WEST DES MOINES – In his 2015 Condition of the State Address titled “Together We Can,” Governor Branstad yesterday called for a commitment to infrastructure investment and a bipartisan solution to address road and bridge funding. County officials across the state are encouraged by the Governor’s recognition that our state’s safety, economic growth, tourism, and continued prosperity are dependent on an…
Read MoreDay: January 14, 2015
When the weather outside is frightful…
~a column by Colleen O’Brien When it gets so cold all you want to do is stay under the blankets and not go outside till spring, but for good reason — work, school, the sick cat — you have to go out anyway, some of the rules have changed.
Read MoreGrow Greene County tells thoughts on gaming funds
Interest in how Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation will distribute the charitable funds generated by Wild Rose Jefferson is high, at least in Jefferson. About 40 persons attended a “town hall” meeting Sunday at the Extension office in Jefferson. Six persons attended a similar meeting held earlier Sunday in Scranton. The meetings continue Thursday, Jan. 15, and Monday, Jan. 19,…
Read MoreJeff council okays use of hotel/motel tax for Welcome Center
Phase II construction on the interior can now move forward After more than an hour of discussion the Jefferson city council approved at its regular meeting Tuesday using hotel/motel tax revenues to pay principal and interest on a construction loan, utilities and insurance during the interior construction phase of the new Welcome Center inside the Thomas Jefferson Gardens.
Read MoreDavid Higgins ends 25 years on Extension Council
In a rural county such as Greene, Iowa State University Extension plays an important role in youth programming, agriculture and community development, and many people can name a staff person or two in the office. Those staff people are the “face” of Extension, but as in many things, there are other people behind the scene. David Higgins, as a member…
Read MoreGreene County Chamber holds annual meeting
Greene County Chamber and Development highlighted successes of 2014 and previewed 2015 at its annual dinner and meeting Jan. 12 at the Elks lodge in Jefferson. About 80 members and guests were present for the evening, which concluded with History Boy Theatre’s two-person production of “The Flight of the Lawn Chair Man.” Chamber president Ben Yoder introduced guests and served…
Read MoreRRVT named an Iowa Great Place for tourism
The honor also comes with a $200,000 grant; and a major new event scheduled on the trail will bring overnight guests to Jefferson ~by Chuck Offenburger, RRVT With the cold, snowy weather recently, it may look quiet on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. But there is a whole lot happening to help make the trail a major tourism attraction. On…
Read More‘Reading is So Delicious!’ at the Jefferson public library
Winter reading program for adults The Jefferson public library is holding its sixth annual adult winter reading program Jan. 12 through March 14. This year’s theme, “Reading is So Delicious!” will explore the library’s collection of books with a food or cooking theme. “Whet your appetite with a buffet of delectable books,” said library director Jane Millard.
Read MoreComp board suggests 3 percent pay increases
Union employees receiving 2.5 percent increases The Greene County compensation board will recommend to the county board of supervisors a 3 percent pay increase for county elected officials for fiscal year 2016, just as it did four of the last five years. The compensation board came to that recommendation at an eight minute long meeting Monday morning.
Read MoreGreene County 4-H Clover Kids program starts next month
Youngsters in kindergarten through third grades interested in activities to begin building life skills like setting goals will have the opportunity to participate in the Greene County 4-H Clover Kids program this spring.
Read MoreNew Kids Station at Scranton library
The Scranton public library recently introduced the newest addition: an advanced Kids Education Station. The Jefferson Rotary along with the Library Foundation and the Friends of the Scranton Library generously donated the funds for this improvement to the library. Along with a touch screen, smaller and easier to use mouse, and color coded keyboard, this computer comes packed with a…
Read MoreGCDC’s Paxton to introduce Branstad at inauguration
Efforts to make Jefferson and Greene County the first Home Base Iowa community have garnered Ken Paxton, executive director of Greene County Development Corporation, a role in Gov Terry Branstad’s inauguration this Friday. Paxton has the honor of introducing the governor at the swearing in ceremony at 4 pm at the capitol.
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