Monthly Archives: January 2017

Jan 17

One contractor, two sign color problems

July 2, 2014: City limit sign for Hudson just north of IA 58’s rebuilt south end. Black-on-white and all-caps are both non-standard. When IA 86 opened from IA 9 to the Minnesota border in November 2013, the “Dickinson County” sign … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on One contractor, two sign color problems
Jan 16

How do you ‘rebrand’ a corner?

The federal government gave the final approval last week to redo the I-35/80 interchange with IA 141 and add ramps at Meredith Drive, the Des Moines Register reports. Here’s the nugget that makes it weird: The interchange is located at … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on How do you ‘rebrand’ a corner?
Jan 13

Pilot Knob is not Iowa’s second-highest point. Or the third.

October 4, 2016: The view from the Pilot Knob observation tower, which is 30 feet tall. Enjoy it before I drop some earth-leveling news. While working on the page for IA 237, the old spur to Ocheyedan, I had a … Continue reading

Posted in Geography, Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Pilot Knob is not Iowa’s second-highest point. Or the third.
Jan 12

Council Bluffs remakes Broadway intersection

June 22, 2013: East Broadway in downtown Council Bluffs. The owner of the Mississippi State flag isn’t lost, just here for the College World Series. This photo is west of the Broadway/Kanesville intersection on the historic Lincoln Highway. Although (as … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Council Bluffs remakes Broadway intersection
Jan 11

G is for Gladbrook

July 7, 2015: The former Gladbrook-Reinbeck Middle School was the Gladbrook High School before 1988. The Gladbrook school is another recent addition to the list of closed schools in Iowa. This closure in 2015 triggered something that had never happened … Continue reading

Posted in Schools, Sequences, Tama County | Comments Off on G is for Gladbrook
Jan 10

A look back at the Avoca courthouse

The Daily Nonpareil has a feature on when Pottawattamie County had two courthouses — but, depending on how you interpret the wording of an 1886 law, maybe not two de jure county seats. Pottawattamie is the second-largest county in Iowa (954 … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on A look back at the Avoca courthouse
Jan 09

Three Kmarts in Iowa closing

Calvin: Dad, how do people make babies? Calvin’s Dad: Most people just go to Sears, buy the kit, and follow the assembly instructions. Calvin: I came from Sears?? Calvin’s Dad: No, you were a blue light special at Kmart, almost … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Three Kmarts in Iowa closing
Jan 06

Iowa’s westernmost Casey’s moving a tad south

(It’s a slow news week, folks.) September 30, 2015: The Akron Casey’s is behind the signs for the IA 3/12 intersection and relocated end of the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. The northwest Iowa town of Akron is getting a new … Continue reading

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Jan 05

Renwick rallies to save its bar

AP story via WCCO. Residents of some towns are scrambling to hold on to at least a few places where people can still get together. It’s not just bars but groceries, cafes and other stores. They don’t expect to turn … Continue reading

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Jan 04

Reset the retransmission dispute counter

DirectTV and Hearst are at an impasse on retransmission fees, and as a result, both KCCI and KETV went off the satellite system as the calendar moved to 2017. That means southwest Iowa DirectTV customers had to switch to antenna … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Reset the retransmission dispute counter