Attendees at the shred event included (kneeling): Olivia Beaudet and Libby Miller. (standing): Molly Allen, Kristie Reynolds, unidentified driver of the truck, Chris Hastings, Tina Thornberry and Trudy Hastings.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On Saturday, May 2, the Panora Public Library Foundation and Friends of the Library offered a free service to the community. Documents brought in were safely shredded to protect confidential information. A shredding truck was brought in to shred and dispose of the materials collected.

Photo courtesy of Panorama Community Schools.

Special to the Times Vedette

Team Panthers traded the classroom and sidelines for the fairways on Sunday at the Panora Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament at Lake Panorama National Golf Course. Here, they pose on the green with a cardboard cutout of current Masters champion Rory McIlroy.

Panorama High School Principal Thad Stanley, Superintendent Kasey Huebner (and his green jacket), Scott Stanley and Activities Director Bruce Dahlhauser took a few swings while supporting the business community.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Over the weekend, people in Guthrie Center may have noticed the city’s water tower undergoing a cleaning. The tower will also get a fresh paint job in time for thousands of visitors during RAGBRAI’s stop in the city in July.

Special to the Times Vedette

On May 3, the Iowa Legislature finished its work for the year, passing multiple bills directly tied to ICA priorities: protecting private property rights, supporting the long-term viability of Iowa’s beef industry through fair tax policy and funding for foreign animal disease preparedness and response. The ICA is encouraged by the progress made and looks forward to working with Gov. Reynolds to see key legislation signed into law.

“We are grateful for the strong engagement from legislators on issues that matter to Iowa cattle producers,” ICA CEO Bryan Whaley said. “On multiple fronts, our presence at the State Capitol this year yielded dividends for our members that emphasized the beef industry in Iowa.”

ICA-backed bills headed to the Governor’s Office include an interstate weight limit, land restoration for transmission lines, transmission line installation, greenhouse gas emission liability, and the Iowa Farm Act. More information for each bill is below:

• Interstate Weight Limits (HCR 6): A resolution urging Congress to increase interstate truck weight limits beyond 80,000 pounds, improving transportation efficiency for cattle producers.
• Land Restoration for Transmission Lines (SF 2227): Establishes clear standards for restoring agricultural land following transmission line construction, including tile repair, rock removal, and reseeding requirements.
• Transmission Line Installation in Interstate Rights-of-Way (SF 2214): Allows transmission lines to be constructed in interstate rights-of-way, reducing the use of eminent domain; this measure has been signed into law.
• GHG Emission Liability (HF 2527): Provides clarity and reasonable limits on liability related to greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural settings.
• Iowa Farm Act (SF 2465): Provides financial incentives for veterinarians in underserved areas, enhances biosecurity and foreign animal disease preparedness while protecting farmer confidentiality during emergencies, among other positive provisions.

In addition to advancing positive policy, the ICA worked to oppose legislation that they say could have negatively impacted cattle producers:

• Proposals that would have increased pressure on pastureland and land values, including expanded access to in-state hunting tags for out-of-state individuals.
• Measures that could have weakened veterinary education standards and strained access to quality veterinary services in Iowa.
• Legislation extending protections to black bears that could create future wildlife management challenges.

“Just as important as passing good policy is stopping harmful proposals,” ICA President Craig Moss said. “Our team remained engaged throughout the session to ensure cattle producers’ voices were heard at every step.”

Special to the Times Vedette

On May 1, a total of 14 players participated. Bill Sheeder, Paul McCool and Rhonda Titus each got one 16; Dave Richter got two 16s; Dan Webb got two 17s; and Dick Ellis got a 22.

On May 4, a total of 10 players participated. Rhonda Titus, Roy Carl and Dan Webb each got a 16; and Robert Klever got a 21.

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.

Julie and Marshall Burgess enjoy their car hobby.

Marshall and Julie Burgess share a passion for restoring vintage vehicles, highlighted by a 1955 Thunderbird and a family history of hands-on automotive projects.

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, April 2026

For the Burgess family of Panora, you could say classic cars run in the family. Marshall Burgess and his daughter, Julie, recently took time to explain their hobby of restoring cars that make their engines purr.

One of the cars is Julie’s 1955 Ford Thunderbird.

“Well, I guess it started with my harebrained idea that I wanted to get a classic car. My sister had a 1965 Mustang that she restored when she was in high school. I had some classic cars when I was younger but just didn’t have the money to do anything with them. So this story started in May 2024. I was just looking online to see what was out there. This ad popped up, and a gentleman near Des Moines had a 1955 and a 1956 sitting in a shed.”

The 1965 Mustang is an eye-catching car.

“We made an appointment to go see him, and miraculously it was pretty rust-free. We decided to take it, got it home, and the motor was stuck,” Julie said. “So we started putting lubricants into the valves and finally got it unlocked. Then the fun began. It’s been a learning curve, definitely. It had a lot of mechanical problems. I joined a couple of Thunderbird clubs online just to learn a little bit more about the car’s peculiarities.”

The unique features of any classic car model are both a blessing and a curse. Those qualities are what make a model special, but they also create challenges for anyone looking to restore such a vehicle. Marshall explained that 1955 was the first year Thunderbirds were made, adding that first-year models often have quirks manufacturers address in later versions.

“It’s not got the best paint job on it, but that’s one of the things she’ll do down the line,” Marshall said. “It has a lift-off convertible top. It’s got a V-8 engine. It starts and runs well now. We had quite a bit of trouble starting it the first time. Finally, we towed it down the street with a chain to get it started. We’ve had it running ever since.”

Julie explained that the 1955 Thunderbird was built with 6-volt wiring, but she may consider changing that.

“I’m definitely thinking about rewiring the car and bringing it up to 12 volts. I’m not a purist,” Julie said. “I’m not going to change the look of the car but just make it safer and easier to work on.”

Julie shared the purpose behind Ford introducing the Thunderbird model.

The Burgess’ 1955 Ford Thunderbird

“It was built to compete with Chevrolet’s Corvette,” Julie said. “It’s a two-seater. This particular car came off the line June 10, 1955, at the Dearborn plant, so it’s a midyear build.”

Marshall said the car was originally black but has been repainted red.

“Most people who restore cars and want to resell them paint them red. They call it ‘resale red,’ ” he said.

Julie said she plans to drive the car more as she becomes comfortable shifting it.

“I’m learning to drive it. It’s a three-speed manual transmission,” she said. “I’ve gotten past the point where I stall it all the time, so I’ve taken it out to cruise around town and to a couple of car shows.”

Marshall also spoke about the 1965 Mustang that belongs to his other daughter, Heather.

“My daughter, Heather, wanted to get an old Mustang, so at that time I looked through The Des Moines Register, and a guy had one for sale near Huxley. He wanted $400 for it,” Marshall said. “It was sitting in a field. It had a good hood, top and trunk lid, but the rest was all rusted out.”

“I decided to buy it for her, and I brought it home,” Marshall said. “We put it in a garage, and the Hummel boys were in high school and started working on it. I ordered parts, and Heather was a sophomore or junior at the time. She and the Hummel boys were in auto mechanics class.”

Marshall said the project took a lot of work, but they stayed with it.

“It has a three-speed on the floor, just like the Thunderbird. The first time she drove it was at her graduation,” Marshall said.

In recent years, Heather considered selling the Mustang, but Marshall encouraged her to keep it and found a place to store it locally.

“I said I’d store it, and we’ll drive it every now and then. I’m glad I talked her into keeping it. It’s a cute little car,” Marshall said. “It’s got a really good paint job now, and she’s put a whole new interior in it.”

The Burgess family enjoys showing the cars together.

“We had them at the Panorama Days car show together,” Marshall said. “That’s kind of unique, to have them sitting together at a car show.”