, and Dan and Terry grilled the steaks and loins. A decorated red velvet cake was furnished by Marcia Koepke.

Those attending were: Jo Bair, Michelle and Bruce Brant and two grandchildren, Karla & Curt Cain, Dallas and Ramona Dinkla, Alan and Crystal Farnsworth, Paul Finnegan, Marcia Koepke, LaRoyce and Terry Kress, Jim and Mary Jo Laughery, Linda and Addison Laughery, Michelle Laughery, Dennis and Deb Lemke, Ross and Heather Lemke, Scott and Teresa McClellan, Darwin and Deb McCurdy, Mel Sheley, Shay and Dave Shelley, Jason and Wendy Sloss, Clay and Wilma Stetzel, and Dan and Deena Wells.

EMS Volunteers: Levi Johnson, Jotham Arber, Roberta Baldus and Logan Wolf. 10 Squared Women members and nominators: Maggie Armstrong and LuAnn Waldo.

Special to the Times Vedette

The 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County held its third-quarter meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Twin Vines in Panora. Forty women attended in person, and six members attended via Zoom.

After hearing presentations from Friends of the Mary J Barnett Library (Guthrie Center), Guthrie County First Responders and Guthrie Center Farmer’s Market, the group announced a lump sum of $14,600 would be presented to Guthrie County First Responders. This consists of member donations and several employer matches.

Thanks to a group of five dedicated fire, EMS and law enforcement professionals, the Guthrie County First Responders Association was established in early 2023. The First Responders Association is committed to enhancing emergency response capabilities throughout the county by collaborating with existing fire and EMS providers to bolster local emergency medical resources, focusing on improving response times in rural areas.

Seconds can matter in a medical emergency. For someone experiencing a cardiac or pulmonary emergency, the survival rate decreases by 12% every minute the person does not have medical attention. So, getting a first responder to someone right away will help cut down that rate of fatality and help save lives.

One of the goals of the first responder program is to train at least two local responders to the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) levels in each community across the county, or about 15 new first responders by spring of 2025.

When a 911 medical call comes in, the first responders in that area will be dispatched along with EMS, fire and law enforcement. The goal is to be that fourth leg of the emergency chair: EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement and now First Responders.

Once the first responders arrive on scene at the medical emergency, they can begin to quickly assess the situation and help stabilize the patient. This could be CPR or using an AED if someone is in cardiac distress. They would have the capability to administer what’s considered pre-measured medication like epinephrine (through an epi pen) or albuterol to help open airways and stop allergic reactions. They can help someone having a diabetic episode as they’ll have access to glucose packets. They could stabilize a broken bone after a fall or help stop a patient who is bleeding from an injury.

The first responders will also be able to communicate with paramedics and EMTs who are in route via the ambulance to let them know what can be expected once on scene. 

The funds from the 10 Squared Women will be used toward training and equipping first responders in Guthrie County.

“Thank you so much to the 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County for helping us begin to fulfill our mission of doing good and being G.R.E.A.T. (Guthrie Responders Equipped and Trained). We are forever grateful for the impact we know your contribution will have on the first responders in Guthrie County,” Jotham Arber said. 

To learn more about the Guthrie County First Responders Association, training programs, discuss volunteer opportunities, or how to donate to the 501(c)3 organization, contact Jotham Arber, j.arber@guthriecounty.gov or 660-234-5067.

10 Squared Women’s focus is on donating funds to local organizations that vow to put those funds to work, right in our back yards. The funds are used in various projects to benefit Guthrie County community’s projects and residents. The group has donated $357,750 since its inception in 2017.

The 10 Squared Women’s group holds meetings quarterly the fourth Tuesday in February, May, August and November with dates and locations subject to change. Members in attendance hear from three nominated organizations, drawn from “the hat” of member-nominated organizations at random, and vote on the winning cause that night. The final 2024 meeting date will be Tuesday, Nov. 19 (held a week early due to Thanksgiving), at the St. Thomas More Center at Lake Panorama. The first meeting of 2025 will be on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guthrie Center. Future 2025 meeting locations will be announced at a later date.

With the new members who joined as of date of this publication, the group currently has 144 members, approximately 23 organizations nominated and strongly encourages additional interested members to come forward. Their goal is to reach 200 members.

10 Squared Women members are encouraged to talk to their friends, neighbors, and family about the group, and to share the group within their social circles. Members are not required to attend meetings, however, for their vote to count, must attend the live meeting or virtually. All members are expected to write their donation checks whether they can attend the meeting and vote or not. Attending the meetings virtually via Zoom in order to vote has been an alternative option for those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom option has been well received to help those with young children, those who may winter in warmer weather or who cannot attend live for other reasons to attend and vote.

To learn how to get involved, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/10squaredwomengc or email them at 10squaredgc@gmail.com.