Utility & Telecommunication Providers

Water: City of Panama
Gas: Propane with Multiple Providers
Electricity: MidAmerican Energy Company
Phone: Windstream
Internet: Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company
Cable: Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company
Cellular: Cellular One, Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company, and Verizon
Rail: Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Rail Service

Government
Mayor and City Council

City Zoning? Yes

Police Protection
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department

School
Harlan Community Schools (PreK-12)
www.harlan.k12.ia.us/
Shelby County Catholic Schools (PreK-8)
www.shelcocath.pvt.k12.ia.us/

Top Businesses
Panama is proud of all its diversified businesses (over 20 in the community) including Panama Transfer, the largest employer.

Panama Transfer operates out of a 36-door terminal in Panama as well as two new 24-door state-of-the-art terminals in Wellsburg, IA and Richland, IA. The company also maintains terminal facilities in Omaha, NE; Humboldt, NE; Des Moines, IA; Sioux Falls, SD; Fargo, ND; Lawrence, KS; Camdenton, MO; Danville, KY; Chicago, IL; Nashville, IL; Trimont, MN; St. Cloud, MN; Duluth, MN; Atlanta, GA; Hudson, WI; Milwaukee, WI; and La Crosse, WI.

Norma Jean's is well known for being one of the best restaurants in the county. Clad in Marilyn Monroe memorobilia, this eatery always features a lively atmosphere and an assortment of delicious cuisine.

The Main Street Market is the grocery store in town. It offers not only groceries but lunches, pizza and subs, catering, and fresh baked items.

See Labor and Business for a full list of businesses by category.

Churches
St. Mary’s Catholic Church – on the tour of the German Villages.

Groups
4-H Club, CYO Basketball, Golden Age Club, Little League Baseball, Panama Sewing Circle

Community Activities

Panama Young Mothers Group
A source of considerable pride. This organization works to make their community better. Formed in 1992, the Panama Young Mothers has improved the playground, tennis courts, and school, and helped needy families during holidays.

Tourist Attractions

St. Mary’s Catholic Church
German Catholic immigrants completed construction in 1908 featuring Gothic style architecture, which is enhanced by a magnificent high altar and pillar supported arches. Stained glass windows depict the lives of the Holy Family and early church saints and the handsome Rose Window decorates the tower. Also worthy of mention is the three-dimensional replica of the Lord’s Supper on the front altar. The congregation is in the process of raising funds for a new parish hall.

St. Mary’s Church Picnic
Held annually in June with an auction, music, chicken supper, games for children and adults, raffles, good food, and a tractor pull. H. A. Tarkington Burial Site – County judge of the now defunct City of Shelbyville in the 1840s to 1860s. He is well known for his activities as a Methodist minister and believed to be one of those who brought the Methodist religion to Shelby County.

Whispering Pines Park
Began in 1928 as an educational project and grew to over 2,000 seedlings, trees, and shrubs.