Author Archives: Jeff

Nov 18

John Fitzsimmons, 1959-2025

Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

John Fitzsimmons of Boone, a longtime member of the Lincoln Highway Association, died Saturday. He had a blog he occasionally posted to from 2016 to 2021. He billed himself as a “vagabond road artist”.  I last saw him at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on John Fitzsimmons, 1959-2025
Nov 11

Gannett changes date style in stories

Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Here’s something that you might not notice unless it’s directly pointed out: Gannett newspapers nationwide, including the Des Moines Register, Iowa City Press-Citizen, and Ames Tribune, have changed how dates are written in their stories. This has been going on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Gannett changes date style in stories
Nov 06

Gladbrook-Reinbeck bond issue succeeds — barely

Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 11:00 AM by Jeff

Well, how about that. It took Grundy County voting more than 90% in favor, but it happened. I cover the G-R bond vote and many more, with a map of every district in the state that had a bond referendum, … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Gladbrook-Reinbeck bond issue succeeds — barely
Nov 03

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s third bond vote in four years

Posted on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Here we go again. This time, unlike last year’s vote, Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s superintendent made clear that there is a “stopping point” on this bond. It’s down to doing nothing but replacing the classrooms currently in the oldest building, and the auditorium … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s third bond vote in four years
Oct 31

Completing my circumnavigation (in 2015)

Posted on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I almost, but not quite, published a recap of Day 8 of my circumnavigation of Iowa on the day of the 10th anniversary (!) of it happening. It’s still to the month, though.

Posted in Trip Reports | Comments Off on Completing my circumnavigation (in 2015)
Oct 29

1A volleyball regional finals: public vs. private

Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Tonight 16 teams complete for eight places in the Class 1A state volleyball tournament. Like is so often the case as we reach this level, we have a bunch of public-private matchups. Most important for this blog is North Tama … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on 1A volleyball regional finals: public vs. private
Oct 28

GR puts out video before bond vote

Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

The Gladbrook-Reinbeck school district has a video (linked here, attempt at embed below but YouTube doesn’t like that anymore) with a virtual tour of the addition that would be constructed if a bond referendum passes next week. The district has … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on GR puts out video before bond vote
Oct 23

A mini-war reenactment

Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I went to Clark’s Park a month ago to write about a Civil War reenactment event. The sides were lopsided. The story was reprinted in the North Tama Telegraph and Sun Courier, but their formatting missed out on my intention … Continue reading →

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on A mini-war reenactment
Oct 21

Last trips on old Black Hawk Bridge

Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

KCRG led off Sunday night’s newscast (autoplay video) with a story about the closure of the Black Hawk Bridge between Lansing and De Soto, Wisconsin. The free car ferry to take its place while construction continues on its replacement won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Last trips on old Black Hawk Bridge
Oct 17

License Plate Letters — ZIC

Posted on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Wait a second, you’re saying. We’re into the Q’s of a new cycle. What’s the deal? Well, the deal is, I saw a vehicle with a ZIC license plate at the airport when I was there Tuesday to play music … Continue reading →

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on License Plate Letters — ZIC