The Greene County Schools board of education agreed at its Dec. 17 meeting to move forward with selling the Rippey school property to the city of Rippey. Superintendent Tiom Christensen called the plan a “win-win situation.”
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Greene County Schools working to improve student reading
~by Lora Koch, The Scranton Journal If you stop by Greene County elementary after school on Tuesdays or Thursdays, you will see a large group of children and teachers enjoying reading together. District reading specialist Julie Neal explained, “We developed this reading intervention program to give kids extra support in reading, and provide ongoing assessment to get them where they…
Read MoreBaltimore to head House Judiciary committee
House Speaker Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) recently announced that Rep. Chip Baltimore (R-Boone) will serve as the chairman of the House Judiciary committee. Baltimore represents House District 47, which includes all of Greene County and a large portion of Boone County. “Rep. Baltimore never shies away from a challenge – instead he works across the aisle, developing commonsense solutions to improve…
Read MoreStatewide commercial manure applicator training Jan. 6
Applicators should contact the Greene County Extension to register Commercial manure applicators should plan to attend the commercial manure applicator training program scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 6, from 9 am to noon. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will conduct the required three-hour training workshop. There is no fee to attend the…
Read MoreDNR credits Hunters with quick action after manure spill
2,000 gallons spilled; none reaches state waters The DNR investigated a manure spill about three miles southwest of Scranton in Greene County Saturday afternoon, Dec. 20. Liquid manure spilled after a tractor-tanker got too close to the road edge. The tanker overturned near the Hunter hog finishing facility about 8 am Saturday. Driver and applicator Joanne Hunter estimated 2,000 gallons…
Read MoreSchool board okays plan to address deficiencies leading to SINA designation
The Greene County board of education at its Dec. 17 meeting approved the action plan required by the Iowa Department of Education because of the elementary school’s designation as a school in need of assistance (SINA). The board had approved a preliminary draft in November to meet the state deadline, but didn’t see the final plan until December. A key…
Read MoreLead role for Greene County in Lincoln Highway planning
Bob and Joyce Ausberger and Bob Owens have worked tirelessly for decades promoting the importance of the historic Lincoln Highway to Greene County. They have some new-found, professional help. All three were at the Greene County board of supervisors meeting Dec. 22 to hear Penny Brown Huber, executive director of Prairie Rivers of Iowa, discuss plans to develop a corridor…
Read MoreGrow Greene County slates town hall meetings
Seeking input on distribution of charitable funds The local non-profit organization that holds the gambling license in Greene County will hold a series of public meetings throughout the county in January to seek public input on the distribution of an estimated $1.2 million a year to worthy causes in the county.
Read MoreScranton mayor Rod Walker dies, post to be filled in February
The Scranton city council intends to seek applications for the position of mayor and make an appointment in February to fill the vacancy created by the untimely death of mayor Rod Walker Dec. 17. The city council held a special meeting Dec. 19 to review the legal steps to fill the position. Mayor pro tem Orvie Umbaugh will fill the…
Read MoreRotary opens 2015 grant cycle
Applications are now available for the Jefferson Rotary Club’s grant program. The application process is open to non-profit organizations whose programs or projects benefit others in the areas of peace, conflict resolution and other social issues, fighting disease and promoting health, providing clean water/environmental issues, economic and community development and youth/education and literacy. Organizations are not required to have a…
Read MoreGreene Bean Coffee’s Bell Tower Blend raises $250 for Bell Tower
The Bell Tower Foundation got a Christmas present last week when Greene Bean Coffee owner Rich Osborne (right) presented foundation president Carole Custer (left) with a check for $250. Osborne created a special “Bell Tower Blend” coffee that is sold at his Jefferson shop and he donates a portion of the sale of each bag to the foundation. Osborn says…
Read MoreHoliday hours announced
City, county and state offices have announced their hours for the Christmas holiday. None of the offices listed will be open Thursday, Christmas Day. Jefferson city offices will close Christmas Eve at noon. They will reopen Friday, Dec. 26, at 8 am for regular hours. The Thursday garbage route will be picked up on Friday. The Jefferson public library will…
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