Supervisors and Council Support Proposed Trail  

The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors have given their support to a trails project that would link the Jefferson County Trail System with Wapello County. The existing trails in the cities of Fairfield, Libertyville, Eldon and Ottumwa would be connected to create the American Gothic Trail that Dennis Lewiston, Jefferson County Conservation Director, says is looking for federal funding to complete.

“The group has met twice, and have decided to apply for funding through the State Trails, and then submit for a federal grant in 2010,” Lewiston says. “The group is currently getting its ducks in a row in order to apply for federal money because this will be a multi-million dollar initiative.”

Supervisor Steve Burgmeier felt that the connectivity of the trails is needed to become a tourist destination.

“The loop trail in Jefferson County is good, but it would be better if it were a destination trail,” Burgmeier says.

The Fairfield City Council gave approval to the American Gothic Trail at their meeting last week.  

Mar 07
Pathfinders RC&D Launches A New Web Site  

Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. recently launched its new Web site- PathfindersRCD.com. Pathfinders RC & D is a non-profit with the mission “to be a sparkplug for local economic development, natural resource conservation and recreation projects in our six-county area.”

Pathfinders RC&D serves the counties of Jefferson, Van Buren, Keokuk, Wapello, Davis, and Mahaska. The new site details the structure of Pathfinders RC&D and its board of directors, provides details about its Total Forestry Program, Revolving Loan Program, Tracht Conservation Farm and local projects it’s currently involved in.