Author Archives: Jeff

Sep 18

IA 141 flyover construction begins Oct. 1

Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Construction of a flyover ramp at the I-35/80 interchange with IA 141 may begin as early as Oct. 1, the Des Moines Register reported earlier this month. The final plans were released two years ago and work won’t end until 2012. … Continue reading →

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Sep 17

Part of last four-lane 20 opens today

Posted on Monday, September 17, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Today, new eastbound lanes of US 20 will open from east of Moville to County Road L25 west of Correctionville, according to an e-mail from the DOT. The 7½-mile segment is the first extension east from a segment that opened … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Part of last four-lane 20 opens today
Sep 14

Revenge of the Crimson Monkey

Posted on Friday, September 14, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

At the end of 2016, my decision looked obvious: Schedule the vacation to run over the first weekend of October 2017. There will be no reason to watch football that Saturday, because Iowa State is playing at Oklahoma, and Bob … Continue reading →

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Sep 13

Stuff the ballot box

Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2018, at 10:02 AM by Jeff

North Tama is in the running for two different items in KWWL’s “Friday Night Heroes”. That’s the link to the sports page, as the voting changes every week. NT vs. Wapsie Valley was last week’s GOTW, but let’s do it … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Tama County | Comments Off on Stuff the ballot box
Sep 12

ISU’s search for a fill-in opponent

Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The following is not to be taken seriously or literally. Ames, Iowa — Iowa State has announced that it will play Deep State on Oct. 20, filling a need for a 12th regular-season football game. Deep State has risen in … Continue reading →

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Sep 11

Johnston annexation puts it on the state highway system

Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The State of Iowa City Development Board meeting tomorrow includes an annexation by the city of Johnston. Based on a notice from earlier this year, Johnston is making plans to bring a portion of the IA 141 corridor under its control. … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on Johnston annexation puts it on the state highway system
Sep 10

RVTV last week in Diagonal

Posted on Monday, September 10, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For those of you not familiar with WHO’s RVTV, where the sports staff (and Ed Wilson) travel across central Iowa before the Iowa-ISU game, here are some clips from the Labor Day stop in Diagonal. There was enough small-town/small-school goodness … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sports | Comments Off on RVTV last week in Diagonal
Sep 07

ISU-Iowa preview

Posted on Friday, September 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(Is this the most obvious answer? Yes. But abbreviated Hate Weeks always feel cheapened. The original story, in case you forgot.) ISU officially hasn’t scored any touchdowns this season, but touchdowns are not necessarily required for winning.

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on ISU-Iowa preview
Sep 06

Viola school finally meets the wrecking ball

Posted on Thursday, September 6, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 18, 2015: The school in Viola closed in 1998. Open image in new tab for larger version. After 20 years of a slow then accelerated decay, the school in the unincorporated Linn County town of Viola is coming down. Demolition … Continue reading →

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Sep 05

‘Saving Engeldinger Marsh’

Posted on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Here is the conservationists’ side of why the US 65 “Marsh Kink” exists on the diagonal highway northeast of Bondurant. Deciding what to do about this wetland delayed construction of the four-lane. The old road mostly exists, except for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on ‘Saving Engeldinger Marsh’