Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 23

Circumnavigation report Day 2

I began the writeup of my 2015 circumnavigation trip on Substack a little while ago. Finally, I can present the second day of that trip, which went through northeast Iowa.

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Oct 20

License Plate Letters — NTH

September 15, 2023: North Tama band director (and volleyball coach) Channing Halstead leads the band at Homecoming. North Tama beat BCLUW, 36-6. Who ya’ rootin’ for? N-T-H! Little louder now! N-T-H! Part of Iowa high school sporting tradition is passing … Continue reading

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Oct 18

US 30 bypasses Ames (not that one)

US 30 in eastern Nebraska is getting some changes. On June 15, a new alignment of the highway opened from the top of the Fremont bypass west to west of North Bend. This removed 30 from a long portion of … Continue reading

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Oct 16

Sharing stories of closed high schools

Author James Kenyon came to Traer to talk about his book full of stories about closed high schools. I wrote on my Substack about it Friday. I used the link without the background this time because the photo was cropped … Continue reading

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Oct 13

Here fishy fishy fishy (2)

Just like at Otter Creek Lake in 2021, the Iowa DNR is relaxing fishing regulations at a lake in Tama County. Limits have been removed at Casey Lake in Hickory Hills Park in the far northeast corner of the county, … Continue reading

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Oct 11

Lisbon Lincoln Highway panel rededicated

October 6, 2023: Amelia Kibbie speaks at the dedication of a Lincoln Highway interpretive panel in Lisbon. The state map is the “Historic Auto Trails” map the Iowa DOT made in the 1980s. Last Friday at Lincoln Square Park in … Continue reading

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Oct 09

Clay Central-Everly still had homecoming

There are only 63 students in grades K-6 at Clay Central-Everly, and there’s no high school anymore, but that didn’t stop the school from having a homecoming week this year. KTIV was there to cover the parade. The Sioux Central … Continue reading

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Oct 06

Jack Trice’s story, and what happened after

My latest Substack recaps the Jack Trice story. This includes the decades after his death, when the Big 6/7/8 had a “gentleman’s agreement” that kept minority players off the field.

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Oct 04

West Sioux bond would replace 1961 Ireton addition

There’s apparently a 1921 school hiding somewhere in Ireton. It’s not readily visible, but something from that year would get renovations, according to West Sioux’s plans for a bond referendum. Aerial photos show that a building that was there in … Continue reading

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Oct 02

Okoboji retreat recap

I have written about my experience at the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat. I hope you enjoy it. This post was delayed as I spent the week dealing with laryngitis that struck two hours after a job interview and berating myself over … Continue reading

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