~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…
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Deb 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…
Read MoreBirding event at Dunbar Slough April 27
The Raccoon River Watershed Association invites birders and potential birders to a guided birding expedition Saturday, April 27, at Dunbar Slough, Participants are encouraged to carpool from the park south of Casey’s General Store in Scranton, or connect with the group 15-20 minutes later at the bridge on 270th St,(100 yards east of A Ave). Dunbar Slough is a 2,134-acre…
Read MoreClass reunions meet at the Bell Tower Festival
The annual Bell Tower Festival will be held June 7-8 in Jefferson, and this is a traditional time for class reunions to meet. The Greene County School Foundation welcomes all reunions and alumni back with their families. The Foundation sponsors the annual Reunion Rendezvous held right after the parade from 12:30 – 3 pm. The Reunion Rendezvous is a tradition…
Read MoreTree City USA award to Jefferson
The city of Jefferson was recently honored with the 2023 Tree City USA award at the 33rd annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Ankeny. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources April 4 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. “The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have…
Read MorePlanting has started in Iowa
Dry conditions and warmer than normal temperatures helped Iowa farmers as days suitable for fieldwork increased to 4.9 for the week ending April 14, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included tillage, spraying, applying fertilizer and seeding oats. Some corn and soybeans were also planted. Topsoil moisture condition statewide rated 15 percent very short, 37 percent short,…
Read MoreOPERA Iowa in Jefferson April 24
All area residents will have the opportunity to enjoy live opera in Jefferson Wednesday, April 24. Des Moines Metro Opera’s OPERA Iowa will present “Beauty and the Beast” by Andre Gretry, adapted by Joshua Borths, at 7:30 pm in the Greene County High School auditorium. The entire community is invited. There is no admission charge. Opera Iowa will spend the…
Read MoreNew lights coming to Linduska Field
Board also approves next step for solar project, summer PPEL projects, and administrative raises Linduska Field, home of Greene County Ram football, soccer, and track & field, will have new lighting when the 2024 fall sports season begins. The Greene County Community Schools board of education approved spending an amount not to exceed $280,000 for new stadium lights installed by…
Read MoreJeff council hears updates on Public House, Forge and GCDC projects
The Jefferson city council received updates on a pair of downtown projects at the regular meeting April 9. The first item of new business was an application for a $150,000 10-year forgivable loan and a $60,000 façade grant for the former Ace Hardware building at 121-123 N. Chestnut St. The forgivable loan and the façade grant come from the city’s…
Read MoreSupervisors set to sell bonds for new jail
The Greene County supervisors at their April 8 regular meeting took another step toward building a new county jail, approving a letter of engagement with Northland Securities as underwriter for the general obligation urban renewal bonds that will be sold to pay for the $10 million project. Voters approved the project last November. Jefferson city administrator Scott Peterson provided his…
Read MoreForces Under Forty recipients told
The Jefferson Matters board has announced the 2024 class of Forces Under Forty, to be recognized at the upcoming Community Appreciation Event Sunday, April 21, at 2 pm at the Greene County High School auditorium. Through a community nomination process, Kelley Gray, Emily Dyer, Emily Rohner, and Dan Rohner will be recognized for their consistent commitment to making Jefferson a…
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