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PAWS captures state championship with dominant performance

Mar 26, 2026 | Sports

Special to the Times Vedette

The Perry Area Winter Swim Team (PAWS) made waves this season, showing dedication, teamwork and spirit, according to head coach Dana Stein.

“From practices to meets, every swimmer brought his or her best effort and defined the team’s success,” Stein said.

Throughout the season, the team demonstrated steady improvement, with many athletes achieving personal bests and stepping up in key moments.

“Whether it was a close relay finish or a strong individual performance, the swimmers consistently supported one another, creating an environment built on encouragement and resilience,” Stein said.

Stein said he pushed his athletes to reach their full potential while fostering a love for the sport. His commitment and guidance helped shape not only stronger swimmers but also more confident individuals.

The winter swim team made history this season, capping off months of work and dedication by becoming state champions at the state meet.

On March 14, the team competed in Des Moines at the Wellmark YMCA pool for the Greater Iowa Swim League State Meet. PAWS is made up of swimmers from multiple communities, including Perry, Guthrie, Panora, Jefferson, Adel and Granger. The team is coached by Stein and assistant coach Weston Lucht.

“We have worked really hard to make this one team,” Stein said.

The season began Nov. 1. Of the 115 swimmers, more than 40 also compete for the Guthrie County Swim Team. More than 70 swimmers qualified for the state meet — more than 60% of the team.

PAWS brought 64 swimmers to the state meet, including 25 from the Guthrie County Swim Team. Stein said it was a long season, but the team came together to compete with many of the top swimmers and teams across the state. PAWS won the state meet by nearly 300 points over second-place Spencer.

“We had one new state meet record in the 13-14 boys 400 IM by Dexter Moe,” Stein said. “The team swam like the champions they are.”

Stein has worked with and developed these swimmers for the past seven years.

“It has been amazing to see them grow as swimmers and as individuals,” he said. “I am already looking forward to next season.”

State meet team scores:

  • Perry Area Winter Swim Team (PAWS): 2,506 points
  • Spencer: 2,216
  • Carroll Aquatic Swim Team (CAST): 2,103
  • BAWST: 1,166.5
  • Denison: 1,141.5
  • Harlan: 1,092
  • Lifetime: 939
  • SEA: 936
  • Nishna Valley YMCA: 842
  • East Des Moines: 788
  • Clarinda: 754.5
  • Indianola: 745.5
  • Grinnell: 667
  • Knoxville: 638
  • Estherville: 526
  • Newton: 509
  • Trident: 443
  • Emmetsburg: 264
  • Manning: 188

Guthrie County swimmers who participated in the state meet:

Jaetlyn Glade, Fran Brelsford, Jessa Hellman, Malia Jacobsen, Addy Kinman, Everly Knorr, Kennedy Knorr, Lyla Martinson, Cora Steffensen, Eva Steffensen, Isabella Stein, Sophia Stein, Cambree Wolfe, Isaac Armbrecht, Graham Clark, Dayton Crawley, Deacan Crawley, Luke Herron, Lyle Jacobsen, Landon Martinson, Brylon Redfern, Cooper Strehle, Drake Strehle, Cordell Wolfe and Cayla Wolfe.

PAWS will compete in the Midwest Regional Meet on March 28-29, where the team will face competitors from across the central United States.

Drake and Cooper Strehle

Cooper Strehle

Drake Strehle

Holy Week services 

Mar 26, 2026 | Events

Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter are coming up soon. Here is a listing of some services in the area. To add yours, email rich@gctimesnews.com

Saturday, March 28

  • Palm Sunday and Passion of the Lord service, 4:30 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 216 All Saints Drive, Stuart

Sunday, March 29

  • Palm Sunday and Passion of the Lord service, 8 a.m. at St. John Catholic, 804 Fifth St., Adair
  • Palm Sunday and Passion of the Lord service, 10 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 216 All Saints Drive, Stuart
  • Everyone is invited to First Christian Church Fellowship Hall (105 North Fourth St., Guthrie Center) for an agape charcuterie feast and concert by Tiffany and Tucker Rullestad at 2 p.m.

Monday, March 30

  • Saint Cecilia Catholic Church (220 North First St., Panora) will offer a light supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by service at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 31

  • First Christian Church (102 East Church St., Panora) will offer a light supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by service at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 1

  • Panora United Methodist Church (119 East Main St., Panora) will offer a light supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by service at 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 2

  • Panora Brethren and Hope Lutheran Churches will offer a light supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by service at 7 p.m. at Church of the Brethren (2946 200th Road, Panora).
  • Thursday, April 2, 4 p.m. at St. John Catholic Church, 804 Fifth St., Adair
  • Thursday, April 2, 6 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 216 All Saints Drive, Stuart
  • Immanuel Lutheran Church (713 North 12th, Guthrie Center) will offer service at 7 p.m.
  • Catholic Mass at 7 p.m. at Saint Cecilia Church in Panora.

Good Friday, April 3

  • Catholic Mass at 3 p.m. at Saint Cecilia in Panora
  • Catholic Mass at 7 p.m. at Saint Mary in Guthrie Center
  • Faith Bible Church (2096 Highway 4, Panora) will offer a service only at 7 p.m.
  • John Catholic Church, 804 Fifth St., Adair, 4 p.m.
  • All Saints Catholic Church, 216 All Saints Drive, Stuart, 6 p.m.
  • Immanuel Lutheran Church (713 North 12th, Guthrie Center) 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 4

  • Catholic Mass at 8 p.m. at Saint Patrick in Bayard
  • All Saints Catholic Church, 216 All Saints Drive, Stuart, 8:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 5

  • John Catholic Church, 804 Fifth St., Adair 8 a.m.
  • All Saints Catholic Church, 216 All Saints Drive, Stuart, 10 a.m.
  • Easter Mass at Saint Cecilia at 8 a.m. in Panora
  • Easter Mass at Saint Mary at 9:30 a.m. in Guthrie Center
  • Panora United Methodist Church (119 East Main St., Panora) service at 9:30 a.m.

Upcoming events in the area

Mar 26, 2026 | Events

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Legion Bingo March 28

American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 124 will hold Saturday bingo March 28 at the Guthrie Center Activity Center, 209 State St. A freewill donation dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with bingo starting at 7 p.m.

Pheasants/Quail banquet March 28

The Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever annual banquet will be held Saturday, March 28 at the Yale Community Building. Doors open at 5 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, contact Cindy Kisting at 515-339-5226 or Dan Brubaker at 515-238-7875.

STEM Fest March 28

Guthrie County Extension and Outreach will hold STEM Fest 2026 on Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to noon at Panorama Elementary School, 401 Panther Drive. The event is targeted to children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Vietnam vets’ event in Panora March 29

On Sunday, March 29, at 4 p.m., Hospice of the Midwest will host an event for Vietnam veterans at the Panorama High School auditorium, 701 W. Main St. There will be a pinning ceremony, presentation and refreshments. For questions or to RSVP, call or text Joey Weber at 515-230-3342.

Handbags and Bingo April 10

The Guthrie County Hospital Foundation’s annual “Handbags and Bingo” event will be held Friday, April 10, at the Fairgrounds Event Center. Social hour begins at 4:45 p.m., and dinner is at 5:45 p.m., followed by bingo and games. Tickets can be purchased on the hospital’s website.

Legislative coffee April 11

State Sen. Jesse Green and State Rep. Carter Nordman welcome the public to their upcoming legislative coffee event to voice concerns and hear legislative updates. The event will be April 11 from 9-10 a.m. at Guthrie County Farm Bureau, 203 N. Fourth St. in Guthrie Center.

Bridal Show in Stuart April 19

Forever in Love Bridal Show will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 at the Saints Center, 320 North Fremont St., Stuart. General admission tickets are free. VIP tickets cost $10.70 and include a glass of champagne and front row seating. Tickets can be claimed at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forever-in-love-bridal-show-tickets-1979112804675?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Lake Panorama Fin and Feather Banquet May 9

The 2026 Lake Panorama Fin and Feather fundraising banquet will be Saturday, May 9 at the Lake Panorama National clubhouse with social hour beginning at 5 p.m. A dinner plus silent and live auctions will follow at 6 p.m. All ages are welcome. Funds raised at the banquet, plus annual memberships and direct donations, are used to stock fish in Lake Panorama. The group also helps improve fish habitat and sponsors an annual fishing derby for children during Panorama Days.

Dinner tickets are $50 each, with children 12 and younger $25. Another option is to join the Big Skipper Club at a cost of $150. This covers two dinner tickets, Big Skipper raffle ticket and an annual family membership. The cost of just an annual family membership is $50.

Supporters can either mail a check or register online with a credit card or PayPal account at the group’s website: http://panoramafinandfeather.com/banquet/ 

WSO Home Tour features 5 Lake Panorama locations

The Women’s Service Organization (WSO) annual fundraising home tour for 2026 is Friday, June 5. Five Lake Panorama homes will be featured, with three on the west side of the lake and two on the east side. Tickets are $30, and include both the tour and lunch at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort, 5071 Clover Ridge Road. Tickets will be available beginning May 1, and can be reserved by calling or texting Toni Wright at 641-757-0886 or Sue Merryman at 641-751-5956. There will be a maximum of 260 tickets available, and organizers say they expect to sell out quickly.

Send your event information to rich@gctimesnews.com.

Beidelman marks 50 years in Legion

Mar 26, 2026 | News

Lynn Zajicek, Dave Beidelman and Randy Griffin

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

At a recent meeting of the Panora American Legion (Post 372), Dave Beidelman was honored for reaching the 50-year milestone as a Legion member.

Attorney General Brenna Bird visits daycare center in Guthrie County

Mar 26, 2026 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

On Friday, March 20, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird visited Panorama Daycare Center in Panora.

Attorney General Bird toured the facility alongside owner and director Christine Litwiller, who discussed the process of purchasing and renovating the property into a space designed to safely and effectively serve children and families in Panora and surrounding communities. The center offers classes for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Litwiller also highlighted the procedures and rules they follow to maintain a safe environment, including a no-cell phone policy for staff to ensure children receive the attention they need.

Attorney General Bird works in each of Iowa’s 99 counties every year — meeting with law enforcement officers, county attorneys and other local leaders.