Author Archives: Jeff

Feb 26

Mid-Iowa Council’s first female Eagle Scouts

Posted on Friday, February 26, 2021, at 10:01 AM by Jeff

Girls in Ankeny and Ottumwa are the first two in central Iowa to become Eagle Scouts after changes to Scouting opened the doors to them. Stories: Des Moines Register, KYOU (with video). They are among the first 1,000 girls nationwide … Continue reading →

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Feb 24

School enrollment analysis, 2020-21

Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The first takeaway from the 2020-21 certified enrollment list is the most obvious: There were big drops across the board. Growing districts that had not seen decreases in years if not the century to date (Ankeny!) lost kids. There were … Continue reading →

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Feb 22

Today is March 359, 2020

Posted on Monday, February 22, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Large Group All-State Speech honors were given out to Iowa high school students last week. (See, for example, here and here and here and here.) Each locally-focused story, though, contains one sad detail: There will be no All-State performance day. Again. … Continue reading →

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Feb 19

Bettendorf gets a few blocks of State Street

Posted on Friday, February 19, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

May 9, 2018: The on-ramp from eastbound State Street, once northbound US 67, to eastbound/southbound I-74 has been temporarily retained for access to the old bridge, which as of December is only for downtown Moline. An item from this month’s … Continue reading →

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Feb 18

NT boys play tonight after last-second win

Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This post is mainly to link to the Newton Daily News article about North Tama beating Baxter on Monday night on a 3-pointer by a freshman. The Redhawk boys play a district basketball semifinal tonight at Meskwaki Settlement. (edit: mistimed … Continue reading →

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Feb 17

Is IA 32 still around?

Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 2, 2008: As of 2012, the south end of IA 32 in Dubuque is/was US 20’s only at-grade intersection with a signed state route east of IA 110 in Sac County. I figure this is worth an attempt at … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Is IA 32 still around?
Feb 15

Think warm thoughts

Posted on Monday, February 15, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I have learned the hard way that a car battery’s fifth winter, record-breaking cold, and working from home (last errand run: Jan. 30) do not mix. July 9, 2018: Literally a hundred-degree difference from Friday night’s low. July 20, 2019: … Continue reading →

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Feb 12

Tama Jim’s send-off banquet

Posted on Friday, February 12, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

When Tom Vilsack is confirmed as secretary of agriculture (again), he will join nine other men who have served in the same Cabinet post more than eight years — and the first to do it nonconsecutively. To meet Tama Jim Wilson’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Tama Jim’s send-off banquet
Feb 10

Evelyn Birkby, 1919-2021

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

In 2019 I took note of a longtime columnist in southwestern Iowa who was hanging it up after seven decades, at the age of 100. Evelyn Birkby died Sunday. The UI has a collection of old photos and columns. UI Press’ … Continue reading →

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Feb 08

Iowa’s 1920 Highway System: County seat to non-county-seat

Posted on Monday, February 8, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 18, 2006: Even when there wasn’t a river highway between Dubuque and Davenport, IA 62 came to Bellevue. This next batch of routes is of small to medium length, covering only two counties tops. One end was in a … Continue reading →

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