Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 02

Murph ‘n’ Andy interview a Cherokee County broadcaster*

Posted on Thursday, April 2, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

*April Fool. Very, very April Fool. If you’ve never heard of Zip Rizzo, voice of Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn-Leghorn athletics, start probably about 15-20 minutes into the first hour of yesterday’s Murph & Andy Show on KXNO-AM. At least the radio guy who … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Murph ‘n’ Andy interview a Cherokee County broadcaster*
Apr 01

The joke’s on me

Posted on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at 10:43 AM by Jeff

“Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! You have successfully elected to begin your retirement on April 1, 2015.” Of course, I’m not retiring at all. That’s the first paragraph in a packet to release and roll over my paltry pension from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The joke’s on me
Mar 31

Two additions to the “unvisited” list

Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at 10:35 AM by Jeff

Hey, that’s not how this is supposed to work! Since my New Year’s resolution to visit all of Iowa’s incorporated places (eventually), I have had to refine my list slightly. First, Klemme is obviously not on US 69, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Two additions to the “unvisited” list
Mar 30

Waukee rest areas close Wednesday

Posted on Monday, March 30, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 28, 2012: The eastbound I-80 rest area near mile marker 119, as seen from the Alice’s Road bridge. The nearly unused six-lane bridge has loomed beside them for years now, and the end is finally here: The rest areas … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous, Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Waukee rest areas close Wednesday
Mar 27

C57 at US 218 closes April 1

Posted on Friday, March 27, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A press release from the Iowa DOT says C57 at US 218 south of Janesville will soon close for a year and a half for construction of an interchange. It’s the second interchange to be programmed in the area as … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on C57 at US 218 closes April 1
Mar 26

Reuters photo essay showcases rural Iowa, undersells Preston station

Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Reuters photographer Jim Young has compiled a photo essay of the Iowa countryside in conjunction with the beginning of caucus season. A slideshow with large pictures has a home on Reuters’ site, but the photo collection on Yahoo (also, sadly, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Reuters photo essay showcases rural Iowa, undersells Preston station
Mar 25

Hamburg, Farragut must seal off old buildings

Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa Department of Education earlier this month gave the individual Farragut and Hamburg school districts “conditional accreditation”, meaning that there will not be any forced dissolution, at least for another year. KMA stories: Farragut, Hamburg. However, it appears that at … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Hamburg, Farragut must seal off old buildings
Mar 24

State newspaper archives still piling up

Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at 10:06 AM by Jeff

This long story from IowaWatch and shorter one from the Gazette are disheartening for me as a researcher. Newspapers from across the state have not been microfilmed since 2009 and continued to be stored. The Legislature was going to devote … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on State newspaper archives still piling up
Mar 23

Howard-Winneshiek, Riceville drop hammers on each other

Posted on Monday, March 23, 2015, at 10:11 AM by Jeff

Last month, the Howard-Winneshiek school board abruptly ended its agreement to let Riceville pick up open-enrolled students near the school district boundary, and a week afterward Riceville reciprocated, the Waterloo Courier reports. Now open-enrolled students will have to find their … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Howard-Winneshiek, Riceville drop hammers on each other
Mar 19

Flameout

Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at 2:06 PM by Jeff

Since early February, I have had two thoughts about this year’s ISU men’s basketball team: They can lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament or win until they get steamrolled by Kentucky. — Me, about 60 hours ago … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Flameout