By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the regular meeting of the Panora city council on Jan. 13, Police Chief Matt Reising introduced new officer Colin Price. Price is filling a vacancy that has existed for several months, which had required Chief Reising and Officer Rock Armstrong to work longer shifts to maintain coverage for the city.

Brenda Dudley of Midwest Partnership addressed the council with an annual update on Midwest Partnership’s services, and she asked the council to consider continuing financial support for the organization. She also mentioned Midwest Partnership’s annual dinner, which is scheduled for Jan. 30.

The council discussed a water leak that had been discovered at 120 N.E. Fourth St. Since the water that leaked did not go through the sanitary sewer system, the council voted to forgive that portion of the billing and instead only bill for water usage and average sewer rate for that property.

John DeLavergne spoke to the council regarding his recommendation that the city’s ambulance service begin billing facilities when they ask that a patient be transported back to the facility via ambulance when such a request is not medically necessary. He recommended a standard fee of $500 for such situations. DeLavergne explained that the recommendation is intended to be an incentive for facilities to send a driver and vehicle in such situations so that the ambulance will be available for other potential calls. The council voted to approve the recommendation. All applicable facilities in the county will be notified of the change.

The council’s next regular meeting is set for Monday, Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome. Interested persons may attend in person or electronically by visiting the website https://meet.goto.com/cityofpanora or by phone 1-312-757-3121 (Access Code 295-099-701, Audio PIN 220#).

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The Panora Chamber of Commerce held its first meeting of 2025 on Monday, Jan. 13 at Restore Wellness Center. A large group attended with many new faces. Several old business, items along with a review of 2024 and planning for 2025, were discussed.

 The first Annual Panora Chamber Gala event will be Feb. 1, and Wednesday, Jan. 15 is the last day to purchase tickets. Individual tickets are $60 per person. Sponsorships are $250, $500 or $1,000. For more information, visit www.panorachamber.org or the Chamber Facebook page.

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The 34th Annual Audubon Lions Toy Show will be held Saturday, Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Agri-Hall at the Audubon County Fairgrounds in Audubon. This toy show is routinely scheduled for the fourth Saturday in February. The attendance is expected to be between 300 to 500 people.

Co-Chair Derek Deist says about 70 tables will be rented by 20 different vendors, featuring all varieties of farm toys, toy cars, other toys and ag-related collectibles. Attendees will find both new and vintage/antique toys.

The Audubon Lions will offer an early-morning breakfast at their lunch counter for all vendors and early Lions workers of eggs, sausage and toast beginning at 6:30 a.m. Hot sandwiches, hot soups, sodas, water and a variety of desserts are available throughout the day for purchase. The lunch crew is staffed with Lions volunteers.

This is a fundraiser for the Audubon Lions Club. Between 25-30 Lions volunteers are responsible for planning and carrying out this activity for adults and kids alike. Twenty door prizes will be drawn throughout the day.

The history

Thirty-five years ago, Audubon Lions Howard Jensen, Rich McVinua and Bryan Betts traveled to northwest Iowa to check out a toy show. They were looking for a fundraising project for the Audubon Lions Club.

Rich McVinua began as an Iowa Public Services truck driver on construction crews, then became a serviceman, and finally he an engineer and crew supervisor for IPS, which eventually evolved into MidAmerican Energy. After taking early retirement in 1995, he started a shop north of town by the “old bowling alley” where he enjoyed restoring old tractors, both small toys and large tractors, for people.

Howard Jensen became a partner with his father in the J&M International Harvester Implement business in Exira and the Audubon Implement Company in Audubon. In 1964, Howard and his business partner/brother Jim Jensen built a new building in Audubon. After retiring, he spent the next 10 years restoring Model A and Model T Ford Cars. He also collected and restored antique toy tractors and some toy farm implements. There is a magazine dedicated to parts and supplies for restoring old farm toys. It was called the “Toy Farmer” and is still in business today. This is where Howard bought his parts for his toy implement “repair” business.

For many years, Bryan Betts operated the family farm, during which Bryan also attended auctioneering school. Along with farming, he operated his own auction house in Audubon and Carroll for many years. Bryan was a collector of farm toys and used to donate some of his collection for door prizes at the Toy Show.

It must have been the love of the farm, farm machinery, restorations and selling that sparked these three gentlemen to unite and start the first Lions Toy Show in Audubon.

Special to the Times Vedette

Art on State held a free art class on Saturday, Jan. 11 with five kids and two adults. They made snowmen out of socks and toilet paper with brownies for treats. The class was taught by Carol Redshaw.

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 or call 641-332-2267.