By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

At its Jan. 27 meeting, the Panora City Council considered renewing a proposed contract between the city and Ziegler Power Systems. According to the proposed customer support agreement, Ziegler would maintain a generator so that the city would still have water service in the event of a power failure. The agreement would run from Feb. 1, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2028, at an annual cost of $6,730.42. The council voted to approve the renewal.

A public hearing was held regarding the status of grant funds for the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Contract 23-HSGU-005, which relates to the property at 113 E. Main in Panora. Karla Janning, Housing Programs Coordinator at Region XII Council of Governments, spoke on the status.

“Panora received $550,000 of CDBG of grant funds to provide funding for the creation of three upper-story rental units. All three rental units will serve households at or below 80% of the county AMI (area median income),” Janning said.

She added that for a household of one, that criterion would be $63,300.

“Construction is approximately 59% complete on the units and is scheduled to be substantially complete by April 30, 2025, well ahead of the Feb. 28, 2026, end date for the program,” Janning said.

Janning added that the developer will offer the council a chance for a walk-through tour of the project sometime this spring. No other citizens addressed the council, and City Administrator Lisa Grossman said no written comments had been received. The public hearing was then closed.

The council passed resolution 25-06, amending the city’s legal representation to include attorney John Twillman of Bump Law Firm.

The next regular meeting of the council will be Monday, Feb. 10 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 Jan. 27 meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council, Steve Smith and Lyndsay Gilland, on behalf of Main Street Guthrie Center, asked the council to consider displaying banners on city light poles to honor local veterans. Each such banner would display one veteran, and the banners would be displayed in a rotation so that all interested veterans would eventually be shown.

Smith explained that Gilland had witnessed another city in Iowa that has done this, and they are investigating whether this could be done in Guthrie Center. To help avoid weather damage, the plan would be for the banners to be displayed only half the year.

“They would go up Memorial Day, and they would come down Veterans Day, every year,” Gilland said.

Smith added that if this program were to be implemented, he suggests having somewhere indoors where banners would be displayed while they are awaiting their turn to be displayed on street light poles.

The council consensus was that the city is interested in looking further into this possibility.

Dorinda Wehde from New Opportunities addressed the council to ask them to proclaim March 2025 as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The council voted to approve this request, and Mayor Mike Herbert will sign a proclamation to that effect.

Doctor Steven Bascom and Jerri Hawkins provided an annual report on the MJB public library.

The council discussed a request from Panora EMS. Ambulance call data has been analyzed, and Panora EMS sent a request to Guthrie Center to increase annual funding to $50,000 per year, per a 28E agreement, to account for usage. Council members agreed this is reasonable and approved the payment in 12 monthly installments.

The council approved purchasing a furnace for the fire hall, since the existing furnace is more than 20 years old. Three bids had been received, and the council approved the bid of $10,450.05 from Doug’s Plumbing and Heating. Chuck Cleveland and Garold Thomas abstained from voting.

The council discussed the possibility of lowering speed limits on Bluff Street and School Street to 25 mph. There was also discussion of installing a sign on Highway 25 on the northern edge of the city, letting traffic know of a school stop sign. No formal action was taken on these suggestions, but the next meeting agenda will include these items.

The next regular meeting will be Monday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

Ava Thompson was named queen, and Austyn Smith was named princess.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Guthrie County Cattlemen’s Banquet was held at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds Events Center in Guthrie Center.

The evening began with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. followed by a beef dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the trophy/banner auction. Money raised will be used for scholarships and to promote beef in the county and through the state.

The 2024 Queen Shay Lemke and Princess Paige Van Meter reported on their activities from the past year.

The 2025 queen candidates were Irelyn Wirt, daughter of Bandy and Kindy Wirt; Gracie Hodges, daughter of Bret and Brandy Hodges; Austyn Smith, daughter of Shadam and Megan Smith; and Ava Thompson, daughter of Andrew and Heather Hellman and Josh and Ashley Thompson.

Ava Thompson was crowned as the 2025 queen, and Austyn Smith was named the 2025 princess.

A variety of door prizes lined several tables.

Tables included swag for attendees.

Tables filled up quickly during social hour.

Trinity, WCV FFA Member, and Dennis Flanery, GCH Foundation Director

Special to the Times Vedette

West Central Valley (WCV) FFA donated fleece tie blankets to Guthrie County Hospital for patients.

“Each December, we make blankets and donate them to an organization near us that can use them. The kids donate their time one evening and all come together to make the blankets. It is a fun community service opportunity for our students and shows them the power of serving others,” Molly Dolch, West Central Valley FFA Advisor, said.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association gives out a number of awards to recipients each year in an effort to highlight those who work in high school athletics across the state. One of those awards, the Sports Media Award, has been given annually since 1992. In that time, 55 individuals have been recognized for their contributions to covering local high school activities and the impact they have had on the communities in which they work.

Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Executive Director Erin Gerlich presented a 2025 award to Luann Waldo this past weekend during halftime of Friday night’s basketball game at Panorama High School on behalf of the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association.

Waldo retired this past fall after reaching a 50-year milestone in the newspaper business. She spent many years on the sidelines or in gyms covering sporting events for the Bayard News Gazette.

Gerlich said, “Thank you Luann for your immeasurable impact on our community, as well as others across many other neighboring communities.”

Special to the Times Vedette

On Friday, Jan. 24, a total of 11 players participated.

Bill Sheeder got a 15, Allen Pierce got a 16 and a 20, Debbie Kiefer had a 17, Dan Webb got a 16, and Kathy Feilmeier got the 24.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library on Mondays at 8 a.m., at the New Homestead independent living rec room at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays, and at the Guthrie Center Activity Center 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.