Author Archives: Jeff

Feb 14

Double or nothing

Posted on Monday, February 14, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

After the current Iowa Legislature session is over, a real scramble will begin as state legislators and challengers have to introduce themselves to new electorates. The 2020s redistricting plan, for the first time since the 1970s,* separates Traer from Tama-Toledo, … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps, Tama County | Comments Off on Double or nothing
Feb 11

What’s with the hate for county names on plates?

Posted on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 10:20 AM by Jeff

Usually, when the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association has been involved in lobbying the Legislature recently, it’s about getting rid of front license plates. See this Radio Iowa story from last year. But this time, the group is out to eliminate … Continue reading →

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on What’s with the hate for county names on plates?
Feb 09

A ‘demonym’ we all need to know

Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Clayton County Press-Journal, February 9, 1958: “Strawbareans” is a great word and I am fully in favor of bringing this term for the Clayton County town of Strawberry Point back into common use. (“Denonym” is the name of the word … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on A ‘demonym’ we all need to know
Feb 07

Pinning down western Shelby County

Posted on Monday, February 7, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

When I worked on my school timeline mega-update last year, the online Harlan newspaper archives ended in 1969. That was enough to find out the consolidation of the Harlan Community School District, including many small towns in the western half … Continue reading →

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Feb 04

COVID claims Old Creamery

Posted on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Old Creamery Theatre, which would have celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is now another casualty of COVID-19 in the arts. Its website is now an obituary. Old Creamery started in Garrison and then moved to the Amanas, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on COVID claims Old Creamery
Feb 02

A different kind of drive-thru

Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Essex school district wants to buy a bank. KMA reports that Essex and Bank Iowa are discussing a land swap that would put the bank building under the school’s control. Essex wants to develop its culinary arts program, the … Continue reading →

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Jan 31

ESPN-minus

Posted on Monday, January 31, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

On the night of January 11, there was a top-15 men’s basketball matchup involving one of TV’s darlings. Iowa State-Kansas was banished to ESPN+. Half an hour before that tipoff, a top-25 women’s basketball game involving the same school started. … Continue reading →

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Jan 28

Hamburg Reporter got new owner

Posted on Friday, January 28, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This happened four months ago, but worth a note: The Hamburg Reporter, in the southwest corner of Iowa, changed ownership. It had been a GateHouse paper, then a Gannett paper following the former’s purchase of the latter (but taking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Hamburg Reporter got new owner
Jan 26

My book of 2021

Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I’ve done a LOT of reading in the past year, but nearly all of it was on the Internet. I only got through two hard-copy books. One, The Story of the Titanic As Told By Its Survivors, arguably doesn’t count … Continue reading →

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Jan 24

North Tama continues look at infrastructure

Posted on Monday, January 24, 2022, at 11:00 AM by Jeff

Earlier this month, the North Tama school board had another work session to discuss long-term plans for the school complex, reports the North Tama Telegraph. A “hefty packet” of information about construction possibilities and, more importantly, funding options was offered … Continue reading →

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