A drag queen bingo event slated for May 3 at The Centennial in Jefferson received some free publicity when resident Cindy Wise spoke against the event during the open forum of the April 22 Jefferson city council meeting. Owners of the building, Why Not Us, has received financial assistance from the city and state for rehabilitation of the building. A…
Read MoreAuthor: Tori Riley
Here we are we
~a column by Colleen O’Brien As the kids used to say, “Where we are we, Mom?” I was relieved when I could answer“Here we are we,” as I finally pulled into our intended destination. And now, I’m the one asking, “Where we are we?” hoping for an answer. After reading the first three pages of a really good book, Abundance,…
Read MoreGeorge Gallup topic for Genealogical Society program May 3
Carol Schultz of Jefferson will present portions of her extensive research on George Gallup, one of Jefferson’s most famous residents, at the Greene County Genealogical Society meeting Saturday, May 3, at 10 am in the basement meeting room at the Jefferson public library. Schultz has continued her research since first presenting the topic for the Historical Society a few years…
Read MoreThe apostrophe and me
~by Denise O’Brien Van I’ve lived with apostrophes all my life (see writer’s name.) And a recent friendly discussion about whether to write 1900 or 1900’s got me thinking about when and how to use that airborne punctuation mark. Overuse and underuse of the flying comma are everywhere. We’ve all seen the signs: Open Sunday’s Were open today No bicycle’s…
Read MoreGrCo libraries to present program Rosie the Riveters of Iowa
Iowa author Linda Betsinger McCann will speak about her newest book, “Rosie the Riveters of Iowa,” Tuesday, April 29 at 2 pm at the VFW building on the east side of the downtown square in Jefferson. McCann is a native Iowan and lives in Shell Rock. She has done extensive research and written several books about Iowa history and will be…
Read MoreGary Harbaugh, 1944 – 2025
Gary Lynn Harbaugh, the fourth of five children, was born to Merritt P. and Elma J. (Gliem) Harbaugh on April 11, 1944, in Cherokee, OK. He spent his childhood growing up and helping on the family farms at Jefferson and later in Webster City. He graduated from Webster City High School in 1962, then worked first at Morton Frozen Foods in…
Read MoreNow what?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien It’s not difficult to dislike a bully. The one we have in White Resort Mar A Lago has always been a mean, show-off guy, making fun of women who are “bleeding” (Megan Kelly); or imitating reporter Serge Kovaleski who has a neurological disease that causes erratic movements; or accusing MIAs of being suckers. But he…
Read MoreView from my window – Bootleg dentristry
I am having a dilemma. Really, an ethical dilemma involving my friend who resides in a nursing home in eastern Iowa. It is causing me anger along with great frustration. For many reasons all the persons involved in this writing shall remain nameless. My friend has lived in a nursing home in Maquoketa for five years beginning in 2020. Last…
Read More2025 ABC Award to Pat Richards
Award presentation this Sunday A highlight of the annual Jefferson Matters Community Appreciation Event is the recognition of the ABC award (Above and Beyond the Call) recipient. Since 1977 exemplary local volunteers have been honored for their efforts to improve the community in countless ways. “This award is selected by a team of previous ABC honorees and Jefferson Matters is pleased…
Read MorePlanting underway, Iowa still dry despite recent rains
Planters were rolling across much of the state before being slowed by precipitation. Iowa farmers averaged 5.5 suitable for fieldwork for the week ending April 20, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. In addition to planting corn, soybeans and oats, fieldwork included tiling, building waterways and spraying when winds allowed. Topsoil moisture condition across Iowa rated 6…
Read MoreGreene County district court, week ending April 18
In Greene County district court Rahni Rexann Brower, 41, of Carroll was granted a deferred judgment April 15 after she changed her plea to guilty to one county of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She was placed on probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections for three years. She must pay a $1,000 civil penalty. One count of unlawful…
Read MoreThe Capitol Roundup
April 18, 2025 Greetings from the Golden Dome! Spring is here and everyone is excited to get corn in the ground and enjoy the weather. The change of seasons also means a change of pace for our legislative session. We are now entering budget negotiation time which means we are getting close to done, but there are still some policy…
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