Author Archives: Jeff

Feb 07

A second college town without a high school

September 26, 2016: Upper Iowa University football field in Fayette. Go Peacocks! Fayette has a distinction: It is a “college town” — Upper Iowa University is the only Division II site in Iowa — that hasn’t had its own high … Continue reading

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Feb 06

Sign inflation

November 24, 2016: Both existing and replacement shields for US 30/218 at the Atkins corner (old IA 279) were up on Thanksgiving weekend. I’m guessing these were the last of the day before break. A signage contract let last year … Continue reading

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Feb 03

Effigy Mounds quarter to be unveiled next week

Iowa’s largest and most famous national monument* is going to be honored with a custom quarter that will be released Tuesday. The Gazette ran an article a few weeks ago about it. There are two events related to the quarter: … Continue reading

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Feb 02

‘Route 66’ exhibit coming to Hoover Library

For the next two months, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch will be hosting a traveling exhibit, “America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66”. Stories/press releases: West Branch Times, Mason City Globe Gazette (with photo). The Hoover … Continue reading

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Feb 01

Crescent next on school chopping block

Council Bluffs is functionally a three-high-school city. The Lewis Central district covers the city south of I-80 and old US 6 (McPherson Avenue), while the CB district proper has two high schools. The latter district extends north to the Honey … Continue reading

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Jan 31

Libertyville school will close

The Fairfield Ledger has a hard paywall, but really, after the headline, and the line below from the Jan. 23 Fairfield school board meeting, what’s left? Approve reorganizing the district from 3 elementary buildings to 2 by closing Libertyville Elementary. (A) … Continue reading

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Jan 30

Finally four-laning Northeast 14th Street?

The Iowa DOT has scheduled a meeting Tuesday to “discuss proposed improvements of U.S. 69” between I-80 and the south side of Ankeny. There’s nothing else mentioned on the PIM page, but this pretty much has to be about upgrading … Continue reading

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Jan 27

Waukee added Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s entire enrollment

For the first time in the modern era of Iowa schools, no public district has a certified enrollment under 100. There’s no margin of error on that statistic for 2016 — Diagonal clocks in at exactly 100, with a dozen … Continue reading

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Jan 26

F is for Fenton

June 19, 2015 The Fenton school building is along Iowa Highway 15 on the east side of town. The main building is in deeply disused condition, but a new(ish) roof covers the gym. Sentral School, two miles east at the … Continue reading

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Jan 25

Former NT teacher Crawford named Lone Tree superintendent

Ken Crawford, who taught high school keyboarding and business classes at North Tama back in the late 20th century*, will be Lone Tree’s superintendent next school year, says the Lone Tree Reporter. Crawford was also North Tama’s football coach for three … Continue reading

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