Lake Panorama Times News Archive

ON THE LAKE
USING QR CODES TO PROVIDE YOU EVEN MORE ACCESS, NEWS AND INFORMATION

Posted 07/10/2024

Quick response. That sounds reasonable. Most all of us want to access information quickly and reliably. And why not?
A few decades ago, I attended a conference on Quick Response codes, or what we know commonly today as QR codes. The speaker shared how the scan codes were being used in Japan in point-of-purchase displays, billboards, emails, print ads, etc. We were provided with examples of how Japan was leading in the digital innovation, and that we should be ready for QR codes to gain traction in America. I was intrigued, so I read a book on the subject and started researching this new technology online.
I began to experiment with QR codes in a variety of applications, but they failed to truly take off at the time because a separate app needed to be installed to scan the codes — until recent years.
A little history. QR codes have roots back to original bar code technology, but most agree that the invention year was 1994 when Toyota wanted a new barcode system in its assembly line and Masahiro Hara from Denso Wave developed the QR code. The codes grew quickly in pharmaceutical practices, retail industries, marketing, social media and security.
The real growth came in 2002 when use of QR codes became widespread in Japan, pushed by the mobile phones with QR code-reading features. Years later, use skyrocketed in America when mobile phones were able to scan using the basic camera app installed on them rather than third-party software that had to be downloaded.
Then along came COVID-19. When restaurant owners feared having printed menus available on tables, they started requiring the use of QR codes to order drinks and food. As a result, many of us became much more comfortable with the process. Yes, even us Iowans. Tie it to food, and we figure it out. Amazing.
As part of an effort to connect our digital efforts more to our print publications, we will be implementing more QR codes into our news and advertising. In this issue, you will be able to view movie trailers from our film reviews, see the full schedule for Panorama Days, donate money to various causes, subscribe to our digital editions, submit a question to “Ask LPT,” respond to our “Where Is It contest,” submit photos and story ideas, access local church websites, place free classified ads and more.
Not familiar with QR codes? Open the camera app on your smart phone and point the camera to any of the links in this publication. It will identify the link and ask if you want to connect, which you should do. It’s that easy.
We can learn a few lessons from the QR technology:
First, follow the leader. In this QR technology example, and quite often, it is Japan.
Second, don’t give up on a great idea. The original intent may not turn out to be the ultimate use. (Think Viagra.)
And third, don’t wait for a pandemic to force you to try new technology. In this case, experimentation is good — and often free.
Have a great month, and thanks for reading.

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

COVER STORY
PANORAMA DAYS AUG. 2-4
Theme for 2024 is “Treasure Island — Pirates on Parade.”

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The annual three-day Panorama Days celebration that covers Panora and Lake Panorama begins Friday, Aug. 2 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 4. The theme for 2024 is “Treasure Island — Pirates on Parade.”
“A Facebook poll was published, and the public shared their ideas for a theme. The Panorama Days committee came together, took all the nominations into account, and this was the overall winner,” says Erica Matthies, Panora Chamber coordinator. Matthies created a logo to match the theme, which is being used on all Panorama Days materials.
Gayle Shackelford, Panora Chamber president, says Panorama Days is a great time for the Panora and Lake Panorama communities to come together.
“The Panorama Days committee has been working hard this year and has a fun-filled weekend of events planned,” Shackelford says. “There are activities for all ages on the docket. The parade is always spectacular. This year, plans are being made for an amazing classic car show along two blocks of Main Street south of the gazebo and the block continuing east. We hope those attending will take time to cast a vote for their favorite car.”

Friday’s events
The celebration begins Aug. 2 with a new event.
“The Panora Chamber is going to hold a scavenger hunt noon through 5 p.m.,” Matthies says. “We’ll be asking participants to become pirates and search for lost treasures around Panora. Maps with full details will be available at the Chamber information booth starting at noon.”
Also on opening day, at 4 p.m., all ages are welcome to help decorate Panora’s Main Street at Chalk the Block. Chalk will be provided.
Several favorite events from previous years fill in the Friday schedule. An afternoon cribbage tournament in the community center, sponsored by Stine Seed, begins with registration at 1:30 p.m. and competition at 2 p.m. The cakewalk for kids will be 7-7:30 p.m. in the community center, sponsored by WFPF. Cruise the Loop, with all types of cars welcome, will be 6:30-8 p.m. This event is hosted by Panora Auto Parts, which also is the starting point for participants and their cars.
The Mainstreet Dance Studio performance will begin at 6 p.m. in Vet’s Auditorium. The Bill Riley Talent Show, sponsored by Mainstreet Dance Studio, will follow at 7 p.m., also in Vet’s Auditorium.
Winners of the afternoon scavenger hunt and the Little Miss and Mister Panorama Days contest will be announced at 8:30 p.m. from the gazebo in Town Square Park.
The day wraps up with live country and rock music from Ghost Riderz. This free event, which begins at 8:30 p.m. and closes at 11:30 p.m., will be on the street in front of the gazebo. BYOB, and lawn chairs are recommended.
There will be various booth vendors in the town square beginning at 2 p.m. and running until 8 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone interested in showcasing their art, crafts or business can apply for a spot.
Food vendors also are welcome beginning at noon on Friday and running through 7 p.m. Saturday. Application forms and more details for both food and booth vendors are on the Panora Chamber website at www.panorachamber.org.

Saturday’s events
Saturday starts early with a bass fishing tournament on Lake Panorama. Registration is at 5 a.m. at Panorama Marine with competition 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The tournament is sponsored by Lake Panorama Fin and Feather.
The traditional pancake breakfast will be available in the Community Center 7 a.m. to noon with serving by the Brethren Church.
The Panorama Days 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by Reshape Fitness Studio, begins in front of the library at 8 a.m. The early bird fee is $35, with the entry fee increasing to $40 after July 19. Register online by Friday, Aug. 2 at http://getmeregistered.com/PanoramaDaysRun. Registration the day of the race must be done by 7:30 a.m.
Parade registration starts at 9 a.m. at the Panorama Elementary School, with the parade at 10 a.m. All parade entries will be judged in one of eight categories, with winners announced immediately following the parade. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three places in each category.
Due to the repaving of roads on the school grounds, parade registration and line-up will be a little different this year. Everyone must go down Clay Street to the elementary school for registration. There will only be one way down Panther Drive to West Market to line up. Registration must be done before entries can line up.
The Panora Citizen of the Year and parade category winners will be announced in the gazebo following the parade. The Panora Chamber has recognized an outstanding member of the Panora/Lake Panorama community since 1989.
A free kid’s zone will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the town square. Items available in the kid’s zone include inflatables, jousting arena, mechanical bull, face painting, balloon fun and caricatures. Raccoon Valley Radio will broadcast music throughout the day at the town square.
The annual beef burger meal will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Christian Church. The cutest baby contest, sponsored by Cyclone Pest Management, will begin at 12:30 p.m., with registration at the gazebo. This year’s contest will offer several baby divisions to enter.
A classic car show will be from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street, hosted by Guthrie County Cars & Coffee. Sponsors for the car show are Guthrie County State Bank, Fox Countertops, B&B Marketplace, Hummel’s Auto Body, Cyclone Pest Management and Lakeside Massage and Bodywork.
“We are thankful the incoming Panorama Junior Class is organizing several activities,” Matthies says. “Our committee discussed Panorama Days has a lot of things to offer younger kids, but middle and senior high kids didn’t have much to do. That changes this year. The students will be able to keep profits from their events to help with class expenses in the upcoming school year.”
The junior class is hosting both bags and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments at the ball diamonds. Registration is at 12:30 p.m. with competition underway at 1 p.m. A softball tournament will begin at 8 a.m. at the ball diamonds. Pre-registration is required, at a cost of $150 per team. The winning team will take home $200. To register, contact Heather Hellman, 641-757-9315. The junior class also plans to have a dunk tank 1-4 p.m.
Bingo will be in the community center 1-3 p.m., hosted and sponsored by Guthrie County State Bank. The Panorama alumni banquet for those who graduated from Panora, Linden, Panora-Linden and Panorama will be in the community center, with social time beginning at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $20 per person and people can pay at the door or register early. Early registrations are appreciated to help with meal numbers but are not required. Registrations can be mailed to Alumni Association, P.O. Box 184, Panora, Iowa, 50216. To register by email, or ask questions, send a message to alumniassociation50216@gmail.com.
The Lake Panorama ski team show will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a viewing area on the hillside of the lake’s south shore. (See story on page 9 for more details.)
For the second year, a Saturday golf cart/UTV parade will start at 5 p.m. at Boulder Beach. Those interested are invited to get creative decorating their golf cart or UTV. This event will raise money for Tori’s Angels and is sponsored by Panora Auto Parts.
The Port will have live music beginning at 9 p.m., and the Lake Panorama Association will present its annual fireworks display from the south shore at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s events
On Sunday, a breakfast at the Panora Community Center will be served 8 a.m. to noon, sponsored by the Panorama Junior Class.
The 11th annual kid’s fishing derby, sponsored by Lake Panorama Fin and Feather, will be Sunday, 9-11 a.m. at the Lake Panorama marina, with registration at 8:15 a.m. There are four age brackets, 3 to 5 years; 6 to 8 years; 9 to 11 years; and 12 to 14 years of age. Trophies will be given for biggest and smallest fish caught in all age groups, excluding carp. In addition, trophies and cash prizes will be given to the top three overall big fish. Bait will be supplied but will be limited in quantity. Participants should bring their own fishing poles and tackle.
New in 2024 is the Zellmer Family Ministry from Omaha at Boulder Beach 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
“We want this to be a casual come-and-go event that leaves people feeling uplifted, inspired, and more connected as a community and in their faith,” says Matthies. “I didn’t want to put pressure on one church to lead the entire service, and I didn’t want to take away from the many amazing church services we already have in town. So, I thought why not just the music and worship part.”
Matthies says organizers hope to attract a couple of food trucks to Boulder Beach during this event, and the Panora Chamber is looking for financial sponsors. Those interested are asked to contact Matthies at 712-789-0870 or email panorachamber@gmail.com.
A golf tournament to raise money for the Panorama High School Scholarship Fund is that afternoon at the Panorama West golf course. Contact Chaille Crandall with questions or to register in advance, 515-729-2240.
Those who attend any portion of the Panorama Days celebration are invited to snap photos and post those on Facebook and Instagram using #panoramadays2024. Multiple photos can be in one post. Security settings must be set to public so the Panorama Days planning committee can see them. Photos must be posted and tagged by 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4. Each photo posted will give the photographer one entry into a drawing for $25 in Panora Chamber bucks. Three winners will be drawn. Photos entered will be used to help market future Panorama Days.
“I’d like to thank the many people, organizations and businesses that help put on Panorama Days,” says Shackelford. “Whether lending a hand or sponsoring events, it takes a village, and we have one of the best. Panorama Days fun can be found from downtown Panora to Lake Panorama, to the Panorama West Golf Course, to the ball fields, to Boulder Beach, to the marina and more. We have so many beautiful places and events to explore. Bring the whole family and enjoy the fun.”
Matthies says Panorama Days organizers can always use more volunteers and sponsors.
“Many hands make light work, so if you would like to volunteer, please reach out,” she says. “Many of the Panorama Days events are free, and that only happens because generous people in our community want to give back and be difference makers. If you would like to sponsor a specific event or give a general donation to help cover the costs, that’s appreciated.”
Look for more information and updates on the 2024 Panorama Days activities on the Panora Chamber website and the chamber’s Facebook page @panorachamber.

PANORAMA DAYS
LAKE PANORAMA SKI TEAM PREPPING FOR ANNUAL SHOW
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Lake Panorama ski team.

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Members of the Lake Panorama ski team are getting ready for their annual performance as part of the 2024 Panorama Days celebration. The show will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3 with parking and viewing on Lake Panorama’s south shore.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Lake Panorama ski team. This is the team’s 39th show since the COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 show to be canceled. Team members decided to celebrate the 40th year milestone this year anyway.
This is the second year for the Lake Panorama ski team to have formal legal status. In 2023, a board of directors was formed, officers were elected, bylaws were established, and 501(c)3 nonprofit status was obtained.
Mark Woods is president, Terry Huerter is vice president, Heather Isom is secretary, David Dwyer is treasurer, and Amy Spear is activities director.
The team currently has 45 members with about five of those who don’t ski but fill vital roles. There are 13 kids younger than the age of 18. The two youngest members of the team are both 5. The oldest team members are around 70 years old.
This spring, ski team members were asked to complete a survey to provide feedback on the 2023 show and offer changes they’d like to see for this year.
One thing that came out of the survey was members hope to shorten the show. The show length hasn’t been determined yet, since it is dependent on who wants to do what. Typical acts that are sure to be in the 2024 show are the high pyramid, kids skiing, doubles, saucers and barefoot skiing.
Team members have been practicing on Thursday nights at the south shore from 6-9 p.m. In July, the team also is practicing on Tuesdays at the same time and place as they put the finishing touches on their Panorama Days performance.
In the past, a bucket for cash donations was passed through the crowd during intermission. This year the team plans to eliminate intermission, as this often leads to spectators in boats and on shore leaving. A bucket may be passed at the end of the show. A QR code will be printed on ski team posters and pamphlets to allow electronic donations.
Donations help cover gas in the boats, team insurance, equipment and equipment maintenance, costumes and props. Because of the ski team’s nonprofit status, donations now are tax deductible. Donations can be made by check, payable to Lake Panorama Ski Team, and mailed to P.O. Box 384, Panora, Iowa, 50216.
New members of all ages are welcome to join the ski team. The only requirement is membership in the Lake Panorama Association.

EVENT
GARDEN CLUB PONTOON TOUR HELD JUNE 19
A total of 17 pontoons were used with three leaving every 15 minutes from the Boulder Beach docks.

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The Panora Garden Club held a fundraiser on the evening of June 19 that offered pontoon tours of Lake Panorama. Five time slots were available between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to more than 180 participants. The tour lasted about two hours with each pontoon captain making one trip around the lake. The possibility of rain was a concern, but the weather was beautiful, the water was calm, and the sunset was gorgeous.
Participants were asked to make a $30 donation to participate in the tour. Besides the two-hour cruise on Lake Panorama, they also received a charcuterie cup, prepared by Jill Christensen of Hamlin, and bottled water, provided by Sunset Realty.
A member of the Panora Garden Club was on board each pontoon to answer questions and point out highlights. Signs along the tour route marked the gardens and landscaping of 20 garden club members. Maps showing Lake Panorama’s cove names and garden club member homes were distributed to each guest.
Members of the club donated four gift baskets for a raffle. Names were drawn while the pontoon tours were underway, so winners could pick up their baskets when they returned.
This was the third year for the pontoon tour, and several people on this year’s tour now have attended all three years.
Organizers don’t yet have a final tally of how much money was raised, but they say the event was successful. They received positive feedback about having this year’s tour in the evening. Several people commented this was the first time they had been able to participate because they work during the day.
Funds from the tour will be used to support existing projects, and also help with new projects in the future. Because of the success of this year’s event, and many positive comments, organizers say they will likely host another evening tour of Lake Panorama in 2025.
The Panora Garden Club is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity, so donations are tax deductible. Funds raised are used to continue the projects club members conduct to beautify the community such as the summer petunia trees near the gazebo, 28 street pots scattered throughout Panora with both summer and winter displays, and last winter’s giant gnomes installed for the Christmas season.

RECREATION
FINAL SIGNS IN PLACE ON SOUTH SHORE

Lake panorama times july 2024 south shore signs

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The last two informational signs planned for the Lake Panorama south shore recreation area were installed in late June.
One is a welcome sign near the parking lot. It includes a graphic of Lake Panorama, history of the project, donor recognition, rules and emergency contacts.
The second sign is at the start of the trail system. It includes a map, trail option descriptions, and details on the native plants and wildlife along the trails.
Another part of the south shore recreation area is the disc golf course, which has been open for play since last November. Four informational signs were installed in May near the first tee. A large welcome sign includes a course map.
The 127 acres on Lake Panorama’s south shore feature 7,000 feet of shoreline. The seeds for low-impact recreational amenities here were planted in April 2019, when Friends of Lake Panorama surveyed LPA members for input. Walking trails and disc golf were projects of interest, with the south shore considered a good location. In July 2023, LPA gave final approval to the plan that includes the trail system, disc golf course, picnic shelter, benches and birdhouses.
Work to repair the south shore rip rap was completed in spring 2023, funded by the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ). RIZ and the LPA signed an agreement the south shore must remain a greenspace for at least the next 15 years. Amenities now in place fall under the greenspace definition.
Friends of Lake Panorama began fundraising in fall 2021 and continued through 2023. The recreation area opened in October 2023.
The trail system encompasses 26 acres of native tall grass prairie. The area was once planted to row crops but now is enrolled in a conservation reserve program (CRP) that requires native plants be established. LPA will continue to enroll these acres in the CRP program or find other ways to keep native species flourishing.
There are five trail options, each designated on the map with a different color. Colored arrows on brown fiberglass trail markers are installed at each trail junction. Those who do the full green loop down to the shoreline and back up through the meadow area to return to the parking lot will have walked two miles.
There are four other trail options. Choose the red option to return to the parking lot and walk just 0.6 of a mile. The blue option is 1.1 mile; yellow is 1.6 miles; and orange is 2 miles.
The Panorama Schools cross country trails use some sections of the Lake Panorama trail system and are marked with blue fiberglass trail markers. The cross country trails begin and end on school property.
To reach the recreation area, there is a fenced driveway that begins at 5501 Chimra Road and leads to a parking lot with walk-through access. Beyond the shelter with picnic table are two brown markers. One points right to the first hole of the disc golf course; the other points left to the beginning of the trail system.
The recreation area is open during daylight hours. Wheeled vehicles are prohibited. There are no trash receptacles, restrooms or running water; visitors are asked to plan accordingly.

EVENT
BEACH BALL RAISES $35,000
A total of 53 items were donated for the silent auction, which brought in $7,540, as well as 13 items for the live auction, raising $14,750.

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

More than 180 people attended the Friends of Lake Panorama 2024 Beach Ball June 21 at the Lake Panorama National event center. After expenses, the event had a profit of $35,000.
For the fourth year in a row, individuals and businesses became Friends Beach Club members to support this event. Those who joined at one of these levels paid a little extra to get a little extra, while also making a direct donation to Friends of Lake Panorama. Friends Beach Club members were listed in the program.
There were 17 businesses and groups of individuals that spent $700 to join the Premier level of the Beach Club, which was five more than in 2023. Sixteen couples spent $250 to be in the Couples Beach Club, with six businesses or individuals donating $150 to sponsor a table.
There were 53 items donated for the silent auction, which brought in $7,540. The live auction of 13 items raised $14,750. Those totals add up to a $4,000 increase in auction revenue over 2023. Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle and a half-card-draw game netted $2,000.
At its April meeting, the Friends of Lake Panorama board voted to make the Lake Panorama National Golf Course Master Plan Priority 1 projects the focus of the 2024 Beach Ball. Those projects include tee box and driving range renovations and new tee signs and ball washers.
Advance publicity stated auction items could be donated specifically for LPN Priority 1 projects. Eighteen silent auction items and six live auction items were designated for the LPN fundraising effort and resulted in proceeds of $8,450.
At a meeting June 24, the Friends board of directors voted to add $21,550 to those proceeds, earmarking $30,000 for the LPN Priority 1 projects. The remaining $5,000 raised at the Beach Ball will be held in the Friends general fund.
Donations to Friends of Lake Panorama are accepted at any time. Checks can be made payable to Friends of Lake Panorama and mailed to P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Direct donations also can be sent via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Credit cards are accepted on the Friends website.
All donations are tax-deductible. Donors of $500 or more are recognized on the donor page of the Friends website. More information is available at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org.

BEACH BALL GIVES BOOST TO LPN CAPITAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times
A fundraising campaign to pay for needed improvements at the Lake Panorama National golf course received a boost when $30,000 from the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball was earmarked for the campaign. At the end of June, direct donations to the campaign were at $11,250.
In the fall of 2023, the LPN board of managers began development of a comprehensive master plan for the golf course. This involved a thorough assessment of the course with key personnel conducting a hole-by-hole golf course tour. The insights gained, combined with past planning documents, led to the identification and prioritization of key projects.
At its April meeting, the LPN board approved a fundraising effort that focuses on Priority 1 projects identified in the LPN Golf Course Master Plan. Projects included in Priority 1 include expanding forward tee boxes, leveling and resodding main tee boxes, removing all railroad ties and, where needed, replacing the ties with block retaining walls, updates to the driving range and new tee signs and ball washers.
A $500,000 target for the first round of fundraising was established. As funds become available, bids will be solicited for Priority 1 projects. No fundraising deadline has been set, as funds will continue to be raised until projects are completed.
Friends of Lake Panorama is partnering with LPN, which makes it possible for contributions to be tax deductible. All donors will receive a tax receipt.
One current promotion to encourage donations runs through Aug. 31. Those who donate $500 or more by Aug. 31 will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a 2025 LPN Single Golf Pass with trail fee or cart seat.
Every $500 earns the donor one entry, with no limit on the number of entries that can be earned. This promotion is exclusively for direct donations by individuals, couples or families, and cannot be combined with fundraising events.
Donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama and sent to P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) also are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions.
Direct donations also can be sent via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Credit card donations can be made online at friendsoflakepanorama.org. To qualify for this promotion, credit card donations must include an extra $15 for every $500 donated to cover processing fees.
Upcoming fundraising events include a golf tournament Sept. 7, and 20 Men Who Can Cook Oct. 20, 4-7 p.m. Details on both events will be available soon.
Future projects included in the LPN golf course master plan include needed improvements to the maintenance shop and equipment storage, irrigation pumps and pump house, bunkers, the pond that impacts holes 12 and 13, the pond on the ninth hole and cart paths.
Donors of $500 or more are recognized on the donor page of the Friends website and on the Lake Panorama National capital fundraising campaign page at lakepanoramanational.com.

BUSINESS FEATURE
FAMILY FINDS JOY IN SMALL FARM VENTURE
Doug and Juli Tripple and their three children are learning life lessons and more at Tripple Berry Farm.

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The COVID pandemic that began in 2020 impacted most everyone’s life in many ways. For the Tripple family, it led to a move and a lifestyle change they never saw coming.
Doug and Juli Tripple and their three children, Grace, 13, and twins Izzy and Eli, 12, were living in Polk City.
“The town was continuing to grow in population,” Juli says. “When COVID hit, we were able to be home with our kids more and really wanted to continue that way of living. We wanted them to experience living in the country, go to a smaller school, and have plenty of time as a family.”
The family started to search for a place in the country and landed on a 9-acre plot of land just north of Linden.
“We hadn’t looked at a lot of places,” Juli says. “We expanded our search one day, saw this property and realized it met several of our search criteria. We liked the size of the school and the quick access to Highway 44 on a paved road.”
The family moved to the acreage in May 2021.
“The previous owner had started growing and selling raspberries and also grew strawberries,” Juli says. “We hadn’t planned to buy a berry farm, but we are always up for a challenge and decided to create Tripple Berry Farm.”
Raspberries are raised in what is called a high tunnel, a plastic or fabric-covered hoop structure with plants grown directly in the ground or in raised beds. Raspberries were ready for picking the third week in June, and the plants will continue to bear fruit into fall.
“Raspberry u-pick hours vary based on berry availability and weather,” Doug says. “We do offer we-pick raspberries on request. Weekly hours are posted on Facebook and Instagram, but we always welcome a phone call if someone isn’t on social media or has questions. We also offer u-pick by appointment outside of set u-pick hours.”
Strawberries are the next berry that will be available on the Tripple Berry Farm and should be ready for u-pick around the middle of July.
“This is our first year trialing a new pot and cable system, which allows u-pick at a table top height,” Juli says. “Our goal for next year is to start these sooner to allow for u-pick earlier. We also plan to try June-bearing berries in the second high tunnel. We have a lot of requests for strawberries.”
The couple says they plan to continue to expand and add different berries as time allows. They also grow and sell several varieties of garlic.
The family has a small country store that is open Wednesday through Sunday in the summer and then seasonal hours as posted into the fall. The store usually is closed January and February.
“Our Wednesday lunches have been well received,” Juli says. “During the peak berry season, we offer lunches as time allows. We have our own products in the store, plus several local products we love, such as ice cream, honey, produce when available, and meat sticks. For grilling, we have steaks, burgers, brats and hot dogs from Noble Provisions, a farm near Griswold.”
The Tripple Berry Farm is more than just whole berries.
“We make raspberry jam, raspberry jalapeno jam, raspberry syrup and we will be adding strawberry jam and some others this summer and fall,” Juli says. “We love to try new recipes and get feedback. Customer requests are always welcome.”
Plus, there’s bacon.
“During the COVID pandemic, Doug started smoking meats and enjoyed the challenge of perfecting the bacon process and recipes,” Juli says. “Once we moved to Linden and had the opportunity to start the business with the berries, we decided to add bacon and smoked meats to our business plan. We worked for about eight months to get the proper training and licensing for Outlaw Bacon and Smoked Meats.”
Doug did extensive renovation to convert a portion of the building that houses the country store into an inspected commercial kitchen. All the family’s meat products, plus their jams, jellies and other food products, are made in this kitchen.
“Our Outlaw Bacon is dry cured, hardwood smoked and hand sliced,” Doug says. “It stands apart from other bacon because it is not injected or tumbled. We don’t use liquid smoke or artificial additives. Our pepper bacon is cured with fresh peppers. We also have smoked pork and ribs. One of the most requested items is our smoked chicken wings. We are consistently adding new items based on customer feedback.”
While their berries, berry products and meat products are available in their country store, the family also has a regular stand at three farmers markets.
“We are in Perry on Thursdays 4-7 p.m., where our raspberry lemonades are the best sellers,” Juli says. “We’re in Panora and Guthrie Center every other Saturday morning. Our breakfast sandwiches, burritos and parfait cups made of yogurt, fresh fruit and granola have been popular in those two locations. We also have most of our frozen meat products and jams at the markets. We often have raspberries and may have strawberries later this summer.”
Catering is a relatively new addition to the family business.
“It began due to customer requests to provide our smoked meats for events,” Doug says. “We are continuing to invest and grow in this area. Our success is based on satisfied customers and word of mouth. We also do custom smoking on request.”
Juli and Doug met while working together as paramedics and have been married 16 years. Doug is a veteran and retired Des Moines firefighter and paramedic. He now works remotely as an IT engineer for a Des Moines-based company. Juli recently completed nursing school and plans to start at UnityPoint Des Moines as an RN in the fall.
“Despite fulltime work and school, we continue to pick a project each year and expand,” Juli says. “We make it work somehow. We have discussed adding part-time help next year as a possibility. We are looking forward to expanding strawberries and turning a grain bin into a gazebo next spring.”
Before moving to Linden, the couple had no experience in food production beyond a small garden. In less than three years, they’ve developed a substantial following of customers who want to buy a wide variety of food items they offer while also picking up food products in their country store from other local producers.
“We love the business we have built. We are agile and willing to try new things,” Juli says. “We pride ourselves on quality customer service, hard work and providing a farm experience for families. We have learned a lot and failed a lot, with successes along the way.”
The couple has gotten advice from an Iowa State University Extension horticulture specialist. They joined the Practical Farmers of Iowa and came away from that group’s annual conference with new ideas and contacts.
“We have been welcomed by neighbors and the community,” Juli says. “Our country store and farmers markets have allowed us to meet and talk with so many amazing people. For Doug and I, connecting with people is the best part of this business.”
The couple is happy with the new location they chose for their family.
“We love being close to smaller towns, yet an hour from the metro,” Juli says. “We love having the Raccoon River Valley Trail so close. Most of all, we have a great community with so many small businesses rooting for each other.”
“We used to travel and camp in our fifth wheel, but after we moved to the country, we realize we enjoy being home more,” Doug says. “There is nothing like sitting outside in the morning, drinking our coffee and enjoying the sounds of nature, including our very noisy rooster named Jeff.”
The Tripple children are students at Panorama Community Schools. This fall, Grace will be a freshman, and Eli and Izzy will be in seventh grade. Juli says probably the best thing about their move is the quality time she and Doug now have to spend with their kids.
“The business and all of the experiences that go along with it have helped our children grow and learn life skills in ways we never imagined,” she says. “They help pick berries, run the farmers markets and help with the country store. We are so proud of them.”
Tripple Berry Farm is located at 25677 Amarillo Ave., north of Linden. More information is available on the family’s Facebook page and their website: trippleberryfarm.com.

RECREATION
PICKLEBALL COURTS AT BOULDER BEACH RESURFACED
LPA hopes these courts now will last seven to 10 years.

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The two pickleball courts that are part of the larger sports court installation at Boulder Beach recently were resurfaced. The sports courts complex also includes one tennis court and a basketball court.
The sports courts opened in June 2018. Friends of Lake Panorama began fundraising for sports courts in October 2014 with an original plan to renovate two tennis courts at the Lake Panorama National Resort. By 2016, a more significant project at Boulder Beach emerged. Fundraising goals were met by the end of 2017, and construction took place the following spring.
Dissatisfaction among pickleball players with sports tiles used on the courts eventually led to the Lake Panorama Association removing the tiles in the spring of 2019 and having an acrylic surface applied.
“The courts were resurfaced with an adhesion promoter and a primer coat,” Lane Rumelhart, LPA project manager, says. “We don’t believe either of these coats were added in the original surfacing. LPA hopes these courts now will last seven to 10 years before needing resurfaced again, as the first coat lasted just five years.”
During the summer, group play on the pickleball courts takes place Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8-10 a.m. If weather conditions don’t allow outdoor play, the group meets those same days at Vet’s Auditorium in Panora, with hours of 9-11 a.m. Anyone interested in learning more about the game or opportunities to play is encouraged to simply show up during those times.
There is a concrete patio between the courts, which includes a large metal trash receptacle and two wooden memorial benches. The courts are open daylight hours and are available for play on a first-come, first-served basis.
The tiles removed from the two Boulder Beach pickleball courts were repurposed to a new sports court at Sunset Beach, which opened in 2023. Both basketball and pickleball can be played there.

GARDENING
POLLINATOR PLANT COMBOS

Dark towers and butterflyweed and coreopsis photo credit to egardengo.com

Posted 07/10/2024
By Lynn Kuhn
Special to Lake Panorama Times

In May, this column highlighted pretty pollinator plants and the importance of supporting our precious pollinators. In June, I hope you were able to celebrate pollinator month by adding a few plants from the list to your landscape. This month, I will show you some beautiful pollinator plant combinations along with tips as to why they work so well together.

COMBO #1 - BUTTERFLYWEED and DARK TOWERS BEARDTONGUE and GOLDEN SHOWERS COREOPSIS

Butterflyweed
(Ascelpias tuberosa)
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 1.00 to 2.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Orange to yellow-orange
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Orange
Attracts: Butterflies

Dark Towers Beardtongue
(Penstemon “Dark Towers”)
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1.50 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Pale pink
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium

Golden Showers Coreopsis
(Coreopsis verticillata “Grandiflora”)
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Dry Soil

Reasons this combo looks great:
Contrasting Color:
Purple and yellow are complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel)
The penstemon’s dark foliage contrast with surrounding medium green foliage.
Contrasting Form:
The penstemon is upright, butterflyweed is mounding, and coreopsis is irregular and appears soft and fluffy.
Contrasting Height:
The penstemon is quite tall at 3 feet, butterflyweed is 2 feet tall and coreopsis can vary greatly depending on the cultivar, sometimes 1-2 feet. Avoid matching heights when choosing a plant combo.

COMBO NO. 2 – CARADONNA SALVIA and PURPLE CONEFLOWER
Caradonna Salvia
(Salvia nemerosa “Caradonna”)
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 2.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to September
Bloom Description: Blue-violet
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Fragrant
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Air Pollution

Note: A common name for salvia is sage. There are many to choose from and most will be wonderful pollinators. I chose Caradonna for its burgundy stems, upright form and does not reseed and spread throughout garden.

Reasons this combo looks great:
Contrasting Form:
Salvia blooms are spiky while coneflower blooms are typically flat to droopy depending on the cultivar.
Color Combo Intensity:
Purple and pink is a classic color combo that works every time it’s tried. In addition, the intensity (saturation) of the purple matches that of the pink. Deeply saturated colors are visually stimulating.

COMBO NO. 3 – STANDING OVATION LITTLE BLUESTEM and ONYX AND PERALS BEARDTONGUE

Standing Ovation Little Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium “Standing Ovation”)
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 2.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: August to February
Bloom Description: Purple bronze with white seed heads
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: blue gray with burgundy tips
Attracts: Birds, Pollinators
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut, Air Pollution

Onyx and Pearls Beardtongue
(Penstemon “Onyx and Pearls”)
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 3.00 to 3.50 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 3.50 feet
Bloom Time: April to June
Bloom Description: Pale purple to nearly white
Sun: Full sun

Note: There is much propagation happening within this family of plants resulting in numerous options, however, my favorite cultivar to date is “Onyx and Pearls” due to the upright form, thick sturdy leaves and deep purple color that holds even in a bit of shade.

Reasons why this combo looks great:
Repetition of Color:
The deep burgundy in the penstemon foliage is echoed in tips of the grass.
Notice the spreading purple leafed sedum next to the little bluestem grass, which is yet another way to express repetition of color.
Contrasting Form:
Although both plants would be considered upright, the fine texture and spikiness of the grass contrast nicely with the more irregular form of the penstemon.

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know these pollinator plants and how to combine them for even more beauty in your landscape.

Written by Lynn Kuhn, author of “Conversation Gardens: Where Conversations Flow and Relationships Grow.” She is a landscape architect, speaker and owner of Conversation Gardens (formerly Outdoor Transformations). You can reach Lynn at lynn@conversationgardens.com or www.conversationgardens.com.

GOLF
PANORAMA WEST 2-GAL TOURNAMENT HOSTS 72 PLAYERS

Lake panorama times july 2024 golf tournament

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The Panorama West women’s golf league hosted a two-gal best-shot tournament Tuesday, June 11. A total of 36 teams participated with 14 teams made up of local players and 22 teams from surrounding communities. The tournament theme was “Peace, Love and Golf.”
Participants were encouraged to dress in clothing from the “hippie” era of the 1960s into the mid-1970s. There was a best dressed prize, with two teams tying for this honor. They were Lynn Breitbach and Coop Rickert, both of Lake Panorama, and Vicki Copeland and Connie Hamilton, both from Jefferson.
A VW van was available near the first tee for photo opportunities. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams in five flights. Winners of the championship flight were Emily Spradling and Karen Eby with a score of one-over-par 28.
Lunch was prepared and served by Paul Wendl, assisted by his grandson, Clayton. While waiting for lunch, teams tried to come up with specific terms and phrases popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Tournament committee members were Donna Brody, Peg Carr, Joanne Sandage, Nini Von Bon, Rhoda Williams and Linda Wendl.

GOLF
DOUBLE HOLE-IN-ONE MAGIC AT PANORAMA WEST

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Each year, those who get a hole-in-one at the Panorama West golf course have their name added to a sign in the pro shop and receive a handmade plaque in recognition of their achievement. Since all nine holes on the course offer par three tees, there generally are several hole-in-ones recognized each season.
The first hole-in-one of the 2024 season happened June 7. Randy Vyhnalek of Omaha accomplished this feat on the fifth hole, using a 9-iron to cover the 144-yard distance between the par-3 tee and green. His brother-in-law, Kirk Youngberg of Ames, witnessed this special moment.
Yet the fun didn’t end there. Just two days later, Randy’s 14-year-old nephew, Will Youngberg, had a hole-in-one on the same hole. What makes Will’s accomplishment extraordinary is that he hit his hole-in-one from the par-4 tee, using his driver to cover the 240 yards. Witnesses were Allan Vyhnalek and Harry Vyhnalek, Will’s grandfather and cousin.
It’s believed this is the first time a hole-in-one has been recorded from a par-4 tee at the Panorama West course. But it’s not the first hole-in-one on the course by a golfer with the last name of Youngberg. Gary Youngberg, father of Kirk and grandfather of Will, had an ace on the eighth hole in 2018. The Youngberg family has had a house on Horseshoe Cove since 2016.
Look for a story next month on another hole-in-one.

RECREATION
PANORAMA WEST NATURE TRAIL MAINTENANCE COMPLETED

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The Panorama West Nature Trail officially opened for visitors in late October 2022. Since then, the surrounding timber land has continued to do what it does best, growing and narrowing the trail in some places with underbrush and tree branches.
In late June, the LPA maintenance staff used a brush cutter attachment on the front of a skid loader to “mow down” large shrubs and small trees along the sides of the trail. This machine leaves mulch behind that breaks down into the soil over time. The next step was to take a smooth bucket on a skid loader and dress up areas where the wheels made some ruts.
“The trail was widened by 20 feet or more in several spots, opening up the trail and offering users more space to explore and keep away from overcrowding olive branches and cedar trees,” Lane Rumelhart, LPA project manager, says. “Our goal is to touch up this trail once every two or three years, but we will see how quickly the vegetation comes back.”
Virgil Hoehne and his son, Mike Hoehne, both live near the trail and, as volunteers, mow the trail as needed and when conditions allow.
The official trail is made up of portions of an existing trail that, in the past, was used by a limited number of people and the Panorama school’s cross-country teams. This project was funded by $5,000 from the 2021 Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball plus private donations.
Parking is in a cul-de-sac at the end of Nicholl Drive, which intersects with Panorama Road south of the Panorama West clubhouse. The trailhead sign features a drawing of the trail, and users are encouraged to take a photo to help guide them on the trail.
Seven posts with directional signage along the trail provide key information. Two benches strategically placed along the trail offer great views and places to rest.
At the three-quarters mile mark, there is an optional three-quarters of a mile loop. Those who use the official trail, plus the optional loop, complete 2.25 miles. The trail winds through grassy open areas and timber, and does not cross any portion of the golf course or roadways.
For safety reasons, and in compliance with current LPA rules, users of the trail may include hikers, runners, cross-country skiers and dogwalkers, but no motorized vehicles.

EVENT
LPA AND LPN MANAGERS PROVIDE UPDATES AT COFFEE

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

About 40 LPA members attended the June 27 managers coffee to hear updates from John Rutledge, Lake Panorama Association (LPA) general manager, and Royce Shaffer, Lake Panorama National (LPN) director of operations.

R12 PROJECTS
Rutledge opened the meeting with a review of Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) projects. Expansion of the old CIPCO sediment basin, renamed the 180th Trail Basin, continues. This is the basin that will be used for dredging spoils once the basin now being used is full.
“This project is progressing but is somewhat slower than originally expected,” Rutledge said. “There is a possibility it could be completed this year, but 2025 completion is more likely. The slower pace is helping with soil consolidation in the basin, and we’re not in a hurry to have this done since the existing basin continues to have capacity.”
RIZ operates a program for cover crop incentives with local producers in the Lake Panorama watershed. This addresses erosion vulnerability and nutrient runoff during the period between fall harvest and spring planting/emergence. This is the third year for this program.
The FY 2024-25 RIZ fiscal year began July 1.
“RIZ revenues will continue to grow, with 2024-25 collections exceeding $3.5 million,” Rutledge said. “That’s a big number and is mostly keeping pace with inflation.”
RIZ is in the process of purchasing a new dredge and booster pump, which will be built and delivered in late 2025 or early 2026.
“The current dredge and booster were placed into service in 2014, so will have served us about 12 years before being replaced,” Rutledge said. “There still will be substantial value to our existing equipment, which will be sold on the used market. Both the dredge and booster rely on a combination of technology and hardware. Although the hardware can last well beyond 12 years, the technology does not.”
Rutledge said the 2024 legislative session did not delve into property tax or Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reform, which is good for RIZ.
“We will continue to watch this every year and begin having conversations with legislators this summer about what they expect for the 2025 legislative session,” he said.
RIZ is acquiring a small portion of property from a private landowner. This property is less than two acres and lies northeast of the Burchfield Bridge. It will be improved to control bank collapse in that area of the Burchfield Creek.

LPA BUSINESS
Turning to LPA business, Rutledge said the lake is back to full pool elevation due to spring rains.
“Flows are in a good range for this time of year. For the last several years, we have seen remarkably low flows and had to communicate incremental lake level decline to the membership,” he said. “We are optimistic this will not be the case in 2024.”
Rutledge said widespread flooding in northern Iowa wouldn’t impact Lake Panorama because those rains fell outside of its watershed.
Rutledge said the 2024 legislative session was successful for Lake Panorama. LPA’s authority to govern member boating was brought into question as part of a civil case at Sun Valley Lake. The Ringgold County District Court stated lakes like Panorama could not govern their members’ conduct on the water because LPA does not own the water.
Rutledge made this topic his top priority from October through March with the Iowa Legislature passing a bill into law that affirmed LPA does have authority to govern boating on Lake Panorama.
“Thanks to Carter Nordman, our state representative, for taking a strong lead on this topic,” he said. “We could not have succeeded without Carter’s leadership and persistence.”
The new law did trigger a review by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of LPA rules and activities. This led to three steps LPA needed to take. Private marker buoys are in violation of Iowa law. LPA had rules regarding these, but that language has been removed.
“LPA rules now are silent on this topic,” Rutledge said. “If you maintain a private marker ball/buoy, then you are violating Iowa law but not LPA rules. Your ticket would come from DNR and would be between you and DNR.”
The remaining two items were removing the slalom course in the upper basin and LPA patrol boats switching from blue lights to red lights.
A major capital project for 2024 is fixing a scour that exists in front of the dam.
“It likely developed over time, and we need to install large rip rap to ensure continued flow does not undermine the footings of the dam,” Rutledge said. “This is not a short-term emergency but rather a long-term proactive investment. This work will be done later this summer with a $200,000 budget.”
Rutledge issued two reminders.
“Please follow the rules at the brush dumps,” he said. “If you hire a contractor, emphasize to them they need to follow the rules, as they are provided access to these facilities on your behalf.”
The second reminder was that LPA security does not tow boats. The only thing LPA security will do is help a member get out of the main traffic for safety. Members need to coordinate their own tow; this is a service available from Panorama Marine.
Sta-Bilt, the company that does seal coating on LPA roads, is running behind schedule and will not be able to treat roads on the east side of the lake until late July or August. Work on the west side will be done first.
“We are only able to do about six miles this year,” Rutledge said. “We would like to do nine miles annually, but the cost has skyrocketed. Seal-coat costs about $45,000 a mile, which is double what we paid in 2021.”
Rutledge said the LPA office continues to receive feedback on the impact wake boats have on safety and shorelines, including docks and lifts.
“This is a difficult puzzle to solve, as there are a number of members with valid points on both sides of this discussion,” he said. “This is not unique to Panorama, and we continue to monitor legislation and governance on other lakes and in other states. LPA will look at this topic as part of the next water safety committee agenda and incorporate feedback from a wide range of stakeholders that includes both critics and advocates of wake boats.”
Rutledge said LPA accommodates both members who enjoy their quiet time and members who like to enjoy their weekend with music and laughter.
“The cut-off for loud noise is 11 p.m., except for the Port. Please wrap up any private party you have by 11 p.m. By the same token, please be aware that calling LPA security about noisy neighbors at 10 p.m. will not yield results,” he said.
Rutledge concluded his remarks by saying the LPA board is exploring a ballot measure that will be sent to the membership this fall.
“The goal is to clean up and update the LPA bylaws. There will be a mix of housekeeping updates as well as a couple of substantive changes we believe will strengthen the association and make the bylaws more protective of your investment in your Lake Panorama properties,” he said.

LPN NEWS
Royce Shaffer has been the LPN director of operations since the fall of 2023. He opened his report with details on 2024 golf pass sales.
To date, 224 golf passes have been sold at Lake Panorama National, which is down 17 passes compared to the same time last year. Of the 224 passes sold, 19 are new members who have never purchased a pass at LPN before.
“While golf pass sales are down, green fee sales are in line with budget,” Shaffer said. “At Panorama West, 123 golf passes have been sold, which is two passes less than this same time last year. Green fees also are strong at Panorama West and outperforming the budget.”
Discussing the Panorama West course conditions, Shaffer said the staff currently is dealing with a large wet area that runs from the ninth green through the fourth fairway.
“We did an exploratory dig to confirm we didn’t have an irrigation leak,” he said. “It appears this issue has been caused by a natural spring that is active this year due to the wet weather. We are consulting with a tile contractor to discuss what needs to be done to address this issue.”
Shaffer said some clover is again appearing in the Panorama West turf, although not to the level it did in 2023. A fall chemical application was done last fall and now will be done each fall to continue to control the clover.
Grub control also is scheduled to be applied in the next couple of weeks.
“This is not a new application for us but is a topic of conversation as last year there was quite a bit of turf damage done by nuisance animals,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer said a Toro equipment package was ordered in fall 2022, and all pieces of equipment from that order finally have arrived. He said staff had discussed whether this equipment should be leased or purchased but agreed ownership allows more flexibility at the end of the loan.
Shaffer said he continues to work with Nick and Lynn Kuhn as they hold the lease for LPN Resort food and beverage for a second year.
“I encourage you to support this operation,” he said. “Current kitchen hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 3-9 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For those who don’t like the QR code ordering system, they now offer a table service option, on request.”
This past winter, the LPN board of managers developed a master plan for the LPN Golf Course and this spring decided to begin fundraising for the first phase of projects. A fundraising target of $500,000 was set. Friends of Lake Panorama is partnering with LPN on this effort, making donations to the campaign tax deductible.
Shaffer reported the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball held June 21 was the first fundraising event. It raised $35,000, and the Friends board earmarked $30,000 of that for the LPN projects. Future fundraising events include a golf tournament Sept. 7 and a 20-Men-Who-Can-Cook event Oct. 20. More details on both will be announced soon.
“I welcome any feedback, good or bad, that you may have on any of Lake Panorama National’s amenities,” Shaffer said. “These comments can be emailed to feedback@lakepanorama.org, and I will be sure your comments get passed along to the appropriate people.”
Following their prepared remarks, Rutledge and Shaffer fielded several questions and comments from the audience. The next managers’ coffee is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30, 10:30 a.m. at the LPN event center.

CITY GOVERNMENT NEWS
PANORA CITY COUNCIL AGREES TO ALLOW UTVS ON STREETS

Posted 06/12/2024
By Rich Wicks
Lake Panorama Times

During the June 24 Panora City Council meeting, councilmembers held the first reading of Ordinance 353 Chapter 75.05, regarding allowing UTVs to operate on city streets. Councilmember Brian Dorsett shared that some citizens have spoken to him in favor of the change, but they mistakenly thought it would also allow golf carts on city streets.
“I’ve been approached by several people who are so glad we’re going to open it up for golf carts,” Dorsett said.
Dorsett suggested the City post something clarifying what is and isn’t in the ordinance.
“Some people are getting the wrong impression,” he said.
The council unanimously approved the ordinance and waived the second and third readings. City Administrator Lisa Grossman said the ordinance will go into effect in roughly two weeks, based on when it is published for public notice.

Other city council news
Kelly Ellis spoke regarding the Panora farmers market, which is held every other Saturday, June through October.
“Some of the dates, we have upwards of 20 vendors signed up, so it’s really coming back in a positive way,” Ellis said. “I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from vendors and market vendors and businesses on the square.”
She pointed out only one concern, related to weather.
“Rain is something we’re going to have to contend with,” Ellis said. “I’m here tonight to ask the council to help provide an indoor option.”
Ellis asked if Veterans Auditorium could be used for the farmers market only when needed due to rain or stormy weather. Mayor Curt Thornberry asked about oversight of Veterans Auditorium. Grossman said the Veterans Board is in control of that, but the city oversees the Community Center.
After discussion, the council suggested first checking to see if Veterans Auditorium could be used in these situations. If not, the council will discuss the issue at the next meeting to determine if the Community Center could be an option.
As part of the consent agenda, the council approved a liquor license for Panora Liquor LLC. The council also approved cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor licenses for Casey’s General Store, Hometown Foods and Panora Liquor LLC.

WHAT’S IN YOUR GARAGE?
CAMARO PROVIDES COMFORT AFTER WIFE’S PASSING
Bill Kelly says the 2010 Chevy reminded him of a 1960s-era car including the candy apple green color of that same time.

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Bill and Maryann Kelly were married for 44 years before she passed away in April 2014. She had been in declining health for a while and on dialysis the last three years of her life.
“I was hurting,” Bill Kelly says, standing outside his home near Sunset Beach on Lake Panorama’s west side. “I’d had sports cars before, including Camaros and Firebirds. I sold those because it was too difficult for her to get in and out of them. I guess the rebel came out in me after she died, and I started to look for something.”
Kelly was living in Northwood and found his “something” in the showroom of a car dealership in Clear Lake.
“It was a 2010 Chevy Camaro with a body style that reminded me of a 1960s-era car. The color reminded me of the candy apple green of that same era,” Kelly says.
This Camaro was in limited production February through May of 2010 with just 2,425 sold. Making Kelly’s car even more rare is the green color, which officially is Synergy Green. The metallic green paint with black flecks makes the car sparkle, especially in bright sun.
“I like the color a lot,” Kelly says. “Besides, what would an Irish man drive but a green car?”
He purchased the car in March 2015. One month later, a deer came out of a ditch and damaged the front and rear fenders.
“The body shop buffed it all out and put another coat of paint on it,” Kelly says. “I try to keep it as pristine and original as possible. It only comes out of the garage when the weather is nice, never on icy roads.”
Kelly says he doesn’t take the car to shows or drive it in parades.
“I didn’t buy this car for anyone but myself,” he says. “Still, no matter where I drive it, people turn their heads to check it out. Sometimes they follow me down the street to get a closer look.”
The Camaro had 30,000 miles on the odometer when Kelly purchased it. Now, nearly 10 years later, it has 90,000 miles on it.
“I just like to drive it,” he says.
The car’s engine is a V-6 automatic. It also has a six-speed sports pack, which makes it possible to switch to manual mode with pedal shifting. The engine rumbles a bit on acceleration but doesn’t shake the windows of homes when Kelly drives by.
Black racing stripes accent the hood, and there is a sunroof. The interior features a green panel on each door and across the dash. These panels, which share the same paint job as the exterior, glow after dark because of tiny strips of lights across the top of each.
“Because of the color and year, this car is considered rare, kind of a classic,” Kelly says. “I’ve had people ask me if I would sell it, but I think I’ll probably own it as long as I can drive it. I do have a list of people who want me to let them know when I’m ready to sell.”
Kelly used to have another motor vehicle he purchased after his wife’s death.
“It was a bright red Harley Davidson motorcycle, said to be the fastest bike the company ever built. I really liked riding it, but I decided I should sell it when I turned 71,” he says. Kelly is now 75 years old.
Kelly hasn’t had an easy life. He grew up in Mason City and says he’s been on his own since he was 14 years old. When he was 16, two Mason City cops took him aside for a conversation.
“They told me I would make either a really good cop or a really good criminal,” he says.
He was a Marine during the Vietnam war and says many guys in his unit didn’t make it back. He was a police officer for 20 years. He has an artistic side and became a graphic artist for a company that later went bankrupt. He worked security about 15 years for Winnebago Industries.
It was there he met Evelyn Nauman. After Maryann’s death, she convinced him to attend a grief support group that had helped her after her husband’s death. The group sessions also helped him, and he and Evelyn grew closer.
Evelyn wanted to leave northern Iowa to be near her children in central Iowa. Kelly says they found Lake Panorama “on a fluke. We were driving by the beach, came around a corner and saw this cedar house for sale. At one point in my life, I did some architectural designs, and one was an A-frame, ranch-style house. This house was close to what I had designed years ago.”
Kelly says he and Maryann had talked about lake living for many years, but it was never possible. He and his partner, Evelyn, moved into the cedar house in July 2016.
“This is the most relaxed I have ever been in my life,” Kelly says. “We don’t own a boat, and we don’t fish. But we love this place.”
Once at Lake Panorama, Kelly spent three years working surveillance at Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson before the COVID pandemic put an end to that job. One day he asked Andrew Knorr, manager of the Medicap Pharmacy in Panora, if he had an opening for a delivery driver. The answer was yes. He rode along on a delivery run and decided he liked it.
Each weekday, Kelly works part-time making deliveries. If the weather is good, he drives his 2010 Synergy Green Chevrolet Camaro to Panora and parks it in the shade near the Medicap building. While he’s making deliveries in the Medicap van, others admire his classic car.

Q&A WITH LAKE PANORAMA ASSOCIATION PROJECT MANAGER LANE RUMELHART
INVASIVE SPECIES CONTINUE AS LAKE PANORAMA THREAT

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Q: Why do some of the signs on LPA roads look like they are worn to the bare metal? Or was nothing ever printed on them?
A: We asked Guthrie County Engineer Joshua Sebern this question, and he said the back sides of the signs are blank because there is nothing to show in that direction.

Q: I looked at buying a utility trailer that the seller says does not have a title. Is that a red flag? If I were to buy it, how do I go about licensing it?
A: We directed this question to Guthrie County Treasurer Brenda Campbell. She said, if the trailer weighs less than 2,000 pounds, it will not have a title. The seller would sign off on the bottom of the registration to the buyer.
“There are two quick ways to know this by looking at the registration: (a) it states ‘small’ regular trailer on the registration, and (b) it is a $20 annual fee,” she said.
Campbell also pointed out that, at the bottom of the registration, there is a place for the date, name and address of the purchaser and the signature of the seller. She says to make sure you have a bill of sale between the two of you as well, as this is required by the State of Iowa.

Q: How old must a person be to operate a boat or jet ski on Lake Panorama?
A: According to section 5.1(i) of the LPA Rules and Regulations, “Any operator of a motorized vessel in excess of 10 hp must be at least sixteen (16) years of age AND if under 18 must have passed and have in their possession the boater education certification approved by the Iowa DNR or be accompanied by a responsible person of at least eighteen (18) years of age who is familiar with boating operation.”
In addition, section 5.1(j) states that “operators of personal watercraft who are 16 or 17 (whether accompanied by an adult or not) must pass and have in their possession the basic boating certification as required by the State of Iowa.”

Q: Who is allowed to camp in the west campgrounds?
A: To register as a camper, you must be a member of the Lake Panorama Association, according to section 6.2(a) of the LPA Rules and Regulations. A season camping sticker shall be issued by the LPA office prior to camping and shall be affixed to each camping unit in such a way the Security Patrol can clearly see the sticker while making rounds. Camping in the Lake Panorama Campgrounds is restricted to one recreational vehicle or camping unit per site. Storage of one boat and/or its trailer is acceptable while camping.

Q: My neighbor likes to swim across our cove. Is that legal?
A: That depends. Swimming in Lake Panorama more than 100 feet from the shoreline is prohibited at all times, except when swimming within 10 feet of a boat, according to section 5.4(a) of the LPA Rules and Regulations.

ASK LAKE PANORAMA TIMES

Posted 07/10/2024
Submit your questions at
www.lakepanoramatimes.com or email shane@dmcityview.com.

Q: Why do some of the signs on LPA roads look like they are worn to the bare metal? Or was nothing ever printed on them?
A: We asked Guthrie County Engineer Joshua Sebern this question, and he said the back sides of the signs are blank because there is nothing to show in that direction.

Q: I looked at buying a utility trailer that the seller says does not have a title. Is that a red flag? If I were to buy it, how do I go about licensing it?
A: We directed this question to Guthrie County Treasurer Brenda Campbell. She said, if the trailer weighs less than 2,000 pounds, it will not have a title. The seller would sign off on the bottom of the registration to the buyer.
“There are two quick ways to know this by looking at the registration: (a) it states ‘small’ regular trailer on the registration, and (b) it is a $20 annual fee,” she said.
Campbell also pointed out that, at the bottom of the registration, there is a place for the date, name and address of the purchaser and the signature of the seller. She says to make sure you have a bill of sale between the two of you as well, as this is required by the State of Iowa.

Q: How old must a person be to operate a boat or jet ski on Lake Panorama?
A: According to section 5.1(i) of the LPA Rules and Regulations, “Any operator of a motorized vessel in excess of 10 hp must be at least sixteen (16) years of age AND if under 18 must have passed and have in their possession the boater education certification approved by the Iowa DNR or be accompanied by a responsible person of at least eighteen (18) years of age who is familiar with boating operation.”
In addition, section 5.1(j) states that “operators of personal watercraft who are 16 or 17 (whether accompanied by an adult or not) must pass and have in their possession the basic boating certification as required by the State of Iowa.”

Q: Who is allowed to camp in the west campgrounds?
A: To register as a camper, you must be a member of the Lake Panorama Association, according to section 6.2(a) of the LPA Rules and Regulations. A season camping sticker shall be issued by the LPA office prior to camping and shall be affixed to each camping unit in such a way the Security Patrol can clearly see the sticker while making rounds. Camping in the Lake Panorama Campgrounds is restricted to one recreational vehicle or camping unit per site. Storage of one boat and/or its trailer is acceptable while camping.

Q: My neighbor likes to swim across our cove. Is that legal?
A: That depends. Swimming in Lake Panorama more than 100 feet from the shoreline is prohibited at all times, except when swimming within 10 feet of a boat, according to section 5.4(a) of the LPA Rules and Regulations.

TRISH HART’S NATURE PHOTOs OF THE MONTH
SPRING BLOOMS USHER IN SUMMER

Lake panorama times july 2024 trish hart

Posted 07/10/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

This month, Trish Hart offers photos of colorful flowers that start blooming in late spring and continue into the summer months. Most photos were taken in her yard with the pink iris in a neighbor’s yard.
Featured are three perennials, including two colors of peonies, an Asiatic lily, and two colors of irises. There also is a beautiful zinnia, which is an annual that can grow either from scattered seeds or transplants.
Peonies have been known to thrive for more than a century and are a garden favorite because they grow such gorgeous blooms.
Asiatic lilies are hardy, early bloomers that produce flowers in a wide variety of bold colors or pastels. The bulbs multiply quickly and can double every year.
The name iris, derived from the Greek word for rainbow, reflects its wide range of colors. In floriography, which is the language of flowers, the iris carries meanings of faith, courage, hope and wisdom.
Hart specializes in nature photography. She offers custom prints of her photos on canvas, paper, metal and glass. Learn more by visiting Nature’s Canvas Photography on Facebook.

LAKE DOG

Posted 07/10/2024
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times

Name: Rudy
Breed: Cavapoo
Age: 4 years old
Owners: Jackson and Ann Hemberger (Dave and Barb Hemberger’s son and daughter-in-law)

Rudy specializes in geese patrol, paddle board hopping and fetch and acts as the figurehead for the Hemberger boat.

COVE CAT

Posted 07/10/2024
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times

Name: Turnip
Breed: Tabby
Age: 1 year old
Available for adoption at: Panora Pets

Turnip is a cute, energetic and rambunctious kitty. He gets along great with other kitties and loves playing with kitty toys. Turnip has had his vaccinations and has been altered. He is available for adoption at Panora Pets for $25. To apply for Turnip, or any of the kitties, visit www.panorapets.com.

RECIPE
DEVILED EGGS ARE A SUMMERTIME DELIGHT

Posted 07/10/2024
By Jolene Goodman
Lake Panorama Times

If you want to win the heart of my husband, bring him deviled eggs. I have had to win him over in other ways for 29 years, because I don’t make them. His mother did, though, and so did my mother, and he looked forward to their versions.
Deviled eggs make appearances more in the summer due to BBQs, neighborhood driveway parties, park picnics and holiday weekends. It’s another reason why I like this time of year, as I feel like the pressure is off when others come to the rescue to feed my husband’s deviled egg obsession. Cyd Koehn, who owns Catering By Cyd, has mastered a mouthwatering deviled egg. She shared her recipe with me for this month’s column.
Guess who’s bringing the deviled eggs to the next BBQ?

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

DEVILED EGGS

Ingredients
6 large eggs
Ice
2 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 1⁄2 Tbsp. sweet or dill pickle relish
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄4 tsp. white pepper
2 dashes of Lola’s Hot Sauce
Garnish: paprika (optional)
Directions
Step 1 — Boil eggs: Fill a large pot with water; bring to a boil over high. Carefully lower eggs into boiling water; cook undisturbed, for 11 minutes, 30 seconds.
Step 2 — Make ice bath: Meanwhile, fill a large bowl halfway with ice; add water to cover. Set ice bath aside.
Step 3 — Chill eggs: Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer cooked eggs from boiling water to an ice bath. Let stand until completely cooled, at least 5 minutes.
Step 4 — Peel eggs: Working with 1 egg at a time, firmly tap on a flat surface until cracks form all over the shell. Peel under cold running water.
Step 5 — Halve eggs: Cut eggs in half lengthwise; remove yolks. Set egg white halves aside.
Step 6 — Make deviled egg filling: Using a fork, mash together yolks and mayonnaise in a medium bowl. Add relish, mustard, salt and pepper; stir well to combine.
Step 7 — Fill eggs: Spoon or pipe about 1 tablespoon filling into each egg white half. Garnish with paprika, if desired. Serve immediately, or store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to three days.

ON THE LAKE
MOST IMPROVED PUBLICATION AND BEST OF SHOW

Posted 06/12/2024

When I purchased this publication in March of 2020, I wasn’t really sure what to do with it. The fact that we were in the midst of the COVID pandemic didn’t help. So, I didn’t do much of anything. We simply kept publishing the newspaper in the same way it had been done for years prior.
I did know two things, though.
First, our Iowa Living magazines were performing quite well, and we had publications in Grimes/Dallas Center and in Adel/Desoto/Minburn, as well as Winterset. Converting Lake Panorama Times to a Lake Panorama Living magazine made sense. Even so, I didn’t want to get in a hurry with changes, and I was more concerned about how to keep my company afloat during a time when many of my customers were dealing with government-imposed COVID shutdowns.
Second, I knew I wanted to spend more time at our home at Lake Panorama, and running a business here would allow me to do that. So, I continued with business as usual. During that time, though, the wheels were spinning in my mind. How could we take what we learned with CITYVIEW and our Iowa Living magazines and create a separate division to serve readers and advertisers in Guthrie County?
Ultimately, as many of you know, we were able to buy the Guthrie County Times Vedette newspaper, which we converted to a twice-weekly, free, digital edition. We also launched a free monthly called Panora Times and another named Guthrie Center Times. But before we did those things, we redesigned Lake Panorama Times in May 2023 from a broadsheet newspaper to a magazine format, and we added more feature-oriented news and full color on every page. We then gave all three publications a common look and feel. The results have been positive from every measurable we set, and we just received additional recognition for our work by our peers.
Last week, Lake Panorama Times was named Most Improved Publication by the Association of Community Publishers, an organization with members who are owners, publishers, general managers and sales managers of community publications throughout North America. The members come from all walks of the community publishing world, from small independent publications to major companies. We are quite proud to have Lake Panorama Times named as the Most Improved Publication. In addition, Big Green Umbrella Media was awarded Best of Show as a result of awards won by all our publications. This is an even greater honor.
I am thankful to our staff, to our advertisers and to each of you — our readers — for providing us this opportunity, and we are pleased to make Lake Panorama and Guthrie County shine in front of all of North America.
As always, I thank you for reading.

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

COVER STORY
LOCAL ‘IOWA GIRL’ MAKES GOOD

Lake Panorama’s Erin Gerlich is the executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

In mid-April, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) named Erin Gerlich as its new executive director. The IGHSAU is the only state activity association in the nation solely devoted to promoting, directing and regulating interscholastic athletics for junior high and high school girls.

Gerlich’s connection to the lake started at birth
Gerlich was born and raised at Lake Panorama and graduated in 2002 from Panorama Community Schools. She and her daughter, Avery, now live at Lake Panorama. Gerlich’s connection to the lake started at birth.
“I was born at Lake Panorama in my grandparents’ house (Irv and Molly Gerlich) on Christmas night in 1983,” she says. “There was a snowstorm, and my mother wasn’t expecting me for another few weeks. She went into labor after Christmas dinner, and I was delivered by my late aunt, Lynn Thornberry. The snowplows had to be called in so the ambulance could get there to eventually take me to Guthrie County Hospital.”
Gerlich’s parents are Jay and Karen Gerlich. She is the middle child of three girls. Maggie Armstrong is two years older, and Elizabeth Ratcliff is two years younger. The family lived on Helen’s Cove until Erin finished middle school. Then they built the house tucked behind the Boulder Cove condos on Lonna Drive, where Jay and Karen still live.
Gerlich describes herself as a “very average athlete.”
“I was involved in cross country, basketball, track and field, and played softball through my sophomore year. I also danced from the time I was 3 years old through graduation, so I was involved with dance team,” she says. “We had a girls club soccer team I played on in high school for a couple of years, and I played coed soccer for several years growing up. My name isn’t on the record boards, but I absolutely loved what athletics did for me as a person.”

A non-traditional path
Gerlich became the IGHSAU executive director in May. She calls her career path a non-traditional one.
“I went to Iowa State and earned a degree in sports medicine. I then went to Oklahoma State University to get my master’s in health promotion and worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the OSU football program,” Gerlich says. “I was the head athletic trainer for OSU women’s basketball for a few years before I transitioned into a director of operations, which was my first glimpse of administrative duties at the college level.”
Gerlich returned to the Panorama Community Schools in the summer of 2013, this time as an employee.
“I served as the activities director, athletic trainer and at-risk coordinator during my time there,” she says. “It was fun to come back to the place that made my childhood so special and where I still knew many people within the community.”
She moved from Panorama schools to the IGHSAU in September 2021 as an associate director. She was the head of emerging sports and new projects, acted as a liaison for all sports medicine coordination and initiatives, and served as the sport administrator for wrestling and tennis. She led the IGHSAU Student Athletic Advisory Committee. She was president of the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association during the 2022-2023 season, the first female to hold the position.
Now, Gerlich is the sixth executive director of the IGHSAU, which has a long and storied history. In the 1920s, Iowa was one of the few states where girls could play high school basketball, which was particularly popular in Iowa’s rural schools. Larger schools didn’t have the same enthusiasm, and some people believed it was risky for the reproductive health of females to engage in “strenuous” activities such as basketball.
At the 1925 Iowa State Teachers convention in Des Moines, superintendents and principals decided competitive sports before paying crowds was good only for boys activities, and girls basketball would no longer be a state-sponsored interscholastic activity.
A group of superintendents, most of whom also served as girls basketball coaches, created an organization so girls could continue to play basketball. The IGHSAU was officially formed in 1927 and run by a board of superintendents for several decades. In the 1950s, they began to add more sports.
“By the time Title IX came into play in 1972, many looked to what Iowa had been doing for nearly 50 years to provide sport experiences for females,” Gerlich says. “In 1951, our girls state basketball tournament was televised in nine different states, which was well before any NFL or NBA games were televised. To say we have been progressive with females in athletics in our state is an understatement.”
The longest serving IGHSAU executive director was Dr. E. Wayne Cooley, who held the position from 1954 to 2002. He once stated, “I take a lot of pride that every girl walks down every main street in every town in Iowa just as tall as the boy.”

The Iowa Girl
In recent years, the association has expanded on Cooley’s idea by making the “Iowa Girl” a recurring theme at state tournaments, in printed materials and online. The premise is that “Iowa Girl” represents more than just being a girl from Iowa. The Iowa Girl is epitomized as a well-rounded young woman, active in both her school and her community, whose participation in athletics has a positive influence on her life.
An ornate pink and gold chair sits in the lobby of the IGHSAU offices in West Des Moines. In the past year, the staff has taken the chair with a pink backdrop that declares “Iowa Girl” to state tournaments. The display is a popular spot for photos.
IGHSAU now sponsors 11 sports. Besides basketball, the association sanctioned softball in 1955, with golf and tennis sanctioned in 1956. Track and field was added in 1962. Cross country was sanctioned in 1966, followed by swimming and diving in 1967 and volleyball in 1970. Soccer was added in 1998 and bowling in 2006. Wrestling was added in 2022.

Rolling out a new sport
Gerlich played the lead role in introducing girls wrestling to the state of Iowa with its first sanctioned season in 2022-2023.
“Wrestling was not yet a sanctioned sport, so I spent most of the first few months of my new job getting the necessary data and schools involved to formally make wrestling our 11th sanctioned sport. Rolling out a new sport took nearly all of my time and energy the first two years on the job,” she says. “Building relationships with schools, coaches, athletes and officials takes time. Once the wrestling community understood our vision, we had great support and momentum across the state. I’m really proud of what our organization has done to contribute to the sport. We have got a national spotlight on us for how we’ve grown girls wrestling, and that has been incredible for our athletes.
“We take great pride in our state tournaments for all of our sports, so I knew we had to knock it out of the park when it came to our first state tournament,” Gerlich says. “We pulled out all of the stops and sold out the Xtream Arena in Coralville where we have our tournament. We did that again this year. To be able to bring this kind of energy and attention through our platform for those athletes and coaches has been incredible.”
An estimated 800 girls were involved with high school wrestling before it was sanctioned by IGHSAU. After the first year, about 2,300 girls were involved. That number increased to 3,100 athletes this year.
“That isn’t counting the exponential growth on the junior high and youth numbers for girls that will continue to feed the high school system,” Gerlich says. “I am predicting steady growth for the foreseeable future.”
Gerlich’s dedication and achievements were recognized in 2023 when she was honored with the Charlotte Bailey Award from the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, as well as the AAU Wrestling Women’s Empowerment Award.

Following in her mother’s footsteps
Erin’s daughter, Avery, who will turn 13 in July, is following in her mother’s footsteps at Panorama Community Schools. This year she participated in volleyball, basketball and track and field as a junior high athlete just finishing up the seventh grade.
“It’s fun to raise my daughter within the Panorama community. She was born in Oklahoma, but we moved back just as she was turning 2 years old. There’s nothing better than life in a small town, in my opinion,” Gerlich says. “My younger sister, Liz, has been the Panorama Elementary principal since Avery started kindergarten. My older sister, Maggie, has helped to coach her basketball team through parks and recreation and in the junior high system.”
Gerlich used to be a runner but says her participation in that sport has dwindled as it becomes harder on her body.
“Now, I love hiking, which is a great way to explore new places. I also hope to be on my bike more this summer, as time allows,” she says. “I’ve taken up golf, which is a fun challenge for my competitive spirit. I recently took Avery to the driving range for the first time, and she was quick to make great contact with the ball. So, golf may be in her future, too.”

The importance of the IGHSAU
Today, nearly 70,000 girls compete in Iowa high school athletics. Iowa continues to rank in the top half of the United States in terms of girls high school athletic participation, despite ranking 30th in U.S. population.
“Raising a daughter and having a niece just a bit younger than her has been even more motivation for me to provide great opportunities and experiences for these girls, locally and across our state,” Gerlich says. “It does get hard when my job takes me away from her, especially when I occasionally have to miss her events to be at our events. But she has always been mature and understanding that mom can’t always do it all, even though I want and try to.”
Gerlich says she is especially motivated to show high school girls the many career opportunities and avenues that exist in athletics, from administration to coaching and officiating.
“We don’t have nearly enough female faces and minds in the world of athletics, and they have proven to be some of the best overall leaders and difference-makers when put in those positions of impact,” she says. “I want the Iowa Girl to know her time in athletics doesn’t have to end with high school, even if playing college sports is not in the cards. You don’t have to be an all-star athlete to have a positive influence when it comes to education-based athletics.”
In Gerlich’s position, she says she also is excited to educate people on the importance of why the IGHSAU exists and the positive impact it has on those involved.
“I love getting to impact the Iowa Girl on such a high level,” she says. “We have an amazing staff, and I am excited to be in a visible role as a female leader. Our organization has a reputation for prioritizing the experience of the female athletes we serve, and I will love the continued challenge of finding new ways to serve and spotlight the amazing things our female athletes do across the state.”

PICTURED: Erin Gerlich presented the runner-up trophy to the Panorama girls basketball team at the 2024 tournament.

RECREATION
NEW PICKLEBALL NET INSTALLED AT SUNSET BEACH SPORTS COURT

The 40-foot by 60-foot concrete pad is covered in sports court tile, with painted lines for both basketball and pickleball.

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

A portable pickleball net was first added to the Sunset Beach sports court in April 2023. That summer proved to be a difficult one, as someone dragged it to the beach and damaged it.
This spring, Friends of Lake Panorama used funds donated earlier to the Sunset Beach court to purchase a new net. Shortly after it was installed, high winds grabbed and twisted it, breaking the bottom brace. Fortunately, Kevin Sherlock, a member of the LPA maintenance staff, was able to weld the brace back together, and the new net now is in place.
The fully assembled net is on five wheels. It can be stored along the fence when not in use and rolled into place as needed. A brake on each of the five wheels unlocks and locks, so the net can either be moved or secured in place.
Users are asked to always unlock the wheels when moving the net and lock the wheels once in place for play or when stored against the fence. It’s hoped extra caution by users will allow this net to survive more than one season. If the net is damaged, or not functioning as expected, users are asked to report details to Lane Rumelhart at the LPA office, 641-755-2301.
The court was completed in November 2022. The Friends of Lake Panorama board had discussed a basketball half-court at Sunset Beach for several years. Adding an extra 10-feet to the original plan made it possible to accommodate both basketball and pickleball.
The 40-foot by 60-foot concrete pad is covered in sports court tile, with painted lines for both basketball and pickleball. Black paint shows the basketball free throw line, lane and three-point arc. The basketball lane is green tile. The regulation-sized pickleball court also is green tile, painted with white lines. The rest of the court is covered in blue tile.
A total of $17,500 from the Friends of Lake Panorama’s 2022 Beach Ball was used for this project. Mark and Karen Einck donated $25,000 for the court, with another $5,500 received from other donors. A sign recognizing donors is attached to the fence.

EVENT
BEACH BALL EVENT IS JUNE 21

Advance reservations are required, as attendance will be capped at 225.

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Some seats and open tables remain for the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser Friday, June 21. The Beach Ball will be at the Lake Panorama National Resort event center with all seating in the banquet room. Advance reservations are required, as attendance will be capped at 225.
Registration will be 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the dining room. Personalized programs with names, table numbers and bidding numbers will be ready for pickup as guests arrive. A buffet dinner will be served beginning at 6 p.m. There will be a cash bar throughout the evening, which will open at 4:30 p.m.
Members of the Friends Beach Club provide additional financial support to Friends of Lake Panorama beyond the cost of the meal. Prices for 2024 Beach Club memberships remain the same as last year, and are:
Friends Beach Club - Premier: $700 — includes table sponsorship, eight dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; Friends Beach Club - Couple: $250 — includes two dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; and Friends Beach Club - Sponsor: $150 — includes table sponsorship, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program.
Individual meal tickets are $50. To register, contact Susan Thompson at 515-240-6536 or staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.
Funds will be raised with both live and silent auctions plus a 50-50 raffle and a drawing that will use four decks of cards. At its April meeting, the Friends of Lake Panorama board voted to make the LPN Priority 1 capital campaign its main project for this year’s Beach Ball. This means a percentage of pooled funds raised, plus direct donations, will be set aside by Friends for the LPN improvement projects.
Auction items can be donated specifically for the LPN Priority 1 project. For example, Chris and Brenda Duree and Mike and Kelly Faga are donating an authentic Iowa barbecue dinner for 50 people. The menu includes baby back pork loin ribs; smoked, barbecued and shaved pork loin, bacon mac and cheese; baked beans; cornbread; and coleslaw. This event could be held at the home of the winning bidder, Boulder or Sunset Beach, or other suitable local venue.
Some other auction items designated for the LPN improvements include a Traeger wood pellet grill donated by Lake Panorama Realty; two Cleveland wedges and a Masters collectible print donated by Jim and Julie Tibbles; an Iowa State University basketball signed by men’s head coach T. J. Otzelberger, donated by Jay and Sue Merryman; St. Thomas beach framed prints, donated by Mare and Rick Langel; and a gift basket donated by Local Liquor.
Of special interest will be two photographs taken by Michael Kleinwolterink, the LPN pro shop manager who has worked for the LPN since he was a teenager. One was taken with his drone on the second night of men’s league play this year. This aerial photo features the golf course with a double rainbow created by a passing rain shower. The other photo was taken during the 2023 Fire in the Sky display. Both photos are printed on metal and ready to hang.
New this year on the live auction will be a half-day adventure with Maureen Lubeck in her recently restored 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe four-door sedan. This package includes a cruise around Lake Panorama for up to four people. First stop will be Twin Vines for an exclusive wine tasting that includes appetizers and choice of two bottles of wine to take home. Another stop could be to show off your special “ride” to friends, or other destination of your choosing. Then to The Port where each couple will receive a $100 gift certificate to use for drinks and dinner.
Other live auction items that have been popular at past Beach Balls are offered again this year. These include a Cyclone football package for the Nov. 2 ISU vs. Texas Tech game, which includes four tickets in the ISU Athletic Director Suite with Jamie Pollard, food and soft drinks during the game, and a VIP parking pass; a piece of jewelry custom-made by Gary Youngberg, owner of Ames Silversmithing; a set of four passenger car tires for any vehicle, donated by Scott Politte, president of Stivers Ford Lincoln of Waukee; wine tasting for 20 at WineStyles in Johnston; two large inflatable Paradise Pads, donated by Mike and Austin Hayden; and a six-course gourmet meal for six with wine pairings, prepared, served and donated by Bill and Karen Fitzgerald.
Guests will find plenty of silent auction items to consider. These will include choice of two apple trees, delivered, planted and donated by Isom Tree Farms; ISU and Iowa birdhouses handmade by Steve Brannan; WeatherTech floormats from Stivers; handmade cutting boards; large potted plants; and a wide selection of gift baskets and gift cards.
Donated auction items will be accepted through June 19. Those interested in donating an auction item for the 2024 Beach Ball are asked to email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of Friends of Lake Panorama. A video loop available for viewing throughout the evening will feature photos of past projects. Details on all past and current projects are available on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org. Friends of Lake Panorama also has a Facebook page.

PICTURED: This photo will be printed on 20-inch by 40-inch metal. It was taken by Michael Kleinwolterink on the second night of men’s league at Lake Panorama National, using his drone. The double rainbow appeared after a brief rain shower. This will be a live auction item, with proceeds going to the LPN Priority 1 projects.

EVENT
TICKETS REMAIN FOR GARDEN CLUB PONTOON TOUR FUNDRAISER JUNE 19

A total of 15 pontoons will be used with three leaving every 15 minutes from the Boulder Beach docks.

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Some openings remain for the Panora Garden Club’s fundraiser that offers pontoon tours of Lake Panorama. The event is planned for Wednesday, June 19. Five time slots are available between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The 6 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. slots are filled, but there still are some openings in the remaining three options.
A total of 15 pontoons will be used with three leaving every 15 minutes from the Boulder Beach docks. Each tour will last about two hours with each pontoon captain making one trip around the lake.
A member of the Panora Garden Club will be on board each pontoon to answer questions and point out highlights. Signs along the tour route will mark the gardens and landscaping of garden club members. Maps showing Lake Panorama’s cove names and garden club member homes will be distributed to each guest.
The Panora Garden Club is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity, so donations are tax deductible. A minimum donation of $30 is required for each person who reserves a tour spot, and those interested in making an additional donation are welcome to do so. Advance payment is needed, and details will be explained when reservations are made.
Besides the pontoon tour, a $30 per person donation will cover an individual charcuterie cup and bottled water. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages.
To inquire about remaining openings, contact these Panora Garden Club members: 6:30 p.m., text Rhoda, 712-249-3666; 6:45 p.m. text Paula, 402-699-2580; and 7 p.m., text Paulette, 712-304-0077.
There is a rain date of Thursday, June 20. If the tour needs to be moved to that day, times will remain as originally set. If weather prevents this event, money for tickets will be considered a tax-exempt charitable donation to the Panora Garden Club.
Funds raised will be used to continue the projects club members conduct to beautify the community. These include such things as the summer petunia trees near the gazebo, 28 street pots scattered throughout Panora with both summer and winter displays, and last winter’s giant gnomes installed for the Christmas season.

BUSINESS FEATURE STORY
BROTHERS FOLLOW IN FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS

Jeffrey Bump explains the impact Lake Panorama has had in Guthrie County and on the Bump & Bump law firm.

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The Panora law firm of Bump & Bump was formed in 1991 between brothers Jeffrey and William Bump. The pair chose the same career path as their father, Wilbur Bump, who was one of the early leaders of the effort to create Lake Panorama.
William Bump earned his law degree from Drake University in 1984 and began practicing law with his father in West Des Moines. Jeffrey Bump earned his law degree, also from Drake University, in 1988. After graduation, he joined an 85-lawyer law firm in Dallas, Texas.
“My wife, Karen, and I enjoyed our time in Dallas, but when we decided we wanted to start a family and raise children, we knew the only place to do that was in Iowa,” Jeffrey Bump says. “With our father’s retirement in 1990 and our plans to return to Iowa, William and I forming a partnership in 1991 was good timing.”
Bumps Bend on the west side of Lake Panorama was named for Wilbur Bump. He served as legal counsel for Mid-Iowa Lakes in the 1960s and later was legal counsel for the Lake Panorama Association. He was also a member of the Mid-Iowa Lakes board, then a member of the first LPA board. He was elected in 1969 to the LPA board and served for five years.
As a director, Wilbur Bump was one of the first to be able to purchase a Lake Panorama lot before they went on the market. He picked one on Burchfield Cove.
“Right after the dam was finished and the lake filled in 1970, he bought a boat, and we spent quite a bit of time on the lake on weekends,” Jeffrey Bump says. “I remember dad hitting a lot of hidden tree stumps, then driving slowly back to the marina and watching him change out the damaged prop behind the boat. We had to mow the lot each weekend before we could go boating, so we hurried up and got our chores done.”
Jeffrey Bump has fond memories of those early days.
“The West Lodge was the main gathering point at the lake,” he says. “There were swim competitions for youngsters like us. Bill and I competed in several of the competitions, which were heavily attended. We did quite well and got a few ribbons. Pool tables were upstairs in the Lodge, a bar was downstairs, and, for some reason, they kept the temperature at about 60 degrees.”
Neither of the brothers ever lived at the lake.
“Our law practice was in the log cabin above the marina from 1992 to 2008,” Jeffrey says. “We had a slip on the jetty where we kept a boat, and we spent a lot of time with our young children in the 1990s boating, tubing, skiing and enjoying the beaches.”
During that time, the brothers each built homes in the country, west of Panora.
“We’re close enough that we can hear water rushing over the dam when the wind is right,” Jeffrey says.
What kind of an impact has Lake Panorama had in Guthrie County, and on the Bump & Bump law firm?
“The impact the development of the lake has had on Panora, Guthrie County and the surrounding communities is unquestionably the best thing that could have ever happened,” Bump says. “So many businesses have benefitted, including ours, and we are blessed to be able to help our friends at the lake with their legal needs.”
Over the years, the brothers merged two law firms into their practice. One was the law practice of John Donahey, who had been practicing in Panora since his return from active duty in WWII in 1945. Donahey also was a member of the Mid-Iowa Lakes board. Donahey Drive, which isn’t far from Bumps Bend on the lake’s west side, was named for John Donahey.
The other practice that merged into Bump & Bump was the one of W. Dean Moore, whose law firm had been in the same location in downtown Stuart since 1890.
Bump & Bump built a modern office building in Stuart in 2006, followed two years later by a new building at 222 E. Market St. in Panora.
John Twillmann joined the firm in the summer of 2022. He most recently spent nearly four years as the assistant county attorney for Guthrie County. Earlier he worked as a clerk for the sixth judicial district and held a corporate counsel position in Des Moines. Twillmann is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and received his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Iowa.
Practice areas for the firm include litigation; wills, trusts, estate planning, probate and tax law; real estate; business and corporate law; and criminal defense.
William Bump focuses on estate planning.
“John and I handle every other legal matter that needs attention by our clients,” Jeffrey Bump says. “We pride ourselves on being able to handle any issue our clients need help with.”
How has the business of being an attorney changed over the last 35 years?
“Fax machines were on the cutting edge of technology when Bill and I started the practice in 1991,” Jeffrey Bump says. “We had one dedicated fax line and one phone line. At that time, we were on Main Street in Panora, and we had many people stop in to send a fax from our machine.
“Now the practice of law requires us to have high speed internet, to file everything with courts electronically and answer emails instead of letters. This has eliminated a lot of time in the courthouse, but John and I still spend a fair amount of time trying cases and arguing motions in the courts in our area. We are fortunate to have Panora Fiber, which has helped us with each step of the change in technology.”
Jeffrey Bump is in the Panora office daily. William is in Panora three days a week, with two days in Stuart. John is in the Panora office four days a week, with one day in Stuart. The three attorneys are assisted by Deanna Van Cura, legal assistant in Panora, and Dee Egger, legal assistant in Stuart.
Jeffrey and Karen Bump have three adult children, two daughters and a son. Their son followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps and is a lawyer in New York City. He and his wife are in the process of moving back to the Midwest.
Bump says he has always felt the need to give back time to his community and profession.
“I have served on Panora and Lake Panorama Development Group as an officer and director since 1991,” he says. “I served on the Guthrie County Conservation Board from 1998 to 2019. I served as an officer and director of the area’s local resort located at Lake Panorama, Clover Ridge, from 1998 until 2019. I am a member of, and have served as president, of the Guthrie County Bar Association.”
Jeffrey Bump also served from 2013-2018 as a commissioner on the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Grievance Commission to hear attorney grievance cases; from 2012 to 2018 helping select candidates for the bench as a commissioner for the Iowa Supreme Court Fifth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission; and has served on the Guthrie County Magistrate Nominating Commission since 1996.
William Bump and his wife, Kelly, have two adult children and two grandchildren. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, a member and past president of the Guthrie County Bar Association, and was a member of the Prairie Woodlands Conservation Commission from 1998 to 2018.
John Twillmann and his wife, Emily, have a young son and live in rural Panora. He is a director and officer of the Panora and Lake Panorama Development Group.
The Bump & Bump website is www.bumplaw.com.

PICTURED: Brothers and attorneys William and Jeffrey Bump formed a partnership in 1991. William, seated, and Jeffrey, standing on the right, were joined in 2022 by John Twillmann. The trio is shown in the conference room at the Bump & Bump office in Panora.

EDUCATION
HAMBLETON IS WSO SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Posted 06/12/2024

Each year, the Panora Women’s Service Organization (WSO) conducts fundraising activities to make it possible to provide a scholarship to a Panorama Community School graduating senior. This year’s recipient is Zoey Hambleton. She is shown with Nancy Loeck, a member of the WSO scholarship committee. The other member of the committee is Deb DeBruin.
Hambleton plans to attend The University of Iowa, majoring in nursing. Her career goal is to be a nurse practitioner.
The WSO’s annual home tour is the group’s major fundraiser and funds this renewable $500 scholarship each year, making four scholarships paid annually. This year’s home tour was June 7. Five Lake Panorama homes were featured with four on the east side of the lake and one on the west side.

EVENT
LAKE PANORAMA FIREWORKS REMINDERS

Posted 06/12/2024

The annual Fire in the Sky fireworks display sanctioned by the Lake Panorama Association and put on by the Joe Scheiring family, will be at dusk on Saturday, July 6. 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.
Consumer fireworks can be legally purchased 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.
Each year in advance of the Fourth of July, guests of Lake Panorama National Resort are 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.

Q&A WITH LPN BOARD PRESIDENT SHANELL WAGLER
LPN BOARD PRESIDENT ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT GOLF COURSE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Shanell Wagler is in her second year as president of the Lake Panorama National Board of Managers. She was first appointed to the board in January 2020. Shanell and her husband, Dave, moved to the Panora community and began golfing in 2002. She participates in the LPN women’s league and is one of the volunteers who helps with landscaped beds on the 18-hole course.
In this month’s Q&A, Wagler talks about a master plan for improvements to the LPN 18-hole golf course, with a focus on the recently announced Priority 1 Capital Fundraising Campaign.

Q. Explain the evolution and role of the LPN Board of Managers.
A. While the Lake Panorama Association has owned the LPN golf course since 1977, it has only owned the LPN conference center since 2005. At the time the conference center was purchased, the LPA board established the legal corporate entity known as LPN, LLC to manage this wholly owned subsidiary.
As a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, LPA is required to pay taxes on gains from land sales, but revenues from dues and assessments are not taxable. Keeping the LPA and LPN, LLC operations separate is necessary to protect the nonprofit status of the LPA.
To keep this separation, the LPA board of directors created and appointed the LPN board of managers, which held its first meeting in October 2015. The LPA board provides oversight of the LPN, LLC board.
Our board addresses items related to the operation of both the LPN 18-hole and the Panorama West 9-hole courses, The Links + Events, Spikes, lodging, and the pool. The board provides oversight for staffing, policies and operations. An example of a recent project is the updating of equipment used for care of the golf courses.

Q. When did the board decide to tackle the development of a master plan for the Lake Panorama National golf course, and what were the early steps in this process?
A. In the four years I’ve been on the board, I’ve seen good support by board members for the care and maintenance of the two golf courses. Now we’re excited to begin to put more emphasis on updates needed on the 18-hole course.
Last fall, members of the LPN board, the golf pro and assistant pro, head greenskeeper and assistant greenskeeper conducted a survey to assess each hole on the course and submit their opinions. After pulling together the data submitted from this group, the board identified many similar comments and feedback.
A committee was formed to work on this project with the goal of creating an LPN Master Golf Course Plan. The committee met during the late fall and winter months. Early in the spring, the committee met with Shive-Hattery engineers and walked through various holes on the course. We talked about some of the overwhelmingly consistent feedback from the assessment and described our wishes. In addition, the committee and board continued to develop a longer-term plan to include and prioritize projects based on need.
One of the items that all golfers have been excited to hear is that we will be leveling many of the tee boxes. But for me personally, I’m excited to get all railroad ties removed for both a safety factor as well as the tired, outdated look these currently portray.
After determining specific items for the golf course, the LPN, LLC board solidified a plan for the course and is excited to now begin fundraising.

Q. Please provide more details on the Priority 1 projects.
A. The Priority 1 projects were chosen because these will have an impact on every hole on the golf course. Forward tee boxes will be expanded, leveled and topped with short variety Kentucky Bluegrass sod to accommodate increased play and allow for better turf recovery. Main tee boxes currently covered with Bentgrass will be leveled and re-sodded with Bentgrass. The final square footage for this work will be based on construction bids and fundraising.
All railroad ties surrounding tee boxes will be removed. Where necessary, these will be replaced with block retaining walls. At the same time, some existing landscaped beds adjacent to tee boxes will be removed to simplify maintenance and mowing.
Railroad ties also will be removed at the driving range and replaced with a block retaining wall. A synthetic grass tee line will be added to the back of the tee box, to use when the natural turf needs time to recover.
New cast metal tee signs with Granite Club sponsor signs and ball washers will be installed on all 18 holes. Concrete pads will be poured on six holes for current and future memorial benches.
I have heard from some folks who really appreciate the flower beds found on the golf course, and feel it is one reason that sets our course apart from others. An option we’ll explore is to expand and add more beautification to the common areas, like the walkway to the Links restaurant, walkway to the pro shop and the area around Spikes. I welcome suggestions on how we can incorporate flowers and decorative plants at the course.

Q. The LPN board set a goal of $500,000 to raise the funds for these Priority 1 projects. What fundraising plans are in place to help reach this goal?
A. In early April, Royce Shaffer, the LPN director of operations, and I presented details of the LPN golf course master plan to the Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors. We asked if donations to the Priority 1 projects could be funneled through Friends, which would allow donors who itemize at tax time the opportunity to deduct their donation.
The Friends board later approved a motion to partner with LPN to raise funds for Priority 1 projects. The Friends board also voted to make this effort the priority project for the 2024 Beach Ball fundraiser June 21. This means the Priority 1 projects will receive a portion of funds raised at the Beach Ball, plus all donations that are directed to the LPN projects.
We are so thankful for this partnership and excited about the fundraising kickoff. The Beach Ball is historically a wonderful event. We appreciate that our Priority 1 projects are the focus of this year’s fundraiser. We encourage all golfers to consider joining this event or make a donation to the cause, or both. By golfers, I mean members of the LPA, members of the LPN, including distant memberships, those who play in tournaments on the course, those who visit frequently and do stay and plays, or just come out to Panorama to be with family and friends and play the course.
We also are seeking donations to be sold through silent and live auction at the event. Those interested in attending the Beach Ball or who have auction items to donate can email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.
We are in the planning stages for two other fundraising events this fall. A golf tournament is tentatively scheduled in early fall, with details to be shared this summer. We plan to make this a fun event, and look forward to any and all joining us.
On Sunday, Oct. 20, 4-7 p.m., a fun event called “20 Men Who Can Cook” is being planned at the conference center. LPN board member and LPA member, Chris Duree, is leading this project as he has participated in this type of fundraiser previously. Those who purchase tickets will be able to try 20 different food samples prepared by 20 men in our community. If you are a guy who likes to cook or have a special item you are especially good at making (appetizer, side dish, main dish or dessert), please reach out to me via email at shanell.wagler@gmail.com as we coordinate volunteers to work with Chris. We’ll have more details and be selling tickets after Labor Day.

Q. There’s a current promotion underway that ends Aug. 31. Tell us about that.
A. We recently announced what we believe will bring in some additional direct donations through the summer months. Anyone who donates $500 or more by Aug. 31 will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a 2025 LPN Single Golf Pass, plus either a trail fee or cart seat for next season.
For every $500 donated, donors will receive one entry. There’s no limit on the number of entries donors can earn. This promotion is limited to direct donations by individuals, couples or families, and cannot be combined with fundraising events like the Beach Ball or the other events we’re planning.
For this promotion, and throughout this capital campaign, there are three ways to donate. Write a check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama and send it to P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donate via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Or make a credit card donation on www.friendsoflakepanorama.org. Please note that to qualify for this promotion, $15 must be added for every $500 donated to cover credit card processing fees.
Again, I want to thank the Friends board for their role in helping us begin to implement Priority 1 of the Master Golf Plan. We hope many will add their names to the drawing by making a direct donation. Remember, we are hoping to reach and get all golfers involved. Anyone can be a part of this specific campaign and get their name in the drawing at least once, or multiple times with multiple $500 donations.

Q. Do you have a deadline or goal for completing the Priority 1 fundraising? What future projects are on the backburner until these first projects can be funded and completed?
A. As funds become available, bids will be solicited for Priority 1 projects. No fundraising deadline has been set, as funds will continue to be raised until projects are completed. When we’ve reached a level where we are comfortable, we will go through a public bidding process that will be open to all, including any local contractors interested.
I want to add a personal comment here. Since joining this community, I have been in awe of the giving I have seen. I’ll never forget the outreach of volunteers in 2014 after two tornados hit Lake Panorama, and specifically the golf course. It is an amazing community of which I am proud to be a part. For this and upcoming projects, we will continue to implement all phases professionally, but as we have been able to do in the past, we would accept work and/or products if a business or individual is able to donate.
Future projects included in the LPN golf course master plan include needed improvements to the maintenance shop and equipment storage, irrigation pumps and pump house, bunkers, the pond that impacts holes 12 and 13, the pond on the ninth hole and cart paths.
I want to reiterate this is a long-term project, and we’re just getting started. We on the LPN board are excited about these planned projects to beautify and update this gem of a golf course owned by the LPA. I hope this invigorates those who have loved the course for many years, and invites and excites new people to join our fundraising efforts.
More details on the LPN Capital Fundraising Campaign are available here: www.lakepanoramanational.com/capital-fundraising-campaign

WHAT’S IN YOUR GARAGE?
BMW FAN ENJOYS HIS 2001 ROADSTER

Dennis Pickering did some research then purchased the car sight unseen and had it trucked to Iowa.

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Dennis and Joyce Pickering have lived at Lake Panorama since 1987. The pair were high school sweethearts, growing up in a small town in northeast Missouri. They both graduated with bachelor’s degrees in social sciences from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, which later was renamed Truman State University. The couple will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary in August.
After Dennis earned a master’s degree in school counseling, they moved to Iowa in 1978. Dennis spent 34 years as a high school counselor, working in four different schools. One of those was YJB, where he spent 14 years. During some of those years, he was in a shared counselor position with the Bayard School District.
He ended his high school counseling career at Guthrie Center, retiring in 2003. Next came six years where he and a colleague received a federal grant to create and present programs in schools on healthy relationships.
For 23 years, Joyce was an addictions counselor in Guthrie, Greene and Audubon counties. She retired in 2007.
Once fully retired, the couple started to explore the United States.
“We did a lot of traveling by car in our 60s, and we needed to be comfortable. We discovered BMWs are wonderful cars, and we owned several over the years,” Dennis says.
They’ve since switched to an Audi for their main vehicle. Yet, Dennis still has a love for BMWs. He particularly admired the BMW Z3 Roadster convertible. BMW Z3 is a range of two-seater sports cars produced from 1995 to 2002.
Dennis kept his eyes open for his dream car. Not surprisingly in today’s world, an ad for a 2001 BMW Z3 Roadster popped up on his laptop computer three years ago. It was located in Chicago and owned by a corporation.
“I called and talked to a sales rep. Although the car was 20 years old, it only had 22,000 miles on the odometer,” Dennis says. “I think it probably was used by the company for short trips to pick up people they wanted to impress.”
Pickering says he did some research then called back to purchase the car sight unseen. He had it trucked to Iowa.
“It came in July, just in time for his birthday,” Joyce says.
It’s almost a requirement that a car like the BMW Z3 Roadster have a specialty license plate. For most of his life, Dennis’ friends have turned his last name into his nickname — Pick.
“Since this was my dream car, it was an easy decision to choose ‘4 Pick’ as the license plate,” he says.
Soon after buying the sports car, the couple decided to drive it the 180 miles to their northeast Missouri hometown. The top was down. Dennis says he loved the trip.
Joyce says, “Never again! The wind was terrible, there were bugs hitting me in the face. Especially on the interstate, it was bad. I hated it.”
In August, the couple’s 60th high school class reunion will be held in their former hometown. Dennis gives Joyce a sideways glance then says he’s been thinking about driving the BMW Roadster to the reunion.
“I think it would be fun to share it with our classmates, maybe get some photos with it,” he says. “But I haven’t yet said this to Joyce.”
“That’s fine; I think it’s a good idea,” Joyce says. “But only if we drive with the top up.”
Most trips in the BMW are shorter and more casual.
“I like to just drive around the lake when the weather is nice and the top is down,” Dennis says. Joyce says she enjoys those excursions, too.
Over the three years the couple has owned the car, they’ve added just 2,000 miles to the odometer, which now stands at 24,000.
“Everything works great,” Dennis says. “I haven’t had any work done on it. It’s automatic transmission, the air conditioning and radio work well, and it gets decent gas mileage. I just really like driving it and having it in our garage.”
There has been one other unique vehicle in the Pickering garage. That was many years ago, when he purchased a 1956 Ford half-ton truck.
“I had a friend who was an auto body guy. We searched through junkyards to find the parts to get it running. He painted it purple and added wide tires. I called it my Purple Passion truck. Sometimes I would drive it in parades, but mostly I just drove it back and forth to work.”
During his years as a school counselor, Dennis also coached several high school sports.
“I was the girls track coach at YJB. I always left my keys in the truck. One day some of the girls thought it would be fun to hide it. The brakes on that truck weren’t very good. They drove it around the building, and as they were parking it, they crashed into the building,” he says. “They came into the gym, crying. I thought they were trying to trick me, but eventually I realized they really had wrecked my truck. I told them it was OK, I wasn’t mad. I got both the dent and the brakes fixed.”
The couple has two sons. Brent lives in Atlanta, and Eric lives in Boone. Each has a son and a daughter, giving the Pickerings four grandchildren to enjoy.
The Pickerings spent 13 years in their first Lake Panorama home. In 2000, they had a new home built on a large lot along the fourth fairway of the Lake Panorama National golf course. Dennis enjoys golf. Both Dennis and Joyce enjoy reading, and are history buffs.
“We’re homebodies,” Joyce says. “We enjoy our home, our retirement and our grandchildren.”
Dennis has been teased by some friends about his small sports car, asking if he’s having a midlife crisis or trying to regain his youth. When the car is parked in the couple’s driveway, random people sometimes stop to ask if it’s for sale.
“I don’t plan to ever sell it,” he says. “And I don’t mind the teasing. I just love this car. I have, sort of, promised I would give it to my grandson in Boone. But he’s going to have to wait until I’m done with it.”
Ask Joyce how she likes driving the sports car, and she says she has never driven it. She’s content being the passenger.
“I’ve encouraged her to drive it, but she always says no,” Dennis says. “I just want everyone to know she has the ‘green light’ to drive it if she ever changes her mind.”

PICTURED: Joyce and Dennis Pickering enjoy rides around Lake Panorama in their 2001 BMW convertible. Joyce has never driven the car in the three years it’s been in their garage, although Dennis says she has the “green light” to do so if she changes her mind.

MEMORIAL DAY
U.S. SEN. JONI ERNST ADDRESSES CROWD AT PANORA MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES

Posted 06/12/2024
By Shane Goodman
Lake Panorama Times

The annual Memorial Day Services were held on Monday, May 27 at 10 a.m. at Veterans Auditorium in Panora.
Lynn Zajicek was the master of ceremonies, while Deb Rockwell and Deb Moylan served as hostesses. Members of the Iowa National Guard, Reserves and Active Forces ushered in guests. The PostColors were provided by Color Guards and Scouts. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Scouts.
The United Methodist Church Choir sang the National Anthem and provided additional patriotic music.
Cheryl Castile and Linda Burgess read the names of the more than 300 veterans whose flags have been dedicated, including Kenneth Cripe, Leroy Devibliss, Frank Grubb, James Herrick, Jr., James Iseminger, Billy Ray Johnston, Michael Mills, Joseph Rains, Verlin Renslow, Roland Reynolds and Earl Stoy, who each gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Pastor Jeremy Poland provided the invocation and benediction.
The Unknown Soldier’s Grave Marker was in place, and wreaths were placed to honor those killed in WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War and Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom.
Panora Mayor Curtis Thornberry introduced U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who provided personal stories of her memories of fallen soldiers and the conversations with their family members.
Sen. Ernst presented the Purple Heart to Specialist Dustin D. Teays. The Purple Heart medal is presented to members of the military who were wounded or killed because of enemy action while serving. Teays joined the United States Army Reserve during his junior year of high school, serving from September 2011 to September 2019. He is currently a resident of Bayard.
Additional recognition was presented to Lt. Colonel Mike Arganbright, who served in the Air Force, including two tours in Vietnam. He was honored with a plaque by his son, Major Joe Arganbright, who is now a pilot with Delta Airlines, for his service and commitment to VFW Post 5510 and to the Avenue of Flags Committee. In addition, Sen. Ernst presented a 50-year plaque to Thomas Richey for his years of service to the American Legion.
Sen. Ernst also assisted in the presentation of the flags and the address and dedication of a flag flown over Washington, D.C. New flags dedicated and raised included those of Hugh Teale, Jr., Norman Lair Ketelsen, Richard Koberg, Philip Hesseltine, William “Billy” J. Knapp, Dale G. Grotjohn and Willard Rockwell.
The Color Guard Salute and the playing of TAPS concluded the ceremonies with refreshments served by the Panora WFPF and American Legion Auxiliary.

PICTURED: Sen. Ernst assists in the presentation of the new flags that were dedicated and raised including those of Hugh Teale, Jr., Norman Lair Ketelsen, Richard Koberg, Philip Hesseltine, William “Billy” J. Knapp, Dale G. Grotjohn and Willard Rockwell.

ASK LAKE PANORAMA TIMES

Posted 06/12/2024

Submit your questions at www.lakepanoramatimes.com or email shane@dmcityview.com.

Q: Why is there only one access to the lake for watercraft launching? At times, there’s a high volume of traffic at the marina in a limited space. Will the new marina being built help resolve this issue?

A: We directed this question to LPA General Manager John Rutledge. He replied, “Lake Panorama provides one boat ramp for members to use, which is located at the marina. Over the years, discussions of a west side boat ramp have occurred with the board ultimately deciding against a second launch. The most notable reasons why a second ramp has not been installed are 1) invasive species control and 2) monitoring one access point for unauthorized use of our boat ramp by non-LPA members.”
Rutledge says the new sales and service building will provide a modern, spacious facility for the marina staff and their customers, noting that once the marina tenant has relocated to their privately owned facility, LPA will evaluate the future of the existing sales and service building. He says it is likely a portion of that building will be razed, which will provide better access in and out of the ramp. This will make use of the ramp easier but will not increase the width of the ramp itself, according to Rutledge.
“Members are encouraged to use good boating etiquette regarding launching of boats,” Rutledge says. “Remove transom tie-downs while you’re waiting in line and be ready to launch when it is your turn on the boat ramp. When exiting, be sure to pull clear of the boat ramp before reinstalling the transom tie downs and any travel covers or straps that are used for trailering. Doing this work on the ramp is poor boating etiquette and causes unnecessary delays for others who are waiting in line behind you.”

Q: Who is Jones Cove named after?

A: Jones Cove is named in recognition of longtime Lake Panorama residents Jack and Bette Jones. They built the house on the “point” in the middle of the cove, which was originally a much smaller house. The next owner added on to it in many times. Bette wrote historical and nature columns for Lake Panorama Times for many years.

Q: For years, we dropped bottle and cans at the trailer next to the recycling bins in Panora. The sign had a statement that money goes to Panorama baseball. Now, the sign has changed to WFPF (Women for Panora’s Future). How much money has been given to Panorama baseball all these years? And where can bottle and cans be redeemed if not donated?

A: According to Brian Bahrenfuss, Panorama High School head baseball coach, the baseball team is sharing the can redemption responsibilities with Women For Panora’s Future (WFPF) during the months of May and June, as Bahrenfuss is coaching during that time. He says this arrangement works well for both groups.
Bahrenfuss says the baseball team receives between $2,000 and $2,500 per year from these donations.
You can also take cans to Scott’s Redemption Center, which is located at 2025 Highway 4, just north of Panora. The phone number listed online is 641-755-4056.

Q: Am I required to have one of those blue address signs on my dock? And how do I get one?

A: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources requires all docks to be registered and have that dock signage. LPA members who own a dock or swim platform should visit www.iowadnr.gov/boatdocks to make sure their dock is registered. Once registered, members can order the 911 address sign through LPA. The form can be accessed at https://lakepanorama.frontsteps.com/public/folders/GsJDyz16WKWEi35EgjWDAF9K4rExKcr5Swrr
Cost is $50 per sign. Members without proper dock signage risk being fined by the Iowa DNR.

COMMUNITY
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Posted 06/12/2024
Special to Lake Panorama Times

The Panora Chamber of Commerce has recognized an outstanding member of the Panora/Lake Panorama community since 1989. The year 2020 was the only year the recognition did not take place.

Criteria for Citizen of the Year:
Any service performed for the betterment of Panora that the nominator deems worthy.
No restrictions on the number of years a person can be nominated.
Winners cannot be considered again for 10 years.
Nominees must be a citizen of Panora or Lake Panorama.
Nominees must be nominated in writing, signed by the nominator.
Paid city employees are eligible, but their nomination must not be for their regular duties.
The following statement applies to all nominees: Anyone who works for the promotion and betterment of our community rather than excellence in profession or job.
Nominations must be received by July 12, 2024. Mail nomination letters to the Panora Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 73, Panora, IA 50216.
The 2024 Citizen of the Year will be announced at Panorama Days, Aug. 3, after the parade.

Past winners
1989 Kass Duis
1990 Galen Bymer
1991 Duane Miller
1992 Mary Beidelman
1993 Mary Jones
1994 Hugh and Merna Teale
1995 Dave Arganbright
1996 Ron Reynolds
1997 John Dungan
1998 Dale Grotjohn
1999 Cheryl Castile
2000 Frank Teale
2001 Dave Olson
2002 Carolyn England
2003 Pat Finnegan
2004 Julie Dent-Zajicek
2005 Dave Beidelman
2006 Judy Contner
2007 Chris Arganbright
2008 Vickie Ditsworth
2009 Barb Wollner
2010 Bette Donahey
2011 Joan Allen
2012 MJ Brown
2013 Karen Sievers
2014 Joe Scheiring
2015 John Rutledge
2016 Josh Arganbright
2017 Curtis Thornberry
2018 Jaime Waddle
2019 Bill and Connie Ridgley
2020 COVID YEAR (NONE)
2021 Chaille Crandall
2022 Tom and Ellen Campbell
2023 Kirby Klinge

CITY GOVERNMENT NEWS
PANORA CITY COUNCIL HEARS REQUEST ABOUT ATV USE

Posted 06/12/2024
By Rich Wicks Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

During the Public Forum portion of the Panora city council meeting on May 28, Pat Moylan and Jim Wendl addressed the council about their request for the city to ease restrictions on ATV use within city limits.
“ATV/UTV enthusiasts ride through town legally quite often, but on the way through town there’s a number of businesses that they legally can’t stop at (because) there are designated routes to go through town,” Wendl said. “My main point in being here tonight is to ask the city to reconsider its current ordinances regarding UTV use on city streets.”
Wendl pointed out that ATV/UTVs are rapidly evolving, with newer models offering many of the same safety and comfort features as a car.
“Given that, I think the Chamber members could benefit from people like myself or Pat being able to park on Main Street and patronize those businesses,” Wendl said.
Moylan agreed with Wendl’s request, and he pointed out that now many ATVs are used not only for hunting or other recreational purposes, but often for work.
“So, yes, I would like to see if that would work,” Moylan said.
Mayor Curt Thornberry stated that the city faces a challenge in developing ordinances to address the various ways that ATVs are used.
“I know I’ve encountered young drivers on ATVs, and those are the ones I have questions about,” Thornberry said.
Council member Roger Dorr agreed that enforcement of age and licensing could address many of the concerns. He added that from data he’s seen, the majority of ATV accidents are single-vehicle accidents on gravel roads.
“I live on one of the streets, Northwest Third, that allows side-by-sides. I have yet to see any problems. None,” Dorr said.
Mayor Thornberry explained that since the issue was not on the agenda, the council would not take action at this time but can discuss it at a future meeting. He added that the city’s Public Safety Committee could also consider the issue.
Don Daniels addressed the council about his concerns regarding a neighboring property next to his home. He said in the past two years, the condition of the property has become a nuisance.
“Now it looks like we live next to a recycle bin or a garbage dump,” Daniels said. “I’m not happy with the situation that we’ve got.”
When asked if police have been contacted about the issue, Daniels said he’s spoken with the police, and City Administrator Lisa Grossman added that updated photos have been submitted to the city attorney to review for possible ordinance violations. No formal action was taken at this time.
A public hearing was held regarding a proposed budget amendment. Since no citizens were present to speak, and no written comments had been received, the hearing was promptly closed, and the council passed the budget amendment.
Grossman shared that the city is dealing with the “punch list” regarding the Jackson Street project, to deal with any additional “fix-ups” that may be needed. A firm completion date is not yet known, due to recent heavy rains.
Mayor Thornberry shared appreciation for the many years of service from Public Works Superintendent Tony Monthei, who is retiring after 36 years of service to the city.
The council’s next regular meeting will be June 10 at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

MEMORIAL
KOBERG FAMILY DONATES SWINGING BENCH AT BOULDER BEACH

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

In 2019, Friends of Lake Panorama launched a program called Benches at Beaches. It started as a way to help families donate a high-quality metal bench that could include a plaque to memorialize a loved one. Each bench then is installed at the beach of the donor’s choosing.
One new blue swinging bench was installed in late April at Boulder Beach. It was given in memory of Dick Koberg, who passed away June 27, 2023.
Dick and Carolyn Koberg bought a home on Lake Panorama’s Burchfield Cove in 2002 and moved from Carroll to the lake fulltime two years later.
“We were looking for a place on water,” Carolyn says. “I grew up on Puget Sound in Washington, and I missed the water. Plus, we wanted to have a destination for family fun and to make memories with our grandkids.”
After Dick’s passing, Carolyn wanted to do something to honor him. She also wanted something the family would enjoy on their visits to Lake Panorama.
“We chose a swinging bench to be placed at Boulder Beach,” Carolyn says. “Our family loves to play beach volleyball, and there have been many competitive matches played there. We also enjoy the pickleball and tennis courts. The beach is beautiful. It’s fun watching families gather and having quality time together.”
The plaque on the bench reads “Making Memories” – Dick & Carolyn Koberg Family.
“The wording for the plaque came from Dick, as he often talked about the importance of making memories as a family,” Carolyn says.
“We are so appreciative of Friends of Lake Panorama. When I look back and see all the projects that have been done to keep our community vibrant and beautiful over the last 10 years, it’s impressive,” she says. “Lake Panorama is truly a special place to live.”
The Koberg bench joins four other metal swings and one stationary bench at Boulder Beach. Both a stationary and a swinging bench were installed at Sunset Beach in 2021. A swinging bench was added to Shady Beach in May 2022.
Benches at Beaches targets individuals, couples and families interested in sponsoring a single bench. Benches can be purchased as a memorial for a loved one, or by those who want to leave their mark on Lake Panorama while they are alive. Both stationary and swinging benches are available and are installed on a concrete slab.
Smaller memorial benches have been donated and installed at all three beach playgrounds and are another option for donors to consider.
In keeping with the colors used for Lake Panorama playground equipment, colors available for benches to be installed at any of the three benches are blue and green. Those interested in discussing a bench donation can email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.

PICTURED: Some members of the Dick and Carolyn Koberg family gathered at Boulder Beach on Memorial Day for a photo. The swinging bench was donated through Friends of Lake Panorama in memory of the patriarch of the family, Dick Koberg. Sitting on the bench is Carolyn Koberg. On the left is Kris Koberg, with his wife, Lori, and their daughter, Kelsey, standing behind him. Kerry Koberg is on the right side of the bench. Standing behind him is his wife, Kelly, and their children, Presley, Jackson and Piper.

PANORAMA ALUM KOLBY SHACKELFORD FINISHES AS NATIONAL RUNNER-UP AT NAIA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Posted 06/12/2024
Special to Lake Panorama Times

On Friday, May 24, Panorama alum Kolby Shackelford was in a close contest for the NAIA Golf Championship. After shooting a 67 (-5), Shackelford forced a playoff with Juan Ricardo Davila Bone of Texas Wesleyan where he would lose, finishing as National Runner-Up.
Shackelford made his way up the leaderboard on the final day of the tournament. His six birdies on the afternoon saw him rise 12 spots in order to force the playoff. His 15 birdies across the tournament were the most of any golfer.
The junior performed at a high level for most of the season for the Ottawa University of Arizona golf team. During the season, he had three wins and six top-three finishes. After those performances and his placement in the National Tournament, Shackelford was named to the NAIA PING All-American First Team.

EVENT
FIN & FEATHER BANQUET HELD MAY 11 AT LPN

Posted 06/12/2024
By Shane Goodman
Lake Panorama Times

The Lake Panorama Fin & Feather Annual Banquet was held Saturday, May 11 at the LPN Conference Center. Social hour began at 5 p.m., and the dinner and silent/live auction followed at 6 p.m. Funds raised from the event help to stock fish in Lake Panorama, as well as other related ventures. In the fall of 2023, Fin and Feather stocked more than $18,000 worth of fish in the lake. Species stocked were walleye (1,050), smallmouth bass (1,400), perch (2,500) and largemouth bass (1,500). Fish stocked were between 3 inches and 14 inches, depending on species.

PICTURED: Fin & Feather committee members. From left, front: Galen Redshaw, Doug Hemphill, Bill Eby, Rich Schumacher, Brad Bendickson and Galen Johnson. Back row: David Bendickson, Jacob Bendickson, John Rutledge, Mark Buster, Damon Crandall, Scott Stanley, John Muenzenberger, Lane Rumelhart, Ben Hayes and Ted Reeve. Not pictured: Steve Brannan and Gary Evans.

LAKE PANORAMA ASSOCIATION
55TH LPA ANNUAL MEETING HELD

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The 55th annual meeting of the Lake Panorama Association was May 11 at the Lake Panorama National events center. About 75 people attended, representing 44 voting members. It was announced the LPA currently has a total membership of 1,731.
A total of 377 ballots were cast in the election for two people to serve on the LPA board of directors. There were two people running for the two seats. Both Rachel Waldo and Jackson Whiton were newly elected to the board for three-year terms.

2023 financial and audit report
Dennis Flanery, LPA board treasurer, provided the 2023 financial and audit report for the LPA and its subsidiary, LPN, LLC. The CPA firm of Meriwether, Wilson and Company conducted the LPA annual audit. Flanery said the auditor’s report stated the financial statements, consolidated reports and consolidated cash flows for both entities were in order, and that the methods used by staff to create the documents were in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
LPN’s 2023 operations showed a loss of $277,074. With other income and expenses, the overall loss was $350,387. LPN was able to purchase several pieces of needed grounds equipment during 2023 at a cost of $154,948. Also purchased were two townhomes on Karen Drive, to be used for stay-and-play golf packages, as well as year-round rental. A loan was secured from Guthrie County State Bank for the townhome purchase.
LPA reported net income of $294,245 for 2023. This was a slight increase over previous years and was due to land sales that closed in 2023.
The budgeted operating income for 2024 shows a loss of $354,232. Flanery said the amount of depreciation on the new maintenance shop and water plant project is the reason the budget shows an operating loss.
“It is important to clarify this is not a cash loss, but rather a loss on an accrual basis due to the amount of non-cash expenses LPA records in their annual financials,” Flanery said. “The amount of non-cash items, such as depreciation, has increased over previous years with the recent capital improvement projects completed. This is something LPA understood would occur from an accounting perspective, but we can assure the membership that cash flow remains viable and on-track with respect to these important capital projects.”
Flanery said the LPA board of directors decided a 5% dues increase would be applied for 2024.
“This amount does not cover the cost of rising inflation for roads, parts, supplies, labor and fuel,” he said. “LPA staff is doing an excellent job of watching the cost of expense items and juggling the necessary increases of expenses to keep within the budget available.”
Flanery said the LPA does not create its annual operating budget with the expectation of selling land. He also stated all LPA and LPN funds are 100% covered by FDIC.

A message from the president
Emily Donovan, LPA board president, chaired the meeting. She thanked those who volunteer on four standing LPA committees, including water safety, building codes, land sales and appeals. She also recognized the four volunteers who counted ballots for the 2024 annual meeting.
Donovan thanked the LPN, LLC board of managers, LPN staff, and Royce Shaffer, LPN director of operations. She also recognized the members of the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ), saying “the RIZ board does important work, and we are grateful for their partnership.”
Donovan mentioned the June 21 Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball.
“Friends of Lake Panorama is instrumental in researching and fundraising for the many amenities we all enjoy. Recently completed projects include the south shore walking trail and disc golf course, which I encourage you to explore if you haven’t already,” she said. “This year, fundraising efforts are focused on improving the Lake Panorama National golf course. I want to extend thanks to Friends for their dedication to enhancing our quality of life, from playgrounds and sports courts to the dog park and walking trails. Your efforts not only enrich our lives but also improve the value of our homes.”
Donovan thanked Lyn Coulter for more than four decades of service to the LPA membership.
“LPA is pleased to celebrate a successful transition between marina tenants. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Lyn Coulter sold his business to Phil and Cindy Watson. We welcome the Watsons as they embark on their first year as the LPA marina tenants,” she said. “LPA is grateful all of Coulter’s staff remained on with Watsons, as their knowledge and expertise brings great value to the LPA community.”
LPA department managers were recognized by Donovan, who then talked about a strategic planning session held in June 2023.
“A key theme of that day was the need to address challenges related to maintaining the high quality of services our membership expects, and is accustomed to, in the face of inflation and difficulty recruiting and retaining a quality workforce,” she said. “It’s imperative our staff have the tools and training they need to do their jobs and that they are fairly compensated with competitive wages. Analysis of LPA dues and assessments is part of this planning effort, and we will continue to develop recommendations for membership education and review in the near future.”
Another item that came out of the strategic planning session was the need to develop a process for succession planning. Donovan said Lake Panorama has benefited from career employees who have decades of experience, expertise and institutional knowledge.
“In anticipation of future retirements within the next 10 years, the board and management team are proactively working on a succession planning strategy,” she said.
Donovan expressed gratitude to John Rutledge for his leadership, diplomacy and effective lobbying efforts this legislative session.
“There are numerous intricate components that must align to ensure the smooth operation of the association,” she said. “John leads with integrity, kindness and a clear vision, steering our association toward a successful future where generations to come can continue to enjoy the beauty of Lake Panorama.”
In closing, Donovan challenged the LPA members in attendance to “turn off the autopilot as you drive home today. Roll down the window and inhale the lilacs that are in full bloom. Notice how green and full the trees are. Appreciate the beauty of the lake and the landscape that surrounds it. Hear the birds singing. Take a deep breath, and soak in a little bit of gratitude in your own little piece of paradise.”

Maintenance costs continue to be a concern
John Rutledge, LPA general manager, said the LPA maintenance team continues to benefit from the membership’s investment in a modern maintenance facility.
“Thanks for your support and for trusting in our recommendation to relocate our operations to the current location,” he said. “We’re grateful, and it is working well. It’s difficult to know how we operated as long as we did without it.”
Rutledge said the annual process of seal-coating lake roads is suffering from inflation.
“The 2024 cost will be close to $45,000 per mile, which is nearly twice what we paid in 2021. Even though we budget more every year, we are chasing a moving target. We are only doing six miles this year, and this will be a key element of our 2025 budget discussion. We need to get back to seal coating nine miles each year to keep up,” he said.
The LPA maintenance department continues to work on a diverse range of projects.
“One issue we’ve discussed a lot in the last year has been roadway maintenance,” Rutledge said. “Members are encouraged to remember LPA owns not only the roadway, but also the shoulders and ditches. We work to maintain these in an aesthetically pleasing manner, but these also have a number of essential functional purposes — ensuring drainage off roads and adjacent properties, providing a place to store snow during the winter and accommodate underground utilities.”
As with the new maintenance shop, Rutledge said he wants the LPA membership to know the water system was “a fantastic investment.”
“There were so many challenges when I first became the LPA general manager in 2007. We’re proud of this updated facility and our team who operates it. If you have any questions or unique issues with your water, give LPA a call, and we’ll help figure out what might be going on.”
Rutledge said LPA currently has four lake crossings for the drinking water system, three of which can be described as essential and one as supplemental. Two of the three essential crossings have been replaced within the last four years. Replacement of the third is planned within the next year or two.
LPA has hired Country Landscapes to repair a scour in front of the LPA dam gate.
“This was discovered in our last inspection. We don’t know how long this scour has been there, as this is the first inspection where we did ultrasound on the steel dam gate and sonar readings of the lakebed in front of the dam,” Rutledge said. “Country Landscapes will deposit large rocks in front of the dam to fill this area and protect the footings of the dam. This is entirely preventative, and I can assure you the dam remains in good repair.”

A “hard-fought session” at the Iowa Legislature
Rutledge said the biggest issue in the off-season was a legislative effort related to LPA’s ability to govern boating on Lake Panorama. An October 2023 district court ruling in Ringgold County threatened to eliminate LPA’s authority over all things boating, including boat length, horsepower, directional travel buoys on the lake, no wake buoys and invasive species regulations.
“We had a hard-fought session at the Iowa Legislature and were successful in preserving the status quo, in which LPA can implement common sense, safety-based boating regulations and buoys. Thanks to all the members who helped to support this effort, and a special thanks to Rep. Carter Nordman for running point on this,” Rutledge said.
Turning to the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ), Rutledge said RIZ is projected to receive $3.6 million in revenues in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Expansion of the 180th Trail Basin continues and will be used for sediment storage once the current basin is full. Two new wetlands to help protect water quality in Burchfield Cove are in the planning stages but are bogged down because of current U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements. Rutledge said he hopes these two wetlands can move forward in the next 24 months.
Rutledge said land acquisition efforts for future wetlands or land that could be enrolled in conservation programs to protect Lake Panorama’s water quality are ongoing with some wins and losses. Dredging will be done above the upper basin debris trap throughout the rest of 2024.
Rutledge reminded LPA members who haven’t already created an account on the LPA website to do so.
“This will ensure you receive LPA’s weekly email, which is our official means of communicating rule changes and other important information to members,” he said. The website is lakepanorama.org.
Shortly after the annual meeting adjourned, the LPA board of directors convened a special meeting to elect officers for the coming year. A slate of officers was nominated and elected unanimously to take office upon adjournment of the special meeting. LPA board officers now are David Finneseth, president; Sue Thompson, vice president; Mark Jorgensen, secretary; and Dennis Flanery, treasurer.

TWO GM COFFEES ANNOUNCED

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

During his remarks at the 2024 LPA annual meeting, John Rutledge, LPA general manager, announced dates for two upcoming GM coffees. The dates are Thursday, June 27, and Friday, Aug. 30. Meetings begin at 10:30 a.m. and are held at the Lake Panorama National event center.
A third coffee will be scheduled in late fall after the 2025 LPA and LPN, LLC budgets are approved.
Coffee and other refreshments are available at these informal gatherings, where Rutledge and Royce Shaffer, LPN director of operations, provide updates on current happenings, then take questions from members in attendance.
If members have questions they would like covered about LPA or LPN policies or developments, they can email lpa@lakepanorama.org to give Rutledge and Shaffer an opportunity to prepare in advance. LPA members with questions specific to their own membership or property should call the LPA office during regular business hours at 641-755-2301.

RECREATION
BENCHES, DISC GOLF SIGNS IN PLACE ON SOUTH SHORE

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Another part of the south shore recreation area plan for low-impact amenities was completed just before Memorial Day weekend with the installation of five benches. The backless benches are made of recycled plastic in a cedar color and are mounted on a metal base embedded in the ground. Two of these same benches were installed two years ago along the Panorama West Nature Trail.
Two of the new benches are along the shoreline portion of the walking trail and offer sweeping views of Lake Panorama’s main basin. Two others are along the meadow portion of the trail. One offers a view of Lake Panorama’s dam, while the other is tucked into a shady area.
A fifth bench was donated by Lana Leander and Ryan Gruhn and is located near the fifth tee box on the disc golf course. That hole is sponsored by Hawkeye Molding, a business the couple owns.
Others interested in discussing a bench donation for the south shore are asked to send an email to friendsoflakepanorama.org.
The disc golf course has been open for play since last November. It features nine concrete tee pads with nine metal basket targets. Nine tee box sponsors donated $1,000 each to Friends of Lake Panorama last fall to help with the cost of establishing the disc golf course. Each sponsor is recognized with a sign on a tee box.
In May, four informational signs were installed near the first tee. A large welcome sign is an aerial view of the south shore. It includes a course map, plus shows the location of the course in relation to the parking area, shelter and the beginning of the walking trail.
Three smaller signs are in the same location. One is a list of disc golf rules for recreational play.
Another is a sign about UDisc, which is an app that lists more than 14,000 courses worldwide, including the Lake Panorama course. Disc golfers use the UDisc app on their smart phones to keep score and navigate interactive course maps.
The third sign warns of the presence of poison ivy along the disc golf course fairways. While mowing and chemical broadleaf weed control should keep poison ivy out of the fairways, players will need to use caution if they enter the “rough” to retrieve an errant disc. The sign includes an image and description of poison ivy.
To get into the recreation area, there is a fenced driveway that begins at 5501 Chimra Road and leads to a parking lot with walk-through access. Beyond the shelter with picnic table are two brown markers. One points right to the first hole of the golf course; the other points left to the beginning of the trail system.
Two additional signs are on order. One is a welcome sign that will be near the parking lot. It includes a graphic of Lake Panorama, history, donor recognition and emergency contacts. The second sign will be installed at the beginning of the trail system. It includes a map of the trail system, trail option descriptions and details on the native plants and wildlife along the trails.
The recreation area is open during daylight hours. Wheeled vehicles are prohibited. There are no trash receptacles, restrooms or running water; visitors should plan accordingly.

GARDENING
6 ADVANTAGES OF GRASS LAWNS

Posted 06/12/2024
Special to Lake Panorama Times

What does grass do for you? Plenty. The TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of yards, parks and other green spaces, shares that there are many ways grass lawns benefit people, pets and the planet, from being an environmental superhero to providing a safe place for kids and pets to play.
“Yards are not just beautiful, they are also purposeful,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “Unfortunately, in some communities, lawns, in particular, have gotten a bad rap. Yet, turfgrass provides important benefits that can’t be overlooked.”
Here are a few of the many advantages of grass lawns:

A canvas for creative backyarding
“Backyarding” has become a way of life as people take their indoor lives into the green space around them. The lawn is the backdrop for everything from an at-home soccer field to a bocce ball court. It’s a carpet of green where you can throw down a blanket and read or have a picnic.

Captures carbon
Turfgrass is one of the most effective carbon capturers. In fact, an average-sized home lawn in the U.S. has the potential to sequester 20.3 to 163.4 kg C/lawn/year. The dense canopy and fibrous root system in a lawn sequesters carbon so well that it outweighs the carbon used for maintaining the grass by as much as seven-fold.

Reduces heat
A recent report by the research group Climate Central shows that more than 40 million Americans live in urban heat islands. But lawns can be 30 degrees cooler than asphalt and 14 degrees cooler than bare soil. Furthermore, eight average-sized front lawns can provide the cooling equivalent to air-conditioning for 18 homes.

Produces oxygen
Grass is one of Mother Nature’s oxygen-producing machines. In fact, one 5,000-square foot grass lawn can produce enough oxygen each day to support 14 to 34 people, depending on location. And a turf area of 50 feet by 50 feet produces enough oxygen to meet the daily needs of a family of four.

Captures rainwater
Rainwater sheets off hard surfaces like hardscapes, artificial turf, parking lots, driveways and roads. Instead of going into the ground, rainwater becomes fast-moving storm water runoff, which pollutes water systems. Acting like a sponge, grass slows down and absorbs runoff, cleanses water of impurities and dust, and recharges groundwater aquifers.

Creates a natural firebreak
Ongoing and worsening drought across the country has increased the risk of wildfire danger for millions of Americans. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, “green infrastructure” can help protect communities from natural disasters like drought and fire. Living grass is a natural firebreak, and healthy turfgrass can be a significant deterrent to wildfires. Green grass slows the spread of wildfires because of its low fuel value, and it provides a defendable space around structures.

LAKE DOG

Posted 06/12/2024
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times

Name: Koda
Breed: Samoyed
Age: 2.5 years old
Owners: Cameron and Jessica Redshaw (Galen and Carol’s son and daughter-in-law)

Koda enjoys visiting at the lake. He loves golf cart rides and, of course, swimming in the water.

COVE CAT

Posted 06/12/2024
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times

Name: Winston Purchill
Age: 1 year old
Owners: Brian and JoAnn Johnson

Winston is a vocal and affectionate guy. He enjoys hanging out with JoAnn while she works in her flower beds. He is quite happy watching her make the beds purrfect so everyone can enjoy their flowers from the lake.

RECIPE
RHUBARB COFFEE CAKE MUFFINS

Screenshot 2024 06 04 at 4.17.00 pm copy

Posted 06/12/2024
By Jolene Goodman
Lake Panorama Times

Nothing says summer more than a freshly made rhubarb treat. I didn’t always feel this way, as rhubarb was a slow-growing love for me. When I was a child, we had a garden of strawberries and rhubarb. That was it. I loved the strawberries, but I just didn’t understand how anyone could like the taste of rhubarb. It was tart, and even with a lot of sugar, it didn’t really taste good.
As an adult, produce gardens became a small passion of mine. And, through the years, my success with the finished product varied. However, the rhubarb plant has been a consistent shining star, producing ongoing fruit and looking good.
Currently, I have given up on the big vegetable gardens, but I still grow rhubarb. These plants look great in my regular flower beds as they add a fun texture with their large, heart-shaped leaves. It is quite satisfying to walk outside, cut rhubarb from your own garden and bake a yummy treat with it. I think you’ll enjoy this recipe for rhubarb coffee cake muffins. They are moist, easy to prepare and even easier to eat. Try them for breakfast, dessert or as an afternoon treat.

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

Rhubarb Coffee Cake Muffins

Ingredients

½ cup butter, soften
1-1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream (or 1 cup soured milk: 1 T. vinegar plus fill rest of cup milk)
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups rhubarb
Topping: ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ cup chopped pecans (mix)

Directions
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Add sour cream and vanilla. Mix a small amount of flour with rhubarb and set aside. Add dry ingredients and mix until blended. Fold in floured rhubarb. Pour into greased muffin tins. Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

TRISH HART’S NATURE PHOTO OF THE MONTH
REDBUD TREE FRAMES LAKE PANORAMA KAYAKERS

Posted 06/12/2024
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

This month’s nature photo from Trish Hart was taken in mid-April, just as this redbud tree was beginning to flower. The tree’s branches frame two kayakers enjoying the spring waters of Lake Panorama.
The Arbor Day Foundation describes the Eastern Redbud’s delicate blossoms and buds as some of the season’s most dramatic displays. Unique and irregular branching patterns combine with a trunk that commonly divides close to the ground to create a spreading and often flat-topped crown. These trees feature heart-shaped leaves that emerge a reddish color, turning dark green as summer approaches, then yellow in the fall.
The early blossoms draw nectar-seeking insects, including several species of early-season butterflies. Northern bobwhite and a few songbirds will eat the seeds.
Hart specializes in nature photography. She offers custom prints of her photos on canvas, paper, metal and glass. Learn more by visiting Nature’s Canvas Photography on Facebook.

EVENT
ROCK THE SQUARE IN PANORA JUNE 15

Posted 06/12/2024
Special to Lake Panorama Times

Panora businesses will be hosting “Rock the Square” on Main Street on Saturday, June 15 from 1-4 p.m. Bring your friends and family and check out the local shops and restaurants. Enjoy live music from Kile Jackson at the Gazebo and satisfy your sweet tooth at PJ’s Mini Donut Trailer with slushies and donuts.

EVENT
PANORA SQUARE MARKET SCHEDULE

Posted 06/12/2024
Special to Lake Panorama Times

The Panora Square Market will be Saturday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Panora City Square. Look for farm fresh products, baked goods, art, crafts, flowers and more. Organizers encourage attendees to come for the market but stay in town for a while. Grab something to drink and check out all the great shops on the square and in town. Additional dates include:

July 6
July 20
Aug. 17
Aug. 31
Sept. 14
Sept. 28
Oct. 5
Oct. 19

About Lake Panorama Times

Lake Panorama Times and lakepanoramatimes.com are a monthly publication and website of Big Green Umbrella Media, a locally owned publishing company. The print version of Lake Panorama Times is mailed to the home address of every property owner and home owner on Lake Panorama for free each month, making it the strongest method to deliver news and information to residents of the lake. This website offers additional news items and archives, all available for free.

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 38
Panora, IA 50216

Phone: 641-332-2707

Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed

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