INSIDE PRSRTPRSRT STDSTD U.S.ECRWSS POSTAGE EDDM BUSINESS NEWS TO COME, U.S.PAID POSTAGE BIGPAID GREEN UMBRELLABIG GREEN MEDIA UMBRELLA MEDIA ECRWSS SKI TEAM IMPRESSES AND RESIDENTIALPOSTAL CUSTOMER CUSTOMER BIGBIG GREEN UMBRELLAUMBRELLA MEDIA MEDIA 56198101 N.W.Birchwood 86th St.,Ct. Ste. #600 D LAKE HUMOR RETURNS PAGE 2 Johnston,Johnston, Iowa 5013150131 FREE ON NEWSSTANDS A BIG GREEN UMBRELLA MEDIA PUBLICATION WWW.LAKEPANORAMATIMES.COM SEPTEMBER 2021 | VOLUME 52 | NUMBER 9 RACCOON RIVER VALLEY TRAIL RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION RRVT is the 35th inductee into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame and only the second Iowa trail to receive this honor. BY SUSAN THOMPSON Lake Panorama Times The 89-mile Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) is the oldest and longest paved loop trail in the United States. On Aug. 12, the Rails-to-Trails Con- servancy (RTC) announced the RRVT as its 2021 inductee into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. RTC began recognizing rail-trails around the country in 2007. Nom- inations for the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame are accepted annually with potential inductees chosen based on such things as scenic value, high use, amenities, historical significance and community value. Also nominated for 2021 were Dela- ware’s Georgetown–Lewes Trail and Junction & Breakwater Trail, and New Hampshire’s Northern Rail Trail. Next came a public vote, begin- ning July 30 and ending Aug. 6. More than 38,000 votes were cast, which broke the record for the number of votes in a year. The Raccoon River Valley Trail received more than 16,000 votes, for 42% of the total. Panora is one of 14 communities along the trail. A group from Pano- ra representing the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association can claim some of the credit for that impres- sive voter turnout. Sandy Lowe of Panora is board chairperson for the Barb Wollner, Sandy Lowe and Robin Dorr at the RRVT trailhead in Panora with backpacks they distributed at the RAGBRAI Expo in Le association. She and others set up Mars on July 24. The backpacks included information about the trail and gave the trio the opportunity to promote votes for the RRVT in the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame contest. RRVT, PAGE 3 Lake Panorama residents honored at Iowa State Fair Bill and Connie Ridgley were named “Iowans of the Day.” BY SUSAN THOMPSON Lake Panorama Times On Aug. 19, Bill and Connie Ridg- ley of Panora were named “Iowans of the Day” at the 2021 Iowa State Fair. The Ridgleys have been full- time Lake Panorama residents since 2005. The couple is best known for their work with Tori’s Angels. This non- profit foundation assists families of Iowa children with life-threat- ening medical challenges by pay- ing travel expenses to treatment, Speed Herrig, owner of Cookies Food Products, presents a as well as medical copays, deduct- plaque to Bill and Connie Ridgley on Aug. 19 at the Iowa ibles and medications not covered State Fair. Cookies and the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon A sign welcomes users to the Guthrie County portion of the Raccoon River Valley by insurance. Foundation co-sponsor the Iowan of the Day award, which is Trail. A total of 21 miles of the 89-mile trail are within Guthrie County. TORI’S ANGELS, PAGE 4 given to a different recipient each day of the fair. Save an average of $894.* Protect yourself with America’s #1 car and home insurance company.** Protect: Your car. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY. Your house. Robert Carr Insurance Agcy Inc Robert Carr, Agent Your bank account. *Average annual household savings based on national 2016 survey of new policyholders who reported savings by switching to State Farm. **Based on A.M. Best written premium. 111 S. 4th Street State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL Guthrie Center, IA 50115 State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL, Bus: 641-332-2263 1005002.1 State Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, FL, State Farm Lloyds, Dallas, TX PAGE 2 | LAKE PANORAMA TIMES | SEPTEMBER EDITION 2021 | WWW.LAKEPANORAMATIMES.COM ON THE LAKE Van’s Tree Tech 515-720-2874 BUSINESS NEWS TO Call Larry! Spring Applications Emerald Ash Borer COME, SKI TEAM Treatments Burr Oak Blight Treatments IMPRESSES AND LAKE HUMOR RETURNS BY SHANE GOODMAN ers (mostly from prior genera- Editor and Publisher tions) at a show a few decades ago, but I could not recall ex- A couple new ideas actly what to expect. My wife, Larry Van Otterloo MW-0275A From time to time, we share Jolene, was part of the team in local business stories about the early years, and she gave lake residents and what they me the play-by-play of how do for a living, as well as stories difficult the various displays about merchants in Panora were. The skiers had 17 perfor- and Guthrie County. And if mances in Act I and another www.vanstreetech.com you read this column regularly, nine in Act II, including bare- you know how strongly I feel foot, flags, pyramids, slalom about the need to support our tricks, trick skis, swivel skis, Deep Root Fertilization • Insect and Disease Control local businesses. With that ski lines, dock slides, saucers in mind, we are planning to and much more. A big thanks Shane Goodman bring a business page to this to Dan and Kathy York for the newspaper each month with years of work they have put into box each weekday morning. business stories, photos, col- this and to all the skiers who Subscribe or unsubscribe It shouldn’t take four days with no power, water, or umns and event listings. If you made the show so entertain- anytime at www.thedaily- have items to share or ideas ing. While the show is free to umbrella.com. communication to find out who your friends are. to suggest, please send to me. attend each year, and all mem- We are also working on a Lake humor service directory, providing bers are amateur volunteers, they do graciously accept do- I haven’t shared any cheesy a simple, low-cost advertis- lake jokes for a while, so here’s ing option for service industry nations to help fund the cost of gas, skis and repairs. Check one for you: A couple of men BUT professionals like deck build- were on the lake in a kayak out www.lakepanoramask- ers, plumbers, electricians, when they started getting cold. inspectors, tree trimmers and ishow.com for photos, details When they lit a fire in their more. We hope this will be a on each performance, or to craft, it immediately began helpful resource for readers make any donations. SOMETIMES to sink, proving once and for who need to hire folks to do this work and professionals Join me at The Daily Umbrella all that you can’t have your who need to find customers. If you appreciate my columns kayak and heat it, too. Look for more on both of and can’t wait till next month, Enjoy the remainder of IT DOES. these features next month. join me at www.thedailyum- your summer, and, as always, And that’s the Silver Lining®. brella.com where you will find thanks for reading. n Ski team impresses my daily posts, news stories, To find out more about the Silver Lining, contact Hats off (or maybe skis up?) to things to do, sports scores, Shane Goodman the Lake Panorama Ski Team photos, weather, job listings Editor and Publisher for an impressive show at Pan- and a joke of the day — all [email protected] orama Days. I had seen ski- delivered to your email in- 515-953-4822, ext. 305 128 W. Main St. • Panora, IA 50216 641-755-2123 WANT TO REACH LAKE PANORAMA RESIDENTS? Contact me today! Stormy Miller 515-822-2531 • [email protected] THE INNOVATION REBATE THE INNOVATION REBATE GET UP TO $2,000 Locally Owned BACK ON SELECT SMARTER COOKING APPLIANCE PACKAGES. OFFER VALID JULY 1 THRU DECEMBERGET 31, UP2021 TO $2,000 618 GREENE STREET,BACK ADEL ON SELECT• 515.993.4241 SMARTER • WWW.ARCHERHOMECENTER.COM COOKING APPLIANCE PACKAGES. OFFER VALID JULY 1 THRU DECEMBER 31, 2021 WWW.LAKEPANORAMATIMES.COM | SEPTEMBER EDITION 2021 | LAKE PANORAMA TIMES | PAGE 3 RRVT FROM PAGE 1 The RRVT Association sponsored a booth July 24 at the RAGBRAI Expo in Le Mars Although many of the users of the RRVT are bikers, the trail also is used by others, to promote votes for the Raccoon River Valley Trail in the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame including walkers, runners and snowmobilers. These snowmobilers are headed south of competition. Shown left to right are Barb Wollner, Robin Dorr, Sandy Lowe, all of Panora near PJ’s Drive-In. Panora, and Maria Steele and Pat Steele, Adel. Photo by Scott Sumpter, Bike Iowa a booth at the RAGBRAI expo in for the video in his son’s recording Le Mars on July 24, the day before studio before leaving.” the annual ride across Iowa began. Once the RRVT Association was Lowe, Barb Wollner and Robin notified the trail Hall of Fame nomi- Dorr handed out 2,500 drawstring nation had been made public, the backpacks to those attending the scramble was on to promote votes. expo and encouraged them to vote Lowe created posters to hang at the for RRVT in the contest. Lowe, Woll- booth that included a QR code for of the RRVT Association board of the Raccoon River. A ribbon cutting directors. Sandy Leiferman, who was held Aug.