Posted 2/9/21
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times

Lake Dogs
Chloe, tri-color, age 3; and Mady, ruby color, age 1.
Both are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Owners are Julie Maddux and son Wyatt Hall.
Chloe and Mady enjoy sunbathing on their deck, playing tug of war with each other and going to “work” with mom Julie in her home office. Chloe’s pet peeve is when there is a dog on TV, and Mady is too easy-going to have any pet peeves.

Cove Cat
Houdini, age 5
Owners are Justin and Andrea Rishel.
Houdini got his name from popping out of a bag or a blanket when he was very tiny — just like magic! He was rescued from a hoarding situation when he was a baby. Houdini enjoys snuggling, napping and hunting. His best friends are their dog Tanner and the other kitty, Lucky. Houdini likes chasing Lucky around the house and playing fetch with his squeaky mouse.
 

Posted 1/5/21
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

In 1966, Paul Brackelsberg was a new animal science faculty member at Iowa State University. Three years later, his wife Phyllis joined the ISU textiles and clothing faculty. One day they were driving to a conference together when they decided to stop in Panora to check out Lake Panorama.

“The lot sales location was on the west side,” Paul says. “We didn’t have much money, but we ended up buying some lots on the west side that we were told would be real moneymakers for us. It didn’t really turn out that way.”

But eventually they bought a boat and started spending time on the new lake. Phyllis had grown up in Minnesota so was familiar with the family fun of living on a lake. The couple now had three children and decided it was time to build a house on Lake Panorama. In 1988, they purchased a waterfront lot on the east side near the entrance to the Narrows, plus three B lots across the street.

They built a small home – just 1,040 square feet. But it was a place for them and their extended family to gather.

“Phyllis’ parents from Minnesota came to visit and said we made a good decision, that having a lake home is a good way to keep families together,” Paul says.

The couple combined the three B lots across the street into one. Paul says he was “too tight” to pay taxes on land and just let it sit, so he planted pine trees. As they grew, he sold some for Christmas trees and gave some away. He still has some people who choose a tree each year and come cut it down when they are ready.

The first trees were scotch pine. As those grew and were harvested, Paul decided to replant using white pine. He says the softer needles don’t hold Christmas ornaments as well, but each year many tree branches are cut and turned into wreaths and garland.

The area is surrounded by a tall fence in an attempt to keep deer out. Once the pine trees were planted, Paul decided to add play features for his grandchildren. A large tree house was built. A tire swing hangs from another tree. Freestanding playground equipment is located in several spots.

The most interesting play feature is a wooden train, with cars large enough for both children and adults to climb into. The Brackelsberg’s three children all live along Interstate 35. Their son lives in Oklahoma City. One daughter is in Ames, with another daughter in the Twin Cities.

The Twin Cities family used to travel to Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on business, and sometimes Paul and Phyllis would make the trip, too. They stayed in the Red Caboose Motel there, where each room is a caboose. One of the many train-themed parts of the motel and surrounding area is a wooden train, with an engine, caboose and three cars in between.

“The grandkids loved playing on that train so much, I decided I should build them one,” Paul says. “I took pictures and got measurements and came home and started building it, one car at a time. The grandkids loved it, and now it’s the great-grandkids that play on it the most.”

Phyllis and Paul retired in 1998.

“We both had very successful, productive careers at Iowa State,” Paul says. “We felt we had the best jobs at the university, because we were both teaching and advising undergraduates. It was a huge joy for both of us.”

Phyllis passed away 10 years ago. Paul lives in the Green Hills Retirement Community, located on 30 acres just south of the ISU campus. At the age of 81, he remains active in the community there, while also making regular trips to his Lake Panorama home. This year he cut pine branches and created 15 wreaths to donate for a fundraiser for his Kiwanis Club.

The three Brackelsberg children gave their parents 18 living grandchildren, with one deceased. There now are 11 great-grandchildren, with No.  12 arriving soon. It has been a long-time tradition for all the close family and descendants to gather at Lake Panorama one weekend each summer, often the first weekend in August.

As the family continued to grow, Paul’s daughter who lives in Ames convinced him the original lake home was becoming too small for the big family gatherings. Seven years ago, the house was expanded and now boasts 2,300 square feet on each of its two floors. Even with seven bedrooms, Paul says those family weekends have kids sleeping on couches and air mattresses scattered throughout the house.

A couple of years ago, all 40 of the Brackelsberg descendants were present for the special family weekend. This year’s pandemic cut into the number of family members who could attend, but there still were about 30 in attendance.

“I let the kids and grandkids do all the planning now,” he says. “I just show up and enjoy.”

Posted 1/5/21
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

At the beginning of December, $19,000 had been donated to Friends of Lake Panorama for a proposed Lake Panorama dog park. By the end of December, donations had reached $30,000.

The ultimate goal for the dog park is $50,000 to construct the park and provide all desired amenities. The Friends board had set an interim goal of $25,000 raised by May 1, 2021, to ensure this is a financially viable project. With $11,000 donated in December, that goal was surpassed four months early.

One reason for the strong level of donations was a challenge made early in December by Amanda and Jeff Creen, who said they would match up to $2,500 in donations made within the month.

The couple has been taking their two rescue pups to the Perry dog park for the past year. They were excited when plans for a Lake Panorama dog park were revealed and are looking forward to it being built. Amanda says they decided to offer the December matching funds to help speed the process.

Amanda is the Lakeside Village director, and she and Jeff live on the third floor of the senior living facility. Lakeside Village is pet friendly, and there are several dogs living with their owners there, in addition to Lola and Toby, the dogs she and Jeff own.

The couple adopted Toby three years ago and Lola two years ago. Both came through United Yorkie Rescue and were 7 years old at the time of adoption.

“We love the idea of a dog park at Lake Panorama,” Amanda says. “I know we’ll be loading up the Lakeside bus with dogs and their owners and making trips to the dog park on a regular basis.”

Plans for the park include a 6-foot-high chain link fence 650 feet long and 155 feet wide. There will be two sections — one for small dogs and one for large dogs — with chain link fence dividing the two areas. A single entrance will be protected by a keyless lock. Once inside this gate, users can choose a gate to either the large-dog or small-dog areas.

Crushed rock will create a 5-foot-wide walking path along and under the fencing to provide a weed barrier and keep dogs from digging. A small gravel parking lot will be adjacent to the park.

Amenities inside the park fence included in the $50,000 cost estimate are four benches, four stations where bags for dog waste would be available, and two domed waste receptacles. A dual station pet fountain placed in the fence line between the two sections would make it possible for dogs to access drinking water from either side.

The facility will be open to LPA members and their guests. Signs will be posted for responsible use. A sign recognizing donors of $500 or more also will be posted at the dog park.

Fundraising for the dog park will continue as Friends of Lake Panorama’s priority project over the next several months, with hopes construction can begin in the fall of 2021.

Checks made payable to Friends of Lake Panorama can be mailed to P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Other donation options and more information are available at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.

The Friends of Lake Panorama board recently voted to host its fourth Beach Ball fundraiser on Friday, July 30. A final decision will be made at the board’s spring meeting, but it is anticipated a percentage of funds from this event will go to the dog park.

The board also hopes to use some of the Beach Ball funds for smaller projects, such as walking trails near Panorama West and the south shore, a disc golf course on the west side of the lake, and more benches and other amenities at all three beaches.

For the past year, the charity has focused on raising $70,000 for new playground equipment at both Shady and Boulder Beaches. New equipment was installed at Shady Beach in October, and the $70,000 goal also was reached that month.

The Boulder play equipment has been ordered and will be delivered and installed in the spring. Some additional money was donated in December for the playgrounds, which made it possible to add a second individual spring rider at Boulder Beach. Signs recognizing donors of $500 or more will be installed near both playgrounds next summer.

Posted 1/5/21
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Major upgrades to the Lake Panorama Association water system are nearing completion. The project required three main components — drilling a second Jordan well, upgrading to a reverse osmosis treatment system, and installing a discharge line to accompany the reverse osmosis process.

The old system used a Jordan well that was drilled in 2011 and two Dakota wells constructed in the 1990s. The Dakota wells, which are in a shallower aquifer, had become less reliable. These wells were the source of iron and manganese that resulted in some customers having black and brown water flowing from their taps at times. Eliminating dependence on these temperamental wells was a key reason for this project.

A line to carry discharge water away from the new reverse osmosis (RO) system to the Middle Raccoon River by Highway 44 was installed last summer. A one-half-mile-deep Jordan well was drilled in late May. An addition was built on the north side of the water plant building to house the RO system, which arrived in June.

Half of the reverse osmosis system went online in late October. The LPA expedited the rollout of the new plant because of a problem with one of the old Dakota wells.

“This Dakota well was inspected by camera in 2017 and appeared to be in good condition,” says John Rutledge, LPA general manager. “But the screen failed this fall. When all options were reviewed, the only one that made sense was to have the RO plant activated a little sooner than planned. We are lucky we didn’t delay further the decision to move ahead with the new plant.”

The first Jordan well was able to serve the Lake Panorama community for eight weeks until a pump was installed in the new Jordan well and all controls were finalized. The second half of the water system was brought online in mid-December. This involved connecting in the new Jordan well and corresponding RO system.

Water hardness can be described as grains per gallon. Mike Gliem, LPA’s water and dam supervisor, says under the old system, LPA water had a hardness of 36 grains per gallon.

“Our goal with the new system is to produce water that is 7 grains per gallon,” he says. “That is typical of what the Des Moines Water Works and other municipalities offer their water customers.”

All sampling data indicates the 7 grains per gallon goal will be reached in early 2021, and should remain at that level.

“We’ve received a lot of compliments already on the quality of the water,” says Rutledge.

Gliem says to reach this level of softness, the water runs through the RO tubes twice, using eight the first time and four the second time.

“Then we combine this water with 20 percent raw water for the finished water provided to our customers,” he says.

“It comes down to personal preference,” Gliem says. “Some newer water softeners will automatically adjust to the water and reduce the number of cycles and salt usage. For older softeners, I recommend dialing back the hardness setting until customers like the water quality. Some homeowners may decide they don’t even need their water softeners anymore.”

Gliem says LPA continues to receive positive feedback from members who already have reduced their water softeners and are extremely pleased with the water quality.

Neither of the two Dakota wells are being used now. If all continues to go as planned, those wells will be plugged, capped and covered with fill dirt by next spring.

During December, contractors were disassembling some components of the old plant. Large blue water gravity filters have been removed along with other old pieces of equipment and pipe. This area now is being used for some components of the new system. Work is expected to wrap up in early 2021.

Total cost for the entire project is $4.7 million. Funding for the project is through the State Revolving Loan Fund for drinking water improvements, at a fixed rate of 2 percent interest for 20 years.

To pay off the loan, LPA water bills increased with the Oct. 1, 2020, bill by $70 per quarter, going from $90 to $160 per quarter. Rutledge says the membership has been widely supportive of this project.

“No one likes to see an increase in their expenses,” he says. “But we’re pleased to report the increase in rates was accompanied by a substantial increase in water quality realized by the members. In addition, the increased reliability of this new system provides LPA the assurance our system can handle demand 365 days a year for decades to come.”

Increased focus on LPA quarterly water bills has resulted in more awareness of how water utilities are billed in the state of Iowa. In 2018, the Iowa Legislature passed a new Water Service Excise Tax (WET).

Prior to this law, the sale of water was subject to state sales tax. Now WET exempts the sale of water service from state sales tax but imposes a 6 percent excise tax on the sale of water service. WET tax revenues are allocated by the State of Iowa to the water quality infrastructure fund and the water quality assistance fund.

Rutledge says even with the recent rate increase, LPA water bills are very comparable with other municipalities.

“LPA members need to know the cost of this plant is very affordable and will position the association for decades to come,” he says.

Posted 12/8/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times


In 2021, the Lake Panorama National golf course will be 50 years old. For 40 of those 50 golf seasons, Dan Wollner has been the LPN grounds superintendent. He’s retiring the end of this year, and because of COVID-19 restrictions, a retirement party is on hold until sometime next year.

“Forty years, where did it go?” Wollner says when asked to reflect on his years at Lake Panorama National. “My emotions and memories are overwhelming.”

Wollner’s wife, Barb, started as the course horticulturist the same year Dan started as superintendent. The pair met while attending Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg where they graduated with horticulture degrees. Their three children were raised in the log cabin they built in 1983 near the No. 13 green.

Over the years, Barb not only handled flowerbeds and other landscaping but mowed, fixed ball marks, moved cups and anything else that was needed. She now works full time at Guthrie County State Bank and plans to retire at the end of 2021.

“I love the golf course and have since my first day of work in 1981,” Wollner says. “Every inch of the course has its own memory. Trees planted, tee boxes built, five miles of cart paths cut with an 18-inch-wide sod cutter, many holes dug to repair irrigation, trees removed from weather damage, mowing, more mowing, uncountable ball marks repaired, and all the staff who have worked with me in 40 years, including Barb and our three kids.”

Thinking back, Wollner developed a “Top Ten” list following the format David Letterman used on his late-night talk show. No. 10 is 10 years of automatic irrigation after 30 years of manual irrigation. Those 30 years of manual irrigation involved a huge amount of time and labor cost.

“One of the crew or myself would start watering about 3 a.m. after the greens and tees were done with their water cycle,” Wollner says. “It took 50 minutes to put out 14 heads on the first four holes of either the front or back, wait for 10 minutes so each head ran for an hour at a setting, then start the process over on the next holes. We ended on the last holes of each 9 about 9 a.m., hoping to be ahead of all golfers, yet on the last cycle of 14. By the time you were done, you usually were soaking wet.”

Wollner’s No. 9 is nine drought years out of his 40. No. 8 is having worked with eight different head golf pros.

No. 7 is seven major weather events — straight line winds, hail, ice, derecho, tornado, flooding, excessive heat and humidity. “Mother Nature can be your best friend or your worst enemy,” Wollner says.

No. 6 through 3 cover six different general managers, five wonderful grandchildren, four assistant superintendents, and three perfect kids.

No. 2 on Wollner’s list is two families that have had three generations on his staff. These included Gary, Matt, and Hunter Soriede, and Terry, Dave, and Kade Kemble.

As any smart husband would, Wollner chose his wife Barb as No. 1 on his list.

“One patient wife who listened to all the good and bad. She put up with middle-of-the-night phone calls and texts. The stress of missing the rain when it was manual irrigation, knowing how much work that added to me and the staff,” he says.

“She brought me food when I didn’t have time to stop for lunch and planted lots of flowers during her years as horticulturist. She helped mow on weekends when I was short of staff and reminded me to stop and enjoy the beauty of a tree overlooking a pond, sunlight through the water of irrigation, or how pretty the striping was on a fairway,” Wollner says.

In 1987, Wollner received the 18-Hole Superintendent of the Year award from the Iowa Golf Association.

Over his 40 years, he has worked to improve on the original course that opened for play in August of 1981. For instance, the course was built with 18 tee boxes. Juniors, women, seniors, men, pros all used the same 18 tees with markers set not very far apart on some of the smaller tees.

“We started new boxes because the course was too difficult for women to play from the original tees, particularly the par 5s,” Wollner says. “Forward tees were built on the six longest holes — 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 18. Eventually those tees became the senior tees and new forward tees were added. Over the years, we have added 19 tees, so currently there are 37 tee boxes.”

There weren’t any cart paths when the course was built.

“We had days we had to close the course or at least not allow carts after big rains because of standing water,” Wollner says.

Beginning in 1985, he used a sod cutter to build five miles of graveled cart path.

“It took me four passes to take up enough sod for the paths,” he says.

The rock paths were an improvement but were high maintenance. Cart traffic and water runoff meant the paths needed constant upkeep. In 2000, the rock paths were replaced with asphalt.

“Having 18 continuous holes of cart paths allows us to open the course earlier in the spring and keep the course open even during wet spells,” Wollner says.

Another huge impact Wollner has had on the golf course is planting trees.

“When I started in 1981, there were only around 50 trees on the course. There had been more planted when the course was built, but many were lost during the early bankruptcy years because they weren’t cared for properly,” he says.

“We started our first tree nursery around 1983 on the right side of the 14th hole. We moved about 500 out of that nursery. We also dug trees by hand out of surrounding timber and planted those on the course. Ed Clark from Rosehill Nursery helped us on weekends by moving trees with his tree spade,” Wollner says.

“Our second nursery along the west side of the 11th hole was planted in 2009 with the help of Charles and Judy Schnack. We moved about 300 trees out of that nursery. We’ve probably planted 1,200 trees since 1981,” he says.

In retirement, Wollner is handing over the reins to three young men he has mentored.

“I’m guessing over the years I have had about 150 kids who started their first job as a high school student as part of my crew,” he says. “I still see some of them from time to time, and we remember their years working at LPN. And now three of my ‘kids’ are going to be the new LPN superintendent, LPN assistant superintendent and Panorama West superintendent.”

Brandon Waddle will be the new LPN superintendent. He grew up throughout the Midwest, ending up at Lake Panorama his senior year, graduating from Panorama High School in 1991. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture. He worked at Lake Las Vegas golf course for two years before moving back to Lake Panorama with his wife, Jaime, when he was hired as Wollner’s assistant in 1998.

Waddle held that position for 15 years. In 2013, the Lake Panorama Association moved management of the Panorama West golf course under the LPN umbrella, and Waddle was named grounds superintendent there, a position he’s held the last eight years.

In 2018, Waddle was recognized as the 9-hole Superintendent of the Year by the Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association for his work at Panorama West.

“Leaving Panorama West isn’t easy,” Waddle says. “There was a lot of ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ to go through there, especially with the help of the McLuen estate gift, which made it possible to turn that golf course into a well-oiled machine. But I’m looking forward to moving back to LPN where the playing conditions have always been perfect because of Dan and his dedicated crews over the years. I look forward to the new challenges and demands that go with it.”

Wollner says Waddle “has a lot of experience and is more than ready to take on this new role.”

In return, Waddle says, “Everything I do starts with what Dan has taught me. From the daily routine maintenance of the course, to equipment maintenance, to irrigation maintenance, to the agronomy of maintaining quality turf. And I’ve learned you can plan and prepare all you want, but Mother Nature always has the final say.”

Waddle says Wollner has been respected and looked up to among other golf course superintendents.

“Dan is always willing to help others. He’s probably in the top three on everyone’s list to call if they need help, and he will help. His work ethic is above and beyond, taking the golf course personally, and running it as if he owns it,” Waddle says.

Jared Baier worked the 2020 season as Wollner’s assistant superintendent and now will be Waddle’s assistant. Baier is a native of Guthrie Center and graduated from high school there in 2015. He spent two years at Southwestern Community College where he played college golf. He transferred to Iowa State and graduated in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in management. He spent eight months working for All American Turf Beauty as a sales manager until he was hired at the LPN in March 2020.

“I have been an avid golfer my entire life, so I’m very familiar with LPN. It feels like home to me,” Baier says. “I had a wide variety of responsibilities this golf season. I helped keep track of and assist the summer help we had, helped Dan work on and repair mowers and equipment as needed, and took care of irrigation maintenance as needed. I look forward to taking the next step now that I have a year under my belt, being able to do some things on my own to maintain the course and help out Brandon in any way possible.”

Baier gives Wollner credit for his easy transition to this line of work.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor. The amount of knowledge I was able to gain spending this first year with Dan was tremendous. Being new in this industry, I was a little nervous when I started, but Dan made it simple and easy to catch on. I can’t thank Dan enough for this year. I think of him as a friend and guy I can call for advice whenever I need it.”

Garrett Young will be the Panorama West course superintendent. He went to Panorama High School until his junior year, when he transferred to Guthrie Center. He’s now attending Des Moines Area Community College, majoring in horticulture-landscape and turf management. He will graduate in May 2021.

Young has worked five summers at the LPN.

“Before working under Dan, I really had no intention to pursue this line of work. It wasn’t until a couple summers ago I became interested. Since I told Dan I was interested in the turf management field, he has been a tremendous help to me,” Young says. “Once he gave me more responsibilities and let me kind of do my own thing, it really made me realize this is what I want to do.”

Young still will be taking DMACC classes this spring. But starting in February, he’ll be able to work at Panorama West two or three days a week until he graduates.

“I’m really looking forward to working with new people, the responsibilities, and being able to learn more about golf course management from Brandon,” Young says. “I am very thankful for this opportunity.”

As with the others, Young has appreciated his time working with and learning from Wollner.

“He made every day enjoyable,” Young says. “My favorite part was whenever I’d ask him a question, he’d go on a 5-to-10-minute rant about it and pace around the shop when explaining the answer. No matter what, he always made it work. I’m really going to miss him — and his polo shirts and gym short combos.”

As he approaches retirement, Wollner says Panora and Lake Panorama have been a good place for he and Barb to raise their family.

“We built our house in 1983, the year Jacob was born. Now Jacob and Molly live north of Chicago and have two children — Kailyn, age 6, and Graham, 2. Ben and his wife Sara live in Ankeny with their children — Zoey, age 8, and Ivan, 6. Bailey and her husband, Ian, live in Miami, and are the parents of our newest grandchild — Maxwell, 9-months-old,” Wollner says.

“We really enjoy visiting the kids and their families and look forward to more traveling to see them. Road trips are always better with family at the end,” he says. “I’ll also be catching up on 40 years of deferred house maintenance, doing lots of bicycling, and hopefully sleeping until sunrise.”

Waddle says he hopes Wollner enjoys retirement, “riding off into the sunset on his new Rickshaw bike with Barb. But I hope he eventually turns around and becomes a part-timer. Maybe change a hydraulic filter in the HR6010, fix ball marks after a double shotgun, help repair an irrigation leak in July, pull a rough mower out of a pond, or simply wants to stripe some greens in the rain.”

Wollner offers these final words to those who will enjoy the fruits of the labor of the three young men he mentored.

“When you are out there golfing, take time to enjoy the beauty of this treasure,” he says. “And be sure to say thank you to these three for all the behind-the-scene work they do to take care of our favorite place.”

Posted 12/8/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Friends of Lake Panorama is governed by a volunteer, seven-member board of directors. The board held its 2021 organizational meeting Dec. 1.

For the past year, the charity has focused on raising $70,000 for new playground equipment at both Shady and Boulder Beaches. New equipment was installed at Shady Beach in October, and the $70,000 goal also was reached in October. One key item of business at the Dec. 1 meeting was to approve a motion to purchase the playground equipment for Boulder Beach.

The Boulder equipment now has been ordered and will be delivered and installed in the spring. There is a room for more benches and individual spring riders at both locations, so any additional money donated to the playgrounds in 2020 will be used for these extra items.

A sign recognizing all donors of $500 or more will be installed near both playgrounds, with those donors also recognized on the Friends website.

In other business, two board members were reappointed to the board. In 2020, Jim Tibbles filled out the final year of Dave Furbush’s three-year term and agreed to be reappointed for a full three-year term.

Also reappointed to a three-year term was Jody Muench. Muench has served on the Friends board since 2015.

Other board members are Galen Johnson, John Muenzenberger, Jan Reinicke, Emily Spradling and Tricia Steffen.

In officer elections, Reinicke was elected president, Muenzenberger vice president, and Emily Spradling secretary-treasurer. Susan Thompson is the non-profit’s executive director.

The board heard an update on fundraising for the Lake Panorama Dog Park. As of Dec. 1, $19,000 has been raised for this project. The ultimate goal for the dog park is $50,000 to construct the park and provide all desired amenities. The Friends board has set an interim goal of $25,000 raised by May 1, 2021, to ensure this is a financially viable project.

Other topics discussed at the Friends board meeting included raising awareness and beginning work on some smaller projects in 2021, including walking trails near Panorama West and the south shore, a disc golf course on the west side of the lake, and more benches and other amenities at all three beaches.

The board also discussed hosting a 2021 Beach Ball to help raise funds to divide among several projects. A final decision will be made at the board’s spring meeting, but it is anticipated a fundraising event will take place in early fall of 2021.

Studies show a large percentage of charitable donations are made in the last two months of each year.

To provide some relief for charitable organizations during this difficult year, Congress included a provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that permits individuals who do not itemize deductions to deduct $300 of charitable contributions as an “above-the-line” deduction. Married couples can deduct $600 when taking the standard deduction.

For those who do itemize, cash contributions to qualified charities can be deducted up to 100 percent of adjusted gross income for the 2020 calendar year.

Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions. Those 70½ or older can make a tax-free gift from their IRA and see that gift put to use today. There are potential tax-saving benefits when considering either of these direct donation strategies. For information, contact Kristen Crouthamel, financial advisor at GCSB Investment Center, 641-755-2799 or kristen@investgcsb.com.

Donors currently can designate benches or spring riders for the Boulder and Shady playgrounds, the Lake Panorama Dog Park, Sunset Beach, the Friends general fund, or golf course beautification at either Lake Panorama National or Panorama West.

Donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, P.O. Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Donations also can be made by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org,

Details on all past and current projects are available on the Friends website. Friends of Lake Panorama also has a Facebook page. Those interested in keeping up-to-date about Friends activities are asked to “like” and “share” the Friends page. Questions or comments? Send an email to staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Posted 12/8/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

A company that provides dredging services across the United States wrapped up its dredging work for Lake Panorama RIZ in late November. After a competitive bidding process, a contract with Dredge America of Kansas City, Missouri, was signed in July 2019.

The contract outlined a plan to dredge in the Middle Raccoon River channel between the lake’s upper basin and the Fansler Bridge, removing at least 700,000 cubic yards of silt. In the end, Dredge America removed 731,653 cubic yards at a cost of $4.3 million.

The company’s equipment began arriving in late September 2019, and some work got underway last year. The bulk of the work occurred this year. 

Following RIZ’s 20-year renewal in 2017, the RIZ Board of Trustees began an extensive effort to schedule expenditures for the next two decades. Early in that process, “catch-up” dredging in the river channel was identified as essential.

Besides removing sediment from a key buffer area for Lake Panorama, the RIZ board recognized increased dredging in the river channel would use up available storage in the County Silt Basin before some land leases there expire.

Planning for that basin near the north end of the lake began in 2004. The land was obtained from seven different owners. Construction began in 2005 and was completed and the basin first used in 2006. It was named the County Basin, despite the fact it’s not owned by Guthrie County.

In fall 2018, the RIZ board finalized $11 million worth of debt certificates, which are similar to bonds, to in part finance hiring an outside company to dredge the river channel. This allowed RIZ to ensure the basin is filled before current easements expire.

Once dredging began, the company had a crew of four to five workers on site at all times and often operated 24 hours a day. Pumping distance exceeded two miles throughout much of the project.

This project required Dredge America to pump the dredging spoils to the remote south end of the county basin with 300,000 cubic yards pumped beyond a designated boundary to the very end. The balance still was pumped to the far reaches of the basin but not quite as far as the initial 300,000 cubic yards.

The company submitted to a strict invasive species policy as part of its contract and was inspected by Lake Panorama staff prior to launching their dredge last September. Ongoing inspections were conducted for any additional craft launched, as well as associated equipment or pipe.

The work took place while LPA also was dredging this season, working to complete its annual dredging contract with RIZ. The LPA also pumped into the county basin.

“This project provided benefit to Lake Panorama by ‘catching up’ and getting us back to the Fansler Bridge,” says John Rutledge, LPA general manager. “In addition, it filled remote areas of the county basin that LPA was not equipped to reach.”

Rutledge says Dredge America was able to do some remote and difficult dredging LPA could never have gotten done.

“If LPA had tried to do this, we would’ve had to ramp up for a year or two and then face the reality of gearing back down,” he says. “We calculated the cost/benefit and felt a subcontractor could supplement our annual effort more effectively than trying to scale-up/scale-down LPA’s equipment and personnel.”

Dredge America reached the Fansler Bridge at the end of October, then spent the next few weeks wrapping up some additional target areas identified by LPA and RIZ.

Posted 11/10/20
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times


Murphy
(Also known as “Mr. Murphy”)
3-year old Fawn Boxer
Owners Stacy and Sam Benton

Murphy enjoys playing fetch at the lake and going to “work” with his owners. Murphy’s “mom,” Stacy Benton, owns Bella Sorella Boutique in Panora’s town square. Murphy greets the customers and helps them shop, especially the ladies. In addition, Murphy likes hanging out with the guys at “dad’s” (Sam Benton’s) office, which is also located in the town square. Murphy watches the people walk by and lounges in the office window or peaks out the door of the boutique.

Posted 11/10/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times


Fundraising for a proposed dog park at Lake Panorama got a big boost from a day-long Octoberfest event Oct. 17. A total of $6,225 was raised that day from participants in a morning walk/run, afternoon golf tournament and evening open house at the LPN conference center.

A volunteer committee planned the event, designed to increase awareness of the dog park plan, while raising money and collecting donations. Friends of Lake Panorama is managing the donations with a goal of $50,000 to build the park and provide all desired amenities.

The Friends board of directors has set an interim goal of raising $25,000 by May 1 to make sure this is a financially viable project. No matching funds from the LPA are available, so all funding needs to come from donations and fundraisers.

Nearly $9,000 had been donated to the dog park in advance of the Oct. 17 fundraiser, and additional funds have come in since. The total raised to date is more than $18,000.

Because Friends is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit charity, all donations are tax deductible. Donors of at least $500 will be recognized on a sign at the dog park, plus on the Friends website. If the needed funds are raised, the facility will be located at the corner of Sage Trail and RV Road, near the east campground.

The “Going to the Dogs” walk/run had 12 participants and took place on the back nine cart paths of the LPN golf course. Registration was at Spikes, where freewill donations were accepted and water and dog bandanas handed out.

A trailer was set up throughout the day between the No. 12 green and No. 13 tee box, where volunteers provided information, took donations and showed the layout and location of the proposed park.

Nine teams participated in the “Going to the Dogs” nine-hole, four-person best shot golf tournament. The cost was $40 per person with $20 going directly to the dog park. The winning team was Jim and Julie Tibbles and Scott and Sherri Miller. They donated their $40 cash prize back to the dog park.

At the open house, five donated items were used in a silent auction that raised $400. Raffle tickets were sold for 21 donated items. A 50/50 raffle raised $310. The holders of the winning ticket were Jim and Julie Tibbles, who donated their half back to the cause.

The biggest part of the fundraising came from eight individuals or couples who that day each made a direct donation of $500 to the dog park.

Plans for the park include a 6-foot-high chain link fence 650 feet long and 155 feet wide. There will be two sections, one for small dogs and one for large dogs, with chain link fence dividing the two areas. A single entrance will be protected by a keyless lock. Once inside this gate, users can choose a gate to either the large dog or small dog areas.

Crushed rock will create a 5-foot-wide walking path along and under the fencing to provide a weed barrier and keep dogs from digging. A small gravel parking lot will be adjacent to the park.

Amenities inside the park fence included in the $50,000 cost estimate are four benches, four stations where bags for dog waste would be available, and two domed waste receptacles. A dual station pet fountain placed in the fence line between the two sections would make it possible for dogs to access drinking water from either side.

The facility will be open to LPA members and their guests. Checks made payable to Friends of Lake Panorama can be mailed to P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa 50216. Other donation options and more information are available at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Posted 11/10/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

In 2008, 12 businesses made monetary or in-kind contributions to Lake Panorama National to support the construction of Spikes, the snack and restroom facility located near the first tee. In exchange, the businesses received a granite sponsorship sign on an LPN tee box. Several have maintained their annual sponsorship since.

Original Granite Club members who renewed for 2020 are Panora Telco on the third hole; Guthrie County State Bank & GCSB Investment Center on hole five; Exterior Sheet Metal on the eighth hole; Bryton Insurance on the ninth hole; and Total Financial Solutions on the 10th hole.

One new member — Lake Panorama Barge — joined the Granite Club this year and is featured on the seventh hole.

Minnesota Cabinets joined in 2019 on the 18th hole and renewed for 2020. Five new members joined in 2018 and renewed this year. These are R&K Bristle Farms on the first hole; Iowa Trust & Savings Bank on hole four; Hawley Insurance on the sixth hole; and Robert Carr Insurance Agency-State Farm on No. 16.

Two members joined in 2017 and have renewed annually. These are Jensen Sanitation on No. 13, and Tometich Engineering on the 17th hole.

Five holes remain available for sponsorship — two, 10, 11, 12 and 14. Annual sponsorships are $500. New sponsors also are asked to pay the cost of the sign, which is $350.

Granite Club members receive a free round of golf for a foursome, including carts, when they purchase or renew their annual membership. Club members also are recognized on the LPN website and in the LPN Resort Weekly e-newsletter.

Granite Club membership isn’t restricted to businesses. Individuals, couples or groups are welcome to become club members, showing their support and appreciation for Lake Panorama National. All money raised is used for improvements at the LPN.

Details of the Granite Club, along with a request form for more information, can be found on the LPN website at lakepanoramanational.com. Or call Royce Shaffer, LPN operations manager, at 641-755-2080.

Posted 11/10/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

More than $14,000 worth of fish were added Nov. 3 to Lake Panorama by Fin and Feather. Fish stocking totals for 2020 included 2,500 walleye, 1,200 smallmouth bass and 1,000 largemouth bass.

Fin and Feather stocks fish 4-6 inches in length to promote high survival rates. Fingerlings are less expensive, but survival rates are lower. Experience has taught group leaders that stocking larger fish is a good investment.

Volunteers in the non-profit Fin and Feather group have been stocking fish and working to improve fishing conditions in Lake Panorama since 1984. When the dam was closed in 1970, the only thing natural to the lake was crappie, largemouth bass, carp and catfish.

The long-time supplier for the fish-stocking program is North Star Fish Hatchery, a third-generation, family-owned business in Montour, Iowa. North Star brought the fish to Lake Panorama’s Boulder Beach, where the fish were introduced into the lake via a tube attached to the water-filled truck.

Besides stocking fish, the group works to help improve fish habitat for smaller fish. Fin and Feather raises its money through annual memberships and a fundraising banquet each spring.

The 2020 banquet was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the organization was able to continue the 2020 fish stocking effort through its use of fund reserves generated at previous fundraising banquets. The 2021 banquet is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 8, the same date as the LPA annual meeting.

Posted 11/10/20
By Jolene Goodman

Impress your guests when you bring this tasty treat to the table this fall.  This is a no fuss, easy to prepare dessert that includes the traditional seasonal pumpkin flavor.

Easy Pumpkin Dessert

Ingredients
1- 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
1- 12 oz can evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1- 18.25 oz yellow cake mix
3/4 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Grease 9x13 pan.
Mix together pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon until well blended.
Pour into pan.
Sprinkle with dry cake mix.
Drizzle butter over cake mix.
Top with nuts.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

 Jolene Goodman is the advertising director for Lake Panorama Times and resides with her husband Shane on Lake Panorama.

Posted 11/10/20
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Work began in late October on a new beach wall at Boulder Beach. The existing wall consisting of railroad ties has been deteriorating for several years, and the large landscaped beds on top of the wall were overgrown. The first step was for the LPA maintenance crew to remove the old wall, boulders and vegetation. One row of ties remained to hold back dirt during construction, but these will be removed prior to backfilling.

Jorgenson Brothers Concrete Construction was hired to install a new poured concrete wall. It is 300 feet long and 4 feet high. The new wall will have a brick face, with the concrete dyed dark tan. Two sets of steps, each 5 feet wide, are being placed in the wall to provide access to the beach.

Six 8-foot by 8-foot concrete pads are being poured behind the wall near the steps. The Panora Garden Club is donating a large planter to be placed on each of these pads. Next spring, the LPA will provide funds to purchase flowers for the pots, and volunteers will manage the planting and maintenance. Future plans call for the addition of metal swings or benches on concrete pads positioned behind the wall so users will have a view of the beach and lake.

No one on the current LPA staff knows when the old wall was installed, although they know it was prior to 1999. In preparation for this new wall, remnants of an even older wall were found. Using a poured concrete wall with a footing under it should eliminate any maintenance to this new wall for decades to come. LPA expects this project to cost around $35,000. 

Posted 11/10/20
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times


Lake Dog

Georgia
4-year-old white Labrador Retriever
Owners, Patty and Mark Godfrey
Patty and Mark say Georgia is the perfect lake dog. She loves the water, boat rides and jumping off the dock to retrieve sticks. Georgia could play fetch all day long and loves her walks. Her pet peeve would be if she doesn’t win in fetch against her cousins.

Cove Cat

Dahlia
12 weeks old
Domestic Tabby but may have some Maine Coon in her
Dahlia was adopted from Furry Friends Rescue. Her owners are Emily, Billy, Natalie and Dylan Donovan.
Dahlia likes to explore behind, under and in things like cupboards, boxes and bags. She likes to have her ears and chin scratched and enjoys cuddling. Dahlia is getting used to the dogs and is training them well. She hisses or bats at their noses if they get too close. She’s already showing her hunter instincts and stalks flies and wiggling toes under the covers.

Posted 11/10/20

Be sure to pick up a Lake Dog and Cove Cats calendar at the local shops in Panora and Guthrie, Bella Sorella Boutique, Lake Lumber, Fashions on 44, Ben’s Five and Dime and Dowd Drug in Guthrie Center. They make great Christmas gifts, and 100 percent of the proceeds are going to local charity, Tori’s Angels. Calendars are $15 each.  Make checks payable to Tori’s Angels.

Posted 11/10/20

Looking for a holiday gift for family members or friends? Consider purchasing one or more copies of “Lake Panorama – The First 50 Years.” The book, authored by Susan Thompson, arrived at the Lake Panorama Association office July 19, 2019.

The full-color, hardcover 112-page book includes both historic and contemporary photos. Chapters in the book describe six decades of planning and development. There also are special topic chapters on Lake Panorama’s golf courses, infrastructure and water quality efforts. Sidebar stories highlight various groups and activities such as HALO, Lake Panorama ski team, Fin and Feather, Fourth of July fireworks and more.

The LPA financed the book’s production. More than 1,000 books were printed, with about 350 purchased online in advance,and another 250 purchased since the book’s arrival. About 400 remain in stock.

In-person promotions of the book planned for 2020 haven’t been possible because of COVID-19. The book’s cost is $35, which includes tax. To make it easier to purchase the book now and through the winter months, LPA is offering to ship at an additional cost of $5 per book. Once ordered online, books will be shipped from Panora in 7-10 business days.

The LPA office remains closed to foot traffic because of COVID restrictions, but those interested in arranging a direct purchase can call the LPA office at 641-755-2301 to make arrangements for payment and pickup.

Books are available for direct purchase at the front desk of Lake Panorama National, during daily business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Purchases can be made at the LPA and LPN via cash, check or credit card. The book also is available at the Panora Library with purchases by cash or check only.

Here is the link to order online and have one or more books shipped: https://lakepanorama.formstack.com/forms/order