Author Archives: Jeff

May 27

Diverging diamond interchange in Urbandale?

Posted on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 4:31 PM by Jeff

KCCI has a story about a DOT study on turning the I-35/80 interchange with Hickman Road (US 6) from a diamond to a diverging diamond. On a diverging diamond, traffic temporarily switches sides of the road; there’s an explainer graphic … Continue reading →

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May 27

Going postal (abbreviations)

Posted on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 11:08 AM by Jeff

May 28, 2006 (eight[!] years ago tomorrow): North side of Northwood on US 65 Jason Hancock took a long trip in northern and northwestern Iowa on Memorial Day weekend to finish clinching every highway in the state. He mentioned that … Continue reading →

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May 25

Inseparable

Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at 12:36 PM by Jeff

Charlie Bartos, a WWII veteran and longtime member of Traer United Methodist church, died May 7, less than 10 weeks before his 100th birthday. His wife, Gladys, 95, died May 21. They were married for 73 years.

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May 24

Sara Stoakes inducted into Track Hall of Fame

Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 1:55 AM by Jeff

North Tama’s one-girl state championship is getting a big honor today! Reprinted below is a press release from the IGHSAU about Sara Stoakes being inducted into the Track and Field Hall of Fame. The 1981 North Tama girls’ team was … Continue reading →

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May 23

2013 population estimates out for Iowa cities

Posted on Friday, May 23, 2014, at 2:01 PM by Jeff

Raw data and spreadsheets available on ISU’s website. Doom and gloom for about everyone outside of the Des Moines metro area from the Register and Quad-City Times. Ankeny passed 50,000 and West Des Moines is within 1000 people of kicking … Continue reading →

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May 23

A Clearfield reunion before the final bell

Posted on Friday, May 23, 2014, at 9:00 AM by Jeff

The Clearfield school district in southwest Iowa is holding a reunion for all students and teachers today at 5 PM, reports the Creston News-Advertiser. There’s one more week of classes at the school before the district dissolves.

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May 22

2014 paper Iowa map now available

Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at 2:31 PM by Jeff

Just in time for Memorial Day, fresh maps are out for travelers, according to this press release from the DOT. (Also third item in this Quad-City Times roundup.) I have been to many of those “nooks and crannies”.

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May 21

Winter is always coming

Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at 11:45 PM by Jeff

It’s not quite worth inclusion in the List of Iowa References, but Kyle Munson writes that author George R.R. Martin spent time in Iowa: “I think a lot of the stuff in ‘A Game of Thrones,’ ” the author told Vanity … Continue reading →

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May 21

We’re Number 99!

Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at 10:18 AM by Jeff

Paul Myerberg’s preview of Iowa State’s upcoming football season is out. ISU is his sixth-worst power-conference team, and 99th out of 128 total. We’re ahead of Kansas, but his preview of the Jayhawks isn’t all that comforting: Kansas is less … Continue reading →

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May 20

IA 98 a dead highway walking

Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at 2:35 PM by Jeff

September 8, 2010 ‘The one transfer-of-jurisdiction deal in the DOT’s five-year plan that doesn’t happen this summer* is for IA 98 in Van Buren County. According to this article in the Ottumwa Courier, the short highway and $2.3 million will … Continue reading →

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