Mary Coan Geisler, 1919-2020

Mary C. Geisler was born the daughter of John and Agnes (Fickbohm) Coan on July 2, 1919 at Perry, and passed from this life June 29, 2020 at her rural home near Churdan. She lived a full life to the age of 100 years, 11 months and 27 days. Mary’s mother died when Mary was 18 months old and her…

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Mark Sawhill ends 31-year teaching career

~by Joseph Beaudet, Scranton Journal intern After 31 years of being a fun-loving teacher and coach in the same school district, Mark Sawhill is calling it quits. The atmosphere helped keep Sawhill in the Jefferson-Scranton School District and later the Greene County School District. He felt the Jefferson area was a good community and provided good community support, something he…

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Is the ‘crown’ winning?

~a column by Colleen O’Brien The word corona was first commonly used in the 16th century. It’s a Latin word that means crown and described the circle of light around the sun most visible during a solar eclipse. Coronavirus was named thus in 1968 because the shape of the virus if you look at her under a microscope is crown-like.…

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Celebrate the Fourth

~by The Scranton Journal While most of the community celebrations have been canceled or postponed for 2020 due to COVID-19, the fireworks displays to celebrate the Fourth of July are still scheduled. The city of Jefferson is partnering with Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Jefferson for a fireworks display on Saturday. The show will take place at dusk behind…

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Medical center names CFO

The Greene County Medical Center leadership team on Tuesday announced the appointment of Chad H. Butterfield as chief financial officer of the medical center, effective June 29, 2020. Butterfield comes from Olathe Health Physicians Inc in Olathe, KS, where he served as director of business affairs since 2012. He provided business leadership for 35 ambulatory locations, including overseeing four clinic…

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Jeff library to reopen Monday for limited hours

The Jefferson public library board of trustees has set the date of Monday, July 6, to re-open the library. The library has been closed since March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The library will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.  “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the library,” said library director Jane Millard. “Hours and services will…

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Town & Country Band slates July 4 celebration

The Town & Country Band will celebrate Independence Day the same way it has for more than two decades, making music together in the Churdan city park. The band has been rehearsing while keeping a social distance since late May, and a small ensemble played at the Highland Township Cemetery on Memorial Day. “We respect and understand the library board’s…

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Tower Tunes set for July 4

A special 4th of July Tower Tunes Live concert will be played on the Mahanay Memorial Carillon by local musician Rick Morain.  The concert will take place on Saturday, July 4, from 12:15 to 12:30 pm with the maestro selecting songs fitting for the holiday.  The public is invited to enjoy the concert from anywhere around the downtown square with…

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WC Iowa getting a little dry; crops still ahead of ‘normal’

Precipitation limited Iowa farmers to 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 28, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Northeast Iowa saw the highest rainfall and some severe weather. Fieldwork activities included applying fertilizer, spraying, harvesting hay and hauling grain. Topsoil moisture levels across Iowa rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent…

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