In Greene County district court Timothy Joseph Farber, 28, of Sparta, WI, was sentenced June 8 to five years in prison after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of escape from custody. The prison term was suspended and he was placed on probation to the Iowa Department of Correctional Services for three years. He was fined $750…
Read MoreYear: 2020
Greene County magistrate court, week ending June 11
In Greene County magistrate court Jackson Lee Norton of Carroll was sentenced June 9 to five days in jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of interference with official acts. He was fined $250 with an $87.50 surcharge. Court costs were $60. A hearing will be held July 15 to determine if Norton is able to pay sheriff’s fees,…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
~by Senator Jerry BehnJune 13, 2020 The Senate continued to debate a number of bills this week as we work towards adjournment for the year. One of the bills we passed would expand the Empower Rural Iowa program, and help increase access to broadband in areas of Iowa where it is still lacking. Expanding access to broadband has become even…
Read MoreGravitate coming to Jefferson
Chris Deal ready to tackle second floor housing Chris Deal, who was so intent on enticing Accenture/ Pillar Technology to his hometown of Jefferson he took on the role of developer of the vintage building that’s now home to Pillar’s first rural Forge, is turning his attention to the next project – right next door to The Forge. Deal was…
Read MoreJeff pool opens Saturday
Open swim and family swim hours will start this Saturday at the Jefferson swimming pool. Social distancing guidelines will be followed. Daily pool hours will be as follows: 11:30 am to 1 pm – Adult lap swim 1 to 5:30 pm – Open swim 5:30 to 6:30 pm – Family swim (families in the same household) Pool passes are available…
Read MoreGovernor loosens Covid-19 restrictions
Life in Iowa is moving closer to “normal” with the lifting of many restrictions put in place by Gov Kim Reynolds in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reynolds on Wednesday extended the public health emergency declaration to June 25, but effective Friday morning, businesses that had been allowed to open at 50 percent capacity can return to operating at full…
Read MoreKevin Richards ends 31-year art teaching career
~by Joseph Beaudet, Scranton Journal intern Kevin Richards taught art for the Greene County School District for his entire 31-year teaching career but now he is hanging up his brushes and smock. Having grown up in Boone, Richards had known of Jefferson, which was “smaller in population and close to home” for him. Richards applied for the art teaching job…
Read MoreIs this time different?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien What it comes down to is this. Most of us, so often, do not do the right thing. Especially if we’re in power. When I look at history, or not even that far – how about just to the head of the department I worked in? The teacher making fun of me in class because…
Read MoreTom Wind to host virtual field day from Franklin Township June 11
Tom Wind, who farms near Jamaica, will host a virtual field day with Practical Farmers of Iowa Thursday, June 11, from 2:15 to 3:15 pm. The virtual event will explore how he’s working with neighbors to integrate livestock into his cropping system. The event – “Working With Neighbors to Integrate Livestock and Improve Soil” – is free to attend and…
Read MoreLocal ‘protest’ draws dozens
About 40 persons, almost all of them wearing face masks, gathered on the courthouse lawn Tuesday in support of those impacted by racial inequality, particularly as it is seen in law enforcement. The rally was organized by retired Methodist minister Dale Hanaman of Rippey, who said “even small towns need to have some recognition that we stand with brothers and…
Read MoreJeff council tables reading of noise ordinance
The Jefferson city council tabled the first reading of a proposed noise ordinance at its June 9 meeting, before hearing comments about the ordinance from any of the 30 community members who attended the meeting. Mayor Matt Gordon said council members had heard many complaints about the ordinance, and he wanted to take some time to “clear up fact from…
Read MoreCounty supes deal with routine business at first meeting with courthouse reopened
~by Janice Harbaugh for Greene County News Online The Greene County board of supervisors decided to continue electronic audio meetings through June as well as opening the boardroom for public attendance. At the meeting on June 8, chair John Muir said the slow reopening of the courthouse over the past week went well. “Face masks were available, people used…
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