Despite surges in cases of Covid-19 nationally, Greene County positivity rates for the virus have declined, to their lowest point since Nov. 15. Greene County director of public health Becky Wolf reports that as of Dec. 27, the 7-day positivity rate for Covid testing is 4.9 percent; the 14-day rate is 5.9 percent. Ten cases have been diagnosed in the…
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Four groups receive Give Back Awards from Grow Greene County
A tradition was started in 2016 by the Grow Greene County board of directors to surprise deserving agencies in Greene County with a Give Back Award during the holiday season. This year on the heels of a very successful referendum vote the Grow Greene County board gave four Give Back Awards. It all started on Nov. 11 when board members…
Read MoreSupes hear storm damage info, vaccine mandate update, budget requests, and more
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline At their meeting on Dec. 20, the Greene County board of supervisors heard reports on damage done by the tornado and derecho activity occurring on Dec. 15. Engineer Wade Weiss reported his crews worked to clear roads and are continuing to do that. Sheriff Jack Williams said he will meet with Homeland Security to assess…
Read MoreCompensation board recommends salary increases ranging from 8 to 15 percent
Greene County elected officials will see their salaries increase more than the cost of living if the county supervisors accept the recommendation of the compensation board. The compensation board, which is composed of people appointed by the elected officials, is recommending salary increases from 8 to 15 percent. The federal cost of living adjustment is 5.9 percent. The board met…
Read MoreMichael Morain to speak at historical museum Dec. 28
Event marks 175th anniversary of statehood Michael Morain, a fifth-generation Iowan with deep roots in Greene County, will be the featured speaker when the Greene County Historical Society celebrates the state’s 175th birthday with a special 2 pm program on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the museum in Jefferson. The event, being held on the actual anniversary day of statehood in…
Read MoreRare December derecho spawns three tornadoes in Greene, Guthrie counties Dec. 15
~by The Scranton Journal An unusual weather system moved through the Midwest on Wednesday, leaving record-setting temperatures and a path of destruction from high winds and tornadoes. The National Weather Service in Des Moines has determined that three EF-2 tornadoes capable of producing wind speeds of 120 miles per hour blew through Guthrie, Greene and Webster Counties, starting just after…
Read MoreTeens now eligible for Covid booster
Greene County director of public health Becky Wolf reminds parents that teens ages 16-17 who received the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine when it was first available are now eligible for a booster. The booster dose must be given at least six months following their second dose of vaccine. The public health department continues to offer flu and/or Covid vaccine clinics Tuesdays…
Read MoreGrCo school board meets despite power outage, okays early retirement notification bonus
The Greene County Schools board of education met Thursday, Dec. 16, after delaying the regular meeting from Dec. 15 due to predicted hazardous weather. The meeting was held at 4 pm in the middle school foyer, with skylights and daylight from the entryway the only light available due to the storm-related power outage. “We’ve got to get this done rapidly,”…
Read MoreJeff council approves forgivable loan for roof on VFW post
Years of fundraising by VFW Post 9599 for a new roof on their building at 109 N. Chestnut St are over. The Jefferson city council at its Dec. 14 meeting approved a 4-year forgivable loan agreement to provide the VFW with $42,800 for roof repairs. In exchange, the VFW will complete a façade project “to be more historically accurate,” city…
Read MoreCharlie Thompson tells his tornado story
Retired Methodist minister Charlie Thompson, who lives south of Jefferson, wanted to see the tornado that was approaching Wednesday evening shortly after 5 pm. The insistence of his son John Thompson that he head for the basement may have saved his life. Charlie said he was standing on the deck on the south side of his house and saw the…
Read MoreGreene County included in disaster proclamation
Greene County is among 43 counties named by Gov. Kim Reynolds in a disaster proclamation in response to the Dec. 15 severe weather. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management…
Read MoreTornado hits Greene County
The tornado that swept through Greene County Dec. 15 has been rated as an EF2 tornado by the National Weather Service. According to the NWS, the storm path that did extreme damage to farmsteads and homes south and west of Jefferson was longer than 17 miles and included peak winds of 115-120 miles per hour. The greatest impact of the…
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