Author Archives: Jeff

Mar 27

Ottumwa inflicting roundabouts on Business 34

Posted on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 11, 2007: Almost all the signs for Business 34 in Ottumwa are like this. It’s very weird. This is facing east on Albia Road as Business 34 turns onto Ferry Street, an intersection that’s being turned into a roundabout. … Continue reading →

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Mar 26

‘Orville’ production design drops the ball

Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s probably understandable that a 25th-century spaceship crew doesn’t know what a newspaper is. It’s not understandable that a 21st-century production design and/or prop team can’t be accurate. In last week’s episode of “The Orville” (a show I have fangirled … Continue reading →

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Mar 25

Shopko is toast

Posted on Monday, March 25, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The deep bleeding that was already coming out earlier this year is complete, as the Shopko retail chain filed for bankruptcy and liquidation last week. The remaining dozen stores in Iowa that had escaped the earlier closures — based on this … Continue reading →

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Mar 23

Worst. Basketball. Day. Ever.

Posted on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

March 22, 2019: Drake’s Becca Hittner (arms up) turns after being whistled for a foul in the closing second of overtime against Missouri in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Yes, I watched basketball in person Friday. No, Iowa State wasn’t … Continue reading →

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Mar 22

A Fennelly year ending in 9

Posted on Friday, March 22, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Bill Fennelly has never been Big 12 Coach of the Year. It’s almost always given to the coach of the first-place team. The one time Iowa State was top seed in the conference tournament (2000), the award went to Oklahoma’s … Continue reading →

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Mar 21

Marking the Marathon to Marathon

Posted on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 23, 2009: Welcome sign for Marathon at the south end of former IA 390. Nearly a decade later, the paint on the church sign had noticeably faded. It’s 16 years to the day since I set foot in Marathon in the … Continue reading →

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Mar 20

When Clear Creek was rural

Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(An unintended companion piece to yesterday’s blog post.) During the 1980s, the Clear Creek school district was in dire straits. They couldn’t get money for nothin’. In 1989, Clear Creek cancelled its football season a week before it began, leaving … Continue reading →

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Mar 19

Clay Central-Everly losing high school, junior high

Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2016: The welcome sign for Royal, pop. 446, former end of IA 240 and soon-to-be-former football field for Clay Central-Everly. For the tenth time this decade, an Iowa district is closing its high school without getting any students in … Continue reading →

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Mar 18

Viking Road SPUI construction restarting

Posted on Monday, March 18, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

According from a press release from the DOT, this week is when construction will resume on IA 58 at Viking Road. The two-year project to run the highway under grade and form a single-point urban interchange is expected to end … Continue reading →

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Mar 15

The road to Backbone State Park

Posted on Friday, March 15, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 29, 2017: The Iowa Civilian Conservation Corps Museum in Backbone State Park shows off the contributions the New Deal program made to Iowa’s state parks and natural resources. Backbone, Iowa’s first state park, celebrates its centennial next year. At … Continue reading →

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