THE BEST OF GUTHRIE COUNTY 2025

THE BEST OF GUTHRIE COUNTY 2025

Sep 10, 2025 | Feature

The votes have been tallied. Check out the full results. 

 

By Rich Wicks | Lake Panorama Times 

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best.”

That quote is generally attributed to Saint Jerome, an early Christian priest and theologian, born in Croatia, who lived approximately 347-419 AD. Although Saint Jerome never had the chance to experience Guthrie County, his perspective matches well with our annual poll to determine the Guthrie County people, places, events and businesses that are voted as best by our readers.

In 2024, we launched our first “Best of Guthrie County” poll, and we were pleased to see a total of 471 votes in the 82 categories listed. The 2025 poll surpassed the initial poll, with 642 votes cast. That represents an increase of more than 36% in votes received, which indicates our readers are becoming more engaged in the poll.

In 2024, and again in 2025, many categories saw a difference of only a very few votes separating the winners from the runners up, so every vote matters. We thank all of you who voted. 

There are again 82 categories, but from one year to the next, a few categories are added and/or dropped as we refine the poll to match what resonates with our readers. We welcome any feedback on categories to add, exclude or change. 

Some categories garnered many votes, while others had relatively few. Categories such as “Camping Spot,” “Barge Service,” “Dance Studio,” and “Dog Boarding Facility” apply to a subset of the population, so votes may be lighter in those categories. But, once again, every vote matters.

A concept to keep in mind is that our poll is “a snapshot in time.” In other words, circumstances may change after votes are cast. An individual may move away, or a business may close as The Port did. But our results show the opinions of the voters during the time the poll was open. 

Also, the poll does not hold strictly to the borders of Guthrie County. Communities such as Linden, Stuart and Adair are included, even though all or most of the municipality may actually reside outside Guthrie County.

The results listed show the winners and the runners up. The runners up are listed alphabetically and do not represent placement of second or third.

Our results show some repeats from one year to the next, which is to be expected. Some of these repeat honorees include Lake Panorama Barge Services, Crafty’s Coffee & Gifts, Lake Panorama National golf course, and Tribe Boutique LLC. 

In some categories, however, new names have shown up in our vote tallies. Some of the first-timers include The Captain’s Pick, The Color Nook, Max Monthei, and Keaton Rhoades Lawn Care. 

In conducting such a poll, it is natural to ask, “What makes something the best?” That is a complicated matter. For example, if asked to name the best burger you ever ate, your response would likely be based on a wide range of factors. How was the burger cooked? What ingredients were added? Where did you eat it? Who were you with? The votes in our “Best of Guthrie County 2025” poll are similarly subjective, so the results are to be seen as opinions, not facts. But, clearly, those listed below have been doing something right, and we applaud them for it.

 

Best Guthrie County Camping Spot

Springbrook State Park

Runners Up: Guthrie County Fair Campgrounds; Nations Bridge Park

Best Guthrie County Dinner Spot

The Captain’s Pick

Runners Up: Pioneers Pub & Grub; Prime Time 

Best Guthrie County Attorney or Law Firm

Bruner, Bruner, Reinhart & Morton LLP

NAPA Auto Parts – Panora was voted Best Guthrie County Auto Parts Store.

Runners Up: Bump & Twillmann LLP; Varley Law Office

Best Guthrie County Auto Parts Store

NAPA Auto Parts – Panora

Runners Up: NAPA Auto Parts – Guthrie Automotive; NAPA Auto Parts – Stuart

Best Guthrie County Auto Service Center

Panorama Tire

Runners Up: Leonard Automotive LLC; M&L Service

Best Guthrie County Bank

Guthrie County State Bank

Runners Up: Farmers State Bank of Yale; Iowa Trust

Best Guthrie County Bar

The Captain’s Pick

Runners Up: Owl’s Nest; Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar

Best Guthrie County Barge Service

Lake Panorama Barge Services

Runners Up: Deluxe Docks & Lifts; Van Houten Barge Service

Best Guthrie County Bartender or Server

Max Monthei

Runners Up: Amanda Carl; Maddi Lynch

Best Guthrie County Boutique

Tribe Boutique LLC

Runners Up: B&B Marketplace; Pearls & Lace

Best Guthrie County Bowling Alley

IncrediBowl

Runner Up: Stuart Bowl & Traditions Sports Bar

Best Guthrie County Car Wash

All Seasons Car Wash

Runners Up: Karl Chevrolet – Stuart; The Washing Machine

Best Guthrie County Caterer

Café on the Hill

Runners Up: Cabbage Rose Restaurant; The Captain’s Pick

Best Guthrie County Chamber of Commerce

Panora Chamber of Commerce

Runners Up: Guthrie Center Chamber of Commerce; Stuart Chamber of Commerce

Best Guthrie County Chiropractor (person)

Dr. Josh Calmer

Runners Up: Dr. Bailey Schreiber; Dr. Brandon Schreiber

Best Guthrie County Church 

Panora United Methodist Church

Runners Up: Faith Bible Church; Hope Lutheran Church, Panora

Best Guthrie County Coach

Cody Matthewson (ACGC)

Runners Up: Aly Dahlhauser (Panorama); Cameron Little (Panorama)

Best Guthrie County Coffee Shop

Crafty’s Coffee & Gifts

Runners Up: B&B Marketplace; The Cup on 2nd

Best Guthrie County Community Festival

Panorama Days

Runners Up: Guthrie County Fair; Annual Yale 4th of July Celebration

Best Guthrie County CPA (person)

Lisa Calvert

Runners Up: Janet Dickson; Sarah Langgaard

Best Guthrie County Customer Service (overall)

Lake Panorama Realty

Runners Up: Panora Fiber; The Captain’s Pick

Best Guthrie County Dance Studio

Main Street Dance Studios

Runner Up: Adair Dance Academy

Best Guthrie County Daycare

Little Panther Daycare & Preschool

Runners Up: Exploration & Learning Station, Stuart; Little Charger Early Learning Center

Best Guthrie County Dentist (person)

Dr. Larry Spray

Runners Up: Dr. Ames Cross; Dr. Dan Nelson

Best Guthrie County Doctor (person)

Dr. Josh Strehle

Runners Up: Dr. Eric Ash; Dr. Steven Bascom

Best Guthrie County Dog Boarding Facility

Mitzie Rue’s Canine Corral

Runner Up: Guthrie County Veterinary Services

Best Guthrie County Elected Official

Maggie Armstrong

Runners Up: Matt Harmann; Steve Smith

Best Guthrie County Electrician (business)

Powell Electric

Runners Up: Berger Electric; Miller Plumbing, Heating & Electric

Best Guthrie County Employer

Guthrie County Hospital and Clinics

Runners Up: Guthrie County; Panora Fiber

Best Guthrie County Esthetician (skin care professional)

Lexi Blakely, Sapphire Skin Co & Spa

Runners Up: Courtney Claussen (Revel Salon & Boutique); Laynie Reeves (Sapphire Skin Co & Spa)

Best Guthrie County Eye Doctor (person)

Dr. Cassie Martinson

Runner Up: Dr. Kyle Stadler

Best Guthrie County Financial Planner

Dave Grove (Edward Jones, Panora)

Runners Up: Brandt Gebel (Guthrie County State Bank); Melissa Loest (Edward Jones, Guthrie Center)

Best Guthrie County Florist

Panorama Gardens

Runners Up: B&B Marketplace; Stuart Flowers & Gifts

Best Guthrie County Golf Course

Lake Panorama National Golf Course

Runners Up: Guthrie Center Golf Course; Lake Panorama West Golf Course

Best Guthrie County Grocery Store

Hometown Foods (Guthrie Center)

Runners Up: Hometown Foods (Panora); Hometown Foods (Stuart)

Best Guthrie County Hair Salon

The Color Nook

Runners Up: HairJesser by Jessica Alsted; Main Street Hair Design

Best Guthrie County Happy Hour

The Captain’s Pick

Runners Up: Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar; Twin Vines

Best Guthrie County Hardware Store

Lake Lumber

Runners Up: Haver Lumber Company; Tractor Supply Company

Best Guthrie County Health Club/Gym

Reshape Fitness Studio

Runners Up: Active Health Solutions; Guthrie County Hospital Fitness Center

Best Guthrie County Home Builder

Donovan Construction LLC

Runners Up: Dave Arganbright Home Construction; JRL Builders

Best Guthrie County Home Improvement Contractor

Donovan Construction LLC

Runners Up: Dave Arganbright Home Construction; Laughery Construction LLC

Best Guthrie County Home Painter

Kunkle Painting

Runners Up: Baker Painting; Riggen Painting

Best Guthrie County HVAC Company

Doug’s Plumbing & Heating Inc.

Runners Up: Controlled Environments; Miller Plumbing, Heating & Electric

Best Guthrie County Insurance Agent (person)

Chris Arganbright

Runners Up: Danielle Yonker; Robert Carr

Best Guthrie County Landscaping Company

Leiferman Outdoor Services

Runners Up: Lakeside Landscapes; Wood Duck Landscapes

Best Guthrie County Lawn Care Business

Keaton Rhoades Lawn Care

Runners Up: JMJ Groundskeeping; Schwinger Lawn Service, Inc.

Best Guthrie County Library

Panora Library

Runners Up: Casey Public Library; Mary J Barnett Memorial Library

Best Guthrie County Local Band or Musician

Dale Menning & the Stardusters

Runners Up: Jake Kemble; Kile Jackson

Best Guthrie County Massage Therapist (person)

Jade Irlmeier

Runners Up: Erica Matthies; Rylie Claussen

Best Guthrie County Mexican Restaurant

Los Altos, Panora

Runners Up: Los Altos (Stuart); Orchard Family Restaurant (Guthrie Center)

Best Guthrie County Nursery or Garden Center

Panorama Gardens

Runner Up: Tractor Supply Company

Best Guthrie County Parent/Child Date Spot

Casey Creamery

Runners Up: Guthrie Center Aquatic Complex; Pedal-In

Best Guthrie County Park

Springbrook State Park

Runners Up: Michael Mills Memorial Park (Panora); Mitchell Park (Guthrie Center)

Best Guthrie County Pastor (person)

Pastor Jeremy Poland

Runners Up: Father Ray Higgins; Pastor Jolene James

Best Guthrie County Pest Control Company

Cyclone Pest Management

Runner Up: Paul’s Pest Control

Best Guthrie County Pharmacy

Dowd Drug

Runners Up: Medicap (Panora); Wright Pharmacy

Best Guthrie County Photographer

Betty Cooper

Runners Up: Mark Reno; Serenity & Bliss Photography

Best Guthrie County First Date Spot

The Captain’s Pick

Runners Up: Prime Time; The Port on Lake Panorama (now closed)

Best Guthrie County Place for a Field Trip

Springbrook State Park

Runners Up: Early Morning Harvest; Guthrie County Historical Village & Museum

Best Guthrie County Place for Guests to Stay

Lakeside Inn (now closed)

Runners Up: Lake Panorama National Resort; Midway Motel

Best Guthrie County Place for Pizza

The Lake Panorama Pizzeria

Runners Up: Casey’s General Store; The Stuart Scoop

Best Guthrie County Place to Buy Meat

Guthrie County Quality Meats

Runners Up: Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker; Downing’s Farm to Fork

Best Guthrie County Place to Hold an Event

The Captain’s Pick

Runners Up: Guthrie County Fairgrounds Event Center; Twin Vines

Best Guthrie County Place to Purchase Gifts for Her

B&B Marketplace

Runners Up: Dowd Drug; Tribe Boutique LLC

Best Guthrie County Place to Take Kids or Grandkids

Mitchell Park Aquatic Complex

Runners Up: Guthrie County Historical Village & Museum; Springbrook State Park

Best Guthrie County Place to Take your Dog

Lake Panorama Dog Park

Runners Up: Casey City Park; Guthrie County Veterinary Services

Best Guthrie County Plumber (business)

Doug’s Plumbing & Heating Inc

Dee Powell and Kane Powell with Lake Panorama Realty, which was voted Best Guthrie County Real Estate Company.

Runners Up: J5 Plumbing; Miller Plumbing, Heating & Electric

Best Guthrie County Real Estate Company

Lake Panorama Realty

Runners Up: Stuart Realty; Sunset Realty

Best Guthrie County Realtor (person)

Kane Powell

Runners Up: Laura Kemble; Vicki Crannell

Best Guthrie County Retail Store

B&B Marketplace

Runners Up: Old Soul Millennial; Tribe Boutique LLC

Best Guthrie County School

Panorama Community Schools

Runners Up: ACGC Community Schools; West Central Valley Community Schools

Best Guthrie County Senior Living Facility

The New Homestead

Runners Up: Lakeside Village; Community Care Center & The Willows 

Best Guthrie County Teacher

Cameron Little (Panorama)

Runners Up: Aly Dahlhauser (Panorama); Bob Bolton (ACGC)

Best Guthrie County Vehicle Detailing Business

Detailers Eye

Runners Up: Collision Concepts Inc.; Karl Chevrolet – Stuart

Best Guthrie County Veterinarian (person)

William Frels

Runners Up: Abby Frels; Seth Worthington

Best Guthrie County Wine Selection

Twin Vines

Runners Up: Local Liquor; The Captain’s Pick

Best Guthrie County Ice Cream Place

M&L Ice Cream

Runners Up: Casey Creamery; Pedal-In

Best Guthrie County Lunch Spot

Prime Time 

Runners Up: Café on the Hill; The Captain’s Pick

Best Guthrie County Place to Take Mom and Dad

The Captain’s Pick

Runners Up: Pioneers Pub & Grub; Prime Time 

Best Guthrie County Spot for Breakfast

Café on the Hill

Crafty’s Coffee received the most votes for Best Guthrie County Spot for Dessert.

Runners Up: Crafty’s Coffee & Gifts; The Sunny Spoon

Best Guthrie County Spot for Dessert

Crafty’s Coffee & Gifts

Runners Up: Casey Creamery; The Captain’s Pick

Best Guthrie County Coldest Beer

The Captain’s Pick

Runners Up: Local Liquor; Tin Lizzie’s Sports Bar

MANAGERS PROVIDE LPN AND LPA REPORTS

Sep 10, 2025 | News

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

About 40 LPA members attended the Aug. 29 managers coffee held at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. Updates were provided by John Rutledge, Lake Panorama Association (LPA) general manager, and Royce Shaffer, Lake Panorama National (LPN) director of operations. 

 

RIZ updates

Rutledge opened the meeting with a review of Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ), starting with details of a new wetland project. 

“The West Fork Burchfield Wetland will be a 3.3-acre wetland, filtering water from 568 acres. A 13.8-acre buffer will surround the water,” Rutledge said. “This is one of those projects that will look like it is not environmentally friendly as construction begins, because trees and clearing will be required. But, we can assure you this will be an outstanding addition to the lake’s water quality strategy.”

RIZ is partnering with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to cost share this $800,000 project with about half the total costs being reimbursed by IDALS to RIZ once the wetland is complete.

Rutledge said the 180th Trail Basin Culvert replacement project is complete. This is part of the broader 180th Trail Basin expansion project, which will provide sediment storage after space in the County Basin is exhausted.

Earlier this year, RIZ secured easement extensions for the County Basin on the northwest side of the lake by working with the family that owns a majority of the property there. 

“This is an outstanding achievement for RIZ, as it ensures we will fully utilize the basin,” Rutledge said. “The previous easements had finite timelines, but these now are open ended. This ensures we’ll be able to use this sediment basin until all the storage capacity has been used.” 

Rutledge said RIZ continues to work on plans to dredge Horseshoe Cove. An effort to acquire land for sediment storage is in the planning and acquisition phase. 

“This is progressing but not yet something we have finalized,” he said. “Our hope is to be able to dredge there in 2027.”

Efforts to expand the RIZ cover crop program continue. This involves offering financial incentives to landowners within the Lake Panorama watershed to use cover crops after harvest. 

“We pride ourselves on having the most streamlined and commonsense cover crop incentive program available,” Rutledge said. 

The RIZ 2024-25 fiscal year ended June 30. 

“RIZ hires the State of Iowa Auditor’s office to complete a formal audit every year,” Rutledge said. “As with past years, this year’s audit is going smoothly and without any concerns.”

Looking ahead, Rutledge said staff and board attention already is turning to the 2026 Iowa Legislative session. 

“Property tax and tax increment financing reform are on the agenda and will likely be a top priority for the Legislature this year. This is a highly complex topic, which we’ll be engaged in prior to and during the session,” he said. “We also will continue to watch any potential legislation regarding lakes, boating governance and HOAs. Our set of issues is very narrow in scope, but high in impact to the viability of Lake Panorama.”

 

LPA business 

Turning to LPA business, Rutledge said concerns about a dilapidated home in the Burchfield Cove area have been turned over to the LPA attorney and options are being pursued.

The old LPA marina building remains under review. 

“The current thought is to demolish the north two-thirds and repurpose the south one-third for security and public restrooms. We don’t have much new to report on this due to our team being occupied with other projects this summer, but we are looking at engineering plans,” he said. 

Rutledge said this summer’s rain has caused a lot of washouts and drainage issues. 

“Our team is working to address these, and we appreciate your patience,” he said.

 

Deer hunting

At the June 2025 board meeting, the LPA board approved the 2025-26 deer hunting program, with no changes. The program allows only archery and muzzleloader hunting in specific zones. It is open to LPA members and guests that must be accompanied by a member. Hunters must take two antlerless deer before taking a buck. The adult season starts Oct. 1, with youth season starting in mid-September.

A total of 111 antlerless deer were harvested in 2024-25, which Rutledge said is consistent with past seasons and LPA’s goals. 

“I can emphasize the goal of this program is to ensure a healthy herd population and not to eliminate deer from the association,” he said. 

 

Walking and cycling

Rutledge cautioned walkers and cyclists about using association roadways. He also discouraged walking or cycling on 200th Road and Redwood Road, which are county highways.

“LPA roads are not designed for curb and gutter, sidewalks and pedestrian use,” he said. “Those who choose to walk or cycle on LPA roads are strongly encouraged to wear bright or reflective clothing, walk against traffic, and ensure their hearing is not impaired with headphones. Walking groups should yield the roadway by falling into single file and letting vehicles pass.” 

 

Dam repair

LPA has the Weitz Corporation under contract for the dam cylinder replacement at a cost of $158,000. The lake will begin lowering Oct. 1. 

Rutledge said the LPA water department is working with ISG Engineering on some system modeling, which will help dictate future infrastructure replacement and upgrades. 

“This modeling will help us learn how changes would impact water pressure and flow,” he said. “In particular, we’re looking at the Christmas Tree Point lake crossing plus a booster station to address pressure concerns along Chimra Road and neighboring areas.”

 

Budget and dues increases

Work on the 2026 LPA budget is underway. 

“This highlights our current underfunded position,” Rutledge said. “We appreciate the membership support of a conversation about dues increases, and we will take you up on this very soon. Unfortunately, we have a small team, and it’s very challenging to tackle these extra projects.” 

 

Condos and restaurant building

Rutledge said a property development agreement between the LPA and Rob Manning for a condo and restaurant building on the lake’s main basin is close to being finalized. 

“This is a very complex process,” he said. “I can report most of the comments brought up at the Aug. 5 public forum have been addressed in this agreement.” 

 

Wake boats

The LPA Water Safety Committee will meet Sept. 16 to develop recommendations to the LPA board in advance of the 2026 boating season. The topics of wake boats and boat density will be on the agenda. 

Rutledge responded to concerns being raised in Wisconsin and Minnesota of wake boats destroying underwater vegetation that impacts fishing in clear water lakes in those states. 

“Because it is a manmade lake on a river, Lake Panorama does not have underwater vegetation that benefits fish habitat, so that is not a concern,” he said. “However, concerns about safe usage and the impact on shorelines are up for discussion.”

 

LPN news

Shaffer has been the LPN Resort director of operations since the fall of 2023. He opened his report with an update on The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. 

“The feedback has been very good since we entered into a new lease and services agreement last spring,” he said. “John Rutledge, Galen Redshaw, representing the LPN board of managers, and myself meet monthly with Ted Hawley and Joe Wells. We discuss what is going well, any issues they are having, and any needs they have. These meetings have been great to keep communication open.”

Shaffer said there has been an ongoing discussion about the feasibility of weekday lunch service. 

“Lunch shifts have been close to breakeven or even a slight loss, plus the staff workload is significant,” he said. “This is why lunch hours were adjusted in mid-August. On Wednesday and Thursday, kitchen hours now are 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Lunch continues on Friday and Saturday, with hours on those days 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.” 

Shaffer suggested LPA members consider The Captain’s Pick for catering and hosting fall and winter events. He also suggested members follow The Captain’s Pick Facebook page for fall specials and events.

“Negotiations will begin soon for a multi-year lease and services agreement,” Shaffer said. “Our goal is to have a new agreement in place sometime this fall. We want the current momentum to continue.” 

Shaffer said the LPN golf course is having a solid year with 224 seasonal golf passes sold. Green fee revenue is up 7% in 2025 compared to 2024. Men’s and women’s leagues wrapped up the last week in August with good participation numbers. 

“The golf course is in good shape heading into early fall,” he said. “Thanks to Brandon Waddle, Jared Baier and their staff who continue to do excellent work maintaining playing conditions at LPN.” 

Turning to the LPN Capital Fundraising Campaign, Shaffer said he wanted to thank the 56 individuals and companies who donated in the last two years. 

“The support of these people along with those who have participated in fundraising events are making a real impact on LPN,” he said.

Renovations will be done on the LPN driving range tee box in September, completely funded through the LPN capital campaign. The deteriorating railroad tie wall will be replaced with a new block wall. A synthetic grass tee line will be installed along the back of the tee box for use when the natural turf needs recovery time.

The next fundraising event is Sunday, Oct. 19. This “20 Men Who Can Cook” social event will have 20 local men preparing their favorite dishes to be sampled by those in attendance. There is no formal program.

There will be a cash bar open 4-7 p.m., with food samples available 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door. More details and ticket information is on the LPN website resort calendar.

Shaffer said at Panorama West, 118 seasonal passes were sold. Play is down slightly this season with green fees down 5% in 2025 compared to 2024.

“Panorama West is in good condition as we head into fall. We are aware of some weed and turf issues on a few tee boxes that we continue to discuss and try different options to remedy,” he said. “Special thanks to Jeff Muench, who was hired in May, for his great work learning the ropes and maintaining Panorama West.”

Shaffer said the LPN Resort pool had another busy season with 71 season passes sold.

“Water aerobics continues to be popular on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” he said. “Thank you to Nancy Clawson and Jennifer Dilley for leading these classes.”

The pool and spa season ends Sept. 28. Public hours for the month of September are 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.

Following their prepared remarks, Rutledge and Shaffer fielded questions and comments from the audience. The next managers coffee will be sometime in early December and announced in the Panorama Prompt once scheduled.  

BEAUTIFY AND EXPAND YOUR INDOOR GARDEN

BEAUTIFY AND EXPAND YOUR INDOOR GARDEN

Sep 10, 2025 | Gardening/Landscaping

By Melinda Myers | Special to Lake Panorama Times

Keep your houseplants looking their best with a bit of pinching, trimming and cleanup. A few well-placed snips can improve a plant’s appearance and create cuttings to start new plants.

 Start by removing any dead stems and leaves. Improve the overall beauty of spider plants, dracaenas and palms by trimming away the brown leaf tips caused by fluoride from tap water accumulating in the leaves. Avoid the problem by using rainwater, well water or water treated by reverse osmosis.

 Trimming to improve the plant’s growth habit and size can provide immediate and long-term benefits. Removing a small or large portion of the stem tip encourages the plant to form more branches and compact growth. When you remove the stem tip, you reduce the amount of the growth hormone auxin that promotes upward growth and discourages branching.

 Encourage more branching without greatly reducing the plant’s size with a soft pinch. Remove just the uppermost portion of the stem where new leaves are developing. Use a hard pinch to remove the tip and several inches of the leafy stem when you want to reduce the overall size and promote fuller growth on leggy plants. 

 Make a clean cut using sharp micro snips or pruners like Corona’s houseplant pruners (coronatools.com). The rust proof, stainless steel blades can cut up to 1/4” in diameter and are shaped to make it easier to cut the intended leaves and stems. Your plant will look better, and the wound will close more quickly.

Avoid leaving stubs and keep the plant looking its best by making cuts above a set of healthy leaves or a node, the place where leaves once grew. Pruning elsewhere distracts from the plant’s appearance and the stubs create entryways for insects and disease.

When you finish pinching and pruning, do a bit of cleanup. Use a dry or damp soft cloth to wipe away any dust that accumulates on the leaves. Use a cosmetic brush to clean fuzzy leaved plants like African violets. Or give your plants a gentle warm shower in the sink or tub. Wrap the pot in a plastic bag if needed to keep soil out of the drain and plumbing. Removing the dust allows more light to reach the leaves for photosynthesis which is essential for plant growth.

 Use the trimmings from heirloom and non-patented plants to expand your houseplant collection. It’s easy to start new plants from leaf stem cuttings of various houseplants like inch plants, philodendron, pothos, dieffenbachias, dracaenas and many more. Use a sharp knife, snips or bypass pruners to cut 3- to 6-inch-long pieces from firm, mature non-woody stems.

 Remove the lowest leaf or two from the stem where roots will form. Stick the cutting in a small container filled with vermiculate, perlite or a well-drained potting mix. Loosely cover the potted cutting with a plastic bag left open at the top to increase the humidity around the cutting while it forms roots.  Set the container in a bright location out of direct sun for several weeks as the roots develop. Once rooted, pot it up and place it in a space that receives the sunlight it prefers.

 You’ll be amazed at how a bit of grooming and propagating can perk up a tired indoor garden.  Share or trade extra rooted cuttings with family and friends so each of you can grow your indoor garden and memories.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the “Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition” and “Small Space Gardening.” She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Corona Tools for her expertise to write this article.

GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITS ST. THOMAS MORE CENTER

GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITS ST. THOMAS MORE CENTER

Sep 10, 2025 | News

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

A golf tournament held Aug. 2 at Lake Panorama National made it possible to donate a new gas grill to the St. Thomas More Center, located at Lake Panorama.

The tournament was organized by the St. Cecilia Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal service organization founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. The Knights operate under four principals — charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.

Golf was followed by dinner, a raffle and awards at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. Here Dave Greiner announces the winner of one of the raffle items, while Dan Wilhelmi and Rick Langel look on.

The organization hosts a statewide golf tournament annually. The St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Panora was the host council for the golf event with Rick Langel and Dave Greiner as co-chairs. Sixteen teams from across Iowa competed in a scramble format.

Father Ray Higgins, pastor for Catholic churches in Panora, Guthrie Center and Bayard, offered a blessing to start the tournament. The golf was followed by dinner, a raffle and awards at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. 

St. Thomas More Center is the home of Catholic Youth Camp, which serves young people from throughout the Diocese of Des Moines and beyond. Every summer, 2,000 children and young adults gather for a week of camp where they can discover adventure, live and play in a welcoming community, and grow in their faith. From September through May, St. Thomas More Center offers a place for retreat and reflection.

Proceeds from these annual Knights of Columbus golf tournaments are distributed locally. The St. Cecilia Knights chose the St. Thomas More Center as the beneficiary of this year’s tournament. The result was the purchase of a 72-inch Holstein Manufacturing Professional Commercial Stainless Steel Gas Grill. 

PANORAMA WEST GOLF COURSE BATHROOMS RECEIVE FACELIFTS

PANORAMA WEST GOLF COURSE BATHROOMS RECEIVE FACELIFTS

Sep 10, 2025 | News

By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times

The condition of the two-stall bathroom on the south side of the Panorama West golf course before renovations began.

The two on-course bathrooms at the Panorama West golf course are getting some much-needed updates this fall. The work was made possible because of memorial gifts to Friends of Lake Panorama. 

Robert “Bob” White passed away Oct. 19, 2024. He and his wife, Betty, had a home at Lake Panorama for 37 years before moving away in the spring of 2024. White’s family suggested Friends of Lake Panorama as one place where memorial gifts could be given.  

More than $700 was donated to Friends in Bob White’s memory. Bob and Betty White were instrumental in getting the Panorama West clubhouse built and have a family bench on the golf course. After a discussion with the White family, it was decided the memorial funds should be used to update the golf course bathrooms. 

Chris Cox, Lake Panorama National (LPN) facility maintenance coordinator, evaluated both buildings last November and put together a plan. The Friends board agreed to provide additional money for materials from its general fund to be combined with the White memorial donations.  

The Panorama West golf course bathroom with the completed renovations.

This work involves replacing the siding on the two-stall south bathroom, but not the one-stall north one, where the siding is in better condition. Both bathrooms are getting new trim added to the bottom of the exterior paneling, all three doors will be sealed with foam, interior trim added around the doors, new door sweeps installed on all three doors, ceiling air vents grated, floor drains grated and the exterior of both bathrooms painted.

Cox has completed work on the south building, and plans to renovate the north building before the end of the year.