Nature in feathers and celestial light ~a column by Colleen O’Brien Seven small birds perch on two wires beyond my window . . . like this: w w w w w w w They are a choir in matching robes with a chubby little choirmaster, baton at the ready. I’m spying on sparrows, called spatzi around this heavily German-settled town I live…
Read MoreAuthor: Tori Riley
View from my window – Deportation made personal
This is the most heart rendering column I have written and shared with you. It will be shocking to read, as it was for me to research and document. Deportation is occurring with frequency, but this became a personal look. Walter W. Babb, Bill, is the son of my late high school classmate Sam Babb, who many from Greene County…
Read MoreMore budget requests for county funds
Drainage project in Highland Township expands The Greene County supervisors continued hearing requests for funding from various groups at their Jan. 5 meeting. The first request came from New Opportunities for the Family Development Center. New Opportunities chief executive officer Chad Jensen and Greene County Family Development Center coordinator Teresa Lansman made the presentation, requesting $17,989. That amount has not…
Read MoreLetter, D. Lautner responds to B. Banister
Dear Bruce Banister, Thank you for responding to my opinion dated Dec. 28, 2025. You just blasted me for being a “racist,” but no, I am an independent and realist. I, too, have lived overseas, but my time was courtesy of the military. I’m all for immigration if they are legal and come to this country the right way and…
Read MoreSupervisors appoint Rudolph as chair, hear taxable valuations for next tax year
For the first time in more than a decade, the Greene County supervisors did not elect John Muir as board chair. The supervisors held the annual organizational meeting Friday, Jan. 2. Supervisor Peter Bardole nominated Dawn Rudolph, who has served as vice chair for many years, for the position of chair, after saying, “John, you’ve done a great job, but…
Read MoreKim Murphy, 1963 – 2025
Kim Elaine Murphy, daughter of Phyllis Laughery Moses and Rayfield Moses, was born on May 2, 1963, in Westminster, CA. She was the youngest daughter of eight children. Kim departed this life on Dec. 31, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson. When Kim was just 2 years old, her family moved from California…
Read MoreSheriff asks public’s help in locating burglary suspect
A pair of suspects are in custody on charges related to the Dec. 18 burglaries at the Scranton Casey’s store and the Rippey Sparky’s One Stop, but Greene County sheriff Jack Williams is asking for the public’s help in locating a third suspect. Rocky Hughes, 46, is in the Greene County jail on charges of ongoing criminal conduct- influence enterprise,…
Read MoreCharlotte Dagit, 1941 – 2025
Services will be held Saturday, Jan. 3, at Salem United Methodist Church in Paton for Charlotte Dagit, 85, of Paton. Glenn Rohden will offer words of comfort. Danille Curtis will be soloist and also accompany congregational singing. Honorary bearers will be Ashley McEnany, Sarah Morris, Jordan Hartig and Zachary Hartig. Casket bearers will be Tyler Naeve, Derek Naeve, Alex Thompson,…
Read MoreRuling issued in Supreme Court case heard in Jefferson
The Iowa Supreme Court on Wednesday issued its opinion in the case of Alex Butler and Sydney Stodola v. Midwest Property Management IC, LLC, KMB Property Management and Ruby Investments, LLC. Oral arguments in the case were held Nov. 4 at Greene County High School. The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Honorable Chad Kepros in Johnson County. A…
Read MoreThe publisher’s 2025 reading list
Hello, GCNO readers! Another year of reading is “in the books,” to use a very bad pun. This year’s list is one book longer than the 2024 list, even though some of the books took me several weeks to finish. Demon Copperhead and Overstory are examples. Both were worthy reads but not fast reads. I particularly enjoyed The Women of…
Read MoreTo the editor, B. Banister re: hogs and Bangladesh
To the editor, I was saddened at the blatantly racist letter recently submitted by Denny Lautner. But, there is no point in attacking as it would be akin to striking a blind man. It did reinforce my belief that the United States is still a profoundly racist society. It is not only the USA. I have lived for prolonged periods in…
Read MoreA new year
~a column by Colleen O’Brien At the end of each year, we welcome yet another one with a few hours of riotous certainty that it will be, must be, better than the one we’ve just survived. And so we celebrate, after strenuous months of loud voices saying nothing, an idea that honesty will get the better of the heartless bigots,…
Read More