Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity is continuing its Helping Hands projects this summer.

A pair of homes in Jefferson have been identified for work and two other Greene County homes are in the process of being confirmed. Continue reading Helping Hands projects planned by Habitat for Humanity →

Anyone who is warned by a Jefferson police officer that he may be tazed should take note: not only will he be dropped to the ground by a loss of muscle function, but he’ll also be charged $45 for the taser cartridge.

The additional charge was added to the city’s fee schedule at the city council’s June 11 meeting. Continue reading Warning: Being tazed in Jefferson will cost you extra →

The county supervisors may revisit their June 4 decision not to allow beer sales along the RAGBRAI® route.

Steve Linn, representing Backpocket Brewing, discussed the denial of the permit for the company to sell beer July 23 along Highway 25 six miles south of Scranton. The supervisors cited safety and the reason for the denial. Continue reading Supes may revisit RAGBRAI beer permit →

“Embrace Change”

Jolene Peters repeated as first place winner in the people’s choice voting in the third annual Ring Out for Art sculpture contest held as part of the Bell Tower Festival.
Peters received $2,000 from contest sponsor Home State Bank for her colorful sculpture, “Embrace Change.” Last year, “We Are Greene County,” which Peters and Shane Olson created together, was awarded first place. Continue reading Winner told in Ring Out for Art contest →

New wayfinding signs will be in place before RAGBRAI® comes to Jefferson July 23, city administrator Mike Palmer told the county supervisors in his quarterly update Monday. The signs will be on break-away posts set in a 2’ X 5’ caisson. Prison Industries is working on the signs now.

Signs have been taken down from the former Pizza Ranch building after the Pizza Ranch corporation said another franchisee would not be coming to Jefferson. The city is in the process of hiring a contractor to remove the decorative front to expose the original storefronts. Palmer said the inside still smells of smoke “but it’s not too bad.” Continue reading Update on wayfinding, city-owned buildings, E. entryway →

After Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer gave his quarterly update of city activities to the Greene County board of supervisors Monday, board chair John Muir broached the subject of city participation in assuring ambulance service is available to city and county residents. Continue reading City invited to discussions about ambulance service →

County treasurer Donna Lawson and her staff will hold the annual county tax sale Monday, June 18, at 9 am in the board room at the courthouse.

This year’s tax sale will take place without the worry of the 2017 sale. As of late Tuesday, there were 114 parcels listed on the sale with a total of just more than $54,400 in unpaid taxes. Taxes on 30 parcels have been paid since the legal notice of the sale was published a week ago. Continue reading Delinquent tax sale slated for Monday →

While hot and dry conditions allowed many farmers to get caught up on fieldwork, others could do nothing but watch it rain during the week ending June 10, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included hay harvest, wrapping up planting for the year and post-emergent weed and fertilizer applications. Continue reading Corn, soybeans doing well →

The driver’s license station at the Greene County treasurer’s office will be closed the week of June 18-22. It will re-open Monday, June 25. The treasurer’s office will be open for all other functions.

Also, the treasurer’s office will close at 4 pm on Friday, June 29, for the annual cash count at the end of the fiscal year.

The 38th annual Bell Tower Festival opened Friday evening in Jefferson, with Terry Rich, 1970 Jefferson High School graduate and now president and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, receiving the Bell Tower of Fame Award.

The festival’s opening ceremony began with Wendy Vander Linden playing the National Anthem on the Mahanay Memorial Carillon. Greene County Chamber and Tourism president Mike Holden was emcee, and festival steering committee chair Emily Neese spoke briefly.

Carole Custer presented the Bell Tower of Fame Award. She noted Rich’s Greene County roots and his work for the Blank Park Zoo and the Iowa Lottery. He is an entrepreneur and author, having published “Dare to Dream, Dare to Act” two years ago. Continue reading 38th annual Bell Tower Festival under way →

RAGBRAI® riders will find no roadside “watering holes” in Greene County. The county supervisors on Monday denied a temporary class B permit for Backpocket Brewing. The company wanted to open a beer tent July 23 on Highway 25 five miles south of Scranton.
The supervisors’ reasoning involved public safety. “You’ve got free enterprise, but you also have to look out for safety,” supervisor Pete Bardole said. “Law enforcement is going to be stretched thin that day.” Continue reading Supervisors nix ‘Beer Fest Across Greene County’ →

Chuck and Carla Offenburger were presented with the Greene County Impact Award Sunday at a ceremony in the courthouse rotunda. About 30 friends and relatives attended the afternoon event.

Jerry Roberts served as emcee. The Offenburgers have lived in Greene County 14 years; they’re the ninth recipient of the award. “We’re so blessed to have so many people who participate on a countywide basis,” Roberts said. The award is given to a person or group whose service has benefited not just one community, but all of Greene County. Continue reading Impact Award to Chuck and Carla Offenburger →