By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The annual Panorama Days celebration saw a large crowd and beautiful weather over the weekend. The parade was even more popular than normal, as watchers gathered along Highway 44 and the side streets for nearly an hour to view the many floats and parade entries. 

Photos and video by Rich Wicks

Hospice of the Midwest group pauses prior to the parade.

The Panora Garden Club was well represented in the Panorama Days parade.

Panora-Linden’s class of 1975 rode in the parade.

Guthrie County Hospital and Clinics staff was ready to roll.

Beads were popular along the parade route.

ISU mascot Cy and friends pose during the parade.

Photos by Betty Cooper

Photos by Jolene Goodman

Special to the Times Vedette

The Panorama Days 5K Run/Walk was held on Saturday, Aug. 2. The top place winners were:

• First place male: Luke Kading, 16, Casey
• First place female: Kiera Andersen, 17, Ames                                 
• Second place male: Paul Kading, 16, Casey                                                
• Second place female: Kylie Rochholz, 16, Linden
• Third place male: Krayton Rutledge, 17, West Bend
• Third place female: Madalyn Childs, 20, Panora

Full results are as follows:     

Photos by Sue Bump

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Area 4-H and FFA youth recently competed in the Guthrie County Showdown on July 19 and the 8-county Heartland Throwdown in Ames on July 26.

Rachel Muir, Guthrie County ISU Extension and Outreach Youth Coordinator, provided some background information.

“The Guthrie County Showdown is put on by a committee of volunteers in Guthrie County. This show happens before the county fair, and it is a county-only based show. These exhibitors bring their animals to compete for a chance to make it to the Heartland Throwdown,” Muir said. “The Heartland Throwdown is an eight-county invitation-only regional show that took place in Ames on July 26. The winners from the Heartland Throwdown advance on to the All-Iowa Showdown to compete against all the other regional showdown winners in Oskaloosa on Aug. 2. Guthrie County was well represented by Leah Kastner and Rylee Robson winning their species Showmanship Award, as well as Leah Kastner taking Reserve Champion Breeding Heifer.”

Reserve Champion Market Sheep Bridget White

Reserve Champion Market Hog Blake Hodges

Reserve Champion Market Goat Jace Robson

Reserve Champion Market Beef Imersyn Wirt

Reserve Champion Breeding Heifer Irelyn Wirt

Reserve Champion Breeding Goat Jace Robson

Grand Champion Market Sheep Lexi Ford

Grand Champion Market Hog Chase Slaybaugh

Grand Champion Market Goat Shay Kress

Grand Champion Market Beef Caden Larsen

Grand Champion Breeding Hog Rylee Robson

Grand Champion Breeding Heifer Leah Kastner

Grand Champion Breeding Goat Brooklyn Haines

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

In 1852, a new home was built in Panora as the residence of Judge Theophilus Bryan. The building was converted into a hotel in 1864 and then was remodeled into its current structure in 1895.

Over the decades that the building functioned as a hotel, it operated under various names including Hotel Dean, the Roberts House, Morland Hotel and, most notably, the Hotel Panora.

The most familiar proprietor was Miss Elizabeth Hudson, who bought the hotel for $8,000 in 1926 and ran it until it was closed in 1984. During that span, there were 11 U.S. presidents, from Coolidge through Reagan, but only one Miss Elizabeth.

In the early years of the hotel, traveling salesmen represented a significant portion of the guests. But, over the decades, traveling salesmen became less numerous, so Miss Elizabeth returned to teaching in the 1930s while still running the hotel. She was also instrumental in helping to create the Guthrie County Historical Society.

Miss Elizabeth died in 1985 at the age of 100. Her estate made generous donations totaling nearly $50,000 to several local causes including Panorama Schools, the Century Museum Foundation, and Guthrie County Hospital.

The building is now owned by Chad and Brenda Olsen and is currently used as a private residence.

Much more information about the life of Miss Elizabeth and the hotel can be seen at the Guthrie County Historical Village. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids 6-17 years old. Kids younger than 6 are admitted free. The GCHV is located at 206 W. South St. in Panora, just a few blocks south of the former hotel building.

Today, the building points the way to the GCHV.

The building was once known as Hotel Dean.

Items from the hotel are displayed at the GCHV.

Meal prices from days gone by.

High rollers could opt for the best room, at $1 per night.

A sign shows the hotel was once the Morland Hotel.

Miss Elizabeth’s list of rules for guests includes, “Change underwear and socks daily.” That’s still good advice to this day.

Special to the Times Vedette

The StoryWalk grand opening event will be held Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at Raccoon River Valley Trail by Pedal-In. Free ice cream will be offered, sponsored by Bendickson Works.