By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Although the north wind was naughty to the holiday light displays in the Panora town square on Tuesday and Wednesday, Santa arrived Wednesday evening to bring some jolly to town. The reindeer stayed home, so Santa arrived via a Panora firetruck.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Through the holiday season, Fremont Theatre in Stuart (124 N. Fremont St.) is showing free movies, beginning Nov. 29 and running through Dec. 30. The movies include “Scrooged,” “Elf,” “Arthur Christmas,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Year Without a Santa Claus” and “The Grinch.”

Showtimes are available at www.fremonttheatre.com or by calling 515-523-1225.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Unofficial election results taken from the Iowa Secretary of State website show vote totals for Nov. 4 races involving the Times Vedette’s coverage area. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of seats to be filled, if more than one. Asterisks indicate unofficial winners, per Guthrie County Auditor’s posted results.

Adair Mayor

Joanne Byars               102

Write-in                       10

Adair Council At-Large (2)

Paul Gettler                 115

Ronald Wheatley        56

Write-in                       17

Bagley Mayor

*Amanda Waltz          35

Write-in                       4

Bagley Council At-Large (2)

*Steven B Joy             28

*Janet Bennett            28

Deanna Gibson           14

Write-in                       8

Bagley Council to fill vacancy

*Mark Mozingo          13

Write-in                       9

Casey Mayor

Bruce Vorm                 68

Write-in                       6

Casey Council At-Large (2)

Jennifer Geren-Penton            57

Cody Sheeder                         39

LeRoy Hall                             27

Tyler Stolk                              23

Guthrie Center Mayor

*Michael A Herbert                112

Write-in                                   1

Guthrie Center Council At-Large (2)

*Erica Finster                         98

*Carolyn Masters                   90

Write-in                                   9

Jamaica Mayor

*Dennis Meinecke                  19

Write-in                                   6

Jamaica Council At-Large (3)

*Dina Martinez                       20

*Richard McAllister               16

*HD Meinecke                       10

Write-in                                   25

Panora Council At-Large (3)

*Roger L Dorr                        219

*Brian Dorsett                        213

*Blake Michelsen                   199

Write-in                                   16

Yale Mayor

*Beverly Louk                        40

Write-in                                   2

Yale Council At-Large (3)

*Clint Deardorff                     43

*Tim Walker                           3

Gerald McComb                     2

Anna Arganbright                   2* (tie-break winner at Board of Supervisors meeting)

Johanne Godwin                     2

Christy Ocker                         2

Scott Van Gundy                     2

Write-in                                   7

Yale Council to fill vacancy (2)

*Diane N Chase                      39

*Tim Walker                           3

Write-in                                   5

Adair-Casey School Director At-Large (3)

Lindsay Dinkla                       205

Amanda Bireline                     199

Blair Carney                           197

Write-in                                   14

Guthrie Center School Director At-Large (2)

*Kris Langgaard                     142

*Adam Franzeen                     140

Write-in                                   2

Panorama Schools Director Dist. 1

Heidi Clark                             161

Write-in                                   6

Panorama Schools Director Dist. 2

*Clint Deardorff                     236

Write-in                                   6

Panorama Schools Director Dist. 4

*Mark Cates                           173

Write-in                                   2

Panorama Schools Public Measure IV

No                                           664

Yes                                          605

Des Moines Area Community College Director Dist. 3

Trish Roberts                          12651

Write-in                                   159

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Nov. 25 Times Vedette incorrectly listed an upcoming presentation about the Summit Carbon Pipeline set for Dec. 12 in Panora. That event was held in 2024. There is no such event scheduled in December 2025. The Times Vedette regrets the error.

Special to the Times Vedette

On Nov. 26, Dennis Betts got two 18s; Rhonda Tiitus got a 16 and an 18; Joyce Keeran and Robert Klever each got a 16; Mark Humphry got an 18; Sandy Rumelhart got a 21; and Dick Ellis got a 22. But because of Thanksgiving, good-hearted Dick gave his half to Sandy.

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.

 

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, November 2025

A familiar building in Panora is Lakeshore Family Dentistry, the office of Dr. Larry Spray and his team. The practice has been located at 709 E. Main St. in Panora for 13 years. 

“We have four exam rooms,” Dr. Spray said. “We started with two, 13 years ago, and now we’re up to four.”

For Dr. Spray, the Panora area was one he was always familiar with.

“I was born and raised in Dallas Center, so this is pretty close to home,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed being in Panora. I like the small-town feel.”

Lakeshore Family Dentistry, as the name suggests, is a general dental office, with no specific specialty. 

“We do a little bit of everything. We do some implants but not any one thing that we focus on. We’re pretty generalized,” Dr. Spray said.

Asked what makes Lakeshore Family Dentistry unique in the area, Dr. Spray and Dental Assistant Sue Bump pointed out that the practice offers Invisalign products and strives to cater to the need of youth patients. 

“In general, we like to have a relaxed atmosphere here. Dental phobia is real. I’m a pretty goofy guy, so with kids, we can normally get them calmed down,” Dr. Spray said. “I’m all about making positive experiences, so sometimes that means we don’t get everything done that we wanted in one visit.”

The office accepts most insurance programs, but Dr. Spray finds Medicaid regulations to be an ongoing challenge.

“We do see patients with Medicaid, but we are not accepting new patients with Medicaid,” Dr. Spray said. “Every six months, it seems like there is a new change to the regulations, and that makes it difficult to keep up with. I wish they could simplify it.”

Anyone interested in scheduling an appointment can call the office at 641-755-3030. Dr. Spray said the office hours are designed to meet the needs of his patients.

“We’re open Mondays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays we’re closed, Thursdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday is currently 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. but Fridays kind of vary because we have early-out,” Dr. Spray said. “We tend to be pretty busy at the extremes, early and late.”