All Paton-Churdan alumni are invited to an all-school reunion Saturday, June 6, at the Paton-Churdan High School. The reunion is from 5-7 pm, with a short program at 5:30. There will be memorabilia and displays to jog your memories. There is no banquet this year, but food trucks will be available uptown and transportation to the school will be provided…
Read MoreDay: May 20, 2026
Garden Club establishes seed library
With the arrival of spring, it’s time to choose and plant flowers and vegetables to grow in gardens. The Jefferson Garden Club is encouraging more planting in another way. The club has established a “seed library” where users can “borrow” seeds and enjoy the fun of growing their own flowers and vegetables. Located in an enclosed cabinet on the south…
Read MoreLocal 4-H youth complete in livestock judging triathlon
Greene County youth showcased their livestock knowledge, communication skills, and teamwork during the Livestock Triathlon held the first weekend in May. Participants competed in three challenging areas including Skillathon, Quiz Bowl, and Livestock Judging. The Greene County livestock judging team is coached by CJ Muir and Samantha Hardaway. Team members practice year-round to prepare for competitions and have had the…
Read MoreSite preparation begins for KCG housing project
The first dirt was moved May 18 for a multi-family housing project north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks and west of N. Elm St in Jefferson. The project was first proposed by KCG Properties of Indianapolis during the summer of 2023. Despite heated opposition to the project for a variety of reasons, the city’s planning commission approved rezoning the…
Read MoreDOT agrees to more business access off Hwy 30 in Jefferson after city officials involve legislators
Jefferson city council member Luke Winkelman, just five months into his first term on the council, scored big for the city in the economic development game. The “win” was shared when Greg Piklapp, director of Greene County Development Corporation as part of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, made his quarterly report at the May 12 council meeting. The “win” was…
Read MoreOBBBA, OBBBA/ Hubba, Hubba
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Under the childish name, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) [kind of like Hubba Hubba], the average citizen will suffer. Big Bill rips out formerly agreed upon funding for Medicaid, Medicare and Obama’s Affordable Care Act, ensuring that middle and lower wealth individuals will pay more for less healthcare. It will push lots…
Read MoreJeff council ups water, garbage fees, and department head salaries
The Jefferson city council at its May 12 meeting approved increases to a pair of costs residents see on their city services bill, most commonly referred to as a water bill. The council approved a 2 percent increase to the “retail” rate of water. The base fee, which includes 134 cubic feet of water, will increase from $13.72 to $14.…
Read MoreGrCo school board approves budget amendment, gr 5-8 literacy curriculum
The Greene County Schools board of education approved an amendment to the certified budget for the current school year at its May 13 meeting. Superintendent Brett Abbotts explained the amendment is a “precaution” to allow the completion of various projects without going over the budget approved in April 2025. The amendment increased spending by $500,000, with half the total going…
Read MorePlanting behind 2025 pace, ahead of 5-year average
There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 17, 2026. Topsoil moisture condition statewide rated 5 percent very short, 26 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 23 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Corn planting reached 88 percent complete, which is one…
Read MoreGovernor signs property tax law projected to save $4.2 billion over 6 years
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch, May 18, 2026 Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds signed into law May 18 a measure she and supporters say will lower property tax costs for Iowans – an issue Republicans said was their top priority for the 2026 session. “We’re bending the spending curve away from government and back toward the families who fund it,…
Read More