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Panorama places 9th at Bob Clark Relays

May 2, 2025 | Sports

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

The Panorama boys track and field team scored 42 points at the Bob Clark Relays in Audubon on Tuesday, April 29. ACGC won the event with 114. Silver medals were earned by Syler Shaffer in the 400-meter hurdles and Noah Poldberg in the 3,200-meter run. Poldberg also won a bronze medal in the 1600-meter run. Cristian Monrroy-Nunez narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the shot put, placing fourth. The distance medley team of Hunter Kempf, Braden Bahrenfuss, Connor Deardorff and Blake Schwartz placed fourth in the distance medley.

FULL PANORAMA RESULTS

  • 100-meter dash: Jaysen Stagg, 22nd in 13.18
    Court Vogel, 25th in 13.76
  • 110-meter hurdles: Syler Shaffer, seventh in 17.06
    Austin Wagner, ninth in 17.98
  • 200-meter dash: Hunter Kempf, 12th in 24.46
    Jaysen Stagg, 25th in 27.48
  • 400-meter dash: Gabe Wagner, ninth in 57.37
    Aden Rochholz, 10th in 57.93
  • 400-meter hurdles: Syler Shaffer, second in 57.41
    Austin Wagner, eighth in 1:05.85
  • 800-meter run: Bladyn Wearmouth, 10th in 2:21.66
    Bennet Allen, 17th in 2:36.64
  • 1,600-meter run: Noah Poldberg, third in 4:52.21
    Zach Hayden, ninth in 5:34.77
  • 3,200-meter run: Noah Poldberg, second in 10:48.47
  • Discus: Cristian Monrroy-Nunez, eighth throwing 111-10
    Bladyn Wearmouth, 12th throwing 102-06
  • Long jump: Cruz Crandall, 10th jumping 17-07
    Gabe Wagner, 16th jumping 16-05
  • Shot put: Cristian Monrroy-Nunez, fourth throwing 44-03
    Connor Deardorff, 25th throwing 36-06
  • 800-meter sprint medley: Corbin Love, Braden Bahrenfuss, Hunter Kempf and Cruz Crandall, ninth in 1:45.09
  • 4×100-meter relay: Connor Love, Braden Bahrenfuss, Gabe Wagner and Hunter Kempf, sixth in 47.04
  • 4×200-meter relay: Connor Love, Cruz Stanley, Zach Hayden and Braden Bahrenfuss, ninth in 1:42.70
  • 4×400-meter relay: Corbin Deardorff, Cruz Crandall, Blake Schwartz and Syler Shaffer, ninth in 3:56.74
  • 4×800-meter relay: Cruz Stanley, Aden Rochholz, Bladyn Wearmouth and Zach Hayden, sixth in 9:40.98
  • Distance medley: Hunter Kempf, Braden Bahrenfuss, Corbin Deardorff and Blake Schwartz, fourth in 3:56.90

Iowa business leaders launch BOSS 2025 to help small businesses keep great employees

May 2, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

Iowa business owners and community leaders are teaming up to launch the first-ever Business Owner Summer Summit (BOSS 2025), a two-day event focused on one of the most pressing challenges facing small businesses today: employee retention.

Set for June 5-6 at The Port on Lake Panorama, BOSS 2025 brings together business owners, HR professionals and community-minded entrepreneurs for two days of expert-led sessions, peer panels and lakeside networking — all designed to equip small and midsize businesses with tools to build strong teams and keep top talent.

A summit designed for small- and mid-sized employers

“Small businesses across Iowa are struggling with turnover, disengagement and workforce instability,” Mitch Johnk, lead organizer of the event, says. “BOSS 2025 is designed to give employers real-world strategies that go beyond flashy benefits and surface-level solutions.”

Headlining speakers

The speaker lineup includes several high-profile leaders from across Iowa:

Jamie Pollard, Iowa State University’s athletic director, will deliver a keynote on how organizational culture and leadership drive retention, drawing parallels between keeping top athletes and top employees.

Drew Harden, CEO of Blue Compass and author of “Retain,” will share five proven strategies for building a company culture that “makes Mondays feel like Fridays.”

Sinikka Waugh, founder of Your Clear Next Step, will present on empowering “change makers” within organizations — those team members who help businesses thrive through transformation and uncertainty.

Lance Farrell, founder of Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping, will close the event with a motivational session on leading through growth and scaling with intention.

Additional sessions will cover executive benefit design, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), workplace financial wellness and real-world insights from a panel of Iowa business owners who have faced retention struggles firsthand.

Not just a conference — an experience

Attendees will enjoy more than just business insights. BOSS 2025 includes lunch and happy hour networking, a live music social at Twin Vines Winery, and optional “stay-and-play” activities on Friday, including golf, lake tours, shopping and lakeside yoga.

“We intentionally chose Lake Panorama as the venue because it allows people to relax, connect, and think differently about how they lead their businesses,” Ellen Betzer, one of the event organizers, says.

How to attend

The event is open to business owners, HR professionals and organizational leaders from across Iowa. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited to 125 attendees.

Registration and full schedule details are available at https://bossiowa.com

About BOSS

The Business Owner Summer Summit (BOSS) is a grassroots event created by Iowa business owners for Iowa business owners. Its mission is to empower local leaders with practical strategies to retain talent, build resilient teams, and foster business growth that benefits communities across the state.

Photos from ACGC performance of ‘The Sound of Music’ 

May 2, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

ACGC students offered three performances of the musical “The Sound of Music” at ACGC High School on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26. Photos courtesy of Camille Ellis with Camelot Portrait Design. 

 

Full cast photo, including director Kelsey Dinkla, the orchestra pit, all actors, and the lighting crew.

The Von Trapp family singing at the festival. Back row, left to right: Emmarae Ellis, Jude Fever, Stetson Ellis, Ava Campbell, and Rohnin Grasty. Front row, left to right: Stella Fever, Lilly Policky, Millie Knutter, and Ilana Baumert.

Emmarae Ellis as Maria, and Ava Campbell as Liesl Von Trapp, singing “Sixteen Going on Seventeen (reprise)”

The wedding scene from the Sound of Music. Left to right: Stella Fever, Millie Knutter, Lilly Policky, Ilana Baumert, Ava Campbell, Emmarae Ellis, Rohnin Grasty, Stetson Ellis, Jude Fever, Megan Underwood, Natalie Dinkla, and Cadence Petersen.

Emmarae Ellis as Maria, and Rohnin Grasty as Captain Von Trapp, singing “An Ordinary Couple.”

Rohnin Grasty as Captain Von Trapp, and Emmarae Ellis as Maria, dancing the landler.

The Von Trapp children sing “The Sound of Music” Left to right: Jude Fever, Setson Ellis, Millie Knutter, Ava Campbell, Stella Fever, Lilly Policky, and Ilana Baumert.

Captain Von Trapp and Maria with the Von Trapp children. Left to right: Rohnin Grasty, Ava Campbell, Stetson Ellis, Ilana Baumert, Jude Fever, Lilly Policky, Millie Knutter, Stella Fever, and Emmarae Ellis.

Rohnin Grasty as Captain Von Trapp, Carter Dinkla as Max Detweiler, and Shyann Young as Frau Schraeder. Singing the song: “How Can Love Survive?”

Rohnin Grasty as Captain Von Trapp and Shyann Young as Frau Schraeder

Fraulein Maria singing “The Lonely Goatherd” with the Von Trapp children. Back row, left to right: Stetson Ellis as Friedrich Von Trapp, Jude Fever as Kurt Von Trapp, and Ilana Baumert as Louisa Von Trapp. Middle row, left to right: Millie Knutter as Marta Von Trapp, Stella Fever as Gretl Von Trapp, and Lilly Policky as Brigitta Von Trapp. Front row, kneeling, left to right: Emmarae Ellis as Fraulein Maria and Ava Campbell as Liesl Von Trapp.

Ava Campbell as Liesl Von Trapp and Taytum Bates as Rolf Gruber, singing “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”

Fraulein Maria singing “Do Re Mi” with the Von Trapp children. Standing (left to right): Ava Campbell as Liesl Von Trapp, Stetson Ellis as Friedrich Von Trapp, Lilly Policky as Brigitta Von Trapp, Millie Knutter as Marta Von Trapp, Jude Fever as Kurt Von Trapp, Ilana Baumert as Louisa Von Trapp.Seated (left to right): Stella Fever as Gretl Von Trapp, and Emmarae Ellis as Fraulein Maria.

Natalie Dinkla, Allison Drake, Megan Underwood, Cadence Petersen (Natalie Dinkla playing the part of Sister Sophia, Allison Drake as Mother Abbass, Megan Underwood as Sister Margaretta, and Cadence Petersen as Sister Berthe.) In this scene they were singing “How do you solve a problem like a Maria?”

Emmarae Ellis in the lead role of Maria in the Sound of Music musical at ACGC High School. Show dates were April 25, 26 and 27.

Rain Songs

May 2, 2025 | Mailbag

Shane, I always enjoy your column. Lots of great thoughts and topics. You asked about other rain songs, and I came up with about 10. Several years ago, during one of our droughts, a local radio station suggested making a list of rain songs. There were many that came to mind. The one they played a lot was called “Every Time You Go Outside I Hope it Rains.” It’s supposed to be “a good break-up song” but seemed appropriate during a drought. Since I’m considerably older than you, some  of these are probably “oldies” that may be before your time, but they’re some of my favorites. Here they are:

  • “Don’t Rain on My Parade” – Barbra Streisand
  • “Rainy Night in Georgia” – Brook Benton
  • “Rhythm of the Rain” – The Cascades
  • “Rainy Days & Mondays” – The Carpenters
  • “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain” – Willie Nelson
  • “Bring on the Rain” – JoDee Messina
  • “Rain is a Good Thing” – Luke Bryan (this was actually played during an outdoor wedding we attended of a couple who were both from farm families)
  • “Rain on the Roof”  – Lovin’ Spoonful (probably my favorite rain song – I love the sound effects that sound like thunder)
  • And, finally there is actually a song titled “Songs about Rain” by Gary Allan

Happy listening!

Becky Simpson

Community Impact Day moved to May 7

May 2, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

Community Impact Day, an annual initiative designed to bring businesses and residents together for a day of giving back, support and transformation, was originally scheduled for Panora on Wednesday, April 30. The event has been postponed to Wednesday, May 7.

“Community Impact Day is more than just a day of service. It’s our Chamber’s way of physically showing our commitment to making Panora a better place to live, work, play and stay,” Panora Chamber Coordinator Erica Matthies said.

The Panora Chamber of Commerce is teaming with Panorama Community Schools to complete projects. Residents and local Chamber businesses can submit project needs, which may include projects like elderly assistance with flowerbeds, business exterior painting, single-mom landscaping, parks and rec maintenance, etc.

“By coming together and investing our time and resources, we’re not only improving our community but also strengthening the bonds between businesses and residents,” Matthies said.