~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline During the April 29 Greene County board of supervisors meeting, Supervisor Dan Benitz revealed conditions at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention facility located at Eldora. Both male and female youthful offenders are sent to that program through court order for rehabilitation. CIJD is described on their website as a social services agency that contracts with…
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Jeff council approves FY25 budget, handles other varied business
‘Tis the season for governmental budgets, and the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 was at the top of the agenda for the Jefferson city council’s April 23 regular meeting. At a public hearing on the proposed 2024-25 budget, Sarah Morlan presented information about revenue and expenses. The budget calls for a total levy of $14.88 (per…
Read MoreCommunity Foundation distributes grants
The Greene County Community Foundation distributed more than $245,000 at a grant awards program April 14 at First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson. Community Foundation board president Karen Shannon served as emcee. She explained that Grow Greene County, the nonprofit organization that holds the gaming license for Wild Rose Casino, allocated $175,000 to the Community Foundation for its grantmaking. Another $70,327…
Read MoreTrio of local projects receive Main Street awards
Main Street Iowa hosted the annual Main Street Iowa Development Awards celebration April 19 in Des Moines. The program honors the efforts of local leaders who work to revitalize Iowa’s downtowns and Main Street districts. Jefferson received the following state awards and special recognitions: Main Street Housing Project Award for The Pub Lofts, and Main Street Façade Improvement Award for…
Read MoreSupervisors hear future of GJ solar project
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline The Greene County board of supervisors heard an update from Alliant Energy on the proposed Grand Junction solar project at their meeting on April 22. Alliant Energy has purchased the project from the original solar company, National Grid Renewables. Justin Foss, strategic project manager with Alliant, fielded questions from the supervisors and told them there…
Read MoreForaging for food topic for Historical Society
What’s for supper? How about some stinging nettles? Ronda Mobley Kendall, who lives west of Jefferson, will give a program on how she fixes those nettles at the St. Columkille Catholic Church hall, 807 Head St., in Churdan, on Friday, May 3. Mobley’s presentation, “How Our Ancestors Ate: Foraging for Food,” is sponsored by the Greene County Historical Society. The…
Read MoreTJG plant sale May 9-11
Thomas Jefferson Gardens of Greene County is having the annual plant sale Thursday, May 9, from 3 to 6 pm; Friday, May 10, from 10am to 6 pm; and Saturday, May 11, from 10 am to 2 pm. The proceeds go toward maintaining and keeping the gardens looking beautiful. “We have lots of annual flowers, ornamental grass, hanging baskets, and…
Read MorePlanting corn, soybeans under way
Although the week began with above normal temperatures, multiple storm systems brought cooler temperatures and much-needed rain, which allowed Iowa farmers only 3.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 21, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn, soybean and oat planting continued this week when field conditions allowed. Topsoil moisture condition statewide rated 10…
Read MoreScranton council sets budget hearing for April 29
The Scranton city council will hold a special meeting on Monday, April 29, on the proposed budget for 2024/25. The meeting will begin at 6 pm in City Hall. The budget has a tax rate of $16.03964 per $1,000 on taxable property in the city. The ag land rate is $3.00375 per thousand. Total revenues are estimated at $737,547 with…
Read MoreFuture of solar farms topic at supervisors meeting
~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline “The Iowa Legislature has put us in an impossible situation,” county attorney Thomas Laehn told the Greene County board of supervisors at the regular meeting April 15, referring to state requirements that counties balance agricultural need for land with land needed for the development of solar energy. Laehn’s comments were in response to an open…
Read MoreDeb McGinn to received ABC Award
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. In the past the announcement of the recipient was made for the first time at the event itself, making it…
Read MorePoetry Out Loud at the museum April 28
In celebration of April as National Poetry Month, local poets are invited to read their original poems on Sunday, April 28, at the Greene County Historical Museum, 219 E. Lincoln Way in Jefferson. The public is invited to the free program, which begins at 2 pm. The event is a joint production coordinated by the Community Players of Greene County…
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