Special to the Times Vedette

In-person absentee voting is now available for registered voters who reside in the Panorama Community School District ahead of the Nov. 4 general election.

Ballots can be cast at the county auditor’s office weekdays during regular business hours, starting on Oct. 15. This voting option will remain available until Nov. 3. A valid ID is required.

For Guthrie County residents, the auditor’s office is located at the county courthouse at 200 N. Fifth St. in Guthrie Center. In Dallas County, the auditor is located at 210 N. 10th St. in Adel. The Greene County Auditor’s Office is located on the second floor at 114 N. Chestnut St. in Jefferson.

A mailed absentee ballot can be received by completing a request form and returning it to the county auditor’s office. The deadline to request a mailed ballot is Oct. 20. Ballots must be received by the auditor’s office before polls close at 8 p.m. on election day to be considered for counting.

The polls will be open on election day, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. A valid ID will be needed to cast a ballot. Polling locations can be found on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx.

Panorama CSD voters will consider approving a $19.6 million general obligation bond, which will appear on ballots as Public Measure IV. If it’s approved, funds will be used to address facility issues and implement improvements at the district’s attendance centers.

Under the bond proposal, Panorama Elementary School will receive a new secure entrance, a new roof, and playground upgrades to expand accessibility for all students.

Panorama Secondary School’s shop area will be renovated to enhance career and technical education programs. The main entrance, commons area, art room, and restrooms will also be updated.

A middle school gymnasium expansion is also planned at the secondary school, providing the district with more space for physical education, athletics, school activities and community events.

The estimated tax impact of an approved bond issue would be up to $1.96 per $1,000 of taxable property value. For a $250,000 home, this would amount to an annual increase of approximately $222.91.

For more information, visit www.panoramabond.org.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the Oct. 14 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Chair Maggie Armstrong brought up Resolution 26-10 (A Resolution Declaring Emergency Medical Services an Essential Service in Guthrie County). The supervisors voted 4-1 to approve the resolution, with Mike Dickson voting no.

Health Service Director Jotham Arber provided a departmental update. He shared the county’s plan for offering seasonal vaccinations.

“We haven’t done a big push on our flu vaccines yet. We will; we’re working with the pharmacies,” Arber said. “We’ve kind of waited strategically into October to start doing our push, just because of the trend I’m seeing of the disease.”

“We’ll go and do the schools; we’ll offer it to businesses,” Arber said. He said the plan is to make a big push for flu vaccinations through November and December. 

Arber also shared plans for active shooter trainings.

“The hospital and the schools are doing an active shooter drill that we’ll be participating in,” Arber said. “The role of the health department will be the after-effects of that.”

Agenda item No. 7 (Heart of Iowa Community Services) stated that the supervisors may enter into a special closed session with County Attorney Dana Minteer to discuss a matter that is presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent.

The public meeting ended immediately prior to the opening of the closed session.

The supervisors meet regularly on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend in person or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Guthrie County Historical Village (GCHV) held its annual Haunted Village event on Sunday, Oct. 12. Each building at the village had displays, costumed performers and/or Halloween-themed fun for kids of all ages. The Haunted Village marks the end of the season for GCHV, which is set to open again in May of 2026.

Jace and Kaiden Doyle sit with their spooky new friend.

Cassandra and John Mrozek with Asher in the stroller.

Each building held a scary surprise. The news office offered fortune telling.

Maeve and Declan Eichmeier listen as Kim Finnegan reads a story.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

A beautiful afternoon on Saturday welcomed attendees to Guthrie Center’s Fall Festival. Various vendors offered their wares, and live music played throughout the event. The meat-smoking competition was canceled due to low participation.

Tricia Schreck provided Guthrie Center Chamber information and sold shirts.

Paisley’s Pumpkin Patch offered pumpkins and gourds of all sizes.

Maison Shriver painted a design on the face of Andrea Ortega.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the regular meeting of the Panora City Council on Oct. 13, the council members discussed sidewalk sales by downtown storefronts in the business commercial district. City Administrator Lisa Grossman read from the current ordinance, which outlines the number of days that a business can have a sidewalk sale consecutively.

Council members suggested amending the ordinance to stipulate that sidewalk sales can occur only during regular business hours, meaning that items would need to be brought inside or removed at the end of the business day.

Grossman suggested the matter should first be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and then could come back to the council after that. No formal action was taken by the council.

The council discussed a request from Mason Caruthers for permission to hunt Canada geese on agricultural ground within city limits. The land in question is owned by Ethan Boyers. Caruthers’ request stated he would hunt at least 600 feet from any building or dwelling, and he added that Police Chief Matt Reising has no objection to the request. The council unanimously approved Caruthers’ request.

Grossman brought up a request to obtain an “emergency-only” credit card for Panora EMS use.

“There’s a fuel card in each vehicle, and each employee has a PIN. We’ve had a few situations come up where a PIN is incorrectly entered, and sometimes the employee has to then use their own card for fuel and get reimbursed,” Grossman said.

Grossman also said the credit card could help with various unexpected emergencies, such as in case of a vehicle breakdown or accident. She explained that if approved, the emergency-only credit card would be for only those situations when EMS staff are unable to use the fuel card. Council members were hesitant about the city having another credit card.

“I’m just looking at it as one more credit card out there. Personally, I’m not for it,” Councilmember Brian Dorsett said.

The council did not take formal action on the request.

The next regular meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 27 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#).

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the regular meeting of the Guthrie Center city council on Oct. 13, Darin Sloss (Street Department) shared the plans for many sidewalks in Guthrie Center to be replaced in 2027. He said it will be a Department of Transportation (DOT) project, and there will be no cost to the city. The total cost is estimated at $1.3 to $1.7 million.

“It’ll be a big project, but downtown will not be affected a whole lot,” Sloss said.

Part of the project is making sidewalks and street crossings ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. Sloss said public hearings will be held about the project in 2026, and the project is expected to begin in March 2027 and be completed by Labor Day 2027.

Sloss asked the council to consider approving the purchase of two Toro 6000 series mowers for the city at a cost of $17,468. The council approved the purchase.

City Administrator Kris Arasmith explained that the city’s Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance rates will increase by 3% for 2026, but she said that is a very moderate increase. The council unanimously voted to approval the renewal for 2026.

The council voted to give a full three-year tax abatement on the townhouse of Nancy Van Meter (1600 Cameron Pass).

As part of the consent agenda, the council approved a beer/liquor license for Little Charger ELC and a building permit (shed) for 102 North St. (Hughes/Cook).

The next regular meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.