Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Jun 02

Back-to-back Big Boy stories

KTIV has two stories related to the Union Pacific’s Big Boy going through western Iowa on Sunday. The first is about the train’s stop in Carroll. The second, whose video plays after the first, is about maintenance of the train … Continue reading

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May 22

Iowa and the Underground Railroad

As endorsed by former Des Moines Register editor and current president of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, Randy Evans: “This is a very readable account of the role Iowa, and Iowans, played in slaves gaining their freedom in the … Continue reading

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May 20

Iowa radio and TV in the 20th century

Jeff Stein came to Toledo last month to give a presentation based on his book about Iowa news on the airwaves. It’s about the early years of radio and television. This story been printed in the two Tama County papers, … Continue reading

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Apr 28

Black Hawk and the Army at Fort Madison

When the U.S. Army built Fort Madison, the first fort on the west side of the Mississippi River, the Native American tribes in the area took notice. Chief Black Hawk was the leader of one of those tribes. Through his … Continue reading

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Apr 16

At a famous site, learning about famous Iowans

Jeff Stein brought his “Stories of Famous Iowans” series to Terrace Hill Historic Site in March. Visitors to the event also got to tour the site, the current Iowa governor’s residence. The presentation had expanded versions of his radio stories, … Continue reading

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Apr 09

Governor Larrabee and Clermont

On the last day of February, far northeast Iowa got some snow. The divide between Arlington, which had nothing, and Clermont, which had light flakes, was stark. The weather added some flavor to pictures I took at Montauk, the historic … Continue reading

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Apr 02

Dish-Gray dispute enters another week

It’s been a while since I’ve posted about a retransmission dispute, but there’s two of them going on, and one may be severed permanently. Five Gray Media (formerly Gray TV) stations serving Iowa were pulled off Dish on March 10: … Continue reading

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Mar 26

🚨 Mid-America Publishing reportedly shutting down

A tip from a reader led to this bombshell printed in the Eagle Grove Eagle: Nineteen Iowa weekly newspapers are at immediate risk of closing. Their owner, Mid-America Publishing, sent a message to employees that the company “will shut down … Continue reading

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Feb 20

Shenandoah, Red Oak Burger Kings to close

If you want food along the IA 48 corridor, your options are more limited. KMA Radio reports that Shenandoah and Red Oak are going to lose their Burger King restaurants on Monday. They’re the only locations in Iowa south of … Continue reading

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Feb 17

Conway moves to disincorporate

September 17, 2014: There are no paved streets in Conway, although from 1935-61 it was the east end of IA 319. Iowa’s third-smallest town is going to be no more. The City Development Board agenda for last week’s meeting has … Continue reading

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