Community

The Jefferson-Van Buren Reading Council is offering a $200 scholarship grant to undergraduate or graduate students planning to take coursework in the area of reading.Interested persons can request an application from scholarship committee chairwoman Julie Hanshaw by writing to her c/o Libertyville Elementary School, 102 S. Jefferson St., Libertyville 52567, or by emailing ~Deadline for the scholarship applicatio...

(STATE POINT) ? While winter can be a beautiful time of year, it can also be a treacherous season on the roads. Winter driving conditions require increased attention and an ability to adapt quickly.In 2015, 8,010 people nationwide were killed in car crashes between December and March, resulting in an average seven percent per month increase from 2014, according to the National Safety Council. These numbers are a ...

Fairfield Middle School and Fairfield Elks Lodge have announced the Students of the Month for December.Each school month, the Fairfield Elks Lodge sponsors the middle school?s Students of the Month award. The purpose of the award is to acknowledge positive contributions of FMS students at school. These positive contributions range from assisting teachers and peers in classroom activities to displaying characteris...

TUESDAYT.T.T. Chapter E, McElhinny House, 7 p.m. Information: 472-2616.Pool Tournament, Fairfield Eagles Club, 7 p.m. Information: 472-2811.Walk-In Vaccination Clinic, Jefferson County Public Health office, 1-4 p.m. Call 472-5929.Immunization Clinic, Van Buren County Public Health Office, Keosauqua, 1:30-4 p.m. Appointments: 319-293-3431.Alcoholics Anonymous, women only, First Presbyterian Church, 6 p.m.Narc...

Fairfield Square Dance Inc. is hosting a free square dance party from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday at the Fairfield Eagles Club.No experience or partner is needed to attend the party. Beginners will be able to kick up their heels and get an idea of what square dancing is like, and those who are a bit rusty will be able to get back into square dancing.Robin Ragen and Jerry Story will be the callers for the party.For ...

KEOSAUQUA ? Lacey-Keosauqua State Park is participating in America?s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative Sunday.?We are excited to host First Day Hikes again as part of this effort to get people outdoors and into our parks,? said Todd Coffelt, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau. ?These hikes are a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the new year with ...

OTTUMWA ? The Wapello County Conservation Board will be offering Winter Camp at 1 p.m. Thursday at Pioneer Ridge Nature Area.Wapello County Conservation Naturalist Annette Wittrock said because area students are out of school on winter break and ?going completely stir crazy ... We would like to offer you the opportunity to get out of the house for an afternoon and enjoy a little outdoor exploration and more.??We...

TUESDAYBlood Drive, hosted by Lockridge Fire and Rescue, Lockridge Senior Center, 3:30-7:30 p.m. Appointments: 319-696-2543 or www.bloodcenterimpact.org with code 5045.Pool Tournament, Fairfield Eagles Club, 7 p.m. Information: 472-2811.Enchanted Forest Walk, self-guided stroll through holiday lights and displays, Waubonsie Park, Cantril, 5-8 p.m. Golf cart available by request. Information: 319-397-2251. ...

The following area houses of worship have submitted calendars for Sunday through Dec. 31.Any congregation wanting to have its calendar for the week of Jan. 1-7 published in The Ledger Dec. 30 should provide information to the newsroom by 9 a.m. Thursday.Listings are not perpetually printed. A weekly or monthly calendar must be submitted for the listing to appear in The Fairfield Ledger; specify if the submitted ...

LOCKRIDGE ? Lockridge Fire and Rescue will host a community blood drive from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 at the Lockridge Senior Center.Donors who last gave blood on or before Nov. 1 are eligible to give at this drive.For appointments to donate, contact Marcia Wesley at 319-696-2543 or visit www.bloodcenterimpact.org and use code 5045 to locate the drive.According to the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, ...

AMES ? Average Iowa farmland value has shown a decline for the third year in a row ? the first time this has happened since the 1980s farm crisis ? and is now estimated to be $7,183 per acre.The statewide per acre value declined $449, or 5.9 percent, since November 2015. Farmland values hit a historic high in 2013, but have steadily declined since then. The statewide average value for an acre of farmland is now ...

DES MOINES ? The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has certified the results from the referendum held Nov. 30 to reinstate the $.50 per head Iowa beef checkoff. Collection of the checkoff will begin March 1.The certified results show the referendum passed with 56 percent of the more than 1,700 producers that voted favoring the reinstatement of the assessment. A simple majority was needed to ...