Author Archives: Jeff

Jan 07

944…or not

When I wrote my resolution to visit every Iowa town, I noted (and then had to revise) the number of incorporated places “as of this writing” — and there was a reason for that. Center Junction in Jones County had … Continue reading

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Jan 06

Iowa history made in DC today

The new Congress is being sworn in today, and Joni Ernst will be among those taking the oath of office for the first time. She is the first woman from Iowa to serve in the U.S. Senate. (Iowa has two other … Continue reading

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Jan 05

Resolved: To visit every incorporated place in Iowa

April 27, 2005: Ackworth, the second city in Iowa in alphabetical order, first in ZIP code order. [And this picture is nearly a decade old!] When I started Iowa Highway Ends, I had the far-off goal of eventually traveling every … Continue reading

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Jan 02

‘Prince Farming’

I am all for Iowa and Iowans not trying to be something and someone we aren’t. We have a certain image, and there’s nothing wrong with that, per se. When was the last time an Iowa-ISU football intro didn’t pan … Continue reading

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Dec 31

Five years since Insight Bowl victory

The second-best decade in Iowa State football history was capped off with a 14-13 win against Minnesota in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 31, 2009. It was the third bowl win for the Cyclones in a decade and the second … Continue reading

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Dec 31

Traer girl mourned after hunting accident

Liesl Casto, 12, was killed Saturday when her muzzleloader rifle accidentally went off. The DNR said this was the first firearm hunting fatality in Iowa since 2010. Stories: KCCI, KWWL, KCRG. Inspiring community note from the latter: “Liesel’s church youth group quickly … Continue reading

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Dec 30

Diagonal school building turned 100 in 2014

April 1, 2010: View of the 1914 Diagonal school building. The round tube is a fire escape. The home of the smallest high school in Iowa marked its centennial this year. The main building for Diagonal schools was built in … Continue reading

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Dec 29

Gladbrook-Reinbeck enrollment report

Like all rural school districts in Iowa, Gladbrook-Reinbeck is experiencing a long-term decline in enrollment. To get a better grasp of what’s going on overall, and the trends, the district hired a consultant. The resulting report (PDF), on the macro … Continue reading

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Dec 24

Updates to IA 149 North, IA 163 East

Oct. 7, 2013: The genericization of exit signage is complete on all rural Iowa interstates. Only “End 149” survived at Williamsburg and got its own pole. It has been embarrassingly long since I’ve made updates to the highway end pages … Continue reading

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Dec 23

Tom Harkin notes of assorted significance

Let the record show: Tom Harkin, the most senior junior senator of the 113th Congress, cast his last vote Dec. 16 to confirm a judge for the Western District of Missouri. He voted aye. Harkin’s last non-confirmation vote was on retroactive extension … Continue reading

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