Author Archives: Jeff

Jun 11

Still lost in Younkers

Posted on Monday, June 11, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 23, 2018: If you want to assemble a clothing collection, now’s the time; Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids is having dueling down-to-the-walls sell-offs at Younkers and Sears. The upbeat tone of the “closing forever” radio ads is a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Still lost in Younkers
Jun 07

What’s Russian for ‘nuance’?

Posted on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

I don’t/didn’t watch FX’s “The Americans” — or any “prestige TV” for that matter — but I happened to find the contrast in these points funny. (If, that is, the phrasing wasn’t supposed to be a tell.) From the New … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What’s Russian for ‘nuance’?
Jun 06

Current bypass philosophy, 61 corridor interests at odds

Posted on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

As late guests to the state’s bypass party, Mediapolis and Wapello are the beneficiaries of about 25 years of such work — or, depending on your point of view, the victims. The “preferred alternative” for a four-lane US 61 from … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Current bypass philosophy, 61 corridor interests at odds
Jun 05

Kim Reynolds’ first ascension

Posted on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The public notice page of the July 15, 1993, Osceola Sentinel Tribune started off with the minutes of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors’ June 30 meeting. Between a seasonal-employee hire and rejecting bids on care of the courthouse lawn … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Kim Reynolds’ first ascension
Jun 04

US 400 is a deeply, deeply stupid highway

Posted on Monday, June 4, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Friday, June 1, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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?

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Monday, May 28, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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