Special to the Times Vedette

Join Whiterock Conservancy at the Historic Garst Farm Ponds, 1390 Highway 141 in Coon Rapids, for a morning of fishing on Sunday, May 25 from  9 a.m. to noon. Each family can pick up one container of bait at the Garst Farmhouse Ponds. Try your hand at catching bluegill, bass, catfish and walleye. Find your spot around the pond to start fishing. Prizes will be awarded for five categories at the end of the event. Anglers of all ages are welcome. Ages 16 or older require a fishing license. Contact Guest Services at guestinfo@whiterockconservancy.org or 712-790-8221 ext. 1 with any questions or for more information.

Classic cars of all sorts show up at Scoop the Loop in Stuart.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On Saturday, May 17, the first “Scoop the Loop” car show of the year will be held in downtown Stuart from 3-8 p.m. Currently, the weather forecast shows “Chamber of Commerce” weather for Saturday afternoon and evening, with a high around 70 degrees and plenty of sunshine. So, whether you have a classic car or not, Scoop the Loop is the place for a nostalgic good time Saturday.

The next Scoop the Loop is set for Sept. 13.

Special to the Times Vedette

On Wednesday, May 14, Sunshine Club members met at the home of Linda Thompson with eight members attending for an 11 a.m. luncheon and meeting. Each member brought a salad or side dish.

President, Janine Frettim opened the meeting with roll call being, “What is your favorite tree?” Lots of different trees were mentioned.

The minutes were read, and the treasurer’s report was given. Birthdays and anniversaries were mentioned. Pat returned money that wasn’t used at the Care Center Bingo event. Linda Thompson had an idea of having an ethnic luncheon sometime where each member would bring a dish that would be consistent with that heritage.

Next month’s meeting will be with Gina Lloyd at her home at 1 p.m.

Meeting was adjourned, and lunch was served with many delicious salads and a couple pies. Cards were played the remainder of the afternoon.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Panorama Senior Awards Night was held at 6 p.m. on May 14 at the Panorama Secondary School Auditorium. Principal Thad Stanley congratulated the students and handed out awards to each recipient. School Counselor Chris Webner announced. 

A total of 38 graduates have completed college coursework with DMACC, ICCC and WITCC while attending Panorama High School. Students have the opportunity to complete college courses, largely through DMACC during high school, with instruction from Panorama High School staff (Deb Wooldridge , Josh Beardsley, Steve Hameister, Steve Rude and Greg Thompson), by traveling to a college campus site or taking courses through the internet. DMACC is awarding 706 credits to the class of 2025, and, additionally, four students took WITCC’s 5 credit Calculus course with Ms. Jenelle Jarnagin, pushing the earned college credits to 726. As a whole, this class completed 279 college courses.

For each student, a college credit has a value relative to the college or university of his or her choice. Costs range between $185, DMACC’s per credit fee this school year, to more than $1,000 per credit at many private colleges in Iowa. Most college courses are 3 credits each, and the calculus course Ms. Jarnagin tutors earns 5 credits. Textbooks are provided to the students at the college’s cost through web resources or loaned books.

The following eight students took one or more courses for up to 11 college credits:

1. Andrew Jonathon Draper
2. Bridgette Ewing
3. Mason Halling
4. Emmett King
5. Maddelyn Richey (Lutz)
6. Sawyer Simmons
7. Jaysen Stagg
8. Kylee Solorzano

The following 16 students completed the equivalent of one semester or more of college coursework (12-23 credits):

1. Reilan Boecker
2. Ruanne Brinker
3. Lilly Gilge
4. Emme Hardisty
5. Cayden Iredale
6. Will Knapp
7. Kelsey Laabs
8. Aubrey Lincoln
9. Connor Love
10. Madison Mincy
11. Hannah Nichols
12. Afton Poldberg
13. Jolynne Roeder
14. Hanna Smith
15. Elizabeth Snyder
16. Arilyan Steenblock

The following 12 students completed enough courses to equal one year of college (24-35 credits):

1. Madlyn Carstens
2. Joel Cooper
3. Gabriella Gaffney
4. Nathan Geckler
5. Alexander Hammerstrom
6. Baylyn Herring
7. Cooper Jordan
8. Landon Kirtley
9. Noah Poldberg
10. Faith Recker
11. Gabriel Wagner
12. Braylunn Wearmouth

Two graduates earned three semesters worth, or a year and a half of college (36-47 credits):

1. Elijah Hammerstrom
2. Gage Thorn

The following families coordinate their local college financial assistance through Bump and Bump Law to Panorama High School graduates and alumni annually ($143,000 this year):

• Bruce and Naomi Barks Scholarship – awarding $9,000
• Dean R. Betts Scholarship Trust – awarding $20,000
• Daisy L. Burchfield Trust – awarding $30,000
• Rachel L. Hensal Scholarship Trust Awards – awarding $20,000 1
• Bessie F. Isenhart Scholarship Trust Awards – $12,000
• Paul and Eleanor Little Scholarship Foundation Awards – $20,000
• Wirt-Mispel Scholarship – $12,000
• 36 alumni receiving these monies this year:
• Bruce and Naomi Barks Scholarship – $2,500 to Zoey Hambleton and $1,500 to Avery Bahrenfuss
• Dean R. Betts Scholarship Trust – $2,000 to Sarah Westergaard and Keira Simmons, $1,200 to Brady Stauffer, Madison Hummel, Daniel Nordquist, Braylon Dawes, Klayton Bremmer, $750 to Brooke Halterman, Georgia Sheehy, Avery Sebern, Gryffin Burchfield, Sarah Kastner, Hallie Arganbright, $500 to Avery Bahrenfuss
• Daisy L. Burchfield Trust – $1,200 to Jazmyn Sellers, Ethan Olsen, Dylan Ford, Riley Gibson, Evelyn Greenlee, Bailey Beckman, Tyme Boettcher, Leah Fett, Hannah Hardisty, Haley Malloy, Donivin Delp, Aliyah Fortner, Nile Lindstrom, Kolten Trent, Ella Waddle, Hannah Malloy, Dane Kemble, Avery Norman, Ashton Stauffer, Grace Webner, Maddox Hammerstrom, Gwen Steffen, Parker Nunn, Lindsey Meyer, Ryan Cogil
• Wirt-Mispel Scholarship – $2,000 to Mia Waddle, Weston Ploeger, Kaitlin Kent, Joseph Perrigo, Payton Beckman

The 2025 Graduates Awards were read aloud per graduate in alphabetic order:

1. Madelyn Carstens – Panorama Alumni $1,500, Farmers State Bank $500, Paul & Eleanor Little Scholarship $3000
2. Miguel Chavez Chavez – 2025 Panorama Art Award
3. Juana Chavez Chavez – 2025 Panorama Art Award
4. Laine Christe – Panorama Alumni Scholarship $1,500, Panora Masonic Lodge $1,000, Guthrie County Youth Foundation $500, Bessie Isenhart Scholarship $2,000, First Christian Church $300, Panorama Tire $500, 2025 Panorama Art Award
5. Joel Cooper – Panorama Alumni Scholarship $1500, Panora Chamber $500, Panther Pride Service Award (Pin), Farmers State Bank $500, Buena Vista Arch Scholarship $25,000, Build Up Iowa Scholarship $2,000, Visit Grant $1000, Iowa Tuition Grant $7,500, Panorama Math Award, Bessie Isenhart Scholarship $2,000, Women For Panora’s Future $500, Panorama Booster Club $1,000, Panora Lions Club $500
6. Bridgette Ewing – Dean Betts Scholarship $1,000, 2025 Panorama Art Award
7. Gabrielle Gaffney – McCartney & Guthrie County Youth Foundation $350, Bessie Isenhart Scholarship $2,000
8. Lily Gilge – Panorama Art Award
9. Alexander Hammerstrom – Rachel Hensal Scholarship $2,500
10. Elijah Hammerstrom – Rachel Hensal Scholarship $2,500
11. Emme Hardisty – Panorama Alumni $1,500, Trudy Straub Scholarship $500, Iowa Trust & Savings $500, National School Choral Award, Paul & Eleanor Little Scholarship $2,500, 2025 Panorama Art Award
12. Baylyn Herring – First Friday Breakfast Club $3,000, Aureon Scholarship (Panora Fiber) $1,000, Guthrie County Democrats $500, Paul & Eleanor Little Scholarship $3,000, GCH Auxiliary Scholarship $500, Women for Panora’s Future $500, 2025 John Philip Sousa Award
13. Cayden Iredale – Dean Betts Scholarship $1,000
14. Cooper Jordan – Panorama Math Award, Rachel Hensal Scholarship $2,500
15. Landon Kirtley – Panorama Alumni $1,500, Panora Chamber $500, Panther Pride Service Award (Pin), Beverly Wine Arganbright Scholarship $1,000, Panorama Math Award, Rachel Hensal Scholarship $2,500, Life Service Scholarship $240
16. Will Knapp – Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship, Federal Tuition Assistance, GI Bill, GI Bill Kicker
17. Kelsey Laabs – Governor’s Scholar Award, Paul & Eleanor Little Scholarship $3,000, Women for Panora’s Future $500, 2025 PHS Science Dept Award, 2025 PHS Art Award, IHSAA Bernie Saggau Award, American Citizen Award
18. Aubrey Lincon – Jen Hewitt Memorial Scholarship $350, Rachel Hensal Scholarship $2,500, 2025 PHS Art Award
19. Devon McMunn – Fred Waring Choral Award
20. Madison Mincy – Dean Betts Scholarship $1,000
21. Cristian Monrroy Nunez – DMACC Blue Cord Honor – Culinary arts
22. Hannah Nichols – Rachel Hensal Scholarship $1,000
23. Afton Poldberg – DMACC Blue Cord Honor – Culinary arts
24. Noah Poldberg – Paul & Eleanor Little Scholarship $3,000
25. Faith Recker – McCartney & Guthrie County Youth Foundation Scholarship $350, Panorama Math Award, DMACC Blue Honor Cord for CNA Program, Bessie Isenhart Scholarship $2,000, Kip Janvrin Award for Multi-Sport Athlete
26. Maddelyn Lutz (Richey) – Panorama Alumni $1,500, Bessie Isenhart Scholarship $2,000, PEA Renewable $500 for student studying education, DMACC Blue Cord Honor – CNA Certification, LifeServ Blood Donor award
27. Jolynne Roeder – Bessie Isenhart Scholarship $2,000
28. Sawyer Simmons – Panorama Alumni $1,500, Farmers State Bank $500, Guthrie County Youth Foundation $400, Dean Betts Scholarship $1,000, Guthrie Co. Farm Bureau $250
29. Hanna Smith – Dean Betts Scholarship $1,000, LifeServ Blood Donor award
30. Elizabeth Snyder – Rachel Hensal Scholarship $2,500
31. Kylee Solorzano – YJB TTT $500
32. Jason Stagg – Panorama HS 2025 Drama Student
33. Arilyan Steenblock – P.E.O. $500 up to maximum of $1,000, Guthrie County REC $1,000, Panorama Alumni $1,500, Panther Pride Service Award (Pin), Panora Fiber $1,000, Iowa Farm Bureau (Federation District 4) $2,500 renewable up to $10,000 total, Guthrie County Farm Bureau $250, Women’s Service Organization $500, Guthrie County Youth Foundation $350, Association of Independent Business Women $500, Paul & Eleanor Little Scholarship $3,000, First Christian Church $300, Women for Panora’s Future $500, Creighton University Award $20,000 per year with a total of $80,000, Creighton Labaj Award $1,000, Panorama Booster Club $500, Guthrie County Hospital Foundation $500, 2025 PHS Spanish Award
34. Gage Thorn – Iowa Trust & Savings $500, Panorama Math Award, DMACC Blue Honor Cord, Paul & Eleanor Little Scholarship $3,000, First Christian Church $300 35. Gabe Wagner – Bruce & Naomi Barks Scholarship $5,000, Panther Pride Service Award Pin, Kip Janvrin Award for multi-sport athlete 36. Braylunn Wearmouth – DMACC Blue Honor Cord, Rachel Hensal Scholarship $2,500

Panorama High School Graduate 2025 Department Awards

• Agriculture – Laine Christe, Sawyer Simmons
• Art – Miguel Chavez Chavez, Juana Chavez Chavez, Laine Christe, Bridgette Ewing, Lily Gilge, Emme Hardisty, Kelsey Laabs, Aubrey Lincoln
• Instrumental – Baylyn Herring
• Choral – Emme Hardisty, Devon McMunn
• Drama – Jason Stagg
• Mathematics – Joel Cooper, Cooper Jordan, Landon Kirtley, Faith Recker, Gage Thorn
• Science – Kelsey Laabs
• Social Studies – Nathan Geckler
• Spanish – Arilyan Steenblock
• Speech – Emme Hardisty (Guthrie County State Bank’s Trudy Straub scholarship)
• Panther Pride Service: Joel Cooper, Landon Kirtley, Arilyan Steenblock, Gabe Wagner
• Kip Janvrin Student-Athlete: Faith Recker and Gabe Wagner

The baccalaureate ceremony followed the awards presentations.

Photos by Betty Cooper

Click images to enlarge.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Panora Chamber of Commerce has recognized an outstanding member of the Panora/Lake Panorama community since 1989. The year 2020 was the only year the recognition did not take place.

Criteria for Citizen of the Year:

• Any service performed for the betterment of Panora that the nominator deems worthy.
• No restrictions on the number of years a person can be nominated.
• Winners cannot be considered again for 10 years.
• Nominees must be a citizen of Panora or Lake Panorama.
• Nominees must be nominated in writing, signed by the nominator.

Paid city employees are eligible, but their nomination must not be for their regular duties.

The following statement applies to all nominees: Anyone who works for the promotion and betterment of our community rather than excellence in their profession or job.

Nominations must be received by Friday, July 11, 2025. Mail nomination letters to the Panora Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 73, Panora, IA 50216. 

The 2025 Citizen of the Year will be announced during Panorama Days, Saturday, Aug. 2 after the parade in the gazebo.