Posted 12/8/2020
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

A shipping promotion that kicked off in October has led to about 20 copies of “Lake Panorama – The First 50 Years” being purchased, presumably as holiday gifts for friends and family. The book, authored by Susan Thompson, arrived at the Lake Panorama Association office July 19, 2019.

In-person promotions of the book planned for 2020 weren’t possible because of COVID-19. The book’s cost is $35, which includes tax. To make it easier to purchase the book through the winter months, online purchases now are available with the LPA shipping at an additional cost of $5 per book.

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

The LPA financed the book’s production. Just over 1,000 books were printed, with less than 400 remaining in stock.

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

Books also 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. 

Posted 12/8/2020
By Jolene Goodman

Making mass quantities of cookies, candies and fudge during the holidays was a tradition in our household growing up.  I have carried this tradition on with my family for the last 20-plus years.  This Christmas season, we will take even more time to celebrate this tradition as my mother recently passed away. In her honor, I share with you her (and my) favorite cookie recipe for Russian Tea Cakes.

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


Russian Tea Cakes

Ingredients
1 cup soft butter
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/2-1 cup sifted powdered sugar (additional)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-1/4 cups sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup ground walnuts

Directions
Mix together butter, powdered sugar and vanilla.
Sift together flour and salt and stir into butter mixture.
Mix in ground walnuts.
Roll into 1 inch balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until set.
Do not let cookies brown.
While warm, roll in powdered sugar.
Cool.
Then, roll cookies in powdered sugar again.
Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.

Posted 12/8/2020
Lois Porath died peacefully in her sleep on Nov. 24, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

Lois was born Feb. 4, 1935, in rural Alta, Iowa, to Anton and Viola Carlson. She was the youngest of four children including Daryl (Red) Carlson, Duane Carlson and Dale Carlson.

She graduated from Alta High School in 1953 where she was involved in school choir, musicals and flags.

Lois was united in marriage to Dean Porath on Feb. 21, 1954. They were blessed with three children: Toni Ovalle of San Antonio, Texas; Curtis Porath of Cle Elum, Washington; and Jolene Goodman of Johnston, Iowa.

Lois and Dean resided in Ames, Iowa, for several decades. They also spent summers at Lake Panorama until retirement, when they lived at the lake year round. They moved frequently during their retirement years, enjoying homes in Arizona, Texas, Nebraska and Iowa.

She had five grandchildren: Travis (Kelly) Sampson of San Angelo, Texas; Jessica (Joseph) Boyd of San Antonio, Texas; Sara Goodman of Des Moines, Iowa; Samantha Goodman of Johnston, Iowa; and Abigail Goodman of Johnston, Iowa. She also had nine great-grandchildren: Cade Sampson, Reid Sampson, Clark Sampson, Alexis Andrews, Camrie Sampson, Taranique Sampson, A.J. Boyd, Joseph Boyd, Jr., and Anastasia Boyd; and four great-great grandchildren.

Lois enjoyed playing various games and cards with friends and family, loved her sports, especially cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, and working in her gardens.

Lake Panorama was a place of peace and tranquility for Lois where she and Dean would entertain friends and family, take frequent boat rides, golf on the par-3 course, grill on the deck and enjoy the scenic sunsets.

In recent years, Lois resided at Glenstone Village in Grimes, Iowa, where she made many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her husband and her daughter Toni.

A celebration of life was held Monday, Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. at Merle Hay Funeral Home Chapel in Urbandale.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Lois’ name to Friends of Lake Panorama, P.O. Box 488, Panora, IA 50216.

Posted 12/8/2020
Robert Edward Feilmeyer was born on March 5, 1938, the elder of identical twin brothers born to Edward and Marcella Feilmeyer in Guthrie Center. His early childhood coincided with World War II, and one of his first memories was traveling with his mother, sister and brother to pick up their father at the conclusion of his service in the Navy during that war. Robert’s parents owned and ran the Gambles Hardware and Feilmeyer Furniture stores in Guthrie Center for five decades, and Robert spent much of his time at those stores, including working there as a teenager and young adult.

Robert graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1956 and earned his B.A. (1960) and J.D. (1963) from the University of Iowa. Upon completion of his law degree, he returned home to Guthrie Center, where he joined Bob and Buck Taylor at the well-established Taylor and Taylor law practice. Robert remained with this law firm for his entire career, eventually becoming a partner, and later sole owner of the firm.

While attending a wedding in Illinois, Robert met the woman who would change his life, the companion and partner for whom he had been hoping. Kathryn Stangl accepted his proposal six months after meeting and a long-distance courtship, and they were married within the year on June 22, 1974, with the Chicago city girl taking up life in rural Iowa.

The couple was blessed with four children: Jeremy (who followed his father by earning a J.D.), Maria, Ann, and John Mark. Robert took enormous pride in his children and their accomplishments. He attended as many concerts, sporting events, plays, etc. as possible with his busy schedule. Although he spent long hours at his nearby office, that space became a place for the children to do their work as well, with his support and help, especially with computers. At home, his affection for his wife was a remarkable example for his children. Robert also will be remembered for doing his share of dishes, kitchen-cleaning, and nighttime parenting, and was no doubt happy when his children finally did learn how to hang up their bath towels.

Additionally, Robert was known around town for his jogging and exercising, hobbies he had taken up prior to marriage, and which he continued long into his senior years. Robert also took an interest in history and politics; he especially loved reading about the U.S. Civil War and made it a point to take the family on vacation to visit important battle sites, such as Gettysburg. To his children he emphasized the importance of both tolerance and equality of all peoples, encouraging them to learn about the world beyond their immediate environment.

A champion for the community, Robert was a member of the original planning and zoning board in Guthrie County, a member and past president of the Lions Club, member and past president of the Board of Directors of the New Homestead, and a volunteer of the Legal Aid of Iowa. A true man of service, he rarely turned down clients, even if they could not afford his legal work. Robert was honored by the Iowa Bar Association for his pro bono work through the years.

Robert was also a life-long member of St. Mary’s parish in Guthrie Center, where he was baptized, received first communion, confession, and confirmation, as well as watched all four of his children receive their baptism and other sacraments. He served there as an altar boy in his childhood, and later as a lector for many years, as well as a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Robert was known for his kindness, empathy, loyalty, and support, first and foremost in the context of his wife and children, but he also provided a source of stability and assistance to his parents for much of his adult life. His hospitality and kindness also extended to four foreign exchange students and two foster children. Robert was known for his hard work and dedication to his family, law practice, and community.

Following his retirement, Robert and Kathryn moved to the Lake Panorama community, and Robert finally had the time to travel. He spent much of his time visiting his children in their various locations, including a memorable trip to Benin in west Africa where son John Mark was serving in the Peace Corps. He delighted in seeing his grandchildren, offering them unconditional love and often a convenient napping spot. His retirement also finally brought him all the time he needed to watch Iowa Hawkeye and Notre Dame football games.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents Edward and Marcella Feilmeyer and his sister Marlene Stangl. He is survived by his twin brother Ron (Marlene) Feilmeyer, his wife Kathryn, and his loving children Jeremy (Tricia), Maria (Jeffrey) Morrow, Ann (Kyle) Ledbetter, John Mark (Paul) Feilmeyer; and his dozen grandchildren: Maia, Eva, Patrick, Robert, John, Nicholas, and Anna Therese Morrow; Eliza, Nicholas, and Alexander Ledbetter; and William and Kathryn Feilmeyer-N’guessan.

Private services were held Dec. 2, 2020, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guthrie Center.

By Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Posted 11/10/2020

With the weather we have been experiencing lately, it has been difficult to fully let go of “lake time.” That’s something that those of you living on the lake year-round don’t have to worry about, as you are able to fully experience all the seasons. But for those of us at Lake Panorama part time, it feels like we should still be out on our boats — at least on this 73-degree day as I write this column. Of course, by the time you are reading this, we could be back to snowfall.

We bought our lake home a year ago, and we spent the first few weeks cleaning up the outdoor stuff and enjoying the autumn season. We could not yet envision what summertime at the lake would truly be like. Those hot months are clearly the reason most of us buy homes here, but not the only reason. Truth be told, many of us choose to live in Iowa because we really do enjoy the change of seasons. And get ready, because change is coming.

  
Home Improvement Guide
Be sure to look for a special section inside this edition that is packed with stories and photos that relate to home improvement projects. And also be sure to reach out to the local businesses that have advertised their goods and services to assist you in your plans.  


Holiday gift ideas
If you have not yet come up with ideas for all your holiday gift giving (and who has?), then look inside this issue for a few. Many of you have already purchased a copy of “Lake Panorama – The First 50 Years,” but be sure to buy a copy for your family members, your neighbors and, if you have not already, yourself. Jolene and I bought three copies last year, and we will be buying at least one more now. It is truly a wonderful read about the history of Lake Panorama.

Another gift idea that you can find information on in this issue is for the Lake Dogs and Cove Cats calendar. This is a beautiful piece that you can purchase at many locations in the area with proceeds going to a wonderful organization.

In fact, why not buy the book and the calendar? Anyone who enjoys Lake Panorama would certainly appreciate them both.


Goodbye, election campaigns
If you are like me, you have had your fill of negative election advertising. I am thankful that the campaign season is over. As divisive as it all has been, we now all have a responsibility to join together. I have long believed that if we would take a fraction of the time and money that is spent on dividing us and use that to celebrate all the things we actually have in common, this nation would be a much better place. And, fortunately for all of you reading this, we do have something we truly all enjoy, and that is Lake Panorama. So as we put Election Day behind us and look to Thanksgiving, let’s not forget the need to celebrate that common ground. We will all be better for it.

  
A little lake humor
My Bluetooth speaker quit working the other day, so I threw it into the lake. Now it’s syncing.

I did say “a little” humor. And, no, I did not really litter in the lake.

Have a great November, and thanks for reading.

Courtney Powell Allen, 93, son of Bert and Velma (Jenkins) Allen, was born June 25, 1927, in Lynn, Massachusetts. He passed away Oct. 11, 2020, at the Guthrie County Hospital, in Guthrie Center.

Courtney graduated from Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire.  He enlisted in the United States Navy during WWII, serving from June 1945 until July 1946. He then graduated from the University of New Hampshire in Dover with a degree in genetics.

He was recalled back into the United States Navy during the Korean War, serving from May 1951 until August 1952.  During this time, he met Dilma Galmeyer while serving on the island of Curacao in the Caribbean. They were married on March 16, 1953. They first made their home in Des Moines, followed by Johnston, Urbandale and finally, in 1982, they built a home on Lake Panorama. In 1988, they made the lake house their fulltime home.

 Courtney worked for Pioneer in its poultry division. In 1972, he started his own company called Sunny Time Foods. In 1988, he built a manufacturing plant in Panora for Sunny Time. In 1989, he sold the company to Cargill and worked for them until he retired in 1992 at the age of 65.

Courtney enjoyed golfing, traveling, telling stories and being with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Dilma Allen of Panora; sons, Courtney Allen, Jr. of Panora and Clifford (Joelle) Allen of Barnstable, Massachusetts; daughter, Cynthia Merritt of West Des Moines; five granddaughters, six great-grandchildren; and brother, Bert Allen, Jr. of Hampstead, New Hampshire.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a brother.

A Celebration of Life gathering was held at the Panorama West Clubhouse Oct. 14. Burial of his cremains was Oct. 19, 2020, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter.

 Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, handled arrangements.

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

Friends of Lake Panorama is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity dedicated to supporting recreational amenities at Lake Panorama. The first meeting of the Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors was Dec. 3, 2013. An application for nonprofit status was filed with the IRS in January 2014 and approved in July 2014.

The charity is governed by a volunteer, seven-member board of directors. In this month’s Q&A, Jan Reinicke, current Friends president, talks about current projects and future goals.

Q. A year ago, Friends kicked off a $70,000 fundraising campaign to purchase new play equipment for Shady and Boulder Beach. Give us an update on that effort.  

A. I’m happy to say we reached our playground fundraising goal in late October. By July, we were far enough along the Friends board voted to go ahead with the purchase of the equipment for Shady Beach.

That arrived at Lake Panorama in early October and was installed just ahead of one of our October snowstorms. Featured are a multi-faceted play set, three swings, and a freestanding “spring rider” designed to accommodate a physically challenged child, that also has room for two children.

The LPA maintenance staff will be finalizing the mulching and grading there once the ground is frozen, and the playground will open. Hopefully there will be some warmer days yet in 2020 and into next spring for children to begin to enjoy this new playground.

The Boulder Beach play equipment will be ordered soon, for delivery in the spring. The gray mountain and play set currently there will remain. A spring rider like the one at Shady Beach will be added. A new playground nearby will include a play set with features geared to both older and younger kids, plus three swings.

We will be posting a sign at each of the playgrounds showing donors who gave $500 or more. If someone still is interested in helping with this project, we have room for both more benches and more spring riders, so we welcome additional donations.


Q. Friends recently launched a new fund drive for a proposed dog park. Tell us about that.

A. To help prioritize future projects, the Friends board of directors conducted a survey in April 2019 to gather input from Lake Panorama Association members. A total of 171 people responded to the six-question online survey over a three-week period.

Ten potential projects were listed in the survey. Questions were asked to help prioritize those projects, based on survey respondents ranking their top priorities, plus the likelihood of them both using and financially supporting each project. Based on those results, the playground upgrades we’re doing now were chosen as the first project.

Also getting some attention was the possible development of an LPA dog park. While a dog park didn’t rank as high in the survey as other projects, there was strong support from a segment of the LPA membership. For that reason, the Friends board recruited volunteers to serve on a dog park task force to study location, design, costs, and rules.

That group shared their proposal with the Friends board this summer, which endorsed the plan and sent it to the LPA board of directors for consideration. At its August meeting, the LPA board agreed Friends could raise funds for a dog park. All funds will need to be raised with support from dog park enthusiasts, as LPA will only be partnering with in-kind contributions such as running a water line.

The members of the dog park task force took a very high-profile role once the project was approved by the Friends and LPA boards. Their original plan was costed at $50,000 with the inclusion of all desired amenities, so the Friends board set a goal of $25,000 to be raised by May 1 to make it viable. The Board believed it could be scaled back if necessary and add the additional amenities as more funds were raised. 

What resulted was a group of people who recruited other dog lovers to the cause and successfully organized a fundraising event on Oct. 17 at the LPN, raising $6,225 with a dog walk, golf tournament, raffle, auction and reception.  It was a great display of team work. Total contributions are now $18,000.

There is a lot of hard work remaining to reach the fundraising goal but the enthusiasm remains as additional events and appeals are planned for this year and next. Most importantly, it demonstrates what a small group of committed people with some well-defined goals can accomplish to make their community a better place for them and their furry friends.

Q. What are the various ways people can donate to Friends?

A.   First, I want to remind everyone that all donations are tax-deductible, and donors receive a confirmation letter for tax purposes. Statistics indicate a high percentage of charitable contributions are made in the last few weeks of the year, so we’re looking forward to additional contributions coming in to support additional benches or spring riders at the playgrounds on the beaches or help make the dog park a reality.

There are several options. One easy way is to clip the coupon from the Friends ad in this issue of the Lake Panorama Times, fill it out and mail it with a check to Friends of Lake Panorama, P.O. Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Or simply include a note with your check so we know how you want your donation used, and mail to the same address.

On the Friends website — friendsoflakepanorama.org — there is a donation form that provides more details. This form can be printed, completed, and mailed with a check. Donations also can be made by credit card on the Friends website.

Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions — for donors over age 70 ½ who are required to take forced IRA distributions. 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, at 641-755-2799 or kristen@investgcsb.com.

Q. Are there other efforts underway as a result of the Friends survey?

A. Yes, the survey helped the Friends board identify other areas of interest. In 2021, we plan to give attention to additional beach amenities, walking trails and a disc golf course. All of the ideas we will be pursuing came to us from the survey and were expanded on by volunteer committees. Many hours of work went into looking at the possibilities for improving the recreational opportunities here at Lake Panorama.

The survey was an extremely valuable tool for us. We learned we have an incredibly engaged community with some diverse interests. The lake and golf courses are, of course, the center of much activity but people are interested in adding other amenities such as the dog park and walking trails

As we proceed to work on these other priorities, we hope to engage more new people willing to step forward, do the planning work and assist with raising the necessary funds.  If you have a particular interest, we’d like to hear from you and welcome your interest and involvement.

As we look forward to new projects and celebrate the past accomplishments of beach playgrounds, sports courts and the upgrading of Panorama West with an estate gift, the board has reflected on our need to build a sustainable organization for the future.

We have for the last few years been very project focused with some very good results, and now need to ensure we have a vibrant Friends organization well into the future.  We are hoping our donor base can expand and we can seek funds specifically for organizational and administrative purposes. We know people feel good about supporting the projects closest to their heart, but we’re hoping there are LPA members who appreciate the good work being done and can just help support our ongoing expenses. Those donations add to the good of the community, too.

Q. What kind of impact do you think Friends of Lake Panorama has had so far on the Lake Panorama community, and can have in the future?

A. Fundraising began in October 2014. In May 2016, Friends completed an $80,000 fundraising campaign to build the Sunset Beach playground, with the LPA providing an additional $50,000. The playground equipment was installed in mid-July that year. A year later, Friends had raised $75,000 for sports courts at Boulder Beach. The LPA board agreed to provide matching funds and the sports courts opened in mid-July 2018.

In August 2017, Friends of Lake Panorama received $473,000 from the estate of James and Joyce McLuen to be used at the Panorama West golf course. That money transformed an already nice golf course into something very special.

One impact I think this estate gift had on Friends was for our board to establish and test a protocol for handling future estate gifts. And I think we passed that first test with flying colors. The McLuens’ generous gift is a wonderful example of long-time Lake Panorama residents who cared about this particular recreational amenity and made a decision to help support something they loved by including a bequest in their will.

We hope this gift will encourage others to think about the future impact they can have on recreational amenities at Lake Panorama, either through an estate gift, some other financial planning mechanism, or a direct donation now. 

There have been a few smaller projects — renovation of the Lake Panorama National conference center dining room in memory of Dr. David Wang, a rain garden at Panorama West, and several memorial benches.

Friends of Lake Panorama is the perfect opportunity to forge a strong partnership with the Lake Panorama Association to improve the recreational opportunities here at the lake. Working together, we have the potential to really improve the quality of life for current and future residents. While the LPA’s focus, out of necessity, needs to be on safety, security and infrastructure needs, Friends of Lake Panorama can be a catalyst and support group focusing on the amenities our community members desire.

Our working relationship with the LPA is a good model as we move forward. The LPA board has provided financial contributions when possible and many in-kind contributions. LPA staff have spent many hours helping make each of the projects come to be a part of life at Lake Panorama.

We are proud of our commitment to engage LPA community members in establishing priorities and continuing our work to provide additional amenities. We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you to raise the necessary funds to complete additional projects as well as build a strong Friends organization for the future.

By Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Posted10/6/2020

Being safe on Lake Panorama is important to all of us, or at least it should be. And, if we are being honest, most all of us could do a better job of understanding water safety rules and making sure that we — and our guests — abide by them. My eyes were opened to this when I took the simple 23-question water safety survey that Lake Panorama Association is hosting to gather input that will be presented to the LPA water safety committee. Gathering data is always important, but this survey is also an educational tool for each of us. At least it was for me. Find out for yourself at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020lpawatersafetysurvey and be sure to read the story in this issue. …

We recently moved our Big Green Umbrella Media headquarters (sounds fancy, huh?) to our new offices at 8101 Birchwood Court, Suite D in Johnston. We only moved a mile or so, but as most of you know, moving is never easy. The biggest challenge was in getting our phone and Internet services installed. Despite notifying our vendor more than a month in advance, we did not have Internet connectivity for nearly three weeks and are approaching a month now without any office phones. I apologize to all of you who have received a busy signal when calling our offices. I hope that by the time you are reading this, it is all resolved. It would not be appropriate for me to name the company that we have to use in the Des Moines metro area, but I will tell you that it kind of rhymes with “CenturyStink.” The entire process makes me appreciate having these services provided by Panora Telco here locally, and you should, too. …

Several years ago, I struggled to fill last-minute space in one of our magazines.  So I placed a recipe column that I had on hand in the pages. I received some positive feedback from it, so I ran a new one each month. A year or so later, I ran into a jam as I could not fit all the information I had in the page count we set for a magazine. So I pulled the recipe that month. Unfortunately, I erred in not changing the teaser on the front page for the recipe, so I left readers searching for the Taco-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash or the Baked Eggs Puttanesca or something like that. I did not expect what happened next. I was flooded with phone calls, emails and even comments on the street from readers. Lesson learned. We have run a recipe column every issue since in all of our Iowa Living magazines. So, with that in mind, I asked my wife and our advertising director, Jolene Goodman, to write a column each month for this publication.  Enjoy! …

Speaking of Jolene, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary recently. We had plans for a nice getaway to Estes Park, Colorado, but Mr. Covid seemed to complicate things. So we spent a wonderful weekend at Lake Panorama instead. And why not? …

Let’s finish this month with a little lake humor for the Halloween season. (I did say a little.) Where do ghosts go to sail? The answer, of course, is Lake Eerie.

Thanks for reading.

John (Jack) William Christensen, 85, was born Oct. 14, 1934, in Iowa Falls. He died Oct. 3, 2020, at Perry Lutheran Home in Perry due to complications of Covid-19.
John was a graduate of Iowa Falls High School and served four years in the U.S. Air Force. After graduating with a masters degree in business administration from University of Northern Iowa, he went on to a lifetime career with Iowa Department of Revenue, where he retired in 2002. John was a master woodworker, building his own home at Lake Panorama. He and his wife Marion lived there since 1993, enjoying the quiet and wildlife. He was a perfectionist with his woodworking and projects he undertook. He had a lifelong love of classic cars, even owning a few. In his downtime, he enjoyed reading books, taking walks and riding bike in their lake neighborhood and sharing stories. He served as treasurer of the Lake Panorama Association Board of Directors and as director in 1998 and 1999. John and Marion enjoyed trips to Colorado, Florida and other states. He had been a resident of Perry Lutheran Home since 2017.
John leaves behind his wife; two step-sons, Tony (Dani) Allsup and Steve (Liz) Allsup; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren (plus one on the way); sister Ruth Allen; brother-in-law John Nelson; sisters-in-law Linda Culbertson and Beth (Jerry) Buttler and nephew and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Delores, Jeanne and Karen; and in-laws Joan and Glenn Allen.
Following cremation, a private burial service will take place in Iowa Falls at a later date.
Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, handled arrangements.

By Susan Thompson
Posted 10/6//2020

Jotham Arber is a busy man. As executive director of health services for the Guthrie County Public Health department, he is responsible for running Guthrie’s Public Health, Environmental Health, Home Health, and Transfer Station (Landfill) departments. Since January, much of his focus has been on COVID-19. In this month’s Q&A, he talks about his job responsibilities, and the impact of COVID-19 in Guthrie County.

Q. Tell us about your path to Guthrie County.
A. I was born in South Africa and moved to Kirksville, Missouri, with my family during my preteen years, when my father took a position as a minister there. I attended high school in Kirksville and started college at Truman State University, studying chemistry. I then attended Central College in Pella, earning an undergraduate degree in biochemistry. Next up was Des Moines University where I studied public health and epidemiology. My wife and I moved to Guthrie County in 2014 when I took the public health director position.

Q. You’re an epidemiologist. Please explain in layman terms what that is, as well as your job responsibilities.
A. An epidemiologist is a person who studies and deals with the incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases. This means someone who looks at what is making a community sick or unhealthy and puts measures in place to stop it. Diseases that epidemiologists look at range from chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer that impact the population over long periods of time, to mental health conditions, to what we are experiencing now—viral outbreaks.

My job duties at the health department shift as needed. Currently, I spend most of my time working with our disease investigation team doing contact tracing, disease recovery follow-up, quarantine protocol management, and providing guidelines to healthcare providers, businesses, schools and the general community.

Our public health department provides services in Guthrie County that include disease investigation, vaccinations, community health needs assessments and programming, family support programs, public health emergency preparedness and community health education.
Our office provides some additional services in three counties. We take care of all of the environmental health services and home health services in Guthrie, Adair, Cass and Audubon counties.

Environmental health covers septic systems, water quality, human habitat and dwelling environment, animal disease and complaints, pools, tattoo parlors, tanning bed facilities, and radon testing. Home health covers nursing services, home health aides, homemakers and respite.

Q. Let’s talk about COVID-19 and Guthrie County. When did you first start talking about this virus threat, and what has transpired since?
A. In early January, I and our emergency management team began meeting about the possibility we may eventually need to respond to the outbreak of the coronavirus in China. We have had several viral outbreaks over the last few years, including Ebola in 2014 and Zika in 2015, that have started in other countries and made their way here. As we watched the numbers climb, we decided we needed to begin preparing rather than wait until it was here.

Based on our experience with other outbreaks, especially the 2009 H1N1 virus, we knew we needed to stockpile protective equipment (PPE) and make sure our hospitals and partners had supplies. We also knew we needed to gather as much information as possible to understand what the virus looked like and how it might impact our community. Our office began gathering this information and buying gowns, gloves and N95s to provide to our health providers.

In late January, the U.S. reported its first case in Washington State. By the beginning of February, we had a fairly large stockpile of PPE and began putting out informational material. Since many people who live in our county travel for work internationally and domestically, we assumed we would see a case at some point. And with numbers coming out of China and Europe indicating it may spread quickly, we wanted people to be as prepared as possible.

Our first case came in the last week of March. It came as we thought it might, through international travel. We had quarantined several other cases and were hoping we may be able to contain any further outbreak. But by the end of April, we understood it had spread into the community, and we began to see a rise in weekly cases. By May we were seeing cases coming in almost daily. May was the month in which we had our first outbreak in an assisted living facility, and where we saw our first death.

Since the beginning of May, we have seen our cases ebb upwards, especially during traditional holidays and family gathering times, then come down, only to rise again. We anticipate this will be the trend going forward until we have an available vaccine. Or until enough of the population have had COVID-19 to create some immunity, which decreases the virus’ ability to spread and thereby decreases the number of infections.

We have had more than 250 confirmed cases since March, with 10 deaths and two assisted living and nursing home outbreaks. We estimate through our antibodies studies that between 327 and 801 individuals may already have been infected with COVID-19  in Guthrie County.

Q. What are some of the reasons this virus has been so difficult to control?
A. There are several reasons, but two biological reasons stand out. Unlike other viruses we see circulating, which normally have an incubation period of two to four days, the coronavirus has an incubation period that can last two to 14 days. This means that someone may be infected and not show symptoms for almost two weeks. During this time, if they are unaware they are infected, they may continue to move around and potentially spread the virus.
The other reason for the continued difficulty in containing the coronavirus is that between 20 and 30 percent of individuals may remain asymptomatic, which means they never have symptoms, but are spreading the virus.

The politicization of this virus and unclear and changing guidelines also has made it hard for local public health to get full buy-in from our communities to engage in public health measures that could help bring the virus under control. We have lost some of our “trust capital” with the public that is essential for implementing successful strategies.

We hope that in Guthrie County, people understand their public health department is only working to try and keep our community as healthy and safe as possible. And that when we make health recommendations, it is on that premise alone.

Q. What are your recommendations on preventative measures we can take?
A. There are several recommendations to help prevent infection and slow transmission of COVID-19.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
•Maintain at least 6 feet distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
•Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
•Stay home if you feel unwell.
•Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
•Practice physical distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from individuals.
•Wear a face mask when you are not able to distance away from people.
•Stay active and continue to exercise and practice normal healthy routines.

Q. What are the symptoms someone with COVID might experience?
A. On average it takes five to six days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, and it can take up to 14 days. The most common symptoms are fever, dry cough and tiredness. Other symptoms may be a sore throat, aches and pains, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on the skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes.

The symptoms that most concern us and that someone should seek immediate medical attention for include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, and loss of speech or movement.

Q. What should people do if they experience any of these symptoms?
A. Anyone having symptoms should contact their physician and let them know they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Their physician can determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19, or if they need to be seen for other potential issues that may correlate to their symptoms.

We want to make sure people are getting adequate medical attention for all of their ailments. In my opinion, our Guthrie County physicians are some of the best and have an excellent ability to differentiate between COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Q. How and where can a person in Guthrie County get tested?
A. They can visit their local doctor, hospital or the health department to get a test. These tests usually take two to three days to get results back. They also can go to a Test Iowa site or get a rapid test at commercial sites in Des Moines.

The Guthrie County Hospital and the Guthrie County Health Department have been working hard to get rapid testing into our county, and we hope that in October this capability will be possible. Hospital officials will release more information as they have their protocols in place and are ready to begin offering rapid test services.

Q. What should a person do while waiting for test results?
A. The most important thing a person being tested should do is stay isolated until you know your results. If a person is waiting on a test and they are symptomatic, they should remain isolated until they receive their test results. If they test positive, they will need to remain isolated for 10 days from the date they became symptomatic.

If the individual did not have symptoms, they will need to isolate for 10 days from the date of the test. If they test negative and have had a known exposure to a positive case of COVID-19, they should continue to quarantine for 14 days from the last exposure to the positive case. If they have not had a known exposure they can return to normal activities.

If a person is waiting on a test because they were exposed to a positive COVID-19 case and are not symptomatic, they should remain isolated until they receive their test results. If they test positive, they will need to remain isolated for 10 days from the date of their test. If they test negative, they should continue to quarantine for 14 days from the last exposure to the positive case.

There are specific guidelines for return-to-work based on contact exposure for essential workers on the CDC website. No person who tests positive should go to work until they have been isolated for 10 days from symptoms, or 10 days from test day if they were asymptomatic.

We understand it can be confusing to sort through what a person should do before and after testing. Anyone with questions is welcome to call the Guthrie County Public Health office during business hours at 641-747-3972. We also have a toll free number that is monitored 24 hours a day—1-833-833-4600.

Q. Any predictions on when a vaccine might be available?
A. It is hard to say when the current vaccines being developed will be widely available to the public. We want to make sure vaccines are safe and effective for the populations we are working to protect. I think by the end of 2020 we will have a good understanding of whether some of these vaccines are safe and effective, but it will probably be several months from that point before we see vaccines available for the general population. I hope that by the spring of 2021 we will see some availability, and by the summer it is widely available.

By Jolene Goodman

I share two recipes this month from our friends at Family Features and Dole. As they explain, introducing kids to unfamiliar flavors doesn’t have to be a frightful experience. A passion for produce may begin with America’s favorites — like bananas, apples, citrus, celery, carrots and broccoli — but that’s just the beginning. Whether it’s their angry names and tough exteriors, or simply a fear of the unknown about taste and preparation, dozens more diverse and exotic fruits and vegetables like dragon fruit, horned melon and Brussels sprouts are often the sources of produce paranoia.

One easy way to introduce new flavors is by trying a variation of a familiar fruit or veggie. For example, Family Features tells us there are more than 500 edible banana varieties in the world. You might sample a red banana or a Manzano, or even an ice cream banana, with a taste resembling vanilla custard.

These fun and kid-friendly Green Slime Nacho Cups feature plantains, for example, a member of the banana family with a different taste and texture than everyday yellow bananas — more firm and starchy like a potato. Increase your family’s produce intake even further with a Slippery Slimy Smoothie, which calls for green grapes, spinach, banana and pineapple.

Find more recipes and other not-so-scary fun at dole.com/Disney, and follow #Dole and #DoleRecipes.

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

Green Slime Nacho Cups

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
1 green starting to turn yellow DOLE® Plantain, peeled and thinly sliced on bias
1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1 Dole Avocado, halved, pitted and peeled
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup thinly shredded Dole Purple Cabbage

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 F. Toss plantain slices with canola oil and season with pinch of salt. On parchment paper-lined baking sheet, arrange slices in single layer with no overlapping.
    Bake 18-20 minutes, or until crispy and lightly golden. Cool completely and set aside.
    Using spoon, scoop flesh of avocado into small bowl and mash, reserving one half avocado shell. Stir mashed avocado with lime juice, garlic and remaining salt. Stir in slaw, reserving some for garnish. Scoop into reserved avocado shell and smooth top with back of spoon. Stick reserved cabbage shreds out of avocado mixture to look like hair.
    Serve slime nacho cups with plantain chips.

Slippery Slimy Smoothie
Prep time:10 minutes
Servings: 2 (8 ounces each)

Ingredients
1/2 cup DOLE® Spinach
1 Dole Banana, peeled and frozen
1/2 cup Dole Green Grapes, frozen
1/3 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup Dole Pineapple
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
5 ice cubes

Directions
In blender, blend spinach, banana, grapes, cucumber, pineapple, almond milk, Greek yogurt and ice cubes until smooth.
    Pour smoothie into two glasses and serve.

By Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Posted 9/8/2020

We have all been in social settings with others we don’t know. These can be awkward, but one of the easiest ice breakers I have found is to find out where people call home. Inevitably, I can find some type of connection from there. And in those discussions with folks at Lake Panorama, I have often heard the following questions: How many property owners have permanent residences here? And where do those who don’t call home?
Many have speculated with responses all over the board, but I wanted to do some research and find out the real answers for myself. I thought you might be interested, too.

The database I used is the mailing list that we send Lake Panorama Times out to each month. Since we mail to all property owners on the lake, it should very closely match where people call home. Prior to each and every mailing, we update it with additions, deletions and changes, so it is quite accurate. We also mail to a few businesses and a handful of others, but, by and large, it is sent to lake property owners located in about 220 different communities. It is also important to note that this publication is mailed to the permanent residence that is on record for each property owner. So if your lake property is your designated permanent address, then a copy of this publication is mailed to you there. If you have a home in Des Moines, or Sioux City or Yale listed as your permanent address, then a copy is mailed to that address.

For this current issue, we mailed out 1,703 copies. Of those, the most were mailed to a Panora address, representing 34.1 percent of all copies. So, in theory, about one-third of all property owners live on the lake year round, or at least name their lake address as their permanent residence of record.

The community with the next greatest number of  mailings is West Des Moines, with about 6.4 percent of the total. Des Moines follows with 5.5 percent with Urbandale closely behind at 5.0 percent. Clive, Adel, Johnston and Waukee are all next with about 2.5 percent each. After that is Ankeny at 2.3 percent with Guthrie Center following at 2.2 percent.

Jefferson, Grimes, Omaha, Carroll, Ames, Perry and Atlantic are all next and have between 1-2 percent of the mailings each. The remainder are sent to more than 200 various communities, with each totaling less than 1 percent.

Now that’s one way to answer this question, but there are seemingly two sides to every coin. And as a former boss of mine used to say, figures lie and liars figure.

Another way to answer the permanent residence question is to use data only on those with actual homes on the lake. According to Lake Panorama Association, there are approximately 1,125 homeowners with the remaining 600 or so members having undeveloped lots. With this in mind, the percent of people who consider their lake home as their primary residence may be closer to 50 percent. And, of course, during  the summer almost 100 percent of the homes are in use at some point.

So, where do Lake Panorama property owners call home? Regardless of how you slice or dice the data, the answer is clearly at Lake Panorama, with Des Moines and its western suburbs making up the bulk of the remainder.

Now we know. And this will all make for a great ice breaker at your next social event.

As always, thanks for reading.