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COMMUNITIES OF GREENE COUNTY

RIPPEY

Rippey is located in the southeast corner of Greene County and has three paved roads that pass though the town; county roads P46, E57 and the Iowa Highway 144. The diagonal 144 is a shortcut for many people going to Des Moines from counties to the north or traveling from Des Moines to the Iowa Great Lakes. Rippey is an easy commute to Jefferson, Perry, Boone, and Woodward. It is within 45 minutes of Des Moines or Ames.

Rippey is a part of the East Greene School District, and the elementary center is located in Rippey with grades K-6 in a well-maintained building. The varsity basketball and volleyball games are played in the Rippey Center and Rippey's city ball park is used for the high school baseball games. Rippey has a long baseball history, including having a lighted field since 1949. It is one of the few ball parks that offers a shaded grandstand.

There is an active United Methodist Church in the community and, as the only church in town, it serves the community on many occasions. One of the most unique occasions is upholding an 18-year-old tradition of putting on a potluck supper for the Central College football team every other autumn. The Dutch stop to eat at the church when they're on their way back to their campus in Pella, after they've played at Storm Lake against the Buena Vista University Beavers.

The tradition began in 1986 when one of the Central football players and one of the cheerleaders came from Rippey families that are members of the Methodist Church.

That supper is "a happening," says Velda DeMoss, one of the coordinators at the Rippey church. "The game is at 1 p.m. in Storm Lake. A Central coach will probably give me a phone call as they leave Storm Lake and the supper starts when we hear the air brakes on the bus! Probably close to 6 p.m. They eat quickly, and politely, and are on their way.

"We feel they get a better and bigger meal than a restaurant, and it is priced better," DeMoss said. "What profit we make will be divided between the East Greene Youth Fellowship and the Opening Act Group, a junior high youth group. Our young people help with the serving and, hopefully, the clean-up."

Several years ago the Friends of Rippey (F.O.R.) group was formed. One of its first projects was to raise funds for "welcome" signs to be placed on the south and north ends of Rippey along highway 144.

For the past three years, F.O.R. has placed planters on Main Street. The organization has also been interested in seeing a recreation trail built on the abandoned railroad right of way from Rippey to Perry. While grant money is sought for the recreation trail, F.O.R. headed a project to cut unwanted cedar trees out of the area, and the Greene County Conservation Department conducted a couple of "prairie burns" to enhance the native flowers – now enjoyed by those traveling the highway.

F.O.R. also sponsors an Internet site www.rippeynews.org featuring the weekly news, obituaries, and other feature stories. The F.O.R. group is now looking forward to being part of the "Barn Quilts of Greene County" project, by sponsoring three Rippey area barns.

Another "claim to fame" for Rippey is being one of the the "R's" in the annual "BRR" bicycle ride on the first Saturday of February, regardless of the weather. That's "Bike Ride to Rippey," which is sponsored by the Perry Chamber of Commerce. Bicyclists from all over the state of Iowa and beyond ride the 23 miles from Perry to Rippey in the February Iowa cold. Rippey has received state and national attention as the destination for this ride, now in its 28th year.

While small, Rippey has a lot going F.O.R. it – and a lot of "friends" supporting it.

RIPPEY BUSINESSES

AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICES
Jay's Auto Tractor

BARBERS
Overman Barber & Hairstyling Shop

BEAUTY SALONS
Overman Beauty Salon

CONVENIENCE STORE
Sparky's One Stop

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
Lansman Electric

FERTILIZERS - DEALERS
Heartland Co-op