The Greene County Schools met their cost-cutting target with a little room to spare. The settlement of the teachers’ contract was a final piece needed to hit that target. The contracts ratified by the school board May 18, with a total package increase of 2.66 percent for teachers, classified staff and administrative staff, and a 2 percent wage increase for…
Read MoreDay: May 25, 2016
“Where to Invade Next”
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Filmmaker-documentarian-activist Michael Moore has released another thought-provoking movie. In “Where to Invade Next” he tells his audience that in order to bring back things we in the U.S. need, he will intrude in countries populated mostly by Caucasians with names he can pronounce.
Read MoreJefferson’s fund balance takes big hit in budget amendment
The Jefferson city council on Tuesday amended the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, showing an increase in revenues of $751,000 and an increase in expenditures of $2,470,000. The ending fund balance in the amended fund balance is $3,861,332, compared to $6,331,149 in the budget pre-amendment. That’s a 39 percent decrease.
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Kathy Hankel
To the editor, I am amazed, thrilled, delighted and, yes, astounded even that the sculptures chosen to be displayed on our courthouse grounds are such top quality, so attractive and interesting. They give those of us that live here more to be proud of. They elevate our town to the creative spirit in all of us. I am no valued…
Read MoreGreene County EMS receives $25K grant from Heart Association
Also gets OK to purchase new equipment with contracted services budget line Heart attack patients in Greene County may have faster access to critically important medical care thanks to a grant from the American Heart Association (AHA). Greene County Emergency Medical Services Inc has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the AHA for 12-lead electrocardiogram equipment as part of Mission:…
Read MoreVeterans air problems at Friday roundtable with Sen Joni Ernst and others
~courtesy of The Scranton Journal Veterans from around the state trekked to Jefferson Friday morning to meet with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst at a veterans roundtable in the Greene County Community Center in Jefferson. Close to 100 persons, most of whom were veterans, attended the hour-long event. Jim Andrew, American Legion Post 11 commander, served as moderator and introduced the…
Read MoreYankee Robinson, Mahanay tower topics of Historical Society programs
Special evening program June 2; RSVP by May 27 for meal ~by Chuck Offenburger for the Historical Society Fayette Ludovic “Yankee” Robinson was one of the best-known and highest-regarded circus owners and performers in America in the mid to late 1800s. In the early fall of 1884, when his show was touring in west central Iowa, the 66-year-old Robinson took…
Read MoreSchool board discusses tardiness, use of gaming money, door security
All three topics continued to June The Greene County school administration made good on its promise to take to the full board concerns raised at the new public forums. At the inaugural forum in April, parents raised concerns about the attendance policy as it relates to student athletes. The topic was on the board’s agenda in May. After nearly 30…
Read MoreAdult ‘Party in the Alley’ planned for June 3
All Jefferson residents are invited to celebrate with the Tower View Team at a Party in the Alley on June 3. The event will be held from 5 to 7 pm in Sally’s Alley on the south side of the courthouse square. This is an adult celebration with sangria and lemonade being served along with light appetizers.
Read MoreJeff council okays park grant application, allocating Welcome Center funding to TJ Gardens
There may be an Act II of college students in Jefferson next winter taking inventory, holding public meetings and writing proposals. Just as Iowa State University College of Design students did earlier this year with their Retail Scapes projects, another group of landscape architecture students could be using Jefferson’s city parks as their study subjects.
Read MoreSupervisors okay first step on courthouse dome rehabiliation
The first step in rehabilitating the large stained glass dome over the courthouse rotunda was taken Monday by the board of supervisors. The board approved a fee proposal from Brooks Borg Skiles, a Des Moines architectural firm very familiar with the courthouse, to prepare necessary construction documents and services during the bidding phase for the job.
Read MoreCorn, soybeans ahead of normal year
Drier conditions allowed farmers to make good progress with 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork statewide, 6 percent in west central Iowa, during the week ending May 22, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were scattered reports of corn being replanted in the northern third of Iowa.
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