In Greene County district court disposition was entered in a pair of cases against Melanie Marie Smith, 26, of Jefferson. In the earlier case, initiated Sept. 7, she was charged with possession of marijuana, gathering where marijuana is used, possession of methamphetamine, and gathering where controlled substances are used. She pleaded guilty to first two charges. On the possession of…
Read MoreYear: 2026
Greene County magistrate court, week ending Jan. 16
Information is available since the return of an arrest warrant that Bill Lee Bradshaw of Jefferson is charged with violation of a no contact order. The warrant was issued Nov. 7 and served Jan. 12. Cases were initiated in magistrate court during the week ending Jan. 16 as follows: Charles F. Heimer of Jefferson, fraudulent practice- fifth degree, two counts;…
Read MoreJeff council sets priorities, makes appointments, approves water treatment consulting agreement
The Jefferson city council did various organizational tasks at its Jan. 13 meeting, the first of 2026. Included was setting mayor and council goals for 2026-2027, based on a report by consultant Pat Callahan. Callahan conducted a goal setting work session with the council and department heads last November. The top initiatives and programs as identified are: an employee recruitment…
Read MoreTo buy or not to buy
President Trump is interested in owning Greenland for defensive purposes against Russia and China. He also knows the country has rare earth minerals and oil. The county is controlled by Denmark and only has a population of 56,000. Beck in 1867 Secretary of State Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. (Today’s value would be $132 million.) Cost was…
Read MoreWinter weather advisory in effect Friday
Greene County is in a winter weather advisory Friday as the National Weather Service predicts snow showers and squalls Friday. Narrow bands of near blizzard like conditions are possible as snow squalls or banded snow develop. Not everyone will see snow, the NWS cautions, but those who do may experience periods of white-out conditions. Rapid changes in driving conditions from…
Read MoreAmerican Legion Post 11 offers Floyd W. Brown scholarship
The Jefferson American Legion Post #11 offers an annual $500 scholarship to Greene County high school seniors or homeschooled seniors whose parent or grandparent is an honorably discharged veteran or is an active duty member. Students must live within Greene County. One scholarship will be awarded each year. American Legion members wish to help pay back our veterans in a…
Read MoreHomage to an old friend
~Colleen O’Brien Frank McNulty, a classmate of mine in Jefferson, died last week – January 6, 2026. My sis called to tell me, and I’ve been crying since. I think he was, as I wrote in my journal, the case of “One more bites the dust.” Frank and I are of an age when people die. We graduated from Jefferson…
Read MoreSupervisors hold off on selling bonds, seeking professional guidance
The Greene County supervisors at their Jan. 12 meeting agreed to enter into an agreement with The Baker Group LP for municipal advisor services. The group will help develop a 5-year capital project plan, provide advice on future bonding, and work with county treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen on county investments. Mechaelsen in recent months has questioned the supervisors about the amount…
Read MoreCounty ends recycling agreement with city of Jefferson
The Greene County supervisors at their Jan. 12 meeting approved a notice of termination of the 28E agreement with the city of Jefferson to provide recycling services for rural residents. For many years the county towns had 28E agreements with the city of Jefferson, via the Greene County Recycling Agency, to provide recycling services for those residents. That service has…
Read MoreRailroad historian to present program on coal mining and railroads
Railroad historian and rail fan Doug Nebbe will present a free program called Boone County Coal Mining and Railroads on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 pm at the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum (Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad)- 225 10th. St. Boone. Most people don’t realize the sheer amount of coal mines in Boone and surrounding counties and the fact that they…
Read MoreNaig comments on USDA’s annual crop production summary
Strong domestic demand, reliable exports, and predictable policies are essential to strengthening Iowa’s agriculture economy going forward Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented Jan. 12 on the 2025 Crop Production Annual Summary released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The national summary and state summaries are released in January each year. “The…
Read MoreCondition of the State Address
Governor Kim Reynolds , January 13, 2026 – As prepared for delivery Madam President, Mister Speaker, Lieutenant Governor, First Gentleman, legislative leaders and members, justices and judges, my fellow Iowans: This is the ninth time I’ve addressed you from this chamber to report on the condition of the state. It’s a place that has witnessed nearly two centuries of Iowa history—moments of crisis and moments of courage, times…
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