Posted 12/13/2023

I like going to movie theaters. Comfortable seats. Big screens. And plenty of popcorn and candy. If you are looking for nearby theaters to visit during these cold winter months, you can find them in Stuart, Perry and Jefferson with many more in Des Moines and the suburbs. But, unfortunately, that list is dwindling.
Like many of you, Jolene and I used to go to a movie most every weekend during our dating years. That changed. Once married and with kids, when the discussion of new movies came up with others, I would sarcastically ask, “Did Disney make it?” At that stage in our lives, if Disney didn’t make it, we likely didn’t see it.
We all enjoyed those family movie outings, but as the kids grew older, they didn’t think it was cool to go to movies with Mom or Dad anymore. Jolene and I understood (kind of) and eventually started venturing out for movie date nights again, just not nearly as often as we used to. Blame it on streaming. Blame it on high costs. Blame it on a bad selection of movies. You can point the finger of blame in a variety of places, but as the old saying goes, when you point one finger, three more are pointing back at you.
When we lived in the small town of Nebraska City, Nebraska, a few decades ago, we had a wonderful movie house in town called the Pioneer Theater. It didn’t have reclining seats, craft beer or pepperoni pizza back then, but it did have charm, and we were fortunate to have it. My friend Scott O’Neil is a dentist in town and a regular at the theater. He told me years ago that he tries to go to a movie every week — whether it is a show he wants to see or not — to support the theater and help to ensure it will be there for years to come. When I last looked, it’s still there, which is better than can be said in Johnston, or in Urbandale, or at Southridge Mall in Des Moines where theaters have closed.
Truth be told, we haven’t supported our local theaters like my friend Scott does. And the recent closures are not-so-subtle reminders that we need to support all our local businesses or they simply won’t be here — and not just movie theaters. We have a number of wonderful businesses in the area, many of which advertise their goods and services in the pages of this publication. Amazon and other online shopping sites will be just fine without your purchases. For that matter, so will Netflix and Hulu and Disney Plus. But the local merchants rely on all of us to at least consider their offerings, especially this holiday season. I am going to make an even more concentrated effort to support them this season, and I hope you will, too.
Merry Christmas to you all, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Lake Panorama Times
515-953-4822, ext. 305
shane@dmcityview.com

Posted 12/13/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Both the disc golf course and the trail system on Lake Panorama’s south shore now are ready for visitors. The plan for these low-impact recreational amenities was developed by Friends of Lake Panorama and approved by the LPA board.
A fenced driveway begins at 5501 Chimra Road and leads to a parking lot that allows walk-through access to the recreation area. A small shelter near the parking lot is in place; a picnic table will be added in the spring. Beyond the shelter are two markers. One points right to the first hole of the golf course, and the other points left to the trail system.
The disc golf course features nine concrete tee pads with nine metal basket targets. Tee box signs showing hole distance and layout, plus hole sponsors, will be in place next spring.
The Lake Panorama disc golf course now is listed on UDisc, which is an app that lists more than 14,000 courses worldwide. Disc golfers use the UDisc app on their smart phones to keep score and navigate interactive course maps.
The Lake Panorama trail system has brown fiberglass trail markers located at trail system junctions marked on both sides with colored arrows. There are five trail options, each designated with a different color. Those who start at the trailhead and do the full loop to the shoreline and back up through the meadow area to return to the parking lot will walk two miles. Other trail options offer shorter distances.
The recreation area is open during daylight hours. Wheeled vehicles are prohibited. There are no trash receptacles, restrooms or running water; visitors should plan accordingly. Members and their guests who have registered with the LPA can hunt deer on the south shore from Nov. 1 through Jan. 10. The area is restricted to bow hunting.
Next spring, 18 bluebird houses will be installed along the trails. If funds allow, four backless benches also will be installed along the trail, with two near the shoreline and two in the meadow area.
The estimated cost to develop this new recreational area is $35,000. Over the past two years, Friends of Lake Panorama has received $11,000 in private donations for projects on the south shore. Another $4,000 has been donated this fall. Some funds are available from the 2023 Beach Ball and disc golf course tee box sponsors.
Additional donations are being sought. A welcome sign near the shelter will be added in the spring. It will include a Lake Panorama map, general information about the south shore recreation area, and a list of donors who have given $500 or more to this project by Dec. 31, 2023.
Tax-deductible donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends, P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations also can be made through Venmo @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card at friendsoflakepanorama.org.

Posted 12/13/2023
By Rich Wicks
Lake Panorama Times

The annual Reshape 5K Turkey Trot run was held on Thanksgiving morning at Twin Vines Winery, just west of Panora on Highway 44. A brisk but sunny 30-degree morning didn’t chill the enthusiasm, as the event drew a record 107 registrants. According to event director Sue Bump, the event has a longstanding challenge in which, if registration reaches 100 or more, Ben Hayes, co-owner of Twin Vines Winery, will run as well. As a result, Ben went the distance.
Jonah Niedermeier was the overall first-place finisher in 18:16. Lacey Fulton was the first female finisher, clocking in at 24:33. Although most participants were from Guthrie County, results show finishers from Chicago and New York. Bump said fun was enjoyed by all, and participants had a healthy start to the day, prior to Thanksgiving feasting.

Posted 12/13/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Since 1998, the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) has made it possible for Lake Panorama home and lot owners to use a portion of their property tax dollars to fund erosion control and water quality efforts. RIZ funds an annual dredging program that removes silt from Lake Panorama and portions of the Middle Raccoon River north of the lake.
In recent years, some RIZ funds also have been used to slow the flow of sediment into the lake. Three wetlands on streams that lead into Lake Panorama are in place to help protect water quality, and two more wetlands are in the planning stages.
In late summer 2022, Tamara Deal, a Lake Panorama resident, made a presentation to the RIZ board of trustees about the potential impact the use of cover crops on farmland upstream could have on the lake’s water quality. Deal had studied the use of cover crops as a way to improve soil health and profitability on her family’s farm. That led to her becoming an advocate for cover crops and making presentations to groups about the link between soil health and improved water quality.
Following her presentation, the RIZ board did some additional research. The result was a one-year trial program to fund the use of cover crops on row-crop land in the Lake Panorama watershed. Three farmers near Yale participated in that 2022 trial. This fall, the Lake Panorama RIZ Cover Crop Program is open to all producers who have row-crop land in Guthrie County that is within the Lake Panorama watershed.
Cover crops are grown in addition to primary cash crops such as corn and soybean. Cover crops can reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter and fertility, improve soil structure and promote water infiltration.
Aerial seeding of cover crops can be done with airplanes or helicopters, either before or after the cash crop is harvested. Another option is to use a drill to plant seed directly into the ground. Cover crops protect the soil in the late fall, winter and early spring.
Lane Rumelhart is the Lake Panorama Association (LPA) project manager and oversees the RIZ cover crop program.
“Lots of farmers have been flying it on, so they aren’t running over their crop right before harvest,” he says. “This gets them better germination and a longer growing season.”
Producers enrolling in the program must commit at least 25 acres to cover crops and have those acres verified as meeting all other requirements. The RIZ program reimburses producers up to $15 per acre for cover crops.
It can cost up to $40 per acre to plant a cover crop. There are both Iowa and federal programs that offer farmers financial incentives for planting cover crops and other water quality and conservation efforts. Farmers enrolled in the RIZ program also can participate in these other cost share programs.
“Cover crops are good for Lake Panorama because they hold soil in place in late winter and early spring so there is less silt runoff,” Rumelhart says. “Cover crops help keep nutrients in farm fields rather than allowing those to escape and lead to water quality problems, such as blue green algae blooms. The idea is that with more cover crops upstream, Lake Panorama will slowly gain improved water quality.”
Dave Deardorff of Yale is one of the three producers who participated in the RIZ trial program in 2022. He is a member of the Guthrie County Soil and Water Conservation District Commission and has been planting cover crops on 240 tillable acres for the last seven years. He enrolled those 240 acres in the RIZ cover crop program both last year and again this year.
“This gives some additional coverage to the ground,” Deardorff says. “I’ve been using no-till for more than 25 years, which keeps soil in place. Adding a cover crop helps reduce overall soil and wind erosion. I see more people in our area using no-till or minimum tillage. This, along with a cover crop, is one of the best ways to conserve the soil.”
Deardorff uses aerial seeding of rye for his cover crop.
“Last year we didn’t have enough moisture to get a good stand, but this fall was better,” he says. “We got a good stand, and I’ve been able to graze my cows this fall. Often rye will green back up in the spring and give another chance to graze cattle before row crops are planted.”
Brothers Kevin and Kendall Kipp of Yale also participated in the 2022 trial program and enrolled the same acres in the RIZ cost share program this fall. Kendall says there wasn’t enough soil moisture last year to get a good stand, but this year was different.
“We had it flown on right after Labor Day and then got some good rain,” he says. “By the time harvest happened, there was probably 4 inches of growth. It’s pretty even, and we have been able to graze our cattle on it this fall.”
Lake Panorama RIZ owns 235 acres of tillable ground. In 2022, the Kipp brothers leased that ground on a one-year contract. This year, a half-dozen bidders vied for the chance to rent the RIZ ground. Heidi Kipp, the 20-year-old daughter of Kendall and Teresa Kipp, was awarded a three-year farm lease for the RIZ ground.
“My brother, Walker, is 25. We both were born and raised on the farm and have helped any way we could since we could walk,” Heidi says. “This is my first year having land of my own to farm.”
One requirement of the three-year lease is that all the RIZ tillable acres be protected by a cover crop.
“I’m interested to see how the cover crops work,” Heidi says. “I think erosion control and improvements to soil health are two important factors, and I hope to see improved yields in the future. There are 45 acres of fenced land, so being able to graze cattle is another benefit for me. I think the RIZ program will result in improved water quality.”
Keith Buttler has owned and operated Buttler Agronomy Services in Guthrie Center for 30 years. He provides agricultural inputs, services and recommendations to area farmers. He uses cover crops on his own farm and applies what he has learned to help others.
“I started it more as an erosion control tool. I have some land with steeper slopes, where a hard rain can cause a lot of erosion,” Buttler says. “I’ve always used no-till but added the cover crops 14 years ago. The practice slows erosion, helps capture nutrients in the soil, increases biological activity, and soil health steadily improves each year. On my farm, yields have improved 15-20% because of the combination of both cover crops and improved genetics.”
Buttler can help producers arrange seeding either into standing crops with an airplane, or after harvest with grain drills.
“Most farmers use rye,” he says. “It’s winter hardy, so it can go dormant in the winter, then grow again in the spring.”
Buttler says incentives such as the RIZ cover crop program make a difference.
“This year I’ve had three times the amount of people putting in cover crops than last year,” he says. “I think the early harvest caused by drought conditions encouraged some to give it a try, plus there are several cost share programs.”
Randy Glade’s farm operation is on both sides of Redwood Road just west of Lake Panorama. He’s been using no-till for more than 30 years and planting cover crops after harvest for more than 15 years.
Most research shows after three continuous years of cover crops, farmers will see better yields, and that’s been the case for Glade. Over time, his soybean yield has increased nine to 12 bushels per acre and his corn yield more than 25 bushels an acre by not tilling his farm ground and planting cover crops.
This year, Glade doubled the number of acres where he planted a cover crop for a total of 111 acres. He enrolled in the RIZ cover crop program and is pleased with this year’s results. Iowa Cover Crop of Jefferson aerial applied rye into standing corn on his farm Sept. 15.
“The timing was excellent because, over the next three days, we had a half-inch of rain. That helped get a better than average stand,” he says. “This has provided good grazing pasture for my feeder cattle.”
“The combination of cover crops and no-till results in looser planting-depth soil, which leads to better soil-to-seed contact,” Glade says. “I also get better water infiltration, which allows the soil to catch and hold more rain.”
By early December, there were 10 producers with 1,279 acres approved for funding as part of the 2023 Lake Panorama RIZ Cover Crop Program. It’s expected additional participants will be approved in December. For more information, contact Lane Rumelhart by calling the LPA office at 641-755-2301 or email him at lrumelhart@lakepanorama.org.

Posted 12/13/2023
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times

Name: Quentin
Age: Almost a year old
Available for adoption at: Panora Pets

Quentin is healthy, happy and just a general joy from the first moment he came in to Panora Pets. He is easy-going and so charismatic that you’ll stop whatever you are doing just to engage with him. Quentin gets along well with the other kitties, and nothing seems to phase the kid. Quentin should be an excellent addition to any home and family, even the most active. He is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Adoption fees are $25 throughout the month of December. Visit www.panorapets.com to fill out an application and view all of the profiles.

Posted 12/13/2023
By Jolene Goodman
Lake Panorama Times

We like to surround ourselves with good friends who are also good cooks.
We moved to our current home at Lake Panorama a few years ago. We love our place, and we love our neighbors. And, as with many of you, these great neighbors have become great friends. These are people we can borrow an egg from, share treats with, and call to close the garage door when we’ve forgotten. They collect the patio umbrella that blows off our deck and put it back, maybe telling us of the good deed another time. We have dinner together. We share recipes. We drink good wine. Simply said, we enjoy our time together and make long-lasting memories.
Recently, Paula and Lyle Hansen invited us over for dinner. Paula keeps food simple with incredible flavors. Her menu included pork tenderloin, roasted vegetables and homemade bread (a recipe for a later column). There is nothing quite as easy or delicious as grilled pork tenderloin. This dry rub and glaze is simple enough for a weekend meal or fancy enough for company.
Thanks for sharing your recipe, Paula.

Jolene Goodman is the advertising director for Lake Panorama Times and vice president of Big Green Umbrella Media.

Grilled Honey-Herb Pork Loin
1-1.5 pounds pork tenderloin
1 tsp. sweet paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
pepper
Honey glaze
4 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup honey
3 TBSP low sodium soy
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 TBSP olive oil

Pat pork dry with a paper towel. Mix together sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme and pepper. Rub mixture all over pork tenderloin. Place pork in a zip lock bag and place in refrigerator for several hours, up to overnight. Preheat grill to medium-high heat or 425 degrees using half of the burners. Prepare honey glaze by mixing ingredients. Sear the tenderloin on the lit grill side for 5-6 minutes on one side with the grill lid closed. Turn it over and sear the other side for 4-5 minutes with the grill lid closed. Then, move the tenderloin to the unlit side (using indirect heat). Baste with honey glaze every so often. Continue cooking until the tenderloin reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Continue basting throughout the cooking time. Let meat rest on a plate covered loosely with an aluminum foil tent for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!

Posted 11/09/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

A nine-hole disc golf course on Lake Panorama’s south shore soon will be a reality. The course is one part of a package of low-impact recreational amenities developed by Friends of Lake Panorama and approved by the LPA board of directors at its July 25 meeting.
Building a disc golf course at Lake Panorama has been discussed for more than five years. In April 2019, the Friends board of directors conducted a survey to gather input from Lake Panorama Association members and help prioritize future projects. Ten possible projects were proposed for consideration.
As a result of that survey, the Friends board, in cooperation with the LPA, has completed several projects that ranked high on the survey. These include new playground equipment at Shady and Boulder beaches, Panorama West Nature Trail, a dog park and a sports court at Sunset Beach.
The survey results also showed interest in a trail system on the south shore and a disc golf course somewhere within the Lake Panorama community.
In the comments section of the survey, LPA member John Worth volunteered to design a nine-hole course for Lake Panorama and help guide its construction. After meeting with the Friends board and LPA staff, he scouted several locations and found the south shore to be ideal.
“My interest in disc golf goes back to my high school days in Atlantic in the late 1970s when Frisbees were common amongst the young crowd,” Worth says. “We used to practice our fancy throwing and catching skills in parking lots along the main drag for all to see. We heard people were using Frisbees to play a golf game, so we gave it a try in the local park. We laid out a few holes, using trees as targets, and I haven’t quit playing since.”
In 2007, one of Worth’s good friends became the Atlantic Park and Recreation director.
“We were quick to start scheming how to get an official disc course in Atlantic,” Worth says. “Thanks to some very dedicated and persistent individuals, a new course was installed within the next two years. I was able to provide some input on the course layout and volunteered many hours to help install and groom the course.”
Worth and his wife, Angie, lived in Atlantic most of their lives, pursued their careers and raised three children.
“As we became empty nesters and started thinking about retirement, we moved fulltime to Lake Panorama in 2016,” Worth says. “The lake is a very special place to us. We love the relaxing environment and have made many dear friends here. We also enjoy making memories with our three children and five grandchildren.”
Worth retired in January 2022 from a career in manufacturing, where he worked initially as an engineer and then in management. With their move to Lake Panorama, Angie Worth started a new career in real estate and is part owner of Sunset Realty.
Construction on the Lake Panorama disc golf course began Oct. 4. “The course is literally cut out through the wooded area on the east side of the south shore,” Worth says. “Each hole is a Par 3, bringing the total par for a round of nine holes to 27. The holes range in distance from 155 feet to 320 feet long.”
Though John Worth did much of the course design, he got some help from his son, Jesse Worth.
“Jesse cut his disc golf teeth on the makeshift course we had in the Atlantic park,” Worth says. “When he headed to Iowa State in 2006, he discovered two 18-hole disc golf courses in Ames. That’s when Jesse and I switched our disc gear to the smaller diameter, official golfing discs. Jesse was very helpful in thinking through how a new course would best fit into the south shore area.” 
Jesse now lives in Ames with his wife, Leah, and their daughter and works for Hawkeye Molding in Roland. On a visit to Lake Panorama in mid-October, he and his dad spent a sunny afternoon testing out the course.
“It was fairly surreal to experience the course for the first time,” Jesse says. “The mix of shots through nine holes play well and feel balanced. It’s exciting to think of the course really establishing itself in the coming years. I know it’s going to be well received by the community.”
Another experienced disc golfer played a practice round at the Lake Panorama disc golf course in October before the tee boxes and baskets were installed. Josh Tuggle and his wife, Mariah, live in Bloomington, Minnesota. Mariah’s parents, Paul and Marcia Cates, have a house on Lake Panorama.
Tuggle grew up in Norwalk, attended Iowa State University, and graduated with a construction engineering degree. He works as a design manager for a company that builds utility scale solar plants across the country.
“My brother, Ryan, got me hooked on disc golf a few years ago, and I got Mariah into it as well,” Tuggle says. “I have played 120 courses in 21 states but mainly in Minnesota and Iowa. I’m a member of the Professional Disc Golf Association and now play at the highest level. The past few years, I’ve played in about 10 tournaments each year.”
Tuggle has followed the development of the Lake Panorama disc golf course. When tee box sponsors were being sought for each of the nine holes, he decided to sponsor the sixth hole. The sponsor sign on that hole will be “Tuggle & Cates Family.”
What did Tuggle like about the course in his exploratory round?
“The course has a variety of shots and fun lines,” he says. “It may be on the shorter side but still is a great challenge with the wooded holes.”
Tuggle offered this advice to those who might be trying the sport for the first time because of the Lake Panorama course.
“It can be overwhelming to pick some discs as a beginner. I recommend going to a store and picking a nice putter and midrange that feel good in your hands,” he says. “Most people go after the drivers when picking some first discs, but it’s better to start slow.”
The other eight tee box sponsors for the Lake Panorama disc golf course are: No. 1 -Sunset Realty; No. 2 - State Farm Insurance, Robert Carr; No. 3 - Panora Fiber; No. 4 - OvaEasy; No. 5 - Hawkeye Molding; No. 7 - Aaron & Mindy Poldberg Family; No. 8 - Martin-Flanery Ace Run; and No. 9 - Lake Panorama Realty.
John Worth has played more than 30 disc golf courses in Iowa and a few out of state.
“It’s such a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise,” he says. “There is a concrete tee pad on each hole, which is used to throw your first shot from. From there, you simply throw your next shot from where your ‘drive’ or last shot landed. Keep going until you land your disc in the target, which is a metal wire basket that uses hanging chains to deflect the disc into the basket.”
Worth encourages the interested and the curious to walk the course.
“I think many will return with a disc in hand to give it a try,” Worth says. “You can use any flying disc you have at home. Once you are hooked, you will want to purchase official disc golfing discs. These come in three categories — drivers, midranges, putters — each intended for different throwing distances. Having one of each type is a great starting point and are readily available at sporting goods stores.”

The timeline
The course will be playable once tee pads are poured and baskets have been installed. Information on the opening date will be provided in the LPA Prompt and on the Friends of Lake Panorama Facebook page.
Signage won’t be in place until next spring. There will be a tee sign adjacent to each tee box showing the hole distance and layout, a hole sponsorship sign on each hole, and a large sign near the first tee box. The large sign will include a map of the disc golf course and general information about the course. There also will be separate signs for disc golf course rules and the UDisc app.
Disc golfers use the UDisc app on their smart phones to keep score and navigate interactive maps of disc golf courses. UDisc, LLC, was co-founded in 2012 by Matt Krueger and Josh Lichti, two computer engineers who bonded over coursework and disc golf at Iowa State University. UDisc has grown from a hobby project to a tool that covers more than 14,000 courses worldwide.

SOUTH SHORE RECREATION OPTIONS
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Beyond the disc golf course, other portions of the Friends of Lake Panorama plans for the south shore also are progressing. A fenced driveway at the south end of Chimra Road and a parking lot that provides walk-through access to the recreation area is complete. A small shelter near the parking lot is in place, and a picnic table will be added in the spring.
The Lake Panorama trail system with a variety of distances is complete. Those who start at the trailhead and do the full loop down to the shoreline and back up through the meadow area to return to the parking lot will have walked two miles. In addition, four places where the riprap contractor widened existing trails to get to the shoreline are offered as trail options.
Brown fiberglass trail markers have been installed at each junction of the trail system and are marked on each side with colored arrows.
There are five trail options, each designated with a different color. The original two-mile loop is the “green” trail. People who start at the trailhead and choose the first option they reach, the “red” trail, will walk sixth-tenths of a mile. The other three options offer distances of 1.1 miles (blue), 1.6 miles (yellow), and 2 miles (orange). This final loop results in walking the same distance as the original loop, but the terrain and views provide a different experience.
Next spring, benches and bluebird houses will be installed along the trails throughout the recreational area. Three large metal signs also will be in place by spring. One will be near the shelter and include a Lake Panorama map, general information about the south shore project, and a list of donors who give $500 or more to the project by Dec. 31, 2023. Other signs will be posted near the first hole of the disc golf course and the Lake Panorama trailhead.
The estimated cost of these recreational amenities is $35,000. Over the past two years, Friends has received $11,000 in private donations for projects on the south shore. Some funds also are available from the 2023 Beach Ball and disc golf course tee box sponsors.
Tax-deductible donations for south shore projects can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations also can be made through Venmo @Panorama-Friends, or by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.

INTRODUCING THE LAKE PANORAMA DISC GOLF COURSE
Many other types of shots are used in disc golf; it’s up to each player to find what works best.
By John Worth
Special to Lake Panorama Times

This introduction to the Lake Panorama disc golf course is for those who’ve never played the sport and those who are expert players. There are nine holes on the course, and all are par 3s. Much like tennis, there are two main shot types when throwing a disc. The most common is the backhand shot, which probably is how everyone learned to throw a frisbee. The other is the forehand shot, again, think tennis and the arm motion used. Also, how the hand grips the disc is different for each of these two shot types.
When a right-handed person throws a backhand shot, it will typically fade to the left near the end of its flight. When a right-handed person throws a forehand shot, it will typically fade to the right near the end of its flight. For a left-handed person, the direction of fade would be the opposite. The Lake Panorama course was designed to use both right and left fading shots. There are many other types of shots used in disc golf; it’s up to each player to find what works best. Here’s a hole-by-hole look at the Lake Panorama disc golf course.
Hole No. 1 — 290 feet. As you reach the first tee pad, there is a beautiful view of Lake Panorama’s main basin. This hole was designed with a wide fairway and a tree in the middle of the fairway. This allows the player to choose either a backhand or forehand shot to fade around the tree and into the basket from either direction. Wind off the lake may be a factor as you throw off the tee pad.
Hole No. 2 — 165 feet. This hole is a dogleg right, so a right fading shot is required. Most right-handers will use a forehand shot and left-handers will use a backhand shot. The hole is blind, meaning you can’t see the basket from the tee pad, so walk down the fairway a few feet to get a view of the basket. The hole includes a large tree that hangs over the fairway, which creates a “tunnel” to throw your shot through. Some players may choose to throw a very high, strong right fading shot over the tree. Called a Hyzer, this shot is thrown at a sharp angle to get a strong fade.
Hole No. 3 — 190 feet. A right fading tee shot is required on this hole. The basket is barely visible from the tee pad on the right side of the fairway. The tee pad is positioned so players will throw over a small waterway and between trees on either side. The tree gap is somewhat intimidating but a fun challenge.
Hole No. 4 — 180 feet. This hole is a very enticing, slight downhill shot that is straight on. The fairway is just wide enough to use a mild right or left fade to get to the basket. This hole begs to be aced (hole-in-one), so most players will throw a mid-range disc straight at it. Beware of the wind coming off the lake. The lake view from the No. 4 basket is fantastic.
Hole No. 5 — 155 feet. There is an uphill hike to get to the tee pad. Once you arrive, the view of the basket from the tee pad is both humbling and exciting. The shot is straight and narrow, through a mild ravine to the basket on the other side. The hole is characterized by many trees and a tight fairway choke point of about 10 feet wide. Most players will throw a mid-range disc straight at the basket and hope to clear the narrow fairway gap.
Hole No. 6 — 230 feet. A short, uphill hike will get you to the tee pad. The basket is visible from the tee pad on the left side of the fairway, and a left fading shot is required. Right handers who love the backhand shot will feel right at home on this hole. There are a couple of trees in the middle of the fairway that players will need to navigate as they approach the basket.
Hole No. 7 — 245 feet. While this hole is similar to the last one, in that it is a left fading shot, the hole is blind. Players will want to walk a few feet down the fairway to get their bearings on the exact shot required to reach the basket. The fairway is narrower than No. 6, but there are no trees in the fairway to avoid. So, as they say in disc golf, grip it and rip it.
Hole No. 8 — 155 feet. This hole is a short and sharp dogleg left. The fairway is straight with the basket in a carved-out pocket on the left side. While most players will choose to play a sharp left fading shot, there are other shot type opportunities here for those who want to be creative.
Hole No. 9 — 320 feet. The longest hole on the course requires a long, right fading shot as the fairway curves to the right. The hole is blind so it will pay off to walk up the fairway the first few times to get your bearings on the basket location. The basket is framed by large, overhanging trees at the far end of the fairway.
As you finish your round, you’ll find the course layout has looped you around, and you are on one of the main walking trails that will take you a short distance back to the parking lot. Your only decision now is whether to play another nine now, or later?

HISTORY OF DISC GOLF
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The addition of a disc golf course on Lake Panorama’s south shore comes at a time when the sport continues to grow in the United States and around the globe. There currently are 14,048 disc golf courses worldwide with 9,465 in the United States.
Iowa is considered the seventh best disc golf state in the country, with 377 disc golf courses. Iowa is No. 1 as far as disc golf courses per capita in the U.S.
The COVID pandemic of 2020 and 2021 brought many new players to the game. Players who started in those two years reported in an October 2022 survey they are just as enthusiastic about disc golf as players who found the sport before the pandemic.
Ed Headrick was an American toy inventor who worked for Wham-O. He is most well-known as the father of both the Frisbee and of the sport and game of disc golf.
Headrick redesigned Wham-O’s flying saucer to create the Frisbee design, which received a U.S. patent. He marketed the Frisbee by promoting trick throws and games that could be played with this new disc. Target shooting with Frisbees became Headrick’s focus, and he saw potential in Frisbee Golf as a legitimate game and sport with courses where people could play and compete in tournaments.
Wham-O wasn’t interested and wouldn’t allow a license of the Frisbee trademark to be used for Frisbee Golf. In 1975, Headrick left Wham-O and trademarked the words “Disc Golf” to use for the game and sport he envisioned.
In 1976, Headrick and his son, Ken, started the first disc golf company, DGA, which is an acronym for Disc Golf Association. The purpose of DGA was to manufacture discs and targets and formalize the disc golf game. In 1977, the father-son team developed and patented the modern catching basket for disc golf.
To develop the rules and standards for the sport and game, plus create a dues-paying membership base, Headrick began the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) in 1976. Through the PDGA, Headrick and fellow disc golfers developed the first disc golf rules and standards.
Headrick headed the PDGA until 1982, when daily operations were turned over to an elected board of disc golf players. PDGA continues to be the overseeing body for the sport of disc golf. In 2022, the PDGA gained more than 40,000 new members and sanctioned more than 8,900 events worldwide. There currently are more than 103,000 PDGA active members.
Headrick passed away Aug. 12, 2002. As he requested, his ashes were incorporated into a limited number of discs, which were given to friends and family.

Posted 11/09/2023
Special to Lake Panorama Times

Overwhelming generosity was the resounding highlight of the fourth annual Tori’s Angels Gala, held on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Vets Auditorium and the Community Center in Panora. Foundation spokespeople say the organization raised more than $150,000, enough money to fund the necessary expenses for all the Tori’s Angels families it presently supports for the next six months — a figure that is nearly three times what was raised at previous galas.
The 235 people attending the “Angels in Denim” gala started the night by enthusiastically reviewing and bidding on donated silent auction items. They snacked on appetizers before enjoying a prime rib dinner catered by Lidderdale Country Store. The program was emceed by Foundation Executive Director Julie Dent-Zajicek. She recognized the Tori’s Angels sponsored families in attendance and made a special presentation to Bill and Connie Ridgley, who were honored for their work as founding members of Tori’s Angels Foundation and for the strong legacy they’ve provided. In his remarks, Bill noted the importance of funding the organization as it continues to grow. Currently, Tori’s Angels actively supports more than 100 families across the state.
The room lit up with excitement when auctioneer Dan Wilson kicked off the live auction. Twenty-three big-ticket items were offered, including a custom shed from Sunrise Sheds, two NFL signed jerseys, multiple sports packages including tickets and hotel stays, an exclusive bourbon basket, multiple vacation rentals and a stunning diamond necklace donated and created specifically for the Tori’s Angels Gala by Ames Silversmith and the Youngberg family.
Attendees heard inspiring stories from Angel families during the event and had an opportunity to “Fund a Child,” which was met with incredible support. Shawna and Matt Gunn (parents of Savannah), and Mike Maurer (father of Alex), shared their appreciation for Tori’s Angels. In addition, Panora natives and recipients of Tori’s Angels funding, Emma Reinhart, daughter of Steph and Troy Reinhart, and Liberty Ashworth, daughter of Jen Jensen and Tim Ashworth, provided heartfelt messages that resonated with the audience.
Proceeds from the gala ticket sales, live and silent auction items and generous matching fund gifts go toward Tori’s Angels mission of supporting families with children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. Since 2010, Tori’s Angels has been raising funds to pay medical expenses not covered by insurance from the date of sponsorship until the child’s 19th birthday. This includes travel expenses to treatment (airfare, mileage, hotel, meals), as well as prescriptions, medical co-pays and deductibles. The foundation depends on the generosity of community “Angels” to help relieve the financial burden for these families.
Anyone wishing to help the Tori’s Angels children is invited to send donations to Tori’s Angels at P.O. Box 186, Panora IA 50216. Online donation options are located on the foundation’s website, www.torisangels.org, and on the Facebook page, www.facebook/torisangels. The organization also welcomes anyone interested in becoming a volunteer to leave a message at admin@torisangels.org.

Posted 11/09/2023
By Rich Wicks
Lake Panorama Times

Residents and visitors alike have been wondering what is planned for the former Moore’s Dry Goods building at 113 E. Main St. in Panora and what is causing the delay. Several years ago, apartments were in the upstairs, but the building has been sitting empty since. However, a plan is underway, and the momentum appears to be picking up.
Timothy Schutte, broker/owner at Timothy Schutte Real Estate Team in Urbandale, explained where the project stands and the next steps planned.
“I bought the building in 2017, and I was going to look at doing historical rehab,” he said. “There were seven apartments in here — three upstairs, three on the main floor, and then one in the basement.”
After the last renter departed, the building sat empty.
“I almost literally forgot about it for a little while, because I had other stuff that I’m doing all the time,” Schutte said.
“So we bought this, thinking I would do historic rehab; it didn’t work,” Schutte said. “Then I got sick of it and tried to sell it last year or the year before that, but I wasn’t getting any bites or nibbles. So I started making some phones calls and got connected with Region XII Council of Governors. Carla Jannings is my grant writer who has done this type of project before. It’s called the CDBG — Community Development Block Grant — for upper-story housing. These old buildings are expensive, and you can’t make the numbers work, so that’s why these grants exist.”
Schutte was awarded a CDBG grant of $400,000 for the project.
“We are hoping to be able to start really going after it, probably January-ish,” he said. “The exterior windows are all going to go back to their original height. I can’t touch anything on the main level or below the upper story with the grant money. I can’t even touch it until after the upstairs is all done.”
Schutte said there will be three apartments.
“There’s going to be two two-beds, and there’s going to be a two-bed with an office. That might turn into a third bedroom, depending on what we’re allowed to do,” he said.
Schutte said they are in the stage of a Section 106.
“That is the historic inventory, to know what I have to keep and what I don’t have to keep, from a historic standpoint,” he said.
Because of the building’s age and history, this step is required as part of the grant process.
“I think it’s going to be something the community likes,” he said. “It will be nice apartments. They’ll have granite countertops. I’m really going to try to have washer and dryer in each unit.”
Schutte said they will be cleaning up behind the building as well.
“We’ve been waiting for a bunch of stuff,” he said. “We got awarded the grant in March or April, and from the time we applied for the grant in November until we got it, I couldn’t touch it. It’s complicated stuff.”
According to Schutte, the architect is at the point where he needs approval from the historian, and that is supposed to happen by the end of this month. Then the historical aspect has to be approved by the State before the funds are released to the City, and then the City will reimburse him.
The upstairs apartments may be ready in about a year, and Schutte hopes to have a business rent the main floor.
“In a year and a half, the main level, I would hope, will have a tenant in it,” he said. “It’s 3,000 square feet.”
As for now, much needs to be done on the upper floor. Schutte plans to remove the dropped ceilings so the spaces will have the high ceilings that were common a century ago.
“We’re also going to try to make it so they have more modern living, like islands and granite countertops or hard surface countertops of some sort,” he said, adding that he plans to use local contractors whenever possible so the grant funds stay here.

Posted 11/09/2023
By Rich Wicks
Lake Panorama Times

On Oct. 10, the Women For Panora’s Future (WFPF) group met to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club’s existence. In addition to cake and refreshments, the group enjoyed looking through the various scrapbooks that chronicle the history of WFPF and the many community projects that WFPF has held or helped with over five decades.
The WFPF is exactly what its name implies: a group of local women who meet and participate in events to benefit Panora. Projects that WFPF holds or gives toward annually include: Adopt-A-Highway cleanup (April and September), blood drives, community Christmas lighting, Fire Department and EMS, Haunted Village at the Historical Village, Guthrie Youth Foundation, Heritage Park, Panorama Days Cake Walk, Pie and Cookie Raffle, Panorama Graduate Scholarship Fund, Relay for Life, Memorial Day ceremony, Panora Nursing & Rehab Center, fifth grade class, New Opportunities, and can recycling.
“Panora Women’s Club was the older group, and they met at 10 a.m.,” current WFPF President Carla Fitzgerald said, explaining how the group formed. Fitzgerald said this didn’t fit well with the schedules of most younger women, due to work and/or childcare commitments.
“Their members were declining, so they invited us, trying to recruit us, and we really weren’t that interested,” Carolyn England recalled. “But we wanted to be polite, so they helped us form our club. They called us the Junior Women’s Club, which is really funny now.”
At first, the club was federated, meaning they paid dues to the larger state and national organizations. Eventually, the local women decided they would get more local bang for the buck by becoming independent, and that is how the group became the WFPF.
Fitzgerald said that, decades ago, the WFPF had “Secret Sisters” in which each member would secretly buy small gifts for another member throughout the year. Guesses were later made as to who the secret givers were before the truth was revealed.
“We got to the point where we realized we could be using that money to help people at the care center,” Fitzgerald said. “So, at Christmas  time, we get names from the care center, and we give them little Christmas presents.”
Currently, the WFPF has 27 members, but that number has fluctuated over the years, sometimes well into the 40s. Fitzgerald said new members would definitely be welcomed, and the time commitment is fairly minimal.
“We try to keep meetings short, and we do have fun,” Fitzgerald said. There is no minimum requirement for participation by members.
“A lot of members just put in the time that they can,” England said. “If they can’t, they don’t. We meet once a month, on the second Tuesday, except for summer and January and February.”

Posted 11/09/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

It’s the time of year when Guthrie County residents are starting to spend more time indoors, which means they are at greater risk of illness due to a virus. Jotham Arber, an epidemiologist, is executive director of health services for the Guthrie County Public Health department. He says there are vaccination options that can reduce the risk.
“We strongly recommend individuals receive the 2023 flu vaccination,” Arber says. “The flu vaccine helps protect against seasonal influenza, which can cause serious illness and hospitalization. The flu vaccine is one of the best tools we have for fighting influenza.”
There are multiple types of flu vaccines, including standard-dose, high-dose, and nasal spray vaccines. There also are two types of influenza vaccine: the trivalent, which is formulated to protect against three flu strains, and quadrivalent, formulated to protect against four strains.
“The best time to get vaccinated is in the fall, ideally before Thanksgiving, since the flu season typically begins in earnest in December,” Arber says.
Flu vaccines are available at various locations, including the Guthrie County Public Health office, pharmacies and an individual’s primary health care provider.
A new COVID vaccine also is available this fall, designed to address the emerging variants and provide added protection against the virus.
“We recommend individuals, especially those who are older and have immunocompromising conditions, get the updated vaccination for COVID-19,” Arber says. “As always, we recommend county residents follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their healthcare providers regarding the need for this new vaccine.”
The availability of these vaccines varies, but Arber says the supply in Guthrie County is meeting demand.
“We have the vaccine available through our pharmacies and here at the health department,” he says. “The health department also is the bridge provider for the vaccine, which means we can vaccinate any person regardless of their ability to pay. We are working with our pharmacies and providers to make sure anyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can get it.”
RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, which can cause respiratory illness, especially in young children and older adults. A new RSV vaccine has been developed to provide protection against that virus.
“RSV vaccinations are recommended for those 60 and older. Women who are pregnant can receive an RSV vaccine during week 32 and week 36 of pregnancy, and the vaccine will protect infants through the first six months of their life,” Arber says.
Babies up to eight months old can get an RSV immunization as they enter their first RSV season. This is not a vaccine, but rather a dose of RSV protective antibodies. A second dose may be recommended for toddlers before they enter their second RSV season if they have lung, heart or immune problems. Eligible individuals can get the RSV vaccine at their primary health care providers, pediatric clinics and pharmacies that offer it.

AEDs and CPR training
Besides fall vaccinations, Arber’s office is busy with a new initiative that focuses on increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and promoting CPR training. Key components include acquiring 30 AED units to place at new sites and replace expired units, providing CPR training to community members, paying for training for volunteer first responders and creating awareness about the importance of immediate response to cardiac emergencies.
“The primary goal of the AED/CPR Initiative is to increase survival rates in cardiac emergencies by providing easy access to AEDs and equipping community members with life-saving CPR skills,” Arber says. “We want to increase the number of first responders in each of our communities and, ultimately, we aim to create a safer and more prepared community.”
So far, 15 AEDS and necessary equipment have been purchased, three new units placed, and three CPR trainings held where 32 community members learned CPR techniques.
Funding for this project started after the formation of the Our Community Health Foundation in 2021.
“The foundation is a way to support health initiatives in Guthrie County,” Arber says. “It serves as a vital source of funding for projects that enhance the wellbeing of our community yet don’t have sustainable funding sources. We needed this nonprofit 501c3 designation to apply for funding.”
Last May, the foundation received a $19,400 gift from Ten Squared Men of Guthrie County for the Guthrie County AED and CPR Initiative. The project also was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Guthrie County Community Foundation.
“These contributions have paid for the equipment but won’t cover the full project cost,” Arber says. “We estimate the entire project will cost around $50,000. We are actively seeking additional donations and grants and exploring potential county or state funding to ensure the success of this life-saving initiative.”
Arber says he and his staff are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of Guthrie County residents.
“Our public health team is committed to providing essential vaccinations, responding to emerging health threats, and promoting initiatives like the AED/CPR project to enhance community safety,” he says. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of fall vaccinations, stay informed about health issues, and support our health initiatives, as these play a vital role in keeping our community safe and healthy.”

Posted 11/09/2023
By Jolene Goodman
Lake Panorama Times

If you like the buffalo chicken dip that your taste buds salivate over at parties, you will love this soup option. Buffalo Chicken Chili was unveiled at our UNI tailgate in Cedar Falls this year by our daughter, Samantha. Soup was our food theme and proved to be a great option as it warmed us up while we fought the chilly wind that stuck with us all day. We had six different soups including broccoli cheese with noodles, turkey vegetable kale, regular chili, chicken tortilla, cheesy potato, and buffalo chicken chili. So many delicious choices, and I sampled them all. They were all fantastic, but an appetizer made into a meal? Well, that was the winner for me. Buffalo Chicken Chili is not only tasty, it fills you up with meaty bites of chicken, too. Give this recipe a try for your next tailgate or one of those cold stay-at-home nights. Enjoy!

Jolene Goodman is the advertising director for Lake Panorama Times and vice president of Big Green Umbrella Media.

RECIPE:
1-1.5 pounds ground chicken
1/4 - 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
2 cups chicken broth
15 ounces can Navy Beans or Black Eyed peas (drained & rinsed)
15 ounces can corn
1 packet of ranch seasoning
dash of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 block of cream cheese (8 ounces)
14.5 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
2 tablespoons cilantro
blue cheese crumbles

Brown the chicken. Add buffalo sauce (1/4 cup for more mild or up to 1/2 cup for more heat), chicken broth, navy beans, corn, ranch packet and other seasonings to pan. Stir and simmer. Add cream cheese and fire-roasted tomatoes. Continue stirring to blend cream cheese into mixture. Add 2 tablespoons of cilantro and stir. Place blue cheese crumbs on top of individual serving bowls. Serves four.

Posted 11/09/2023
By Rich Wicks
Lake Panorama Times

During the regular meeting of the Guthrie County Hospital’s board of trustees on Oct. 26, the board heard about the latest patient satisfaction survey results through the Net Promoter Score (NPS). Danielle Lauzon, clinical safety and quality coordinator, explained that the satisfaction survey scores operate on a 0-10 scale, with 10 indicating extremely high satisfaction, and 0 being the worst score. Lauzon said the results group the scores into three groups. Scores of 9 or 10 are classified as “Promoters.” Scores of 7 or 8 are classed as “Passive,” and those less than 7 are considered “Detractors.”
“Keep in mind that this is not inpatient related,” said Lauzon. “Inpatient would be an HCAHPS  survey.”
Regarding the NPS surveys, “We had 710 surveys so far completed in this fiscal year… our Net Promoter Score is 88.5.”
Lauzon explained that of the 710 surveys completed, 654 gave a satisfaction score of 9 or 10.
“So, we’re doing really well,” she said, adding that the hospital gets to see results “in real time,” which allows staff to respond to any issues promptly.
“I’ve been around a few hospitals. These are the best scores I’ve ever seen,” said Guthrie County Hospital CEO Chris Stipe.
The trustees also heard from Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Mary Anderson, who said, “Currently, we have seven job openings. We added a food service worker, and we also added a patient care tech to our listing, so we’re at seven right now.”  She added that Travis Martin will be begin as the new chief operating officer (COO) in November.
In reviewing the hospital’s financial status, Cheryl Marks reported, “We are up $741,000 in gross revenue from a year ago, year to date.”
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the next regular meeting of the hospital board will be Thursday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m