Author Archives: Jeff

May 05

License Plate Letters — KMA

Posted on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

KMA 960 AM is one of Iowa’s oldest radio stations. Its call letters, chosen specifically by the May Seed & Nursery Co., mean “Keep Millions Advised.” The May family owned the station from its beginning in 1925 until 2019. Here … Continue reading →

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May 03

US 61 four-lane: Where the rest stands now

Posted on Monday, May 3, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The DOT has released final plans for four-laning US 61 from the north end of the future Mediapolis bypass to just north of IA 78, including a new interchange with a slightly extended IA 78. Typically, there would be a … Continue reading →

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Apr 30

IA 58 extension to get exit numbers

Posted on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 15, 2007: One of the places getting new BGSs and exit tabs on IA 27/58 in Cedar Falls. In Cedar Falls, the Avenue of the Saints is officially IA 27/58. The IA 58 freeway was talked about for decades … Continue reading →

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Apr 28

Is CR’s Eighth Avenue bridge 82 years old, or 50?

Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Once again, the annual list of Iowa’s structurally deficient bridges includes Eighth Avenue over the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids. The list comes from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, a “nonpartisan federation” promoting investment in infrastructure. It pegs … Continue reading →

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Apr 26

Some school timeline cleanup

Posted on Monday, April 26, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Connections and corrections made recently on my school timeline page: Burt and Sentral had a sharing agreement for five years (1988-93) before Burt went with Algona. Sentral had the high school and Burt grades 6-8. This is another case of … Continue reading →

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Apr 21

Mocking Iowa’s 2020s congressional districts (3)

Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

After reading parts 1 and 2 of my attempts to create 2020s U.S. House districts for Iowa using 2019 population estimates, someone might ask: These districts are too practical. Can you do something weird? Something that an unscrupulous non-Iowa legislature … Continue reading →

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Apr 20

Porker up

Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The principal at Duncombe Elementary in Fort Dodge (not Duncombe) kissed a pig to make good on a student fundraiser promise. It wasn’t a piglet, either. Come for the fourth-grader’s shocked face, stay for the pigs doing…what pigs do. From the … Continue reading →

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Apr 19

The (Volunteer) Corn State

Posted on Monday, April 19, 2021, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

August 18, 2020: Flattened corn near Keystone, Benton County. Last year’s derecho sowed the seeds of a weed that is Roundup Ready, extremely visible, and scattered across most of Iowa. Volunteer corn is going to be all around this season, … Continue reading →

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Apr 16

There’s a creek there?

Posted on Friday, April 16, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

From the DOT’s website: The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for proposed improvements on Iowa 8 in Tama County. OK, pertinent to my interests. The proposed project includes the removal and replacement of an existing 12’ x … Continue reading →

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Apr 14

US 20 concrete in Waterloo getting replaced

Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT has announced that starting tomorrow, US 20 between the US 63 and IA 21 exits will move to head-to-head traffic to remove and replace the pavement in the eastbound lanes. (Is it Infrastructure Week here? — Ed.) The … Continue reading →

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