Scoop the Loop Returns Tonight
Stuart’s first Scoop the Loop night of 2014 is finally here.
Today’s big event will start with the highly anticipated Salute to Wrestling at 4pm in the Stuart Elementary gym. The program will recognize area wrestlers past, present and future, as well as highlight the accomplishments of the former Stuart-Menlo school district’s three state champions–Dan McKee (1971 & ‘72), Tim O’Brien (1989) and Chris Swalla (1991).
The classic car portion of Scoop the Loop then begins at 5 o’clock and will run until 10pm tonight. Event organizer Bob Cook says those planning to bring their cars to the event are encouraged to stop by a vehicle registration stand prior to the start of activities.
Vehicle registration will be held in the vacant lot to the west of Division Street just off North 2nd Street.
Cook says there will be plenty of food vendors out tomorrow, too. Scoop the Loop’s walking taco stand will be set up in front of Ruby’s Pub. Mick Askren will provide pulled pork sandwiches in front of Wilson Brothers. The Stuart Care Center will also have a booth–they’ll be selling brats and hotdogs in front of Johnie’s Tap.
A Beatles tribute band known as “The End” will cap off the night’s festivities. They will play starting at 9pm.
Anyone with questions about the schedule of events for today’s Scoop the Loop is encouraged to call Bob Cook at 515-480-2589.
Guthrie County Supervisors Receive Updates from Sheriff, Public Health
The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors convened Thursday for their second meeting of the week.
Guthrie County Sheriff Marty Arganbright began the meeting with an update from his department. Arganbright says he’s been trying to find ways to prevent his office from losing tower communication during the next emergency situation that might arise in the area.
The Sheriff’s Office was without communication to other area first responders for about 10 minutes during the Mother’s Day Storm after their generator and backup battery both failed. Arganbright says a stronger uninterrupted battery has been ordered. He’s also looking into finding funds that would allow his department to purchase a new generator–the cost is around $20,000 but he doesn’t want to rely on the county for financing.
Next, the Supervisors approved an application and master matrix plan for the Fett Barn Site Hog Confinement in Union Township. The site will be able to install a new nursery barn and increase the numbers in the three existing confinement barns.
County Engineer Josh Sebern then addressed the Board to ask for approval of a 2013-14 DOT budget amendment and an amendment to the county’s current five-year roads plan. Both amendments pertained to including the asphalt overlay project on County Road F-63 in the current fiscal year.
This project is helping to fix the road after it sustained wind turbine damage earlier this year.
To conclude the meeting, Guthrie County Public Health Administrator Jotham Arber spoke with the Supervisors to give a monthly update from his department.
Arber says he has purchased an agency vehicle for public health, and that will be used by his nurses as part of a pilot project starting next month. The vehicle cost $4,500, though Arber says it will be a cost savings measure as he tries to get his department’s budget to under $100,000 within the next five years.
Main Street Guthrie Center Hires New Director
Main Street Guthrie Center has chosen its new director.
After going through the selection and interview process the past couple of months, board member Ken Laughery says his organization has hired the right woman for the job.
“The Board decided to go with a young lady by the name of Julie Bailey, she’s got great experience in the Main Street program and some experience with Beautify Iowa and different chambers. She just brings a wealth of experience into the program that we’re really excited to take advantage of.” 
Laughery says it was Bailey’s extensive experience that helped her stand out in the selection process, but her connection to the area was also something that caught Main Street Guthrie Center’s eye.
“She originally grew up in eastern Guthrie County, and now she lives with her husband on a farm on the west side of Dallas County. She’s been around small towns and been in the farming community all of her life. She’s also come to Guthrie Center to the auction and the grocery store, different places over here, so she’s really familiar with Guthrie Center.”
Laughery says Bailey was one of five finalists for the open director position. She will officially take her title as Main Street Guthrie Center Director on Monday.
Guthrie County Hospital Clinics Providing Summer Sports Physicals
The Guthrie County Hospital Clinics will be offering sports physicals to area high schoolers from June 25th through July 11th this summer.
The physicals will be good for any student competing in an activity or sport during the 2014-15 school year.
The cost to receive a physical is $10, but GCH Clinics Director Tina Nourse says the fees collected will again be donated back to area high schools before the start of the fall sports season. Last year GCH Clinics gave back over $800 in total to the Adair-Casey, Guthrie Center, Panorama and West Central Valley school districts.
Any area athletes who would like to schedule a summer physical can call the GCH Clinic in Stuart at 515-523-8050.
Main Street Iowa Officials to Visit Guthrie Center Next Week
A Main Street Iowa official will be back in the area next week to meet with members of Main Street Guthrie Center.
Design Committee Chair Becky Carico tells Raccoon Valley Radio that Tim Reinders of Main Street Iowa will visit town next Tuesday, June 2nd, to meet with many city officials and community members.
Reinders will begin his day by meeting with Main Street Guthrie Center staff at 9am to take a tour of the town’s historic downtown district. Then at 11am, he will meet with City Hall officials, Guthrie Center Revitalization, and other local commissions to discuss design related issues.
At 2:30 in the afternoon, Carico says Reinders hopes to meet with several business owners individually to address any design concerns they might have.
Finally, at 6pm in the Guthrie Center Activity Center, Reinders and the rest of his Design Tech team will give the public a presentation about Main Street Iowa design in general. Carico says she encourages community members to show up at the evening session but they’re also welcome sit in on any of the other meetings throughout the day.
If any Guthrie Center residents have questions about the impending visit from Main Street Iowa officials, Carico can be reached at 641-757-9969.