Author Archives: Jeff

May 06

US 63 projects in Black Hawk County begin today

Posted on Monday, May 6, 2013, at 1:28 AM by Jeff

There are two separate projects that start today, both updating segments of US 63 that are 50 years old. First, the route from Hudson to US 20 is closed and detoured to reconstruct Sergeant Road, which was brand new with … Continue reading →

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May 04

3911

Posted on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 10:48 AM by Jeff

The Census Bureau estimates that Adams County’s population dropped below the 4000 level in 2012. It’s one of the smallest counties in Iowa, with the smallest population. Its population density was already under 10 people per square mile in the … Continue reading →

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May 03

A week ago in Traer

Posted on Friday, May 3, 2013, at 6:50 PM by Jeff

it was Drive Your Tractor to School Day. Usually, there would be planting going on, but not with the weather the way it’s been. (From North Tama’s Twitter account. In other news, North Tama has a Twitter account.)

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May 03

Schools that had a snow day May 3

Posted on Friday, May 3, 2013, at 12:28 PM by Jeff

From schoolalerts.iowa.gov and TV stations. Many started with a two-hour delay and then announced closure later. AGWSR, Aplington-Parkersburg, CAL, Chariton, Hampton-Dumont, Iowa Falls-Alden, Osage, PCM, Pleasantville, Riceville, Seymour, South Hardin, Wayne, West Fork. Thirteen inches in Osage. Snow at Tulip Time … Continue reading →

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May 03

Meanwhile, in Fort Dodge

Posted on Friday, May 3, 2013, at 12:49 AM by Jeff

SPRING DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY! Related: Lagomarcino Hall Arch, 2012 vs. 2013 (h/t Cyclone Fanatic)

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May 02

A historic snow day for these schools

Posted on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 9:51 AM by Jeff

This picture shouldn’t have a May 2 date-stamp. More reports here. Let’s hope this week of weather is a real drought-buster. Based on TV stations’ websites, there are multiple schools that cancelled classes today because of snow. Because this is historic, … Continue reading →

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May 01

Lane shift on I-35

Posted on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at 10:54 AM by Jeff

For perhaps the first time in 54½ years, part of I-35 in the West Des Moines area will be in a different place. Traffic is being shifted tomorrow night to new median pavement to rebuild the southbound lanes and expand … Continue reading →

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Apr 30

May in Iowa (wait, what?)

Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at 12:16 PM by Jeff

Now Mother Nature is just throwing days in a blender and then stringing them together. Here’s the current forecast for Goldfield. The phrases “New snow accumulation of around an inch possible” and “May 2” should never be part of the … Continue reading →

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Apr 27

Kossuth County Area Schools and Rural Iowa’s Population Collapse

Posted on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 7:41 PM by Jeff

As population and school enrollments in rural Iowa keep shrinking, many districts are finding it increasing difficult to stay afloat. One place this change is keenly being felt is in north-central Iowa. Rather than make this essay a blog post, … Continue reading →

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Apr 27

Keely Lyons, 1985-2003

Posted on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 8:20 AM by Jeff

On April 27, 2003, a girl was killed on the night of her senior prom. It wasn’t by anything she or her friends had done. The incident is perhaps most horrifying in its driest description: A drunk driver doing 80 … Continue reading →

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