No One was Injured, But an Apartment was Destroyed from an Early Morning Fire in Jefferson
An apartment fire was quickly contained early Friday morning in Jefferson.
Police Chief Mark Clouse says the Jefferson Fire and Police departments, Greene County Sheriff’s office and Greene County Emergency Medical Services responded to the fire at an apartment building in the 300 block of South Wilson Avenue Friday morning at 3:49am. Clouse tells Raccoon Valley Radio the occupant of the southeast apartment turned on the wall furnace and by the time he was done making coffee, he noticed a fire had started when the heat from the furnace ignited a stack of nearby newspapers. Clouse states that when they arrived on scene, the occupants of the apartment building were evacuated along with the residence around the area as a precaution.
Fire Chief Randy Love tells Raccoon Valley Radio when they arrived on scene, they could see flames coming from the apartment front door with lots of smoke. The apartment where the fire originated was a total loss and the other four apartments suffered only smoke and water damage. No one was hurt in the incident and crews were on scene for over two hours.
Emergency Management Coordinator Dennis Morlan contacted the Red Cross to assist the occupants with temporary shelter and other needs at this time.
Special Program on Civilian Conservation Corps is Today in Jefferson
The Jefferson Public Library is hosting a free program today.
Author and musician Bill Jamerson from Michigan will present a program about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). For nine years, starting in 1933, CCC worked with Iowa farmers on soil conservation projects and helped to build 15 state parks including Ledges in Boone. Plus, they also built a stone retaining wall and a stone shelter house and fireplace that is still in use at Squirrel Hollow Park in Greene County.
Jamerson will share stories, read excerpts from his book and sing original songs. Plus, he will talk about the interesting roles that the enrollees played apart of in the CCC that he’s met over the years. There will also be a question and answer section following the presentation, along with a book signing. Attendees are encouraged to bring their CCC photos and memorabilia to the program.
It will be at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson at 10:30am.
Rededication Event to Celebrate Greene County Courthouse Laying First Cornerstone 100 Years Ago
Everyone is invited to a “rededication” cornerstone ceremony at the Greene County Courthouse on Sunday.
The Courthouse 100 Committee will be hosting the event at 2pm at the northeast corner of the courthouse in Jefferson. The ceremony will mark 100 years ago to the day when the original cornerstone was put in place of the current courthouse on May 15, 1916.
Plans for the free, public event include remarks from the Grand Masonic Lodge of Iowa, along with members from the Morningstar Masonic Lodge of Jefferson, the Greene County Singers will perform “America the Beautiful”, followed by the Courthouse 100 Committee Chair Don Van Gilder talking about the contents of the 100-year old time capsule that is under the original cornerstone.
There will also be a presentation of the new time capsule and its contents that will be stored in the County Auditor’s vault to be opened in the next 100 years.
Once the event is over, architect firm Brooks Borg and Skiles senior partner Steve Stimmel will speak about the history of their firm as the original architect of Proudfoot & Bird, that designed the courthouse in 1916. The presentation will take place at the historical museum on Lincoln Way at 2:45pm. Refreshments will be served at the museum.
The 100th anniversary of the courthouse will be next year in 2017.
US Senator Joni Ernst to Visit Jefferson
United States Senator Joni Ernst will be stopping in Jefferson later this month.
She will be holding a veterans roundtable discussion to talk with local veterans make sure they are receiving the benefits that were promised to them for their military service. Those expected to attend include Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Home Base Iowa Program Manager Jason Kemp, Jefferson VFW Post Commander Don Ihnken, American Legion Post Commander Jim Andrew and Greene County Supervisor Guy Richardson.
The free public event will be at the social room of the Greene County Community Center at 9:45am on Friday, May 20th.
Any veterans that can’t make it to the roundtable but need help with the Department of Veterans Affairs can contact Ernst’s office at 515-284-4574.
Location Selected for New Animal Shelter in Greene County
A major hurdle was cleared earlier this week for a new animal shelter in Greene County.
Greene County Development Corporation Board members approved to give the City of Jefferson a four and a half acre lot in their west business park to build a new shelter. We’ve previously reported that the lot is south of American Athletic Incorporated and Spalding property off of Highway 4. City Administrator Mike Palmer says part of their agreement is that the new shelter must be built within three years. If the shelter isn’t built by then, the property will revert back to GCDC.
Palmer is thankful to have a location selected so they can get going on the project.
“I know Don Orris has put a tremendous amount of time into this and there’s actually kind of a sketch drawing (of the facility) already. But to do this right and move it forward, it’ll need some architectural drawings, that’s the next step. And then to get it all funded will be the final step. But in the end, the hope is that the City and the County can run it in a joint venture.”
Plans for the new shelter include 17 dog kennels, an isolation area for intaking animals, food preparation room, an exam room, along with a holding area and cat adoption rooms.