Special to the Times Vedette
Panorama FFA students participated in Drive Your Tractor to School Day on March 6 and created a TikTok video to show what all was driven — including a push mower. The activity is part of the National FFA Week festivities that were the prior week. This event was held later due to scheduling conflicts.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
March 7 marked the 11th annual “Welcome to Fairadise” fundraiser event at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. The event included social hour, dinner, live and silent auctions, and games. Proceeds help support improvements at the fairgrounds. The event usually draws nearly 400 people, and this year’s crowd was no exception.
Diehard fans were drawn to these auction items.
A package for every taste.
Social hour included bidding and chatting.
Auction items line two long walls.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Farmers State Bank sponsored a free pancake breakfast at the Yale Community Building on Saturday morning, March 7. The event has been a tradition for 35 years, held annually on the first Saturday in March. The event generally draws a crowd of 225 to 250 from Yale and the surrounding communities.
The pancake breakfast was the place to be in Yale Saturday morning.
Dig in.
Roger Burchfield goes through the line for breakfast.
John Wilson, Jordan Carstens and Doug Hemphill take a breather from serving.
Darren White of Chris Cakes flips pancakes.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Through Lent, Café on the Hill (2003 State St. in Guthrie Center) will have an all-you-can-eat fish fry every Friday from 5-8 p.m. Other options are available for those not interested in fish.
On Thursday, March 12, the Guthrie County Hospital Foundation and Auxiliary welcomes everyone to eat and play bingo at the Guthrie Center Activity Center (209 State St.). The meal will be served 4:45-6 p.m. with bingo 6-8 p.m.
Saint John’s Catholic Church in Adair will hold a fish fry from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 13. Cost is $15 per person, dine-in or drive-thru. Enter the alley behind the church hall (501 Adair St.) from the west. The meal will include freshly fried breaded fish and shrimp, cole slaw, potatoes, dessert and drink.
Everyone is welcome to attend Celebrate Guthrie Center on Friday, March 13 at the Guthrie Activity Center, 209 State St. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. by Cabbage Rose. Hear updates on a variety of local organizations and events, including RAGBRAI, the hospital’s construction project, Guthrie Center Chamber of Commerce, Guthrie Center Library, ACGC Schools, and more. Reservations are required and cost $20 per person. Reservations may be made at Guthrie County State Bank, Peoples Bank, and Panora Fiber in Guthrie Center.
The Panora Knights of Columbus Council No. 11242 will be having a fish dinner on Friday, March 13 from 5-7 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 N. First St. in Panora. The menu includes hand-breaded fish, baked potato or tator tots, coleslaw, lemonade, tea or water, and dessert. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for kids 8 and younger.
The 36th annual West Central Iowa Farm Toy Show will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ACGC Junior High gym, 3384 Indigo Ave., Adair. Organizers expect 70-plus tables. Admission is $3 per person. Kids younger than 12 are free with an adult. The event is sponsored by Adair Fire and Rescue. Lunch will be available from the ACGC senior class.
The Blue Goose Tavern, 307 Audubon St. in Adair, welcomes everyone to come play cribbage on the afternoon of Saturday, March 14. Doors open for registration at 3 p.m. with the games to begin at 3:30 p.m. There is a $10 buy-in per player. Participants are encouraged to bring a snack to share.
The Guthrie Center Chamber of Commerce is again holding the popular “Puzzles, Pies and Pints” fundraiser event at the Guthrie Activity Center (209 State St.). On Saturday, March 14, teams of four will compete to see which team can most quickly put together a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle while also finishing a large pizza and 12 beverages. Cost is $120 per team, with registration available on the Chamber’s Facebook page. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and the competition begins at 6 p.m. Cash bar and side games will be available for purchase.
The Casey Service Club invites everyone to its Saint Patrick’s Day event. On Saturday, March 14, a freewill spaghetti supper will begin at 5 p.m., followed by bingo at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, March 15, beginning at 8 a.m., the Yale Community Club fundraiser breakfast will be held at the Yale Community Building. Omelets will be made-to-order by the YJB TTT group. Yummy’s Donuts will also be served. Admission cost is a freewill donation.
On Wednesday, March 18, 1-3 p.m., staff from the Jamaica Library will be at the Yale Community Building for a “mobile library” event. There will be books for all ages, kids’ crafts, and snacks. Stop in, have fun and learn something.
On Saturday, March 21, the Boys and Girls Club of Adair will host a “Lights, Camera, Auction” fundraiser event at the Adair Fire Hall (505 Fifth St.). There will be a sirloin tip dinner, live and silent auctions, we well as cash games and a cash bar. Tickets cost $50 each. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the meal scheduled 5:30-6:30 p.m. More information is available at www.bgcadair.org.
State Senator Jesse Green and State Representative Carter Nordman welcome the public to their upcoming legislative coffee events to voice concerns and hear legislative updates. The next events are Saturday, March 21, 9-10 a.m. at Guthrie County Farm Bureau (203 North Fourth St. in Guthrie Center) and Saturday, April 11, 9-10 a.m. at Guthrie County Farm Bureau (203 North Fourth St. in Guthrie Center).
Guthrie County ISU Extension and Outreach will hold a plant swap and plant propagation event. The event will be at the Panorama High School greenhouse beginning at 6 p.m. Cost is $15 per person at the time of the event. Register beforehand at the extension office, 212 State St. in Guthrie Center or by calling 641-747-2276.
American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 124 will hold Saturday bingo on March 28 at the Guthrie Center Activity Center, 209 State St. A freewill donation dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. with bingo starting at 7 p.m.
The Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever annual banquet will be held Saturday, March 28 at the Yale Community Building. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, contact Cindy Kisting (515-339-5226) or Dan Brubaker (515-238-7875).
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 kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.
The Bagley Firefighters Association will hold a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 at the fire hall. The freewill donation meal includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, coffee, milk and juice.
The Guthrie County Hospital Foundation’s annual “Handbags and Bingo” event will be Friday, April 10 at the Fairgrounds Event Center. Social hour will begin at 4:45 p.m. with dinner at 5:45 p.m., followed by bingo and games. Tickets can be purchased from the hospital’s website.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the regular meeting of the Panora City Council on March 9, the councilmembers considered a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding a request from Lutheran Church of Hope.
The Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Application states, in part, “The request is submitted to allow the development of a church at 1200 E. Main St., Panora.” The area is part of a “Light Industrial District,” so a church does not meet the criteria as the ordinance currently is written. The lot is owned by Panora Fiber.
Pastor Mark Brandt addressed the council, explaining the search for an appropriate property that the church could purchase in Panora to establish a permanent church.
Mayor Curt Thornberry explained that if the council wishes to change the ordinance, there will need to be three readings and a public hearing.
Councilmember Roger Dorr stated his support for the request.
“It’s been grass for I don’t know how many years, and speaking with a member of Panora Fiber, there really hasn’t been any interest in it until now. I think it’s great for the community. This is something that will make the area attractive for other things coming in out there,” Dorr said.
Councilmember Mark Sheeder voiced agreement with Dorr’s opinion, and the council voted unanimously to begin the process of changing the ordinance as requested.
Pat Subbert addressed the council on behalf of the Lions Club, asking if the $175 fee for use of the Community Center could be lowered, since that amount eats into the good works the club performs for the community. After discussion, the council voted to lower the fee to $100 for the Lions Club.
The next regular meeting is set for Monday, March 23 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome. Interested persons may attend in person or electronically by visiting the website https://meet.goto.com/cityofpanora or by phone 1-312-757-3121 (Access Code 295-099-701, Audio PIN 220#).