~a column by Colleen O’Brien, Feb. 12, 2015 I awake to sunshine hitting me in the eye and a gradual realization that my adjectives have altered. I am back to passable, lively and snuggly. For five days, in between periods of moaning and groaning because of being in the throes of the flu, my adjectival litany was dull, boring, pointless,…
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Northey receives environmental award
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture honored for work on Iowa Water Quality Initiative CHARLSTON, SC – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey received a National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) National Environmental Achievement Award for excellence in Public Service. Northey is the first state Secretary of Agriculture to receive the award. NACWA’s Public Service Award is presented to current or…
Read MoreSay it, Iowans: “Progressive”
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Oh, poor Iowa, we’re in season again. The conservative politicos were invited in last month by one of our least progressive politicians to speechify a year ahead of time — Iowa caucusus are set right now for February of 2016 — and we get to hear the media talk about us as the Tea Party/evangelistic…
Read MoreTree Tracings
Greene County Genealogical Society ~by Valerie Ogren Meeting notice – PLEASE NOTE change of location: The next meeting will be Saturday, Feb. 7, at 10 am – but NOT in the Jefferson public library. Because of construction work installing the new elevator there, the meeting will be held at the courthouse in the second floor recorder’s office. Marcia Tasler, Greene County recorder, will…
Read MoreJournals, diaries and expressive writing
~a column by ColleenO’Brien Keeping a diary started with me when I was eight. When our two kids were 11 and 14 years old, we moved them away from what one of them called dramatically “the only home we’ve ever known.” For their unhappiness, I gave them each a scrap book in which to keep photos of their new home…
Read MoreBaltimore visits Greene County school board
Rep Chip Baltimore (R-Boone), who represents Greene County, previewed the 2015 legislative session and shared his views on school funding, school calendars and other topics for the Greene County school board at its regular meeting Jan. 21. Baltimore and Sen Jerry Behn (R-Boone) were both invited to the December meeting by school superintendent Tim Christensen. Neither was available in December,…
Read MoreAt the Iowa capitol
with Senator Jerry Behn Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 This week started off a day later than normal due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Tuesday got the ball rolling as bills are assigned to their respective sub-committees and those committees are scheduled and then held for legislative and public input. If a bill passes out of sub-committee, it is…
Read More“Ideas worth spreading…”
~a column by Colleen O’Brien An interesting thing to do of an idle, snowbound afternoon is to look up a TEDTalk or two on your computer or your iPhone or on National Public Radio, which broadcasts about an hour a week of the popular 18-minute talks. Conceived in 1984 by a Silicon Valley architect and graphic designer named Richard Wurman,…
Read MoreAt the Iowa capitol
~with Senator Jerry Behn Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015 The 2015 General Assembly gaveled in at 10:00 am Monday morning. I really enjoy seeing the families and friends of all the newly elected senators as they gather around in the chamber to see their Senator take the oath of office. It makes me pause, and reflect for a moment what…
Read MoreTogether we can fund Iowa’s roads and bridges
WEST DES MOINES – In his 2015 Condition of the State Address titled “Together We Can,” Governor Branstad yesterday called for a commitment to infrastructure investment and a bipartisan solution to address road and bridge funding. County officials across the state are encouraged by the Governor’s recognition that our state’s safety, economic growth, tourism, and continued prosperity are dependent on an…
Read MoreWhen the weather outside is frightful…
~a column by Colleen O’Brien When it gets so cold all you want to do is stay under the blankets and not go outside till spring, but for good reason — work, school, the sick cat — you have to go out anyway, some of the rules have changed.
Read MoreDes Moines Water Works pushes upstream counties on ag drainage and water quality
Intent to sue doesn’t include Greene County, but it could The Des Moines Water Works board of trustees announced Jan. 8 its intent to sue three Raccoon River counties for polluting the waterway. At the meeting, former Greene County resident Chris Wilbeck urged the board to add another county – Greene County – to the list. A 60-day notice of…
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