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1-800-247-0186 ext. 5705
Iowa Information • PO Box 160 • Sheldon, IA 51201
Volume 36 Jefferson, Iowa, Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Number 16
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PAGE 2 | THE BEE, JEFFERSON, IOWA | TUESDAY | 04.22.25
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.
CLASSIFIED
PET SERVICES
APARTMENT FOR
RENT
PET IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Sadie was found as a stray and was emaciated
with her coat full of burs and mats. She is
gaining weight and recuperating and becoming
a beautiful girl again. We can tell things have
been rough for her based on how happy and
content she is to be in a cage with a soft bed
and plenty of food. Even though she has a
grumpy face, she is sweet as can be. She enjoys
being brushed, and will need regular brushing
to keep her coat
free of tangles. She
would probably
be happiest in
a quieter house
where she can just
enjoy life again
and no longer
having to fend
for herself. She is
approximately 4
years old.
View our complete animal list at:
www.pawsofgreenecounty.org
This ad donated weekly by the
The Jefferson
Bee & Herald
WANTED
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. $700
month +deposit and references.
Call after 6 pm 515-391-9064.
HELP WANTED
CUSTODIAN: 8-12 hours per
week – early morning or late
evening hours with some weekend
hours. $12/hour. Application
and job description available at
the Jefferson Public Library and
on the library website at www.
jefferson.lib.ia.us/ Deadline to
apply is Saturday, May 3. EOE.
BE LOCAL
BUY LOCAL
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/
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
HELP WANTED
Full-Time Counter Person
Applicant will need: Mechanical/Sales Skills, Computer
Skills, A Good Driving Record, Able to lift 60 lb., & Alternate
Saturdays. Must be 18 or older.
Please apply in person at:
MOTOR PARTS
117 South Chestnut Street • Jefferson, Iowa 50129
SAVE $100 ON ANY
SOFTENER OR RO
SYSTEM PURCHASED
APRIL 26TH
SAVE THE DATE
SALT SALE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH
8am-11am | 111 Highway 71 S
- at our warehouse
Built to be the Best®
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NOW
OFFERING
SLOAN
Plumbing, Heating,
Air-Conditioning
& Septic Service
201 S. Cedar St. | Jefferson, Iowa
515-386-8297
Information For
Calcium Chloride Dust Suppressant
available online at
greenecounty.iowa.gov
One Application (400 ft) . . . . . . . . . . . 300.00
Two Applications (400 ft). . . . . . . . . . . 600.00
Please call the Greene County Engineer’s
Office at 515-386-5650
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SLOAN
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306 5th St. N.,
Grand Junction, IA
515-738-2571
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WE FILL LP TANKS
Gas Grills - RVs
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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
VENTEICHER
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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
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
Corey Jurgensen
560 175th St.
Scranton, Iowa
712.269.4030
Hammel
Transportation
Jefferson Iowa
Hauling Grain Rock, Sand & Gravel
515.370.0337
RAY HANSEN
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email: raze@netins.net
*Free Quote
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(515) 386-3513
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207 N. Chestnut
Jefferson, IA
Bailey tree and lawn care
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FOR RENT
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10 yd. and 30 yd.
WELDING INNOVATIONS
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Commercial & Residential
Licensed & Bonded
Interior / Exterior
After 35 years, still the best.
515-370-1237
515-386-5282

By BRENNA COHOON
bcohoon@iowainformation.com
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,
By BRENNA COHOON
bcohoon@iowainformation.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,”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Jefferson’s new City Administrator Scott Peterson began work on June 15.
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
RUNNER, PAGE 7
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.
Staff Report
By BRENNA COHOON
bcohoon@iowainformation.com
By RICK MORAIN
For The Jefferson Herald
FAIR, PAGE 7
CITY, PAGE 7
By SARAH STORTZ
s.stortz@carrollspaper.com
Serving Greene County
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.
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.
Special to the Jefferson Herald
By RICK MORAIN
For The Jefferson Herald
LIGHTS, PAGE 5
TUESDAY | 04.22.25 | 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 CHRIS-
TIAN
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.
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.
Confirmation April 7, 14
(TLC), 21, and 28: after
school (session with Pastor
TBA)
April 2: 6:00 Lenten Soup
Supper, 6:30 Holden Evening
Prayer
April 5: 5:30 Riverside
LBC Spring Gala in Nevada
April 6: 9:30 Worship,
Sunday School follows
April 9: 6:00 Lenten Soup
Supper, 6:30 Holden Evening
Prayer
April 11-13 and 25-27:
Recharge at Okoboji, April
5: Spring Blast @ Riverside
April 13: Council before
worship, Palm Sunday
9:30, with Holy Week activity
following
April 14: TLC/Youth after
school
April 17: 6:30 Maundy
Thursday Worship
April 18: Community
Good Friday at United
Methodist Church 5:30
Supper (freewill offering to
Good Samaritan fund) 7:00
Worship Service
April 20: 9:30 Easter Festival
Worship with breakfast
April 23: 6:30 Women of
the ELCA Bible Study
April 27: 9:30 Worship,
Sunday School follows
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
Pastor: Bill Kem
Commissioned Pastor:
Wendy Pittman
Tuesday: 9 am Zoom Devotions.
Sunday: 10:30 am Worship
In Person and on
Zoom.
FIRST PRESBYTERI-
AN
208 West State St., Jefferson
(515) 386-2514
E-mail: info@ggcpres.
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.
Sunday: 9 am Worship in
person.
FIRST UNITED
METHODIST
13th and Hager Streets,
Grand Junction
(515) 408-7010
Pastor: Angie Cunigan
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. Worship,
fellowship.
FIRST UNITED
M E T H O D I S T
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 CHURCH-
ES
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.
April 27: 8:15 am Women’s
Bible Study 9:30 am
Divine Service. 10:30 am
Lutheran ½ Hour, Sunday
School Parenting Matters
HSY: Aidan Shorey & Ellie
Menz Bible Study: Trisha
Easton. Confirmation:
Jeff Kienast Youth Class:
Pastor Martens Parenting
Matters: Kyle Kinne.
April 30: 10:30 am Bible
Study
May 4: 9:30 am Divine
Service w/Communion.
10:30 am Lutheran ½ Hour,
Sunday School. HSY: Aidan
Shorey & Ellie Menz
Bible Study: Trisha East
on.
Confirmation:
Jeff Kienast
RIPPEY UNITED
METHODIST
Pastors: Jon Williams
101 Main St., Rippey
Church Phone: 515-436-
7731
Tuesday: Fellowship
Coffee. 10 a.m. Soup or
other meal first Tuesday
of each month.
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
(515) 428 – 0748
Branch President: Matthew
Skinner, (712) 297
– 4636
Website: www.
churchofjesuschrist.org/
welcome
Sunday: 10:00 am Worship,
11:10 am Gospel
Study.
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.
April 22: Roast beef,
mashed potatoes with gravy,
whle wheat roll, green
beans, peaches.
April 23: Hearty vegetable
beef stew, roll, pears,
cookie.
April 24: Chicken broccoli
mac & cheese, whole
wheat bread, mixed vegetable,
fruit.
April 25: Ham & bean
soup, cornbread, vegetable,
fruit.
April 28: Chicken salad
sandwich, potato soup,
whole wheat crackers, vegetable,
fruit.
In good times and bad
our commitment to the
community never wavers.
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126th Year Jefferson, Iowa Thursday, July 6, 2023 www.beeherald.com
Number 27
RUNNING
Runner revisits his 900th Iowa city
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
“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
ACCIDENT
Details released of
four vehicle accident
that killed one
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
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
The Jefferson City Council last Tuesday set the
date of the next council meeting on Tuesday, July
11, for three public hearings on various proposals.
One of the hearings is on a proposed planned hous-
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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
Jim Oatts’ lifelong pursuit of music leads to recognition
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.
Number 36
ENVIRONMENT
Manure clean-up
underway in
tributary of North
Raccoon River
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
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
Mail to: The Jefferson Herald
PO Box 160 • Sheldon, IA 51201
1-800-247-0186 ext. 5705

PAGE 4 | THE BEE, JEFFERSON, IOWA | TUESDAY | 04.22.25
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