Jefferson’s Annual Fireman’s Ball is Tonight
The Jefferson Fire Department invites everyone to their annual Fireman’s Ball tonight.
Fire Chief Randy Love says the dancing and socializing event is one of their two major fundraisers for the year. The other fundraiser is their pancake breakfast during the Bell Tower Festival. It will be at Clover Hall on the Greene County Fairgrounds from 8pm-midnight tonight.
The evening will include music by Bass Makers Mobile DJ Sound and Service and there will be a cash bar. Love points out that they will introduce their full 29-man volunteer staff including eight new members that have recently joined.
All proceeds will go towards equipment purchases for the fire department.
Tickets for the ball are $5 per person and can be purchased at the door.
Increased Law Enforcement Out During March’s sTEP Wave
Extra law enforcement will be out looking for drunk drivers for the next few days during the Special Traffic Enforcement Program by the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.
Greene County Sheriff Steve Haupert says they will be out with extra patrol during the upcoming sTEP Wave. The Sheriff’s office also receives funds from the state government for their participation in sTEP. Haupert explains the details of this year’s funding.
“This year we are receiving $4,200 by participating in the Traffic Safety sTEP week. We have purchased four, new in-car radars of which we are grateful for that.”
Haupert points out that Deputy Dave Kersey is the coordinator for sTEP and talks about how he reports their information to the state.
“It’s his (Kersey’s) responsibility to keep track of all (traffic) stops that we make, whether they’re speeding, seatbelt, OWI or any citations in general that we record and then have to report to the state. And that’s kind of how they (state government) tracks this whole system.”
sTEP will last until Tuesday, March 17th.
Carroll County Man Arrested Again in Greene County
A Carroll County man faces a felony burglary charge from an incident on Monday in Scranton.
Greene County Sheriff Steve Haupert says at 10:06am, deputies responded to a call of a reported burglary in process in the 900 block of Grant Street in Scranton. The accused left the scene before deputies arrived, but the individual’s identity was already known.
Haupert notes that Carroll County Sheriff’s office assisted in their investigation which eventually led to the arrest of 25 year-old Cody Lee Sellman of Dedham. He is charged with a Class D Felony for third degree burglary and a misdemeanor for third degree criminal mischief.
He was booked and remains in the Greene County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Sellman is also facing two felonies for manufacturing marijuana and possession of a firearm by a felon and a misdemeanor for assault. Charges stem from an incident on December 29th when Sellman allegedly waved a sawed-off shotgun in the air during an argument in the 1600 block of Scranton Street in Scranton. Deputies obtained a search warrant and also discovered 15 marijuana plants.
According to court documents, Sellman pled not guilty to the December charges and a pretrial date is scheduled for March 27th.
Grand Junction Home Destroyed by Fire
A home in Grand Junction was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday.
The Greene County Sheriff’s office says at 2:13pm the Grand Junction and Jefferson Fire departments responded to a house fire 404 South 8th Street in Grand Junction.
Jack Williams with the Jefferson Fire Department says when they arrived on scene, the house was fully engulfed in flames. Tenant Jeremy Lenhoff was inside the home at the time of the fire. He was able to escape and was taken to the Greene County Medical Center by private vehicle for possible smoke inhalation. Fire crews battled the blaze for about 2 1/2 hours.
Williams tells Raccoon Valley Radio they believe the fire was caused by an electrical issue.
The home is owned by Steve Eggert and it is estimated to be a total loss.
Grand Junction Rescue and the Greene County Sheriff’s office assisted at the scene.
Greene County Historical Society’s Program is Tomorrow
The Greene County Historical Society is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday with a special program.
The public is invited to the “History & Traditions of the Irish” in the County at the historic and recently renovated St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Churdan. Greene County resident Andy Geisler will lead the program.
The program will cover Myles Fitzpatrick, who was one of the first Irish settlers in Cedar Creek in the 1850’s and the Geisler family is Fitzpatrick’s descendants. Other topics will include the history of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church as well as other Irish people of the County.
The free event will be at 2pm and refreshments will be provided.
The church is located in Cedar Township about five miles west of Churdan on County Road E-19.