The Scranton community is one of five towns that will receive 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! grants from the Iowa Department of Public Health for the fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021). Scranton will join Ottumwa, Sergeant Bluff, Spencer and Winterset in receiving funding for the first time this year. The 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! program aims…
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Harvest ahead of normal, but crop conditions aren’t good
Harvest showed rapid progress as Iowa farmers made the most of 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 27, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities also included drilling cover crops, applying fertilizer and manure, and fall tillage. Topsoil moisture condition statewide rated 15 percent very short, 31 percent short, 53 percent adequate and…
Read MoreJeff council discusses priorities for FY 22
Animal shelter, dog park move up on list The Jefferson city council at its Sept. 22 meeting reviewed budget priorities for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2021. As in previous years, the mayor and council members had rated a list of 30 items of importance to residents of the city on a 3-point scale, with 1 being highest…
Read MoreMedical Center reinstating visitor restrictions
Due to increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in Greene County, visitor restrictions are being reinstated at Greene County Medical Center effective Monday, Sept. 28. Visitors are NOT allowed unless he/she is a designated caregiver and the patient falls into once of the categories listed below: Emergency department and surgery patients may have one designated caregiver present. The patient is imminently…
Read MoreNo free clean-up weeks in Jefferson, but dumpsters available to residents
The Jefferson city council at its Sept. 22 okayed a replacement for the semi-annual clean-up week residents have relied on as a way to rid themselves of excess trash. The clean-up weeks were discontinued when the city switched to automated trash collection. In place of being able to put items curbside two weeks a year, the city will offer a…
Read MoreDeputies to start covering JPD shifts next week
Laehn explains ‘benchmarks’ in 28E agreement The Jefferson city council followed suit with the Greene County supervisors, approving the necessary 28E agreement between the two entities to assure adequate law enforcement coverage for the city of Jefferson. The one-year agreement is intended to give the Jefferson police department time to rebuild from a critical shortage of personnel. The agreement is…
Read MoreCounty supes okay law enforcement agreement
Jeff council will look at it this evening ~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline At the Greene County board of supervisors meeting Sept. 21, county attorney Thomas Laehn presented the draft of a 28E agreement to provide law enforcement coverage by the county sheriff’s office for the city of Jefferson, if city police officers are not available. The agreement would be…
Read MoreSoil moisture levels still woefully short in west central Iowa
A week without measurable rainfall allowed farmers 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 20, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting corn for silage, fall tillage, moving old crop grain stocks, and harvesting corn for grain and soybeans. Topsoil moisture condition across Iowa rated 12 percent very short, 29 percent short,…
Read MoreGrCo school board slates public hearing on sale of 1921 school building
The Greene County Schools board of education at its Sept. 16 meeting set the Oct. 21 regular meeting as the time for a public hearing on the possible sale of the former middle school. The likely buyer is Nate Adams of Carroll, who hopes to develop the 1921 building into upscale apartments. At the same time, school superintendent Tim Christensen…
Read MoreGrCo on-site students get extra time off to give teachers more time with remote students
Greene County teachers are doing “a fantastic job” in dealing with all the extra demands presented by holding school during a pandemic, but they’re “overwhelmed beyond overwhelmed,” school superintendent Tim Christensen told the school board at its regular meeting Sept. 18. He requested approval from the board to hold remote learning only for high school students this coming Friday, Sept.…
Read MoreQuarantine grows among GrCo Ele staff, students
A second staff member at the Greene County Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19, as of Saturday evening. School staff has worked with the Greene County Public Health Department and completed contact tracing. Parents/guardians that had children considered to be exposed (close contact of less than 6 feet for 15 or more continuous minutes) have been/will be contacted and…
Read MoreScholten campaigning Greene County this week
J.D. Scholten, Democratic candidate for the Fourth Congressional district, will make several stops in Greene County this week as part of his Every Town Tour, which includes all 374 towns in the 4th District. He and his RV, Sioux City Sue, will be in Cooper at the way station along the Raccoon River Valley Trail Sunday at 4 pm. Face…
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