Author Archives: Jeff

Jan 09

IA 146 Searsboro curve to be realigned

May 31, 2005: The former east end of IA 225, at IA 146, looking east. The Iowa DOT has a request for public input, but not a public meeting, regarding a change to IA 146 at Searsboro. The minimalist PDF … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on IA 146 Searsboro curve to be realigned
Jan 06

US 65 beltway is Polk County isthmus

It has annoyed me for a while that Altoona and Des Moines’ annexations in the early 2010s omitted the US 65 bypass between them, meaning that the two cities do not technically touch boundaries. It turns out that, intentionally or … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on US 65 beltway is Polk County isthmus
Jan 04

License Plate Letters — MQZ

This post is to take stock of where we are, approximately, in the license plate cycle at the start of 2023. The late M’s were also appearing in 2003, as part of the original 1997 cycle. That took about eight … Continue reading

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on License Plate Letters — MQZ
Jan 02

New year, old calendar

*shrug* Hey, it works! You know where else you can get a calendar for 2023 that will work in many years? The Traer Sesquicentennial Store, which is now open online! 2023 is Traer’s 150th birthday, and I assure you, I … Continue reading

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on New year, old calendar
Dec 29

US 63 in Tama-Toledo to be three-laned

This month’s Iowa Transportation Commission meeting included approval of Traffic Safety Improvement Program applications. (The two PDFs that compile the applications are detailed and large.) Included on the list of FY24 funding approvals is conversion of US 63 in Tama and … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on US 63 in Tama-Toledo to be three-laned
Dec 23

KOKZ comes full circle

And I said, what about “Breakfast at Tiffany’s?” I said “I think I remember the film”… During the last school year I regularly rode the bus, KOKZ 105.7 in Waterloo switched from Top 40 (the previous 15 years of such, … Continue reading

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Dec 21

Tama County news, and newspaper news, updates

Tying up some stories and sprinkling in references to some new ones: The deadline for moving to 8-player football has passed, and as of this writing, the North Tama board had taken no action for at least the varsity level. … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Tama County | Comments Off on Tama County news, and newspaper news, updates
Dec 19

It’s been 25 years…

…and I can still smell the fresh paint. The china had never been used. The sheets had never been slept in. Titanic was called the “Ship of Dreams,” and it was, it really was. Yes, I typed that completely from … Continue reading

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Dec 16

Northwest Iowa getting first roundabout

The new MOC/FV elementary school on the east edge of Orange City will also bring a change to IA 10 in the area — its first roundabout. KIWA reports that this is the first roundabout on a state road in … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Northwest Iowa getting first roundabout
Dec 14

Boxholm school is gone

July 25, 2012: The cornerstone of the Boxholm school. I have no idea if it was preserved. Boxholm’s school, which closed in 2014, was torn down earlier this year. In March, the Fort Dodge Messenger ran a retrospective — or, … Continue reading

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