Monthly Archives: March 2015

Mar 31

Two additions to the “unvisited” list

Hey, that’s not how this is supposed to work! Since my New Year’s resolution to visit all of Iowa’s incorporated places (eventually), I have had to refine my list slightly. First, Klemme is obviously not on US 69, and I … Continue reading

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Mar 30

Waukee rest areas close Wednesday

September 28, 2012: The eastbound I-80 rest area near mile marker 119, as seen from the Alice’s Road bridge. The nearly unused six-lane bridge has loomed beside them for years now, and the end is finally here: The rest areas … Continue reading

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Mar 27

C57 at US 218 closes April 1

A press release from the Iowa DOT says C57 at US 218 south of Janesville will soon close for a year and a half for construction of an interchange. It’s the second interchange to be programmed in the area as … Continue reading

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Mar 26

Reuters photo essay showcases rural Iowa, undersells Preston station

Reuters photographer Jim Young has compiled a photo essay of the Iowa countryside in conjunction with the beginning of caucus season. A slideshow with large pictures has a home on Reuters’ site, but the photo collection on Yahoo (also, sadly, a … Continue reading

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Mar 25

Hamburg, Farragut must seal off old buildings

The Iowa Department of Education earlier this month gave the individual Farragut and Hamburg school districts “conditional accreditation”, meaning that there will not be any forced dissolution, at least for another year. KMA stories: Farragut, Hamburg. However, it appears that at … Continue reading

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Mar 24

State newspaper archives still piling up

This long story from IowaWatch and shorter one from the Gazette are disheartening for me as a researcher. Newspapers from across the state have not been microfilmed since 2009 and continued to be stored. The Legislature was going to devote … Continue reading

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Mar 23

Howard-Winneshiek, Riceville drop hammers on each other

Last month, the Howard-Winneshiek school board abruptly ended its agreement to let Riceville pick up open-enrolled students near the school district boundary, and a week afterward Riceville reciprocated, the Waterloo Courier reports. Now open-enrolled students will have to find their … Continue reading

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Mar 19

Flameout

Since early February, I have had two thoughts about this year’s ISU men’s basketball team: They can lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament or win until they get steamrolled by Kentucky. — Me, about 60 hours ago … Continue reading

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Mar 19

What Lisbon bypass will do to Lincoln Highway

July 6, 2013: The Lincoln Highway departs from present-day US 30 right at the Linn-Cedar county line. After the bypass is built, this intersection will still be here, but the road won’t be US 30. Maps and documents for the … Continue reading

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Mar 18

Pat Forde’s scenarios for ISU, Iowa

Pat Forde’s previews and thoughts for Iowa State and Iowa in the NCAA Tournament are out, as part of the South regional best/worst case scenarios. He doesn’t think ISU can lose in the first round, and didn’t even disparage Ames … Continue reading

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