Panorama Speech Showcase is Feb. 6
Special to the Times Vedette
The Panorama Speech Showcase will be held Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Panorama High School Auditorium. A $3 donation is suggested.
Midwest Partnership holds annual dinner
By Shane Goodman | Times Vedette
Midwest Partnership, an economic development group for Adair and Guthrie Counties, held its annual meeting and dinner on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Community Building in Casey. The theme was “Sharing the Vision.” Dinner was provided by Café on the Hill.
Director Brenda Dudley shared a report highlighting the efforts of the organization over the past year and recognized current board members, as well as outgoing board members, Julie Dent-Zajicek and Mike Underwood.
The Adair County board members include:
- Kaye Bax, Retired Pharmacist at Fontanelle Drug
- Stacie Eshelman, Greenfield Chamber Main Street
- Renee Jensen, Adair City Council
- Kathy Rohrig, Orient Economic Development
- Scott Tonderum, Greenfield Municipal Utilities
- Matt Wedemeyer, Adair County Supervisór
- Holi Weston, Farmers Electric Cooperative
The Guthrie County board members include:
- Josh Calmer, Active Health Solutions
- Chris Carlson, Guthrie County State Bank
- Marty Doud, First State Bank
- Brad Hayes, BH Appraisals/Twin Vines
- Brian Johnson, Guthrie County Supervisor
- Cheryl Marks, Rolling Hills Bank & Trust
- Eric Reinhart, Bruner, Bruner, Reinhart; & Morton, LLP
The officers for 2025 are:
- President – Matt Wedemeyer
- Vice President – Brad Hayes•
- Julie Dent-Zajicek – 6 years
- Mike Underwood – 18 years
- Secretary – Renee Jensen
- Treasurer – Brian Johnson
- Past President – Marty Doud
Scott Tonderum presented the Entrepreneurial Economic Impact Award to Adair County Health System.
Guest speakers were Peter Nolte of Kwik Star, Steve Bricker of Cardinal Glass and Ryan Moon of the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
Learn more about Midwest Partnership at www.midwestpartnership.com.
Grant Sheeder and Barry Monaghan
Andy Randol, Mitch Johnk and Dennis Flanery
Jamie Carlson, Chris Carlson and Kris Arrasmith
Michelle Rumelhart and Steve Smith
Curt Thornberry, Rick Hunsaker and Brenda Dudley
Lynn Zajicek, Brad Hayes and Roger Dorr
Julie Dent-Zajicek, Roberta Gilson and Robin Dorr
Nancy Smith and J.D. Kuster
Ham balls for baseball
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
On Thursday, Feb. 6, the New Homestead and the ACGC High School baseball team are partnering to offer a fundraiser meal from 4:45-6 p.m. at the Guthrie Center Activity Center, 209 State St. All proceeds will benefit the baseball team.
The menu includes ham balls, green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, dinner roll, dessert and drink. Cost is $15 per meal, and to-go orders are also available. Following the meal, the Guthrie County Hospital Auxiliary will offer bingo.
A hobby for every interest
Jan Henderson shows her next book to read.
Jan Henderson reads books at a rate few can equal.
By Rich Wicks | Panora Times
Panora Library’s winter adult reading challenge runs through March 14.
Henderson recalled her mother and grandmother each reading quite a bit, but she didn’t catch the bug in her younger days. Although Henderson hasn’t always been a voracious reader, her life history helps to explain why she only became a bookworm in recent years.
Henderson was born in Myrtle Point, Oregon, and moved to the Panora area in 1959. She and her late husband, Edwin, farmed outside of Panora for many years, raising cattle, hogs and horses, which left little time for hobbies of any sort.
“I was busy farming and raising kids,” she said.
Edwin passed away in 2017, and Jan has lived at Panora Specialty Care for the past three years. She spends time playing solitaire, doing word search puzzles, and occasionally singing karaoke with others at the center. But reading is the hobby she spends the most time on, especially in the mornings.
Henderson does not have a particular genre or type of book she prefers but tends to avoid two genres.
“As long as it’s not a romance or a murder mystery, I’ll read it,” she said.
Henderson is in the habit of calling the Panora Library when she knows of books that she would like to borrow. One of the staff members at Panora Specialty Care then goes to the library to return some books and check out others for her. Henderson explains that she didn’t set a goal of reading 100 books, but it just turned out that way.
“I’d read three books in a couple weeks and send them back and get more books,” she said.
Because Henderson reads a wide variety of books, she says she never gets “burned out.” When she hears about a topic or book that catches her attention, she will make a note to ask the library staff if it is available.
“I read one book about my great-grandfather. He was one of the original Texas Rangers,” she said. “ ‘Yellow Flower Moon’ is another book I really enjoyed. It’s about the Osage Indians.”
Henderson said sometimes she isn’t able to get a certain book as quickly as she would hope, especially if it is a brand-new book or current bestseller, but she is willing to wait her turn. Because of that, she usually requests a few books at a time so she’ll always have something to read.
Nancy Armstrong at the Panora Library said anyone is welcome to follow Henderson’s lead by calling or emailing the library to request books or other materials. Even if the Panora Library doesn’t have something on hand, most materials can be borrowed through an interlibrary loan. Armstrong also pointed out that the library often runs programs with small prizes to encourage children and adults to read more. Currently, such programs for kids and adults have just begun, as of Jan. 15.
The library website also offers an online reading app called “Libby.” Armstrong noted that a total of 515 items were borrowed through Libby in December. In addition, a book club, Page Turners, meets on the fourth Friday of each month. For more information on any of these options, contact the library online or call 641-755-2529.
Unknown vehicle strikes Grand Caravan on White Pole Road
Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Kent Gries reported a two-vehicle accident occurring on Jan. 23 at 6:40 p.m. on White Pole Road. Michael Gordon Freestone, 72, of Redfield was driving a 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan S eastbound in the 3400block of White Pole Road and was traversing a curve to the northeast when his vehicle was struck by an unknown vehicle that was southwest bound and traversing the same curve to the west. Estimated damage to the Grand Caravan is $1,500.
Yukon backs into gas pump at Casey’s
Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Matt Losee reported a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Jan. 25 at 6:59 p.m. at Casey’s in Guthrie Center. Thea Ann Alexander, 18, of Boone was driving a 2015 GMC Yukon SLE and was backing out of the parking lot and struck a gas pump. Estimated damage is $5,000 to the Yukon and $2,000 to the gas pump.