HVAC at courthouse near completion, still under budget Greene County supervisor Pete Bardole at the June 8 board meeting suggested for the second time in a month that the county order a new ambulance. Two of the county’s three ambulances were in accidents earlier this spring, with one striking a deer and another being sideswiped in Des Moines. Ambulance director…
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Bell Tower Festival set for this weekend
The 2026 Bell Tower Festival, with a patriotic theme of “High Time to Chime”, is expected to draw more than 4,000 visitors to Jefferson this weekend, June 11-13. Under the leadership of festival chair Phil Heisterkamp, an energetic and visionary committee has planned the festival with long-time favorites and some new activities, too. The festival kicks off Thursday with a…
Read MoreBarbie exhibit, Gallup House open Saturday afternoon
Bell Tower Festival-goers who want to be out of whatever weather Saturday afternoon brings will have a pair of choices offered by the Greene County Historical Society. The Gallup House, the 1901 octagonal house that was the childhood home of pollster George Gallup, will be open from 1 to 4 pm. The home is on the National Register of Historic…
Read MoreRibbon cutting held at new shelter house in Churdan city park
The new shelter house in the Churdan city park was officially opened Saturday, June 6, as part of Churdan Fun Day. The shelter features a large, enclosed room with tables and chairs, a sink and storage area, heat and air conditioning, and two restrooms. There’s also a spacious porch area on the north side of the building. The $130,000 price…
Read MorePleasant Hill church and cemetery walk slated
~by Denise O’Brien Van for the Historical Society In honor of the nation’s 250th anniverary, the public is invited to a Sunday, June 14, cemetery walk at Pleasant Hill Church at 1794 Redwood Ave., southeast of Jefferson near Squirrel Hollow. The walk, which begins at 2 pm, will feature local residents re-enacting the lives of several Greene County pioneers who…
Read MoreState climatologist reports interesting week of weather
There were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 7, 2026, which is 0.2 days more than last year, when there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition across the state rated 5 percent very short, 19 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent very short, 21…
Read MoreAmerican Legion places news signs at cemeteries for Memorial Day
Every year Jefferson’s American Legion Post #11 searches for a project that will benefit military veterans and their families as well as the local community. This year’s project came to us. Bill Berger of the Elks Club asked us at the close of Memorial Day 2025 if the Legion could replace the two signs that are placed at the entrance…
Read MoreGroundbreaking event Tuesday at the Weldon
The interested public is invited to a groundbreaking event Tuesday, June 9, at 4:30 pm at the site of the Weldon rental housing development, 915 N. Maple St, in Jefferson. The development will include 50 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Completion will take 15-16 months.
Read MoreCourthouse HVAC project nearly complete
The HVAC project at the courthouse will be 90 percent completed by the end of the week, building official Chuck Wenthold told the county supervisors at their June 1 meeting. The old boiler has been completely removed and work on the roof installing chillers for air conditioning is completed. County attorney Thomas Laehn had told the supervisors a jury trial…
Read MoreGreene County primary results mirror state results
Exception is Republican governor’s race A total of 1,150 Greene County voters – 18.75 percent – participated in the June 2 primary election. Of those, 722 voted Republican ballots and 428 voted Democratic ballots. Races for the Republican nomination for U.S. senator and governor were contested. Ashley Hinson was the winner in the Senate race, receiving 572 votes (82.18 percent)…
Read MoreNational leader of BPO Does is 2026 Bell Tower of Fame Award recipient
The Bell Tower of Fame Award recognizes someone who has lived in Greene County sometime in their life and whose professional or personal accomplishments have brought international, national or statewide recognition for which Greene County is proud. When anyone in local, state or leadership positions of the Patriotic Order of Does is asked to name a person who has had…
Read MoreRippey library plans prairie walk with county naturalist
The Rippey public library is hosting an adult Prairie Walk with Greene County naturalist Jacob Fernholtz along the Rippey railroad right-of-way Thursday, June 11. Participants will meet at the library at 10:30 am and walk together as Fernholz identifies and discusses Iowa plants and prairie features along the way. All are welcome.
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