Posted 8/10/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

In 2008, 12 businesses made monetary or in-kind contributions to Lake Panorama National to support the construction of Spikes, the snack and restroom facility located near the first tee. In exchange, the businesses received a granite sponsorship sign on an LPN tee box. Several have maintained their annual sponsorship since.
Five original Granite Club members who renewed for 2022 now are in their 14th year supporting LPN. These are Panora Telco on the third hole; Guthrie County State Bank and GCSB Investment Center on hole five; Exterior Sheet Metal on the eighth hole; Bryton Insurance on the ninth hole; and Total Financial Solutions on the 15th hole.
New members in 2021 who renewed in 2022 are the Kluster Klub, which is made up of a group of LPN supporters, and is on the second hole; Lake Panorama Realty on the 11th hole; and The Trash Man-Neil Wright on No. 14.
Lake Panorama Barge joined the Granite Club in 2020, is featured on the seventh hole, and now is in its third year in the club.
Minnesota Cabinets is on the 18th hole, and has been a member for four years. Five members joined in 2018 and are in their fifth years. These are R&K Bristle Farms on the first hole; Iowa Trust and Savings Bank on No. 4; Hawley Insurance on the sixth hole; and Robert Carr Insurance Agency-State Farm on No. 16.
Two members joined in 2017 and have renewed annually. These are Jensen Sanitation on No. 13, and Tometich Engineering on the 17th hole.
Just two holes remain available for sponsorship — 10 and 12. Annual sponsorships are $500. New sponsors also are asked to pay the cost of the sign.
Granite Club members receive a free round of golf for a foursome, including carts, when they purchase or renew their annual membership. Club members also are recognized on the LPN website and in the LPN Resort Weekly e-newsletter.
Details of the Granite Club, along with a request form for more information, can be found on the LPN website at lakepanoramanational.com. Or call Royce Shaffer, LPN operations manager, at 641-755-2080. 

Posted 8/10/2022
By Jolene Goodman

As summer gardens yield their plentiful crops, I enjoy including my local vegetable finds in this cherished, healthy treat. The original Black Bean Salsa recipe I use came from a former employee of ours, Daniel Davis. I’m not sure Daniel was much of a cook, but he did love this salsa and shared it at our company potlucks. I still have the original emailed recipe that I printed out on Feb. 7, 2009. I have adapted this to include more fresh vegetables rather than canned, but I will include both options. Leftover corn on the cob is perfect for this dish (be sure to cut corn off the cob before storing it for the freshest taste). This is another crowd pleaser. Enjoy this with tortilla chips, in rice bowls and with eggs!

1 can black-eyed peas
1 can black beans
1-2 cups of corn (or 1 can)
2 cups diced tomatos (or 1 can Rotel)
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup Italian dressing
1/2-1 tsp garlic salt
4 ounces chopped jalepeno (optional)
Tortilla chips

Posted 8/10/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits a person’s ability to breathe over time. Carrie Hansen was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) when she was 3 months old. Now an adult, Hansen is continually looking for opportunities to educate others about the disease and also to raise money to help find a cure.
“I am 39 years old now,” Hansen says. “When I was born, the average age of a CF patient was 18; now, that number is close to 50. There have been such incredible medical advancements in my lifetime, with only more to come.”
In people with CF, mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene cause the CFTR protein to become dysfunctional. When the protein is not working correctly, it’s unable to help move chloride, a component of salt, to the cell surface. Without chloride to attract water to the cell surface, mucus in various organs becomes thick and sticky. In the lungs, the mucus clogs airways and traps germs, leading to infections, inflammation, respiratory failure and other complications.
Hansen is the daughter of Lyle and Paula Hansen. Their primary residence is in Audubon. They owned a home in Horseshoe Cove from 1980 to 1985, then were drawn back to Lake Panorama in 2012. Brother Chip is a full-time Lake Panorama resident, perhaps best known as the man behind the large American flag that is painted on the lawn of his parents’ lakeside home each Fourth of July. Carrie has a home in Norwalk that she shares with her boyfriend of three years. They enjoy being at the lake as much as possible.
Carrie Hansen says she is thankful that while she was growing up, and still today, she is able to be active and is surrounded by family and friends who support her.
“My parents established a routine with my meds and treatments that I am still abiding by,” she says. “I spend about two hours a day doing breathing treatments and take a handful of pills in the morning and evening.”
Hansen says cystic fibrosis patients need a diet of protein and high fats.
“My mother is a wonderful cook, and always made sure I had the right foods,” she says. “I remember my father waking me up early, day after day, to do my treatments before school. I learned to play Solitaire and many other games during this time, which was followed by nightly treatments where I did homework or played games. Now I typically work or find memes during morning and evening treatment hours. I don’t know anything different.”
Hansen graduated from Audubon High School before earning a degree in finance at Iowa State University.
“Since graduating from Iowa State, I have always been in financial services. I love helping people with their finances and building relationships with referral partners. Simply put, I enjoy people, their stories and learning how I can help them, whether it be a loan, or an introduction or a referral,” she says.
Hansen is a loan originator and branch manager for Clear Mortgage, a nationwide company with a presence in 38 states.
“I also have an ownership percentage,” Hansen says. “I have a couple loan officers who work for me and a gentleman in Des Moines, Jason Parkin, who is director of business development for our team,” she says.
Hansen’s team is licensed in nine states.
“The single-family residential mortgage market is a $12.8 trillion dollar industry, up 8% year over year,” she says. “The U.S. housing market is the largest asset class in the world.”
For every loan Hansen and her team closes with Clear Mortgage, she donates $200 to the Iowa chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She calls this effort “Loans for a Cure.”
“Our team is very community focused with giving back and involvement. I believe we are close to donating over $30,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Iowa. My dream is to be able to give more than $100,000 annually to fight cystic fibrosis,” Hansen says. “I’m hustling to make that dream a reality. I am trying to get with some local hospitals and clinics to match my donations, or provide something in value to become their networks’ preferred mortgage solution.”
Hansen also is the lead sponsor this year for an annual fundraising event called Corks and Kegs. It is Friday, Sept. 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the River Center, located at 304 S.W. Third St. in downtown Des Moines. Hansen also sponsored, and was the keynote speaker, at the last Corks & Kegs in December 2019. All funds raised go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Iowa.
Promotional material for the 2022 event includes this statement: “Corks & Kegs presented by Clear Mortgage promises to be a distinctive evening of aromatic wines, craft-brewed beers from local vendors, and delicious cuisine provided by The River Center – all for an incredible cause: to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis.” More information is available at https://events.cff.org/corksandkegsia.
More information about Carrie Hansen’s Clear Mortgage Team, and her Loans for a Cure program, is available at https://clearmortgage.com/carrie-hansen. 

Posted 8/10/2022
Effective Aug. 1, Panora Telco and Guthrie Center Communications became Panora Fiber, as did the providers’ TV services and the Solutions store. Panora Fiber will continue to operate from the current locations in Panora and Guthrie Center, and the same team of employees will continue to serve customers.
Andrew Randol, CEO and general manager, said, “We wanted our family of companies to unify under one name to streamline our marketing and create efficiencies. After much research and discussion, our board of directors chose Panora Fiber. The second word in our new name was the first priority. Fiber is our current focus and will remain our focus in the future. Only fiber is capable of providing the ultra-fast and reliable Internet and related services that our residential and business customers require. What’s more, by moving forward with the name Panora Fiber, we can strengthen our position as the fiber leader in Iowa.”
Panora Telco, founded in 1919, was a pioneer in deploying Fiber to the Home in Iowa and lit up its first fiber customer in December 2001.
“That was quite a few years before other providers began installing Fiber to the Home. Since then, we’ve continued to expand our fiber network to connect more of our customers to it. Fiber will be essential to helping our local economies grow and thrive in the years to come, and Panora Fiber remains deeply committed to our communities,” said Randol.
The new logo for Panora Fiber will appear on the website at panorafiber.com and on signage, vehicles, branded clothing and other customer materials. Underneath the logo are three words: Fast, Reliable and Local.
Randol noted, “When customers think of Panora Fiber, we want them to think of those three things. We provide fast and reliable Internet service, and we’re the local provider.” 

Posted 7/6/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

Lake Panorama National and Panorama West boast flowers throughout the golf season on tee boxes and other locations. Most of these displays are the result of volunteers who not only purchase and plant flowers but also weed, water and decorate.
Lake Panorama National has volunteers who help clean beds and add flowers on most of the golf holes and areas near the conference center. 
On the first tee, Scott and Becky Rolfes manage the landscaped beds near the tee box and the flagpole area. Carolyn Koberg provided some of the perennials planted in that area. Trish Steffen handles the landscaped area on the back tees on the second hole. Doug and Dee Eckley and Lorrie Motsick team up to manage the tee box on the third hole. Julie and Larry Wykoff manage the landscaped area around the bathrooms between the fourth and fifth hole.
Mare and Rick Langel manage the landscaped area under the LPN sign on the east side of the conference center. The landscaped area closer to the east side of the conference center is handled by Sue Merryman, who has planted rose bushes and other perennials. Merryman also tends to the Irv Gerlich Memorial area north of the building. Each year, Nancy Armstrong fills two pots near the building entrance with annuals, and keeps those watered. Julie Tibbles and Sherri Miller care for landscaped beds on the west side of the conference center, near the parking lot.
A flower bed that runs along the rail fence behind the back tees on the fifth hole has been adopted by Bill Winkleblack. Janet Luing cares for the forward tees on the fifth hole. Winkleblack also cares for landscaped beds around Spikes and the swimming pool and recently added large rocks and flower pots to the entrance of the LPN pro shop parking lot.
Doug Eckley and other members of the Kluster Klub have taken over the forward tee box on the sixth hole this year. Darwin and Janet Luing are overseeing the back tee box on the seventh hole, and Kathy Moline handles the front tee box on that hole. Sue Greiner plants annuals each year on tee boxes on the eighth hole.
Moving to the back nine, Lisa Grossman and Shanell Wagler have the 11th tee and Kim Kent has the 12th tee. Barb Wollner plants flowers behind the forward tee on the 13th hole. Jolene Wright adopted the 14th hole this season, and Carla Fitzgerald has the 15th hole. Matt and Marilyn Schultes have the 16th tee, and Dee Tometich and Deb McDermott manage the 17th tees.
Areas up for adoption on the LPN golf course are the fourth, ninth and 10th holes and around the restroom between the 12th and 13th holes. If you are interested in volunteering at Lake Panorama National, contact Shanell Wagler at shanell.wagler@gmail.com or 515-371-0505. 
At Panorama West, there are raised brick planters on each tee box. Volunteers for 2022 are Virgil and Barb Hoehne, first hole; Bill and Karen Eby, second hole; Lyle and Paula Hansen, third hole; Chan Rivera, fourth hole; Trent and Sheryl Crawmer, fifth hole; Dick Ellis, sixth hole; John and Cheryl Crawmer, seventh hole; Jim and Emily Spradling, eighth hole; and Jay and Sue Merryman, ninth hole.
Bob White cares for the par 4 tee box on the second hole. JoAnn Johnson planted annuals in the clubhouse flowerpots this year. Johnson and Paulette Chambers did a general spring cleanup of the flower beds around the clubhouse. Paul McCool manages the bluebird houses scattered around the course.
Maureen Lubeck, Panorama West clubhouse manager, coordinates volunteers there. Those interested in helping can email her at mlubeck@lakepanorama.org or call the pro shop at 641-755-2250.

Posted 7/6/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

Plenty of tickets and a few table sponsorship opportunities remain for the fifth Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser. The event will be Friday, July 22 at Lake Panorama National. Plans include 30 round tables with seating for eight at each with a choice of tables in the LPN banquet room or outside under tents.
The Friends board met June 27 and decided to channel all Beach Ball profits to two projects. One is a multi-use recreational area on Lake Panorama’s south shore that received approval from the LPA board of directors at its May 24 meeting. Items in this recreational concept include a disc golf course, walking trails, fishing dock, bird houses and a small picnic shelter.
Another project approved by the LPA board in June 2021 that will receive 2022 Beach Ball funding is a basketball half-court at Sunset Beach. More information will be available at the event, and attendees will be able to make direct donations to specific projects.
Those attending the Beach Ball have several price levels from which to choose. Friends Beach Club members make an additional contribution to Friends and get some extras. The levels are:
Friends Beach Club - Premier: $700—includes 1 Table Sponsorship; 8 Fundraiser Dinner Tickets; 20 tickets in the 50/50 raffle; Name in the 2022 Beach Ball program
Friends Beach Club - Sponsor: $150—includes 1 Table Sponsorship; Name in the 2022 Beach Ball program
Friends Beach Club - Couple: $250—includes 2 Fundraiser Dinner Tickets; 5 tickets in the 50/50 raffle; Name in the 2022 Beach Ball program
Dinner tickets are available at a cost of $50 each. Since the LPN kitchen staff recently resigned, arrangements have been made with a caterer to provide the meal. Cash bars will be available both inside and outside beginning at 4:30 p.m. and running through the evening. The buffet dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
To become a Friends Beach Club member, or purchase just dinner tickets, contact Susan Thompson, thomcomm@netins.net, or 515-240-6536. Those who have items to donate for either the live or silent auction are asked to contact Thompson with details of the item and to arrange pickup or delivery.
Registration will begin in the LPN dining room at 4:30 p.m. and run for one hour. Tickets for the 50/50 raffle will be sold at registration and throughout the evening, cash only. Little Joe McCarthy will provide live music outdoors, where there will be extra chairs available for those who are seated at tables inside but want to enjoy the music for a while.
A wide selection of gift baskets, artwork, home décor items, golf packages, gift cards and much more will be available for bidding in the silent auction. The drawing for the 50/50 raffle winner will take place right before the live auction begins. The silent auction will end at the same time.
Some items of interest to Iowa State fans that will be in the live auction include a football signed by ISU Coach Matt Campbell and a basketball signed by ISU Coach T.J. Otzelberger, both in display cases. A Cyclone football package includes four tickets in the athletic director’s suite in the Jacobsen Building for the Sept. 24 ISU versus Baylor football game, plus a parking pass, food and drinks. There also will be both Cyclone and Hawkeye cast iron skillets, donated by Progressive Foundry.
Two other live auction items donated recently include a set of solid wood red, white and blue bag boards, handmade by Kurt Johnson. Dan Badding, who with his wife, Sue, opened their Badd Bones Gallery and Studio in Bagley in March 2021, has donated one of his paintings, titled “Wipe Out.”
For those unable to attend the Beach Ball but who still want to support the efforts of Friends of Lake Panorama, tax-deductible donations can be made at any time by check payable to Friends, 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.

Posted 7/6/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

For the second year in a row, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held in Panora. These fundraising events are held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and constitute the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
The walk in Panora is Saturday, Aug. 13 and is titled the Raccoon River Valley Walk. There are 18 walks scheduled in Iowa this fall, with the Panora walk being the first one held in the state this year. Panora also is the smallest town to host one. Others are in cities such as Ames, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City, Spencer and more.
One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. More than six million Americans are living with the disease. In 2021, Alzheimer’s cost the United States $355 billion, a number that is projected to rise to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050.
The Raccoon River Valley Walk begins at the Michael Mills Memorial Park at S.E. 5th Street in Panora. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a special ceremony at 9 a.m. The opening ceremony will immediately be followed by the two-mile walk.
Edwards Jones is a national presenting sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Dave Grove, an Edward Jones financial advisor based in Panora, and Melissa Loest, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Guthrie Center, were instrumental in getting the local walk scheduled.
Last year’s walk was held in September.
“We hope with this August date, we’ll be able to attract more Lake Panorama property owners to participate, while also avoiding the start of school and football season,” Grove says. “In 2021, we raised over $20,000 with 80 walkers. We expect to grow both in number of walkers and funds raised this year and have set a goal of $27,000.”
“We lost my grandmother, Kay, to Alzheimer’s in early 2019, and last year my family walked in her memory as Team Kay Grove,” says Grove. “This year, I am inviting other Lake Panorama property owners to join me for the 2022 walk, under the name Team Lake Panorama. Those interested in supporting this cause, by walking or donating to Team Lake Panorama, can contact me at djgrove@yahoo.com.” 
In addition to Edward Jones, the Lakeside Village in Panora and the New Homestead in Guthrie Center have been key supporters.
“The Lakeside Village is proud to be a sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Panora this year,” says Amanda Creen, Lakeside director. “Lakeside has hosted a variety of fundraisers including Scratch Cupcakes, Krispy Kreme Donuts, the Garage Sale to End Alzheimer’s, in addition to selling cold drinks at various town events this summer. We hope to reach our 2022 fundraising goal of $5,000. To join the Lakeside Village Walk to End Alzheimer’s team, sign up using our link https://bndfr.com/gxC8C, or search for Lakeside Village on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s website.”
Grove says Mel Borgeson, the New Homestead manager, has volunteered countless hours to prepare and organize the event. Other committee members are Terry and Mary Jane Sprague and Mary Jane Carothers.
While there is no fee to register for the walk, all participants are encouraged to raise funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association to provide 24/7 care and support and advance research toward methods of prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure. The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Every registered participant who achieves the fundraising minimum of $100 will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer’s T-shirt.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the Aug. 13 walk, or who would like to start a team, join an existing team, or make a donation, can get more information and register online at https://act.alz.org. Under “Find a Walk,” enter the Panora zip code of 50216. 

Posted 7/6/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

The Panorama West women’s golf league hosted a 2-gal best-shot tournament Tuesday, June 14. A total of 35 teams participated, with players from Panora, Guthrie Center, Jefferson, Audubon and surrounding communities. The tournament theme was “When Golf Gives You Lemons.”
Lemon-themed decorations were used in the clubhouse and on the golf course. Eighteen centerpieces, given away as raffle prizes, were potted kalanchoe plants with blossoms of yellow and white.
Annie Johnston won one of the special events, which involved hitting a shot closest to the cardboard lemon near the green on the second hole. Elma Schrader won longest putt on the seventh hole, and Amy Snowden won longest drive on the ninth hole.
Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams in five flights. Winners of the championship flight were Mare Langel and Gretchen Wilhelmi with a score of one-over-par 28. The teams of Sharon Wedemeyer and Kathy DeLucca, and Carol VanKirk and Teresa Newman, both scored 29. Wedemeyer and DeLucca won second place on a scorecard playoff with VanKirk and Newman taking third.
The tournament was followed by a buffet luncheon at the Panorama West Clubhouse, catered by Lake Panorama National.
Tournament committee members were Emily Spradling, Mary Kay O’Grady, Coop Rickert, Julie Wykoff, Nini Von Bon and Linda Wendl. 

Posted 7/6/2022
The Guthrie County Times Vedette has been sold. The newspaper, which has roots in the county dating back more than a century, has a new owner effective July 1, 2022. Steve Delaney, who has owned the paper since July 1, 2019, has sold it to Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc. of Johnston.
Shane Goodman is the founder and owner of Big Green Umbrella Media, which publishes CITYVIEW magazine, 13 Iowa Living magazines in the Des Moines suburbs and the Lake Panorama Times, as well as a number of other publications, websites, events and digital offerings.
“I am pleased to bring this newspaper into our family of locally owned publications,” said Goodman. “I have great confidence in the people of this county, and I look forward to getting to know even more people here.”
Goodman purchased the Lake Panorama Times in 2020, about the time when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“It wasn’t the best timing, but we made it work,” he said. “The Lake Panorama Times fit with what we do, and we believe the Times Vedette will as well.”
Delaney will remain with the newspaper through July and says he will assist as needed to ensure a smooth transition.
“It’s important to Times Vedette readers to work to ensure a seamless transition. Ownership of a newspaper can change, but its mission is the same, and we’ll work together for the next few weeks to make that happen,” Delaney said. “As for my future, I’m planning to move to the eastern side of Iowa, closer to Dubuque, where I have family.”
Goodman and his wife, Jolene, have been Guthrie County homeowners at Lake Panorama since 2020 and have spent much of their time in the county since.
“We love it here,” said Jolene Goodman. “And we want reasons to be here more.”
Jolene serves as Big Green Umbrella Media’s advertising director and oversees the sales operations, which include nine salespeople. She says Stormy Miller will continue with the Times Vedette, as well as the Lake Panorama Times. Miller had been working for both papers in advertising sales through a unique sharing agreement.
“We appreciate the relationship we had with Steve and the Times Vedette in the past, which allowed Stormy to work for both of us,” said Jolene Goodman. “She is an important part of our staff, and we look forward to working more closely with her in months ahead.”
Miller and her husband, Sam, are expecting their first child in July, but Jolene Goodman says they will work to cover the bases in her absence and look forward to her returning to work.
Shane Goodman says he will be reaching out to those who have served as freelancers or contributors to the paper as well. He is also looking to hire additional writers and photographers. Those interested should reach out to him at 515-953-4822, ext. 305 or shane@dmcityview.com.
“Change is inevitable,” said Goodman. “But don’t expect any big changes to the newspaper right away. It will be business as usual while Steve teaches us the ropes and we work through the learning curves.”   

Posted 7/6/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times 

A new fundraising project for the Panora Garden Club received an enthusiastic response, with more than 240 people touring Lake Panorama on pontoons June 29. It was a sunny, breezy day as 11 pontoons were used for the 75-minute lake tours. Two to three pontoons left from the Boulder Beach docks every half-hour from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
A total of 22 trips around the lake were made with each loaded pontoon heading north from Boulder Beach, then cruising through Helen’s Cove and Burchfield Cove. When the pontoons reached the Narrows, they turned back south, making loops through Jones Cove and Horseshoe Cove before heading to the main basin. The groups then visited Hughes Cove before looping back to Boulder Beach.
Tickets were $20. Brochures were distributed that included some history of both Lake Panorama and the Panora Garden Club, a map of the lake and details of current garden club projects.
Besides the pontoon rides, participants received some garden “swag” that included gloves, a packet of flower seeds, sunblock, water bottles and more. Several vendors were set up under shade trees and one of the beach shelter houses. Two food vendors offered doughnuts, sandwiches, drinks, ice cream and more.
Members of the Panora Garden Club planned the event and worked throughout the day in various capacities. Husbands of club members captained pontoons and helped load and unload passengers. They also helped catch and launch the pontoons at the docks, which was a challenge in the strong south wind.
JoAnn Johnson, who co-chairs the Panora Garden Club this year with Paulette Chambers, says the money raised will help the club with ongoing projects. Those include the bright blue pots filled with flowers throughout the Panora business area, the new pink petunia trees flanking the gazebo steps, the planters at Michael Mills Memorial Park and the Raccoon River Valley Trail, and the revitalization of Heritage Park on the north edge of Panora.
“This was a great opportunity for the Panora Garden Club to help showcase Lake Panorama and the Panora community,” Johnson says. “We had a lot of out-of-town participants who really enjoyed their chance to see Lake Panorama from the water. We hope they also took time to visit our wonderful Panora businesses.” 

Posted 7/6/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times 

Lake Panorama Times readers may remember one or more of the stories I’ve written about Jenni, a rescue dog owned by Wayne and Deb Russell, who have lived in a home on Burchfield Cove for more than 20 years. Now it’s time to report Jenni has retired from agility competitions, after reaching Hall of Fame status.
I first introduced you to Jenni in February 2015 with an update in November 2016 and another in June 2019. The Russells discovered Jenni abandoned at the Perry dog park and adopted her. Jenni has the face of a Black Lab but is smaller and leaner. A veterinarian said she probably is part whippet, which are extremely fast dogs.
While attending obedience classes with Jenni, Deb watched a nearby dog agility training session and decided she’d like to try it. Deb and Jenni took a foundation agility training class, which launched them into national competition.
Agility training takes place on an obstacle course where the owner directs the dog off-leash. There are a variety of obstacles including weave poles, A-frames, tunnels and jumps. The goal is to complete the obstacles in the shortest time without making a mistake.
Jenni and Deb have been competing at trials sanctioned by the North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC). NADAC offers three levels of competition — novice, open and elite. Jenni worked her way through the first two levels of competition in two years and has been running in the elite category since.
In the elite category, the points a dog receives for each run counts towards earning the NADAC Agility Trial Championship Award (NATCH). Once a dog reaches a set point level in each of three categories, a NATCH is earned.
Jenni won her first two NATCH awards in May 2019 in a competition in Louisville, Kentucky. A dog must win five NATCH awards to qualify for the NADAC Hall of Fame. Jenni picked up her next three NATCH awards in Kansas City, Kansas, at an agility dog club trial called Dogs on Q.
The third award was won in March 2020, right before COVID shut down so many things, including dog agility competitions. It took until July 2021 for Jenni to win her fourth NATCH award, with her fifth one coming May 28 of this year. 
Deb says now that Jenni has reached Hall of Fame status, she is retired.
“Wayne has taken down all of her agility equipment from the yard; no more mowing around it for him,” Deb says. “Yet we will probably pop into some agility trials sometimes, to let her do a couple fun runs, and I can see my friends.”
Wayne and Deb enjoy traveling, so taking Jenni to competitions became a big part of their retirement. Jenni and Deb now have competed in 17 different states.
“We have met some incredible people over the last eight years, and Jenni still loves it. She ran 6.08 yards per second in one of her runs in late May. Not too bad for a 10-year-old rescue dog,” says Deb. “It has been a blast!”  

Posted 6/7/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

Cindy McCarty grew up in Guthrie Center and has lived at Lake Panorama for 30 years. She has more than 45 years of experience as a speech and language pathologist and has worked with children, adults and senior citizens — in schools, homes, hospitals and long-term care facilities.
She is also a horse lover.
More than 20 years ago, while enjoying horseback rides on 220 acres of timber and pasture she owns east of Guthrie Center, she thought about how her patients also would enjoy the setting. What about developing a facility where people could receive all sorts of therapy, help and support?
McCarty’s longtime friend, Sue Behrens, who is a physical therapist, said if McCarty wanted to use her horses to establish a therapy program, she would help. Together they began researching hippotherapy. “Hippo” is the Greek word for “horse.” In hippotherapy, specially trained physical, occupational and speech/language therapists use the movement of a horse as a treatment tool. Hippotherapy was introduced in Europe after World War II following two polio epidemics.
Last year was the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Timber Creek Therapies indoor arena. McCarty stresses this isn’t about teaching a person how to ride.
“Treatment takes place in a controlled environment following a specific plan,” she says. “Riding skills are not taught. We’re using the horse as part of an integrated treatment program.”
A horse’s gait is almost identical to that of a human.
“Scientists haven’t been able to duplicate the human gait with a machine,” she says. “But horses walk in a three-dimensional pattern, much like humans. By placing a human on a horse’s back, just in front of its pelvis, we can almost duplicate the human walk.”
Being on the back of a horse helps patients with cerebral palsy, brain injuries, strokes, autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida and other illnesses and disabilities. The indoor riding arena allows patients to be seen year-round.
A new program began in late May and is a partnership with the St. Gregory Recovery Center in Bayard. St. Gregory is an inpatient facility for treating those with drug and alcohol addictions, anxiety and depression disorders, and military veterans with PTSD issues.
In this case, the horses aren’t ridden. Instead, they provide emotional support.
“Horses are so profoundly healing in so many ways,” McCarty says. “These clients make good connections with the horses and also with others in their group, as they work together to problem solve. We teach them about horse behavior, how to lead them, and how to care for them.”
There usually are six to eight people in these group sessions, held for an hour each Thursday.
“When they first arrive, everyone is pretty quiet,” McCarty says. “They are told they can choose any of the horses available that day. Before long, there is lots of conversation and interaction. It’s rewarding to watch.”
McCarty says people come to St. Gregory from all over the country.
“Our hope is that when they return home, they will seek out something like this that helps them find joy and a sense of purpose as they continue in their own healing,” McCarty says. “Maybe they will find a similar therapy center or other place where they can volunteer. This is something very close to my heart, and I’m happy we can provide this opportunity.”
Timber Creek also offers therapeutic riding for individuals with a variety of physical and mental disabilities. Evening sessions are held for groups that travel from New Hope Village in Carroll and Opportunity Living in Lake City. A steady stream of volunteers makes many of the Timber Creek programs possible. Most assist with the therapeutic riding programs, as one person leads the horse and two people walk on either side to provide safety and support to the rider.
“We couldn’t do as much with the horses if it weren’t for our volunteers,” McCarty says. “We have high school and college students, young adults and senior citizens who help. Some have horse experience, which draws them to us. Others just want to help.”
Because of the COVID pandemic, Timber Creek Therapies was closed in 2020 from March through August. Once the therapy center was able to open again, only one patient was allowed at a time, with a gap of 15 minutes left open before the next patient could enter. Today, therapy sessions are back to full capacity while staff and volunteers continue to follow healthcare protocols and safety guidelines.
McCarty provides speech, language and cognitive therapy sessions three days a week. Allison Stanley is an occupational therapist who sees patients two days a week. Lesley Stucker is a physical therapist who sees patients one day a week.
Others who work at Timber Creek include Meg Schmidt, who started as a volunteer at the age of 12. She now works one day a week getting the horses ready for therapy and therapeutic riding sessions and assisting with the sessions. She also is in charge of the horse training and farrier work and manages the Timber Creek Ranch farm ground and hay production.
Darwin McCurdy and Anna Owen each work one day a week getting the horses ready for therapy, assisting with the sessions and doing chores. Schmidt, McCurdy and Owen also help with the new St. Gregory program. Diane Owen works three days a week in the office and manages scheduling, billing and financials. And there’s the 10 horses, eight of which McCarty owns. The other two are owned by Timber Creek Charities, a non-profit 501(c)3 charity.
While most patients who receive treatment have some of their expenses covered by insurance, Timber Creek Charities helps people who can’t afford it.
“I knew we’d get patients who wouldn’t have insurance or the money to pay their own way,” McCarty says. “We didn’t want to turn anyone away.”
Timber Creek Charities receives funding from foundation and private donations and proceeds from an annual golf tournament and auction. Donations can be made online at timbercreekcharities.com.
“There is never a shortage of people who need help,” McCarty says. “We’re always busy, our schedules are full, and we often have waiting lists. We continue to get new referrals who have new injuries and illnesses that require therapy. Our patients range from babies to geriatrics and everyone in between.”
The 20-year anniversary of the building adjacent to the riding arena is this year. It includes offices and a therapy room. There also is a warm-water pool with an electrical current system that can move the 5,500 gallons of water up to 6.5 mph. The water depth can vary from 2 to 5 feet, and there is a motorized chairlift.
For now, the pool remains closed because of COVID concerns, but McCarty hopes it can be reopened.
“The moving water provides a wonderful and highly effective treatment tool for patients with mobility, gait, trunk control and extremity strength and pain issues,” she says.
Even with her many years of experience, McCarty says she sometimes is surprised at the progress patients make at Timber Creek.
“We have had many people referred to us who have been in traditional physical therapy for years, and often in a few sessions, we have seen functional improvements using the horse and the pool.”
Timber Creek is located south of Highway 44, midway between Panora and Guthrie Center. Take Poplar Avenue south, and Timber Creek is on the left in 1.5 miles. For more information, call 641-747-3225.

TIMBER CREEK CHARITIES GOLF TOURNAMENT JULY 16

The 20th annual Timber Creek Charities golf tournament will be held Saturday, July 16 at Lake Panorama National Golf Resort and Conference Center. The golf tournament is the largest annual fundraiser for the charity.
Timber Creek Charities is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides financial assistance to some people who receive services at Timber Creek Therapies. In 2021, Timber Creek Charities covered the cost of 933 therapy sessions for 44 children and adults who would not have had the insurance coverage or resources to receive services on their own.
In conjunction with the 2022 golf tournament, Timber Creek has a sponsorship program for companies and individuals. There are six levels of sponsorship available, ranging from $5,000 to $500. Each level includes a special recognition sign at the golf tournament on the first tee. The top two levels also cover some tournament entry fees. In addition, tee box sponsorships are available for $100.
Entry fees for the four-person, best-shot golf tournament are $100 per person or $400 per team. Singles are welcome and will be assigned to a team. The fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, range balls, lunch and dinner. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., with lunch at 11 a.m., a shotgun start at noon and evening dinner at 5 p.m.
A live auction will follow dinner. Donated auction items can be brought to the LPN Conference Center by 3 p.m. the day of the event. Tickets for just the dinner and auction are $25.
More sponsorship details and golf registration forms are available by calling Timber Creek at 641-747-3225. Make checks payable to Timber Creek Charities and send to 2400 Poplar Ave., Guthrie Center, Iowa, 50115. 

Posted 6/7/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

The musical duo “Hillbilly Air Show” will perform at Helen’s Cove on Saturday, July 2, prior to the annual fireworks released from Shady Beach. Boaters are invited to anchor just inside the mouth of Helen’s Cove with live music beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing to 8:30 p.m.
Hillbilly Air Show includes Brick “One Man Band” Imerman on lead guitar, bass and keyboards, joined by Jesse “The Medicine Man” Gutierres on vocals and acoustic guitar. Imerman and his wife, Lori, own a home on the north side of Helen’s Cove. The performance will be on their dock or one of their neighbors’ docks.
Imerman has been performing for nearly 20 years.
“When I retired from the military in 2003 and moved home to Guthrie Center, local postmaster Bob Paterson and I started playing a few songs at private parties following high school wrestling tournaments,” he says. “Soon we were joined by a group of guitar-playing wrestlers, and Brick’n Bob and the Young Guns was formed.”
In 2005, the Young Guns were hired at The Port for their first paying gig, and soon, more local kids started asking to join the band.
“Every time one would graduate and head off to college, another kid would take their place,” says Imerman. “Through the years, 12 different high school kids played with the band, including three female singers. The final addition to the group was Jake Kemble when he was 15 years old. Today, Jake is an active professional musician in the Des Moines area with his own band.”
Imerman and Paterson have continued playing together throughout central Iowa for 17 years under the names of Code Blue and the Brick’n Bob Duo. They will perform their last gig together this summer at Adel’s Sweet Corn Festival on Aug. 13.
As one door closes, another opens.  Three years ago, Imerman was playing solo at a winery when Jesse Gutierres walked through the door.
“I have always played classic rock until I heard Jesse sing,” Imerman says. “I realized that vocally, he was, without a doubt, the best country singer I had heard in Iowa. With his voice and my guitar, it was only natural that we start playing together.”
Gutierres was born and raised in Oklahoma. After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, his unit was sent to Saudi Arabia. Serving as an F-15 Eagle crew chief, he prepped fighter jets for combat over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
“We were out in the desert in a Muslim country. It was dry in more ways than one,” Gutierres says. “That left very little for us to do when we got off work. Singing and playing guitar was how I let off steam. That’s where I earned my first money playing music, and where I began writing songs.”
After the war, a college degree, and a stint in North Carolina, civilian work for Uncle Sam brought Gutierres to Iowa. Once here, he continued playing music with different bands, then found he could make more money playing solo. For the past several years, he has built a successful solo act, sometimes joined by other rotating musicians under the name “Jesse and the Medicine Men.”
A personal tragedy struck Gutierres in August 2020. A drunk driver speeding down the wrong lane of U.S. Highway 20 near Iowa Falls struck and killed a mother and her 10-year-old son and severely injured her 6-year-old daughter. Those were Gutierres’ children, Alexander and Isabella.
Beyond the immediate tragedy of burying his son and dealing with months and months of rehabilitation for his daughter, expenses were crushing, and Gutierres found himself owing almost $800,000. He has spent the past two years working days at the Veterans Administration in Des Moines and nights and weekends playing music across Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Gutierres hopes, in the near future, one of his original songs will reach the attention of the right person, and his debts will become a thing of the past. He has released two CDs — “Pretty They Is” and his newest recording, “Little Tortilla,” which was completed in April at a studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Tracks from both CDs are performed at every Hillbilly Air Show event.
Both Gutierres and Imerman are proud combat veterans. Imerman served 21 years in the Navy as a highly decorated, FA-18 fighter pilot. His combat missions over both Iraq and Afghanistan earned him the Bronze Star and three Air Medals, along with a painting of his FA-18 on the side of the Guthrie County Freedom Rock in Guthrie Center.
With their combined service in aerial combat operations and Gutierres’ roots in country music, it was appropriate they named themselves Hillbilly Air Show.
“We are 100% country and 100% veteran,” Gutierres says. “No one is more patriotic.”
Imerman says, during the Helen’s Cove party, “We’ll have kids on paddle boards collecting tips and giving out Hillbilly gear, so come out and spend the evening celebrating freedom with us.”
The duo also is scheduled to perform at The Port July 22, Aug. 19 and Sept. 2, plus other private parties this summer.

Posted 6/7/2022
The Fourth of July holiday brings two types of fireworks to Lake Panorama.
The annual “Fire in the Sky” fireworks display sanctioned by the Lake Panorama Association, and put on by the Scheiring family, will be at dusk on Saturday, July 2. The fireworks will be set off from the traditional spot at Shady Beach. For safety reasons, the LPA Lake Patrol and the Iowa DNR require boats anchored during the display to have running lights on during the show.
The other type of fireworks is consumer fireworks, which can be legally sold in Iowa because of a bill passed in the 2017 Iowa legislative session. In May 2017, the LPA Board of Directors passed a motion that states the LPA does not consent to the use of fireworks on LPA-owned property, such as beaches, campgrounds, parking lots, roads, the marina, golf courses and community areas.
Guests of Lake Panorama National Resort are being notified of this action. Both LPA members and guests can be found in violation of LPA rules if they use fireworks on LPA property and could be subject to a monetary fine.
LPA members also are reminded they are responsible to avoid any activity that could be declared a nuisance to their neighbors, and they are liable for any damage or injury they or their guests cause to neighbors and their property.  

Posted 6/7/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

In the mid-1980s, a 21-room guesthouse motel was built on Karen Drive just south of the Lake Panorama National Resort conference center. It has hosted many people, usually wedding parties or groups taking advantage of one of LPN’s special golf packages.
Sometimes, a person with a truly interesting story books a room for a night. Gregory Maassen, who stayed in the guesthouse the night of May 14, is one of those people.
Maassen, a native of the Netherlands, is riding an e-bike across the United States from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. There is some irony to his mode of transportation.
“In the Netherlands, we use bikes, but we don’t love them,” he said, in an interview at a picnic table on the guesthouse deck. “I grew up cycling, until I got my driver’s license, which I thought put an end to my cycling forever.”
He is making the trip to raise awareness and support for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy.
“Peripheral neuropathy is a little-known or understood debilitating disease that attacks the nervous system and affects 30 million Americans,” he said. “The money I raise goes directly to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, a nonprofit that provides research and education.”
Maassen, who is 54 years of age, has personal experience with the disease. He spent many years working with the World Bank and as a partner of the United States Agency for International Development. His jobs sent him to Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Macedonia, Jordan, Armenia, Mongolia and southern Africa.
“I like to get out into the bush and see the wildlife,” he said. “I was hiking in southern Africa when I stepped into a nest of ticks. There were about 80 tiny larvae, small as grains of sand, and it was impossible to quickly find and remove them all.”
Later, his entire body started to burn, like a severe sunburn, and doctors couldn’t find a cause. His symptoms worsened until he couldn’t walk or talk, and he slipped into depression and had anxiety attacks.
In 2019, he came to the United States on an emergency medical green card and went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The doctor said he believed he had peripheral neuropathy, and a skin biopsy test confirmed the diagnosis. There are many types of this disease; Maassen has post infectious small fiber neuropathy, caused by the tick encounter.
His journey to recovery is a powerful story. Through medication and therapy, Maassen went from being bedridden to walking again. His doctor said to continue his progress, he should find a form of exercise he enjoyed, and he decided to e-bike. An e-bike has a small electric motor between the pedals powered by battery packs stored in the support bars of the bike frame.
Maassen originally needed help when he started to e-bike but now pedals under his own power most of the time. He is now off all medications, including antidepressants, because biking has made him physically stronger and more mindful of things around him.
Maassen, who lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Janet, founded E-Bike Lovers, a social group of 550 e-bikers in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland.
“This is a very active community organization,” he said. “We promote e-biking, and the group website includes lots of good information to help others learn about the technology.”
As he travels, he hands out small flyers with his website address, which has a wealth of information about both his cross-country e-bike tour and peripheral neuropathy. The flyer encourages donors to give one cent per mile for each mile he rides and includes this tag line: “You can add your two cents, too.” Learn more at www.ebiketour.org.
“As I talk about this cause, about 90% of the people I meet either have it or know someone who does,” Maassen said. “I still have symptoms sometimes, when I get a burning sensation and get discouraged. But I’m one of the lucky ones who has been able to generally control the symptoms with exercise and focusing on the good things in life.”
Maassen began his trip April 2. He is following the historic Lincoln Highway and a new transcontinental cycling route designed for this trip. It follows the route of a military convoy in 1919 that included a young President Eisenhower.
“Eisenhower oversaw the liberation of the Netherlands during WWII, something the Dutch will never forget,” Maassen said. “This ride is a tribute to the long-lasting Dutch-American friendship. The United States’ longest unbroken, peaceful relationship with any foreign country is with the Netherlands.”
For many years, only three transcontinental cycling routes existed in the United States — the Northern Tier, the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail and the Southern Tier. The routes were developed by the Adventure Cycling Association in the 1970s before e-bikes were common.
The new transcontinental route Maassen is using was designed with e-biking in mind, with plenty of accommodations and stops to charge batteries. It took a year of planning to design the route, using virtual reality tools and state-of-the-art routing software. The route connects local communities and follows country roads and cycling routes whenever possible. A final version of the route will be published after Maassen has e-biked the entire route.
Maassen arrived in Panora by taking the Raccoon River Valley Trail. He had never been to Iowa but said he is impressed by the “magnificent network of trails here. A big shoutout to all the planners who have put together this amazing infrastructure that provides the opportunity for low-stress cycling. Riding the Iowa trails has been an outstanding experience.”
Maassen can average 11 mph and usually covers at least 55 miles each day. He knows when he gets further west, to Utah and Nevada, there will be stretches where he will need to ride up to 100 miles in a day to reach a place where he can charge his bike’s batteries.
He, the bike and a trailer he pulls, altogether weigh 416 pounds. He is carrying film and camera equipment to document his journey, a drone for overhead filming, spare batteries, food, tools, camping equipment and a GPS device.
Originally planned as a 3,400-mile journey, Maassen said he probably will be closer to 4,000 miles because of some backtracking, detours and extra miles needed for various reasons.
Maassen encourages people who have peripheral neuropathy to educate themselves about treatment options.
“There are medications that can help some people,” he said. “And exercise is critical. Whether you e-bike or swim or walk, do something. Try to put your mind somewhere else than with your condition. You can flex the brain a little, and you can make it feel happy.”
There’s one more chapter to this story about Gregory Maassen. Months before he began his cross-county journey, he applied for U.S. citizenship. When he was near Chicago, his wife called to say he had been notified of the date to take the naturalization test in Washington, D.C. He flew home, took and passed the test, then flew back to continue his journey. When he reached Omaha, he flew home again, this time to take the citizenship oath. So, he started his trip as a Dutch cyclist and will finish it as an American citizen. 

Posted 6/7/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

New bathrooms at both Shady and Sunset beaches are ready for the 2022 summer season. The old bathrooms, which had been in place for decades, were demolished last fall by LPA maintenance staff. The mild fall allowed contractor Kane Powell to get much of the work done in November and December with completion this May.
The buildings feature poured concrete walls, concrete floors with one floor drain, and a 6-feet by 11-feet concrete slab in front of each door to better accommodate wheelchairs. The new bathrooms are one room, approximately 8-feet by 10-feet, unisex, and comply with federal regulations that require bathrooms to be accessible. Each has one stool and sink plus granite countertops for the sinks. Each also includes a foldup diaper changing station and a storage cabinet for supplies.
The concrete walls are painted inside and out, and the floors have an epoxy coating. Roofs are made of wooden trusses with corrugated steel covering. Each bathroom has an outside light on a photo cell that illuminates automatically after dark. The interiors have two ceiling lights that are motion-activated.
To finish off the outside area, Powell donated and installed landscaping blocks, rock and plants surrounding three sides of each building. He also donated, installed and watered sod to give it a good start before rains in late May took over that job.
These new bathrooms will be easier to maintain and offer users more space, updated features and better lighting. They are more attractive than the previous buildings. This LPA capital improvement project cost approximately $75,000 for the two bathrooms. 

Posted 6/7/2022
By Jolene Goodman

I look forward to the hot, steamy days of summer. I enjoy the sun beating down on my skin, the warmth of Mother Nature and time out in the fresh air boating, doing yard work, golfing, biking or going for a walk. As a kid, I remember eating watermelon slices down on the beach in the middle of the afternoon, with a casual competition of who could spit the seed the farthest. Dad was not too pleased with the tiny plants that produced about a week later. Our family also enjoyed plenty of the purchased fudgesicles, ice cream bars and bomp pops. Recently I came across this recipe for Pina Colada Sweet Potato Ice Pops, a tropical-inspired dessert made with coconut cream, sweet potatoes, fresh pineapple, lime juice and honey. Sure to please kids and adults alike, they’re a better-for-you option when a cold snack calls your name. As a “diabetes superfood,” according to the American Diabetes Association, sweet potatoes provide a main ingredient that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber along with a “sweet” flavor without the added sugar.
Recipe courtesy of Family Features. Visit ncsweetpotatoes.com to find more delicious summer recipe ideas.

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

Pina Colada Sweet Potato Ice Pops

Prep time: 5 minutes
Freeze time: 3-4 hours
Yield: 8 small ice pops

1/2 cup coconut cream
3/4 cup mashed and cooked sweet potato
3/4 cup diced pineapple
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lime juice
coconut flakes (optional)

Directions
In a food processor or high-speed blender, mix coconut cream, sweet potato, pineapple, honey and lime juice. Transfer batter to freezer molds.
Place in freezer 3-4 hours. Top with coconut flakes, if desired.

Posted 6/7/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times 

The fifth Friends of Lake Panorama’s Beach Ball fundraiser will be Friday, July 22 at Lake Panorama National. Plans include 30 round tables with seating for eight, either in the LPN banquet room or outside under tents. About 20 of those tables have been spoken for, with 10 remaining.
For the second year, attendees can become members of the Friends Beach Club at one of three levels. Friends Beach Club members make an additional contribution to Friends, while getting some extras. The levels are:
• Friends Beach Club - Premier: $700 — includes 1 Table Sponsorship; 8 Fund Raiser Dinner Tickets; 20 tickets in the 50/50 raffle; Name in the 2022 Beach Ball program
• Friends Beach Club - Sponsor: $150 — includes 1 Table Sponsorship; Name in the 2022 Beach Ball program
• Friends Beach Club - Couple: $250 — includes 2 Fund Raiser Dinner Tickets; 5 tickets in the 50/50 raffle; Name in the 2022 Beach Ball program
Dinner tickets are available at a cost of $50 each. Those interested in becoming a Friends Beach Club member, or purchasing just dinner tickets, can contact Susan Thompson, thomcomm@netins.net, or 515-240-6536. Those with auction items to donate also are asked to contact Thompson.
The 2022 Beach Ball will feature live music from Little Joe McCarthy. This is the third Beach Ball where McCarthy has provided live music in the outdoors setting. The singer, songwriter and musician is from the Omaha area and plays a mix of oldies, rock and country. Extra chairs will be available outside for those who have tables inside yet want to enjoy McCarthy’s music during social time.
There also will be a 50/50 raffle and both live and silent auctions. There will be three live auction items of particular interest to Iowa State University fans.
Jamie Pollard, ISU athletic director, who owns a Lake Panorama home with his wife Ellen, has offered a Cyclone Football package. It includes four tickets in the athletic director’s suite in the Jacobsen Building in the north end zone for the Sept. 24 ISU versus Baylor football game. This package also includes a parking pass, plus food and soft drinks during the game.
Two other items for ISU fans are a football signed by Coach Matt Campbell and a basketball signed by T.J. Otzelberger, both in display cases. These two items have been donated by Jay and Sue Merryman.
Another live auction item sure to generate some spirited bidding is the six-course gourmet dinner for six, offered by LPA members Bill and Karen Fitzgerald. Six wines will be paired with the six courses. The dinner would be served in the winning bidder’s home, prepared and served by the Fitzgeralds. At the 2021 Beach Ball, this dinner sold at live auction for $2,000.
For the silent auction, a wide selection of gift baskets, artwork, home décor items and gift cards will be available for bidding throughout the evening. The drawing for the 50/50 raffle winner will take place right before the live auction begins. The silent auction will end at the same time.
Registration will begin in the LPN dining room at 4:30 p.m. and run for one hour. Cash bars will be available both inside and outside beginning at 4:30 p.m. and running through the evening. The buffet dinner will be served in the Links bar beginning at 6 p.m.
Details on the 2022 Beach Ball, plus all past and current projects, are available on the Friends website. Friends of Lake Panorama also has a Facebook page.
Tax-deductible donations can be made at any time 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.

BEACH BALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT LAKE PANORAMA 

The 2021 Beach Ball raised $25,000. Those funds were used to complete the Lake Panorama dog park, purchase three swings for the Sunset Beach playground, and enhance an existing trail near Panorama West. The Sunset Beach swings were ordered last fall and should arrive sometime this summer. Work is in underway to finalize improvements to the Panorama West trail, and the dog park opens June 10.
Earlier Beach Balls provided funds for new playground equipment at all three of Lake Panorama’s beaches, and the sports courts at Boulder Beach.
The Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors will meet in August to determine how proceeds from the 2022 Beach Ball will be used. One likely recipient is a multi-use recreational project on Lake Panorama’s south shore that received approval from the LPA board of directors at its May 24 meeting.
Items in the recreational concept developed by Friends and approved by the LPA board include a disc golf course, walking trails, a fishing dock, bird and bat houses, and a small picnic shelter near the entrance to the golf course and trails. Friends will work with Fin and Feather and LPA staff to explore options for the fishing dock and bird and bat houses.
Another project approved by the LPA board in June 2021 that may receive some 2022 Beach Ball funding is a basketball half-court at Sunset Beach. Information on this project and the south shore multi-use recreational area will be available at the 2022 Beach Ball, and attendees will have the opportunity to make direct donations to these projects. 

Posted 6/7/2022
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times 

The Lake Panorama dog park will open Friday, June 10. It will be open daylight hours only, seven days a week. The main entrance gate is locked and requires an access code. Park users must call LPA Security to request the code. The security officer will ask some basic questions, such as name, vehicle information, and breed and number of dogs. The LPA Security phone number is 641-757-9035.
Once inside the main gate, there are two separate gates that are not locked but should remain closed except when entering and exiting. The large dog area is for dogs at least 15 inches at shoulder height. Small dogs can be in the large dog area, but owners are reminded it is possible for a small dog to be injured by a large dog. The small dog area is limited to dogs less than 15 inches at shoulder height; larger dogs are prohibited. Signs including this information are on each of the three gates.
There are two signs near the main entrance gate. One is a list of rules for dog park users to follow; the other recognizes donors who gave $500 or more to make the dog park possible.
Bryce Arganbright of Arganbright Construction was hired to install a 6-foot-high chain link fence 400 feet long and 150 feet wide with a dividing fence to create the two sections. He also poured a concrete floor and built a shelter for the entrance gates. Crushed rock along the inside perimeter of the fence provides a walking path, a weed barrier and will keep dogs from digging near the fence.
Brandon Brehmer donated his time to seed and fertilize the fenced-in area last fall and again this spring. In late May, he applied a broadleaf weed control. He plans to overseed and aerate in the fall. The park will be mowed weekly as needed, but because of weather and variability of the LPA maintenance staff schedule, no specific day or time is set. If users arrive at the park when it is being mowed, they are asked to wait until mowing is complete.
In each section, there is a picnic table, two dog waste bag dispensers, one water bowl, and one receptacle for pet waste bags. The water bowls fill by pushing a button on the side; the water drains out over 90 seconds to avoid standing water.
Two sugar maple trees were planted last fall, donated by Larry and Heather Isom, who own Isom Tree Farm. If additional trees are desired, the Isoms have offered to donate one tree for each tree purchased with planting done in the fall.
The dog park is located at the corner of Sage Trail and East RV Road, near the east campground. There is a rocked parking area on the east end for users, rather than parking along the road or on the grass. The dog park was financed by $50,000 in donations through the Friends of Lake Panorama. 

Posted 6/7/2022
The Ten Squared Plus Men of Guthrie County recently presented a ceremonial check for $17,400 to the Guthrie Center Fire Department. The group was selected as the most recent winner. Accepting the check were, from the left: Gary McCool, Pierre Kellogg, Randy Sheeder, Chief Tom Langgaard, Dennis Flanery (who made the presentation to the group) and Chuck Cleveland.
The Fire Department plans to purchase a large generator for use in the fire hall. During a power outage, they will be able to utilize their facility as a warming center and to operate the doors and charging devices in a normal manner.