Author Archives: Jeff

Dec 03

Traer clinic undergoes rebranding

First, the good news: Traer still has a doctor’s office. It’s still in the building from 1976 that I can still walk through in my mind. But on October 25, all remaining traces of the independent practice once called North … Continue reading

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Dec 02

The fallen and the rising

Towns that lost their only school building that I am aware of, 2010-19: Lineville, Stockport, Lost Nation, Menlo, Arcadia, Vail, Cincinnati, Crystal Lake, Lohrville, Mystic, Ringsted, Rippey, Ute, Denmark, Battle Creek, Hawkeye, Sabula, Titonka, Coggon, Walker, Boxholm, Clearfield, Dows, Elma, … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on The fallen and the rising
Nov 29

Matt Campbell’s Gundy Mitzvah

The Mike Gundy Bar Mitzvah, for those unaware of the term, is when a football coach becomes a man. (It can also be applied more broadly to well-humored male-identifying individuals.) Today, a day before Iowa State plays in the Little … Continue reading

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Nov 27

Combined, complete football playoff brackets for 2019

I shouldn’t have to do this. I don’t really have to do this. And yet, I do. This is, once again, my way of expressing extreme brow-furrowing at the IHSAA for being strange in how it goes about publishing finalized … Continue reading

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Nov 26

The end of a country lane

Shenandoah Valley News Today columnist Evelyn Birkby is hanging up her keyboard after more than 3600 columns. My Up a Country Lane column has been published in this newspaper every week without fail since 1949. Now I’ve reached a point in … Continue reading

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Nov 25

MVL bypass opened this weekend

US 30 is now four lanes around Mount Vernon and Lisbon, completing a bypass that goes just to the south of those towns. The official opening was Friday — a classic right-before-Thanksgiving completion. The bypass extends the continuous four-lane from … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on MVL bypass opened this weekend
Nov 22

Iowa high school football championship preview

VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING VALLEY DOWLING (etc.) I believe that the move to reseed brackets in the semifinals is beneficial overall, even if it takes out “east vs. west” championships. … Continue reading

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Nov 21

Decade milestone of the week (2) (continued)

November 21, 2009, 5:07 PM: The second-to-last time the words “IowaSt.” would appear on a scoreboard at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. Iowa State at Missouri 2009 was, at the time we left the stadium (and went to see the … Continue reading

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Decade milestone of the week (2) (continued)
Nov 20

Decade milestone of the week (2)

Columbia, Missouri, November 21, 2009 — It was entirely a whim. It turned out to be more meaningful than that. I happened to have the Friday and Saturday the week before Thanksgiving off. Iowa State (6-5, 3-4), under new coach … Continue reading

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Nov 19

Decade milestone of the week (1)

November 18, 2009: Ten years ago, this baby came home. It is, by far, my longest-lived main Mac. In fact, it’s outpaced both the G4 tower and iBook combined. (I am very very hoping this blog post does not jinx … Continue reading

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