Final Performances Of “The Music Man” At Greene County High School

There are two performances left of the Greene County High School’s fall production of the “The Music Man”.

Director David Heupel says the cast of 50 students have been rehearsing for the Iowa-based musical after Labor Day and they’ve been working at least three nights per week.

Talented students like Parker Willis and Victoria Sims play lead roles of Professor Harold Hill and Marian Paroo respectively.  Other notable students in the cast includes Annie Palmer, Hannah Promes, Danielle Graves, Jacob Wittry, Jarrett Delp, Michael Kennedy, David Petersen and Noah Eberle.

Last night was opening night at the high school auditorium.  Tonight will be the second show at 7:30pm and tomorrow is a matinee at 2pm.  Tickets will be sold at the door.

Gas Leak Reported At Hy-Vee Location In Jefferson

Alliant Energy is investigating a report of a ruptured gas line at the Hy-Vee Incorporated construction site in Jefferson.

Jefferson Police Chief Dave Morlan says at 9:33am police officers, the Jefferson Fire Department, the Greene County Sheriff’s office, the Greene County Emergency Medical Services and Alliant Energy all responded to a report of a ruptured gas line.

He states that they blocked off all streets around the Hy-Vee property out to Highway 4 and notified the residence around the property to voluntarily evacuate their homes while Alliant Energy handled the leak.

Within 30 minutes, the situation was controlled, roads were reopened and it was safe for people to re-enter their homes.

Alliant Energy Spokesperson Justin Foss says Hy-Vee’s contractor drove a spike into the ground and hit their plastic gas line on Friday, October 31st but the leak didn’t start happening until Monday, November 3rd.  Alliant Energy is investigating the matter but Foss points out that before anyone is allowed to start digging into the ground, that the state requires you to call 8-1-1 to have all the utilities properly marked two days before any digging happens.

No one was injured in the incident and no explosions or fires were reported.

A Fire Investigation May Lead To Charges In Greene County

The Greene County Sheriff’s office is investigating a fire that got out of control recently.

Sheriff Steve Haupert says his deputies and the Churdan and Farnhamville fire departments responded to a field fire in the 200 block of M Avenue at 3:08pm on Sunday, November 2nd.

Hauperts notes that a youth started a fire to burn a brush pile and then it spread, due to high winds, and caught an abandoned building and a corn field on fire.  After fire crews put out the flames, the abandoned building was reported to be a total loss and only one-acre of the field was damaged.  No one was hurt in the incident.

However, due to the weather conditions not being favorable to burn any brush and because it wasn’t reported to the Sheriff’s office as a controlled burn, Haupert comments that charges are pending against the minor who started the fire for reckless use of fire.

Haupert cautions anyone who wants to burn large brush piles in the rural parts of the county, that they must call it in or face fines and other charges.

3 Iowa Men Face Charges From Greene County Sheriff’s Office And DNR

3 Iowa men face several charges from the Greene County Sheriff’s office and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Sheriff Steve Haupert says a deputy was called out early on Monday morning due to a complaint about some individuals hunting in the northwest portion of the county.

When the deputy arrived on scene, three men allegedly approached him and were belligerent and harassing the deputy and they asked to see his supervisor.  Haupert notes that witnesses were with the deputy and confirmed the actions by the three individuals.  Haupert went up on Tuesday morning to the 300 block of C Avenue, close to the Calhoun and Carroll county lines, where he talked with the three males and they continued to be non-compliant.

Haupert states that he went back with four deputies and four DNR conservation enforcement officers at 6:59pm that night and executed search warrants of the rental home the three men were staying at and arrested all of them.

Hossein Kolbehdari age 20 of Ankeny is charged with felonies for possession with intent to deliver cocaine and marijuana along with several misdemeanors including harassment and assault.

Maxwell McGlothlen age 21 of Ankeny, and Rheise Presnall age 22 of Polk City are charged with several misdemeanors including harassment, assault disorderly conduct and gathering where controlled substances are unlawfully used.

Haupert notes that their investigation is ongoing and that there will be other hunting and gaming charges pending completion of an investigation by the Iowa DNR.

McGlothlen and Presnall were booked and released from the Greene County Jail on their own recognizance and Kolbehdari posted a $5,000 cash only bond and was released from jail.

Greene County’s Election Results To Be Official Following The Canvass On Monday

About 54% of registered voters in Greene County participated in this past Tuesday’s midterm elections.

There were 3,703 ballots cast on Election Day and all candidates running for re-election for county offices initially won.

For the two Supervisor seats, Republican incumbents Dawn Rudolph and Tom Contner were re-elected for districts 3 and 4.  Rudolph defeated Democrat Kevin Fitzpatrick Sr. and Independent Shane Olson 1,767 to 1,066 and 750 votes respectively.  Contner beat out Democrat Randy Monthei 2,092 to 1,393 votes.

As for County Treasurer, Democrat incumbent Donna Lawson defeated Republican challenger Kristi Holz 2,368 to 1,229 votes respectively.  Marica Tasler was re-elected as County Recorder and Nicola Martino was re-elected as County Attorney.  Both ran unopposed.

Getting elected to his third-term as Iowa House of Representative for District 47 is Republican Chip Baltimore who defeated Democratic challenger Hans Erickson 2,326 to 1,102 votes respectively.

Other notable winners from Greene County were Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds getting re-elected to office over Democrats Jack Hatch and Monica Vernon and Republican incumbent Steve King was re-elected to serve in the US House for District 4 as he defeated Democrat Jim Mowrer 2,108 votes to 1,485 votes respectively.  Joni Ernst was also elected to the US Senate over Bruce Braley 2,063 to 1,367 votes respectively.

Each city with the exception of Churdan passed its version of the Local Option Sales and Services Tax.

All winners are unofficial until the Supervisors conduct its canvass of votes at their next regular meeting on Monday, November 10th.