Author Archives: Jeff

Sep 09

Iowa-ISU game preview

One coach has won 10 games in a season three times in the past seven years; one hasn’t. One coach has been to his conference’s championship game twice in the past seven years; one has been to it once. One … Continue reading

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Sep 07

1st and 1st in Cedar Rapids to undergo big change

First Avenue has been under construction in Cedar Rapids since late spring, and now a project in the downtown area will reshape a key intersection even more. Below I am reprinting the item from the city (linked here at the … Continue reading

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Sep 02

Go Redhawks! Beat the Redhawks!

North Tama’s football season started last week with a 34-6 home opener victory against Belle Plaine (complete with converting a 3rd-and-goal at the 38!) and plays at Ackley tonight. The IHSAA, like the IGHSAU, has outsourced all statistics to the … Continue reading

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Aug 31

Taking a cruise to Decorah

Viking Cruises has introduced a boat designed to ply not the oceans and seas of the world, but the Mississippi River. The Viking Mississippi will go from St. Paul to New Orleans on 15-day excursions. Decorah News reports that hundreds … Continue reading

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Aug 29

304 is 404

June 6, 1993: Troop 304 Scoutmaster Dennis Kucera addresses the Cub Scouts who just received the Arrow of Light, advancing to Boy Scouts, at the Taylor Park shelter house in Traer. Cub Scout Pack 304 and Boy Scout Troop 304 … Continue reading

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Aug 26

IA 2 (1920 Series): A piece recreated (almost)

Two developments in the Des Moines suburbs over the past year or so have done two very different things to the first highway that exited the state capital on Grand Avenue. This is the companion to Wednesday’s post. Waukee’s continued … Continue reading

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Aug 24

IA 2 (1920 Series): A piece obliterated

Two developments in the Des Moines suburbs over the past year or so have done two very different things to the first highway that exited the state capital on Grand Avenue. Val Lanes concrete, 1921-2021 The 1948 blueprint above shows … Continue reading

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Aug 22

US 63 construction to flip from south to north of Traer

2022 may rival only 1930 in the difficulty of getting to Traer on primary roads. The day after Labor Day — and 10 days after US 63 from Traer south to IA 96 opens after months of construction — US … Continue reading

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Aug 19

IA 192, twice merely dead, is really most sincerely dead

August 1, 2015: This sign on northbound South Expressway at the 30th Avenue intersection has been modified to green-out the middle section indicating IA 192. Photo by Jason Hancock. In the Transportation Commission minutes for this month was a curious … Continue reading

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Aug 17

Final loop ramp at 80/380 interchange to close

August 16, 2021: Looking straight ahead as the freeway bends, you can see the grading for the ramp from southbound I-380 to eastbound I-80. There’s also grading for the future ramp to westbound 80. The I-80/I-380 interchange project has reached … Continue reading

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