Author Archives: Jeff

Feb 27

Mount Pleasant gets a batch of medium green signs

October 3, 2018: One of the new generation of signs near one of Iowa’s two quadplex routes, the Mount Pleasant bypass. Blessedly, the Series D font is appropriate for the wide shields, which is the case much less often than it … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Mount Pleasant gets a batch of medium green signs
Feb 26

Dual, divided freeway made real in Council Bluffs

The Council Bluffs and Sioux City interstate projects continue to plod along, and a big sign of progress is coming soon in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports the Iowa DOT plans to open the westbound dual divided freeway for … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Dual, divided freeway made real in Council Bluffs
Feb 25

Old 34 to be widened in Montgomery County

It’s been more than half a century since County Road H34 from Hastings to Corning was US 34, but it’s still “old Highway 34” to the locals, and this spring it’s going to lose part of its old-ness. The Red … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Old 34 to be widened in Montgomery County
Feb 22

A look into Marshall County school history

This is just the kind of thing I like to see when I’m looking into the “genealogy” of school districts, so I better give the Marshalltown Times-Republican some props for this two-story series. Marshall County rural schools: A history (1) … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on A look into Marshall County school history
Feb 21

Breaking a streak I didn’t know I had

October 2, 2015: The Civil War sentry protects the Taylor County Courthouse from the Missourians lurking a mere seven miles away. Southwest Iowa’s Taylor County isn’t exactly on the beaten path. Bedford, the county seat, doesn’t have a stoplight and … Continue reading

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Breaking a streak I didn’t know I had
Feb 20

A very pinpointed tax

September 17, 2007: The then-Super 8 in Rock Valley has been the town’s only motel, but has since lost its franchise tag. Of the out-of-the-way places I’ve stayed in Iowa, this is one of them. Rock Valley is one of … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on A very pinpointed tax
Feb 19

Enrollment analysis 2018-19: The trends continue

When the Iowa Department of Education released enrollment numbers for the 2018-19 school year, it announced: “For the eighth year in a row, the number of students attending Iowa’s public schools increased.” Strictly speaking, that’s true. But as long-time blog … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Enrollment analysis 2018-19: The trends continue
Feb 18

Olin to set up whole-grade sharing with Midland

In what I believe is the fifth such arrangement of its kind, the Olin school district is going to give students in grades 7-12 their choice of school to attend. The Anamosa Journal-Eureka reports that the Olin board was to … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Olin to set up whole-grade sharing with Midland
Feb 15

Gladbrook wants to preserve decade-old fitness center

Back in April, the news wasn’t good for the Gladbrook school complex. News came that everything was going to be torn down, including the fitness center that opened 11 years ago March 2. But last month, the Waterloo Courier reported, … Continue reading

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Gladbrook wants to preserve decade-old fitness center
Feb 14

In which I think way way way too hard about something that doesn’t affect me

The “Unicode Consortium” has approved 230 new emojis for inclusion in Unicode this year. Yes, there’s a cabal official organization dedicated to such things. Many of the new symbols support people with disabilities. But is it up to me to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on In which I think way way way too hard about something that doesn’t affect me