Greene County Genealogical Society by Valerie Ogren Meeting notice: The next meeting of the Greene County Genealogical Society will be Saturday, Oct. 4, at 10 am in the Jefferson public library. Guest speaker will be Ces Melson-Brunow. She will give us some helpful hints on “Telling Your Stories”. She grew up in this community and, with her husband John, relocated…
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Savior on the prairie
~a column by Colleen O’Brien “What had been a landscape for thousands of years is now a postage stamp.” Conservationist Erin Van Waus said this about the Iowa prairie, or more accurately, what’s left of the Iowa prairie. Erin works as land stewardship director for Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, whose broad mission is to protect and restore Iowa’s land, water…
Read MoreFarm Bureau members discuss Farm Bill implementation, biotech in DC
A cohort of 23 Iowa Farm Bureau leaders spent a few days away from their farms to visit Capitol Hill and their elected officials during the annual Ag Leaders policy trip Sept. 9 – 11 to discuss key farm issues, including ditching EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, maintaining the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), supporting additional international trade opportunities, and…
Read MoreBranstad, Reynolds launch bullying prevention listening tour
Branstad-Reynolds administration continues commitment to better address bullying in schools DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad, First Lady Chris Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced they will visit three Iowa school districts this fall to learn more about what Iowa schools are doing to deal with bullying and what steps Iowans would like the state to take next.
Read MoreWhy poetry? What’s poetry? Who reads poetry anyway?
Historical Society hosts local poets doing readings in “Poetry Out Loud” on Sunday at museum ~by Colleen O’Brien, Greene County Historical Society A group of poets in Greene County has been reading, writing and reciting poetry for one another for more than a decade. On Sunday, Sept. 14, they will share original poems with the public at the Greene County Historical…
Read MoreVoluntary conservation plans are working better, smarter
by Rick Robinson, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation environmental policy adviser As summer draws to a close, we are all reminded about life’s cycles. The state fair is over, kids are back at school and college and football is in the air. Another cycle is the weather. Summer started wet, turned generally cool and then was moderately dry. These inter-seasonal cycles…
Read MoreClovis endorses Holz for county treasurer
Sam Clovis, the veteran and teacher running for state treasurer, visited Jefferson Sept. 2 and met with Kristi Holz, Republican candidate for county treasurer. “I have traveled this state for over a year and met many people seeking office. I have seen people that are running for power and attention and also those who have an inherent desire to serve…
Read MoreGOP campaigns in high gear at Clover Hall Tuesday
Congressman King talks about presidential candidates; find audio at the end of this post The Greene County Republicans’ annual fall fundraiser Tuesday evening at Clover Hall included two hours of tag team campaigning by candidates from all levels of the Nov. 4 ballot, aided by two members of the state central committee and two of Iowa’s delegates on the Republican…
Read MoreSilver linings
~ a column about Jefferson by Colleen O’Brien The sound of summer is lawn mowers. Except earlier this week, when it was chain saws. The big blow of Sunday night, with varying reports of 50 to 80 mile per hour winds, quickly and messily took down complete halves of trees in my ‘hood, not to mention the big and little…
Read MoreGovernors select Iowa for 2016 Summer Meeting
WASHINGTON —The National Governors Association (NGA) on Sept. 3 announced that Iowa will host the nation’s governors for its 2016 Summer Meeting, July 14-17. “The nation’s governors are pleased to bring our Summer Meeting to Iowa, and we thank Gov. Branstad for his gracious invitation,” said NGA vice chair Utah Gov. Gary Herbert. “NGA meetings are an opportunity for leaders from around…
Read MoreBranstad, Reynolds complete visits to all 99 counties
Branstad, Reynolds have held a combined 2,454 public events since taking office DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced they will complete their visit to all of Iowa’s 99 counties for the fourth consecutive year today following a stop in Louisa County. Branstad and Reynolds committed to visiting every county, every year. Since taking office…
Read MoreCommunion
~a column about Jefferson by Colleen O’Brien In an informal survey of Greene County Farmers Market patrons as to why they come uptown to the market on Tuesdays, I discovered that the attractions and charms break down like this: about three-quarters of the folks come for the produce, about an eighth for the supper and about an eighth for the…
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