~by Taylor Teays for The Scranton Journal The Greene County Community School District has been busy preparing for the 2023-2024 school year, district wide and throughout the buildings. “There have been many things going on at each of our buildings to prepare ourselves for the school year,” said superintendent Brett Abbotts. The bus garage got a new roof, replacing the…
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Few ESA applications in Greene, Guthrie counties, but 427 in Carroll
`~by Taylor Teays for The Scranton Journal More than 18,000 Students First Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) were approved as of Aug. 4, with area schools seeing the effects. ESAs are for students whose parents choose to enroll them into an accredited nonpublic school. Each student approved will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school…
Read MoreWelcome rain for Iowa’s farms
Central and southeast Iowa were the recipients of above average precipitation, which limited days suitable for fieldwork to 4.7 during the week ending August 13, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers in west central Iowa had 4.1 days for field work. Field activities included cutting and baling hay as well as harvesting oats. Continued precipitation has…
Read MoreUSDA grant will allow start-up of multicultural initiative late this fall
Goal is to grow the workforce and the population The multicultural initiative – formerly called Nueve vida en Greene County, now renamed the Greene County multicultural initiative – received a breath of fresh air last week when Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) learned it has been awarded a $95,703 from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to fund a first…
Read MoreOrientation slated at Career Academy
Orientation for the 2023-24 school year at the Greene County Career Academy is Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 2:30 or 5:30 pm. Students who are signed up for the career academy or students who are still considering the career academy should attend one of the two sessions. A parent or guardian should attend, too, because school officials will go over valuable…
Read MoreGrCo Schools reduces in-town bus routes due to driver shortage
Parents and students in the Greene County school district will feel the impact of a shortage of bus drivers, as eligibility for bus transportation has been tightened and some bus stops and bus routes have been eliminated for the coming school year. Students who live less than 1 mile from the school they attend are no longer eligible for busing.…
Read MoreAnnual downtown car show Thursday
Cruisin’ to the Square, formerly Hot August Night, will bring all types of cars, trucks, motorcycles and antique tractors to Jefferson’s historic downtown square and Thursday, Aug. 10. The show runs from 4:30 to 7 pm. There is no registration fee and day-of registration is available. Prizes will be awarded in several categories – best car, best truck, best motorcycle,…
Read MoreSupervisors set policy for lighting Mahanay tower
The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower will be lit in party-style Friday and Saturday nights but in while lights the other five nights of the week. The Greene County supervisors at their Aug. 7 meeting passed a resolution for decorative lighting on the bell tower similar to a 2019 resolution dealing with decorative lighting on the courthouse. Retired electrician Chris Durlam…
Read MoreLeaf through local history at the museum
~by Denise Van for the Greene County Historical Society A second “Leafing through Greene County HIstory” roundtable will be held at the Greene County Historical Museum, 219 E. Lincoln Way, at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20. Four presenters wil share items from the Museum’s collection, and then audience members will be invited to chime in with their memories and thoughts…
Read MoreContingent from Minnesota consults with Why Not Us
A group of women from Red Wing, MN, visited Jefferson last week to learn more about the renovation of the Centennial Block Building and Why Not Us. The renovation of the Centennial Block Building and the establishment of the Centennial restaurant there drew the attention of the Main Street America publication. As a result, a group of women from Red…
Read MoreWestern Iowa receives welcome rain
Some much-needed rainfall across western Iowa resulted in 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 6, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting and baling hay as well as applying pesticides and fungicides. Increased precipitation helped alleviate some crop stress although conditions remain dry. Topsoil moisture condition across Iowa rated 18…
Read MoreGreene County Schools registration info
Registration deadline Aug. 11 ~by Taylor Teays for The Scranton Journal Students attending Greene County Schools will resume learning on August 23; registration needs to be completed by August 11. Greene County Community School District is utilizing online registration this school year for new and existing students. For families without access to a computer/internet connection, a time to work from…
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