Author Archives: Jeff

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
May 21

A song old enough to graduate

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

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May 18

GPSs: Threat or menace?

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

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

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May 16

Cedar Rapids annexes the rest of Business 151

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

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

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