Special to the Times Vedette

Weary Ramblers racked up two more awards this week in a growing list of accomplishments. The duo’s song, “Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue,” has been awarded the Overall Grand Prize winner and Best Country Bluegrass Song of the 2026 International Acoustic Music Awards.

“It is an absolute honor to be awarded this prestigious recognition. Artists like Charlie Parr and Dom Flemons have won the Overall Grand Prize in the past. It’s exciting to now be in a club with those kinds of artists,” Weary Ramblers member Kathryn Severing Fox said.

Weary Ramblers is an Iowa-based duo featuring Severing Fox and Chad Elliott. They began performing together in 2022 and released their first album in 2024. Since then, the duo has collected a long list of achievements that has gathered recent steam.

“It’s been a surreal year, and this past month has been incredible. Each recognition is so meaningful, and it’s an honor to be recognized in the country, bluegrass, acoustic and blues music worlds. We love being artists that stay out of a box, so being recognized in multiple genres has affirmed our unique path,” Severing Fox said.

The award-winning song, “Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue,” is from Weary Ramblers second album, “Driftwood,” which was released in late 2025. The song features influential, bluegrass vanguard Sam Bush on mandolin. It was co-written by Elliott and Severing Fox while they were on tour.

“We were touring through the Southeast. We both caught pneumonia on tour, but it didn’t stop us from writing. It was late at night as we crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky. We saw a sign that read “Bluegrass Highway,” and a full moon hung on the horizon. We just knew a song needed to be written. With lots of time behind the wheel, we worked out the harmonies as we coughed between verses,” Elliott said.

In addition to the Overall Grand Prize win and Best Country Bluegrass Song award of the International Acoustic Music Awards, Weary Ramblers have recently garnered several other big achievements. They won the Josie Music Award for Song of the Year in the Americana Duo/Group/Collab category. They were awarded a Silver Medal in the 2026 Global Music Awards for both the Americana and Duo categories. They also won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the Solo/Duo category. In addition, Elliott was awarded Best Guitarist at the International Blues Challenge.

“These recent accolades are opening many new doors for us. We are going on the Legendary Blues Cruise, the Durango Blues Train and we have tours in different regions starting to line up. We are very excited about everything that’s coming. It feels like our hard work of continuous writing and performing is really beginning to pay off,” Elliott said.

Learn more about Weary Ramblers by visiting www.wearyramblers.com.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

As of Feb. 20, Adair and Guthrie counties are among 15 Iowa counties with a current open burn ban in effect. To see the updated status of burn bans or other important notices from the Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency, see the agency’s Facebook page or visit https://iowa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/c22956334fd8435080ed851f549c5263.

Note: this ban does not prohibit the use of outdoor fireplaces or barbecue grills.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Ice fishing for winter 2026 is rapidly coming to an end in Iowa, including at traditional late season lakes across the far north part of the state.

In recent days, a UTV broke through the ice on East Okoboji Lake and a pickup truck broke through to its frame on West Okoboji Lake. Earlier on Wednesday, a wheel house-style ice fishing shelter broke through on West Okoboji Lake.

The UTV has been fished out; the pickup removal will happen soon; and the wheel house is being removed.

“The quality of ice is deteriorating quickly in a lot of places,” said Capt. Greg Harson, Law Enforcement supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources covering northwest Iowa. “For anyone coming up here looking for ice, the conditions are not great. Ice could be good in one place, then poor in another.

“Most of the locals have put their gear away for the season.”

Much of the north side of Spirit Lake is ice free and the ice heaves near shore on Clear Lake have opened. All other north Iowa lakes are losing ice as well, and while the spring like temperatures are forecast to retreat to more seasonal for middle February, the nightly lows will not be low enough to reset the ice.

Anyone planning to go ice fishing should do so on foot, with a spud bar to check ice thickness often, and plan to bring a throwable flotation cushion with at least 50 feet of rope.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

While the weather was starting to feel like spring, water temperatures are still dangerously cold.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends that paddlers wait for consistent warm weather to allow the water temperatures to rise slowly. It could be several weeks before water temperatures are ideal and safe as water and air temperatures continue to change.

“Air temperatures are warmer than normal this year, but the water is still dangerously cold,” said Todd Robertson, Iowa DNR River Programs Water Trails coordinator. “We have not had enough consistently warm days to raise water temperatures adequately. Cold water shock and hypothermia can set in quickly if you fall into the water at current temperatures.”

Safety tips for paddling in cold water conditions

• Always wear a life jacket. Not only does the life jacket help keep your head above water, it helps to keep your organs warmer.
• Check your canoe or kayak and gear for any needed repairs or maintenance after being stored for several months.
• Don’t paddle alone, especially in cold water, use a buddy system. Go with a small group of paddlers and know which paddler has the most experience.
• Let a friend or loved one know where you are going and when you are expected to return. It will be easier to find you if you need help.
• Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Plan as if you were to be in the water at some point. A wetsuit or drysuit is a must. Dress in layers so you can peel a layer off if you get overheated.
• Bring along a dry bag with extra clothing to change into should you get wet. Get out of wet, cold clothing as soon as possible. Having the right gear and understanding the stages of hypothermia is crucial for remaining safe.
• Stay away from strainers, wood/branch piles that can pull a paddler under. These are usually found on outside river bends where the current is going and are deadly hazards that must be avoided.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

A record 16 ACGC students have been recognized as outstanding All State Large Group Speech participants and will be celebrated at the IHSSA All State Festival in Ames on Saturday, Feb. 21. Kelsey Dinkla shared information on the ACGC students that will be performing at the event.

Group Mime: Seams, Smoke, and Silence will perform at 2:15 p.m. in the Sukup Endzone Club (on the south side of Jack Trice Stadium). Their story is about the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. Members include Kennedy Reinhart, Ilana Baumert, Cadence Petersen, Natalie Dinkla, Karlynn Wetzel and Olivia Mahaffey.

Additionally, ACGC’s Improv Team Dinkla/Knutter and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” have earned special recognition in Group Improv and Musical Theatre, respectively. Group Improv members include Carter Dinkla, Max Trujillo-Garcia, Lucy Knutter, and Preston Kent. Musical Theatre members include Tanner Downing, Rohnin Grasty, Ilana Baumert, Megan Underwood, Natalie Dinkla, Montana Douglas, Blakely Buttler and Blair Brown.

Special congratulations to Ilana Baumert and Natalie Dinkla for being selected as double All Staters. The ACGC Large Group Speech Team is coached by Kelsey Dinkla and Manda Thomas.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Currently, the Panorama School District is exploring the possibility of changing to a four-day instructional week for students in all grades. There are many potential advantages and disadvantages to this plan; this article shares perspectives on each side of the issue.

In hearing from those on both sides of this issue, it is clear there is agreement that the focus must remain on providing quality education for the district’s students. The question is how to achieve that goal.

Panorama Schools’ website offers plentiful information and the reasons Panorama is considering the change. If the change is implemented as proposed, the four-day instructional week system would begin in October 2026. Classes would be held regularly on Tuesdays through Fridays. Class periods in the secondary school would increase from 43 to 55 minutes.

One of Panorama’s stated main reasons for the proposed change is teacher recruitment and retention. A four-day week could be an incentive for teachers to come to or stay teaching in the district. According to Panorama Superintendent Kasey Huebner, teachers would be expected to be present two Mondays per month. Those Mondays could be used partly for professional development for educators.

“We know that for some of our teachers, time is a precious resource. Offering two flexible Mondays a month is a powerful ‘time benefit’ that many educators value more than a slightly higher paycheck elsewhere,” Huebner said. “It’s a move that respects their quality of life, giving them the breathing room to dive into student data and prepare great lessons so they can show up and fully engage their students.”

One of the main concerns of many families regarding the proposed change is daycare. Huebner shared his perspective.

“We understand that families have questions about childcare, and we have asked this question to other districts that have implemented the four-day instructional weeks. By adopting this calendar, we would offer families more stability and consistency, reducing the disruptive schedule changes throughout the week that can complicate work and home life. By having a conversation with local daycare options, I’m confident they would be able to accommodate care on Mondays,” Huebner said. “Under the new calendar, Tuesday through Friday remains entirely consistent and predictable. While learning from a few other districts, these districts initially attempted to provide school-run care on the fifth day, but most found that those programs were underutilized and eventually discontinued them as families were able to identify their own preferred solutions. Ultimately, this change allows the district to focus on high-quality instruction while providing a more reliable schedule for the days students are in the building.”

Academic achievement is an area of concern with any proposed schedule change. The data on comparing academic achievement in five-day versus four-day settings is a mixed bag. Overall, there does not seem to be a clear trend.

Another point to clarify is that potential cost savings is not the reason Panorama is considering the schedule change. Districts that have changed to a four-day week have generally seen only very minor savings, if any.

Another concern is that some students may face food insecurity or gaps in adequate supervision, and a four-day week could increase those problems. Huebner shared how Panorama would address these issues.

“The reality is that food insecurity doesn’t take a day off, which is why we’ve already built a strong foundation to handle this as a district. We have our on-site food pantry fully stocked, and we will continue to provide weekend backpacks of food for any family that requests them. By moving to a four-day instructional week, we can actually be more intentional about ensuring those backpacks are sent home with everything a student needs for those three days away,” he said. “Regarding supervision, we’ve found that a more consistent Tuesday through Friday schedule actually helps families plan better than the old ‘early out’ days did. We would be happy to partner with any local organizations to identify supervised options for that fifth day.” 

Mary Calmer is a parent of a Panorama Schools student, and she agreed to share her thoughts on the issues involved in the proposed change to a four-day instructional week.

“I live just outside of Jamaica. I have a first grader and two younger kids who are not enrolled in school yet,” Calmer said. “The parents that I have asked at basketball games and other events, it seems like most have negative opinions about it. It’s just a huge change that’s going to affect the whole community. I think it just deserves more thought.”

Calmer does not dispute the stated goals of the proposed change but worries the downside may outweigh any benefits.

“I understand the purpose of this. They want to attract more teachers to our school district, but it’s likely going to have negative consequences that haven’t been thought of. We may see enrollment numbers decline. And if our test scores start falling compared to neighboring districts, that’s even less attractive. So, I think this is a short-sighted solution to the problem,” she said. “My husband and I would seriously consider open-enrolling out if this moves to a four-day school week.”

Calmer is concerned that childcare and related financial hardships could impact many families if the schedule changes.

“I did some research, and roughly 60% of families with children under 18 have both parents working fulltime, so that means a large part of our community is going to be impacted by this. Either one parent is going to have to stop working one day a week or maybe stop working altogether, or they’re going to have to pay for childcare for one day a week,” Calmer said.

A public hearing on the topic will be held just prior to the next regular meeting of the Panorama School Board. The hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9 at the district board room at the high school. The public is welcome.