The Covid-19 pandemic and a derecho will stand out as memories of 2020. Although the first diagnosis of Covid-19 in Iowa was March 8, the first case wasn’t identified in Greene County until April 5. As of May 1, there was still only one case, although schools and many downtown businesses were closed due to a state declaration of public…
Read MoreMonth: December 2020
Wolf shares thoughts on Covid-19 as 2020 ends
Becky Wolf, RN, Greene County public health director, provided the following commentary with her final Covid-19 update for the year. “Since February 2020, we’ve been living in a historic period of the 21st century, the COVID-19 pandemic, a novel virus that has stricken millions and caused over 300,000 deaths in the United States, not unlike the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-1919.…
Read MoreSheriff’s report – December 2020
Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Greene County sheriff’s office: Thursday, Dec. 31: At 5:41 am a deputy received information that Jonathan Kennedy, 33, of Grand Junction was at Casey’s General Store in Grand Junction. Kennedy was wanted for burglary- second degree, theft- second degree, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance- third or subsequent offense*.…
Read MorePolice blotter – December 2020
Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Jefferson police department: Thursday, Dec. 31: At 9:06 pm an officer performed a traffic stop on a speeding driver on Highway 30 near N. Elm St. During the stop the officer could detect the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During a probable cause search, marijuana and a smoking device were…
Read MoreCommercial manure applicator training planned
Pre-registration is required. Commercial manure applicators should plan to attend the commercial manure applicator training program scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 9 am to noon, or 1 pm to 4 pm. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will conduct the required three-hour training workshop at that time. There is no…
Read MoreSupes adopt master matrix for another year
Total valuation up 2.12 percent for year ~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline The Greene County board of supervisors unanimously approved a construction evaluation resolution regarding construction of confinement feeding operations (CAFO) in the county for 2021. The resolution outlines the board’s responsibilities as to evaluation of construction permit applications. Adoption of the resolution was necessary to enable the board to…
Read MoreWhat makes you laugh? Or smile quietly?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien When Canadian author Margaret Atwood (The Handmaids’ Tale) was asked, “Is there anything that gives you hope about your southern neighbor?” she replied that she does not think it’s over for America yet, as many gloomy commentators have been writing the past few weeks. Her answer was surprising…and funny: “I think America is an ornery…
Read MoreLearn to ice fish at virtual classes
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering two free virtual ice fishing courses to individuals who have little to no ice fishing experience or would like to further improve their current skills. “If you haven’t ice fished at all or are looking to sharpen your skills, then these are the courses for you,” said Barb Gigar, aquatic education…
Read MoreBike trail permits now available online
The Greene County conservation board has announced that annual trail passes for the Raccoon River Valley Trail are now available online through the Greene County website. The permit is $10 and valid in Guthrie and Dallas County as well. Beginning with the 2021 permits, a numbered electronic receipt will act as the permit and will be sent to the purchaser’s…
Read MoreGCMS tells honor rolls
Greene County middle school principal Shawn Zanders has released the honor rolls for the 2020 fall trimester. High honor roll –Grade point average of 3.657-4.0 and no grade less than a C-: 5th grade – Ashlynn Ball, Emmalee Baugh, Anola Carhill, Gage Derry, Tucker Ford, Hanna Fouch, Owen Frederick, Matthew Gannon, Ella Hoffman, Kole Johnson-Peterson, Chloe Julick, Cheyanne Kiley, JJ…
Read MoreGive the gift of life: Take COVID vaccine for yourself and others
~by Bill Tubbs, posted with permission My dear wife, Linda, remembers well her mother’s tears and her father’s joy that cold day in 1955 she and her sister and brothers stood shivering outside Briggs Elementary in Maquoketa waiting their turn to receive the polio vaccine. Nothing could stop them. The availability of a vaccine to rid the people of the…
Read MoreCovid positivity rate below 10 percent
The 14-day positivity rate for Covid-19 testing in Greene County is less than 10 percent for the first time in many weeks. Becky Wolf, director of Greene County public health, reported a positivity rate of 9.6 percent Tuesday morning, Dec. 29. Two new cases of Covid-19 were identified in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases…
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