Monthly Archives: October 2013

Oct 31

University Avenue proposal is roundabout nightmare

Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2013, at 5:17 PM by Jeff

With it being Halloween and all, here’s a scary story from the Waterloo Courier regarding University Avenue, old US 218, between IA 58 and US 63. But those speaking at the hearing were more concerned about the “preferred” design, which includes … Continue reading →

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Oct 31

Conferencepocalypse, Iowa high school edition?

Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2013, at 10:23 AM by Jeff

It is difficult to track and chronicle the statewide makeup of athletic conferences on the Iowa high school level. Mergers and attrition have brought the Cornbelt Conference in the northwest down to six members this school year, right before it … Continue reading →

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Oct 30

New attention to US 20 intersection in Dubuque County

Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at 6:11 PM by Jeff

East of Peosta, US 20 leaves the straight line running from Farley and turns northeast to Dubuque.  Fifty years ago, there was a Highway Commission concept to run 20 straight east into Illinois, but budget and topographical considerations ensured it … Continue reading →

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Oct 30

Illinois creates IL 390; future interstate?

Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at 10:32 AM by Jeff

It’s not Iowa, no, but it might become an addendum to my note about recent interstate creations in the Midwest — and affect my plans to travel every interstate in Illinois. West of O’Hare Airport in suburban Chicago, a freeway … Continue reading →

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Oct 29

License Plate Letters — BUF

Posted on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at 2:40 PM by Jeff

Probably not going to get to the C’s before the new year but we’ll see. On a related note, are the old REAP and college football plates, especially the stamped ones, being replaced too? It seems like those are just … Continue reading →

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Oct 28

Rotisserie corn

Posted on Monday, October 28, 2013, at 12:54 PM by Jeff

July 5, 2013: This ear of corn on the Coon Rapids welcome sign on Iowa Highway 141 slowly rotates. Coon Rapids is best known for being the site of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s visit to Iowa in 1959. Farmer and … Continue reading →

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Oct 26

North Tama out of playoffs for first time since 2005

Posted on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at 8:12 AM by Jeff

The worst football season in North Tama history and the worst in Traer in half a century ended Friday with a 38-0 shutout by Belle Plaine. With a record of 1-8 (1-5), it’s the first time since 2005 that the Redhawks … Continue reading →

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Oct 25

When tillage begins, other arts follow

Posted on Friday, October 25, 2013, at 7:15 PM by Jeff

In the Atlantic’s list of “50 Greatest Inventions Since the Wheel,” six have to do with agriculture: Nitrogen fixation (a surprising #11), the Green Revolution (Norman Borlaug is one of the few people name-checked, at #22), the moldboard plow (#30), … Continue reading →

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Oct 25

The Lansing Lugnuts were the Waterloo Diamonds

Posted on Friday, October 25, 2013, at 1:27 PM by Jeff

I wondered what had ever happened to the Waterloo Diamonds, after a cup with their logo had faded to near oblivion. From this excerpt from a 1999 book about female entrepreneurs, I found that the Diamonds became the Lansing Lugnuts, … Continue reading →

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Oct 24

Missouri map includes unfinished bridge

Posted on Thursday, October 24, 2013, at 12:32 PM by Jeff

After 3½ years, Missouri finally updated its state highway map. The previous one was labeled “2010-12” and this one was released just two months ago. The biggest, most visible change is the addition of I-49 along US 71 on the … Continue reading →

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