Monthly Archives: April 2013

Apr 30

May in Iowa (wait, what?)

Now Mother Nature is just throwing days in a blender and then stringing them together. Here’s the current forecast for Goldfield. The phrases “New snow accumulation of around an inch possible” and “May 2” should never be part of the … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on May in Iowa (wait, what?)
Apr 27

Kossuth County Area Schools and Rural Iowa’s Population Collapse

As population and school enrollments in rural Iowa keep shrinking, many districts are finding it increasing difficult to stay afloat. One place this change is keenly being felt is in north-central Iowa. Rather than make this essay a blog post, … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on Kossuth County Area Schools and Rural Iowa’s Population Collapse
Apr 27

Keely Lyons, 1985-2003

On April 27, 2003, a girl was killed on the night of her senior prom. It wasn’t by anything she or her friends had done. The incident is perhaps most horrifying in its driest description: A drunk driver doing 80 … Continue reading

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Apr 26

42

The movie about Jackie Robinson is very good. My only question: How, in a film so committed to accuracy the actor playing Red Barber worked endlessly on mimicking the radio broadcaster’s voice, does the final cut have a scene labeled … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on 42
Apr 25

Titonka Elementary School closing

July 6, 2011: Dead district walking. Even though Titonka’s merger with Algona does not take effect until 2014, the district effectively will cease to exist this summer. All students K-12, instead of just 5-12, will be going to school in … Continue reading

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Apr 25

Jack Trice’s jersey number has been discovered

I completely understand the lengths of research this writer went to. (One microfilm clip shows Coe played Wisconsin in 1923. Imagine that today.)

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Apr 24

CWL may be next small-school domino to fall

Corwith-Wesley and LuVerne have been whole-grade sharing for more than 30 years, but could never merge because the combined districts didn’t meet the 300-student threshold. Now the two districts may be going to join Algona within the next five years. … Continue reading

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Apr 23

Latest cancellations ever?

Rock Valley and Boyden-Hull, presumably among others in northwest Iowa, cancelled school last Friday because of snow (and then had prom anyway).

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Apr 23

Part of San Marnan Drive to be relocated, rebuilt

A housing development next to a golf course will cause San Marnan Drive in Waterloo (formerly IA 412) west of Ansborough Avenue to be closed and then rebuilt 80 feet south of the present location. Current San Marnan follows the section … Continue reading

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Apr 22

Wrong word choice?

Des Moines Register, today: “We will be entrenched in this community,” the Minnesota Wild owner promised. ESPN, 2008: Iowa State coach Gene Chizik’s flirtation with Auburn about the Tigers’ vacant head coaching job has prompted the response back home one … Continue reading

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Wrong word choice?