Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the 2024 Iowa 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. “Iowa’s resilient farmers battled another year of rollercoaster weather conditions. The spring started with the lingering historic drought and…
Read MoreAuthor: Tori Riley
View from my window – AI
A-1 Steak Sauce AI Artificial Insemination AI Artificial Intelligence Today the focus is on the third AI, Artificial Intelligence. We have a vehicle that applies the brakes if we get too close to another vehicle. It resists going out of the current driving lane to pass. My phone does spell prophesying and frequently provides a word that is not wanted…
Read MoreReynolds calls for focus on health care, childcare, disaster recovery in 2025
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital DispatchJanuary 14, 2025 Gov. Kim Reynolds, delivering her Condition of the State message Tuesday, said the state needs to take action on disaster recovery in the wake of 2024 floods and tornadoes, in addition to laying out policies she said can help address Iowa’s workforce shortages in child care and health care. It’s Reynolds’ eighth…
Read MoreGov Reynolds delivers 2025 Condition of the State address
January 14, 2025 Following is Gov Kim Reynolds’ 2025 Condition of the State address as prepared for delivery: Madam President, Mr. Speaker, Lt. Governor, First Gentleman, legislative leaders and members, justices and judges, my fellow Iowans: It’s my honor and privilege to once again report on the condition of our great state from this chamber in our beautiful State Capitol.…
Read MoreGreene County Schools changing provider of special education/support services
Greene County Community Schools will receive special education and support services from Heartland Area Education Agency next school year. The move, which is now allowed with a change in Iowa law last year, will take Greene County Schools out of the Prairie Lakes AEA. The decision to change AEAs was approved by the Greene County Schools board at its regular…
Read MoreSupervisors hear salary requests from other elected officials
Greene County elected officials are looking for parity with their peers as they discuss salary increases for the next fiscal year. County treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen, recorder Deb McDonald and sheriff Jack Williams made their salary requests at the board of supervisors’ Jan. 6 meeting. Mechaelsen reported her salary ranks 48th among county treasurers in Iowa and that she wants to…
Read MoreGrCo junior class raising funds for After Prom
A pair of fundraisers are underway by the Greene County junior class for after prom activities. This week shoppers at the Jefferson Fareway and Hy-Vee grocery stores can round their grocery total up to the nearest dollar, with the extra cents going to the class for After Prom. Also, now through Feb. 11, raffle tickets are available to win $200…
Read MoreHome State Bank marks 90 years of community-focused banking
Home State Bank in Jefferson reflects on its inception as staff celebrated its milestone 90th anniversary during its December holiday open house with customers. On October 1, 1934, M.E. Brunner, Warren Garst, E.A. Milligan, C.B. Fletcher, Chester Oppenheimer, and O.W. Harris opened the original location on the west side of the square with $50,000 in capital and the goal to be…
Read MoreUpcoming parenting workshops offered online from The Science of Parenting
Research conducted by Zero to Three (2016), found that parents need and want information and support. Eighty percent of parents work to be better parents, and 69 percent of parents say if they knew more parenting strategies, they would use them. Despite this motivation, however, almost half of parents say they aren’t getting the support they need during times of stress.…
Read MoreOncology services offered two days a month at Greene County Medical Center
Cancer care in Jefferson is expanding to Greene County Medical Center. Dr Joseph Merchant, McFarland Clinic oncology and hematology, has been seeing oncology patients at the McFarland Clinic Jefferson office for a number of years. Beginning in February, he will relocate his outreach services from the Jefferson office to Greene County Medical Center. The change in location will allow patients…
Read MoreMidland Power offers scholarships
Midland Power Cooperative is once again offering college scholarships to deserving area students. Midland Power, along with wholesale power provider Basin Electric Power Cooperative, is accepting applications for three $1,000 college scholarships. Graduating high school seniors or current college students must be enrolled, or planning to enroll, at an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or trade school in…
Read MoreThe high road or the low road
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Another new year, another resolution. Over the many New Years, my resolves dissolved within the minute. I don’t know this at that minute because the proof does not happen until the next day – first day of resolution. I forget to do it, refuse to do it, tell myself I’ll start tomorrow. This one, my…
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