Heating Assistance Program Offered in Greene County
Greene County is once again participating in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through New Opportunities.
Coordinator Teresa Lansman says LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay for part of their gas and electric bills from November through April. Last year, about 550 Greene County families took advantage of the program, which Lansman believes will continue to be successful and ensure that the program won’t be eliminated.
Funding for qualifying families is based off of their gross income, which are at 175 percent of the federal poverty level. That means a family of two must be below $27,878 of their gross income in order to qualify. Lansman points out that once you are qualified, your gas and electricity will not be disconnected if you fall behind on monthly payments. She notes that this program helps families save money for other expenses.
“I encourage families, if they get $200, to just take $50 off a bill a month. Well that $50 can go to food (and) we’re getting into the Christmas season, that $50 can be saved back for extra for Christmas.”
Applications are now open for anyone 65 or older and disabled people. All other applications will be available on November 1st.
Lansman encourages anyone interested in LIHEAP to contact her at 386-2719 to set up an appointment.
Greene County Residents Encouraged to Participate in Next Week’s Healthiest State Walk Initiative
Greene County residents are encouraged to join Iowa’s “Healthiest State Walk” next week.
This year’s theme is “Walk at the Whistle,” which is in conjunction with recommended fire drills for schools and businesses during National Fire Prevention Week. A local walk will be held on Wednesday, October 7th at noon. It will start at the Hy-Vee parking lot in Jefferson, go through the downtown square and end at the Greene County Community Center. For those participating in the walk, a lunch will be provided for a fee. Hy-Vee will grill hamburgers and provide water, Fareway is donating hamburger buns and chips and Greene County Medical Center will provide a fresh bags of vegetables.
Greene County Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Carl Behne is happy to be leading the event and partnering with such great entities to help with the state’s initiative to become the healthiest state in the country.
“Well obviously it’s very important as the health care provider, here in Greene County, that we want to be front and center and leading that charge. A healthy population is obviously one of our biggest goals. Changing the way healthcare is delivered, just like everyone else in this country, of really working towards a wellness minded state.”
To sign up for the walk, go to iowahealthieststate.com, click on “Join a Group”, enter 50129 for the zip code and click on “Greene County” walk. If you cannot make it to the walk, medical center staff encourage you to walk at least one kilometer (about 7.5 blocks) at noon on Wednesday.
The Healthiest State Walk started in 2011 as Governor Terry Branstad’s initiative to make Iowa the healthiest state, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, in five years. In 2014, Iowa ranked 16th.
Friend of the Year Award Ceremony at Jefferson Library
The Friends of the Jefferson Library invite the public to their annual Friend of the Year Award ceremony later this month.
Each year the award is given to someone who volunteers to support the library through activities and events and unselfishly gives their time to help the library grow. Last year, Lori DeBok won the award. She was the founding member and the first Friends president in 1993. She served as president twice, once from 1993 to 1996 and again from 2004 to 2007.
The ceremony will take place at 6:30pm on October 12th at the library with refreshments to follow. The event is free and open to the public.
Greene County Students Encouraged to Celebrate Homecoming Responsibly
Greene County High School’s Homecoming is next week.
Principal Brian Phillips says homecoming presents a lot of positivity in the community, but it can also create negative connotations if students get in trouble.
“It’s a time where most administrators, they love the school spirit, but they dread the worrying about kids and what they’re going to do. So we want kids to make good decisions and have parents support us and helping kids make those good decisions.”
One consistent problem has been excessive toilet paper on people’s property. Phillips points out that there could be possible consequences if those situations continue to escalate.
“A little bit is okay, but don’t take it over the top (and) destroy people’s property. If they tell you to leave, you need to leave. We try to tell kids to make good decisions so we don’t have to get into the situation of taking stuff away. We definitely don’t want to do that during homecoming.”
Phillips encourages everyone to celebrate homecoming in a respectful and safe manner.
Jefferson Matters: Main Street to Host Downtown Revitalization Meeting
Jefferson Matters: Main Street is hosting an informational meeting next week about a possible downtown revitalization grant.
Program Director Peg Raney says all downtown building owners are invited to learn more about their involvement in the $500,000 matching Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
“We’ll be having Ed Basch from the Iowa Department of Economic Development, he oversees CDBG grants for the state. He’ll come and explain to these property owners a little bit more about that grant (and) be able to answer questions about that. Region XII (Council of Governments) will also be there, our grant writers. So it’ll be an opportunity for these building owners to find out a little bit more of what’s involved in it.”
The grant requires a $250,000 match from the building owners as well as the City of Jefferson. The application is due at the end of January.
The meeting will be at the Jefferson Elks Lodge on Monday. There will be appetizers as well as a cash bar at 5:15pm with the program to start at 5:45pm. Anyone with questions, can contact Raney at 386-3585.