Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 19

Sounds painful

Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

New AEA 267 assistant chief hopes to impact students AFFECT. THE WORD IS “AFFECT.” Or the phrase is “have an effect on” (which wouldn’t fit for print headline purposes, I get). My theory is that “impact” has wormed its way … Continue reading →

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Jul 18

Knoxville cut out of IA 5/92 interchange

Posted on Monday, July 18, 2016, at 10:09 AM by Jeff

October 15, 2010: This sign isn’t at the IA 5/92/Business 92 interchange east of Knoxville anymore. The expansion of genericized interchange signage in Iowa from interstates to other highways is not sitting well with some in Knoxville. This is likely … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Knoxville cut out of IA 5/92 interchange
Jul 15

Ghost-busting in Farrar

Posted on Friday, July 15, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The school building in Farrar has been closed for nearly 15 years, but it’s found new life. Or afterlife. Or life but not life as we know it. It’s haunted, or so the “paranormal enthusiasts” say. Saturday night — coincidentally … Continue reading →

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Jul 13

K is for Kellogg

Posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

August 10, 2008: The Kellogg school building has been successfully repurposed into apartments. Kellogg became part of the Newton school district in 1957. The school was used for an unknown period after that as an elementary. (Sorry I don’t have … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sequences | Comments Off on K is for Kellogg
Jul 12

Vincent school building to be torn down

Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at 10:06 AM by Jeff

I featured the Vincent school building in my alphabetical series (which is still going on; just search the Sequences category). It didn’t look in good shape. It turns out the building is indeed abandoned and the town has been awarded … Continue reading →

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Jul 11

US 63 to be closed north of Traer

Posted on Monday, July 11, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT has announced that US 63 is going to close north of Traer on July 25 to replace the deck on the bridge over 12 Mile Creek. Traffic will be detoured on IA 8, IA 21, and D52. … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on US 63 to be closed north of Traer
Jul 08

L is for Lovilia

Posted on Friday, July 8, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

November 12, 2008: Lovilia school building (1920) and closeup, below. Brian McMillin of Iowa Backroads wrote some history of the Lovilia school on his blog. Two State Board of Education documents tell a fuller story about the end of the … Continue reading →

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Jul 07

Benton 30-218 interchange moves forward

Posted on Thursday, July 7, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

On June 30 the Iowa DOT held another meeting about converting the US 30/218 intersection in southern Benton County into an interchange. It won’t be finished until 2019. The interchange has ramps in the northwest and southeast quadrants to avoid … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on Benton 30-218 interchange moves forward
Jul 06

West Des Moines adds quadrants, sort of

Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Jason Hancock noticed that an exit on the IA 5 bypass in West Des Moines is now Southeast 35th Street instead of just 35th Street. (For a short time after the bypass opened, it had a Polk County designation instead. … Continue reading →

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Jul 05

Classic, good Mapquest going away

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I predicted this was going to happen. A website that I’ve been using since the 20th century is being shut down, and while the name continues, it’s not really the same. (It also may mean that no Internet mapping site is … Continue reading →

Posted in Geography, Maps | Comments Off on Classic, good Mapquest going away