Special to the Times Vedette

On Aug. 14, a total of 13 players participated. Dennis Betts got a 16; Dave Coffman got three 16s; Dick Ellis and Darwin Hughes each got a 17; and Dave Richter had a 16, 22 and 24.

On Aug. 17, a total of 11 players participated. Dan Webb and Chet Vaughan each got a 16. Kathy Feilmeier and Bill Sheeder got a 17; and Sue Mozingo 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.

Kayla, Daisy and Miranda Meyers at the Prime Coffee stand.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Although much of this past weekend was rainy, there was a pause in the precipitation on Saturday morning during the Panora Farmers Market. Vendors and shoppers took advantage of the chance to be outside without an umbrella, at least for a few hours.

Rocks in My Head offers various handmade products.

The Sister Sips crew on Saturday was four members of the Williams clan, including Kyra, Ryker, Brittni and Bennett.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The Guthrie Center Friends of the Library group presented a newly updated book sculpture on the west side of the Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library. The sculpture was painted by Elizabeth Baughman, an ACGC graduate and Guthrie Center resident. Baughman is a two-time Iowa All-State Art Award winner and four-time Conference Art Fair First Place winner.

Special to the Times Vedette

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, seven Sunshine Club members met at the home of Chari Heldenbrand for an 11 a.m. meeting and luncheon. Sandy called the meeting to order with the roll call being, “What is the furthest you have travelled from your home?” Lots of interesting answers were given along with why members were there.

The minutes of the July meeting were read, and the treasurer’s report was given.

Charlotte will not be able to have the September meeting, so Sandy suggested several small day trips the group could take; it was decided to take a trip to Manning to visit the 17^th Century German Hausbarn, which was built in 1660 in Germany, later dismantled, shipped and reconstructed at the Manning Heritage Park. The trip will be on Sept. 29 and the group will later decide the time and where to meet for rides.

The meeting adjourned with lunch to follow, and several members brought appetizers, desserts, veggies, fruit bowls and muffins to accompany the meal. Some stayed to play cards to complete the afternoon.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the Aug. 10 meeting of the Panorama School Board, it was announced that Panorama has been recognized as a FAFSA Focused School of Excellence for meeting or exceeding a 70% FAFSA completion rate. The Iowa Department of Education announced 74 Iowa schools are being recognized for their outstanding commitment to student completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the 2025-26 school year.

Awardees for the 2025-26 school year receive department support and resources to ensure students are prepared for success in transitioning to post-secondary education. The FAFSA helps determine students’ eligibility for scholarships, grants, work study and student loans and is also used by many post-secondary institutions to determine financial need. FAFSA completion is a core component of the program, helping students to finance post-secondary education and remove financial barriers to education and training beyond high school.

In a press release, The Iowa Department of Education shared more details.

“The FAFSA is the first step to accessing federal, state and institutional financial aid, which is vital for students who are pursuing their post-secondary educational dreams,” Christina Sibaouih, chief of the Department’s Bureau of Postsecondary Community Engagement, said. “It is wonderful to see the growing number of Iowa schools that are prioritizing FAFSA completion with their students to help open doors and postsecondary pathways to future success. Congratulations to our 74 schools that are being honored as FAFSA Focused Awardees.”

The Department awarded the FAFSA Focused School of Excellence award to 28 Iowa schools for meeting or exceeding a 70% FAFSA completion rate. Additionally, 46 Iowa schools received the Focused School of Achievement award for meeting or exceeding their FAFSA completion goal. Panorama achieved a 73% FAFSA completion rate, compared to the statewide average of 54.2%.

Upcoming dates noted included Aug. 19 (MS/HS Open House 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Aug. 19 (Sixth Grade Orientation at 6 p.m. in auditorium) and Aug. 24 (first day of school, 8 a.m. start time).

The board approved the Dance Team fundraiser (ISU concessions at football and volleyball, August/September/October 2026).

The board reviewed and unanimously approved the following district goals:

• District Culture — Successfully transition to and execute a four-day instructional week model by establishing transparent communication channels, optimizing instructional time, and ensuring smooth operational workflows that support staff, students and district families.
• District Operations — Optimize district facilities and physical environments by executing upgrades to support a safe, welcoming and high-functioning learning environment.
• Academic Excellence — Expand hands-on life skills development and personal growth opportunities to ensure all students are equipped with essential social, emotional, leadership and practical life skills.

The board approved replacement of a heat pump by purchasing a Daikin 3.5-ton water source heat pump. With labor and materials, the expected cost will be $11,920.

The board reviewed policies as part of the annual policy review and also held first and second readings on lists of policy updates.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting is set for Monday, Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

Special to the Times Vedette

On Aug. 12, a total of 14 players participated. Dave Richter got a 16; Robert Klever got a 16 and a 20; Dave Kading got a 21; Sue Mozingo got a 16 and a 20; and Lela Schwartz won with a 24.

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.