~a column by Colleen O’Brien Someone who lives down my street drives a honkin’ F150 (a half-ton Ford pickup truck) with no muffler. It is big and it sounds big, like a large, angry/hungry/horny beast from Dante’s seventh circle of Hell. It is impossible to ignore his coming down the road because his unmuffled engine interrupts conversation, hurts my ears,…
Read MoreDay: September 2, 2015
Environmental Leader Award to Jim Andrew
Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Department of Natural Resources director Chuck Gipp presented 95 Iowa farm families with the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Jim Andrew of Jefferson was among them. A total of 1,296 acres in…
Read MoreWest Central® opens annual photo contest
Winning photos to be showcased in 2016 West Central calendar RALSTON –Area photographers again have the opportunity to showcase their work in West Central’s annual photo contest. Members of the cooperative, local communities, and customers are invited to submit rural and agricultural-themed photos for the cooperative’s 2016 calendar.
Read MoreLunch, card party in Churdan Sept. 13
A salad luncheon and card party are planned for Sunday, Sept. 13, at noon in the lower level of St Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan. Hosting the party is Catholic Daughters of the Americas court 1550 of Churdan. Following a lunch featuring a wide variety of salads, games of pitch, nickels, euchre and bridge will be organized.
Read MoreOutdoor Day set for Sept. 19
Youngsters ages 8-18 are invited to join Greene County outdoorsmen and women for the annual Outdoor Day on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event will be held at Slininger Woods, 1430 Jordan Avenue, Jefferson.
Read MoreFamily Storyteller program builds pre-reading skills
Children who begin school without basic language and literacy skills have difficulty learning to read. Parents and other adults can be instrumental in preparing children to learn by reading to them at an early age. The Family Storyteller program, offered by Greene County Extension, uses 12 reading techniques, video clips, modeling and take-home activities to increase the amount and quality…
Read MoreIowa farmers commit $3.5 million to water quality practices
Cover crops, no-till/strip till or nitrification inhibitor DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced Aug. 28 that $3.5 million in cost share funds to help farmers install nutrient reduction practices have been obligated to farmers in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. The practices that were eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using…
Read MorePedaler’s Jamboree on RRVT Saturday and Sunday, with overnight in Jefferson
The Raccoon River Valley Trail will be the site of a major new event on this weekend with the initial “Pedaler’s Jamboree” taking place. The ride – a rolling music festival of sorts – will begin in Waukee on Saturday and ride to Jefferson via the north loop for an overnight visit. Most bicyclists will camp at the Greene County…
Read MoreDinner, auction to benefit fairground infrastructure Sept. 8
The Greene County Fair Association hopes to repeat the success of last year’s dinner and ag auction. The event raised more than $110,000 for the construction of a new swine barn at the fairgrounds. This year’s dinner and ag auction will raise money for Phase Two of the project, a similar 72’ X 135’ barn to replace a pair of aged…
Read MoreMedical Center opens new expansion
Last Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28-29, were busy days at Greene County Medical Center. With a great amount of coordination and literally dozens of staff members participating, acute nursing and many outpatient services were moved to their new spaces by Saturday afternoon. Staff at the new visible and accessible emergency room started seeing patients Friday at about 4 pm, and…
Read MoreSupervisors approve Franklin Township hog expansion; Healy to retire
The number of hogs in Franklin Township will increase in the coming months. Following a sparsely attended public hearing Monday, the Greene County board of supervisors recommended to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approval of a construction permit for Burton Davis, doing business as Davis Hog and Grain. The project is an expansion of an existing confinement feeding operation…
Read More‘Wolfhounds’ reunite at Robbins farm 41 years later
Nine members of the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron “Wolfhounds,” stationed in Soesterberg, Holland in 1972-1975, gathered for a reunion at Tim and Vickie Robbins’ farm outside of Scranton Aug. 13-16. Most had not seen each other for 41 years.
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