Author Archives: Jeff

Aug 16

Things to do in Des Moines when you’re alive

With all the national media in Iowa this week, we were bound to get some dispatches from the frontier-style stories. Roll Call has a 15-minute audio experience of the Iowa State Fair. The reporter spent “a day in the deep-fried … Continue reading

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Aug 15

Fair Squares, 2010-2018

The Rice Krispie Bar on a Stick (that couldn’t be called that) is off the menu at the Iowa State Fair. The fair board discontinued selling the treat this year, the Register reports, because of falling sales. That’s even after … Continue reading

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Aug 14

‘Thanks for giving Iowa a try’ (2)

I write about the Iowa State Fair Singers and Jazz Band, with a single-out of 1989, and then I find a barely-seen video of that very year. The thanks song comes at the end. (Those very benches, or similar ones, … Continue reading

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Aug 13

‘Thanks for giving Iowa a try’

I loved watching the Iowa State Fair Singers and Jazz Band. It was something we saw at the fair at the stage by the Cultural Center at least a few times, if not every year. I certainly loved it when … Continue reading

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Aug 12

NT volleyball in preseason ‘Super Ten’

The Gazette’s Jeff Linder ranks North Tama tenth in his all-class power rankings of regional volleyball teams. It’s the only small-school team on the list. NT is first in his Class 1A list. It could be an interesting season, or … Continue reading

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Aug 09

North Tama’s Class of 1969 rides again

Wonder if any of these will show up tomorrow… It’s been 50 years since the largest senior class in North Tama school history graduated. At nearly 100 strong (95), much of this particular group has shared a lot in the decades … Continue reading

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Aug 08

Recent numbers to think about

More than half of the Class 1A state baseball titles in the 21st century have been won by private schools. Six of those, including the most recent three, are Mason City Newman’s. Three private schools were in this year’s semifinals. … Continue reading

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Aug 07

A mystery meeting for US 30

Hmm. Discuss proposed study of U.S. 30 from L Avenue west of Boone to the Lincoln Way/X Avenue interchange west of Ames in Boone County. The handout made available before tomorrow’s meeting (PDF) shows crash data for US 30 from … Continue reading

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Aug 06

A different type of helmet sticker this season

It’s no secret that I disdain to an extreme degree what has happened to Iowa State football’s uniforms outfits in the Campbell regime. However, it does look like something neat is coming to the backs of the helmets. NEW BUMPERS … Continue reading

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Aug 05

Iowa Mennonite School has new name, nickname

It’s a kind of thing you don’t really know about unless you played them on a regular basis, but until now, Iowa Mennonite School hasn’t had a team name. It’s been around since 1945, but the second reference was simply … Continue reading

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