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Upcoming events in the area

Sep 4, 2026 | Events

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Guthrie County Fair Sept. 3-7

The 2026 Guthrie County Fair will be held Sept. 3-7 at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds in Guthrie Center. The Guthrie County Fair has been an established venue since 1858. Located on the west edge of Guthrie Center, the fairground is centrally located in the county. The fair is held annually over Labor Day weekend, providing a long weekend of fun and family-oriented events. See details at www.guthriecountyfair.com.

Guthrie Center farmers market canceled Sept. 5

Because of the ongoing Guthrie County Fair, and the fair parade Saturday morning, there will not be a farmers market in Guthrie Center on Saturday, Sept. 5. It will resume on Saturday, Sept. 19 as usual.

Guthrie County Fair 5K Sept. 5

Runners and walkers are encouraged to join the Guthrie County Fair 5K on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the fairgrounds. Registration will open that day at 7:30 a.m., with the 5K to begin at 8 a.m. Proceeds will support the ACGC cross country teams.

Panorama Homecoming parade Sept. 11

The parade will begin at 2:15 p.m. The pep rally will follow at 3 p.m. at the football field. The Homecoming theme is “Panorama Nights.” Come out, enter the parade, decorate your business or simply help cheer on the Panthers.

Cy-Hawk Tailgate at The New Homestead Sept. 11

The annual Iowa State versus Iowa football game is set for Saturday, Sept 12, but The New Homestead invites everyone to kick off the excitement the day before with fun and food. Attendees can participate in game from 11 a.m. to noon, then enjoy a freewill donation meat from noon to 1 p.m. Wear team colors and show your team spirit. Meals are also available to go.

ACGC Car and Truck Show Sept. 12

The fourth annual ACGC car and truck show will be held at Mitchell Park in Guthrie Center. There is a $20 entry fee for exhibitors with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. All makes and models are welcome. Spectators are admitted free. For more information, contact ffa@acgcschools.org.

Drive-through meal Sept. 16 in Guthrie Center

Dan Tallman recently suffered significant damage to his home in a fire, so a benefit meal will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16 to benefit him. The meal will include choice of hamburger or hot dog, chips and a cookie for a freewill donation ($10 per meal is suggested). The event will be held at Riverside Park on School Street (near the high school football field).

BBQ Cook-off in Stuart Sept. 18-19

Fun and food will be enjoyed at the Best of the Block BBQ Cook-off in downtown Stuart on Sept. 18 and 19. The fest kicks off on Friday, Sept. 18 with a freewill donation chili feed at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 offers a Legion breakfast, games and kids’ events, caricatures, a vendor fair, BBQ awards, pie auction and raffle, BBQ meat fest and street dance with live music. The complete schedule can be viewed on the Facebook page of Stuart Best of the Block BBQ. The event will raise funds for the Cottage Pantry and the American Legion.

Car show, vendor fair and quilt raffle Sept. 19

Join Panora First Christian Church for their Second Annual Vendor Fair and Car Show and Shine. The vendor fair is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The car show is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Baked goods and home-canned items will be available. Walking tacos will be available for lunch. The quilt raffle will feature two quilts — first ticket drawn gets first pick. Stop by, shop the vendors, check out the cars, grab lunch and enjoy the day.

Badge Bowl Sept. 20

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department Badge Bowl flag football game will be Sunday, Sept. 20. Kids in third through sixth grade in any Guthrie County school are eligible to register. Registration is open until Sept. 11. Cost is $30 per kid. More details can be found on the Facebook page of the Guthrie County Sheriff.

Midwest Partnership Fall Gathering Sept. 24

Everyone is invited to attend Thursday, Sept. 24, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the 5 x 80 Club House in Menlo. This year’s gathering will celebrate a special milestone as Adair and Guthrie counties commemorate their 175th anniversaries. Attendees will enjoy complimentary appetizers, with beverages available for purchase. Each community is encouraged to submit a historic photo and a current Main Street photo to showcase the growth and character of our towns through the years. There will also be a community-themed trivia night game. For more details, go to www.midwestpartnership.com.

Author talk Sept. 25 in Panora

Panora Public Library will host author Ann Hanigan Kotz’s presentation about suffrage and World War I, 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. See more details on the free event and sign up at https://panora-ia.whofi.com/calendar/event/5733429?method=embed or call the library, 641-755-2529.

 

Third Annual Fall Flannel Fest Sept. 26

Grab your flannel and shop Panora from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wear a flannel and shop participating businesses for chances to win a $125 local gift card prize package. Businesses interested in participating should contact sarah@tribeclothingboutique.com.

Concert on the Hill Sept. 27 at The New Homestead

Kile Jackson will be playing live music from 4-6 p.m. at the Independent Living campus at The New Homestead on Sunday, Sept. 27. The event is free, and the public is welcome to bring a lawn chair and a favorite beverage. Apartment tours will also be offered.

Alzheimer’s Walk Oct. 3

The Raccoon River Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Panora. The two-mile walk begins shortly after 9:30 a.m. at Michael Mills Park. For more details or to register, go to https://act.alz.org/panorawalk.

Civil War presentation Oct. 5 in Panora

The Panora Public Library will host a presentation by Barry Grove at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. Grove will tell about the daily experiences of a Civil War soldier. For more details or to sign up, contact library staff or call 641-755-2529.

Reshape’s 7th Annual Turkey Trot Nov. 16

Start Thanksgiving morning with a scenic 3-mile run/walk along the South Shore Trail at Lake Panorama beginning at 8 a.m. All ages and fitness levels are welcome. $35 Early Bird Registration is available, with price increases starting Nov. 1. Pre-registered participants will get SWAG. Register at https://raceroster.com/events/2026/139987/reshape-fitness-studio-turkey-trot.

Free grief support group in Panora this fall

Beginning Sept. 8 and running through Dec. 8, a free grief support group will meet at the Panora Public Library (102 North First St.) on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To register, go to www.griefshare.org or call Carla Kem at 641-332-3006.

Send your event information to rich@gctimesnews.com.       

Cribbage results from Sept. 2

Sep 4, 2026 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

On Sept. 2, a total of 10 players participated. Mark Humphry and Chet Vaughn each got a 16; Lela Schwartz and Dick Ellis each got two 16s; Sandy Rumelhart got two 16s and a 20; Dennis Betts got a 21; and Dave Richter got a 24.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library, 400 Grand St., on Mondays at 8 a.m. and at the New Homestead independent living dining hall, 2306 State St., at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.

My warranty is running out

Sep 4, 2026 | Publisher's Column

Are you worth more dead or alive? That is a question many people eventually ask, usually while reviewing a life insurance policy and discovering just how expensive it is to continue living.

Three years ago, one of my term life insurance policies expired. I had bought it a few decades earlier, when I was considerably younger and life insurance was considerably cheaper. So I bought another policy recently. This one wasn’t cheap. I understand why. I am older. I am less healthy. And, if I am being brutally honest, I am statistically closer to the finish line. That’s the insurance business. The companies make money insuring young people who believe they are immortal, then they charge the rest of us more because we have started noticing that our warranties are getting closer to expiration. It’s simple math.

Of course, plenty of people have no life insurance at all. These are often the same people who do not give much thought to funeral expenses. “I will be dead,” they reason. “It won’t be my problem.” Technically, they have a point. But it will be somebody’s problem.

More than 20 years ago, a good friend of mine died. He was married and had two young children. Naturally, all of us worried about what would happen to his family. Fortunately, he had planned ahead and carried life insurance. That didn’t make losing him any easier, but it removed one enormous financial worry from a family already dealing with enough grief. It makes you think. And it should.

As part of getting my latest policy approved, I had to undergo a physical exam. Height. Weight. Urine test. Blood work. And 93 questions about my medical history. At some point, I expected the nurse to ask what I had for breakfast when I was 12.

The physical exam itself was humbling. My height has decreased. My weight has increased. I am apparently shrinking in one direction and expanding in another. My blood and urine were, well, blood and urine. Although, thanks to some unfriendly kidney stones, those two categories occasionally seem to have developed a closer working relationship than I would prefer.

I don’t take many medications, other than a cholesterol-lowering pill. The frustrating part is how much those numbers changed from one physical to another. One year, the doctor wanted me on a medication for the rest of my life. The next year, he said my numbers look exceptional. I would like to tell you I dramatically changed my diet and exercise routine. I didn’t. So, I asked the nurse about it. She explained that some test results can be affected, positively or negatively, by what we eat in the 24 hours before the exam.

Apparently, we really are what we eat. And when it comes to life insurance, what we eat might determine what we are worth — dead or alive. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Panorama boys and girls cross country to compete at Madrid invite on Thursday

Sep 1, 2026 | Sports

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

The next meet for the Panorama boys and girls cross country teams is the Madrid Invite on Thursday, Sept. 3. The girls will run against BGM, Boone, Colo-Nesco, Earlham, Madrid, Ogden, Perry, Woodward Academy and Woodward-Granger. The boys will run against BGM, Boone, Colo-Nesco, Earlham, Madrid, Ogden, Perry, Woodward Academy and Woodward-Granger.

Panorama volleyball to host triangular tonight

Sep 1, 2026 | Sports

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

The Panthers play two games tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 1, in a home triangular against West Central Valley (0-1) and ACGC (2-0) on Sept. 1. Panorama has won three of its last four games against WCV, dating back to 2023. They have struggled against a solid ACGC program in recent years, with their last win against the Chargers coming in 2018.