Author Archives: Jeff

Jan 03

IA 2 no longer runs through Fort Madison

December 18, 2006: Near the foot of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad bridge across the Mississippi River in Fort Madison, all three components of this sign assembly have changed: US 61 is now Business 61, the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail … Continue reading

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Jan 02

I know I write a lot about feeling old

…but this is ridiculous. I hope the mailman was in error.

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Jan 02

Ox Yoke Innterstate on I-80 closed

The Ox Yoke Innterstate restaurant at the I-80/US 151 interchange has closed, reports the Cedar Rapids Gazette. The original in the Amana Colonies will remain open. Business likely suffered after the Wasserbahn water park across the street closed in June. … Continue reading

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Jan 01

Happy and sad

The ISU men’s and women’s basketball teams went undefeated in non-conference play. It’s the men’s best start ever (12-0) and one of the best for the women (11-0). So, squee? Squee. But on a sad note, Johnny Orr died on New Year’s … Continue reading

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Dec 31

For the second time since 1956, Iowa added no new four-lane roads

October 19, 2002: View from D Avenue in Grundy County during construction of a 27-mile four-lane segment of US 20. The freeway opened ten months later. It’s time for the five-year update map to the timeline of Iowa’s four-lane highways, … Continue reading

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Dec 31

Census: Iowa has grown 1.45% since 2010

According to the census estimate for 2013 (link to page with Excel spreadsheet which may not have the state names but is in alphabetical order), Iowa has 3,090,416 people, which is an increase of about 44,000 people and 1.45% from the … Continue reading

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Dec 30

A year-end wrapup of my travels

July 15, 2013: One of the highlights of my Upper Midwest trip was visiting the north end of “my” highway, US 63. However, construction prevented me from clinching the entire route in Wisconsin. As 2013 comes to a close, here … Continue reading

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Dec 28

Speed limit decrease on IA 5 expressway

The Knoxville Journal Express says the speed limit will be dropped from 65 to 55 “on the stretch of Highway 5/92 from the Y intersection to the north, past the Pleasantville exits.” I am confused about where the “Y intersection” … Continue reading

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Dec 27

An unasked question about young drivers

Is there a relationship between the increasing restrictions imposed on teenage drivers, which have been going on for a decade or so, and the “trend pieces” that say millennials are not as interested in getting drivers’ licenses or driving cars … Continue reading

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Dec 26

Big 12 profiles Hallie Christofferson

The Big 12 website profiled ISU women’s basketball player Hallie Christofferson on Christmas. I’m not quite sure how the writer got a population for Hamlin, since it’s unincorporated. Christofferson went to Exira, and led her team to a state championship … Continue reading

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