Special to the Times Vedette

The Panora Citizen of the Year nominations are now being accepted. The Panora Chamber of Commerce has recognized an outstanding member of the Panora/Lake Panorama community since 1989. The year 2020 was the only year the recognition did not take place.

Criteria for Citizen of the Year:

• Any service performed for the betterment of Panora that the nominator deems worthy.
• No restrictions on the number of years a person can be nominated.
• Winners cannot be considered again for 10 years.
• Nominees must be a citizen of Panora or Lake Panorama.
• Nominees must be nominated in writing, signed by the nominator.

Paid city employees are eligible, but their nomination must not be for their regular duties.

The following statement applies to all nominees:  Anyone who works for the promotion and betterment of our community rather than excellence in profession or job.

Nominations must be received by July 10, 2026.  Please mail nomination letters to the Panora Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 73, Panora, IA 50216.

The 2026 Citizen of the Year will be announced at Panorama Days on Friday, July 31.

Special to the Times Vedette

Whiterock Conservancy announced it was recently awarded the Neighborhood Beer Micro-grant on behalf of the Big Grove for Good Foundation. The grant will help fund the Whiterock Conservancy project and further the mission of Big Grove for Good by investing in neighborhoods and communities. Whiterock Conservancy says this partnership will provide opportunities for the public to experience and learn from this rare and unique landscape.

The grant provides significant improvements to the Whiterock team and volunteer safety for habitat restoration capacity that will provide opportunities to increase efforts to restore and preserve Iowa’s natural resources.

Fire is heavily utilized for habitat management at Whiterock. The management of aggressive non-native species through fire will help encourage the growth of a healthy woodland and remnant prairie area with native plant species through these varied methods. These native plant species will boost the quality of contiguous habitat and wildlife at Whiterock and improve the number of species of greatest conservation need in the area.

Whiterock boasts many rare and sensitive communities throughout its 5,500-acre land trust including rare sand prairies, prairie remnants, prairie pothole region and oak savannas. Land protection and management efforts in Iowa should continue to focus on the preservation of rare and sensitive ecological communities, which, in turn, support rare wildlife species.

Call the Whiterock Conservancy office at 712-790-8221 or email executivedirector@whiterockconservancy.org for more information.

Special to the Times Vedette

Whiterock Conservancy announced it is offering free STEM summer adventures as new ways to learn and grow. Saturday, June 20, is the next STEM Adventure of 2026 with Eco Explorers. Adventure goers will learn about leave not trace and participate in a nature scavenger hunt. The program is for students ages 6-12 and must be accompanied by an adult or babysitter. Join in for some science fun. Register for one or more of these FREE events by calling 712-790-8221 ext. 1 or emailing guestinfo@whiterockconservancy.org.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the June 8 meeting of the Panora City Council, the councilmembers discussed the status of the apartments and commercial building located at 113 East Main St. Final steps are being taken regarding funding of the upstairs apartments. After all paperwork is submitted, the developer, Tim Schutte, can begin working on the main floor, which is intended for commercial purposes.

“It’s going to take approximately six to eight weeks for the final GAX to come through,” Karla Janning (Region 12 Council on Government) said. “Once that happens, (Schutte’s) plan is to concentrate on painting of the storefront, getting some new glass, and some tuckpointing on the first level. His hope is that the updates will look like something a commercial entity would want to come in and rent.”

City Administrator Lisa Grossman noted the upcoming citywide cleanup is set for June 12.

“We had 33 homes sign up this year, which is pretty good,” Grossman said.

Grossman also reported on planning for RAGBRAI, which will come through Panora on July 21.

“We had the RAGBRAI pre-ride, which I think went really well,” she said. “We’re kind of finalizing all of our vendors.”

Approval was given to Resolution 26-32, support for a Workforce Housing tax incentive application by Origin Homes for a housing project that will include three additional single-family homes in the same general area as the previous project of Panora’s Dream Acres in the northwest area of town.

As part of the consent agenda items, the council approved Iowa Retail Permits for Casey’s and Hometown Foods for cigarettes/tobacco/nicotine/vapor.

The council approved Resolution 26-31 to purchase a 2019 Cummings Freightliner diesel truck (approximately 34,000 miles) for $134,900.

The next regular meeting is set for Monday, June 22 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#).

Special to the Times Vedette

On June 5, a total of 13 players participated. Rhonda Titus got two 16s; Dan Webb got a 16; Robert Klever got an 18; Dave Richter and Clint Malbon each got a 21; and Lela Schwartz got a 24.

On June 8, a total of 12 players participated. Dennis Betts got two 16s; Clint Malbon got a 16; and Dave Richter and Bill Sheeder each 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.

Dr. Andy Allen and massage therapist Jana Derry provide care for patients of all ages while continuing a longtime tradition of chiropractic service.

Michelle Heckman, Karla Van Winkle, Jana Derry and Dr. Andy Allen.

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times, May 2026

For a long time, people have been walking into the building at 108 N. Third St. in Guthrie Center and then walking out feeling better, Dr. Andy Allen explained.

“I purchased the practice from Dr. Schramm, and he was here for 42 years, all in the same building, and now I’ve been here 19 years,” Dr. Allen said. “So, it’s been a chiropractic office in this location for over 60 years.”

During his tenure at the location, Dr. Allen has continued to use familiar chiropractic methods while also keeping up with new advances.

“There’s been some minor stuff. Nothing dramatic has changed,” Dr. Allen said. “Dr. Schramm had pretty much only been using the instrument called an activator, which is a light force adjusting technique. We have gradually incorporated more tools with that. We do manual traditional chiropractic, and I had some background in college with some physical therapy modalities. The practice has evolved a little bit as healthcare has.”

Dr. Allen shows one of the adjusting tables for patient treatments.

Dr. Allen noted that while chiropractic offices in metropolitan areas often specialize, he has found that in a rural area, it makes more sense to provide general chiropractic care.

“We can see everybody from infants to the elderly and kids with sports injuries. It’s been a pretty good fit for the community,” Dr. Allen said. “We can do X-rays, which not all chiropractors offer. There’s nothing that we specialize in, but I would say we’re very well rounded.”

Dr. Allen shared his education and path to Guthrie Center.

“I grew up in Albia, down in southeast Iowa, and then I went to UNI for undergraduate, and then Palmer College for chiropractic school,” Dr. Allen said.

When asked about things the public might not realize about chiropractic care, Dr. Allen explained that some may not understand the wide array of issues chiropractic can address.

“A lot of times, people don’t know we can work on pregnant women or on kids and infants. Kids that have earaches or kids with colicky issues, constipation. Bedwetting is another one that people don’t know we can help with,” Dr. Allen said.

Dr. Allen noted that there is no such thing as someone too young for chiropractic care. He explained that the birthing process or how an infant sits in a car seat can lead to a need for gentle chiropractic adjustment.

Another issue Dr. Allen often sees with school-age patients relates to electronic device usage.

“Posture, and the way kids are on their phones or iPads, that has changed in the last 15 years. Backpacks may not be as heavy anymore, but that can still be an issue,” Dr. Allen said.

According to Dr. Allen, one of the most commonly seen issues is back pain.

“I’ve had men come in during the winter without socks on because they can’t bend down to put them on. Or, I remember a time when a high school girl literally crawled in here,” he said. “So, the back pain is the most common thing and probably the one we have the most success with.”

Understanding that pain can sometimes be an urgent issue, Dr. Allen strives to get patients in as soon as possible.

“The way we schedule, we can usually get people in within a day. That varies a little bit with new patients. They take a little longer. But nobody has to wait too long around here,” Dr. Allen said. “And if they don’t know much about chiropractic, we’re happy to answer questions.”

One recent change at Allen Family Chiropractic is the addition of massage therapy. Licensed massage therapist Jana Derry recently joined the staff to help meet patient needs.

“We’re excited to have Jana. She had her own practice in Coon Rapids. She’s got a history of being a really good massage therapist, so it’s a big bonus for us,” Dr. Allen said.

Derry brings more than a decade of massage experience.

“I graduated in 2005 and worked for about 12 years, then took a break and now I’m back. For 10 of those years, I had my own shop in Coon Rapids. I built a clientele by word of mouth to over 500 people, and that’s pretty big for a small town,” Derry said. “I started here in the beginning of April. I’m pretty much fulltime, as much as needed. It’s starting to fill in by word of mouth.”

As with Dr. Allen’s chiropractic treatments, Derry’s massage services are available to people of all ages and conditions, including infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly.

“I try to make every massage different. If you have specific injuries or places that are hurting, that’s what we work on. I listen to your body and go from there,” Derry said.

The staff at Allen Family Chiropractic also includes office staff members Michelle Heckman and Karla Van Winkle. Anyone interested in learning more or scheduling an appointment is invited to call the office at 641-747-8247. n