Special to the Times Vedette

Noah Schrad, Regional Director of the Office of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, will be in Guthrie Center on July 23 from 1-2 p.m. for a Listening Post held in the Community Meeting Room at the Mary Barnett Memorial Library, 400 Grand St., Guthrie Center.

The purpose of the Listening Posts is to invite the community to meet directly with the Senator’s staff and address constituent questions and concerns. Another function is to help anyone who has a particular issue or problem with a federal agency. Both of these aspects are important to protecting and advancing Iowans’ role in representative government. The Senator will not be attendance, but his staff will be. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

Courtesy of Kansas State University

Travis Geopfert, a four-time National Assistant Coach of the Year during two stints at Arkansas, was announced as K-State’s seventh full-time director of track and field/cross country by Director of Athletics Gene Taylor on July 11.

Geopfert agreed to a five-year contract, which was approved by the K-State Athletics, Inc., Board of Directors and President Richard Linton.

Geopfert will be formally introduced to the public during a news conference on Monday, July 15 at 11 a.m. in the Steel and Pipe Team Theatre at the Vanier Football Complex. A live stream of the news conference can be viewed on the K-State Sports Facebook page.

“It is an exciting time for K-State Track and Field as we welcome Travis, Nicole, Jones, Jax and Ellyn to the Wildcat Family,” Taylor said. “The sustained success during Coach Rovelto’s hall of fame career and the recent facility upgrades for our program made this a very attractive job, sought after by many phenomenal candidates. Travis’ recent success at one of the top track and field programs in the country certainly speaks for itself, but he also has strong Midwest roots, head coaching experience and a tremendous ability to recruit globally. He will coach eight Olympians in this year’s Paris games, and we are excited for the future of K-State Track and Field under his leadership.”

Geopfert, a native of Panora, has 22 years of coaching experience, including 12 at Arkansas, where he was a part of two NCAA Championship teams (2013 men’s indoor and 2023 men’s indoor), 21 top-10 NCAA team finishes and 25 SEC Championships as an assistant men’s track and field and cross country coach (2009-18) and associate head coach of the men’s track and field and cross country teams (2021-24).

A 2002 graduate of Northern Iowa, where he was a three-time Missouri Valley Conference champion and All-American, Geopfert got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Central Missouri (2002-03) for head coach Kip Janvrin. He returned to his alma mater in 2003 for the start of a six-year stint, where he rose from an assistant track and field coach (2003-07) to associate head coach (2007-08) to head coach (2008-09). He was part of 12 Missouri Valley Conference team championships while at UNI, including the 2009 men’s indoor and outdoor titles as head coach. For his efforts, he was named the 2009 MVC Outdoor Coach of the Year.

In between his two stints at Arkansas, Geopfert spent three years (2018-21) as the associate head coach for the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams at Tennessee under head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, helping the Volunteer men’s team to a top-10 NCAA finish at the 2021 indoor championships.

All told, Geopfert has been part two NCAA team championships, 24 top-10 NCAA team finishes and 37 conference team championships (MVC, SEC) during his 22-year coaching career at Central Missouri, Northern Iowa, Arkansas and Tennessee.

“My family and I are thrilled to become part of the Kansas State community,” Geopfert said.  “Just look at every named facility on campus, and it’s obvious that family and community are the framework of Kansas State. That may be the biggest thing that attracted us to Manhattan.

“I’d like to thank Gene Taylor, (executive associate AD) Kenny Lannou and (deputy AD) Jill Shields for giving me this opportunity to lead such a storied program — a program with multiple Olympians, Olympic medalists and NCAA champions, led for more than three decades by hall of fame coach Cliff Rovelto. 

“It’s not lost on me the shoes that I’m trying to fill in following a legendary coach. Coach Rovelto has built a foundation at Kansas State that makes this one of the most attractive opportunities in NCAA track and field. With that, I promise to work tirelessly for the alumni and current student-athletes here at Kansas State. I want to help make all of these individuals proud of where they are from. They built the foundation for our future success, and we owe it to them and this administration to get after it here with everything we’ve got.

“With that said, I cannot express enough appreciation to Gene Taylor for handing me the reigns here in Manhattan. His reputation precedes him in making great coaching hires. I’m humbled that he believes in me to continue to move this program forward. 

“Lastly, I’d like to thank my former student-athletes, bosses and colleagues at Central Missouri, Northern Iowa, Tennessee and Arkansas. The last 22 years learning from all of them has given me the foundation I need to coach and mentor at the highest level. These coaching experiences, along with the amazing support of my wife Nicole, our kids and my entire family, gives me the confidence I need to be the next director of track and field/cross country at K-State.”

Individually, Geopfert coached three Bowerman Award finalists (track and field’s version of the Heisman Trophy) while at Arkansas, including a pair of winners in sprinter and long jumper Jarrion Lawson (2016) and triple and long jumper Jaydon Hibbert (2023), as well as 2022 finalist Ayden Owens-Delerme. In total, he has helped train 20 national champions (a combined 12 in the long and triple jump) in his career as well as 106 NCAA First Team All-Americans, 182 NCAA National Finals Qualifiers and 89 conference champions.

Geopfert has coached 15 Olympians, including eight who have advanced to this summer’s Paris Games. Those eight Olympians include Romaine Beckford (high jump/Jamaica), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump/USA), Jaydon Hibbert (triple jump/Jamaica), Jarrion Lawson (long jump/USA), Carey McLeod (long jump/Jamaica), Jah-Nhai Perinchief (triple jump/Bermuda), Ayden Owens-Delerme (decathlon/Puerto Rico) and Wayne Pinnock (long jump/Jamaica).

In total, Geopfert’s athletes have qualified for the World Championships 30 times with five global medals. They have broken three American Junior records, three World Junior records, two NCAA all-time collegiate records and two NCAA meet records. They have combined to break 59 school records at Northern Iowa, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Geopfert was part of tremendous success at Arkansas where he worked for his college head coach and 30-time SEC Coach of the Year Chris Bucknam, first as assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams from 2009-18 then as associate head coach for the men’s team from 2021-24.

The Razorbacks won the 2013 and 2023 NCAA team Indoor Championships, while they finished as the national team runners-up on six occasions (2012, 2014, 2016 and 2024 indoor seasons and 2016 and 2023 outdoor seasons). They also won 25 SEC team championships in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, including a sweep of the indoor and outdoor titles on six occasions (2012, 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024). The school earned the prestigious John McDonnell Program of the Year honor in both 2013 and 2017 which goes annually to the top overall cross country and track and field program.

Geopfert coached all three of Arkansas’ Bowerman Award finalists, including winners Jarrion Lawson (2016) and Jaydon Hibbert (2023), as well as 2022 finalist Ayden Owens-Delerme.

A two-time Olympian, Lawson won six NCAA championships with the Razorbacks, including the “Jesse Owens triple” with titles in the 100 and 200 meters and long jump at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Hibbert was the 2023 Outdoor National Field co-Athlete of the Year as well as the 2023 Indoor and Outdoor National Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year, setting both the indoor and outdoor collegiate marks in the triple jump while sweeping both NCAA Championships. Owens-Delerme was the 2022 NCAA Outdoor National Field Athlete of the Year after winning the NCAA title in the decathlon.

Geopfert coached seven other national champions at Arkansas, including two-time triple jump champion Clive Pullen (2016, 2017 indoor) and two-time long jump champion Carey McLeod (2023 indoor and outdoor). This past season, Romaine Beckford swept the indoor and outdoor high jump titles, while Wayne Pinnock won the 2024 indoor long jump championship.

Geopfert was honored four times as the USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year while on staff at Arkansas following the 2013, 2014 and 2023 men’s indoor seasons and the 2023 men’s outdoor season. He was also selected as the South Central Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year on seven occasions (2013, 2014, 2017, 2022, 2023 (indoor and outdoor), 2024).

In addition to his coaching honors at Arkansas, Geopfert was named the 2020 South Region Men’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year at Tennessee, the 2007 and 2008 Midwest Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year at Northern Iowa and the 2003 Division II Central Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year at Central Missouri. He was the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Coach of the Year at UNI.

In between his stints at Arkansas, Geopfert spent three seasons at Tennessee from 2018-21 as associate head coach for the men’s and women’s teams under head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan. Most notably he guided Carey McLeod to the long jump crown and a runner-up finish in the triple jump at the 2020 SEC Indoor Championship.

Geopfert also coached two-time Bowerman watch list member and high jumper Darryl Sullivan, who tied the all-time SEC indoor record and posted the No. 4 collegiate mark in indoor history with a height of 2.33 m/7-7.75.

McLeod and Sullivan had NCAA-leading marks in the long jump and high jump, respectively, before the 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships were cancelled due to COVID-19.

Prior to his first stint with the Razorbacks, Geopfert spent six years at his alma mater Northern Iowa, first as an assistant track and field coach (2003-07) to associate head coach (2007-08) to head coach (2008-09). He was part of 12 MVC championship teams, including a sweep of the 2009 men’s indoor and outdoor titles in his lone season as head coach. The 2007 and 2008 teams placed in the top-10 at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Notable athletes coached by Geopfert at UNI included 2008 MVC women’s most outstanding track athlete Dani Stipe and five-time All-Americans Raven Cepeda and Cody Eichmeier. Stipe was the first female athlete in UNI history to qualify for the NCAA Championship in the heptathlon, while Cepeda still holds the conference and school records in both the heptathlon and decathlon. Eichmeier was a nine-time conference champion in the long jump and the 2005 MVC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year.

In his lone season at Central Missouri, Geopfert helped coach two-time national champion Ivan Varbanov, who won the 2003 Division II indoor high jump and triple jump titles, as well as one national runner-up, six All-Americans, seven national qualifiers, five conference champions and 10 all-conference performers.

Geopfert enjoyed a notable career of his own as a combined events athlete and sprinter at Northern Iowa from 1997-2002. While competing for the Panthers, he won the decathlon at the 1998 Missouri Valley Conference Championship and was part of multiple conference-winning relay teams, including the 1999 4×100-meter relay and 2000 indoor distance medley relay teams. He earned 2000 Indoor All-American honors in the distance medley relay with a seventh-place finish. He was a four-time All-MVC performer (1997, 1998 indoor and outdoor) as well as a two-time MVC Scholar-Athlete (1999, 2000).

Upon graduation, Geopfert finished as the runner-up in the 2003 Drake Relays decathlon, behind USA Olympian Kip Janvrin before winning the event in both 2004 and 2006. He was a five-time national qualifier at the USATF Indoor and Outdoor Championships while also qualifying for the 2004 Olympic Trials.

Geopfert was also a member of the U.S. vs Germany decathlon Thorpe Cup duel teams in 2003, 2005 and 2006, where he was coached by former by K-State Director of Track and Field / Cross Country Cliff Rovelto. He returned to the Thorpe Cup in 2009 for the first of three stints as head decathlon coach (2009, 2013, 2014).

While in high school, Geopfert was a seven-time state champion at Panorama High School.

Geopfert and wife, Nicole, have three children, Jones, Jax and Ellyn.

Grandchildren of Dave and Barb Hemberger: Asher Hemberger, Clara Hemberger, Nova McClanahan, Stetson McClanahan and Eve Hemberger at last year’s Panorama Days parade. This year’s parade will be Saturday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. Photo by Dan McClanahan

Theme for 2024 is “Treasure Island — Pirates on Parade.” 

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

The annual three-day Panorama Days celebration that covers Panora and Lake Panorama begins Friday, Aug. 2 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 4. The theme for 2024 is “Treasure Island — Pirates on Parade.” 

“A Facebook poll was published, and the public shared their ideas for a theme. The Panorama Days committee came together, took all the nominations into account, and this was the overall winner,” says Erica Matthies, Panora Chamber coordinator. Matthies created a logo to match the theme, which is being used on all Panorama Days materials.  

Gayle Shackelford, Panora Chamber president, says Panorama Days is a great time for the Panora and Lake Panorama communities to come together. 

“The Panorama Days committee has been working hard this year and has a fun-filled weekend of events planned,” Shackelford says. “There are activities for all ages on the docket. The parade is always spectacular. This year, plans are being made for an amazing classic car show along two blocks of Main Street south of the gazebo and the block continuing east. We hope those attending will take time to cast a vote for their favorite car.”

Friday’s events

The celebration begins Aug. 2 with a new event. 

“The Panora Chamber is going to hold a scavenger hunt noon through 5 p.m.,” Matthies says. “We’ll be asking participants to become pirates and search for lost treasures around Panora. Maps with full details will be available at the Chamber information booth starting at noon.” 

Also on opening day, at 4 p.m., all ages are welcome to help decorate Panora’s Main Street at Chalk the Block. Chalk will be provided. 

Several favorite events from previous years fill in the Friday schedule. An afternoon cribbage tournament in the community center, sponsored by Stine Seed, begins with registration at 1:30 p.m. and competition at 2 p.m. The cakewalk for kids will be 7-7:30 p.m. in the community center, sponsored by WFPF. Cruise the Loop, with all types of cars welcome, will be 6:30-8 p.m. This event is hosted by Panora Auto Parts, which also is the starting point for participants and their cars. 

The Mainstreet Dance Studio performance will begin at 6 p.m. in Vet’s Auditorium. The Bill Riley Talent Show, sponsored by Mainstreet Dance Studio, will follow at 7 p.m., also in Vet’s Auditorium. 

Winners of the afternoon scavenger hunt and the Little Miss and Mister Panorama Days contest will be announced at 8:30 p.m. from the gazebo in Town Square Park. 

The day wraps up with live country and rock music from Ghost Riderz. This free event, which begins at 8:30 p.m. and closes at 11:30 p.m., will be on the street in front of the gazebo. BYOB, and lawn chairs are recommended.

There will be various booth vendors in the town square beginning at 2 p.m. and running until 8 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone interested in showcasing their art, crafts or business can apply for a spot. 

Food vendors also are welcome beginning at noon on Friday and running through 7 p.m. Saturday. Application forms and more details for both food and booth vendors are on the Panora Chamber website at www.panorachamber.org. 

Saturday’s events

Saturday starts early with a bass fishing tournament on Lake Panorama. Registration is at 5 a.m. at Panorama Marine with competition 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The tournament is sponsored by Lake Panorama Fin and Feather.

The traditional pancake breakfast will be available in the Community Center 7 a.m. to noon with serving by the Brethren Church. 

The Panorama Days 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by Reshape Fitness Studio, begins in front of the library at 8 a.m. The early bird fee is $35, with the entry fee increasing to $40 after July 19. Register online by Friday, Aug. 2 at http://getmeregistered.com/PanoramaDaysRun. Registration the day of the race must be done by 7:30 a.m. 

Parade registration starts at 9 a.m. at the Panorama Elementary School, with the parade at 10 a.m. All parade entries will be judged in one of eight categories, with winners announced immediately following the parade. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three places in each category. 

Due to the repaving of roads on the school grounds, parade registration and line-up will be a little different this year. Everyone must go down Clay Street to the elementary school for registration. There will only be one way down Panther Drive to West Market to line up. Registration must be done before entries can line up. 

The Panora Citizen of the Year and parade category winners will be announced in the gazebo following the parade. The Panora Chamber has recognized an outstanding member of the Panora/Lake Panorama community since 1989.  

A free kid’s zone will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the town square. Items available in the kid’s zone include inflatables, jousting arena, mechanical bull, face painting, balloon fun and caricatures. Raccoon Valley Radio will broadcast music throughout the day at the town square. 

The annual beef burger meal will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Christian Church. The cutest baby contest, sponsored by Cyclone Pest Management, will begin at 12:30 p.m., with registration at the gazebo. This year’s contest will offer several baby divisions to enter. 

A classic car show will be from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street, hosted by Guthrie County Cars & Coffee. Sponsors for the car show are Guthrie County State Bank, Fox Countertops, B&B Marketplace, Hummel’s Auto Body, Cyclone Pest Management and Lakeside Massage and Bodywork.

“We are thankful the incoming Panorama Junior Class is organizing several activities,” Matthies says. “Our committee discussed Panorama Days has a lot of things to offer younger kids, but middle and senior high kids didn’t have much to do. That changes this year. The students will be able to keep profits from their events to help with class expenses in the upcoming school year.” 

The junior class is hosting both bags and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments at the ball diamonds. Registration is at 12:30 p.m. with competition underway at 1 p.m. A softball tournament will begin at 8 a.m. at the ball diamonds. Pre-registration is required, at a cost of $150 per team. The winning team will take home $200. To register, contact Heather Hellman, 641-757-9315. The junior class also plans to have a dunk tank 1-4 p.m.

Bingo will be in the community center 1-3 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Guthrie County State Bank. The Panorama alumni banquet for those who graduated from Panora, Linden, Panora-Linden and Panorama will be in the community center, with social time beginning at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. 

Tickets are $20 per person and people can pay at the door or register early. Early registrations are appreciated to help with meal numbers but are not required. Registrations can be mailed to Alumni Association, P.O. Box 184, Panora, Iowa, 50216. To register by email, or ask questions, send a message to alumniassociation50216@gmail.com.

The Lake Panorama ski team show will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a viewing area on the hillside of the lake’s south shore. (See story on page 9 for more details.)  

For the second year, a Saturday golf cart/UTV parade will start at 5 p.m. at Boulder Beach. Those interested are invited to get creative decorating their golf cart or UTV. This event will raise money for Tori’s Angels and is sponsored by Panora Auto Parts. 

The Port will have live music beginning at 9 p.m., and the Lake Panorama Association will present its annual fireworks display from the south shore at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s events

On Sunday, a breakfast at the Panora Community Center will be served 8 a.m. to noon, sponsored by the Panorama Junior Class. 

The 11^th annual kid’s fishing derby, sponsored by Lake Panorama Fin and Feather, will be Sunday, 9-11 a.m. at the Lake Panorama marina, with registration at 8:15 a.m. There are four age brackets, 3 to 5 years; 6 to 8 years; 9 to 11 years; and 12 to 14 years of age. Trophies will be given for biggest and smallest fish caught in all age groups, excluding carp. In addition, trophies and cash prizes will be given to the top three overall big fish. Bait will be supplied but will be limited in quantity. Participants should bring their own fishing poles and tackle. 

New in 2024 is the Zellmer Family Ministry from Omaha at Boulder Beach 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. 

“We want this to be a casual come-and-go event that leaves people feeling uplifted, inspired, and more connected as a community and in their faith,” says Matthies. “I didn’t want to put pressure on one church to lead the entire service, and I didn’t want to take away from the many amazing church services we already have in town. So, I thought why not just the music and worship part.”  

Matthies says organizers hope to attract a couple of food trucks to Boulder Beach during this event, and the Panora Chamber is looking for financial sponsors. Those interested are asked to contact Matthies at 712-789-0870 or email panorachamber@gmail.com. 

A golf tournament to raise money for the Panorama High School Scholarship Fund is that afternoon at the Panorama West golf course. Contact Chaille Crandall with questions or to register in advance, 515-729-2240. 

Those who attend any portion of the Panorama Days celebration are invited to snap photos and post those on Facebook and Instagram using #panoramadays2024. Multiple photos can be in one post. Security settings must be set to public so the Panorama Days planning committee can see them. Photos must be posted and tagged by 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4. Each photo posted will give the photographer one entry into a drawing for $25 in Panora Chamber bucks. Three winners will be drawn. Photos entered will be used to help market future Panorama Days. 

“I’d like to thank the many people, organizations and businesses that help put on Panorama Days,” says Shackelford. “Whether lending a hand or sponsoring events, it takes a village, and we have one of the best. Panorama Days fun can be found from downtown Panora to Lake Panorama, to the Panorama West Golf Course, to the ball fields, to Boulder Beach, to the marina and more. We have so many beautiful places and events to explore. Bring the whole family and enjoy the fun.” 

Matthies says Panorama Days organizers can always use more volunteers and sponsors.

“Many hands make light work, so if you would like to volunteer, please reach out,” she says. “Many of the Panorama Days events are free, and that only happens because generous people in our community want to give back and be difference makers. If you would like to sponsor a specific event or give a general donation to help cover the costs, that’s appreciated.”

Look for more information and updates on the 2024 Panorama Days activities on the Panora Chamber website and the chamber’s Facebook page @panorachamber.