Greene County Fair Serves Up A Variety Of Entertainment This Weekend
The Greene County Fair is ramping up the entertainment today and tomorrow.
The public can enjoy the beef show at 8am at the showring this morning followed by the baby contest at Clover Hall at 9:30am.
Other fun activities today includes a kid’s pedal tractor pull at noon, the 4-H “Share the Fun” talent contest at 1pm, a horse fun show at 2pm and the pork and lamb barbecue at 5:30pm.
The grandstand entertainment will be the tractor pull at 7pm.
Sunday starts with a cribbage tournament at noon along with the commercial and open exhibits opening at noon. At 1:30pm, everyone is invited to the new Round Robin Showmanship competition at the showring followed by a tug-of-war and monster arm wrestling contests.
The day ends with the grandstand entertainment of the Grand River Rodeo at 7pm followed by a youth dance from 8-10:30pm.
Greene County Casino Groundbreaking Marks Start Of New Things
Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the casino in Greene County was claimed by some as one of the most historic events for the county.
250 local dignitaries, Wild Rose Entertainment executive board and citizens witnessed speeches and musical entertainment by the Town and Country Band as the golden shovels were plowed into the dirt signifying the beginning of a $40-million facility at the northwest corner of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4.
Guy Richardson with Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation, the non-profit gaming license holder, believes that the casino and entertainment facility will jumpstart the county into increasing the population and improving the local economy.
Wild Rose Chief Operating Officer and President Tom Timmons says he’s very thankful and appreciative of everyone’s work on the project and is looking forward to construction of completion of the 40-acre lot.
The 71,000-square foot facility includes a 16,300-square foot casino, 9,000-square foot events center, a 6,000-square foot restaurant and sports bar and a 71-room hotel.
GGCGC will receive 5% of the gaming profit revenue from Wild Rose Jefferson and will distribute that amount to non-profit and community organizations. Of that 5%, up to 20% will be given to the contiguous counties.
Timmons points out that the facility will add another 275 jobs to the local economy and plans are to have the facility open to the public by next summer in August of 2015.
Special Directory Now Available In Greene County
A new resource is now available to those needing speciality services in Greene County.
ISU Extension Coordinator Michael Cooley says the Midlife and Beyond Resource Directory Committee has compiled a booklet of health and human services in the County.
Committee member Pam Olrich says they wanted to put together a resource book for people to use as a guide to help them locate services in the County. It has the locations of different organizations and service groups, along with contact names and a brief description of what the organization is.
The Community Partnerships for Protecting Children helped to provide over 1,250 copies of the 30-page booklet. They are available at several county offices with more locations around the area. Plus, you can get an electronic version of the directory by going to the Extension’s website.
Call the Extension office for more information or to obtain a copy of the Greene County Community Resource Directory at 386-2138.
A Jefferson Man Suffers Injuries Following a Car vs Bicycle Accident
Greene County Sheriff Steve Haupert says at 8:09am on Thursday, 25 year-old Alicia Leanne Paup of Jefferson was traveling west on 230th Street, between Jefferson and Scranton, when she failed to see 51 year-old Scott Andrew Carroll of Jefferson on a bicycle and hit him with her 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix which sent Carroll into the north ditch.
Haupert states that Carroll was able to call 911 for assistance. The 51 year-old victim was then transported to Greene County Medical Center by Greene County Emergency Medical Services with injuries to his right side. He was taken by Life Flight to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and is in stable condition. Haupert comments that Carroll was not wearing a helmet but sustained no head injuries.
Haupert notes that Paup was not injured in the accident and has been charged with steering to close to a bicyclist and failure to maintain control. Damage was done to the right front quarter panel of the Pontiac and a broke right side mirror.
Haupert points out that this is the first bicycle accident since he became sheriff and recommends that people who are traveling on a bicycle wherever four-wheeled vehicles are also traveling should wear a helmet and have flashing front and rear lights to alert drivers.
The Sheriff’s office was assisted by Greene County EMS, Scranton Fire Department and Greene County Secondary Roads.
Cyclists of Greene To Host Full Moon Bike Ride Tonight
Bicycle and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to this month’s full moon bike ride in Greene County.
Cyclists of Greene member Chuck Offenburger says the next full moon bike ride on the Raccoon River Valley Trail will be tonight at 8pm.
The eight-mile trip starts from the Jefferson Depot and follows the RRVT to Cooper under the twilight. Then, after the sun sets and the full moon is in the sky, the group will head back up the trail to the Depot.
Offenburger notes that it’s a family-fun time and it allows you to have a unique experience on the bike trail at night with the wildlife.
He urges all participants to wear a helmet and have a properly working light to see the trail at night.
Following the event will be free treats provided by Jefferson Mayor and COG President Craig Berry.
Each full moon bike ride is free and open to the public.