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Panora Fiber holds annual meeting

Mar 4, 2025 | News

Panora Fiber board members, back row: Ron Reynolds, Chris Arganbright, Trudy Hastings and Lynnea Anderson. Front row: Leroy Oxley, Dave Ryan and Kelvin Hafner.

By Shane Goodman | Times Vedette 

Panora Fiber held its annual meeting on March 3 in Panora at the Community Center. The agenda included the election of directors and the sharing of financial and operating reports.

Chris Arganbright, Mark Cates and Kelvin Hafner were running for two open seats. Arganbright and Hafner were both incumbents, and both were reelected to the board. 

Board President Ron Reynolds recognized years of service for staff members, including Plant Manager Bill Dorsett with 45 years, General Manager/CEO Andrew Randol with 30 years, and Customer Service Specialist Pam Klinkefus with 30 years. Combination Technicians Mike Moore and Paul Brewster each have served 25 years as well. 

General Manager/CEO Andrew Randol shared the company’s balance sheet and statements of operations while also sharing maps with the territory growth of fiber connections in Dallas and Madison counties, as well as in the Bagley area. 

Drawings were also held for numerous door prizes for attendees. 

Panora Fiber staff in attendance at the annual meeting on March 3, back row: Bill Dorsett, Andrew Randol, Paul Brewster, Andy Carson, Nathan Van Zee, Shane Murphy, Dave Garland, Mike Moore and Curtis Thornberry. Front row: Jaime Waddle, Geri Thompson and Pam Klinkefus.

More than just books

Mar 4, 2025 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Kimber just finished reading 1,000 books before kindergarten. She proudly is modeling her new shirt and showing off her completion certificate. Congratulations to Kimber. Keep reading!

It’s been a busy week at MJB Library. Another preschooler has completed reading 1,000 books before kindergarten. The program is a national program that is free for families to participate.  Open to all preschool-age children, the program promotes youth literacy and is designed to promote the skills needed for reading readiness when a child starts kindergarten. If you have a preschool-age child or are a caregiver for a preschooler and would like to enroll your child, contact the library for information. 

Seed Library

With the warmer temperatures and bright sunshine, many people are thinking ahead to gardening season. If you are one of those, please consider stopping by the MJB Library to take a look at our seed library. We have a supply of seeds for many varieties of flowers, vegetables and herbs.  Now is a good time to start your plants, and we have seeds free for the taking. 

The Reads Well With Others book club met on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to discuss “Part of Your World.” The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. Join us for a fun and interesting discussion.

Reads Well With Others

The Reads Well With Others evening book club met on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to discuss the February selection “Part of My World” by Abby Jimenez. Seventeen people gathered to share thoughts and insights about the book and how it resonated. Carla Wood and Roberta Gilson brought snacks for the group to enjoy. The March book will be a thriller entitled “All the Colors of the Dark” by Chris Whitaker. Copies are still available for check out for anyone who would like to join next month’s discussion. 

Card Clubs

If you are looking for a chance to play some cards and socialize with others, remember that the library has a group that meets every Monday from 9-11 a.m. to play cribbage. For those of you who want to play bridge, our bridge club meets weekly on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. Whether you are an experienced player or you want to learn, players of all skill levels are welcome to come to these groups. 

Preschool Story Hour

Friday mornings at 10 a.m., the library is a magical place where preschoolers and their caretakers gather to read some books and make some craft projects. Preschool children of all ages are welcome to attend. Each week, Miss Cass has a special theme for the stories and crafts. March 7, green is the focus for the week. Saint Patrick’s Day is the topic for March 14, and the alphabet is the theme for March 21. On March 28, our little patrons will get to learn about bugs. If you have a preschooler, stop by the library on Friday morning for playtime, reading and fun with other little people and their caregivers.

Between the Covers

Between the Covers Book Club is reading “The Secret Book of Flora Lea” by Patti Callahan Henry. When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed. Come in and get a copy of this engrossing historical novel so you’re ready to join the book club on Tuesday, March 11, at 3 p.m.

Do you collect things?

The library is looking for collections to share in our display case each month. If you have a collection you’d like to share in our locked display case in the library for a month, please contact us, and we will schedule you for a month. 

Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Weekly Report — Feb. 24 – March 3, 2025

Mar 4, 2025 | Guthrie County Sheriff's Report

2-24-25

  • 7:02 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in rural Panora
  • 9:10 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Panora
  • 1:10 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident
  • 2:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies and Sheriff assisted Shelby County with an investigation in Guthrie Center
  • 3:10 p.m. Stuart Police followed up on an investigation
  • 4 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies investigated a complaint of a violation in Guthrie Center
  • 4:20 p.m. Stuart Police responded to an animal complaint
  • 5 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a possible domestic in rural Guthrie Center
  • 8:45 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies assisted the Shelby County Sheriff and Deputy conduct a search warrant in Guthrie Center

 

2-25-25

  • 12:25 a.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of an open door on a business
  • 1:25 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 6:45 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy assisted an individual in Guthrie Center
  • 10:25 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a financial scam attempt in Bagley
  • 11:20 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a financial scam attempt in Guthrie Center
  • 2:05 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy assisted an individual in Panora
  • 2:25 p.m. Guthrie County Sheriff followed up on an investigation in Guthrie Center
  • 2:35 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy attempted to serve a civil paper in Panora
  • 2:43 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy removed debris from Highway 25 in rural Guthrie Center
  • 3:52 p.m. Guthrie Center Fire and Panora Ambulance responded to a report of a grass fire in rural Guthrie Center
  • 4:40 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of suspicious activity
  • 6:25 p.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital to Des Moines
  • 7:10 p.m. Panora Police investigated information received from the public
  • 9:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputies responded to a report of a financial scam in rural Menlo

 

2-26-25

  • 1:42 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in Yale 
  • 2:13 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of harassment 
  • 2:44 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy took a report of harassment in Bayard 
  • 2:50 p.m. Panora Police performed a case follow up 
  • 3:36 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a family situation  
  • 5:36 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of suspicious activity in Guthrie Center
  • 6:15 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a medical call in Bayard 
  • 7:22 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a suspicious vehicle in rural Stuart 

 

2-27-25

  • 12:02 a.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital to Des Moines
  • 9:30 a.m. Panora Ambulance, Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputies responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 11:50 a.m. Stuart Rescue responded to a medical call in Menlo
  • 2:10 p.m. Panora Fire Department and Panora Ambulance responded to a report of a grass fire in rural Panora
  • 2:56 p.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital to Des Moines
  • 3:15 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a complaint
  • 3:35 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a complaint
  • 5:55 p.m. Panora Ambulance Unit 2 responded to a medical call in rural Panora
  • 6:02 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 7:05 p.m. Stuart Police assisted an individual

 

2-28-25

  • 1:50 a.m. Stuart Police conducted a traffic stop and arrested one individual
  • 1:57a.m. Stuart Police transported one individual to the Adair County Jail
  • 2 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy checked on a disabled vehicle in rural Casey
  • 6:05 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Jamaica
  • 9:30 a.m. Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputies followed up on an investigation in rural Menlo
  • 10:25 a.m. Stuart Police attempted to locate some individuals to perform a welfare check
  • 10:40 a.m. Panora Police provided an escort for an individual, and then served a no trespass order
  • 11:43 a.m. Stuart Rescue responded to a medical call in Stuart
  • 12:37 p.m. Casey Fire Department responded to a report of a grass fire in rural Casey
  • 1:05 p.m. Stuart Fire and Stuart Rescue responded to a report of a field fire in rural Dexter
  • 2:05 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 2:20 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of downed light pole blocking the road
  • 2:45 p.m. Panora Fire responded to a tree fire in rural Panora
  • 3:40 p.m. Guthrie Center Fire assisted Audubon Fire with a field fire in rural Hamlin
  • 5:20 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle
  • 5:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served a civil paper in Menlo
  • 4:05 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy served a civil paper in rural Dexter
  • 6:10 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy checked on a disabled motorist in rural Guthrie Center
  • 7:30 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Yale
  • 9:46 p.m. Stuart Police responded to a parking complaint
  • 9:55 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy and Panora Police responded to a driving complaint near Panora
  • 10:07 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy assisted Adair Police with a fight

 

3-1-25

  • 1:20 a.m. Panora Ambulance and Guthrie County Deputies responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 7:50 a.m. Guthrie County Sheriff and Deputy responded to a report of a two vehicle accident in rural Stuart
  • 8:15 a.m. Stuart Rescue responded to a medical call in rural Dexter
  • 11:21 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy removed an animal carcass from the roadway in rural Panora
  • 11:55 a.m. Guthrie Center Fire Department and Guthrie County Deputy assisted Adair Fire Department with a field fire in rural Adair
  • 3:02 p.m. Panora Fire and Ambulance and Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a grass fire in rural Panora
  • 5:05 p.m. Stuart Fire and Rescue, and Stuart Police responded to a report of a grass fire on I-80 in rural Menlo
  • 5:20 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Bayard
  • 5:50 p.m. Panora Police followed up on an investigation

 

3-3-25

  • 5:10 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 7:47 a.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 8:20 a.m. Stuart Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a semi accident on I-80
  • 10:10 a.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital back to The New Homestead
  • 10:20 a.m. Stuart Police attempted to locate an individual for Jasper County 
  • 11:05 a.m. Guthrie County Deputy did a warrant check in Bayard
  • 11:55 a.m. Stuart Fire, Rescue and Police responded to a report of a vehicle fire on I-80
  • 12:50 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Guthrie Center
  • 1:45 p.m. Panora Police assisted a motorist
  • 2:20 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy did a warrant check in Bayard
  • 2:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy performed a welfare check in Guthrie Center
  • 5:40 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a report of a hit and run accident in rural Casey
  • 6:05 p.m. Stuart Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a grass fire in rural Stuart
  • 6:40 p.m. Panora Ambulance responded to a medical call in Bayard
  • 6:50 p.m. Panora Police responded to a report of a car vs. deer accident
  • 10:25 p.m. Panora Ambulance transported a patient from Guthrie County Hospital to Des Moines
  • 10:40 p.m. Stuart Police assisted State Patrol with traffic control on an accident on I-80
  • 11:50 p.m. Guthrie County Deputy responded to a complaint in Casey

Supervisors approve 5% increase in library funding 

Mar 4, 2025 | News

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the March 4 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, the supervisors discussed the county’s funding of the Guthrie County Libraries Association. The libraries asked for a 7% increase from the current fiscal year.

Supervisor Steve Smith shared his view that libraries are an important community hub, especially in the smaller cities in the county.

“I think they’re pretty essential,” Smith said. “Their ask is 7%. For me, that might be a stretch. I’m probably thinking more about 4 ½ to 6%.”

“I’d like to look at 5 ½ or 6%,” Supervisor Brian Johnson said.

After discussion, the supervisors unanimously voted to approve a 5% increase.

The supervisors discussed the Feb. 28 payroll, with Supervisor Mike Dickson objecting to the Secondary Roads department payroll.

“I just don’t approve of the way it’s computed,” Dickson said. “Using personal time to gain comp time… They’re using sick time personal time to gain overtime.”

Smith said he feels that issue could be addressed at another time, but he made a motion to approve the Secondary Roads payroll as submitted. The payroll was approved by a 4-1 vote with Dickson opposed.

A public hearing on the Proposed Property Tax Notice was set for Tuesday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m.

Supervisor JD Kuster said he has been asked by several citizens when the supervisors will return to the issue of a possible countywide EMS plan. After discussion, the supervisors agreed to revisit the issue after budgeting, which is expected to wrap up around the end of March.

Through March, the Board of Supervisors meets regularly Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. at the courthouse. The public is welcome to attend in person or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#.

Richard Zapf

Mar 4, 2025 | Obituaries

1934-2025

Richard Louis Zapf, 90, son of Alphonse and Imelda (Loso) Zapf, was born Oct. 5, 1934, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He passed away Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at the Mayo Clinics in Rochester, Minnesota. 

He graduated from Cathedral High School, St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1952. He enlisted into the United States Army in 1954. He was stationed in Kansas, New Jersey and Arizona before being honorably discharged in 1955. He attended St. Cloud State College. On Dec. 28, 1957, he married Diane Baker in St. Cloud, Minnesota. To this union, one son and three daughters were born. After several moves, the family settled in Des Moines in 1965. Richard worked as a general merchandise manager for Super Valu, Des Moines Division. In 1988, Dick and Diane moved one last time to Lake Panorama.

Richard enjoyed golfing, woodworking and supporting junior golf in Panora, but his family was the true joy of his life. Dick was a man of faith and attended St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Panora.

Richard is survived by his son, Mark (Lynette) Zapf, of Rogers, Arkansas; three daughters, Chris (Robert) Dowd, of Altoona, Kathy Moline, of Panora, and Kelly (Sean) Mullane, of West Des Moines; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Bill Zapf of Cold Spring, Minnesota; and a sister, Jeanette “Pi” Peterson of Virginia, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Diane in 2012; brothers, Mike, Johnny and Frank “Butz” Zapf; and a sister, Maryann Zachman.

A rosary service will be Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 9 a.m., with visitation starting at 10 a.m. and Mass/funeral service at 11 a.m., all at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Panora. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, rural Guthrie Center, following the services. A celebration of life will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Lake Panorama National Conference Center.

Memorials may be directed to St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 N. First St., Panora, IA 50216.

Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, is entrusted with his services.