Cathy Ballard, Kay Thomas, Valerie McCool, Jim Spradling and Rex Shooner participated in the beaded wash watercolor class on Sept. 29.

Special to the Times Vedette

Mary Johnson taught a class on beaded wash using watercolor on Sept. 29 as part of three watercolor technique classes that are being taught. The next class involves negative painting and is Oct. 6.

Art on State is an art gallery created by the Guthrie County Arts Council as an opportunity to bring together the artists of the county, encouraging them in their talents by providing means to display and sell their work and to bring awareness of artistic endeavors to the community at large by presenting performing and visual arts programs. Art on State is located at 320 State St. in Guthrie Center. Learn more at www.guthriecountyartscouncil.org.

Cathy Ballard

Rex Schooner

Quinn Halsey, Grace Halsey and Emmett Lund decorate their mini pumpkins.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

To get into the spirit of fall and Halloween, on Sept. 25, the Panora Library hosted a “Crafts for Kids” event in which each child could use the various provided materials to decorate a miniature pumpkin. As with actual jack-o’-lanterns, each mini pumpkin was uniquely decorated.

Kambri and Tinsley Hodges create mini jack-o’-lanterns.

Eleanor Lund, Alia Mertens and Rowan Rumelhart concentrate on their craft.

Barry Monaghan, Faye Stull, Tamy Fahnlander and Curt Braby

Special to the Times Vedette

Barry Monaghan was inducted into the Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by Mount Ayr Community Schools, on Saturday evening in Mount Ayr.

Monaghan is a 1965 graduate of Mount Ayr Community Schools. He was a standout athlete in football, basketball, track and baseball and continued on as a three-year starter and letter winner in football at Northwest Missouri State University. He earned a double major in English and physical education and started his teaching and coaching career at Adair-Casey before being drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1971 and given the meritorious Service Award.

Monaghan  returned to Adair-Casey from 1972-75 before moving on to Jesup Community Schools serving as the vice principal before landing at Guthrie Center as the high school principal and athletic director. During his time in education, he served on the executive board of the Iowa High School Speech Association, including serving as president.

In 1984, Monaghan  was lured out of education for the banking industry. He worked his way up the ranks of Guthrie County State Bank, eventually serving as president and CEO. He continues to serve as chairman of the board and president of Guthrie County Bancshares, Inc.

During his leadership at the bank, the organization grew from $25 million to $250 million today, expanded to a second location in Panora, purchased Lake Panorama Realty, Guthrie County Abstract and added GCSB Investments to the portfolio.

Monaghan  is well known for giving back to his community, serving on the Guthrie Center Development Board as president for 19 years and the Guthrie County Development Board (Midwest Partners) for 10 years. He started volunteering as the announcer for high school baseball in Guthrie Center in 1986 and expanded to announce for football, wrestling and track. Today he remains as the track announcer for ACGC Schools, Panorama Schools and several others including Mt. Ayr for special events. He is most proud of creating an entity called Ten Squared Plus Men for Guthrie County in 2016. Since its inception, more than 200 members have donated more than $400,000 directly to Guthrie County nonprofits and community organizations.

Three others were inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, including Curt Braby, Tamy Fahnlander and Faye Stull. 

Local residents who attended the induction ceremony included Barry Monaghan, Nancy Peters, Tristan Monaghan, Brandon Monaghan, Kane and Dee Powell, Mark and Sandy Juhl, Gary Geopfert, Scott Gonzales and Annie Smith, Steve and Nancy Smith, Jim Terwilliger, John and Tricia Rutledge, Roger Underwood and Donna Millhollin.

Barry Monaghan

Teddi Cate, Beric Cate, Jimmy Cate, Alison Cate, Barry Monaghan, Nancy Peters, Tristan Monaghan and Brandon Monaghan

Special to the Times Vedette 

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reported incoming revenue of $33,180 from the processing of out-of-county inmates at the jail during September. A total of 76 inmates were processed through the facility during the month including 40 from out of the county. This includes $600 in jail fees for a male serving time for Palo Alto County. Stated revenues are billed amounts not collected amounts.  

• Greene County had seven inmates for 113 days with charges of $6,780
• Polk County had 32 inmates for 427 days with $25,620
• Webster County had one inmate for 3 days with $180

Special to the Times Vedette

After 40 years with the Wall and GIT Insurance Agencies, Diane Hemmen is retiring.

Join staff and friends to celebrate today, Friday, Sept. 27, from 2-4 p.m. at Café on the Hill.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

School districts around the state are setting policies to address — and in some cases, ban — cellular phones. Panorama Schools Superintendent Kasey Huebner recently took time to outline how the Panorama School District is working to handle the pros and cons of cell phones and other electronic devices in an educational setting.

Huebner said the district’s policy allows for staff to ask for phones to be put away during the school day but also allows individual teachers to use flexibility based on the particular learning environment or situation. In addition, the policy allows staff to confiscate a device if repeated problems arise, although family would generally be contacted to help prevent that from becoming necessary.

 “I want to be transparent, so people can hear what we’re dealing with. At the end of the day, we’re all working together, so hopefully people can help us navigate some of these challenges,” Huebner said. “The reasons a lot of school districts are banning cell phones is distractions, bullying, people being mean online and social disruption. Cheating would be another aspect of it.”

The easiest of the challenges to discuss is distraction. Obviously, cell phones can be incredibly distracting, tempting students to pay attention to the phone rather than the teacher or curriculum.

Huebner lamented the fact that students in today’s world are growing up in an instant-access society, where they are bombarded by advertising and marketing around the clock.

The privacy challenge refers to the ability for cameras to be used inappropriately to violate someone’s privacy. School policy prohibits the use of cell phones in bathrooms and locker rooms and prohibits inappropriate photography of any sort.

Social media/bullying refers to peer pressure, body shaming and other types of bullying that have become rampant in our electronic age.

The concern about academic cheating refers to the easy access to information that can be misused to cheat on assignments, tests and/or reports.

Huebner explained that one of his main concerns related to cell phones in schools is the wellbeing of students.

“We want kids to be able to use the device to enhance, not necessarily to consume,” he said. “A lot of the apps that are made are created to addict the users. So, my concern is the personal wellness of the kids, too, to be able to get away from the cell phone.”

Huebner pointed out that Panorama’s school board has not recently dealt with any significant issues regarding cell phone policy, and no changes are currently planned. Overall, Huebner said the school district will continue to address the issues as they arise and work to adapt to the ever-changing technology. The electronic age has created a variety of issues that are new to this generation.

“Those are all things that we have to teach, that we didn’t have to teach in the past,” Huebner said.