Paton’s Fireman’s Stag is Tonight
Everyone is invited to Paton tonight for the annual Fireman’s Stag.
Firefighter Jonathan Marshall says the event will be at the fire station at 101 South Main Street starting at 5pm.
The evening will begin with a smoked pork chop meal with potato salad, baked beans and a beverage. Following the meal will be mock casino games with two craps tables and four blackjack tables. Plus, there will be two raffles. One is a cash raffle with the winner receiving $1,000, second place for $500 and third place for $250. The other raffle will be for a Henry Golden Boy .22-caliber Firefighter Edition Rifle.
Proceeds from the event will go towards equipment for the volunteer fire department.
There is a $20 cover charge for admission and the meal.
Jefferson Man Faces a Felony for Stealing a Truck
Authorities arrested a Jefferson man after he allegedly stole a vehicle following a crash Tuesday.
Greene County Sheriff Steve Haupert says at 7:31am, deputies responded to a report of a missing 2012 Ford F-250 pickup truck from the 1600 block of 267th Street, just south of Jefferson. Then at 8:18am, deputies responded to the report of a rolled vehicle in a farm field at 270th Street and Q Avenue. During the investigation, deputies found a 1998 Chevrolet Blazer had rolled after going off the roadway. Parts of the interior appeared to be torn out and used to start a fire. The driver of the SUV had left the scene of the accident and the Blazer’s license plates were missing but deputies were able to use the vehicle’s VIN number to identify the owner.
While that investigation was happening, Haupert notes that the missing truck was found at South Vine and West Park Street in Jefferson. Deputies determined the owner of the Blazer had walked across the field and taken the truck.
The deputies went to the home of 18 year-old Collin Daniel Richards at 806 South Elm Street in Jefferson to question him about the rollover accident. After interviewing the accused, Richards admitted to the crash and to taking the pickup. He also admitted to starting a fire to keep warm and removing the license plates. Richards gave the deputies consent to search the home, where they recovered the keys to pickup along with stolen CD’s, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Richards was arrested and charged with failure to maintain control, a Class D Felony for first degree theft and misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
He was booked and remains in the Greene County Jail.
Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.
New Hotel Breaks Ground in Jefferson
On Wednesday, Cobblestone Hotel Inn and Suites broke ground on their new hotel in Jefferson.
President of Development for BriMark Builders, LLC. Jeremy Griesbach says the 37,000 square-foot, three-story building will be attached to Wild Rose Jefferson on the northwest corner of the intersection of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4. The $5.3 million hotel will have an indoor swimming pool, a workout room, a laundry room and free wifi. Plus, there will be ten full time equivalent jobs.
The original construction start date was suppose to be this past December. Griesbach says the delays were because of ironing out all the details of the agreements between the Jefferson Hotel Group, LLC. and Wild Rose Entertainment.
The anticipated opening date for the hotel is August 1st.
Jefferson Hy-Vee Opened to the Public
The Greene County Ambassadors and Hy-Vee executives opened the new Jefferson Hy-Vee store on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The store features several specialized departments and over 20,000 items for customers. Mayor Craig Berry believes the addition of another local business will hopefully draw even more business into town.
Hy-Vee has been in Jefferson since 1986 at Hy-Vee Drugstore on Lincoln Way. All 17 employees from that location are at the new Hy-Vee on West Washington Street. There are 237 total employees at the $9 million facility.
The store is open from 5am-midnight seven days per week.
Hunter Safety Education Course to be Offered in Jefferson
The Greene County Conservation Board is hosting a hunter safety education course that’s sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Conservation Director Dan Towers says the 3-day course will cover how to safely handle a firearm, information on wildlife management and experiencing live shooting. He points out the benefits for everyone, not just potential hunters.
“It makes them more comfortable around guns. Some people, and parents included, aren’t comfortable with their children handling guns. So I think maybe some of the kids that have a fear of guns, it shows them-if they’re handled properly-there’s no reason to have a fear of guns.”
It will be from 6:30-9pm on Tuesday, March 3rd and Thursday, March 5th at the Depot in Jefferson. Saturday’s session will be at Slinginger Woods from 8am-4pm. Towers suggests that participants bring a lunch with them to Saturday’s class.
You will receive a certificate of completion which you are required to have with you when you purchase a hunting license for the first time. You have to be at least 12 years-old or born after 1973 to take the course.
The program is free and registration is available online by clicking the link below and search by Greene County.
http://reservations1.usedirect.com/IowaWeb/Activities/SearchFilters.aspx