The Greene County football team writes the initials “LM” for the late Landon Martin prior to each game. Martin passed away in August of last year after battling brain cancer. The Rams have dedicated this season in his honor. BRANDON HURLEY | JEFFERSON HERALD

A HIGHER CALLING

Brandon Hurley THE EARLY LEAD Greene County’s Nick Breon paused to take a deep breath before glancing toward the heavens. The Rams were still a few weeks shy of the school’s first playoff victory, but the impact of two brave youths weighed heavily on the senior and his teammates.

Ralston Mayor Chad Stevens went to glimpse the emu after it was spotted in a field north of his town. SPECIAL TO THE JEFFERSON HERALD

The unfortunate end of an emu

By JARED STRONG j.strong@carrollspaper.com Larry Gregory was home from Florida and chatting with his folks at their farmstead near Ralston when his older brother — who had been harvesting corn that day — barged through the door. “There’s an emu in my field!”

SPECIAL TO THE JEFFERSON HERALD Jefferson-Scranton grad Brent MacLagan is seen here with his Hall of Fame plaque Nov. 21 in Cedar Falls during the Iowa High School Athletic Association induction ceremonies. The 1995 graduate won four state track titles and was a two-time all state football player during his high school career in the mid-90s.

HISTORICAL GREATNESS: Greene County ushers in inaugural athletics Hall of Fame class with five inductees

By Brandon Hurley Sports Editor sports@beeherald.com @BrandonJHurley ----

Greene County’s Weaver endorses Bullock for president

Greene County farmer and former Iowa House candidate David Weaver announced his endorsement of Montana Governor Steve Bullock, a Democratic candidate for the presidency. Bullock has now received the endorsement of 21 Iowa Democratic officials, activists, and community leaders.

“Sometimes, I think he makes her work a little harder,” former Jefferson fire chief Eldon Cunningham says of fire captain Sean Schiltz (left) and his daughter, Sydney, who joined him on the Jefferson Fire Department this year. ANDREW McGINN | JEFFERSON HERALD

Blazing history

By ANDREW MCGINN a.mcginn@beeherald.com Late this past summer, volunteer firefighters with the Jefferson Fire Department gathered on the elementary school playground in full gear and prepared to embark on an obstacle course with their face masks obscured by plastic wrap.

For valor

Certificates of valor were presented Monday to Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Allen and Churdan firefighter Nate Byerly (second and third from left, respectively) for saving the life of a driver whose Jeep Liberty plunged into West Buttrick Creek on Oct. 10.