Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 06

Back to the drawing board

Posted on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa Senate dropped more work on the LSA yesterday by rejecting the first proposed redistricting maps. The above map wouldn’t qualify for what the agency has been ordered to come up with — a total variance of less than … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Back to the drawing board
Oct 04

Traer bridge once carried IA 58

Posted on Monday, October 4, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 13, 2021: The 1st Street bridge over Coon Creek is used to get to the Traer airport, although “airport” is generous for the grass strip. In deep background is an old elevator damaged (I think) in the 2020 derecho. … Continue reading →

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Oct 01

Louisa County stops paying the ferryman

Posted on Friday, October 1, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The distinction between farm-to-market and local roads once mattered to a great degree in highway systems. Even now, the designation is maintained, and the former is described as roads that “provide all-weather routes to destination points”. So when a county … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Louisa County stops paying the ferryman
Sep 29

Bella Vista bypass opens this week

Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

One of the Midwest’s longest-promised highway projects that never seemed to get off the ground for years is opening this week. The Bella Vista bypass will go across the Arkansas-Missouri state line and create a full four-lane I-49 from Fort … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Bella Vista bypass opens this week
Sep 28

It is the children who are wrong

Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Verge:  Gradually, Garland came to the same realization that many of her fellow educators have reached in the past four years: the concept of file folders and directories, essential to previous generations’ understanding of computers, is gibberish to many … Continue reading →

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Sep 27

Notes on first 2020s redistricting map

Posted on Monday, September 27, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

So, I didn’t win Redistricting Powerball. Oh well. Ironically, my very first map based on 2019 population estimates — and, to a lesser extent, Mock 21 — came closest to pegging the new 1st District. The overall variance is 99, … Continue reading →

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Sep 24

Third loop at I-80/380 going away

Posted on Friday, September 24, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

March 12, 2007: When IA 27 was created, signs on I-80 were retrofitted with mini-shields to save space. It’s this exit that will be going away next week. The Tiffin exit will serve as the turnaround. The first loop ramp … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Third loop at I-80/380 going away
Sep 22

It’s 941, not 939

Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I should have said something earlier. I should have said it when I made a post about it. The two Nebraska students who visited “all 939” towns in Iowa this summer — and got another article in the Register — … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on It’s 941, not 939
Sep 20

Razing 1917 building an option for North Tama

Posted on Monday, September 20, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

WAIT WHAT July 7, 2021: North Tama’s 1917 school building, as seen from 7th Street in Traer. The concrete steps to the door are relatively new and used to have tannish-orange edges like you see lining the bottom of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Razing 1917 building an option for North Tama
Sep 18

Go Big … Black?

Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

[rant] WHY IS NORTH TAMA WEARING BLACK PANTS BLACK IS NOT A NORTH TAMA COLOR WHY CAN’T ANYONE WHO DOESN’T HAVE BLACK AS A SCHOOL COLOR BE HAPPY WITH THEIR UNIFORMS [/rant] But hey, big Homecoming win.

Posted in Sports, Tama County | Comments Off on Go Big … Black?