Man Dies in Farnhamville Grain Bin Accident
A Farmers Cooperative employee in Farnhamville is dead after getting trapped in a grain bin Thursday.
According to Chief Executive Officer Jim Chism, Brett Steck got stuck in a grain bin and was engulfed by soybeans around 9am when he entered the bin for routine cleaning. Chism points out that Steck was under proper supervision when the accident happened.
Fire and rescue crews from Farnhamville, Gowrie and Churdan were the first to arrive with their grain bin rescue equipment. Because the structure was cement, crews had to vacuum the soybeans from an access door. Chism says rescue crews were able to retrieve Steck around 10:45. An air ambulance was also called to the scene.
Chism adds that proper authorities have been notified and a full investigation will ensue.
Rockwell City and Lake View Fire departments, along with Calhoun County Emergency Medical Services, Iowa State Patrol and Calhoun and Webster County Sheriff’s offices assisted at the scene.
Chism notes that their thoughts and emotional healings are with the victim’s family and their co-workers.
Greene County Supervisors Twice Vote Down Noise Ordinance
For a second consecutive week, the Greene County Board of Supervisors voted against a noise reduction ordinance.
The Supervisors voted 3-2 on Monday to deny the ordinance that would have prohibited anyone from using an engine brake unnecessarily between the hours of 10pm and 6am. Four of the five Supervisors voted the same way they did last week, with John Muir and Guy Richardson voting in favor and Tom Contner and Mick Burkett voting against. Supervisor Dawn Rudolph was the deciding vote, since she missed last week’s meeting, and ultimately voted against it. She explains why she voted no.
“I feel that there wasn’t the support county wide for that (ordinance). When it comes down to it, I feel like it’s pretty isolated. It’s not a county wide problem, and if we’re going to do an ordinance, I feel like it should be county wide.”
Muir echoes Rudolph’s comments and adds he respects how the vote came out.
“There are issues and trying to address them in other ways and things (and) an ordinance would have been another tool to address the issues. It’s a big deal to pass an ordinance (or) pass a law. Everybody needs to be comfortable with it and three of us (on the Board) weren’t.”
With the ordinance failing twice for a first reading, unless there’s more county wide support, the Supervisors won’t discuss it again.
Next Full Moon Bike Ride in Greene County is Tonight
The Cyclists of Greene (COG) invite everyone to their next full moon bike ride tonight.
The monthly bike rides are on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. It starts at the Jefferson Depot and heads south to Cooper, which is about eight miles, before heading back to Jefferson. COG President and Jefferson Mayor Craig Berry says the rides are fun and it provides a unique experience.
“We usually get a pretty good group that goes out there and we ride down to Cooper in the light and then come back in the dark when the moon comes up. There’s a lot of wildlife that comes out at night and we kind of keep on eye on that and watch for that stuff. But it’s a lot of fun.”
Participants are required to have a functioning bike light and wear a helmet. The full moon bike rides are free and open to the public.
Silent Auction for Yarn Bombed Bikes in Jefferson
The downtown square in Jefferson is colorfully decorated from yarn. It can be found on bicycle wheel rims, on the light poles and “yarn bombed” bikes in storefront windows.
It is a fundraiser event for Jefferson Matters: Main Street and the Tower View Team’s Pedaler’s Palooza in honor of the inaugural Pedaler’s Jamboree next month. Program Director Peg Raney says a silent auction is going on now for all of the decorated bikes in the businesses around the square. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the Tower View Team’s next project, which is creating an Alphabet Alley on the west alleyway on the square.
The last day of the auction is September 5th, which is the same day as the Pedaler’s Jamboree. It takes place along the Raccoon River Valley Trail, with an overnight stop in Jefferson. Raney points out that Jefferson Matters would like to take advantage of the opportunity to expose participants to the downtown area.
“If 1,500 to 2,000 bikers are involved in this (Pedaler’s Jamboree) and then just see what is available with this yarn bombed bikes and hospitality that we have here in Jefferson, they’ll be coming back. That’s the goal.”
To be a volunteer with Jefferson Matters, contact Raney at 386-3585.
Mayoral and City Council Nomination Forms Now Available for November Election
Nomination papers for November’s mayoral and city council elections in Greene County are now available.
Greene County Deputy Auditor Billie Jo Hoskins says potential candidates have until September 17th to submit their forms to be on the November 3rd ballot. All mayoral positions are available this election cycle, including the City of Jefferson. Each term lasting two years, with the exception of the mayor of Jefferson, which is a four-year term. All city council seats are four-year terms.
Jefferson has two seats available for city council, one in the second district and one at-large. Scranton, Churdan, Paton and Rippey each have three seats up for election. Churdan has two additional positions to fill a vacancy. Dana and Grand Junction each have two seats available. Dana also has one seat to fill a vacancy.
Scranton voters will also be asked about a measure to change the number of library trustees and their terms of office.
Hoskins says for Jefferson, individuals must have at least 25 signatures to run for either mayor or city council. Grand Junction, Rippey, Paton, Churdan and Scranton must have a minimum of ten signatures and Dana is required to have at least five to be on the ballot.
Forms are available at the County Auditor’s office, each city clerk’s office or on the State Auditor’s website.
All nomination forms must be submitted to the Greene County Auditor’s office.