Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 25

It’s ‘Back to the Future’ weekend

2019’s calendar is 1985’s calendar (and also 2002’s calendar), so that means that this weekend — October 25-27 — is the same Friday/Saturday/Sunday as when the Back to the Future trilogy takes place. A fan documentary is airing Friday night … Continue reading

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Oct 24

City Hall as bulletin board; or, Meats and Treats

Might as well pass on the plug. October 23, 2019: Taped on the entrance to Liscomb City Hall. (IDEA: Adult costume/trick or treat for prime rib! Thermal storage bag required.)

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on City Hall as bulletin board; or, Meats and Treats
Oct 23

US 30-R70 exit meeting this week

As part of either converting US 30 to a freeway between Ames and Nevada or at least reducing the number of intersections, the R70 intersection east of I-35 is going to be turned into an interchange. There is a meeting … Continue reading

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Oct 22

Blues to the Future

I can’t be the first person to notice this, but a glance through Internet searches doesn’t bring up any immediate hits. Watch part of this clip from The Blues Brothers, starting at about 1:33. The relevant part is pretty short. … Continue reading

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Oct 21

US 63 in Waterloo to open in weeks

KWWL reports that the overpass for US 63 over the railroad tracks north of downtown Waterloo will open next month. I can’t embed the video. Plans for the overpass were put forth at the end of 2013 and construction began … Continue reading

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Oct 18

Out of the Boondocks

Boondocks, USA (Williams, Iowa), October 19, 2018 — I had never eaten at the Boondocks. Here it was, this famous truck stop, in the middle of Iowa at a once-major junction, a place I passed near many times on family … Continue reading

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Oct 17

Photo 36,000

October 11, 2017: A milestone in American history at the tip of Cape Cod. This milestone photo has extra significance besides being at a historic monument. I have an ancestor who was on the Mayflower. Some backfill from another event made … Continue reading

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Oct 16

GMG has the helmets, but not the headcount

Almost three weeks ago, KCCI had a story about GMG having state-of-the-art helmets for its football team. (Video with story, un-embeddable. Also check out GMG’s new gym. Well, almost-decade-old gym.) But high-tech helmets don’t provide any protection from being a tiny … Continue reading

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Oct 15

Interstate 880 coming to Iowa!?!

July 24, 2019: For a limited time only The fall meeting of the AASHTO Special Committee on Route Numbering, which took place Oct. 5, has a doozy of a bombshell. Immediate reaction: W.T.F. Item No. 5 – State: Iowa Route: I-880 Action: … Continue reading

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Oct 14

Youngville interchange won’t open until next year

Weather has slowed down construction of the US 30/218 interchange in Benton County and it’s not going to open until next year, KCRG reported last week. The five-year plan had all the construction set in fiscal 2018 but it has … Continue reading

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