By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On Thursday, Nov. 13, holiday season decorations were put in place at the Panora town square. The gazebo decorations are now lit at night, and the rest of the square will soon follow.

Representatives of 32 organizations that received GCCF funding.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

GCCF board members pictured include (front row): Stacey Simmons, Tammy Deal, JoAnn Johnson, Susan Belding, Joni Dvorak and Mary Ebert. (Back row): Jeremy Muell, Diane Flanery, Ryan Albers, Andrew Arganbright, Carla Hilgenberg, Kirby Klinge and Ruth Blomquist.

On Thursday evening, Nov. 13, representatives of 32 area entities came together at the Panora Community Center to describe the projects being done with funding from the Guthrie County Community Foundation (GCCF).

Groups represented included Little Charger Early Learning Center, Main Street Guthrie Center, Casey Public Library, Guthrie County Arts Council, Bayard Church of Christ, City of Panora, Yale Fire, Stuart Fire, Friends of Guthrie Center Library, Boys & Girls Club, Little Smiles & Company, Menlo Fire & Rescue, Coon Rapids Ambulance, Thomas Rest Haven, Coon Rapids Police, Guthrie County Hospital Foundation, Stitch & Chatter, YJB TTT, Panora EMS, West Central Youth Club, Panora Garden Club, Guthrie County Conservation, Stuart Public Library, Guthrie County Fair Foundation, Jamaica Fire, Guthrie Center Fire, Tri Center Association mealsite, Friends of Bayard Library, Guthrie County Historical Village, Tori’s Angels, Panorama Soccer Club and Guthrie County First Responders.

The mission of the Guthrie County Community Foundation is to foster giving, strengthen service providers and improve the local conditions and quality of life. The foundation promotes philanthropy, endowment building, community-building, capacity-building, grant making, organizational collaborations and public leadership for the benefit of Guthrie County and is committed to improving the quality of life throughout Guthrie County by investing in area nonprofits through its grant programs. The foundation also provides individuals, families and area businesses with a way to give back.

Grants are available to 501(c)3 organizations and government entities serving Guthrie County. Grant selections are made in an effort to create a better quality of life for people in Guthrie County. The local governing committee reviews the applications from charitable organizations serving their community.

Advisory board members include Ryan Albers, Diane Flanery, Andrew Arganbright, Carla Hilgenberg, Susan Belding, JoAnn Johnson, Tamara Deal, Kirby Klinge, Joni Dvorak, Ruth Blomquist, Mary Ebert, Jeremy Muell, Tom Rutledge and Stacey Simmons.

Applications are now available for groups wishing to request funds from the GCCF. They are due Jan. 31, 2026. Contact gccfoundation@gmail.com with any questions or visit www.GuthrieCountyCommunityFoundation.org.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Guthrie County State Bank’s annual Tower of Tissue drive is going on now through Nov. 30. Everyone is welcome to bring in boxes of facial tissues to be donated for use at ACGC and Panorama schools during cold and flu season. Guthrie County State Bank will match every donation, box for box.

Anyone donating four or more boxes can be entered in a drawing for $50 ($25 in Guthrie Center Chamber bucks and $25 in Panora Chamber bucks). Drawing will be held Dec. 5.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the Nov. 12 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, County Auditor Dani Fink explained that there was a five-way tie in the write-in votes for one of the Yale City Council “at-large” seats. The race was to fill three seats.

In that race, Clint Deardorff won with 43 votes (as a registered candidate), Tim Walker won with three votes (by write-in), and the five-way tie (with two write-in votes each) involved Gerald McComb, Anna Arganbright, Johanne Godwin, Christy Ocker and Scott Van Gundy.

By random drawing, Anna Arganbright was selected as the winner of the five-way tie.

“So, what we’ll do then is I’ll have to reach out to Tim and Anna both and make sure that they want to accept it,” Fink said.

The supervisors adopted Resolution 26-11 (Certification and Canvass of Guthrie County Election Results for the 2025 City/School Election) as presented.

Deputy Assessor Jessi Heimerman addressed the supervisors regarding the 2025 Family Farm applications. She explained that 19 applications were recommended for approval, while she recommended the remainder be disallowed. The supervisors voted to follow the recommendation as presented.

Veterans Affairs Director Beth Watson provided a quarterly report. She reported on increased usage of services offered in the Veterans Affairs department and the General Assistance Department.

“We’re going to have a mobile food pantry in Panora, behind the library and Veterans Auditorium building, Nov. 19 from about 3:30-6 p.m., and we need volunteers,” Watson said. “Three thousand pounds of food, and there were only two of us last month.”

Watson said the mobile pantry is for any needy recipients, not just veterans.

County Engineer Josh Sebern discussed plans for three road projects.

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#

Special to the Times Vedette

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, seven Sunshine Club members met at the Panora Public Library for a 1 p.m. meeting hosted by Charlotte Jackson. Charlotte presided over the meeting in Janine’s absence with the roll call question being, “What are you most thankful for?” Lots of good answers were given.

The minutes of the October meeting were read, and the treasurer’s report was given. Janine had secured the Christmas party meeting on Dec. 10 at the Owl’s Nest in Panora for an 11 p.m. lunch with the meeting and party following. Everyone is to bring two gifts for a gift exchange/game.

Anniversaries and birthdays were mentioned.

Nominated for Chair was Sandy Mortensen, Linda Godwin will remain as Secretary/Treasurer, Maribee will remain as Correspondence person and Trudy Woolman will be our new Historian.

Gina collected names of those who want to hostess meetings during the year with the calendar nearly full. Dues will be taken next month and in January.

Linda Thompson made a motion to adjourn with Charlotte’s second. Delicious refreshments were served.