Age is just a number

Aug 30, 2024 | Publisher's Column

“Age is just a number. How you take care of your body determines your true age.”

That was something Lemar Koethe, the founder of 7 Flags Fitness Center, the former health club on 100th Street in Clive, told me in the 1990s. I tried at the time to get Lemar to run an advertisement for his health club with his photo and this quote as the headline, as he was proud of how fit he was for his age. He said I was trying to play up to him. He was right. But it was a great quote, and it would have been a great ad. 

But is age just a number? Not according to many programs that seem guilty of age discrimination. Senior citizen discounts are one. Kids-eat-free campaigns are another. So are any other programs that offer special pricing for people based solely on their age.

Many of our laws also appear to discriminate based on age. Is it OK to require a person to be a minimum age to be able to do something, but not require the same person to quit doing that activity at a later age?

Here in Iowa, we have to be 16 to obtain a driver’s license, but there is no age when we are required to permanently park the Pontiac. We have to be 18 to access our right to vote, but we can vote for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris at any age. We have to be 21 to legally purchase alcohol, but we can keep buying pints of Smirnoff well into our 90s. You may appropriately argue that many older people are still capable of participating in all of these activities. Agreed. But aren’t many people who are younger than the minimum ages capable, too? And if these laws don’t discriminate based on age, then what does? 

You can use science to support this argument, to some degree. Numerous studies show that the human brain does not fully develop until age 25. If that is so, using the current logic, then why do our laws allow anyone younger than 25 to drive, vote or buy alcohol? Numerous studies also show that cognitive decline most often occurs at age 70 or older. If that is true, using the same current logic, why should anyone older than 70 be able to drive, vote or buy alcohol?

I am being silly, of course, but our age-restrictive laws and offers are debatable, to say the least. Meanwhile, don’t expect any changes soon, as only one thing can be certain. At the end of the day, Lemar was right. Age is just a number. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@dmcityview.com
641-755-2115

Panorama FFA members show at Iowa State Fair 

Aug 27, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

Several Panorama FFA members showed at the Iowa State Fair, which took place Aug. 8-18 in Des Moines.

Sarah Westergaard showed her steers in the Performance Beef and had the Champion Window A. Reagan Gibson and Gabby Welberg showed swine. Reagan had two grand champion swine. Dylan Ford showed his sheep and got third with one.

Zach Hayden and Evan Johnson showed a restored Ford 8N Friday during the Ag Mechanics show and earned a red ribbon. Evan also showed a welding project and earned a red ribbon in that. Ashton Kunce showed his woodworking project in the Ag Mechanics show, and he got a blue ribbon. Cody Kastner entered some of his Farm Crops and got sixth place.

Those who showed photos are as followed: Klayton Bremer, Danica Isom, Malia Jacobsen, Emma Johnson, Maddy Carstens, Ella Carico, Kelsey Laabs, Evelyn Hummel, Cody Kastner, Ava Thompson, Sawyer Simmons. They all received an assortment of ribbons.

Panorama scrimmage vs. Martensdale-St Marys

Aug 27, 2024 | Sports

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

On Friday, Aug. 23, Panorama football played a scrimmage against Martensdale-St Marys as the team prepares for the season. The Panthers first regular season game will be this Friday, Aug. 30, against West Central Valley.

Photos by Betty Cooper

Fagan receives W.D. and Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust scholarship

Aug 27, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

As the new school year begins, 79 local students are starting their educational journeys with well-deserved support from the W.D. and Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust. The Trust awarded more than $257,000 in scholarships this year, with individual amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. This funding makes a significant impact for students across Adair, Adams, Taylor and Union counties.

Carley Fagan, a recent graduate from ACGC was one of the scholarship recipients this year. While students from Guthrie County are not eligible, students who graduate from ACGC and live in Adair County are eligible to apply.

Scholarships are available to those pursuing all levels of higher education, from associate degrees to advanced programs. A portion of the scholarships are dedicated to students attending Southwestern Community College, helping to support those starting their educational journey closer to home.

Now in its third year, the W.D. and Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust has provided $658,800 in scholarships, with many more opportunities still ahead. The Trust is committed to continuing this legacy, with millions of dollars to be awarded in the years to come.

Iowa State Savings Bank is honored to serve as trustee for this scholarship fund, overseeing the process and helping ensure that students in our communities have the financial support they need to succeed.

Scholarship applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available later this year. Follow the W.D. and Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust Facebook page for award winner recognition and scholarship announcements. More information about the scholarship is available on the Iowa State Savings Bank website, www.ISSBbank.com.