Ellie Brown, a 1961 graduate of Jefferson High School, was honored with the Tower of Fame Award at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Bell Tower Festival Friday evening. The ceremony had a different look than in years past, with the backdrop not being the historic county courthouse, but the back of a rented concert stage brought in for the…
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School solar project under construction
Greene County Community Schools’ photovoltaic (solar) power system in finally underway and on track to be completed in August, a year later than initially planned. Work crews started at the middle school soon after school dismissed for the summer, first placing panels on the southeast lawn. Superintendent Brett Abbotts told the school board at its June 10 meeting that Story…
Read MoreJeff council will consider regulating e-bikes, e-scooters on city streets
Riding e-bikes and e-scooters may be regulated in the city of Jefferson. Pastor Dan Cunningham spoke to the Jefferson city council at its June 9 meeting, drawing partly on his observations of young riders on S. Maple St, near the municipal swimming pool. He said staff in Greene County Medical Center‘s emergency department has seen an increase in the number…
Read MoreBTF parade participants: Plan ahead, no shuttle
All groups and individuals planning to be in the Bell Tower Festival parade are alerted that there will not be a shuttle to take them to the parade staging area at the middle school. The Rotary Club of Jefferson has organized and presented the parade for 30 years. Jefferson-Scranton and now Greene County Schools has provided buses and drivers Saturday…
Read Moree-bikes, e-scooters topic for Jeff city council
Riding e-bikes and e-scooters may be regulated in the city of Jefferson. Pastor Dan Cunningham spoke to the Jefferson city council at their June 9 meeting, drawing partly on his observations of young riders on S. Maple St, near the municipal swimming pool. He said staff in Greene County Medical Center‘s emergency department has seen an increase in the number…
Read MoreGroundbreaking for new multi-family housing
A groundbreaking event was held June 9 at the site of The Weldon, a 50-unit affordable housing development in the 400 block of W. Head St. KCG is the developer. Greg Piklapp, director of Greene County Development Corporation, said the project “represents growth and opportunity for the community,” and called it “a major step forward in meeting housing needs” and…
Read MoreSupervisors discuss ordering an ambulance, get update on Jefferson city business
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…
Read MoreBell 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…
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