Special to the Times Vedette

The Panorama Secondary School Job Fair was held on April 25 at the high school and hosted 18 area organizations with representatives who time to meet with Panorama students grades 6-12, who were exposed to local career opportunities. The purpose of this annual event is to encourage summer employment for students returning to school next year and give emerging graduates employment options to consider in proximity to Guthrie County. The following professionals contributed to the job fair: Agriland FS, Care Initiatives, Iowa National Guard, Karl Chevrolet, La’James International College, Lakeside Village, Landus, Little Panther Daycare, McAninch Corp. (excavator simulator), McDonald’s, Panora Fiber, Panora Daycare, Pedal-In Restaurant, Iowa Trenchless, Midwest Vac Professionals, West Central Tree Service, Wood Duck Landscapes, and Van Wall John Deere.

From the Iowa DNR

It’s as predictable as May flowers. From border to border, the Wildlife Baby Season has arrived in Iowa. From now until at least mid-June, DNR field offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries regarding “orphaned wildlife.”

Most calls begin with something like, “We were walking in the park when…,” or “I looked out my window and saw…” In nearly every instance, the scenario ends with something being rescued from its mother.

During a typical season, the species will range all the way from baby robins and squirrels to spindly-legged white-tailed fawns. At this time of the year, it is not at all uncommon for biologists to discover that complete litters of baby raccoons, foxes or even skunks have mysteriously appeared on their doorsteps.

Why this happens is no real mystery. From fuzzy yellow ducklings to tiny baby bunnies, nothing appears cuter and cuddlier than a wildlife baby. But, in reality, most of the wildlife reported to DNR field offices is not really orphaned at all. And while the people who attempt to “rescue” these babies have the best of intentions, they are in fact dooming the very creatures they intend to help.

The babies of most wildlife species leave their nests or dens well in advance of being able to care for themselves. Although broods or litters may become widely scattered during this fledgling period, they still remain under the direct care and feeding of their parents.

For many songbirds, the transition to independence comes quickly and may take as little as four or five days. For other species such as Canada geese, kestrels or great horned owls, the young and parents may stay in contact for weeks — even months.

At the beginning of the fledgling period, young birds appear clumsy, dull-witted and vulnerable. The reason for this is because they really are clumsy, dull-witted and vulnerable. But as the education process continues, the survivors smarten up fast, while slow learners quickly fade from the scene. Most birds have less than a 20% chance of surviving their first year. While this seems unfortunate or cruel, this is a normal occurrence in nature.  In the real out-of-doors, it’s just the way things are.

Most mammals employ a slightly different strategy when it comes to caring for their adolescents. Since most mammals are largely nocturnal, the mother usually finds a safe daytime hideout for her young while she sleeps or looks for food. Consequently, it is perfectly normal for the young to be alone or unattended during the daylight hours.

Nevertheless, whenever a newborn fawn or a nest full of baby cottontails or raccoons is discovered by a human, it quite often is assumed that the animals are orphaned. The youngster’s fate is usually sealed when it is promptly “rescued from the wild.”

Many wildlife babies die soon after capture from the stress of being handled, talked to and placed into the unfamiliar surroundings of a slick sided cardboard box. Should the animals have the misfortune of surviving this trauma, they often succumb more slowly to starvation from improper nourishment, pneumonia or other human-caused sicknesses.

Whether they are adults or young, all species of wildlife have highly specific needs for survival. “Rescuing a baby from its mother” not only shows bad judgment, it also is illegal.

Observing wildlife in its natural habitat is always a unique privilege. Taking a good photo or two provides an even more lasting memory. But once you’ve done that, let well enough alone. Leave wildlife babies where they belong — in the wild.

A list of wildlife rehabilitators is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Iowas-Wildlife.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

In conjunction with the regular meeting of the Guthrie County Hospital board of trustees on April 25, a public hearing was held regarding the hospital’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. No citizens in person or online spoke up with any concerns or questions, and no written comments had been received, so the hearing was promptly closed. The trustees voted to approve the budget as proposed.

The trustees heard an annual audit report from the accounting firm of Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn and Company (GBK). The audit noted comments and recommendations, including some lack of segregation of duties. The audit also noted some expenses that appeared appropriate but which may have been incorrectly reported.

Board chair Mike Underwood asked for clarification.

“Are you saying there would be the potential we would need to send funds back?” asked Underwood.

The auditor reassured the trustees that seems unlikely, for several reasons. The hospital will need to submit a corrective action plan to the state, to explain the situation, but no repayment is likely to be required.

The board went into closed session to discuss a matter for which a closed session is allowed.

The next regular meeting of the trustees will be May 23. The public is welcome. For information on how to participate in the meeting, visit www.guthriecountyhospital.org.

 

The nursing home is part of Care Initiatives, which is the largest nursing home company in Iowa

 

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times

Panora Specialty Care, located on the eastern edge of Panora at 805 E. Main St., is sometimes locally known as “the care facility” or “the nursing home,” but it’s much more than that. As one would expect in a small town, the staff members get to know their clients well. But as part of a much larger care provider organization, the local facility can offer much more than one might expect.

Administrator Jacquelyne Jasek explained the group of which Panora Specialty Care is a part of.

“We’re part of Care Initiatives, which is the largest nursing home company in Iowa. We have 43 facilities in the state, as well as several hospice locations,” Jasek said.

Jasek has worked within the Care Initiatives organization since 2014 and has been the administrator at Panora Specialty Care since December of 2023.

Services offered at Panora Specialty Care include 24-hour skilled nursing care, accelerated care plus therapy equipment, independent living, beauty shop/barber shop, Care Initiatives Hospice, discharge planning/home visits, individualized care plans, intravenous (IV) therapy, lymphedema and wound therapy, medication management, memory care units, occupational therapy, outpatient therapy, pain management, pastoral services, physical therapy, planned activities, rehab-to-home, respite care, select/choice menus, special dietary accommodations, speech therapy, tube feedings, and wound care management.

An addition to the building was made in 2000 to offer 11 assisted living units. However, the purpose of those units has changed.

“We recently switched the assisted living to independent living,” Jasek said. 

Kati Scheurmann, activities and social services director, has worked at the facility since 2016. She said, when she began leading activities for residents, she wanted to find out from them what they would prefer.

“I asked to get opinions from residents on what they enjoy, so it wasn’t just generic activities like bingo. We added karaoke, which has been a big hit. We do that usually once a week or every other week,” Scheurmann said. “We also do pet therapy. I bring in animals all the time for that, and as it gets nicer out, we can do more things outside.”

As activity director, Scheurmann aims to offer intergenerational opportunities for those living in the facility. She coordinates youth to visit, such as carolers during the holiday season and Cub Scouts or similar groups year-round. Scheurmann said she’s currently working on implementing an “adopted grandparents” program, in which residents will be paired up with youth to socialize while also teaching skills such as sewing.

A total of approximately 40 staff members work at Panora Specialty Care. Jasek and Scheurmann each praised the individuals who provide the various cares and services at the facility.

“We have a lot of longevity of staff. We have people who have been here 20, 30 years,” Scheurmann said. 

“I feel like we all work really well together,” Jasek said. “It’s a good family environment.”

Scheurmann added that, because of the many departments in the facility, staff members are available to assist in other areas, if or when needed. 

Another strength of the facility, as described by Jasek and Scheurmann, is the ability to tap into expertise and resources from elsewhere in the broader Care Initiatives organization. 

“Additional resources are always just a phone call away,” Jasek said.

Because of the wide variety of services provided, Panora Specialty Care has a blend of long-term and short-term residents/clients. Jasek said this creates an opportunity for clear feedback from those served by the facility.

“We have a lot of people that leave, and then they come back,” Jasek said. “So, that’s a rewarding thing for us, that they choose to come back to this facility.” 

Special to the Times Vedette

The Guthrie Center Lions Club will be commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2024 with a Centennial Celebration and Dinner on June 10 at the Guthrie County Events Center at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. Tickets for this event are $25 and can be purchased at Guthrie County State Bank (Guthrie Center branch), Peoples Bank, or from any Lions Club member.

The purposes of the celebration are to honor a century of dedicated service to the Guthrie Center community and to raise funds crucial for the construction of the new kitchen facility at the Little Charger Early Learning Center. 

Quality day care is important to the future of Guthrie Center, as attracting and retaining young families in and around Guthrie Center is a pivotal step for the future of the Guthrie Center area. The goal of the Little Charger Early Learning Center is to create an asset that will aide local employers in attracting and retaining employees, create a stable workforce, drive community growth, and reverse a three-year trend of enrollment decline in the school district.

The cost of the kitchen is estimated to be $45,000, and the Lions Club has set a goal of raising $50,000 for this project. An anonymous donor has already gifted the Lions Club $10,000 toward this goal, and the Guthrie Center Lions club has matched that donation with $11,000. The Lions Club would has challenged the Guthrie Center community (individuals, families, businesses and civic groups) to match this $21,000 committed.

Donations can be large or small and can be given at the Guthrie County State Bank in care of the Guthrie Center Lions Club, or mailed to Guthrie Center Lions Club, c/o GCSB, P.O. Box 8, Guthrie Center, IA 50115. Write “100^thanniversary donation” in the memo line or supply a note with the donation. The Lions Club is a 501(c)3 organization. Receipts will be issued for donations $250 or more. Check with your accountant or attorney for information regarding the deductibility of your donation.

Lions Club members: 

• Kelly Bast
• Dale Behrends
• Mark Benton
• Larry Brandt
• Kristen Crouthamel
• Dennis Flanery
• Diane Flanery
• Joe Hanner
• Ed Haver
• George Hemmen
• Darwin Hughes
• George Hunt
• Kris Langgaard
• Melissa Loest
• Barry Monaghan
• Shannon Neff-Muell
• Cozy Nelsen
• Shawna Nelson
• Jennifer Policky
• Wes Policky
• Josh Rasmussen
• Gary Rees
• Eric Reinhart
• Rex Schoonover
• Dwayne Seeck
• Bill Sheeder
• Ben Smith
• Steve Smith
• Craig Twigg
• Mike Underwood
• Roger Underwood
• Ed Wright

From ISU Extension and Outreach

Planting season has begun with vigor, and it is crucial for motorists to be aware of safety precautions while sharing the roadways with farm machinery.

Steven Freeman, a professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University, shares his top advice for motorists, along with farm equipment operators. 

“We all rely on farmers who are in the fields planting and doing their job. It is important for them to get to those fields safely to do what they need to do,” Freeman said. “Both farmers and motorists need to be reminded that they need to share the roads.”

As a motorist, you are almost always traveling at a higher speed than those driving farm equipment. When traveling at these speeds, the gap between farm equipment and motorists closes very quickly. Therefore, it is extremely important to remember to slow down early on, when approaching farm machinery.

Motorists are also advised to be patient. Pass with care and avoid inappropriate honking. The reason the farmer may not be pulling over could be due to unforeseen safety concerns. For example, the edges of roadways along county highways cannot always support the weight of the machine to allow the farmer to pull over.

Safety tips for farmers

Along with motorists, farm machinery operators also have safety precautions to be aware of. While driving a piece of equipment onto the roadways, it is important to check that all lights and reflective markers on the machine are working, visible and clear. During this time of the year, the Iowa sun is low in the sky, making it extremely difficult to see what is in front of you, especially at dusk. If possible, try not to travel during these busy times.

Freeman also wants to remind farmers to take care of themselves. Even when the rush is on to get crops in the ground, farmers should still be getting enough sleep and eating healthy to minimize unfortunate events.

By remembering to share the road safely, the risk for disaster can be minimized.

Tips for the rural driver

• Be prepared for farm vehicles. Farm vehicles travel significantly slower than automobiles. You may only have a few seconds to react and slow down before overtaking a farm vehicle. Be prepared to slow down and follow; you may not have room to pass.
• Slow down and keep your distance. Don’t assume that the farmer can pull over and let you pass. Shoulder conditions may make it unsafe for the farmer to pull heavy equipment to the side of the road.
• Be sure of the farmer’s intentions before passing. Don’t assume that a farm vehicle is turning right or pulling over to let you pass if it pulls to the right side of the road. A farmer may have to swing right in order to make a left turn. Wait until you know what the farmer is planning to do.
• Be patient and enjoy the scenery if you find yourself following a farm vehicle. Even if you have to follow a farm vehicle for a couple of miles, it will only take a few minutes of your time.
• Be especially alert in the evenings; farmers are returning from the fields and dusk makes farm vehicles more difficult to see.

Tips for the farmer

• Only allow licensed, or appropriately trained, operators to take farm machinery onto the road. Youth who are able to operate machinery in the field may not be able to deal safely with traffic and other road hazards.
• Make sure farm machinery is equipped with the lighting and marking safety devices recommended by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and required by state and local laws. Be sure to remind all operators to use the appropriate hazard lights and turn signals when traveling on roads.
• Minimize total vehicle width and secure equipment in the transport position before entering roadways.
• Watch for approaching traffic and vehicles trying to pass. If possible, pull over and let traffic pass safely, but be alert for roadside hazards.
• Obey all traffic laws and signs.
• Signal intentions to motorists and avoid sudden or unexpected maneuvers.
• Exercise additional care when entering roadways, approaching unsigned or “blind” intersections, crossing narrow bridges, going around sharp corners or going over hills.