~a column by Colleen O’Brien No matter how good some books are, I know I’ll never want to read them again. But now and then a book comes along that warrants repeated readings. Three of my favorites I have read three times. They are all journal-entry or correspondence stories centered around a war that altered the entire world. One of…
Read MoreYear: 2020
Prairie Lakes receives funds to train computer science teachers
Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency (AEA), whose service area includes Greene County and Paton-Churdan schools, will be able to enhance its computer science teaching skills with a grant awarded recently by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Prairie Lakes AEA was one of 167 urban, rural and suburban school districts, nonpublic schools and Area Education Agencies receiving an award from the Computer Science…
Read MoreCovid-19 positivity rate at 11.1 percent, down slightly
The 14-day positivity rate for Covid-19 testing in Greene County is 11.1 percent as of Tuesday morning, Dec. 22. Two new cases of Covid-19 were identified in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 639. There have been seven new cases in the past three days, 19 new cases in the last seven days and 61…
Read MoreRams lost both games in first hoops Winter Classic
The Greene County varsity basketball teams lost their games in the inaugural Greene County Winter Classic basketball tournament Dec. 19. The girls team played the Indians of Pocahontas Area and lost 54-11. They were once again without lead scorer Brianna Habben, who sprained her ankle earlier in the week and missed the Tuesday game against West Marshall as well. The…
Read MoreRosalene “Kay” Zike, 1926 – 2020
A Perry native and longtime children’s and veterans’ advocate has died. Rosalene (Kay) Annette Corbus Zike, 93-years young, passed away at her Pacifica, CA, home, overlooking the ocean, with her daughters Carole and Susan near on November 16, 2020. Kay, a Christmas Day 1926 baby born in Perry, the daughter of Chester and Pearl Corbus, graduated from Perry High School…
Read MoreAnother death attributed to Covid-19
The death toll due to Covid-19 in Greene County is now at seven. Greene County public health director Becky Wolf on Monday reported another Covid-19-releated death. Wolf expressed “sincere condolences to the families of these individuals.” The 14-day positivity rate for Covid-19 testing in the county is 11.7 percent as of Monday morning. No new cases of Covid-19 were identified…
Read MoreGrCo HS students, staff donate to food pantry
Greene County High School students partnered with Raccoon Valley Radio last week to donate food items to our local Action Resource Center food pantry for the Caring Christmas program. Students and staff donated just shy of 400 items that radio sportscaster Doug Rieder delivered to the food pantry. Rieder and the radio station also did live remote broadcasts with Career…
Read MoreCommunity Foundation funds third latrine for Spring Lake
The Greene County conservation board recently installed a third precast concrete latrine at Spring Lake Park. The new structure will serve the beach area and skating rink, and replaces a 50-year old wooden structure. The new latrine can also serve as a storm shelter if needed. The project was made possible by a $16,000 grant from the Greene County Community…
Read MoreFareway donates gift cards for local small businesses
Fareway Stores Inc recently announced a second donation in the amount of $200,000 to the Iowa Association of Chambers of Commerce (IACC). The donation provided for up to $2,000 in gift cards to IACC Chamber of Commerce members in the communities Fareway serves. Jefferson Matters: A Main Street & Chamber Community received $2,000 in gift cards, which were distributed to…
Read MoreWild Rose employees donate to ARC
Employees at Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson recently conducted a food drive to support the Greene County Christian Action Resource Center (ARC) food pantry. General manager Travis Dvorak delivered the items to the food pantry last Wednesday. According to food pantry volunteers, use of the pantry has increased with the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons who want to donate non-perishable food items…
Read MoreDNR bringing in ’21 with First Day Hike Challenge
The Iowa DNR and Travel Iowa invite Iowans to participate in the 2021 First Day Hike Challenge to ring in the New Year through the digital State Park Passport. The challenge takes the place of traditional guided hikes due to COVID-19. “We are looking for ways to encourage both outdoor fun and social distancing,” said Todd Coffelt, bureau chief of…
Read MoreNew look, new purpose at former GrCo HS
The Greene County Schools building on Ram Drive, which up until a year ago was still referred to by old-timers as the “new” high school (built in 1965) has a new look and a new purpose. Between the Covid-19 pandemic and the construction crews’ schedules, the district has not been able to host open houses at the new high school…
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