Photos by Mark Reno | Special to the Times Vedette
ACGC’s class of 2026 held its awards night presentation on Wednesday, May 13 at ACGC High School. Students were recognized for a variety of accomplishments and honors.
Area elected officials pose in front of Freedom Rock.
Photos by Roger Dorr and Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
On Wednesday, May 13, an event was held at the Freedom Rock in Guthrie Center for area law enforcement officers. Remarks were given by local and state elected officials. The event was coordinated by the Guthrie County Chaplains.
Words of thanks were offered to the officers who keep our communities safe.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
On May 11, the Panorama School Board met in regular session. A public hearing was held regarding the proposed amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. No written or spoken comments were received, so the hearing was promptly closed. The board later unanimously approved the proposed amendment.
The board approved contracts for the 2026-2027 year, including Andrew King (instrumental music teacher) and Ashlie Allspach (MS/HS paraeducator). The resignation of Aidan Shorey (instrumental music teacher) was accepted, pending suitable replacement. The board also approved 2026-2027 teacher leader contracts of $7,500 each for Kellie Blomquist and Randy Miller as instructional coaches, and of $5,000 each for Jacki King, Debra Wooldridge, Mollie Lint and Lindsey Schroeder as teacher leaders.
The board approved an overnight trip for the high school girls basketball team to Spirit Lake Camp July 15-16 for 10 girls and three chaperones. The board also approved a fundraiser event during RAGBRAI (July 21) for the Dance Team, selling water, Panther Power Drink and a bake sale.
Two security upgrades were approved. The elementary school will have secure entrance doors installed at a cost of $23,763 and flooring in the entrance at a cost of $11,694. Weightroom flooring will also be replaced at a cost of $63,732.
In the Good News portion of the meeting, it was reported that the high school choir group that attended the Spring City Music Festival received an Exemplary rating, with a score of 54 out of 58. It was also noted that the Career Exploration class enjoyed a visit to Sunset Realty and to Panora Fiber.
Graduation is set for May 17, and the last day of school will be May 22. The next regular meeting of the Panorama school board is set for Monday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome.
Special to the Times Vedette
On Friday, May 8, Concordia University, Nebraska recognized the university’s professional church work graduates at a Sending Service. The worship service is an opportunity to celebrate the university’s graduating church work students.
The Sending Service recognizes graduates from five professional church work fields: pre-seminary, pre-deaconess, director of Christian education, director of parish music and Lutheran teachers, as well as Classical Lutheran Educator and Christian teacher graduates.
Among those recognized was Leah Fett of Panora. She was recognized for the Christian Teacher Diploma, an addition to a four-year degree for graduates who wish to teach in Christian parochial schools
At the service, more than 50 graduates walked across the stage during the worship service and was recognized. The future education plans, internship or church work call was announced at that time.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
The Jamaica Public Library has been selected as one of 240 libraries nationally to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities.
The award comes with a $20,000 grant to help improve accessibility including repairing sidewalk with easy or auto-entry door, tuckpointing the brick facade, metal sheathing or alternative for non-facing walls, and new upper story front windows/trim. The city welcomes estimates, especially from local contractors. The work needs to be completed outdoors before snow flies in 2026 as the project deadline is April 2027. BID CLOSING DATE: JUNE 30, 2026. To schedule a visit, contact Mayor Dennis Meinecke at jamaicacity@windstream.net or JPL Board President Andrew Gettler at aawoodservices@gmail.com.
“We are grateful to be chosen for this opportunity,” Library Director Laurie Carnahan said. “Our city, population 198, has recently completed a heavy lift of a $1.5 million water project that has left its coffers drained and, as a result, left our historic 1912 brick building lacking maintenance that would ensure mobility accessibility and durability. This grant will be used to catch up and provide for potential accessibility improvements for many years to come.”
The historic brick building first housed the fire station, jail, city clerk and council chambers. It was shared by the Jamaica Women’s Club that started the library in the 1940s with a shelf or two. Over time, the community used what was available to expand its library. The facility expanded through the wall of the building next door, and then, in 1980, had an addition where an extensive Guthrie County Genealogy collection now sits.
The library invites informal online, phone and in-person conversations about mobility needs and how the ALA grant can meet those needs. If you are interested in participating in the accessibility conversation, contact Laurie Carnahan at jampublib@netins.net or Facebook at Jamaica Public Library.
Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.
Note: Regular hours of operation for the Jamaica Public Library changed in April 2026. The current hours are Mondays/Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Fridays, 3-5:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 1:30-6 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Special to the Times Vedette
On May 12, more than 30 students were inducted into Central College’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Alison Egger, Class of 2029 from Stuart, and Eli Kading, Class of 2026 from Casey, were among those inductees.
The National Society of Leadership and Service is the largest and only accredited leadership honor society in the United States. It allows students to develop interpersonal skills for competitive job markets, learn from leaders like former U.S. presidents, CEOs and celebrities, and gain access to exclusive networking events.
Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private college known for its active student body, academic rigor and athletics success. Central offers a learning environment with educators committed to intellectual engagement, personal growth, career readiness and civic involvement. Founded in 1853 and shaped by its Christian heritage, the college of 1,100 students participates in NCAA Division III athletics. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake.