Author Archives: Jeff

May 21

A song old enough to graduate

Posted on Monday, May 21, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The last students born in the 20th century graduated from high school this weekend. That means everything from then, including the song that was everywhere (from a two-hit-wonder), is metaphorically old enough to be in adulthood. Looking back at 2000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on A song old enough to graduate
May 18

GPSs: Threat or menace?

Posted on Friday, May 18, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

You’d think there would be some code in GPSs and online direction programs like Apple/Google Maps to override a “shortest possible” path to stay on a highway, or at least a gravel road. All roads aren’t equal, even when they … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on GPSs: Threat or menace?
May 17

Mallard school’s goose is cooked

Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2016 The inevitable finally happened: West Bend-Mallard announced in January that Mallard Elementary will be closed after the 2018-19 school year. Story: KICD. (I missed this when it happened because I was waiting for the Emmetsburg News to … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Mallard school’s goose is cooked
May 16

Cedar Rapids annexes the rest of Business 151

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

May 31, 2017: Behind the camera is some land inside Cedar Rapids’ city limits. With a recently approved annexation, the city will pick up again in the middle of the Williams Boulevard bridges over US 30. For a few years … Continue reading →

Posted in Geography | Comments Off on Cedar Rapids annexes the rest of Business 151
May 15

Notes on 2019-23 DOT program

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The DOT released its newest five-year plan (large PDF) last week (stories: Gazette, Register) and the completion of two decade-long projects is in sight. Others have slight tweaks to their schedules or funding is being shifted around a bit in fiscal … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Notes on 2019-23 DOT program
May 14

Sabula overflow bridge closed longer

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Those 3 1/2 months the new US 52 Mississippi River bridge was open are going to have to last a while, because construction nearby is getting worse. KWQC reports that because of drilling issues on replacement of the overflow bridge, … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Sabula overflow bridge closed longer
May 11

Petitioners want school separate from Davenport

Posted on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Davenport was the only school district in Iowa to add a high school in a nearly 40-year span. But if some petitioners have their way, WQAD reports, a significant portion of the district would be severed entirely. Blue Grass, Buffalo, … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Petitioners want school separate from Davenport
May 10

But I don’t have anywhere to put one

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

Sioux City Journal: Woman makes tables shaped like states So far, Sturgis has made maps in the shape of the United States, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Which states she makes depends on which states customers order. Iowa’s state shape … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on But I don’t have anywhere to put one
May 09

Cultural appropriation of the worst kind

Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Jokes made at Huskers’ expense at I-Club event featuring Hawkeye coaches (Omaha World-Herald) Cornhusker jokes are supposed to be Cyclone fans’ turf, dangit. But on the other hand, if there is one thing Iowa and Iowa State fans can agree … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Cultural appropriation of the worst kind
May 08

Plainfield school will close

Posted on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A crude metric for your place in the school ecosystem is as follows: If your district has been losing about 10 students every year for a decade, is it a rounding error, something to monitor carefully and attempt to remedy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Plainfield school will close