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Upcoming events in the area

Apr 3, 2026 | Events

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

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.

Glow Parties at Panorama April 18

Panorama PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) will host two glow parties at the middle school gym on Saturday, April 18. The first is a mom and son party 2-3:30 p.m. The second is a dad and daughter party 4:30-6 p.m. Pre-registration through April 3 costs $15 per pair plus an additional $5 for any additional kids. Each event will include music, games and glow fun.

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

Bagley Breakfast April 26

The pancake breakfast fundraiser for the Bagley Firefighters was rescheduled and will be held on Sunday, April 26 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bagley fire station. Besides pancakes, the freewill donation meal will include eggs, sausage, biscuits and grave, coffee, milk and juice.

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. 

Happy birthday to you!

Apr 3, 2026 | News

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Each Friday in the Times Vedette, we share birthdays and anniversaries for the following week of people with past or present ties to the area. To submit yours, or for corrections, email rich@gctimesnews.com.

Birthdays

  • April 3: Noah Kirtley, Olivia Kister, Mike McCarty, Galen Robinson
  • April 4: Mike Ohm, Amber Frantum
  • April 5: Alicia Burke
  • April 6: Betty Niles, Bret Anderson, Beth Bilbrey, Brenda Donnelly
  • April 7: Carolyn Wilson, Scott Gonzales
  • April 8: John Benson, Cassie Beverly, Natalie Jones, Matt Whiton, Bryant Wehmeyer, Darrell Onken
  • April 9: Braydin Cooper, Scott Farley, Chad Laabs, Gregory Robinson
  • April 10: Randy Burkhardt, Cory Grow, Lisa Jones, Amy Mleynek, Dick Zieser

ACGC and Panorama prom details

Apr 3, 2026 | News

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

This year, the Panorama and ACGC Proms will both be held on the evening of Saturday, April 11.

Panorama

The Panorama Prom will begin with the Grand March at 5 p.m. at the Panorama High School auditorium. Then, at 5:30 p.m., the Photo Opportunity Hour begins at The Captain’s Pick, 5071 Cover Ridge Road. Dinner follows at 6:30 p.m. with the dance from 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Beginning at 10:45 p.m., events move to the high school with the After Prom Party scheduled until 3 a.m., hosted by the junior class parents.

ACGC

The ACGC Prom will hold the Grand March at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym. Dinner will be at 7:30 p.m., followed by the dance from 8:30-10:30 p.m. The After Prom event will be 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the high school.

Panora and Yale officially named to RAGBRAI route

Apr 3, 2026 | News

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) announced the full route information.

On July 20, riders will cycle through Exira before coming into Guthrie Center on Highway 44 for the overnight stay. On July 21, riders will roll into Panora on Highway 44, then head north on Highway 4, then east into Yale. Departing Yale, riders will head east on Highway F25 as they traverse toward Perry, on the way to the overnight in Boone. Full route details can be seen at www.ragbrai.com

Yester Years

Apr 3, 2026 | Yester Years

10 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie County Vedette, April 7, 2016

NO FOOLING. Linda Wendl, president of Women For Panora’s Future, welcomes guests to the club’s April Fool’s Day dinner.

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20 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, April 5, 2006

ACTING UP. Standing on a chair, Jared Calvert acts the part of a harpy eagle during state Odyssey of the Mind competition at Guthrie Center Saturday. Other elementary team members who resolved the problem, The Jungle Bloke, are, from left, Ryan Black, who was a black jaguar; Therese Frels; Eddie Halbur; and Madison Crowder.

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30 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, April 3, 1996

SING ALONG. An elementary version of karaoke kept things lively in the gymnasium. Elementary marshal Jolene Sheeder (school secretary) harmonizes with Julie Larson, left, April Buttler, center, and Bethany Benton.

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40 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie County Vedette, April 3, 1986

THIS PICTURE TELLS THE STORY. It’s the second story at Panora’s newest business, Brill’s Country Inn, where carpenters are replacing windows.

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50 years ago

From the archives of The Guthrie Center Times, April 7, 1976

IT’S SPRING. Birds aren’t the only ones that build in trees in the spring. Craig Schultz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Schultz, sits atop his roost in a favorite tree.