~by Colleen O’Brien I sit by the Racoon River in a park called Henderson outside the prairie town of Jefferson, Iowa. The river is high and a trifle wild because of several rain showers over the past week and one ferocious windstorm that cut straight through town from southeast to northwest. Whole trees downed and half-trees, too, plus a thousand…
Read MoreMonth: June 2026
Barbie exhibit, Gallup House open Saturday afternoon
Bell Tower Festival-goers who want to be out of whatever weather Saturday afternoon brings will have a pair of choices offered by the Greene County Historical Society. The Gallup House, the 1901 octagonal house that was the childhood home of pollster George Gallup, will be open from 1 to 4 pm. The home is on the National Register of Historic…
Read MoreIowa PBS segment on Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey online starting June 11
Iowa PBS television has completed its work on a story about the “Schoolboy Soldiers of Rippey” and will make the story available online beginning this Thursday, June 11, at 4 pm, and then continuously accessible there. That will be on two sites on the internet: https://www.iowapbs.org/shows/iowalife and on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@IowaPBS. Also, the story will be featured on the Iowa PBS television show…
Read MoreRibbon cutting held at new shelter house in Churdan city park
The new shelter house in the Churdan city park was officially opened Saturday, June 6, as part of Churdan Fun Day. The shelter features a large, enclosed room with tables and chairs, a sink and storage area, heat and air conditioning, and two restrooms. There’s also a spacious porch area on the north side of the building. The $130,000 price…
Read MorePleasant Hill church and cemetery walk slated
~by Denise O’Brien Van for the Historical Society In honor of the nation’s 250th anniverary, the public is invited to a Sunday, June 14, cemetery walk at Pleasant Hill Church at 1794 Redwood Ave., southeast of Jefferson near Squirrel Hollow. The walk, which begins at 2 pm, will feature local residents re-enacting the lives of several Greene County pioneers who…
Read MoreState climatologist reports interesting week of weather
There were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 7, 2026, which is 0.2 days more than last year, when there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition across the state rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent very short, 21…
Read MoreMore wind, hail predicted for Wednesday
Severe wind and severe hail are possible in Greene County Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS characterizes the risk as a 15-29 percent possibility of each of those events occurring within 25 miles of a point. Winds may exceed 60 miles an hour. Morning storms may bring hail up to 1-inch in diameter. A round of severe…
Read MoreAmerican Legion places news signs at cemeteries for Memorial Day
Every year Jefferson’s American Legion Post #11 searches for a project that will benefit military veterans and their families as well as the local community. This year’s project came to us. Bill Berger of the Elks Club asked us at the close of Memorial Day 2025 if the Legion could replace the two signs that are placed at the entrance…
Read MoreGroundbreaking event Tuesday at the Weldon
The interested public is invited to a groundbreaking event Tuesday, June 9, at 4:30 pm at the site of the Weldon rental housing development, 915 N. Maple St, in Jefferson. The development will include 50 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Completion will take 15-16 months.
Read MoreGreene County district court, week ending June 5
In Greene County district court Cody Noel Roth, 38, of Woodward was sentenced to 10 years in prison with credit for time served after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of theft- first degree. The prison term was suspended. She was fined $1,370 with a $205.50 surcharge. She was sentenced to five years in prison on a…
Read MoreGreene County magistrate court, week ending June 5
In Greene County magistrate court cases were initiated during the week ending June 5 as follows: Larry Lee Rix of Scranton, interference with official acts; Wesley James Mitchell of Creston, simulated public intoxication, interference with official acts; Steven Caleb Jensen of Bouton, violation of no contact order; Kenneth Joseph Bonnette of Scranton, violation of no contact order; Brooke Ann Taylor…
Read MoreCourthouse HVAC project nearly complete
The HVAC project at the courthouse will be 90 percent completed by the end of the week, building official Chuck Wenthold told the county supervisors at their June 1 meeting. The old boiler has been completely removed and work on the roof installing chillers for air conditioning is completed. County attorney Thomas Laehn had told the supervisors a jury trial…
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