Photos by Betty Cooper | Special to the Times Vedette
Dylan Burchfield and Syler Shaffer were voted by the student body as the 2025 Panorama Homecoming king and queen. They were crowned during the halftime festivities of Friday night’s homecoming football game against West Central Valley.
Photos by Betty Cooper | Special to the Times Vedette
The Panorama High School homecoming festivities included a parade and pep rally, which were both held on Friday, Sept. 19.
Special to the Times Vedette
Applications will be taken starting Nov. 1 for the 2025-2026 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Community Access and Eligibility Division, Community Action Agencies Unit, and has been established to help qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs.
The Community Action Agency, New Opportunities, will be taking applications from Nov. 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, (Oct. 1 for households with an elderly/disabled member). LIHEAP customers will need to furnish some form of identification, a copy of their most recent heating and electric bill, and proof of all household members’ gross income for the past 30 calendar days, the most recent 12 months, or for the past calendar year. Apply in person by appointment:
New Opportunities
Guthrie County Family Development Center
400 State Street
Guthrie Center, IA 50115
641-747-3845
Applications can also be submitted online at: liheap-apply.iowa.hhs.gov
For more details on additional ways to apply, visit www.newopp.org
The LIHEAP program is not designed to pay a household’s total energy costs. The program will provide supplemental assistance based on several factors, including total household income, household size, dwelling type, and type of heating fuel, among others. Eligibility for participation is established according to the following federal income guidelines:
|
Household Size |
Annual Gross Income* ** |
|
$31,300 |
|
|
2 |
$42,300 |
|
3 |
$53,300 |
|
4 |
$64,300 |
|
5 |
$75,300 |
|
6 |
$86,300 |
|
7 |
$97,300 |
|
8 |
$108,300 |
* Add $11,000 for each additional member.
** All income will be collected for a 30-day period and annualized.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the Sept. 23 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Ron Woods addressed the supervisors to ask if he could purchase 9.1 acres of land near the former county home building, which Woods owns. The land Woods asked about is Parcel 0000917402.
Woods explained his interest in the land.
“The silting going into the pond from that 9.1 acres is considerable. What I’d like to do is buy that land and turn it into either a pasture or hay field, to eliminate some of that silting,” Woods said. “And my oldest son is considering building a house there, on the 9.1 acres overlooking the pond. So, it seems like a perfect fit,; it squares off the property.”
Supervisor Maggie Armstrong said the land is currently under lease until 2029. Woods said he would consider a lease transfer, if that were feasible.
Armstrong said the first step would be for the county to speak with the current leaseholder. Then, if appropriate, the county would like to see an offer from Woods. No formal action was taken at this time.
County Engineer Josh Sebern provided a departmental update and shared information on the upcoming P28 Road project between Panora and Stuart. He described the various options regarding road width and the related costs. The road is currently 22 feet wide and could be widened to 26 feet overall, or in certain areas, to help address safety concerns.
Sebern described a “hybrid” option of keeping the road surface at 22 feet on straight areas but widening it to 26 feet on curves, which would allow for rumble strips outside of the 22-foot striped road for additional safety.
Supervisor Steve Smith asked Sebern’s preference.
“I definitely like the widening, at least on the curves,” Sebern said. “They’re nice things to have for maintenance. They’re nice for agriculture. They’re nice for safety.”
The supervisors plan to view the road firsthand to better understand the area being discussed. That is set for Sept. 30.
As part of the consent agenda, the supervisors approved a payroll change notice for Dana Tews, for a change to the position of jail control room operator at a wage of $20 hourly.
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
During the regular meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council on Sept. 22, the councilmembers discussed the ongoing Ludwig/Winkleblack nuisance abatement status. Dennis Ludwig said a shed will be erected on the property to house the items of concern. At the request of Ludwig and Winkleblack, the council approved a 14-day extension (until Oct. 6) for the property to be in compliance with city ordinance.
Rod Rumelhart (Hometown Insurance) described the status of the city’s insurance coverage. He said the city has had few claims, which helps keep costs down. He noted the city owns roughly $24 million in property, which costs around $55,000 per year to insure (or $2.24 per $1,000 in valuation).
“This has been a good year so far,” Rumelhart said.
Rumelhart shared several savings the city has or will likely receive, including a $4,500 savings he negotiated with the insurer and an expected dividend of approximately $13,000. The councilmembers unanimously approved the insurance renewal.
The council approved appointing Brandon Monaghan to the MJB Library Board and to accept the resignation of Marcia Priestley from the library board.
City Administrator Kris Arasmith shared information on savings the city will likely see due to little usage of the city’s Workers Comp coverage.
“We also will get some type of a credit back on our Worker’s Comp insurance. We will get a little over $5,000,” Arrasmith said. “Kudos to our employees for being safe.”
The councilmembers had brief discussion about setting a date for trick-or-treating. Because of the likelihood of a high school football playoff game on Oct. 31, the city had considered setting trick-or-treat on Oct. 30 but then realized the school has parent-teacher conferences on that date.
No formal action was taken at this time.
The next regular meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.
Special to the Times Vedette
Merle Steensen at 909 Tiger Lane in Guthrie Center is the winner of $100 in chamber bucks from the Guthrie Center Lions Club and the Guthrie Center Chamber of Commerce for the Yard of the Month contest for September. These two organizations have teamed up to award citizens who maintain and take pride in their yard with this monthly contest.