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Iowa’s spring semester president’s list honorees announced

Special to the Times Vedette

More than 1,250 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa were named to the president’s list for the 2025 spring semester including:

  • Brix Carstens of Bagley
  • Anna Lauritsen of Guthrie Center
  • Angel Poldberg of Panora
  • Justin Reinhart of Guthrie Center

Grambart named to spring Deans’ List at Nebraska

Special to the Times Vedette

Jackson Thomas Grambart of Panora has been named to the Deans’ List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the spring semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Grambart, a senior majoring in accounting, was named to the Dean’s List for the College of Business.

More than 6,700 students at Nebraska were named to the Deans’ List for the spring semester. Qualification for the Deans’ List varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Explore Center. For the full Deans’ List, visit https://go.unl.edu/deanslist-spring25.

Lake Panorama water level drops 18 inches, caution urged

Special to the Times Vedette 

The Lake Panorama Association (LPA) reported early this morning that the water level on the lake is currently 18 inches below the normal pool.

Early this morning, the LPA dam experienced a malfunction in its control system that caused the dam gate to lower and discharge a substantial amount of water. This malfunction was corrected around 4:30 a.m. The LPA says the dam gate has been raised all the way up and is locked in place.

Lake Panorama is currently returning to normal pool level, although the LPA says the timing of the recovery may be slow. LPA is also in the process of obtaining the necessary parts and making repairs to ensure this problem does not reoccur. Meanwhile, boaters are advised to use extreme caution while boating, as the lower lake level will expose a number of underwater hazards that are not a concern when the lake is at full pool. Some boaters may also struggle to get their boats off their lifts until the lake returns to normal levels.

The LPA’s initial assessment indicates this malfunction is unrelated to LPA’s planned replacement of the dam cylinders. The assessment will be revisited to confirm the issue is limited to the control system in the dam control house. The LPA confirmed that the issue was brought to attention in real-time by alarms associated with the USGS river and lake gauges, which the LPA funds for this purpose.

Buick strikes parked truck in Jamaica

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Kent Gries reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on June 18 at 9:55 a.m. on Fourth Avenue in Jamaica. Stephen Alan Lent, 70, of Jamaica, was driving a 2004 Buick LeSabre westbound and turned southbound into a parking spot and struck a 2006 Ford Ranger that was legally parked. Damage to the Buick is estimated at $1,500. Damage to the Ford Ranger is estimated at $1,500. No injuries were reported. 

F-150 takes out speed sign and light pole

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Bennett reported a single-vehicle accident occurring on June 21 at 7:07 p.m. on Prairie Street. Sheldon Joseph Astley, 22, of Bayard, was driving a 2016 Ford F-150 Supercrew westbound and lost control and drove into the westbound ditch, striking a speed sign and light pole. The vehicle came to rest in the westbound ditch. Damage to the F-150 is estimated at $7,000. Damage to the light pole and speed sign is estimated at $3,500. Astley was charged with failure to maintain control, using electronic communication device, and operating while under the influence first offense. 

Acura hits directional signs, guardrail on White Pole Road

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Chief Deputy Todd Thorn reported a single-vehicle accident occurring on June 22 at approximately 5:28 a.m. on White Pole Road. David Wilfredo Ortiz Merino, 33, of Des Moines, was driving a 2010 Acura TSX eastbound on White Pole Road and went off the south shoulder and into the ditch, colliding with two directional signs and a guardrail. Damage to the Acura is estimated at $5,000. Damage to the guardrail is estimated at $2,500.