Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 27

New Riverside school opens in August

Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Two of my “beats” intersect with an Iowa DOT press release about turning the intersection of US 6 and US 59 south of Oakland into a four-way stop before the new Riverside school opens. It was supposed to open in the middle … Continue reading →

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Jul 25

Old cameras never die, they just come to an F-stop

Posted on Monday, July 25, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It is with sadness and some puzzlement that I report a development on the road-trip front: My camera appears to be dead from unspecified and un-diagnose-able internal injuries. The Olympus D-580 Zoom is, with slight exaggeration, the BESTEST point-and-shoot digital … Continue reading →

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Jul 21

Ripon

Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 16, 2015: “In this school house on March 20, 1854, was held the first mass meeting in this country that definitively and positively cut loose from old parties, and advocated a new party under the name of Republican.” In … Continue reading →

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Jul 20

Halfway to something

Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

December 30, 2005: Restored Apollo-era Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Today Bill Clinton’s first presidential inauguration — Jan. 20, 1993 — marks the halfway point between the moon landing and the present day. Starting now, events … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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