GrCo school board is teaching the wrong lessons

~by Victoria Riley, GCNO publisher/editor Greene County students paying attention to the April 21 school board meeting and action taken there can learn some lessons. First, the students are, indeed, the center of the universe. That message comes from the board’s action ratcheting back a requirement to wear face masks. Board member Catherine Wilson has argued against masks from the…

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GrCo students can attend school bare-faced

Students in all three Greene County Schools buildings will be able to choose whether or not wear a face mask starting Monday. Masks will still be required on school busses with maintaining a 6-foot social distance isn’t possible. The board of education decided by a 3-2 vote at its regular meeting April 21 to move to “green” on the mask…

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New DNR video shows how to correctly plant trees

April is Arbor Month and a new five-minute video produced by the Iowa DNR aims to help residents learn to properly plant trees and avoid very common mistakes—vital to the longevity of new plantings. “Learning to correctly plant trees really determines the longevity of that tree’s life,” said DNR urban forestry specialist Gabbi Edwards. “What we find at tree planting…

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Remember MedSafe on National Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, April 24, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a day set by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to address the public safety and health issue of excess prescription drugs. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused…

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Pre-registration for BRAGC ends April 30

Pre-registration ends April 30 for the Bike Ride Around Greene County – BRAGC – slated for Saturday, May 8. BRAGC is hosted by Jefferson Matters: A Main Street & Chamber Community. The 36.5 mile route starts and finishes at the Greene County Welcome Center at Thomas Jefferson Gardens in Jefferson. The route will take cyclists east on County Road E-53…

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Earth Day—Staying connected, showing you care

~from the Iowa DNR on Earth Day DES MOINES—Prompted by self-isolation during the pandemic, Iowans headed outdoors last year in droves connecting with Iowa’s natural areas. Whether celebrating at home, in a classroom or in a park, Earth Day offers another opportunity to celebrate that connection and to give back to our natural resources. Our Earth Day page is full of ideas—to…

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Taking care of business

~a column by Colleen O’Brien According to CNN, there have been 47 mass shootings since March 16. Statistically, about 109 people a day die from guns in the U.S., close to 40,000 a year. These figures are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Daily deaths due to heart disease were 2,353 a day in 2017. Daily deaths by…

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Supes hear of Raccoon River issues, economic development plans

Also receive draft of Mahanay tower music policy ~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline The Greene County board of supervisors heard disturbing information about the water quality of the Raccoon River during their regular meeting on April 19. Chris Henning of rural Cooper, chair of the Raccoon River Watershed Association, reported recent information from the American River Project based in Washington,…

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In the neighborhood

April 21, 2021 The students of Janice Johnston performed their Spring Music Recital at the Rippey Community Center on Sunday, April 18.  There were solos on the piano and violin, with some playing both instruments. Performing their selections were Ethan Hooper, Daniel Cerveny, John Kenyon, Carilyn Kenyon and Connor Kenyon.  A tasty meal and visiting was enjoyed by those who…

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