LEGO Tamer Challenge comes to Bell Tower Big Top

Last year’s Bell Tower Festival Yellow Brick Challenge is returning this year as the LEGO® Tamer Challenge. Hosted by Greene Bean Coffee and co-sponsored by GreeneCountyNewsOnline, the contest invites participants to “step right up” and build and show off an original LEGO® creation based on the 2015 Festival theme of Bell Tower Big Top.

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Good food next Sunday

Breakfast at the Elks, homemade ice cream in Rippey Sunday, June 7, will be Good Food Sunday in Greene County. The Jefferson Elks lodge will serve breakfast from 9 am to noon at the lodge. The spread will include ham and egg casserole and French toast casserole, biscuits and gravy, bacon, fruit, and beverages. Tickets will be available at the…

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Call to artists: Festival art show is near

All area artists are reminded that it’s time to select art of any media – paintings, sculpture, pottery, fabric, photography and mixed media – for the Bell Tower Festival art show. Art lovers who want to share favorites from their private collections are also invited to display those items during the show.

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Pair of Rams at State Special Olympics

Greene County Rams were among the  2,600 athletes, 1,200 coaches and 2,000 volunteers who came together for the 31st Special Olympics Iowa Track and Field Summer Games held in Ames at Iowa State University.  All competitors are first place district winners and are grouped according to age. Greene County had a pair of state winners.  Nick Walsh (right) placed fourth in the running…

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JPRD is part of Bell Tower Big Top fun

The Jefferson park and recreation department will be part of the big show at Bell Tower Big Top with a trio of Festival favorites. The bags tournament will return to the south side of the square Friday evening, June 12. Men, women, and coed teams (two persons each), ages 14 and older,  will compete in the same tournament, with double…

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Next weekend is Free Fishing Weekend

Watcha doin’ next weekend? Iowa residents may fish without a license on June 5, 6 and 7 as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ free fishing weekend. Free Fishing Weekend is the first weekend in June each year.  It allows Iowans an opportunity to try fishing without purchasing a license.  All other regulations remain in place. Fishing is…

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Classes planning reunions

Class of 1954 shows how it’s done The Bell Tower Festival has become a favorite time for high school class reunions. Ann Ostendorf has returned to the Festival steering committee as reunion coordinator. She’s eager to help class organizers plan reunions that will be fun and memorable. She can be reached via email at ostendorfa@greenecountycsd.net

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June is Great Outdoors Month

DES MOINES — While the 2015 Memorial Day weekend was a soggy start to the summer recreation season, there are plenty more days ahead to enjoy the outdoors. Governor Terry Branstad recently proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month, encouraging all Iowans and visitors to step outside, enjoy the state’s scenic beauty and recreational opportunities, and renew their commitment to stewardship…

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Weather data, week ending May 29

It was a wet Memorial Day weekend followed by an even wetter week. According to volunteer weather observer John Beltz, Jefferson received a total of 2.3 inches of rain during the week that ended Friday at 6 am. Temperatures ranged from a low of 46 degrees to a high of 82 degrees. Children took advantage of a couple of warm…

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Historical Society meets Friday

Deb McGinn to present program about historical plaques around the courthouse square As part of the infrastructure make-over that has happened the last two years around the Greene County Courthouse Square in Jefferson, attractive brass plaques have been attached to brick pedestals, telling the stories of 10 notable people or icons important in county history.

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Outcome of Ram games determined in seventh innings

The Greene County softball and baseball teams traveled to Collins Friday night to play the Collins-Maxwell-Baxter Raiders. The boys led 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning but lost 3-2. The girls were behind 2-0 starting the seventh inning but scored five runs. They held that lead as the home team batted one more time to finish the…

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Skalicky-Stayrook

Catharine Minerva Skalicky and Ian Connor Stayrook celebrated their marriage on May 16, 2015, at Kelso Park in Jefferson  with a gathering of family and friends. The wedding party included Kyann Brown of Jefferson and Richard Nichols of Rio Vista, TX, and was performed by Magistrate Rita Pedersen. Catharine is the daughter of Linda Nichols of Jefferson and Jeffrey Skalicky…

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