West central Iowa still lacking in soil moisture

Cooler than normal temperatures and relatively dry weather helped Iowa farmers to 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 21, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers were still planting corn, soybeans, and oats this week, although planting activities were nearing completion. Topsoil moisture condition across Iowa rated 5 percent very short, 20 percent…

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Click It or Ticket, May 22 – June 4

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is urging Iowans to buckle up during the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, is May 22-June 4, 2023. In 2022, 55 percent of traffic fatalities in Iowa were unbelted or unknown. So far, in 2023…

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GrCo school board discusses new football field restrooms, middle school play equipment and more

The Greene County Schools board of education demonstrated at its May 17 regular meeting that more goes into educating students than teachers, curricula, and classrooms. Most of the board’s agenda was non-academic items – things like restrooms at the football field, cashless admission gates at athletic events, and outdoor play equipment for middle schoolers. Building trades instructor Kirk Davis updated…

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Supervisors protect the health and safety of residents during RAGBRAI pass through and the Bell Tower Plaza from chalk art

~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline National Grid Renewables is not abandoning its Grand Junction Solar project despite the denial of a needed permit by the county board of adjustment. Doug Hawn, county emergency director, told the county supervisors at their May 15 meeting that he, county zoning official Chuck Wenthold, and the assistant county attorney will meet with Tom Karas…

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Author to speak Wednesday in Jefferson

Iowa author Ann Hanigan Kotz will speak Wednesday, May 24, at part of the Jefferson public library’s 2023 author series. Hanigan Kotz grew up southwest of Denison in a large farming family. She is a retired teacher, with most of her career at Waukee High School as an advanced placement English teacher. She picked up her writing career after retiring.…

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Jeff council okays policy for open records requests

The Jefferson city council at its May 9 meeting adopted a policy for dealing with requests for records that under Iowa law are open to the public. Although the Iowa Open Meetings and Open Records laws are decades old, the city has not had a policy for dealing with requests for records. City administrator Mike Palmer explained to the council…

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Miller, Consier named Governor’s Scholars

A pair of students from Greene County and Paton-Churdan High School were recognized by Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg for outstanding academic achievement at the 21st annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony on April 30 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Jesse Miller of Scranton from GCHS and Autumn Consier of Churdan received the honor.  The…

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Tree walk slated for May 24

Local experts will lead a walk focused on trees at Russell Park in Jefferson on Wednesday, May 24, at 2 pm. Trees Forever’s Brad Riphagen will join Greene County conservation director Tanner Scheuermann for this free walk in the park and the surrounding streets. “The walk is a chance to stop and notice the trees. Past tree walks have been…

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Iowa farmers see week of unseasonably wet, warm weather

Warm but wet weather meant Iowa farmers had just 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 14, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. The warmth helped crop emergence this week; however, the wet conditions marginally slowed planting progress. Farmers were still planting corn, soybeans, and oats during the dry periods of the week. Other…

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Block Party Friday in Imagination Alley

The public is invited to a Starting Block Party Friday, May 19, from 4 to 7 pm in the new Imagination Alley between Art on the Fly and Royal Jewelers on the west side of the courthouse square in Jefferson. Many guests are expected in Jefferson as participants in the May 20 Market to Market Relay will be picking up…

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