~by Valerie Ogren for the Greene County Genealogical Society Meeting notice: The Greene County Genealogical Society will meet Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 am in the basement meeting room of the Jefferson public library. Arlene Johnson will present the program “A Special Uncle.” If you have a short family story you would like to tell, come prepared to share – if…
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Sanders campaign holding local organizational meeting
There will be an organizational meeting of volunteers wishing to become involved in Bernie Sanders’ campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at Homestead Coffee and Bakery, 121 E. Lincoln Way, in Jefferson. More information is available from Charlie Dominick at 814-952-9258 or at by clicking here.
Read MoreIt’s no trick: Cellulosic ethanol is a treat for Iowa economy
by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley Iowa is widely known for our first-rate hospitality, first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses and first-class production of corn, soybeans, pork and eggs. Fewer people may realize that our state also is a rising star in America’s clean energy renaissance.
Read MoreA glimmer of compassion
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Almost 600,000 people fleeing war and poverty in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have arrived in Europe so far this year. In September alone, 250,000 passed through the Balkans, that rugged and beautiful area of southeastern Europe that includes Greece and 12 other countries ranging north from the Mediterranean to Austria, Hungary and Ukraine.
Read MoreOur most important commodity – Greene grown kids
Peter Komendowski, president and executive director of Partnership for a Drug-Free Iowa, was in Greene County last week to talk with elected officials, healthcare providers, educators, law enforcers and even the Jefferson Rotary Club. His message at two of the meetings wasn’t as much about what to do about, to or for people with substance abuse issues as it was…
Read MoreOn behalf of cats
On behalf of cats, who one columnist suggested should be the hunted in an open season, GreeneCountyNewsOnline offers the following comments from readers who are neither “deluded” nor “nutters,” but all love their cats: “I love cats because they sense what I’m sensing, feel what I’m feeling. Affectionate when wanted, dependent when needed. The sound of their purr in your…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – John Thompson
To the editor, In 2007 I had just finished a meeting with local leaders in Mandali, Iraq. One of the local mayors with ties to Iranian bomb makers approached me. He was upset that Navy Seals had raided his compound. They broke a fence and injured some animals. He wanted me to pay reparations.
Read MoreGrassley goes to bat for Iowa pork
Grassley on prisons’ pork removal: ‘How did this stupid decision get made?’ enate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley made the following statement after the Bureau of Prisons officially responded to his request for information regarding the decision to remove pork from the federal prisons’ menus. After Grassley learned of the removal and asked questions, the bureau reversed its decision and put…
Read MoreBranstad announces creation of Wrongful Conviction Division
Division will focus on reviewing and identifying potential cases involving wrongful convictions DES MOINES – On Oct. 26 during the administration’s weekly press conference, Gov. Terry Branstad and State Public Defender Adam Gregg announced the creation of the Wrongful Conviction Division at the Office of the State Public Defender. The Wrongful Conviction Division will systematically review and identify potential cases…
Read MoreMoving along, generation to generation
~a column by Colleen O’Brien As the new technology zooms along, I make periodic half-hearted stabs at figuring it out. I have no intuition about it or what to do with most of it; the explanations on how to work the latest gizmo confuse, and the names of things are letters and numbers that are way too reminiscent of algebra…
Read MoreBranstad talks about a variety of issues at town hall meeting
Gov Terry Branstad talked to and with voters at a town hall meeting Oct. 20 at Pizza Ranch in Jefferson. It was his third official visit to the county this year – he toured Power Lift in Jefferson last February and was a special guest at the opening of Wild Rose Casino in August.
Read MoreGrassley visits Greene County HS seniors
Senator Chuck Grassley (R) finished his annual tour of Iowa’s 99 counties at Greene County High School Friday morning. He talked with all seniors, with those taking government class this trimester having prepared questions for him. Grassley fielded soft questions, like what he likes most about being a senator and what his daily routine is like, and tougher questions about…
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