Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 30

Some relief for bladder-busting US 20 drive

[Speaking of carbonated beverage consumption… – ed.] When the new US 20 expressway opened in 2012, I noted that it now went from Early to Webster City without any nearby services. Recently, one gas station at the IA 4 exit has … Continue reading

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Jul 30

ISU athletics signs contract with Pepsi

Jamie Pollard @IASTATEAD Transition to Pepsi is completed! @Gatorade is now our official sports drink! Also, @mtn_dew in concession stands. 12:23 PM – 29 Jul 2014 SQUEE! Now, that’s a qualified squee. Drinks at sporting events are notoriously overpriced. I … Continue reading

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Jul 29

Bill Fennelly profiled before 20th year with Cyclones

There was Iowa State women’s basketball before Bill Fennelly, but it literally wasn’t much to speak of. Lynne Lorenzen once commented that there would be fewer fans at ISU games than when she played six-on-six at Ventura. Now Fennelly is … Continue reading

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Jul 28

Edgewood Road detour will last a year

December 2001: The west end of IA 100 has looked like this, a half-finished interchange at Edgewood Road in Cedar Rapids, since 1985. That’s going to start changing over the next month. Photo by Jason Hancock. After seven years, it … Continue reading

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Jul 25

Le Mars considering unique road striping pattern

Le Mars’ proposal for modifying the southern part of Business US 75 from a four-lane urban arterial is not something I think has been tried in Iowa. Here’s the plan, from the Le Mars Sentinel: The proposal would transform the … Continue reading

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Jul 24

At least it doesn’t say #HailState

Good news: Hilton Coliseum’s floor was resurfaced. Bad news: The edging now includes the official Twitter handle of ISU Athletics (along with the website), moving the Hilton name to the “bottom” as seen on television. Good news: The Big 12 … Continue reading

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Jul 23

Dubuque deals with US 20 bridge closure

Dubuque is one of the few places on Iowa’s borders where you can close a bridge across the river and have another one relatively close by. So while the Julien Dubuque Bridge into Illinois is closed until the end of … Continue reading

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Jul 22

“Southeast Valley” continues trend toward vague district names

June 4, 2014: Prairie Valley Elementary School (K-4) is not in Farnhamville itself, but rather at the intersection of P41 and D26, a couple miles southeast of Somers. It is one of only two schools in Iowa I am aware … Continue reading

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Jul 21

Oxymoron of the week

“RAGBRAI Nutrition”.

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Oxymoron of the week
Jul 20

When will the next ‘giant leap’ be?

October 3, 2013: Painting at the Neil Armstrong Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Again, 45 years ago to the minute. More than 60 percent of Americans alive today were born after the moon landing. (That’s age 44 and under, 2010 census, … Continue reading

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