Monthly Archives: December 2014

Dec 31

Five years since Insight Bowl victory

The second-best decade in Iowa State football history was capped off with a 14-13 win against Minnesota in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 31, 2009. It was the third bowl win for the Cyclones in a decade and the second … Continue reading

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Dec 31

Traer girl mourned after hunting accident

Liesl Casto, 12, was killed Saturday when her muzzleloader rifle accidentally went off. The DNR said this was the first firearm hunting fatality in Iowa since 2010. Stories: KCCI, KWWL, KCRG. Inspiring community note from the latter: “Liesel’s church youth group quickly … Continue reading

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Dec 30

Diagonal school building turned 100 in 2014

April 1, 2010: View of the 1914 Diagonal school building. The round tube is a fire escape. The home of the smallest high school in Iowa marked its centennial this year. The main building for Diagonal schools was built in … Continue reading

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Dec 29

Gladbrook-Reinbeck enrollment report

Like all rural school districts in Iowa, Gladbrook-Reinbeck is experiencing a long-term decline in enrollment. To get a better grasp of what’s going on overall, and the trends, the district hired a consultant. The resulting report (PDF), on the macro … Continue reading

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Dec 24

Updates to IA 149 North, IA 163 East

Oct. 7, 2013: The genericization of exit signage is complete on all rural Iowa interstates. Only “End 149” survived at Williamsburg and got its own pole. It has been embarrassingly long since I’ve made updates to the highway end pages … Continue reading

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Dec 23

Tom Harkin notes of assorted significance

Let the record show: Tom Harkin, the most senior junior senator of the 113th Congress, cast his last vote Dec. 16 to confirm a judge for the Western District of Missouri. He voted aye. Harkin’s last non-confirmation vote was on retroactive extension … Continue reading

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Dec 22

Oskaloosa bypass plans narrowed

Last week the DOT showed off its proposals for a western bypass of Oskaloosa for US 63. There are four permutations, based on the locations of the start and end points of the bypass. The south end would be either … Continue reading

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Dec 19

Elma Elementary closed; is Lime Springs next?

“On roll call, all answered aye, although Duane Bodermann of Elma hesitated before voting to close his alma mater.” After years of debate and declining enrollment, the Howard-Winneshiek school district closed Elma Elementary at the end of last school year, … Continue reading

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Dec 17

Creation, analysis of retroactive football brackets

When the IHSAA said it would no longer pre-set a full bracket for the football postseason, instead setting up an “as-you-go” for each round, I wondered if there would be final brackets made after the finals. That did not happen. … Continue reading

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Dec 16

Seymour school replacement vote narrowly fails

September 13, 2011: Top center of the original Seymour school building. Sadly, medieval-themed school flourishes just aren’t in vogue anymore. In today’s climate, steady to slightly-higher student enrollment is a victory for small districts. The Seymour school district in Wayne … Continue reading

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