Posted 06/07/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

The 54th annual meeting of the Lake Panorama Association was May 13 at the Lake Panorama National events center. About 90 people attended, representing 51 voting members. It was announced the LPA currently has a total membership of 1,727, with 11 of those inactive, because 2023 dues have not been paid.

Finneseth and Thompson elected to board
A total of 562 ballots were cast in the election for two people to serve on the LPA board of directors. There were four people running for the two seats. David Finneseth was re-elected to a second, three-year term. Sue Thompson was newly elected to the board for a three-year term.

Financial and audit reports
Dennis Flanery, LPA board treasurer, provided the 2022 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, reviewing financial statements and balance sheets from 2022 and 2021 of the LPA and LPN, LLC.
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 2022 operations showed a loss of $358,348. With other income and expenses, the overall loss was $428,348. Flanery said the LPN kitchen was closed in July of 2022, and outings and events were catered to finish the year. He noted the 2021 numbers showed a lower financial loss because $223,616 was received that year from the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
LPA reported net income of $255,553 for 2022. The budgeted operating income for 2023 shows a loss of $154,801. Flanery says the amount of depreciation on the new maintenance shop and water plant project is the reason the budget shows a loss.
“The amount of this non-cash item — depreciation — has increased greatly with the recent capital improvement projects completed,” Flanery said. “The 2023 budget also shows an increase in interest expense because these two projects are now complete. This makes our budget look worse in comparison to previous years. We can assure the membership cash flow remains viable and on track with respect to these important capital projects.”
Flanery said the LPA does not create its annual operating budget with the expectation of selling land. In light of recent bank failures, he also stated all LPA and LPN funds are 100% covered by FDIC.

President’s report
Rich Schumacher, LPA board president, chaired the meeting. To open his president’s report, Schumacher thanked those who volunteer on four standing LPA committees, including water safety, building codes, land sales and appeals. He also recognized the four volunteers who counted ballots for the 2023 annual meeting.
“These volunteers don’t do this for their personal gain, but rather because they know they are helping LPA members have a better experience here at Lake Panorama,” he said.
Schumacher also thanked the LPN, LLC board of managers for their help guiding this LPA subsidiary. He said replacement of turf equipment has been the most recent focus, with supply chain delays causing some issues. Plans for course enhancements at Lake Panorama National are being developed.
Turning to the LPA, Schumacher said the board takes a very serious look at the annual budget.
“While each area of the staff looks at their numbers, projecting out needs for up to five years, the board considers the needs, and questions if it can wait or what is a priority,” he said.
For many years, the LPA board has been restricted by a past membership vote to raising annual dues no more than 5%.
“I’ve had members ask the board to not increase the dues, and newer members say our dues are not high enough for what they receive,” Schumacher said. “When we looked at this year’s budget, we knew the 5% increase was necessary because of our increasing costs. That 5% increase will generate an additional $102,802.”

GM’s report
John Rutledge, LPA general manager and LPN, LLC director of operations, began his report with a look at the LPN.
“We do have a new model for LPN food and beverage for this year,” he said. “Nick and Lynn Kuhn have leased the kitchen and operate The Links Lounge, the event space and Spikes. We’re excited to welcome them and encourage membership support as they navigate their first season. Golf continues to be an important element of our community, and we thank you all for your continued support as we adapt to new strategies and approaches.”
Rutledge said the LPN welcomes feedback on dining, golf or lodging experience; send an email to feedback@lakepanorama.org.
Shifting gears to the LPA, Rutledge said the annual process of seal coating lake roads is suffering from inflation.
“The 2023 cost will be $31,000 per mile, and we will be doing seven miles of roadway,” he said. “For comparison, the cost in 2021 was slightly under $23,000 per mile, and we did about nine miles. This is an area where we will need to increase our budget in 2024. We need to get back to seal coating nine miles each year to keep up.”
The LPN 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.”
Rutledge said LPA Security handles water safety, land patrol, deer hunt management and other responsibilities that play a critical role for the association.
“One item to highlight is the importance of invasive species rule enforcement. Members who travel with their boats must comply to ensure the health of Lake Panorama into the future. This also applies to any used docks or lifts that are purchased from other bodies of water,” Rutledge said. “LPA occasionally receives some pushback on this topic, but we stand firm. The lake is the lifeblood of this community, and we must do our part to avoid the negative impact of invasive species.”
Rutledge said LPA Security officers now are equipped with both dash cameras and body cameras.
“2023 is a remarkably different environment for security than it was even three years ago,” Rutledge said. “These cameras are for the protection of the membership and the staff. A reality of today’s world is that you always have the potential to be on camera.”
The most recent inspection of the dam identified a few items to work into the LPA budget, but Rutledge said it remains in good shape.
“The overall health of the dam remains very impressive,” he said. “We consider the dam as one of our most important assets and responsibilities and are proactive about keeping it in good repair.”
Rutledge reported a new concrete wall has been installed at Sunset Beach, to replace the deteriorating wall made of railroad ties. He thanked members of the Panora Garden Club and other volunteers for their work to manage landscape beds at the lake’s three beaches.

A thanks to Mary Jane Carothers
Rutledge recognized Mary Jane Carothers, whose second three-year term on the LPA board ended with the annual meeting. Carothers served as board president for two years.
“I want to offer a personal thanks to Mary Jane for her past efforts as our board president,” Rutledge said. “She provided important leadership through the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a challenging task. State and federal rules and recommendations seemed to change daily. Her professional background and sound judgement provided me an important partner as we navigated uncharted territory. I will forever be grateful for her support.”

Rural Improvement Zone update
Next Rutledge turned his attention to the Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ), which is projected to receive $3 million in revenues in the 2023-24 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.
The project to rip rap Lake Panorama’s south shore is complete. This project cost $862,000 and was funded by RIZ.
Rutledge said dredging being done this spring in the Narrows would end before Memorial Day weekend. The dredge crew then will turn its attention to assessing coves and spot dredging. Rutledge said he will be working in the coming months with the RIZ trustees to make plans for 2024 and beyond.

Donor-funded projects
Rutledge highlighted some recent donor-funded projects led by Friends of Lake Panorama, including the dog park, playground equipment at all three beaches, the sports courts at Boulder Beach, a new sports court at Sunset Beach, and the Shade Sails project near Spikes on the LPN golf course.
Now the Friends nonprofit is working with LPA on south shore improvements.
“Much of what Friends proposed in 2022 was on hold until the rip rap was completed,” Rutledge said. “Now we will revisit the details of the trail, parking and related improvements. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Friends and all the donors who support our community, and look forward to working with them in the coming months to finalize details for the south shore.”
New officers elected
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 Emily Donovan, president; Rich Schumacher, vice president; David Finneseth, secretary; and Dennis Flanery, treasurer.

TWO GM COFFEES ANNOUNCED
During his remarks at the 2023 LPA annual meeting, John Rutledge, LPA general manager and LPN director of operations, announced dates for two upcoming GM coffees for the remainder of 2022. The dates fall on Fridays, and are July 7 and Sept. 1. Meetings begin at 10:30 a.m. and are held at the Lake Panorama National event center.
Coffee and other refreshments are available at these informal gatherings, where Rutledge provides an update on current happenings, then takes questions from members in attendance.
If members have questions they would like covered about LPA policies or developments, they can email lpa@lakepanorama.org to give Rutledge 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.

Posted 06/07/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

For many years, volunteers have helped maintain annual flower beds near Lake Panorama National tee boxes, plus areas around the event center and Spikes. This year, some additional attention is being given to Spikes and the east side entrance of the event center.
Near Spikes, several ash trees were removed last year. Now all vegetation surrounding the building, including patches of poison ivy, is being removed. Once the area is cleared, three ornamental Cleveland pear trees will be planted, and the entire area will be mulched. A couple of small perennial flower beds may be added.
At the LPN event center, ornamental trees near the east entrance were removed several years ago because of age and storm damage. A decision was made to replace those with two redbud trees, plus add perennial flowers in the mulched areas surrounding the trees.
A request to purchase these five ornamental trees was presented to the Friends of Lake Panorama board, which voted to use $1,200 in general funds for this project.
The plantings at the event center were done May 16. Work at Spikes continues, with those three trees to be planted in early June.

Posted 06/07/2023
Special to the Lake Panorama Times

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 1. 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.

Posted 06/07/2023
Special to the Lake Panorama Times

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 Jazmyn Sellers. Sellers plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa this fall, majoring in speech pathology, with minors in Spanish and sign language. She is the daughter of Curtis and Monique Sellers of Panora.
The WSO’s annual home tour is the group’s major fundraiser and funds a renewable scholarship each year, making four scholarships paid annually. This year’s home tour is Friday, June 2. Five Lake Panorama homes will be featured. Tickets are $30, and include the home tour and lunch at the Lake Panorama National event center. Tickets are available by contacting Mary Beidelman at 641-757-0425.

Posted 06/07/2023
By Cheryl Temple
Lake Panorama Times

Name: Bear
Age: 9 months old
Breed: Cocker Spaniel Poodle mix
Owners: Jeremy and Stephanie David
Bear enjoys trying to keep up with big sisters, Reece and Delaney. He travels to their softball games, goes with them on golf cart rides and family car rides, will soon have his first boat ride of the season. He really likes the freedom of the lake’s dog park. His owners anticipate being frequent visitors. The Davids live near Sunset Beach in a yellow B lot home with a deck facing the road. If you’re a frequent walker/jogger of the area, you’ll be sure to see Bear’s head poking through the deck railing saying, “Hello!” The girls both attend Panorama School district.

Posted 06/07/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times

Spring brings new life to Lake Panorama. The lake ice disappears, grass starts to grow, buds form on trees and shrubs, and early flowers pop through the ground. Spring also brings baby wildlife to the lake. Trish Hart is a local photographer who captures Lake Panorama wildlife with her camera. This month she chose to offer not just a single photo but several featuring some of the baby wildlife she has photographed. Hart offers custom prints of her photos on canvas, paper, metal and glass. For more information, visit Natures Canvas Photos on Facebook.

Posted 05/10/2023

Since you have made it to page 5, you have hopefully noticed a new look to your Lake Panorama Times. We decided to freshen up the design with a magazine style and convert to a tabloid format rather than the traditional newspaper broadsheet. We hope you find this easier to read and will refer back to it often throughout the month.
Those of you who have a home in the Des Moines suburbs are likely familiar with our Iowa Living magazines. My original intent when I bought the Lake Panorama Times a few years ago was to convert it to Lake Panorama Living magazine, much like the other 14 community magazines we publish. And although that may sound reasonably simple, it is more complicated than one might think — and more expensive to produce. The business models we created for each of our new publications have been centered around creating affordable and effective advertising solutions for local businesses, and we didn’t want to stray from that. So we decided to be patient (which isn’t easy for me) and proceed as normal with what had been done in the past by the prior owner. And, for the most part, that is what we did. We added additional content and distribution, but we stuck with the same look and the broadsheet format.
Then, last July, I bought the Guthrie County Times Vedette, a traditional paid subscription weekly newspaper that some of you also subscribe to (thank you). The Times Vedette is also in a full broadsheet format, and our hopes were to package these publications together for easy advertising options and some shared editorial purposes. The Times Vedette is the only paid subscription newspaper we publish, as all our other publications are available for free. That packaging sounded logical, but it has not been effective for a number of reasons, so we are now working on new ideas that will incorporate much of what we have learned and had success with in the last two decades. It all starts with the redesign of the Lake Panorama Times, and I am pleased to present our first issue. More to come soon.
Change is rarely easy, and this one involved many adaptations to make it happen. I want to thank Susan Thompson (who writes the bulk of the content), Michael Woody, Cheryl Temple and Trish Hart for their ongoing editorial contributions to this publication and Beckham Miller for designing it so nicely. I also want to express my appreciation to Kerry Jacobsen and Jolene Goodman for working with area businesses and showing them how our readers can become their customers, and to Jayde Vogeler for designing the wonderful ads. As always, my many thanks go to our postal carriers who bring this to your homes and to Mike Chiston for delivering it to area businesses. And many other thanks go to all those who submit editorial items, ideas or contribute in other ways to make this all possible. But, most of all, I thank all of you for reading this publication and making it part of your lives.
As always, I appreciate your feedback, so shoot me a note and let me know what you think as we continue to work to provide news and information that is relevant to you and provide advertising that will encourage you to buy your products and services locally.
Have a great May, and thanks for reading.

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

Posted 05/10/2023
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

An event hosted by the Guthrie County Hospital Foundation April 14 raised more than $22,000. The Handbags & Bingo fundraiser at Lake Panorama National Resort was attended by nearly 240 women.
Dennis Flanery, foundation director, says he got the idea from a former co-worker who had heard about a fundraising event hosted by the City of Clive.
“Clive has been doing something similar for scholarships for their area high schools,” Flanery says. “I thought this might work as a fundraiser for us. Clive officials were gracious and sent me information on the event.”
Flanery put together a committee to help him plan the event, including foundation board members Maggie Armstrong and Mary Jane Carothers, and Guthrie County Hospital staff members Heather Martens and Emily Irwin.
“When we first started planning for the event, I was hoping for 120 women and thought that would be a great number,” Flanery says. “We advertised by word of mouth and flyers for a few months. Once registration opened, we sold out in about 10 days. We were overwhelmed by the support and plan to make this an annual event.”
A total of 22 handbag packages were donated or sponsored, each with a minimum value of $150. Each bingo game winner received additional raffle tickets and a gift certificate from a local business, plus there were other ways to win raffle tickets. The women put their raffle tickets into boxes that corresponded with handbags they wanted to win. Tickets then were drawn to see who would take home each of the handbag packages.
“I knew nothing about handbag types or brands before planning this event,” Flanery says. “I put together a team of handbag shoppers of all ages to ensure we had a nice selection. We had several from Kate Spade, Coach and Michael Kors. I also had one each from Saks Fifth Avenue, Fossil, Tory Burch, Dooney & Burke and Harley Davidson. In addition, local providers put together packages from Tribe, Pearls & Lace and Molly’s.”
Tickets cost $45 per person or $350 for a table. A bingo card, meal and five raffle tickets were included with the registration fee. An additional bingo card and five more raffle tickets could be purchased for $20. Money also was raised through the sale of GCH Foundation drink glasses, a dessert auction, two side games, a “bribe the bingo caller” auction and a mulligan auction.
The more than $22,000 raised will benefit the Guthrie County Hospital nursing department and nursing programs at the hospital and area clinics.
“Nurses are the backbone of healthcare; they make up the largest single profession within the industry and are a key trusted advocate between the patient and doctor,” Flanery says. “There is a national shortage of nurses, and that trend looks to continue for some time. The GCH Foundation wants to support the Guthrie County Hospital and Clinics with attracting, retaining and supporting our quality nursing staff. We hope to build an endowment that will assist the hospital for years to come.”
Two tables of nurses attended the event at no cost. These Daisy Award winners and Top 100 Iowa Nurse award winners were recognized by Flanery during the program.
Flanery says he “caught some grief” because the event was advertised as a women-only event. Besides him, there were three other men in attendance. Mike Underwood, the Guthrie County Hospital Trustees Chair, was the evening’s bingo caller. Steve Smith, GCH Foundation Chair, helped with registration and other tasks throughout the evening, as did Kirby Klinge, who is a foundation board member.
Key corporate sponsors were Peoples Bank, Guthrie County State Bank, Farmers State Bank, Iowa Trust & Savings, Panora Fiber and Rolling Hills Bank & Trust. Additional sponsors helped support the Bingo games, two other side games, and desserts.

Posted 05/10/2023
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

A special event to introduce more users to the Panorama West Nature Trail is planned for Sunday, June 4. Friends of Lake Panorama encourages LPA members and guests to “take a hike” on the trail during that day. Bottled water, coffee and cookies will be available in the Panorama West golf course clubhouse 1-3 p.m. Trail visitors are invited to stop in during those hours before or after their hike.
A total of $5,000 from the 2021 Beach Ball was committed by the Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors to the Panorama West Nature Trail, plus some private donations were received. A volunteer task force identified portions of an existing trail being used by a limited number of people and the Panorama school’s cross-country track teams to create this designated nature trail.
In late October 2022, seven posts with directional signage and a trailhead sign were installed, plus two benches. Parking is in a cul-de-sac at the end of Nicholl Drive, which intersects with Panorama Road just south of the Panorama West clubhouse. Signs pointing to the trail were installed on the same post as the Nicholl Drive street sign.
The trailhead sign at the end of Nicholl Drive features a drawing of the trail. Users are encouraged to take a photo of the drawing to help guide them on the trail. Users also are encouraged to begin their hike at this location, rather than attempting to join the trail from the north, because no trail markers have been placed at previous access points. 
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, will 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.
By this fall, the Panorama Community Schools cross country team will be practicing and competing on a new trail on Lake Panorama’s south shore. The cross country trail will begin on school property, continue onto the south shore for much of the course, and loop back to end on school property. This will be part of a larger trail system that is in the works for the south shore. 

Posted 05/10/2023
All seating will be in the LPN banquet room.

By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

The Friends of Lake Panorama’s sixth Beach Ball fundraiser is Friday, June 16 at the Lake Panorama National event center. Twenty tables of eight now are filled with another five pending. Attendance will be capped at 240 people, so those interested are encouraged to finalize their plans by June 1.
All seating will be in the LPN banquet room, with tables tastefully decorated by volunteers using a common nautical theme. Registration will be at 4:30-5:30 p.m. with a buffet dinner served beginning at 6 p.m. The menu includes pork loin, chicken, Church Lady potatoes, garden salad, fresh mixed vegetables, dinner rolls, and peach cobbler with fresh whipped cream. Beverage service offering coffee, tea and water is included with the meal. There will be a cash bar.
There are several options for those interested in attending the event. Members of the Friends Beach Club provide additional financial support to Friends of Lake Panorama beyond the cost of the meal. Prices for Beach Club memberships are:
Friends Beach Club - Premier: $700 — includes table sponsorship, eight dinner tickets, name in the 2023 Beach Ball program; Friends Beach Club - Couple: $250 — includes two dinner tickets, name in the 2023 Beach Ball program; and Friends Beach Club - Sponsor: $150 — includes table sponsorship, name in the 2023 Beach Ball program.
There will be a limited number of individual meal tickets available for $50 each. The 2023 Beach Ball will include a 50/50 raffle and both live and silent auctions.
A few items already committed for the live auction are a set of four passenger car tires for any vehicle, up to a $1,400 value, donated by Scott Politte, president of Stivers Ford Lincoln of Waukee; a Cyclone football package for the Sept. 23 ISU vs. Oklahoma State game, which includes four tickets in the ISU Athletic Director Suite with Jamie Pollard, food and soft drinks during the game, and a parking pass; custom made pendant necklace donated by Ames Silversmithing; football and basketball signed by ISU coaches and donated by Jay and Sue Merryman; and a six-course gourmet meal for six with wine pairings, prepared and donated by Bill and Karen Fitzgerald.
The silent auction will feature several gift baskets filled with local products and donated by local businesses; gift cards; three bottles of InGeniOz Vodka donated by Hans Van Leeuwen; set of custom WeatherTech floor mats, any make and model, donated by Stivers Ford Lincoln of Waukee; and two bluebird houses, one for Iowa State University fans and one for University of Iowa fans, handcrafted and donated by Steve Brannan.
Funds raised at this year’s Beach Ball will support enhancements to a trail system on Lake Panorama’s south shore. Funds also may be used for additional low-impact recreational amenities on the south shore, which are under discussion between Friends of Lake Panorama and the LPA board of directors.
For those who can’t attend the Beach Ball, yet want to support recreational enhancements on the south shore, tax-deductible donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, P.O. Box 488, Panora, Iowa, 50216. Donations also can be made through Venmo @Panorama-Friends or by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.
Additional items for both the live and silent auction are needed. As of May 1, reservations were at about two-thirds capacity, leaving room for perhaps 80 additional participants. Those interested in becoming a Friends Beach Club member, purchasing dinner tickets, or donating items for the live and silent auctions can contact Susan Thompson, thomcomm@netins.net, 515-240-6536. 

Posted 05/10/2023
Emma Johnston offers advice to graduating seniors.

By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

On April 19, members of the Panora Women’s Service Organization (WSO) descended on the Panora Church of the Brethren armed with totes and boxes of white tablecloths, cups, saucers, plates, tiered serving plates and teapots. Within an hour, they had transformed the Fellowship Hall into an inviting tearoom.
The WSO women reconvened at 1:30 p.m. to arrange an assortment of small tea sandwiches, cookies and mints on the servers. Then it was time to welcome the Panorama Community Schools senior girls, plus their mothers and grandmothers.  
Everyone gathered in the sanctuary and was welcomed by WSO President Toni Wright. Michelle Leonard, pastor of the Brethren church, welcomed and congratulated the girls, shared a few words of wisdom, and then a prayer to bless the occasion.
Wright asked each senior to stand, introduce herself and her guests, and tell something about her future plans. Wright then introduced Emma Johnston, a 2021 Panorama graduate who missed out on her class senior tea, which had to be canceled because of the COVID pandemic.
Johnston offered five pieces of advice to the graduating seniors. The first was to make the most of their final weeks at Panorama. Second was to “stay true to who you are and don’t change for anyone. After graduation, you will begin a new chapter in your life,” Johnston said. “Do what you want to do and what you’re passionate about. One of the nice things about graduating and having this transition period is that you have a clean slate.”
Johnston’s third piece of advice was to get out of their comfort zone, something she said she did in the last three months as she participated in a college study abroad program in Greece. “I was so nervous because leaving home and living out of the country for three months with people I didn’t know was totally out of my comfort zone,” she said. “And yet, it was truly one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Her fourth piece of advice was on a related topic, and that was to “explore the world and travel.” Finally, Johnston encouraged the senior girls to write thank-you cards to people in their family and at the school who have impacted their lives.
Following Johnston’s speech, the group moved to the reception area for a group photo, then to the Fellowship Hall for tea sandwiches, cookies, tea and lemonade.
As guests departed, each senior girl selected a small glass basket and a white tulip, which is the designated class flower for the 2023 Panorama graduating class, as mementos of the occasion. 

Posted 05/10/2023
Dave and Ilene Olson have been married 45 years and owned the business about the same length of time.

By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

The business slogan for Panorama Gardens is “serving greater Guthrie County since 1956.” Current owners Dave and Ilene Olson have been married for 45 years and owned the business about the same number of years. Dave’s parents, George and Harriett Olson, started the business, which is located on the east edge of Panora on Highway 44.
“My parents lived on West Lane in Panora,” Dave says. “They had a small greenhouse and a bunch of outside cold frames where they could start plants. In 1956, they bought the Panora Greenhouse from Edgar and Mary Thorpe. The original building was east of our current location, at the top of the hill. They bought this land and moved the building here.”
The couple named their new business Panorama Gardens. It was another 10 years before the same name was chosen for the nearby lake.
Dave Olson was a 1-year-old when his parents started their new business.
“My playpen was a flower box,” he says. “In the beginning, their business was mostly floral. In 1960, they joined FTD, the Florists’ Telegraph Delivery, which made it possible for customers to send flowers anywhere by using florists in the FTD network. That increased their business, and we still are FTD members today.”
Ilene grew up on a farm north of Panora and was two years behind Dave in school. They both were born at the Guthrie County Hospital. During high school, Ilene worked a couple of summers at Panorama Gardens, but the two weren’t interested in each other.
“She thought I was an obnoxious twit, and she was probably right,” Dave says.
After high school, Dave attended Des Moines Area Community College in horticulture. After graduation, he worked at Boesen’s Greenhouse in Boone and Bach Wholesale in Des Moines before returning to Panorama Gardens.
“I always knew I would buy the family business eventually,” he says. “I grew up in it; I didn’t know anything else.”
When Ilene graduated from high school, she attended floriculture school at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. A requirement before she could graduate was to work two rotations in floral shops. One was at Beckers Flowers in Fort Dodge.
Dave picks up the story. “She was the valedictorian, first in her class at Kirkwood. Her advisor wanted her to work in a big city and found her lots of opportunities,” he says. “But for some reason, she decided to come back to Panora for her second rotation and work for my parents. In 1978, I was beginning the process of buying my parents out. She and I started to talk more, found we had common interests, and the rest is history. I say I married my greatest asset.”
Dave’s parents had been running Panorama Gardens for many years as a husband-and-wife team.
“Ilene and I decided we wanted to do the same thing,” he says. “Against my mother’s advice, we jumped in.”
Olson says as people started to build homes at Lake Panorama, it changed the business.
“We used to run wholesale routes, selling plants to retail operations in Des Moines and many smaller communities across central Iowa. As both Lake Panorama and our business grew, we were able to stop the wholesale routes. Now almost all of our sales are done through our own retail outlet, and we rely on people throughout Guthrie County, and into Dallas County, for our customer base,” he says.
Panorama Gardens grows and sells live plants and has a fresh flower shop. In the past, they raised cut flowers and perennials, but they couldn’t keep up with demand. Now they purchase cut flowers and perennials from suppliers, while still growing most of the annual vegetable plants and flowers they sell. They have seven employees, with most being part-time during the busiest times.
The busy summer season starts in late March, when customers are looking for onion sets, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and seed potatoes. The business offers a large selection of both bulk and packet seeds for both vegetable gardens and flower pots and beds. Also available are grass seed, fertilizer, mulch, soil and a wide selection of garden tools and pots.
The average central Iowa frost date is May 15, so Dave tells customers it’s usually safe to plant frost-sensitive plants such as tomatoes, peppers and flowers around Mother’s Day. Business hours expand to seven days a week in May.
“We do more business in six weeks each spring than we do the rest of the year,” he says.
The fresh flower business is year-round, with an uptick on holidays and special occasions.
“We’re always busy, and we don’t have set hours for ourselves,” Dave says. “If there is a funeral on Monday, we’re working on Sunday.”
Both Dave and Ilene say one thing they’ve enjoyed about the past 45 years at Panorama Gardens is having their business in a rural community.
“We’ve seen people born, married and pass away, and we’ve provided flowers for all those occasions,” Dave says. “We had a mother come in with a photo of the bridal bouquet we did for her, because she wanted us to recreate it for her daughter when she was getting married.”
“Being in a small town has allowed us to get to know at least a couple of generations in many families,” Ilene says. “There are lots of good people here. We’ve been able to learn what our customers like and what they don’t like, so we’re more prepared to help them when they come in or call.”
The Olsons are well-known in the community for their civic mindedness. They donate garden items and plants for numerous fundraisers and give deep discounts on plants used to spruce up the community. One example is the large pots filled with pink petunias that will be seen around Panora again this year.
The couple has two children and four grandchildren. All of them grew up working in the business when extra hands were needed, yet none has an interest in continuing the family business.
“We’ve had the business for sale for a while,” Dave says. “We’re not getting any younger, and we’d like to retire. But we’re not going anywhere. We plan to stay in the community, and we’ll keep the business going until it sells.”
When the day does come to turn over the business keys to someone else, what will they miss? Ilene says it will be the greenhouses that are filled with light and where there is always something growing.
“We don’t get the winter blues here,” she says.
Dave says he’ll miss the relationships they’ve built over the past four decades, and counting. “We’ve been really blessed,” he says. “Plus, I’ll miss growing baby plants.” 

Posted 05/10/2023
By Jolene Goodman
Lake Panorama Times

A few weekends ago when it was dreadfully cold and flurries frustrated us occasionally, the weather put us in the mood for soup. One of my favorite soup recipes comes from an old church cookbook, hamburger vegetable soup. The church that published this 40 years ago is, ironically, the church we now belong to and attend today, St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Panora.  I didn’t grow up Catholic. I converted before Shane and I married 28 years ago. My mother received the cookbook as a gift from a family friend in the early 1980s. My folks bought their first lot at Lake Panorama in 1971 and owned a few different properties until they retired, permanently, to Arizona in 2000. My cherished cookbook is tattered, splattered, written in and well used, with the cover accidentally torn off many years ago. The illustrations were drawn by Debbie Moylan, and I share two here along with the recipe for Hamburger Vegetable Soup submitted by Norene Abrahamson and and Lillian Carlson, and a recipe for pumpkin bread submitted by Mildred Matern.

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

Hamburger
Vegetable Soup
(Norene Abrahamson
and Lillian Carlson)
1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 T. salt
1 c. chopped onion
¼ tsp. pepper
3 c. water
¼ tsp. thyme
1 c. sliced carrots
¼ tsp. basil
1 c. diced potatoes
1 bay leaf
1 c. cabbage
1 c. celery
1 can tomatoes

Simmer a long time, 2 hours on the stove top or 5 hours in crockpot. Enjoy and thanks for reading.

Pumpkin Bread
(Mildred Matern)
3 ½ c. flour
1 c. Vegetable oil
2 tsp. soda
4 eggs
1 ½ tsp. salt
2/3 c. water
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 can pumpkin
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. chopped nuts
2 or 3 c. sugar
1 c. raisins

Mix until smooth. Stir in nuts and raisins. Divide into two loaf pans or 3 muffin tins which have been greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes for loaf pans or 30 minutes for muffins. This freezes well.

Posted 05/10/2023
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

Gift cards now can be purchased for use at The Links Lounge at Lake Panorama National Resort. Nick and Lynn Kuhn are operating The Links and managing events at the LPN through 2023. They have developed gift cards specifically for use in The Links when customers order using the QR code on tables or when ordering at the bar. The cards can be purchased from the bartender in any denomination during normal business hours. All cards purchased before Memorial Day will receive a 10% savings at the time of purchase. For now, the cards can only be used in The Links, not at Spikes or the bar carts. That option may be added at a later time. The cards also cannot be used to give tips.
Hours for The Links in May remain the same as in April. The Links is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. 

Posted 05/10/2023
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

For the second year, the Panora Garden Club is providing an opportunity for people interested to see featured landscaping and gardens along Lake Panorama’s shoreline. The event is planned for Wednesday, June 21. The club hosted this fundraiser for the first time in 2022 and now plans to make it an annual event. 
Funds raised will be used to continue the many projects club members conduct to beautify the community. Final details are being worked out, including ticket pricing and how to purchase. More details will be available by late May.
Guests will remain onboard for a lake tour that will begin at the Boulder Beach docks. Food trucks and other refreshments will be available, plus some vendors present for participants to visit before and after their boat tour.
A member of the Panora Garden Club will be on board each pontoon to answer questions and point out highlights throughout the tour. Planners say the 2023 tours will be longer than last year so those participating will have a more leisurely ride. The number of passengers on each pontoon also will be smaller than in 2022 to make the ride more comfortable. 
Signs along the tour route will highlight the gardens and landscaping of Panora Garden Club members. Maps marking the coves will be distributed.
A rain date of Wednesday, June 28 has been set. If the tour needs to be moved to that day, tour times will remain as originally set. If weather prevents this event, money paid for tickets will be a tax-exempt charitable donation to the Panora Garden Club. 

Posted 05/10/2023
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

For the last few years, the number of American white pelicans visiting Lake Panorama each spring and fall has increased. In early April, a flock of these big birds spent a few days on the water retention pond near the mouth of Jones Cove.  American white pelicans pass through Iowa in April on their migration to northern Minnesota and Canada. A few months later, usually mid-August through September, they migrate south to spend winter along the Gulf Coast, California and Mexico.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says white pelicans have always migrated through Iowa, but until the late 1980s, they were usually seen only in the western counties. Pelican populations were killed off in the mid-1900s by chemicals found in the fish the pelicans ate, thus poisoning the birds. Since those chemicals have been eliminated, pelican populations are increasing.The American white pelican is the biggest bird in Iowa, weighing 20 pounds and having a nine-foot wingspan. The birds are pure white except for black flight feathers on their wings. The American white pelican is the only species of pelican to migrate through the Midwest. Brown pelicans are the other major pelican species in North America, but they live along the Atlantic Coast.

Posted 05/10/2023
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

Lake Panorama National Resort is targeting a Memorial Day weekend opening for its 1,500-square-foot heated swimming pool and eight-person spa. Once open, public swimming will be available starting at 10:30 a.m. seven days a week. Plans are to have the pool remain open until Sept. 30.
All members and guests of the swimming pool must check-in at the LPN pro shop counter where they will sign in and pay a daily fee of $5, unless they have purchased an annual pool pass. After checking in, everyone will be given a wristband to wear in the pool area.
A variety of annual pass categories are available including single, couple, family and grandparent. Passes are available to LPA property owners starting at $125 for a single, $150 for a couple and $175 for a family. A fourth category is available to adults 55 and older with grandchildren up to the age of 12. Grandparent memberships are $225.
Non-LPA members also can purchase annual pool passes in the same categories for an additional $15 for any of the four options.
The pool membership form is available online and can be mailed or dropped off with payment to the LPN. The form is here: https://lpnresort.com/3VnsMfk 

Posted 05/10/2023

The Lake Panorama Times hosted a Summer Kick-off Party for the business community on Friday, May 5 at The Links. Publisher Shane Goodman shared details on the new look of the Lake Panorama Times. He and his wife, Jolene Goodman, who serves as the company’s advertising director, unveiled a prototype of a cover as well as prototypes of two new publications the company will be launching soon. The event was co-hosted by the Panora Chamber of Commerce and The Links.  

Posted 04/12/2023
By Shane Goodman 
Lake Panorama Times 

Mark Cates, left, was presented a plaque by Jeff Bump on behalf of Panora and Lake Panorama Economic Development on April 5, recognizing his efforts as president of the organization in 2022.  Cates was recognized for his leadership that furthered the organization's mission to encourage and foster sustainable economic development activities through job creation, job retention, increased tax base and an improved quality of life for the citizens in the Panora and Lake Panorama area. 

Posted 04/12/2023
By Susan Thompson 
Lake Panorama Times

The 2023 Lake Panorama Fin and Feather fundraising banquet will be Saturday, May 13, the same day as the LPA annual meeting. The event will be held at the Lake Panorama National Resort with social hour beginning at 5 p.m. A dinner and silent/live auctions will follow at 6 p.m. All ages are welcome.
Funds raised at the banquet, plus annual memberships and direct donations, are used to stock fish in Lake Panorama. Nearly $18,000 worth of fish were added to the lake last fall. Fish stocking totals for 2022 included 1,500 walleye, 1,500 smallmouth bass, 3,000 largemouth bass, and 1,000 perch. The group also helps improve fish habitat and sponsors an annual fishing derby for children during Panorama Days.
In 2022, the Fin and Feather club reached an agreement with JNC Construction of Clearfield to add some fish structure along the south shore. This is the same company that has been riprapping the south shore, beginning last fall and wrapping up in April.
The club spent $20,000 to add eight rock piles along the shore to create better fish habitat. These piles are strategically located to optimize the best depths and contour of the lake. The piles will be deep, not pose any threat to boat traffic, and be 20 to 30 feet from shore. The club is developing a map of the rock pile locations, which will be available on the website.
Dinner tickets to the May 13 banquet are $35 each, with children 12 and younger $20. Another option is to join the Big Skipper Club at a cost of $125. This covers two dinner tickets, one Big Skipper raffle ticket and an annual family membership. The cost of just an annual family membership is $40.
Supporters can either mail a check or register online with a credit card or PayPal account at the group’s website: http://panoramafinandfeather.com/banquet/
If payment is made by check, make it payable to Fin & Feather and mail to Doug Hemphill, Farmers State Bank, P.O. Box 110, Yale, Iowa, 50277, along with a completed membership application, which is available on the website.
Members who pay in advance will have their tickets waiting for them upon arrival. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for walk-in attendees.