Greene County Development Corp. member John P. Rigler III (right) stands with his dad, John P. Rigler II, outside the Peoples Bank branch in Clive. Rigler III is president of the bank, which has operations in Jefferson, Scranton, Grand Junction and Rippey.

By DOUGLAS BURNS d.burns@carrollspaper.com

Retired police officer Les Fister (left) and the Rev. Devin Wolters, of the Greene County Homeless Coalition, check for signs of life July 31 in the restrooms at the city park in Scranton. The coalition was conducting its second Point-in-Time Count of the homeless this year, part of a growing trend in rural Iowa. The counties are finding that they all have people who have fallen through society’s cracks. ANDREW McGINN | JEFFERSON HERALD

Homeless in Greene County: They’re here and they have help

By ANDREW MCGINN a.mcginn@beeherald.com Sara Miller’s words of caution were delivered so matter-of-factly last week that, if not for the sight of the Oly’s Corner car wash outside the window of Central Christian Church, it might have been easy to forget where we were.

Sports wagering coming to casino

Wild Rose Entertainment secured sports betting licenses last week from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for all three of its properties, the company announced. The company is preparing to offer sports betting at its casinos in Jefferson, Emmetsburg and Clinton.

Ain’t no party like a River Farm party: Craig Flack’s River Farm Recreation west of Jefferson has survived long enough to host another Summer Bash on Saturday, little more than a month after the last one ended with several arrests. Flack has accused Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams, a critic of the site, of “using me as a pawn for his agenda.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID AUSBERGER

THE PARTY AIN’T OVER

By ANDREW MCGINN a.mcginn@beeherald.com On July 12, when the promotion company known as Iowa Chill sent word on Snapchat that River Farm Recreation west of Jefferson would be hosting a “foam party” on Aug. 3, more than 35,000 people saw the snap.

Jefferson city councilman Matt Wetrich stands in 2018 on East Lincoln Way. The east entryway won’t be Jefferson’s least-welcoming for too much longer. Improvements to the corridor are in the council’s sights. HERALD FILE PHOTO

Don’t let anyone tell you we’re not moving forward

Matt Wetrich Guest Commentary Being a part of local government certainly opens your eyes to new things; seeing the perspectives of citizens that live a variety of lifestyles, who have a variety of concerns, and listening to a plethora of issues — all while looking ahead to help make decisions for a better future.

You want fries with that? Jefferson’s Tony Pille stands last week at the counter of Dirt Burger, his vegan fast-food joint in downtown Des Moines that he launched recently with business partner Chris Place, another Jefferson native. “It’s not like Atkins,” Pille says of healthy eating. “It’s not a trend. It’s here to stay.” ANDREW McGINN | JEFFERSON HERALD PHOTOS

BURGER TIME

By ANDREW MCGINN a.mcginn@beeherald.com We live in amazing times. Think how far cellphones have come in the past 20 years. Or digital special effects in movies. We also have vegan cheese that apparently no longer behaves like Flubber.