Author Archives: Jeff

Jan 09

JC Penney at Crossroads closing

“My” J.C. Penney — that is, the one that was closest to me — is now a victim of that retail company’s continued troubles. Crossroads Mall in Waterloo has lost an original anchor tenant. There won’t be a Penney’s in the … Continue reading

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Jan 09

“Oregon Trail” now available as online game

Technically, it’s the MS-DOS version, not the Apple IIGS, but the emulator appears to work on a Mac so… The real Oregon Trail from MECC is back! (Washington Post) (link to game page) And so is Carmen Sandiego! (But neither work … Continue reading

Posted in Geography | Comments Off on “Oregon Trail” now available as online game
Jan 08

Wagon Wheel Bridge at dead end

July 5, 2013: Wagon Wheel Bridge across the Des Moines River in Boone County, upstream from the Kate Shelley High Bridges. The Boone County supervisors returned $2 million in funding to replace a bridge that’s spanned the Des Moines River … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Wagon Wheel Bridge at dead end
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

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on 944…or not
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

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Traer girl mourned after hunting accident
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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