By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Panorama High School’s football field will be the site of a first-time event in the area. It will be a flag football tournament in which youth will team up with deputies from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s department. The idea behind the event is not only to create a fundraiser for future outreach programs but also to provide an opportunity for local youth to have a positive experience with law enforcement.

The cost to participate is $50 per youth. Eligible students are those entering fifth or sixth grade in a school district within Guthrie County. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Registration is limited to 80 youths.

Those interested should hurry, because the registration deadline is today, July 24. Registration can be done via the Facebook page of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s department, or by visiting the Sheriff’s office at the courthouse.

Photos by Betty Cooper | Special to the Times Vedette

After the overnight stay in Guthrie Center on Monday, RAGBRAI cyclists made their way through Panora and then Yale on their way to Boone. These images capture some of the celebration while riders were in Yale.   

Jim Petersen, John Tews, Dennis Hoover, The New Homestead Administrator Hilaree Stringham, Charlie Owen and Gary Rees.

Special to the Times Vedette

In May, The New Homestead teamed up with the ACGC FFA and Guthrie County Cattlemen for an annual community service event. The drive-thru event offered grilled hamburgers, chips and cookies for a freewill offering. Each year, the funds raised are presented to a different group in the community. This year, proceeds were raised for the Omar B. Shearer American Legion, Post No. 124. A check was recently presented to Legion members in the amount of $650.

Special to the Times Vedette

In 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation will award up to $350 million in Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) grants to support critical infrastructure projects across the country. CHBP is a nationally competitive grant program that provides funding for transportation bridge infrastructure.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), in partnership with 20-plus counties and cities, is applying to receive funding to rebuild 32 bridges in poor condition across the state. One structure identified for this funding is the South Street bridge in Panora that spans the Middle Raccoon River by Lenon Mill Park. This bridge is more than 60 years old and is in need of a full replacement to improve safety, secure the connection between Panora, rural residents and recreational traffic, provide easier access for agricultural-related movement, and allow for more sustainable economic growth for both the city and the county.

Administrators and elected officials for the City of Panora and Guthrie County are asking residents to tell the Iowa DOT how they use the bridge and provide their thoughts on a potentially wider, safer structure that can carry heavier loads. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.