Author Archives: Jeff

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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Feb 05

Hawarden business corner gets new tenant, again

Posted on Friday, February 5, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 30, 2015: The building discussed below. The building that once housed a Kum & Go at the southeast corner of IA 10 and IA 12 in Hawarden is going away for a new property. Sometime after my 2015 visit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Hawarden business corner gets new tenant, again
Feb 03

Analysis of 2021 RAGBRAI map

Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 22, 2015: A sculpture made of bicycle parts greets RAGBRAI riders as they go through Parkersburg. UPDATE 5/4/21: Revised with information following revised daily route maps. In October, the RAGBRAI website put out unlabeled daily maps, based on the plan … Continue reading →

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Feb 01

What’s next for Wall Lake school?

Posted on Monday, February 1, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 24, 2017: The oldest part of Wall Lake school. I found out about the closure of Wall Lake Elementary School in late February of last year. It turned out to be one of the last things I blogged about on … Continue reading →

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Jan 29

Corning-Villisca merger on hold

Posted on Friday, January 29, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Corning and Villisca, which started whole-grade sharing in 2013 as Southwest Valley, last year started to make gestures toward full consolidation. But like pretty much everything else, the plague got in the way. KMA reports that the merger is on … Continue reading →

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Jan 27

Grassley makes Traer early stop on 99-county tour

Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It hasn’t been a full year since Sen. Chuck Grassley last visited Tama County, but in four months he checked it off both his 2020 and 2021 lists. The senator visited Clearline Industries on Traer’s south side on Jan. 13 … Continue reading →

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