LATEST NEWS

JEFFERSON, Iowa — A grain elevator in Iowa is back in action after exploding two years ago. Dust and heat came together and rocked the old structures, which were built in the late 1950s. Those structures make up the Landus grain elevator in Jefferson. The explosion damaged the loading...

There’s a full slate of events happening tomorrow with the Bell Tower Festival in Jefferson. The day begins with the Greene County Medical Center Foundation Golf Tournament at the Jefferson Community Golf Course at 9am. Then the other activities take place in the evening, starting with a chalk artist, Kathleen Boling, from 4-9pm on the southwest corner of the downtown square. Bell Tower Festival Committee Chair Philip Heisterkamp explains that Jefferson Matters Events and Tourism Coordinator Molly Cunningham brought in the new attraction of the chalk artist.

7:18am: The Fairview Veterinary Clinic reported a transient on their property at 1908 North Wilson Ave. The subject had left the area before the officer arrived. 9:01am: Mecktisha Hagar reported a subject keeps making false reports to DHS about her. The officer is working with DHS to look into the claim.

The Perry man who shot the Perry Chief of Police last year was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison, with mandatory minimum sentencing laws ensuring he will serve at least 10 years behind bars. Jeremiah Matthew Messner, 31, of 1319 W. Second St., Perry, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Dallas...

A multi-vehicle collision occurred Thursday afternoon at the interchange of U.S. Highway 169 and Iowa Highway 141 east of Perry. Public safety radio traffic indicates several injuries. The crash, which occurred about 4:15 p.m., is under investigation at this hour by the Dallas County Sheriff’s office. It was not...

1:07pm: A deputy investigated a careless driving complaint on 220th Street near X Avenue. 2:18pm: A deputy investigated a driving complaint in the 900 block of Cedar Street, Scranton. 3:07pm: A deputy investigated a car deer accident on 220th Street near Oakland Avenue. Bruce Keeney 65 of Jefferson struck a...

The Greene County School Board recently approved a new amenity for the middle school. The Board heard a presentation by the middle school team, led by Samantha Telleen and Matt Paulsen proposing to install playground equipment on the northwest corner of the middle school. The Board saw data from student surveys where the top three choices of playground equipment were an obstacle course, basketball court and swings. The next three choices the students wanted included a space for four-square, bags or cornhole and other benches.

Crop fields in Greene County continue to push along in the growing season. Greene County ISU Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt says there’s been some decent rainfall this past week, especially in northern Greene County, where some fields had standing water in them. “So those scenarios are, we did...

2:48pm: A deputy investigated a single vehicle rollover accident on 250th Street near W Avenue. Stephen Bailey 30 of Churdan lost control of a 2016 Kenworth Cement mixer on 250th Street near W Avenue. Stephen was cited for failure to maintain control. The estimated damage to the mixer is 50,000 dollars.

Jefferson and surrounding residents are being asked to help once again with clean up efforts at the two cemeteries in town. After the Memorial Day holiday, Public Works Director Dave Morlan says from June 12th-16th is another cleanup week at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery and the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Tomorrow is a grand opening for one newly established business just south of Jefferson. Iowa Cover Crop is hosting the event from 4-7pm at their location, 1669 N Avenue south of Jefferson. Co-Owner Bill Frederick tells Raccoon Valley Radio they were looking to build a new location after the December 2021 tornado hit their facility in Paton and they were able to purchase the property that they are now at. Co-Owner James Holz talks about what he’s most impressed with their new space.

With the Bell Tower Festival happening later this week in Jefferson, the committee has been hard at work getting things ready. Committee member Emily Dyer is the vendor coordinator and says there will be 43 vendors lining Wilson Avenue and State Street in the downtown area, including 19 food trucks. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio how happy she is with the amount of food choices that people can enjoy and adds how more are coming this year.

The quartet of sculptures decorating the Bell Tower Plaza were selected from 36 entries received for the eighth Ring Out for Art contest, organized by the Jefferson Matters: Main Street Tower View Team. Those who attend the annual Bell Tower Festival this weekend in downtown Jefferson can vote for their...

A Carroll woman has been ordered to serve up to five years in prison on a drug trafficking charge. According to Carroll County District Court records, 32-year-old Taylor Marie Frank pled guilty in April to possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, a class D felony, and was sentenced on May 25. The charge stems from a Nov. 10, 2022 interaction with the Carroll Police Department. Authorities say Frank was found in possession of at least nine ounces of marijuana that had been packaged into one-ounce increments, a scale, and nearly $500 in cash. The charge against Frank also carried enhanced penalties due to several prior felony convictions, including prohibited acts and criminal mischief in Carroll County.

With the school year now over, there are lots of kids enjoying the outdoors, which means motorists need to be extra aware when traveling on the road. Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse tells Raccoon Valley Radio there are more kids out walking, bicycling, skateboarding and doing other activities outdoors and so motorists should be more watchful of children.

The 2023 Bell Tower Festival, themed “Live Your Legacy”, will fill Jefferson’s downtown with activities, entertainment and refreshments this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. A Downtown Dinner Party is again planned for under the sun shades in the 100 block of W. Lincoln Way Thursday evening. A social...

Philip Heisterkamp and Josh Dyer with the Bell Tower Festival Committee talk about the Thursday and Friday lineup of events with the Bell Tower Festival in part one of our two part series. Podcast: Play in new window | Download.

The Perry Police Department will have their Unclaimed Bicycle and Property Sale this Saturday to get rid of their inventory. Police Chief Eric Vaughn says that this sale will be from 8 to 10am at the Perry Police Department’s garage, located on 908 Willis Avenue. He says their storage space is filled with bikes and unused property they have collected throughout the years and this is a nice way to get rid of it at a fair price to the residents of Perry.

To view a log of the calls for service, click here. Jennifer Lyne McCollar, 43, of 1624 Third St., Perry, was arrested on a Webster County warrant for OWI and on a charge of driving while revoked. Curtis Wesley Jurgensen, 59, of 1012 335th St., Woodward, was arrested on a...

West Central Solid Waste is excited to announce customers can now begin recycling a new type of plastic thanks to the installation of new processing equipment at the Carroll County Landfill. According to Solid Waste Director, Mary Wittry, the new machinery, which is capable of removing #5 plastics from the waste stream, was first operational near the end of April, and they used May to resolve any initial problems before opening it to all customers. Wittry explains what qualifies as a #5 plastic.