Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 26

It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it

Posted on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Union High School in La Porte City had ONE football cheerleader this year. But she’s being a very good sport about it (story: KCRG), and she was also chosen homecoming queen. Union went 3-6 this season, but … how can … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it
Oct 25

Notes on second redistricting plan

Posted on Monday, October 25, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The second redistricting plan is out and has some surprises. The LSA did not do what it did in the 2000s and use a different color for the district outlines in its second plan, because like in the 2010s it … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Notes on second redistricting plan
Oct 22

North Tama football’s longest road trip

Posted on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

North Tama football lost by a combined 42-0 in its last two games, so the Redhawks are on the road for the “first round” of the playoffs. (I will not get used to calling round-of-32 the first round, let alone consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Tama County | Comments Off on North Tama football’s longest road trip
Oct 21

More familial bragging

Posted on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

My brother is getting a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology at Iowa State University. My brother’s job does not involve anything in genetics, development, or cell biology, but he majored in it, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on More familial bragging
Oct 20

Taking a run through every town

Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For all the hubbub about the two Nebraska guys going to every BUT NOT EVERY town in Iowa, there’s another cross-state trekker out there, and he’s doing it the hard way. For the last six years, Tyler Sullivan of North … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Taking a run through every town
Oct 18

Mocking Iowa’s 2020s congressional districts (10)

Posted on Monday, October 18, 2021, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

Mock 26: The X-rated gerrymander Is it possible to gerrymander Polk and Johnson counties together? There is, in fact, a workable (if no way compact) population-match district with that five-county span, plus Boone and Warren. Envision (or draw) it on … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Mocking Iowa’s 2020s congressional districts (10)
Oct 15

School timeline mega-update: Multi-high-school rural districts

Posted on Friday, October 15, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For forward-moving history, it’s “and then the Sixties happened.” For this timeline, it’s “but first, the Sixties happened.” These notes mostly, but not exclusively, relate to the middle of the 1960s as Iowa’s era of one-room schools ended and consolidated … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on School timeline mega-update: Multi-high-school rural districts
Oct 13

Auburn intersection becoming all-way stop

Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The intersection of US 71 and IA 175 on the north side of Auburn will be turned into an all-way stop later this month, the DOT says. At this intersection, northbound 71 turns from northbound to westbound while IA 175 … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Auburn intersection becoming all-way stop
Oct 11

DOT taking ramps out of Sioux City interchange

Posted on Monday, October 11, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 12, 2005: This “ghost ramp,” built in 1979 and never used, would have been for (future) southbound US 75 to eastbound US 20. Instead, this area will have its existing ramp removed for a stoplight around where the car … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on DOT taking ramps out of Sioux City interchange
Oct 08

School timeline mega-update: 1966-67

Posted on Friday, October 8, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

November 15, 2013: “Hayesville Independent School, West Lancaster #9, Est. 1897, Closed 1966, Added to National Register of Historic Places 1990; Memorialized 2011.” The modern school district era in Iowa began on July 1, 1966. Starting with the 1966-67 school … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on School timeline mega-update: 1966-67