Community

The Jefferson County Conservation Board?s sixth annual Dutch oven cook off is scheduled for June 8 at the Jefferson County Park.The event is to demonstrate Dutch oven cooking skills for novice and ?well seasoned? participants.Novice participants or teams, which have been competing for two years or less, will be judged in their own category, and will compete for first and second place with dessert and main dish, ...

SOLITAIRESMembers of Solitaires will have dinner Sunday at Loriann?s in Richland.Members will gather in the First National Bank in Fairfield parking lot to carpool to the restaurant at noon.???

Officers installed for the 2013-14 year of the Fairfield Women?s Club are, from left, seated: co-presidents Barb Smith and Judith Hall; standing: first vice president Julie Johnston, treasurer Jean Keller, recording secretary Karen Fulton and second vice president Lou Snead. Not pictured is corresponding secretary Walta Bloomquist.

Trail rides for senior citizens and challenged citizens who would otherwise have difficulty exploring Jefferson County Park and its trails are again available from May through October.The Jefferson County Conserva- tion Board has been providing the opportunity for the rides for about 20 years. This is the eighth year the rides will be given on the quiet and easily accessible electric trail buggy.Reservations ...

CENTER FOR CARTOON STUDIESWHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. ? Katharine Larson of Fairfield was among this year?s graduating class of the Center for Cartoon Studies, a master of fine arts program.A special opening reception for the CCS Thesis Exhibition, featuring the graduating students? original artwork, was held following the ceremony Saturday.???

Ron and Jeanette Bower of Fairfield, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Fairfield Friends Church.Their children, Brent Bower and wife Krysty, and Carmen Farrand and husband Jim, will host the open house.The couple requests no gifts, but cards are welcome and can be sent to 1506 Dogwood Drive, Fairfield 52556.Mr. Bower was Jefferson County ISU Extension ...

A free ?Welcome to Medicare Seminar? is planned from 4:30-6:30 p.m. June 6 at the Indian Hills Community College campus in Ottumwa.Those who would like to attend must register by calling Seneca Area on Aging at 800-642-6522 or emailing Joan Nydle at jnydle@senecca-aaa.org.Close to 40,000 Iowans will turn 65 in 2013 and most will be encountering Medicare for the first time. For those approaching age 65 there are ...

STOCKPORTThe Stockport State Central Bank, Stockport City Hall, Stockport Post Office and the Stockport Public Library will be closed Monday for Memorial Day. The bank, post office and city hall will re-open May 28, and the library will re-open May 29.???Volunteers are needed to help raise and lower flags along the street for Avenue of Flags Monday. Volunteers are asked to meet in front of city hall at 7 a.m. ...

KEOSAUQUA ? The Van Buren Players will host a 50th anniversary reunion from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Village Cup and Cakes in Keosauqua. Posters, programs, photographs and news clippings from 50 years of shows will be displayed, with a limited number of posters and programs available for scrapbooks. Mary Ovrom?s compilation of memories book also will be available for purchase.Light refreshments will be served, and the ...

Jefferson/Van Buren Reading Reading Council officials have announced the winners of the Iowa Reading Association?s annual writing contest for local students.The contest is divided into three age groups for poetry and for creative writing. Winners are chosen at the local level and then sent on to the state contest.This year in the poetry category, the Jefferson/Van Buren Reading Reading Council had one first-plac...

Once again Iowa?s senior citizens have access to the Farmers? Market Nutrition Program.Seniors can go to their local Seneca Area Agency on Aging meal sites and self-declare themselves eligible for ?coupons? to be spent at qualifying farmers? markets. The eligibility requirements are: 60 years of age or older at time of application, an income of less than $21,256 if single and $28,693 if married, and live in the ...

DES MOINES ? Sign-up for the general Conservation Reserve Program today and continues through June 14 at Farm Service Agency offices.The CRP offers producers and landowners an alternative to farming environmentally sensitive land to reduce soil erosion and protect water quality and improve habitat and attract wildlife.CRP contracts provide annual rental payments to landowners who in turn agree to use conservatio...