The Greene County Community Schools board of education at its Sept. 20 meeting reviewed the 2022-23 certified annual report, special education supplement and annual transportation report. Total general fund spending for the year was $17,107,197, while the maximum authorized spending was $18,004,512. That left an unspent balance of $897,314. The unspent balance is comparable to carrying a balance in a…
Read MoreYear: 2023
Grand opening of animal shelter, dog park this Sunday
A grand opening and ribbon cutting at the Greene County Animal Shelter and Rotary Centennial Dog Park will be held this Sunday, Sept. 24, at 2 pm at the shelter, 1700 Doreen Wilber Drive, Jefferson. Light refreshments will be served. The animal shelter has been in use for several months, while the dog park is very recently completed. The ribbon…
Read MoreDiscounted trees available through Iowa DNR
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through a partnership with the USDA Forest Service, is offering a mix of hardwoods, low-growing ornamental and evergreen tree species for $25 each. Iowa residents may purchase up to two trees. The pickup event nearest to Greene County is Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Swan Lake State Park Nature Center,…
Read MoreYouth athletic association plans fundraiser
The Greene County Youth Athletic Association will host “A Night Under the Lights” football scrimmage fundraiser Sunday, Oct. 1, at Linduska Field in Jefferson. Gates will open at 5:30 pm. Mini cheer will perform at 6:15. Grades 3-4 flag football beings at 6:30, followed grades 5-6 tackle football. A free will donation will be collected at the gate. A meal…
Read MoreReminder: Cashless gate at Ram athletic events
Tickets can be purchased online or use credit/debit card at gate Greene County Schools activities director Dave Wright reminds Ram fans that Greene County and the Heart of Iowa Conference have gone to a cashless ticket system for all athletic events. He encourages Ram fans to purchase their tickets ahead of time at this link: https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/greenecounty/tickets or use the attached QR…
Read MoreScranton council sets Oct. 10 public hearing on chickens in the city
Scranton City officials have scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Oct. 10, to listen to the pros and cons of allowing chickens inside the city limits. The meeting will begin at 6 pm. Many communities in the area have adopted ordinances that allow a small number of birds in the back or side yards. Generally no roosters are allowed. Jim…
Read More2-0 week for Ram v’ball team
Senior Kaylee Stalder leads HOIAC in kills, 21st in Class 3A ~by Taylor Teays for The Scranton Journal The Greene County volleyball team had a 2-0 week, increasing their overall season record to 10-6, putting them near the top in the Heart of Iowa Conference. Nevada and Roland-Story are undefeated in conference action. The Rams have one loss. The Rams…
Read MoreCounty, Bell Tower Foundation working on agreement for operation of bell tower
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline The Greene County board of supervisors reported progress toward a 28E agreement with the Bell Tower Community Foundation at their regular meeting Sept. 18. County attorney Thomas Laehn previously has said the agreement is necessary before the Foundation can receive funds from the county. Laehn said a draft agreement has been sent to Foundation board…
Read MoreTo think or not to think… for ourselves
~ a column by Colleen O’Brien We have a political party run by preschoolers; the kind of toddlers who are tyrants and act out at all times unless they get what they want when they want it. It’s impossible to be around them and maintain your own sanity, for they are bratty, hurtful, mean, and they will get even if…
Read MoreDNR: Aging manure basin leaked into ground, tiling and creek
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital DispatchSeptember 8, 2023 More than 500,000 gallons of manure-contaminated water has been pumped from a creek in Greene County because an aging storage basin began to leak, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The DNR received a report Aug. 18 that a creek southeast of Jefferson had discolored water, and initial tests of…
Read MoreHarvest has begun in parts of Iowa
The southern tier of Iowa received above average rainfall this week leading to 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending Sept. 17, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting corn and soybeans. Some farmers were also working on their fourth cutting of alfalfa hay. Topsoil moisture condition statewide rated 34 percent…
Read MoreEarly corn harvests spur optimism about yields despite drought
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital DispatchSeptember 18, 2023 Farmers so far have reported average or better corn yields despite their worries about the effect of this year’s drought, according to several Iowa State University Extension field agronomists who monitor different areas of the state. Virgil Schmitt, the field agronomist who monitors far southeast Iowa, said farmers have been telling him:…
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