Author Archives: Jeff

Jan 10

A look back at the Avoca courthouse

Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Daily Nonpareil has a feature on when Pottawattamie County had two courthouses — but, depending on how you interpret the wording of an 1886 law, maybe not two de jure county seats. Pottawattamie is the second-largest county in Iowa (954 … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off

Jan 09

Three Kmarts in Iowa closing

Posted on Monday, January 9, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Calvin: Dad, how do people make babies? Calvin’s Dad: Most people just go to Sears, buy the kit, and follow the assembly instructions. Calvin: I came from Sears?? Calvin’s Dad: No, you were a blue light special at Kmart, almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Jan 06

Iowa’s westernmost Casey’s moving a tad south

Posted on Friday, January 6, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(It’s a slow news week, folks.) September 30, 2015: The Akron Casey’s is behind the signs for the IA 3/12 intersection and relocated end of the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. The northwest Iowa town of Akron is getting a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Jan 05

Renwick rallies to save its bar

Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2017, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

AP story via WCCO. Residents of some towns are scrambling to hold on to at least a few places where people can still get together. It’s not just bars but groceries, cafes and other stores. They don’t expect to turn … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Jan 04

Reset the retransmission dispute counter

Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

DirectTV and Hearst are at an impasse on retransmission fees, and as a result, both KCCI and KETV went off the satellite system as the calendar moved to 2017. That means southwest Iowa DirectTV customers had to switch to antenna … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Jan 03

Nukes in Dunkerton

Posted on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, at 10:10 PM by Jeff

First, there was this tweet: who the hell is jeff pic.twitter.com/UlKVBbBLgw — Bob Vulfov (@bobvulfov) December 31, 2016 (I will neither confirm nor deny that I have fewer than 10 nuclear warheads.) And, as Twitter is wont to do, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Jan 02

The continuing signs of the apocalypse

Posted on Monday, January 2, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

According to the Social Security baby name tracker, in 2015: There were nearly 4,000 Nevaehs born, good for 70th place overall. There were twice as many Skylars than Marys. More girls were named Londyn or Jordyn than Rebecca; more named … Continue reading →

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Dec 30

The Final Countdown: 1. Klemme

Posted on Friday, December 30, 2016, at 9:43 AM by Jeff

October 4, 2016: The sign on US 69 at old IA 179, Main Street into Klemme. County Road B55 is a quarter-mile north. Compared to nearly all the rest of my final 50 towns or so, Klemme’s population of 507 … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Sequences, Trip Reports | Comments Off

Dec 28

The Final Countdown: 2. Curlew

Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2016: The Curlew Cannon ranks up with the Coin Overpass in my observations of Iowans’ modest humor. You can see the regularity of railroad stops along the diagonal from the junction west of Fort Dodge: Clare, Pioneer, Gilmore … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Sequences, Trip Reports | Comments Off

Dec 27

The Final Countdown: 3. Greenville

Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2016: The remnants of a baseball diamond on the east end of Greenville, possibly just south of where the school was. I just missed Greenville, pop. 74, on my spring break 2003 trip, the one that I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Sequences, Trip Reports | Comments Off