Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 03

Algona, Lu Verne consolidation approved

The final assimilation of what used to be the shared but unmerged Corwith-Wesley-Lu Verne schools into Algona will happen next year. Voters last month overwhelmingly approved the merger of Algona and Lu Verne, KICD radio reports. The latter had officially … Continue reading

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Sep 30

Radio interference

Daily Iowan, October 4, 1927: Radio audience protests silence of station WSUI Broadcast games cut receipts at field says council Protests from radio listeners in Iowa and other middle-western states have been flooding WSUI, the university radio station, during the … Continue reading

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Sep 28

Tama Lincoln Highway bridge contract to be let

June 17, 2022: The slab edge on the north rail of the Lincoln Highway bridge (under the letters) shows severe wear and is one of the areas slated to get work done. The Iowa DOT is playing a role in … Continue reading

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Sep 26

Rockwell lost its newspaper

The continuing decline of rural newspapers is creating conflicts with state regulations. The last edition of the Rockwell Pioneer-Enterprise was September 8. The Iowa Newspaper Association website listed its circulation at 174 — and a mailing address in Buffalo Center. … Continue reading

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Sep 23

Wisconsin sets expiration dates on license plates

In 2017, Wisconsin ran out of license plates. But instead of re-resetting its alphanumeric cycle, it moved to a seven-character AAA0000 style, and let the old plates stick around. (See this Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story.) Although the base design goes back … Continue reading

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Sep 21

Walcott could lose half its school grades

The Davenport school district is considering changes to the grade configuration in Walcott. KWQC and WQAD both reported last week that the K-8 school there could become a middle school for grades 5-8 or 6-8. Younger students would go to … Continue reading

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Sep 19

Manitowoc gives US 151 a trim

September 14, 2015: The now-former north end of US 151. There are those who see the above point in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and see the light at the end of the tunnel, or a long-neck at the end of a long … Continue reading

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Sep 16

Iowa stumps the smart set again

Monday’s “Jeopardy!” started the show’s 39th season. It has a new, extended, and varying opening, with images of prominent champions (starting with Amy Schneider) and the studio audience. One thing, however, remains the same: Iowa remains largely a mystery to … Continue reading

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Sep 14

Another one bites the truss

A century-plus-old pony truss bridge in Carroll County has reached the end of its useful life. Its birth was one of the inspirations for standardization in Iowa construction. KCIM-AM reports that the Carroll County supervisors plan to replace the Storm … Continue reading

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Sep 12

Kolache confusion

July 26, 2012: A Czech list of the food offerings in Clutier on RAGBRAI XL. While checking out various Iowa State-related places before last Saturday’s football game*, I learned something about a former ISU player. Brent “Big Play” Curvey restarted his “Coaches … Continue reading

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