By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Today is the last school day for students at Panorama and ACGC.
Panorama students Hunter Losee and Evan Losee are ready for summer.
Shelby Lewis drops off her daughters, Ella and Ava, at Guthrie Center Elementary.
By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette
The Iowa High School boys and girls state track meet started yesterday, Thursday, May 22, and will run (literally) today, May 23, and tomorrow, May 24. I have not yet had the pleasure of attending the state track tournament. That’s not the case for several Panorama and ACGC athletes this week. If you are unable to attend, a free live stream of the events is available HERE.
Panorama’s Kylie Rochholz ran in the 3,000-meter run yesterday and the distance medley team of Faith Recker, Gracie Recker, Maddy Lutz and Rochholz placed fifth in 4:13.21. Rochholz competes again in the 1,500-meter run tomorrow, May 24 at 2:15 p.m. On the boys side, Syler Shaffer will be leaping in the 400-meter hurdles at noon, today, May 23.
ACGC boys track has dominated this season and is well-represented at the state meet. The 4×100-meter shuttle hurdle team placed first in the qualifier, Mike Fuller placed fifth in the shot put, and Eli Madsen placed sixth in the 400-meter dash yesterday.
Plenty more will compete today, May 23:
And tomorrow, Saturday, May 24
On the ACGC girls side, the distance medley team of Nora Langgaard, Meranda Gruber, Cadence Petersen and Ava Campbell at 2:40 p.m. and Cadence Petersen at 5:40 p.m. compete today. Ava Campbell then competes in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs on Saturday, May 24.
I wish the best of luck to all of these incredible ACGC and Panorama athletes in their remaining races and events. It has been a pleasure covering these programs throughout the season.
Panorama and ACGC make frequent appearances at the state track and field meet. They also appear in the all-time record books. One thing Cody Matthewson told me when I interviewed him for our Spring Sports Guide was about program legend, Austin Kunkle. The IAHSAA shows the state and all-time records on the heat and lane assignments page. Kunkle’s name appears twice as the state record holder in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, both set in 2023.
Panorama’s girls track and field legend Jaidyn Sellers holds several state records of her own and across different classes. She just had one of them broken yesterday. Her 2A 100-meter dash record set In 2023 was broken by Rachel Kacmarynski of Pella Christian. I was able to cover Sellers’ dominance in her senior season in 2024 when she broke the 1A 100-meter and 400-meter dash state records. All in all, Sellers won 10 state titles in her time at Panorama.
What are the odds that two of Iowa’s best all-time sprinters would be going to school at the same time, 10 minutes away from each other, in Guthrie County? I won’t (and can’t) do the math on that one. Let’s hope the rest of these records stand until another Panther or Charger comes along to break them.
Reach out with comments, complaints, ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the May 21 meeting of the Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center school boards, lengthy discussion was held about the status regarding potential consolidation of the two districts. Board members discussed that if consolidation were to happen now, the districts would lose out on approximately $400,000 in “Whole Grade Sharing” revenue.
Guthrie Center Board Member Brian Sheeder shared his opinion.
“I know we’re concentrating on the operational sharing dollars, and that is a consideration, but our future moving forward, being tied to our inability to act because we’re two separate districts, will come at a greater cost, in my personal opinion,” Sheeder said.
Adair-Casey Board Member Randy Carney said when Gov. Reynolds’ term ends, the new governor may have different priorities, and that could impact this issue. No board action was taken at this time.
High School Principal Brian Sauser reported that all 51 seniors met the requirements for graduation. He added that Awards Night and Senior Breakfast and Commencement events all went smoothly.
Students Angel Martinez and Becca Littler addressed the board and shared details of their recent DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) trip to Orlando, Florida, April 25-29. They talked about the educational sessions they attended, as well as fun times at Disney World, Universal Studios and Clearwater Beach.
Austin Sonntag (Snyder and Associates Engineering) said they received contracts and bonds from McKinnis Roofing and Sheet Metal, which is the lowest bidder for the Adair-Casey roofing project to be dome this summer.
“Everything looks good on our end,” Sonntag said.
Sonntag was asked about the project’s expected completion date and potential penalties if the completion date isn’t met. He said the expected completion date is Aug. 18, and liquidated damages of $500 per day are in the contract.
The Adair-Casey School Board approved the contract and bonds for the elementary school roofing project.
Sauser provided an update on the revamped class schedule plan for the high school beginning in the fall. On Tuesdays through Fridays, high school students will have four 90-minute blocks of classes. The classes a student attends on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be different than those the student attends on Wednesdays and Fridays.
“In a nutshell, it’s odd and even days, 90-minute blocks on four out of the five days per week with Mondays being a day when all eight blocks meet,” Sauser said.
Sauser noted that the new schedule will result in more instructional time than the current system. He also shared the feedback he has received from teachers.
“I haven’t had any negative reactions,” Sauser said. “I haven’t had anybody that was close-minded.”
Sauser summarized the benefits he sees in the new class schedule.
“Instruction all year long. Kids have a little more time to get work done. The biggest feedback I’ve gotten is the elimination of the ‘skinny block’ was very well received. Every class is worth one credit. This will be a lot cleaner,” Sauser said.
The Guthrie Center School Board approved the schedule as presented.
Superintendent Josh Rasmussen talked about social media concerns students have encountered, and he made suggestions for parents.
“Talk to your kids about what is right and what is wrong, and all those simple things. I follow my kids on most social media so I can kind of keep track of what’s going on,” he said.
Rasmussen discussed the new cell phone policy, based on recent legislation approved by Gov. Reynolds. He said the board will discuss it further next month.
As part of the consent items, the Adair-Casey School Board approved the hiring of Shirley Chesnut and Vickie Richter as summer custodial staff. The Guthrie Center School Board approved resignations including Barb South (guidance counselor), Michelle Spack (elementary secretary), Jacob Lacey (assistant cross county coach), Kylie South (paraeducator), and Wendy Beeler (paraeducator).
The next regular meeting of the boards is set for Wednesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. at the ACGC Junior High Media Center, 3384 Indigo Ave., Adair. The public is welcome.
From the archives of The Guthrie County Vedette, May 21, 2015
GRADUATION DAY! Panorama’s Micah Haworth and Jessi Campbell celebrate while leaving the graduation ceremony Sunday.
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From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, May 25, 2005
ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY HONOREE. Cameron Little, Panora, a 2005 graduate of Panorama High School, was named a United States Achievement Academy national award winner in football. The prestigious award goes to fewer than 10% of all high school students.
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From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, May 24, 1995
A SHORT HOP. Dr. David Ahrens was at the open house for the Regional Airport Authority and decided to take the plane up despite a low ceiling and rain. It was just a short hop for Ahrens, who is emerging at the right. Dennis Flanery hops out the other side while David Bruner awaits in the plane.
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From the archives of The Guthrie County Vedette, May 23, 1985
STATE HOPEFULS. These four seniors will represent Panora-Linden at the state Class 2-A track meet at Ankeny high school Friday. Running in the medley relay will be Matt Knapp, Dean Brittenham, Steve Bell and Jeff Burchfield.
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From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, May 28, 1975
TIME’S UP. Mark Finnegan huffs and puffs his way through a final push-up during a Cub Scout physical fitness test at the city park Tuesday. Timing the number of push-ups in a minute is Alvin Hunt. Mrs. Glen Greenlee checks to make sure Mark touches the ground as others watch.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the May 22 meeting of the Guthrie County Hospital Board of Trustees, CEO Chris Stipe talked about the upcoming visit from Gov. Kim Reynolds.
“We do have quite an event planned here Wednesday. Invitation only,” Stipe said. “The governor will be signing a couple of bills that impact healthcare positively, and she wanted to do that at one of the hospitals, and we were lucky to be asked to participate.”
The governor’s event will be held at the hospital’s Sneakers Café.
Chief Financial Officer Brandon Johnson provided a monthly report. He said that nearing the end of the fiscal year, the hospital’s financial statements look good.
“If historical trends and current indicators are correct, we should be finishing the year strong,” he said. “May is also going well.”
CEO Chris Stipe pointed out that the current fiscal year status is much better than a year ago.
“From an income statement perspective, you look at where we were last year. We had a $1.5 million loss,” Stipe said. “So, it’s pretty good.”
Chief Nursing Officer Sandy Atkinson told of training that the nursing staff will begin to take called MOAB, which stands for Management of Aggressive Behavior. She said it will help staff safely deal with patients who may become a threat.
Foundation Chair Dennis Flanery discussed the upcoming fundraiser golf tournament.
“We’re taking registrations for that right now. This will be our 25th anniversary, so we’re doing some extra special stuff this year.,” he said. “It will fill up; the golf course is only allowing 40 teams.”
The next regular meeting of the trustees is set for June 26 at 4 p.m. The public is welcome.