By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the month of June, the Panora Public Library will kick off its Summer Reading program for kids of all ages, infant to 18. Interested readers can pick up a tracking sheet and earn prizes for summer reading.

On Friday, June 6 at 10 a.m., the library will host a “Zoo to You” event at the Panora Community Center in cooperation with the Blank Park Zoo.

On the other Fridays in June (June 13, 20 and 27) the library will hold “Stories, Crafts and Games” for kids of all ages beginning at 10 a.m. each day.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Guthrie County Arts Council announced its 2025 Jennifer Hewitt Memorial Art Awards, presented annually to an outstanding graduating senior art student in each of Guthrie County’s four school districts. The following student artists were recognized:

ACGC: Tessa Sheeder. Teacher comments: “Shows potential talent in visual arts, is a productive worker, and overall nice person.”

COON RAPIDS-BAYARD: Ava LaRue. Teacher comments: “Has a great attitude and works really hard.”

PANORAMA: Aubrey Lincoln. Teacher comments: “Aubrey has consistently demonstrated remarkable creativity and dedication to the arts. She has explored a wide range of artistic mediums — including graphic design, photography, drawing, painting and ceramics — with enthusiasm and a genuine passion for learning and growth. Aubrey approaches each project with thoughtfulness and determination, always putting forth her best effort. Her artistic journey has been inspiring to witness, particularly during her senior year, where her work has truly flourished. Her talent, work ethic and creative spirit make her an outstanding recipient of this award.

WEST CENTRAL VALLEY: Alison Egger. Teacher comments: “Alison is extremely creative and hard-working. You add this to being very talented and that makes for a great artist.  Alison is also pleasant to be around.  She is submitting a project to All-State Art.  Alison is very deserving of this honor.”

The Guthrie County Arts Council art awards are given in memory of Jennifer Hewitt (1957-2021), who faithfully supported the vision of the Arts Council as a member artist, volunteer, president, event coordinator, teacher, mentor and friend. These awards are funded by donations throughout the year, as well as funds raised on Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for coffee and treats provided by volunteer Jennine Maas at Art on State, 320 State St., Guthrie Center. 

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the May 27 meeting of the Panora City Council, the councilmembers approved Resolution 25-24, authorizing the closure of Iowa Highway 44 and other city streets at certain times during Panorama Days, Aug. 1-3.

City Administrator Lisa Grossman updated the council on the city’s plans to purchase a new skid loader.

“Our budget, we were looking around $60,000, and they are going to give us $15,200 for our trade-in,” Grossman said. “With everything, it came to about $64,500 with our trade-in.”

As part of the Consent Items, the council approved a retail liquor license renewal for Local Liquor.

Grossman reported that no citizens had preregistered to address the council on any matters during the Public Forum portion of the meeting.

Grossman explained that the city’s brush facility is now open, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, seven days a week. She reported that some violations of allowed usage have already been caught on camera.

The next regular meeting is set for Monday, June 9 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome. Interested persons may attend in person or electronically by visiting the website https://meet.goto.com/cityofpanora or by phone 1-312-757-3121 (Access Code 295-099-701, Audio PIN 220#).

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the May 27 meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council, resident Renea Winkelblack addressed the council regarding what she views as unequal treatment regarding ordinance violations. She noted that in April, she informed the city’s compliance officer of several properties in violation of city ordinances, and no apparent action has occurred.

“Here we are, a month later, and the places that I complained about still are not taken care of,” Winkelblack said.

Winkelblack said she feels singled-out by Compliance Officer Wes Clark for compliance violations.

“There’s a lot of other people in this town that have the same stuff in their yard that I have in mine, but he’s coming after me and wanting to fine me all this money,” Winkelblack said.

Mayor Mike Herbert said he would discuss the matter with Clark.

The council heard an update from City Administrator Kris Arrasmith regarding the funding for the Little Charger daycare center. Arrasmith said she had been in contact with bond attorney J Danos and received advice on how the city could best handle the situation.

“He’s very well versed in these things. Long story short, the easiest and cleanest for a public entity is to do a ‘moral obligation,’ Arrasmith said. “He would write it up for us.”

Arrasmith explained what the suggested step would entail.

“Basically, what it says is, should they (Little Charger) get into trouble, the council would give full consideration to assisting them however they could financially. It’s not binding; it’s kind of a gentleman’s agreement,” Arrasmith said.

The council consensus was to move forward on the moral obligation letter.

The council discussed a request to allow livestock on a property zoned C-3 near the Rural Electric Cooperative on the eastern edge of Guthrie Center. Arrasmith said if the council chooses to allow this, it would simply be an agreement and not an ordinance change. The council voted to allow the livestock as requested.

Arrasmith informed the council that state law now allows non-commercial fireworks to be used from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 3, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4, and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. She explained that cities can have ordinances that are less restrictive than this, but not more restrictive. 

The next regular meeting is set for Monday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Hospital announced the addition of the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) procedure to its suite of diagnostic services. This cutting-edge procedure will help assess and treat swallowing disorders with a minimally invasive approach, providing patients with an enhanced level of care.

FEES is a highly effective diagnostic tool that uses a small, flexible fiberoptic camera to examine the throat and evaluate the swallowing process in real time. The procedure helps detect swallowing difficulties, which can be critical in preventing aspiration and related health complications, including pneumonia and malnutrition.

Improved Patient Care

“FEES provides an invaluable resource in diagnosing and treating patients with swallowing disorders,” Kenzie Jensen, a speech therapist at Guthrie County Hospital, said. “By offering this service, we can provide a quicker and more comfortable evaluation process for patients, ensuring they receive the best possible care for conditions that affect their quality of life.”

What patients can expect

The FEES procedure is performed by trained speech-language pathologists, Kenzie Jensen and Kacie Wolinski. FEES are typically completed in, but not limited to, the hospital’s outpatient clinic. During the procedure, a small, flexible scope is passed through the nose to observe the throat, larynx and esophagus while the patient swallows various foods and liquids. The procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and requires no sedation, allowing patients to return to their normal activities shortly afterward.

Benefits of FEES include:

• Comfort and convenience: The procedure is well-tolerated by patients and can be done in a seated position, offering convenience and comfort compared to traditional methods.
• No radiation exposure: Unlike other imaging tests, FEES does not expose patients to radiation, making it a safer option for repeated evaluations.
• Accurate diagnosis: FEES allows for real-time visualization of the swallowing process, leading to more accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment plans.

Consult with your primary care provider to determine whether you meet the criteria for a FEES assessment.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Property owners in Guthrie Center have likely received automated call(s) from Guthrie Center Municipal Utilities regarding a survey. City Administrator Kris Arrasmith provided background information about the process.

“As a gas utility provider, we are required to do a “public awareness” call to our utility customers each year,” Arrasmith said.

There is no penalty for customers who choose not to participate in the survey. Customers may receive several call attempts, and the calls should end by around the end of May.

Arrasmith noted that the survey is short and easy.

“The questions are very basic, about a half dozen questions, and no personal information will be requested,” Arrasmith said. “When I did mine, it took less than 90 seconds.”