Lake Panorama road embargo ends March 30
Special to the Times Vedette
The five-ton vehicle weight limit on Lake Panorama roads that began Monday, March 9 will end Monday, March 30.
Still time to donate candy for Panora Easter at the Square celebration
Special to the Times Vedette
The Panora Chamber of Commerce is currently collecting individually wrapped candy and goodies to help fill approximately 3,000 eggs for this year’s Panora Easter at the Square celebration on Saturday, April 4.
Activities will begin inside the Vets Gym from 9-10 a.m. with crafts, games, cookie decorating, coloring tables and live bunnies from a local 4H club. The Egg Hunt will begin at 10 a.m. on the town square with scooter sign-ups organized by age groups.
If you have been planning to donate, there’s still time to join in. The chamber is accepting candy and small items to stuff in Easter eggs through Friday, March 27. The drop-off location is at Panora Fiber, 114 E. Main St. in Panora.
WSO Home Tour features 5 locations
By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette
The Women’s Service Organization (WSO) annual fundraising home tour for 2026 is Friday, June 5. Five Lake Panorama homes will be featured, with three on the west side of the lake and two on the east side.
Tickets are $30 and include both the tour and lunch at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort, 5071 Clover Ridge Road. Tickets will be available beginning May 1 and can be reserved by calling or texting Toni Wright at 641-757-0886 or Sue Merryman at 641-751-5956. There will be a maximum of 260 tickets available, and organizers say they expect to sell out quickly.
WSO was formed in 1972 when women who worked together to help pass a school bond issue decided they could benefit the local community as a formal organization.
The first WSO home tour was in 1974, and is the organization’s major fundraiser. The first tour group leaves the Lake Panorama National clubhouse at 9 a.m., with three additional groups leaving on the half-hour through 10:30 a.m. Each group will tour the three homes on the west side of the lake before returning to LPN for lunch, followed by tours of the two homes on the east side.
Participants are asked to arrive at the LPN clubhouse 20 minutes ahead of their tour time, so they can join the vehicle lineup and receive instructions and description sheets. Several vendors will be at the clubhouse so tour guests can browse and shop during their lunch break.
WSO committees work in advance to gather information for a one-page description sheet, and determine the best order and route. The route isn’t always the most direct, but is designed for safety and to accommodate the parking of many vehicles at each home.
Money raised by this tour funds a renewable scholarship awarded to a graduating Panorama student each year, making four scholarships paid annually. Additional WSO donations go to the Panora Library, Food Pantry, Panora Garden Club, Guthrie County Historical Village, Heritage Park, Tori’s Angels, Relay for Life, Panorama prom and yearbook. Other contributions are considered as projects become apparent.
Pate named ACGC High School principal
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
The Pate family includes Makencie (24), Johannah (13), Rhys, Sarah, Jase (19), and Kayla (22).
His wife, Sarah, worked for 21 years at Valley as a special education associate and is currently taking time off to care for her family. Daughter Makencie works in marketing for 515 Decorative Concrete Supply and has developed a strong passion for utilizing her digital expertise. Daughter Kayla has worked in childcare since the age of 16 and is currently a nanny for a family with four children. Son Jase graduated last year and is now employed at Crunch Fitness, where he is working toward certification as a personal trainer, building on his passion for fitness developed during his time as a high school wrestler. Johannah (Jojo) is a seventh-grade student who is involved in school activities, including volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track and chorus.
Pate enjoys watching his children grow and pursue their passions. In his free time, he enjoys working out, golfing, collecting baseball cards, and, most importantly, spending time with his family.
Pate replaces Cody Matthewson, who resigned from his principal position earlier this year.
Guthrie County Supervisors approve urban renewal report
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the March 24 regular weekly meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, the supervisors approved the annual urban renewal report and the fiscal year 2025 GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) report.
The supervisors discussed setting a public hearing for the fiscal year 2027 county budget. The date of April 21 at 9 a.m. was selected. Auditor Dani Fink asked to wait on officially publishing the notice of that hearing until she has a chance to talk with each department to be sure no changes are needed. The supervisors agreed to the request.
The supervisors meet regularly at 9 a.m. Tuesdays. The public is welcome to attend at the courthouse or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123 and use meeting code 547029216#.
Statewide tornado drill is March 25
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
On Wednesday, March 25 at 10 a.m., Adair and Guthrie counties will participate in a statewide tornado drill. When the sirens sound, everyone is encouraged to practice how to respond in case of an actual tornado warning.