Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Kent Gries reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on Dec. 6 at 2:27 p.m. on Frost Trail. Ezequiel Rosario Pena, 42, of Huxley, was driving a 2022 Chevrolet Express G4500 cargo van northeast bound on Frost Trail and collided mirrors with a 2010 Ford F250 Super Duty Pickup headed southwest bound driven by Thomas Jesse Crawley, 71, of Guthrie Center. The two vehicles appeared to meet in the middle of the road, and both of their driver’s door rear view mirrors collided with each other. Both mirrors were destroyed. No injuries. Crawley stated that Rosario Pena was over the center of the road. Rosario Pena denies this. Dash camera footage from the cargo van shows that both vehicles should have been driving slower given the snow-covered roads and limited visibility from the curve. Video was inconclusive as to who was more toward the center of the road.  Estimated damage to each vehicle is $1,000. 

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Blake Michelsen reported a single-vehicle accident occurring on Dec. 14 at 4:58 a.m. on White Pole Road. Daniel Kevin Hutson, 66, of Grandview, Missouri, was driving a 2017 Mazda and drove straight off the curve and came to a rest when colliding with a tree. Passenger Suzanne Alice Manu, 47, of Independence, Missouri, was transported via Adair EMS to Mercy West. Report stated Hutson showed no signs of impairment or intoxication.  Damage to the Mazda is estimated at $20,000.

Special to the Times Vedette

During the annual State Agricultural Convention, held Dec. 14, 2025, in conjunction with the Association of Iowa Fairs Conference, elections were held for positions on the Iowa State Fair Board of Directors.

One new board member was elected to serve a two-year term. Roger Iverson from Grinnell replaces retiring board member Randy Brown from Osceola (South Central).

Outlined in Iowa Code, county fair delegates representing six geographic districts elect two board members to serve two-year staggered terms on the Iowa State Fair Board. Directors re-elected by their districts were Alan Brown, Hampton (North Central); John Harms, Monticello (Northeast); C.W. Thomas, Guthrie Center (Southwest); Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (Northwest); and Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (Southeast).

Board officers elected for 2026 are as follows: President Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (Southeast); Vice President Deb Zumbach, Coggon (Northeast); and Treasurer Jo Reynolds, Indianola (South Central). Jeremy Parsons, Des Moines, was re-appointed as Board Secretary.

Other Iowa State Fair Board members include VerDon Schmidt, Everly (Northwest); Tennie Carlson, Stratford (North Central); Deb Zumbach, Coggon (Northeast); and Jo Reynolds, Indianola (South Central); Jarrod Horning, Ainsworth (Southeast); and Danny Olson, Red Oak (Southwest). Board members by office held are Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (represented by Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer); Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (represented by Grant Menke); and retiring Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen, Interim President David Spalding, and President-elect David Cook (represented by Andrea Welchans).

Special to the Times Vedette

On Dec. 12, a total of eight players participated. Bill Sheeder and Lela Schwartz each got a 16; Sandy Rumelhart got a 16 and a 17; and Robert Klever won the kitty with a 20.

On Dec. 15, Roy Carl got a 16, Robert Klever got three 16s, and Dennis Betts tracked down a 20.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library, 400 Grand St., on Mondays at 8 a.m. and at the New Homestead independent living dining hall, 2306 State St., at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

At the Dec. 8 meeting of the Panorama School Board, the board unanimously approved the replacement of the Middle School gym rooftop HVAC unit, from Carroll Control, at a cost not to exceed $32,000.

The board also unanimously approved the purchase of two vehicles. Two Chevrolet Suburbans will be traded in on a 12-passenger van to better accommodate activities. A new pickup will also be purchased for hauling and ag-related events. The total cost of both vehicles, after trade-ins, is not to exceed $70,000.

Superintendent Kasey Huebner reported on Panorama’s status regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“As a district for the January meeting, we will look at the first draft of an AI policy,” Huebner said. “Teachers have been attending AI professional development programs.”

In the Good News portion of the meeting, the recent college application day was noted as a success with 90 applications completed. Mark Dorhout reported that middle school classes went out during class time to seed specific areas in the prairie. The high school choir sang at an Iowa Wild hockey game and also sang at the WSO luncheon at Faith Bible Church.

The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Monday, Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome.