Author Archives: Jeff

Jun 04

US 400 is a deeply, deeply stupid highway

October 7, 2008: There’s a random 14-mile stretch of controlled-access two-lane US 400 in southeastern Kansas. This photo is in the middle of it, between Neodesha and Independence. Once 400 hooks up with US 54 77 miles west of here, it … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on US 400 is a deeply, deeply stupid highway
Jun 01

The end of Old Army Post Road

August 6, 2004: From 2002 to 2016, this view was looking east on Army Post Road to IA 28, whereupon the street changed designation to Old Army Post Road. IA 28 then “re-intersected” the new Army Post Road to the … Continue reading

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on The end of Old Army Post Road
May 31

Meeting June 5 on US 30-IA 21 interchange

The project to four-lane US 30 between Tama and US 218 has four components. The upgrade to four lanes in each county are separate pieces, on slightly different timetables. The interchange with US 218 should start any time. The middle … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Meeting June 5 on US 30-IA 21 interchange
May 30

Is street renaming that common in Iowa towns?

In a deep review of the online legal descriptions of Iowa highways, I’ve noticed some quirks in the conventions. A road will often connect or start at/with “an unnamed street”, but in each town that street clearly has a name. Older … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Is street renaming that common in Iowa towns?
May 29

Davenport considers dropping outlying school

So… remember the “West Scott” petition from a few weeks ago, which is actually a rehash of the same thing three years ago? It’s on the Davenport school district’s radar, and the district has a response of sorts: Punish them … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Davenport considers dropping outlying school
May 28

Voice of the summer, entering its autumn

I don’t know his name, but everyone in Iowa has heard his voice. As the YouTube ad above shows, the man who does the voiceovers for Adventureland’s radio and TV ads has been doing it for a long time. Last … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Voice of the summer, entering its autumn
May 25

Iowa 4-H camp changed management

While going through one of my piles of mail*, I leafed through the Iowa 4-H Foundation’s summer newsletter. It was there that I found out — and this still may be news, considering the only external coverage was a blurb … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Iowa 4-H camp changed management
May 24

The Great Dysart Gorge

I have questions. Why? No, seriously, why? Is “our downtown has what appears to be a giant pothole” really the best method of civic advertising? Is this some sort of commentary on Iowa infrastructure? Is this some sort of commentary … Continue reading

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on The Great Dysart Gorge
May 23

Fareway anniversary includes logo change

This kind of snuck up on me (and perhaps others) in a pair of trips to different Fareway locations recently: I knew the Boone-based grocery store chain is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, but didn’t know that the “Economical … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Fareway anniversary includes logo change
May 22

Wapello bypass plans finalized

Louisa County became the 61st county in the state to have a rural four-lane highway segment when last year’s upgrade to US 61 opened from the Muscatine County line to south of Grandview. Now, as part of the last step … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Wapello bypass plans finalized