From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa’s 2024 estimated pheasant harvest was the second highest in nearly two decades, coming in at more than 460,000 roosters last fall, surpassed only by the 2023 harvest of 590,000.

This is the best back-to-back pheasant harvest years since 2007. Only South Dakota had more pheasants harvested last year.

The 2024 August pheasant survey showed a population decline of 14% from 2023, likely due to ill-timed spring flooding across northwestern Iowa.

“The roadside counts were confirmed in the small game harvest hunter survey, but overall we had a really good fall and are looking forward to this year’s August roadside survey to see where the bird numbers are ahead of the 2025 season,” Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said.

The statewide August roadside survey is conducted by Iowa DNR staff between Aug. 1-15, who drive 225, 30-mile routes on gravel roads at dawn on mornings with heavy dew. Hen pheasants will move their broods to the edge of the gravel road to dry off before they begin feeding, which makes them easier to count.

Bogenschutz estimated more than 77,400 hunters pursued pheasants in Iowa last fall, down from 83,600 in 2023.

Iowa’s quail hunters harvested 27,500 birds or 2,700 fewer than last year. Iowa’s rabbit and squirrel harvest both increased over 2023; rabbits by 13 percent to an estimated 77,000, squirrels by 32 percent, to more than 124,300. Iowa mourning dove hunters harvested an estimated 143,000 doves, down from the 195,000 in 2023.

A century of pheasant hunting

The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting in the Hawkeye State. The first season was held Oct. 20-22, 1925, when 13 counties in north central Iowa were opened to pheasant hunting. Hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit, for a half-day of hunting. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated.

Hunters can commemorate the 100^th anniversary by purchasing a hard card featuring Iowa Pheasants Forever Print of the Year when they purchase their 2025 hunting and fishing licenses.

Information on places to hunt, the August roadside survey results and more is available online by clicking the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting link at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

A large crowd was on hand during the annual Fourth of July celebration in Yale on Friday. The dunk tank, water balloons and bathtub races offered splashy fun, while visitors also enjoyed the vendor fair, various food and drink offerings, and the many other events that have made Yale a Fourth of July tradition in the area.

Photos by Betty Cooper

Click images to enlarge

Video by Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette

The Lake Panorama Ski Team has been a part of Panorama Days for more than 40 years. This year’s show will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2 with parking and viewing on Lake Panorama’s south shore.

The theme for the 2025 show is “Making Waves Since 1985.” The history of water skiing, which began in 1922 in Lake City, Minnesota, will be showcased with costumes, music and on-shore skits that allow the water to calm down between acts.

Prior to the show, members of the ski team will be in the Panorama Days parade towing the Ski Team boat with kids “skiing” behind the boat and adults throwing candy.

The ski team has 42 members this year with 32 of those skiing. Others help with ropes, boat driving, music, photography and general organization.

There are 12 kids skiing this year, ranging in age from 5 to 16. Of the 20 adult skiers, the youngest is 18 years old, and the oldest is in his 70s.

For many, ski team is a family activity. The Reese and Lefkow families both have three generations involved.

The Reese family includes Grandpa Mark, his son Eric, daughter Sarah Mills, and Sarah’s kids, Tate, Reese and Chloe. The Lefkow family includes Grandpa Bruce, Grandma Liz, daughter Laura Eslinger, and Laura’s daughters, Evelyn and Ella.

New members of all ages are welcome to join the ski team. The only requirement is membership in the Lake Panorama Association.

Ski team practice starts at the end of May. Practices are held each Thursday night, weather permitting, from 6-8:30 p.m. In June, team members spend most practices trying different things. As the kids get older and bigger, they try different acts each year.

In July, the team firms up the acts and act order. Practices are held both Tuesday and Thursday the last two weeks of July. Practices the last week of July are dress rehearsals with the skits and music.

This year’s ski show is expected to last about an hour and a half. Again this year, there will be canopies and free water on the south shore to help with the heat. Viewers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.

Buoys will be placed in the water to mark off the show area. Boats can anchor behind the buoys and tie up with friends to watch the show.

The show will include Matt Lukacs and his barefoot skiing, the “Willie” hitchhiker act with father and son duos Larry and Clint Isom and Eric and Leyton Temple, a 10-girl line, three-high pyramids, doubles acts where girls ride on guys shoulders, saucers with stools, kneeboarding and more.

This is the third year for the Lake Panorama ski team to have formal legal status. In 2023, a board of directors was formed, officers elected, bylaws established, and 501(c)3 nonprofit status obtained.

Because of the ski team’s nonprofit status, donations are tax deductible. Donations help cover gas in the boats, team insurance, equipment and equipment maintenance, costumes and props.

A QR code printed on ski team posters and pamphlets will be available at the show and other locations to allow electronic donations. Donations also can be made by check, payable to Lake Panorama Ski Team, and mailed to P.O. Box 384, Panora, Iowa, 50216. 

By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette

Each year, the Panora Women’s Service Organization (WSO) conducts fundraising activities to make it possible to provide a scholarship to a Panorama Community School graduating senior. This year’s recipient is Arilyan Steenblock. She is shown with Beth Muenzenberger and Nancy Loeck, members of the WSO scholarship committee.

Steenblock plans to attend Creighton University, majoring in nursing, with an emphasis on women’s health.

The WSO’s annual home tour is the group’s major fundraiser and funds this renewable $500 scholarship each year, making four scholarships paid annually. This year’s home tour was June 6.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the July 8 regular meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Health Services Director Jotham Arber expressed a need to have another monitoring well drilled at the transfer station.

Arber said he had hoped to receive local bids, but despite contacting many firms in and out of the local area, only one was received. He said this is likely because it is such a relatively small project for any well-drilling company. The one bid received was from EcoSource.

Arber explained the reason for drilling another monitoring well.

“The DNR decided another background monitoring well is needed to verify the water sampling that we’re doing,” Arber said.

Arber said the cost is expected to be $3,965. The supervisors approved accepting the bid for the monitoring well.

County Treasurer Brenda Campbell provided an update on her department. She told of ongoing trainings for those in the department, as well as trends in usage of the various services provided by the department.

“We issued a total of 3,397 driver licenses this past fiscal year, and 814 of those were out of county,” Campbell said. “We also issued 276 CDLs (Commercial Driver Licenses).”

Supervisor Steve Smith updated the supervisors on his progress drafting a proposed new format for employee evaluations. He noted that the target date for implementing any new format is Jan. 1, 2026. Supervisor Chair Maggie Armstrong said she will work on turning Smith’s draft into a PDF form so users can type in it. The supervisors approved the new format.

No members of the public spoke during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.

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 July 7, a total of 12 players participated. Dennis Betts got a 17. Kay Phippen, Allen Pierce, Robert Klever each got a 16, and Bashful Willie got a 20.

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.