Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced June 30 the expansion of the Streamside Buffer Pilot Project to include farmers and landowners living in all 22 counties in the Greater Des Moines Watershed. Greene County is one of those counties. The expansion is part of the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program, a targeted initiative to accelerate and scale up the use of…
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Heat wave to continue through weekend
Greene County continues under an extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service. Temperatures in the 90s and high humidity will continue to result in heat indices more than 100 degrees. Overnight temperatures will remain very warm, in the upper 70s and 80s, limiting any relief from the heat at night. The extreme heat is forecast to continue through…
Read MoreSupervisors discuss repowering wind turbines
The Greene County supervisors had the first of what is likely to be many discussions on repowering wind turbines at their June 22 meeting. Repowering is generally done every 8-10 years for safety purposes. Repowering involves an overhaul and updating, while maintenance would more likely be replacing failed or worn parts. County planning/zoning officer Chuck Wenthold provided the supervisors with…
Read MoreJeff council moves forward on Westwood Dr, Lincoln Way sidewalk project
The Jefferson city council at its June 23 meeting held a public hearing on and then gave the final approval for the Westwood Dr sidewalk project. Although council members Luke Winkelman and Chad Sloan both shared comments against the project, the vote on the motion to approve it was 4-1, with Winkleman casting the “no” vote. During the open forum…
Read MoreGreene County part of Greater Des Moines Watershed Program,
Greene County farmers eligible for enhanced cover crop cost-share Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week announced the launch of the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program, a targeted initiative to accelerate and scale up the use of conservation practices across 22 counties – including Greene County – upstream from the Des Moines metro. The program was created as part…
Read MoreSupervisors approve purchase of new ambulance
Greene County Ambulance will get a new ambulance, but not for another two years. The county supervisors at their June 22 meeting approved a quote and signing a purchase agreement with American Response Vehicles for a 2027 AEV X-Series LTD ambulance at a cost of $356,000. The ambulance will be a “twin” to one the ambulance department already has. The…
Read MoreBell Tower hosts ‘Let Freedom Ring,’ a 250th anniversary special event
In honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, the Bell Tower Community Foundation will host “Let Freedom Ring”, a free Mahanay Bell Tower special event on Sunday, July 5, from 1 to 2 pm. A concert featuring patriotic music arranged specifically to be played on carillons will be performed at 1:30 by Mark Welty of Cedar Falls (pictured). Welty is…
Read MoreMedical center offering back-to-school services
Sports physicals July 14, July 16 The calendar flips to July with fall sports practices starting to appear on the schedule and suddenly, families are staring at a growing back-to-school checklist. Physical forms, immunizations, wellness visits, sports injuries that haven’t quite healed yet and a first day of school that is arriving much faster than anyone expected. “Starting the school…
Read MorePorch Fest performers told
Jefferson Matters invites residents and visitors to spend a summer afternoon enjoying live music, neighborhood charm, and time outside during Porch Fest on Sunday, July 12, beginning at 1:30 pm. Porch Fest is a laid-back, walkable music event that brings live performances to front porches throughout Jefferson. With five performances at different locations, attendees are encouraged to stroll through the…
Read MoreRotary tells Bell Tower Festival parade winners
The Rotary Club of Jefferson announced the winners of the 2026 Bell Tower Festival parade organized by the service club for the past 30 years. Special emphasis on the categories for the awards this year coincided with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. There were 82 entries in the parade and 25 chose to be judged…
Read MoreCorn, soybeans doing well across the state
Iowa farmers had 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 21, 2026, which is 0.2 more days than last year. Topsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 21 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Corn…
Read MoreSupes allow more anhydrous east of Churdan, discuss pioneer cemeteries, Bell Tower Festival
The county supervisors at their June 15 meeting held a public hearing and then approved a permit allowing NEW Cooperative to place a third anhydrous tank at its facility on Highway 4 about four miles east of Churdan. There are two tanks now; the third will bring the total capacity to 135,000 gallons. Jeff March of NEW Cooperative said the…
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