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Volume 36 Jefferson, Iowa, Tuesday, February 04, 2025 Number 05
106 W. Washington St., Jefferson
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www.facebook.com/JeffersonHyVee Monday - Sunday • Feb. 3 – Feb. 9
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PAGE 2 | THE BEE, JEFFERSON, IOWA | TUESDAY | 02.04.25
CLASSIFIED
WANT ADS
All real estate advertised in the newspaper
Classified
is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of
1968 which makes it illegal to advertise “any
Rates
preference, limitation, or discrimination based
$10.00 for 20 words,
on race, color, religion, sex or national origin,
20¢ for each additional word. or an intention to make any such preference,
limitation, or discrimination.”
Ad Deadline is Thursday 4 p.m. This newspaper will not knowingly accept
for the The Bee and Tuesday 4 p.m. and advertising for real estate which is in
for The Jefferson Herald.
violation of the law. Our readers are informed
that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper
Call 515-386-4161
are available on an equal opportunity basis.
PET SERVICES
PET IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Emmet is a little on the shy side,
but is playful and silly after he
warms up to you. He does fine
around other cats, but does have a
little of the teenage orneriness, so
would be best with other cats that
will tolerate his playfulness. All
PAWS cats
must keep
their claws,
no declawing
please :)
View our complete animal list at:
www.pawsofgreenecounty.org
This ad donated weekly by the
The Jefferson
Bee & Herald
WANTED
APARTMENT FOR
RENT
CAMDEN Apartments: One
& two bedroom apartments for
rent in Jefferson. Water/sewer/
garbage included. No pets. No
smoking. Deposit & references
required. Call 515-231-9340.
HOUSES FOR RENT
House For Rent: 2-bedroom,
1 bath newer stove, refrigerator,
washer/dryer and furnace.
Newer carpeting throughout.
Large deck. Nice neighborhood.
No Smoking & No Pets. $675
month +deposit and references.
Call after 6 pm 515-391-9064.
FOR SALE
FOR SALE: 1800’s antique:
break down cabinet travelers
hauled in a covered wagon going
West. $500 cash, 515-386-
2257 answering machine.
FOR SALE: Cubii Exersiser as
seen on T.V., paid $400 for it,
sell for $300 cash. Unable to
use it 515-386-2257.
BE LOCAL
BUY LOCAL
Locally & Family
Owned Since 1977
Call Us Today!
641.757.0893
6909 Panorama Dr,
Panora, IA,
ejmenterprisesllc@gmail.com
DNR Licensed Septic Pumper & Time Of Transfer Inspector
WE’RE
HIRING!
Visit GCMCHEALTH.COM to see current openings.
Applications available online or in person.
1000 West Lincoln Way | Jefferson, IA | 515-386-2114
609 N CARROLL STREET
(712) 792-3434
Keep Your Family
Comfortable This Season!
Schedule your furnace check up today!
SLOAN
Plumbing, Heating, Air-Conditioning,
Septic Pumping and Installation
Your Trusted Insurance Partner
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INSURANCE
110 E. State St.
Jefferson, Iowa
515-386-7484
roses@midiowainsurance.com
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515-386-8297
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Call now for a FREE quote or visit us today!
Mid Iowa Insurance 515-386-7484
Drive safe, drive protected.
Rose Stoline, CIC
515-386-7484
ONLINE ONLY FARMLAND AUCTION
GREENE COUNTY, IOWA
156.04 ACRES M/L | 2 TRACTS | LISTING 18085
BIDDING ENDS THURSDAY, FEB. 20 AT 3:00 PM
Greene County, Iowa Online Only Farmland Auction - Mark your calendar for Thursday,
February 20th, 2025! Peoples Company is pleased to present the Abbey Brianne Paulson
Revocable Trust in the sale of 156.04 acres m/l, offered as two tracts, of Greene County,
Iowa farmland. These tracts are located north of Grand Junction, Iowa.
Tract 1 consists of 101.25 acres m/l with 95.57 tillable acres | CSR2 of 77.1
Tract 2 consists of 54.79 acres m/l with 53.48 tillable acres | CSR2 of 62.5
Farming rights are available for the 2025 growing season
These tracts were enrolled in a Windpark Easement with MidAmerican and Tract 1
includes a wind turbine
Located in Sections 16 & 21 of Junction Township, Greene County, Iowa
MATT ADAMS
515.423.9235, IA LIC S32689000
SCAN TO VIEW
THIS LISTING ONLINE
PeoplesCompany.com
SERVICES GUIDE
TO PLACE YOUR AD, CALL: 515-386-4161 OR EMAIL: ADS@BEEHERALD.COM
Hammel
Transportation
Jefferson Iowa
Hauling Grain Rock, Sand & Gravel
515.370.0337
306 5th St. N.,
Grand Junction, IA
515-738-2571
www.rueterco.com
Advertise Here!
THIS SPACE IS
AVAILABLE!
WE FILL LP TANKS
Gas Grills - RVs
- Forklifts and more!
Hwy 30 East - Jefferson across
from Sparky’s Truck Stop
Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • 515-386-3171
MUIR Embroidery, Screenprinting and Footwear
124 N Wilson Ave, Jefferson, IA • 515-386-4196
(515) 386-3513
Kyle Stalder, O.D.
207 N. Chestnut
Jefferson, IA
VENTEICHER
ELECTRIC
Commercial
Farm • Residential
712-684-5703
Emergency: 641-757-0291
Over 30 years of service, call us today!
Henkel & Associates P.C.
Certified Public Accountants
102 E. State St.
Jefferson, IA
(515) 386-2214
SLOAN
Plumbing • Heating • Air-Conditioning
Septic Pumping and Installation
201 S. Cedar St. • Jefferson, IA
(515) 386-8297
Pemble
Tiling & Excavating
Field Tiling~Waterways~Terraces~Ponds
Basements~Waterline~Sewer & Septic
Demolition~Directional Boring~Jet Cleaner
3 Generations Service Since 1965
515-370-1051 Cell • 712-652-3560 Office
Advertise Here!
THIS SPACE IS
AVAILABLE!
Nelsen’s
Sewer Service
Septic Service Sewer-Drain
from 1”-12” sewer or drain
Camera/locating available
Carl Nelsen 712-887-0213
FOR RENT
Roll-off Containers
10 yd. and 30 yd.
WELDING INNOVATIONS
Kelly Rice • 515-370-3786
Advertise Here!
THIS SPACE IS
AVAILABLE!
Goodwin & Son Painting, Inc.
Commercial & Residential
Licensed & Bonded
Interior / Exterior
After 35 years, still the best.
515-370-1237
515-386-5282

TUESDAY | 02.04.25 | THE BEE, JEFFERSON, IOWA | PAGE 3
CHURCH NEWS
ABUNDANT LIFE
MINISTRIES
1308 West Lincoln Way,
Jefferson
(515) 386-8347
E-mail: almjefferson@
me.com
Website: www.almjefferson.com
Facebook: @almjefferson
App: ALM Jefferson
Pastor: Isaak Wangler
Sunday Service: Meeting
in person every Sunday
morning at 10:00am for
worship. Service is also live
streamed
to Facebook and You-
Tube. Children’s classes
nursery-6th grade available.
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1210 S. Elm, Jefferson
(515) 386-3060
Minister: Bruce R. Webster
Wednesday: 7pm bible
study.
Sunday: 9am bible study,
10am worship service.
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN
108 N. Elm Street, Jefferson
Office Hours 9 A.M. to 1
P.M. Monday thru Thursday.
Email: jeffccc108@gmail.
com
Website: www.jeffersonccc.org
Facebook: @jeffccc108
(livestreaming worship
service Sundays at 10 a.m.)
Pastor: Rev. J. Alexander
Sundays: 10:00 worship
service.
Tuesdays: 9:00 Devotions
Group.
Thursdays: 7:00 AA
Meeting.
2nd Thursday: 10:00 Coffee
and Conversation.
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
SPECIALISTS
Quality Service. Experience. 24/7 Support
• Heating/Cooling Services • System Installation
• Maintenance • Repairs
Call Us 515-386-2373
Website: https://owensheatingcooling.com/
CHRIST LUTHERAN
1201 S. Elm, Jefferson
(515) 386-3100
E-mail: christlutheran.
jefferson@gmail.com
Website: www.clcjefferson.org
Pastor: Pr. Angelo Luis
Sunday: Worship at 9:30 .
Live Streaming is available
on our Christ Lutheran
Facebook page. Sunday
School time will follow after
worship.
Ecumenical Bible Study -
Minor Prophets at CLC on
Wednesdays at 8:00.
Feb. 1: Daddy Daughter
dance & dinner at Riverside
3:30-5:30
Feb. 3, 17, 24: Confirmation
after school
Feb. 9: Council meets 8:30
, Worship 9:30, Confirmation
following “Souper Bowl”
Sunday food drive
Feb. 14-16: Marriage Retreat
@ Okoboji LBC
Feb. 16-23: Pr. Luis on Pilgrimage
in Italy
Feb. 17: TLC and Confirmation
after school
Feb. 19: Women of the
ELCA Bible Study 6:30
Feb. 28-March 2: Marriage
Retreat Riverside LBC
FIRST BAPTIST
104 W. Central Ave., Jefferson
Website: www.fbcjefferson.com.
Facebook: firstbaptistchurchjefferson
Pastor: Daniel Cunningham
Sunday: 9:00 Bible Study
& Sunday School. 10:00
am Sunday Morning Worship
Service.
FIRST PRESBYTERI-
AN, USA
302 12th Street S, Grand
Junction
(515) 738-2172
Pastor: Bill Kem
Commissioned Pastor:
Wendy Pittman
Tuesday: 9 am Zoom Devotions.
Thursday: 8:30 am Big
Ball on Zoom.
Sunday: 10:30 am Worship
In Person and on Zoom.
Monday: 8:30 am Big Ball
on Zoom.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
208 West State St., Jefferson
(515) 386-2514
E-mail: www.firstpresjefferson.org
Pastor: Bill Kem
Commissioned Pastor:
Wendy Pittman
Tuesday: 9 am Zoom Devotions.
Thursday: 8:30 am Big
Ball on Zoom.
Sunday: 10:00 am Worship
In Person and on Zoom.
Monday: 8:30 am Big Ball
on Zoom.
FIRST PRESBYTERI-
AN, USA
502 S. Main St., Paton, IA
(515) 968-4469
Pastor: Bill Kem
Commissioned Pastor:
Wendy Pittman
Tuesday: 9 am Zoom Devotions,
2 pm Bible Study.
Thursday: 8:30 am Big Ball
on Zoom.
Sunday: 9 am Worship in
person.
Monday: 8:30 am Big Ball
on Zoom.
FIRST UNITED
METHODIST
13th and Hager Streets,
Grand Junction
(515) 408-7010
Pastor: Angie Cunigan
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. Worship,
fellowship.
FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
307 S. Wilson, Jefferson
(515) 386-4411
email: secretary@jeffumc.com
website: jeffumc.com
Pastor: Heather Dorr
Sunday: 10am Worship.
GRACE BAPTIST
329 E. 7th St., Glidden
(712) 659-3893
Website: www.gbcglidden.webs.com
Pastor: Rev. R.E. Hamilton
Associate Pastor: Aaron
Struble
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Sun.
School (all ages); 10:30
a.m. Morning Service;
5:30 p.m. Praise & Prayer
Time; 6 p.m.
Evening Service.
GREENE COUNTY
CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Father: William Schreiber
Email:
515-386-2638
Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday- 5:00 p.m. St.
Columbkille- 807 Head St
Churdan, IA.
Sunday- 8:00 a.m. St.
Brigid- 602 E. Hager
Street, Grand Junction, IA.
10:00 a.m. St. Joseph- 503
N. Locust St, Jefferson, IA
Weekday Mass Schedule
Tuesday St. Joseph @
8:00am.
Wednesday St. Columbkille
@ 8:30am.
Thursday St. Joseph @
8:00am.
Friday St. Brigid @
9:00am.
TRINITY LUTHERAN
801 W. Lincoln Way, Jefferson
(515) 386-3517
Website:
www.
tlcjeffia.360unite.com
Office hours 8 a.m. - 12
p.m., Tues. - Thurs.
Pastor: Rev. Dennis Martens
LIVE STREAM is available
of Sunday Service on
Trinity Lutheran Church’s
Facebook page.
Feb. 9: 9:30 am Divine
Service. 10:30 am Lutheran
½ Hour. BIBLE BOWL!
Feb. 11: 7:00 pm VFM
Zoom Meditation.
Feb. 12: 10:30 am Bible
Study. 6:00 pm Choir. 7:00
pm
Elders’ Meeting
Feb. 13: 1:00 pm Community
Service at ARC
Feb. 16: 8:15 am LWML.
9:30 am Divine Service w/
Communion. 10:30 am
Lutheran ½ Hour, Sunday School,
HSY: Aidan Shorey & Ellie
Menz Bible Study: Trisha
Easton Confirmation: Jeff
Kienast & Pastor Martens.
RIPPEY UNITED
METHODIST
Pastors: Jon Williams
101 Main St., Rippey
Church Phone: 515-436-
7731
Tuesday: Fellowship Coffee.
11 a.m. Soup lunch
First Tuesday.
Adult Sunday School:
9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.
PATON SALEM UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
Paton, IA
Located at 305 State St.
Phone #: 515-968-4277
Pastors: Steve Daiker
Email: Pcumc@wccta.net
Sunday Worship: 9:00
a.m.
CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-
DAY SAINTS
Carroll, IA
Located at: 1017 E Eighth
St, Carroll, IA
(712) 792 – 2867
Branch President: Matthew
Skinner, (712) 297 –
4636
Website: https://comeuntochrist.org/
Sunday: 10:00 am Sacrament
Mee.ng.
CONGREGATE MEALS
All interested older citizens
of Greene County are
invited to participate in the
congregate meal program
in Jefferson. The meal is
served at noon each weekday
at Greenewood Community
Center. Please have
reservations or cancellations
in by 7:30 a.m. the
day of the meal, 515-386-
9170. Elderbridge Agency
on Aging suggests people
over 60 contribute $5.00 to
$8.50 or what they can afford.
Persons under age 60
must pay $8.50. Please return
all dishes daily.
Congregate Meals site is
open for in-house eating
with some social distancing
requirements. Masks are
recommended.
February 4: Pork chop,
beets, spinach augratin,
pears.
February 5: Baked chicken,
sweet potatoes, green
beans, tropical fruit.
February 6: Ground beef
stroganoff, carrots, mixed
fruit, cookie.
February 7: Chicken
salad sandwich, vegetable
soup, whole wheat crackers,
fruit.
February 10: Shepherd’s
pie, roll, stewed tomatoes,
mandarin oranges.

PAGE 4 | THE BEE, JEFFERSON, IOWA | TUESDAY | 02.04.25
In good times and bad
our commitment to the
community never wavers.
Consider supporting local, original reporting with a 1-year subscription
Sports Pages
Brought To
You By
Jefferson, Iowa Friday, March 31, 2023 www.beeherald.com $1.00
126th Year Number 0
THE HOUSES THAT SAM BUILT
Local contractor, humanitarian Sam Harding
awarded 2022 Above and Beyond the Call award
By BRANDON HURLEY
Managing Editor
b.hurley@beeherald.com
Sam Harding never forgot
the pledge he made many
years ago.
He committed to serving
others, and has refused
to slow down, helping
strengthen and build a thriving
community, culminating
in an historic achievement.
The 2022 Jefferson Matters:
Main Street and Chamber
Community Above and
Beyond the Call award was
presented to Harding during
a community appreciation
The night skies were alive with
rare beauty last week.
The mystic aurora borealis, or
northern lights, were visible across
much of the region Thursday, March
23.
Local photographer, Jefferson Matters:
Main Street executive director
and Jefferson city council member
Matt Wetrich snapped a few spectacular
images around 10 p.m. northwest
of town. He graciously is allowing the
Jefferson Herald to share his work
with our readers.
night Tuesday, March 28
at the Greene County High
School. The honor, dating
back more than 30 years,
recognizes residents “who
through their personal involvement,
their leadership
qualities and their unselfish
giving of time and talent,
have positively affected activities
or accomplishments
beneficial to the community
at large,” according to
the Jefferson Matters: Main
Street website.
Many of the nomination
forms and guest speakers
mentioned Harding’s continued
commitment to others,
Wetrich added a few disclaimers
to go with his photos, noting how
and why the images look as they do.
“Folks should know that the aurora
won’t look this brilliant to the
naked eye,” he said. “These images are
20 to 30 second exposures, allowing
the camera to take in considerably
more light than our eyes process in
person.”
Wetrich is an avid landscape photographer,
often capturing images of
rare species of birds and other natural
occurrences and admits he is
on alert for rare moments like last
week. He tracks various apps and
specifically his dedication
to the Greene County youth.
His life revolves around a
studious upbringing, when
he realized at a young age
he was meant to help.
“They taught me to have a
heart to serve people,” Harding
said, fi g h t i n g through
tears Tuesday. “That’s what
I do, and I’ve always done
that. It’s just part of who I
want to be.
I’m very humbled by this.”
That’s why as Sid Jones
listed off the 12 points of
the Boy Scout Law Tuesday
night inside the Greene
County High School auditorium
(Harding is, of course,
an Eagle Scout), Harding
could be seen physically
counting along. He remembers
his past, a person that
wants to see others succeed.
He’s loyal, he’s trustworthy,
he’s no doubt a helpful
person, he’s friendly to everyone,
of course he’s courteous
and obedient, cheerful
and no doubt thrifty, brave,
clean and reverent.
The 2022 Jefferson volunteer
of the year never lost
sight of his true purpose.
HARDING, PAGE 7
THE LIGHTS
FROM AFAR
Aurora borealis dances across Greene County’s night skies
Staff Report
websites which will emit predictions
for when and where the most favorable
conditions can be found.
“(These conditions) typically occur
after a big sun flare event where an
increase in charged particles are emitted
(think, spat out of the sun) and
around 40 hours later are grabbed by
earth’s magnetic field,” Wetrich said.
“We see colors when the particles
collide with atoms and molecules of
oxygen and nitrogen in our atmosphere
between 20 and 200 miles.
The difference in colors is caused
by different altitudes of the meeting
of atoms.”
Sam Harding (left) was the recipient of the 2022 Above
and Beyond the Call award Tuesday, March 28 during a
ceremony at the Greene County High School. He’s pictured
with 2022 winner, Sid Jones.
BRANDON HURLEY | JEFFERSON HERALD
Jefferson Matters’
Experience
Jefferson website
honored with Iowa
Tourism award
Special to the Jefferson Herald
The Iowa Tourism Office recently honored the Experience
Jefferson website, an entity of Jefferson
Matters: Main Street with an award for the most
outstanding website by a rural town.
The tourism office presented 25 awards in all recognizing
excellence in the tourism industry during
the 2023 Iowa Tourism Conference in Altoona last
week.
“We continue to see tourism rebound in Iowa,”
said Amy Zeigler, state tourism manager for the
Iowa Tourism Office. “Events are definitely back,
as evidenced by the 25 nominations we received for
Outstanding Event. We look forward to continuing
the positive momentum in 2023.”
Awards, divided into metro and rural distinctions,
were made in 13 categories. In addition, conference
attendees voted for the People’s Choice Award;
nominees were the second-highest scoring nominations.
The Visit Fort Dodge website was honored in
the metro category.
The experiencejeffersoniowa.com website was unveiled
in July of 2022, developed through a Rural
By RICK MORAIN
For The Jefferson Herald
AWARD, PAGE 7
Jefferson council
approves
construction of
new 10,000 sq. foot
airport hangar
The Jefferson City Council on Tuesday approved
proceedings for constructing a new 100 foot-by-100
foot (10,000 square feet) hangar at the Jefferson
Municipal Airport.
The large hangar will be built to accommodate the
larger planes, including small jets, that can now use
the airport because of its lengthened runway. Project
engineer Carl Byers told the council that federal
funding is lined up for the project, but it has some
limitations, so he is applying for some state funding
for part of the construction.
Total project cost is estimated at $1.5 million.
The council’s resolution at the Tuesday meeting
includes ordering bids, approving plans, specifications,
form of contract and notice to bidders, fixing
the amount of bidder’s security, ordering the city
clerk to publish notice and for a public hearing.
OTHER ACTION
• The council also approved closing Lincoln Way
COUNCIL, PAGE 5
Sports Pages
Brought To
You By
T J H THE JEFFERSON HERALD
$ 1.00
Serving Greene County
Some may describe the
travels of Johnson County
native Tyler Sullivan as poetry
in motion.
For almost five years, the
runner and writer has been
traveling to all of Iowa’s cities,
logging at least one mile
in each. So far, he has made
it to 95 counties and 1,166
different communities.
“I base it off the Iowa roadmap,
but I’ve found probably
at least 30 [communities]
that are hidden, that literally
they’re not on the map,” Sullivan
said.
Based on his estimates,
126th Year Jefferson, Iowa Thursday, July 6, 2023 www.beeherald.com
he has run approximately
1,300 miles as a part of his
journey. Along the way, Sullivan
writes a poem about
every county, documenting
the unique sites seen in each
place.
On June 10, Sullivan won
the 10K at the Bell Tower
Festival’s Ding Dong Dash in
36:34. This was an improvement
from his time at this
race in 2021, when Jefferson
became the 900th Iowa city
in which he has run.
“It’s cool to come back to
Jefferson and experience
this again through a different
perspective, meet people and
just inspire my story with
them and learn about them,”
Sullivan said.
Prior to his first run in Jefferson,
he visited the city in
2017, traveling to the Mahanay
Bell Tower and some
other historical sites in town.
Sullivan has run in every
city in Greene County – even
Cooper, an unincorporated
community.
“It doesn’t matter how big
or small you are, they’re all
special,” Sullivan said. “I
like going back and finding
those hidden gems.”
His journey as a whole began
in 2015. Sullivan was
initially inspired by his trips
from Iowa City to Mason
City, where he went to visit
his girlfriend at the time. He
became fascinated by all the
counties he drove through
but had never heard of previously.
The couple found different
activities to do every
time they visited each other,
sparking Sullivan’s desire to
explore even more places.
Although he and his girlfriend
eventually went their
separate ways, Sullivan became
more interested in traveling
throughout the state.
He set the goal of visiting all
99 Iowa counties.
“That’s when I started to
go to the welcome centers
FAIR, PAGE 7
CITY, PAGE 7
Number 27
RUNNING
Runner revisits his 900th Iowa city
By BRENNA COHOON
bcohoon@iowainformation.com
September 8, 2019
(#302, Greene County)
Riding up, up into the sky
As high as the Mahanay Bell
Tower takes me
Not quite as high the cumulus
clouds that lay over ahead
I white knuckle the railing as we
slowly reach the top
My knees begin to buckle as I
What began as an interest
sparked by his father, a high
school government teacher,
turned into over 30 years (and
counting) of local government
work.
However, after 24 years of
the same stimulus, Scott Peterson
decided it was time for
a change.
Peterson, Jefferson’s new
city administrator, stepped
into this role on June 15.
Originally from Lake View,
he began his position as that
community’s city clerk and
administrator in 1998. Since
starting, he has worked alongside
Mike Palmer, Jefferson’s
make my way over to the window
Looking out on Greene County
fourteen floors beneath me
I try not to let my fear of heights
disrupt the scenic views
The creative artwork from the
business’s rooftops are never
missed
Scranton’s water tower can be
seen miles down the road
Hard to believe its Iowa’s oldest
city administrator for the past
14 years, until Palmer’s retirement
on July 7.
“[This is] just a great opportunity
for what we hope
to make a very smooth transition,”
Peterson said. “Mike’s
around to help out and really
to be here to answer questions,
which I think is just
absolutely fantastic, but at the
same time Mike’s been just
really willing to step back and
kind of let me find my own
way into this position.”
As described by Peterson,
this new beginning “reinvigorates
the soul.”
Peterson’s recruitment process
in Jefferson took place
around April where, he met
with community leaders and
other groups within the city,
reaffirming his decision to
make this career move.
“When it comes time to
look for a city administrator,
the community is looking for
their next city administrator,
but the city administrator
needs to feel comfortable
with the community, and I
feel very comfortable,” Peterson
said.
Peterson feels prepared for
this new chapter in his life, as
the work he now carries out in
Jefferson is similar to the responsibilities
he held in Lake
View.
Relying on his past experiences,
Peterson desires to
serve the city to the best of
his abilities.
working water tower and one of
the top 10 across the country
The Westminster Chimes chime
as we make our way back down
to the ground safely
Thanking the tour guide for their
time and the wonderful history
lessons
Jumping back in my car and
excited to see what else Greene
county may have to offer
CITY GOVERNMENT
New city administrator has positive outlook
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Jefferson’s new City Administrator Scott Peterson began work on June 15.
By BRENNA COHOON
bcohoon@iowainformation.com
RUNNER, PAGE 7
“From the administrative
side of things, you always
strive for what I would describe
as good government,
and good government just
being good, efficient, effective
delivery of service and
working closely with our citizens
to implement those type
of services that they would
want,” Peterson said.
Jefferson’s recent developments
have captured Peterson’s
attention, inspiring him
to contribute his efforts to the
local causes.
“I think just the biggest goal
is to continue all the positive
work that they’ve been
PETERSON, PAGE 7
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Following this year’s Ding Dong Dash, Sullivan enjoyed
some of the activities the Bell Tower Festival had to offer.
ACCIDENT
Details released of
four vehicle accident
that killed one
Staff Report
Additional details have been released following a
four vehicle accident that occurred in Greene County
last Monday.
The collision happened at about 5:34 p.m. on
Highway 30 east of Forrest Ave.
Three vehicles involved in the accident were
stopped on the highway due to road construction.
A driver operating a 2003 Toyota Prius rear-ended
a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, causing a chain reaction
crash.
Passenger of the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Mary
Ann Haberl, 84, of Jefferson, died as a result of the
crash.
Four people were taken by Greene County Ambulance
and Grand Junction Rescue to Greene County
Medical Center with serious injuries. Two people
involved in the crash were flown to other hospitals.
Assisting with the accident were the Greene County
Sheriff’s Department, Scranton Fire and Rescue,
Jefferson Fire Department, Greene County Ambulance
and Grand Junction Rescue.
AGRICULTURE
Week of activity planned
for Greene County Fair
By BRENNA COHOON
bcohoon@iowainformation.com
With history dating back to 1913, the Greene
County Fair is scheduled to continue many of its
traditions while also introducing new forms of entertainment
this year.
The youth-focused fair will serve as an opportunity
for the community to support the projects local
CITY GOVERNMENT
City council schedules
public hearings
By RICK MORAIN
For The Jefferson Herald
T h e Jefferson City Council last Tuesday set the
date of the next council meeting on Tuesday, July
11, for three public hearings on various proposals.
O n e of the hearings is on a proposed planned hous-
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T J H THE JEFFERSON HERALD
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Serving Greene County
In terms of music, Jim Oatts’
father was his guiding light.
“There was always music
in the house and [he] always
promoted us to be a part of
music, which we were all
glad to do,” Oatts said of his
father.
Earlier this year, Jim was
named to the Jazz Educators
of Iowa (JEI) Hall of Fame.
According to its website, the
JEI Hall of Fame “recognizes
individuals who have created
new directions and curricular
innovations in regards to
jazz education in the state of
Iowa.”
His father, Jack Oatts, was
credited in starting the first
high school jazz band in Earlham.
With the distinction, Jim
continues his family legacy in
musical recognition. Jack was
also named to the JEI Hall of
Fame in 1996.
Being the oldest child, Jim
said his father brought him
a saxophone. However, Jim
said he wanted to play the
trumpet instead.
Wanting to know how serious
his son was, Jack told
him to start mowing the lawn.
With enough work, Jim raised
the money for his trumpet.
At the time, Jim said he
thinks he spent up to $20 towards
the instrument. Many
years down the road, Jim realized
his father subsidized him
for the trumpet, and wanted to
see how serious he was about
playing the trumpet.
The sole trumpet player in
his family, all of Jim’s siblings
play the saxophone.
“I was, I guess, maybe the
musical black sheep of the
family,” Jim said.
However, Jim opted for
the trumpet due to its “very
powerful sound.” When he
was 13-years-old, Jack took
him out to see a performance
from Woody Herman and his
Orchestra, where the trumpet
called out to him.
“I just remember that night,
in my own mind I said ‘That’s
what I want to do,’” Jim said.
For most of his childhood,
Jim grew up in Earlham. The
Oatts family didn’t move to
Jefferson until 1966, when
126th Year Jefferson, Iowa Thursday, September 7, 2023 www.beeherald.com
FEATURE
Jefferson alumni inducted into
Jazz Educators of Iowa Hall of Fame
SUBMITTED PHOTO
From left to right are Jim Heath, Hank Davis, Steve Hance, Jim Oatts, Rick Arbuckle and Scott Sutherland playing the Greene
County Roller Rink in 1968. The group was previously inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jim Oatts’ lifelong pursuit of music leads to recognition
By SARAH STORTZ
s.stortz@carrollspaper.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Jim Oatts was inducted into the Jazz Educators of Iowa (JEI)
Hall of Fame this year. During his 27-year teaching career, he
taught music at Carlisle High School, University of Iowa, East
Greene Schools, Southwestern Community College, Grand
View College, Southeast Polk Schools and Simpson College.
Jim was a sophomore in high
school.
He wasn’t only involved
with the school band, but
also a rhythm and blues band
called the Elm Street Grocery,
which was recently inducted
into the Iowa Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame.
“It was a lot of other experiences,
not just from the
school and with my father,
but there was other music that
we wanted to play, so we took
it upon ourselves to make it
happen,” Jim said.
The day he graduated from
high school in 1969, Jim
left home and moved to Des
Moines. He then started playing
the Des Moines Big Band,
becoming their leader a few
years later.
While he was a student at
Drake University, Jim said
he received a call from the
late Bill Chase, who was the
leader of the jazz-rock band
Chase.
At the time, two of the musicians
from Des Moines suggested
to Chase to contact
Jim.
“The band was pretty darn
famous at that point,” Jim
said. “I mean, every trumpet
player in the world wanted to
be playing in that band.”
Flying out to Chicago for an
audition, he secured a spot in
the band. Having only a few
weeks before finals during the
time, Jim needed to call his
father about the news, saying
he had to “hold the phone way
back” during the call.
“He was kind of of angry
about it at first, but he understood
that it was something I
had to do,” Jim said.
Jim eventually earned his
Bachelor of Music Education
from the Metropolitan State
College in Denver. His graduate
studies were at the University
of Iowa and Vander Cook
School of Music in Chicago.
During his 27-year teaching
career, Jim taught at Carlisle
High School, University of
Iowa, East Greene Schools,
Southwestern Community
College, Grand View College,
Southeast Polk Schools and
Simpson College.
“I felt very good about trying
to channel some of these
musicians to, at least, for the
rest of their life have a real
appreciation of music and
know a little bit about it so
they can enjoy it,” Jim said.
“Music is everywhere and
the more you know about
something, the more you can
enjoy it, so I guess that was
really my philosophy on how
I wanted to approach it with
my students.”
While teaching elementary
students, Jim said he loved
being an influence on their
approach to music.
“The kids are a clean slate,”
Jim said. “You have a lot of
control and influence on not
only how they perceive music,
but maybe what they want
to do with it, and so I really,
really enjoyed that.”
Jim now lives in Pennsylvania
with his wife Lori, saying
he wanted to live closer
to his sons, who work close
to the area. Although he lives
on the East Coast, Jim said he
still remembers the students
in Jefferson involved with
music, both instrumental and
vocal.
“I was so lucky to be with a
group of very talented young
people and people that took it
very seriously,” Jim said. “A
lot of us are still wonderful
friends, even to this day after
all these years.”
He also feels fortunate that
all of his triplet sons, Chris,
Eric and Jeff Oatts, had the
same experience at Johnston
High School, where they all
graduated from.
Chris is a music teacher at
the Shipley School, a college
preparatory school in Bryn
Mawr, Pennsylvania. He also
teaches part-time at Temple
University and the University
of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Eric is the Administrative
Director, Music Division at
the Juilliard School in New
York City. Jeff, who Jim calls
“a great drummer,” is working
in business, deciding to
not make a career in music.
LIGHTS, PAGE 5
Number 36
ENVIRONMENT
Manure clean-up
underway in
tributary of North
Raccoon River
Special to the Jefferson Herald
The DNR has identified the source of the manure
release in an unnamed tributary of the North Raccoon
River to the Crosman Land and Livestock
confinement facility, located north of the town of
Cooper in Greene County.
First reported to the DNR on August 21st, an unknown
amount of manure from the confinement’s
earthen manure storage basin was found to be flowing
through a county drain tile in Drainage District
37B. Excavation around the facility has identified
an abandoned clay tile line. The facility has hired
an engineer to identify how the manure was able to
enter the abandoned line and to permanently fix the
problem.
Crews have pumped, and land applied approximately
450,000 gallons of manure-laden water from
the tributary. A large berm was placed upgradient of
the pumping activities, and water has been used to
flush the county drain tile. Residents have allowed
access onto their property to enable the flushing of
tile lines and collecting of water. After the creek
and tile lines are cleaned out, the applicators will
pump out and land apply manure from the basin.
Ammonia concentrations are decreasing in the tile
lines and the stream. Berms have been put in place
to prevent manure from reaching the North Racoon
River. The DNR will continue to monitor clean-up
efforts and consider appropriate enforcement action.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Supervisors discuss
Bell Tower lights
By RICK MORAIN
For The Jefferson Herald
Colored light displays on the Mahanay Memorial
Carillon Tower consumed most of the time at
Tuesday’s meeting of the Greene County Board of
Supervisors. In the end, the board chose to leave the
lighting schedule as it had previously approved it.
The current lighting arrangement for the tower provides
white lights during the week, random colored
lights on Friday and Saturday nights, and designated
appropriate colors for specific county holidays, such
as red and green for the Christmas season.
The Bell Tower Foundation, the non-profit organization
that provides leadership, staffing, and some
funding for the tower, had requested that random
colored lights be displayed on the tower every night,
except for the specific holiday lighting approved by
the board.
Considerable discussion took place among the
board members, a number of Bell Tower Foundation
members who were present, other members of the
public, and other county officials. All the supervisors
agreed that the randomly selected colored lighting
was impressive, but some members of the board
expressed concerns that that kind of display might
be interpreted as sending an unintended message.
Some recent local social media messaging had
centered on whether the random lighting could be
interpreted as representing the “rainbow” colors
chosen as a theme by gay rights supporters. No
board member specifically stated that that issue was
one of their concerns, but some of their discussion
seemed to imply it.
Members of the public and the Bell Tower Foundation
suggested several ways to use the various
colors now available for tower lighting, including a
single different color every night; using red, white
and blue every night; and using green every night to
represent Greene County.
County Attorney Thomas Laehn reminded the
board that if it were to switch from the present
schedule to colored lights every night, the resolution
should state that it was because the supervisors
believe the year-round display would enhance the
beauty of the facility and promote tourism, not because
they were agreeing to a request from a group.
The request for random colored lighting every
night had been tabled from the previous board meeting,
in order to give the supervisors the opportunity
to observe the colored lights over the past weekend.
After discussion ended, supervisor Pete Bardole
moved a resolution that on nights when holiday
lighting is not on display, randomly colored lights
would illuminate the tower. The motion failed for
lack of a second, so the current lighting schedule
remains in place.
On another matter, the board approved the sale
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