When the Bell Tower of Fame Award began 37 years ago, “There were those in our community who thought we would surely run out of people to honor. But we haven’t. And, thanks to the efforts of many nominators, the honorees’ accomplishments have spun the globe,” says Carole Custer, chair of the selection committee. The award has honored residents from the east and west coasts, from the south to the north, and also from Greene County. Recipients have lived in Jefferson, Paton, Grand Junction, Rippey, Scranton and Dana. Continue reading 2020 Bell Tower of Fame Award deadline announced →

The Bell Tower Festival will be held on June 12 – 13 in Jefferson, and this is a great time for class reunions to meet. Ann Ostendorf has been the volunteer class reunion contact for years and invites those classes planning reunions to contact her. Please give Ostendorf a class contact name, email address and phone along with any plans that have been made. Contact her at 515-370-1397 or ostee [at] netins [dot] net Continue reading Class reunions meet at Bell Tower Festival →

Residents should prepare to take precautions due to a cold front predicted to pass through Iowa Wednesday afternoon and evening. Greene County is in a wind chill advisory for Thursday morning, while neighboring counties to the north are in a wind chill warning.

Continue reading Dangerous cold is on its way →

~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline

The Greene County board of supervisors at its Feb. 6 meeting approved setting a public hearing for a proposed property tax levy in Greene County. The hearing will be Feb. 24 at 9 am in the supervisors’ boardroom at the courthouse. Taxpayers will see a decrease in the levy rates due to trimmed expenses and increased total taxable valuations. Continue reading County property tax levies to decrease slightly →

The following Greene County townships have scheduled public hearings for their budgets for Fiscal Year ’21 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021:

Jackson – Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 1 pm in the courthouse board room. Tom Lawton, clerk.

Scranton – Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 2 pm at the Marchant Memorial Library in Scranton. Deb Fey, clerk.

Franklin – Monday, Feb. 24, at 1 pm in the courthouse board room. Carla Offenburger, clerk.

The public is encouraged to attend to gain information on how their tax dollars will be spent.

Two persons – Sean Sebourn and Patrick Zmolek – are on the ballot for the March 3 special election for a Jefferson city council person.

The winner will serve the two years remaining of the term Matt Gordon left when he was elected mayor last November. Continue reading Sebourn, Zmolek on ballot in Jeff special election →

A can that’s been kicked down the road by Greene County supervisors for decades was seemingly kicked again at the supervisors’ regular meeting Feb. 3. The supervisors agreed with a recommendation by a BBS (formerly Brooks Borg Skiles) mechanical engineer that the balance of a contract for design services for a new HVAC system and window replacement for the courthouse be suspended.

That was the quiet end, or at least another postponement, of a $1.4 million project the supervisors had agreed to in May 2018. Continue reading New HVAC at courthouse postponed, again →

Greene County Libertarians will hold a caucus Saturday, Feb. 8, at 1 pm in the basement meeting room at the Jefferson public library.

Even those who are currently registered with another party may attend, register as a Libertarian, and caucus for their preferred candidate. Continue reading Libertarians to hold caucus Saturday →

Jefferson is one of eight communities selected as a semifinalist for the Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). Given out by the National Main Street Center, the award recognizes communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.

“The Great American Main Street Award is a top honor within the commercial district revitalization field,” said Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center. “These eight outstanding semifinalists have demonstrated the impressive economic and community growth that is possible when commercial districts harness the power of the Main Street Approach. They’re a model for Main Street programs across the country working to achieve comprehensive, preservation-based revitalization.” Continue reading Jefferson semifinalist for national Main Street award →

Historical Society hosting free lunch, party at the museum

~by Chuck Offenburger for the Greene County Historical Society

Wednesday, Feb. 12, will be the 211th birthday of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, and the Greene County Iowa Historical Society is having a new kind of event that day to honor the president — a “Lincoln Lunch & Birthday Party” at the museum in Jefferson, beginning at 11 am. Continue reading Happy Birthday, President Lincoln! →

The Thomas Jefferson Gardens board will hold the second “Meet your Legislator” of the 2020 Session on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Welcome Center on the southeast side of the square in Jefferson.

The meeting will begin at 10:30 am, which is earlier than previous events. This added time comes at the request of a Jefferson resident, and the TJ Gardens board is pleased the elected officials agreed to a lengthened visit. Continue reading ‘Meet your Legislator’ this Saturday morning →

Every three years Greene County Extension organizes an adult professional development program that builds dynamic leaders. Greene Leadership 2020 focuses on maximizing individual strengths and skills that translate to enhanced professional development and increased community involvement. Beginning March 5 for four consecutive Thursdays, this year’s workshops will cover a variety of topics. Continue reading Registration open for Greene Leadership 2020 →