By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

ACGC Instrumental Music Director Kyra Babcock is competing for a prize that would help ACGC’s instrumental music program, and she needs your help. Babcock has entered a contest called “America’s Favorite Teacher.”

However, Babcock is not in the competition for selfish purposes. Although the winner will receive $25,000 and a trip to Hawaii, Babcock said if she wins, she plans to “donate 100% to my school’s instrumental music program.”

Babcock explained her reason for entering the competition.

“Schools are experiencing financial hardships, and fine arts programs struggle to stay afloat. As an instrumental music teacher, finding ways to raise money for instrument replacements and other equipment can be tricky,” she said. “I’m the kind of person who isn’t afraid to go big and bold, which is what drove me to enter a nationwide competition called ‘America’s Favorite Teacher.’ ”

Currently, Babcock is a leading vote getter, but the competition is fierce. If Babcock wins, ACGC would also hold an assembly with Bill Nye (“The Science Guy”), and the ACGC Library would receive $1,000.

Anyone interested can visit the program website, https://americasfavteacher.org, and Babcock’s program website, https://americasfavteacher.org/2026/kyra-babcock.

The current voting for the top five ends at 7 p.m. PDT on Thursday, April 16 (that is 9 p.m. here in Iowa). Anyone can vote for free once a day. Donations also equate to additional votes ($10 equals 10 votes, and so on).

Rhonda Huggins of New Opportunities accepts a check for $500 from the Panora Church of the Brethren, presented by Roger Tallman. The PCOB was awarded a “Jesus in the Neighborhood” Grant, which the church chose to present to New Opportunities for their food pantry.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The Panora Church of the Brethren (PCOB) has been awarded a Northern Plains District Witness Commission’s “Jesus in the Neighborhood” grant. The $500 grant was available to Brethren churches in the Northern Plains District to be used for a local outreach project.

The PCOB plans to present the grant money to the New Opportunities food pantry. As part of their ongoing local ministry, the Panora Church of the Brethren regularly donates food to New Opportunities and gives gift cards to the food pantry at the holidays.

Photos by Jolene Goodman | Times Vedette

The Panora Lions Club held a fundraiser breakfast at the Panora Community Center on Sunday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to noon. The freewill offering meal included sausage gravy over biscuits, scrambled eggs, cinnamon rolls and beverage. Proceeds support the Kass Duis Scholarship fund, which provides a scholarship to a Panorama Schools graduate going to a trade school.

Trey Sprague, Dave Bassett, Marissa Storm and Pat Subbert

Tanner Downing and Montana Douglas

Rohin Grassy and Piper GodwiN

Dave Beidelman, Mary Beidelman and Mary Jane Sprague

Patty Reeve and Ted Reeve

Anne Riordan and Jon Tesdell mix soil and seeds into balls.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

To kick off the yearlong celebration of Springbrook State Park’s 100^th year, Naturalist Anne Riordan hosted an event to make seed balls. Volunteers rolled moist soil into balls surrounding pollinator plant seeds such as milkweed. The seed balls were then placed on a hillside to provide a future natural feeding station for bees and butterflies.

The next event on Springbrook’s anniversary calendar is a fishing event on Sunday, June 7 during Iowa’s annual free fishing weekend. More details will be announced as the event draws nearer.

Anne Riordan and Jon Tesdell place seed balls onto a hillside to grow.

Special to the Times Vedette

Seven local veterans were honored for their service on Saturday at Veterans Auditorium in Panora. Each received a Quilt of Valor, a handmade quilt specifically designed to honor and provide comfort to service members and veterans who have been affected by war. The Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF) was established in 2003 with the mission to cover these individuals with comforting and healing quilts.

The primary goal of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to recognize the sacrifices made by military personnel. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than 430,000 quilts to veterans and active-duty service members across the United States. Each quilt serves as a symbol of gratitude and support for their service.

From left to right Randy Griffin, Dave Kading, Charles Brobst, Dave Biedelman, Denny Rowedder, Charles Owen and Dana Tews.

Anyone is interested in receiving an application to have Quilts of Valor make a quilt for a veteran can contact Barb Hansen at 515-290-2140. Applications are also available at the VFW/Legion office.

By Shane Goodman | Times Vedette

The fourth annual Handbags and Bingo event was held at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds on Friday evening. A total of 37 tables were reserved with more than 310 people in attendance. The theme was Pajama Party, and many participants dressed for the occasion. The event was a fundraiser for the Guthrie County Hospital Foundation.

Click images to enlarge.