Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Dec 23

Casey’s pushes pizza into the smart phone era

Posted on Monday, December 23, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 22, 2013: There’s a Casey’s in Casey, Illinois (seen here). There is not a Casey’s in Casey, Iowa. Casey’s hangs its convenience store hat on two major things: Serving rural Americans and making great pizza. In many places, maybe … Continue reading →

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Dec 05

End of an era for Iowa Public Television

Posted on Thursday, December 5, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(You can stop watching the above at the 1:50 mark.) Just after marking its 50th anniversary of serving Iowans, the “Iowa Public Television” name is going away. According to the December issue of Advance magazine, when the new year starts … Continue reading →

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Nov 26

The end of a country lane

Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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 14

Yes, we have no information

Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The visitor information booth that was visible coming into the Iowa State University campus from the south on Elwood Drive University Boulevard has been demolished, according to this short blurb on the ISU website. But the growth of mobile-friendly websites … Continue reading →

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Nov 11

Iowa’s last two Kmarts will close

Posted on Monday, November 11, 2019, at 10:15 AM by Jeff

Weeks ago, USA Today reported that more Sears and Kmart stores would be closing in the future, but did not have information about which ones. Now we know that whatever’s left of the shambles of Sears/Kmart won’t include Iowa. KCHA … Continue reading →

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Nov 07

IA 333: The hot-potato highway

Posted on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 2, 2015: The beginning of IA 333 as seen from an I-29 offramp. The entire route, along with the town of Hamburg, was underwater in the spring of 2019. The Great Decommissioning of 1980 was the end result of … Continue reading →

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Nov 06

IA 999: The untold story (5)

Posted on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Looking at state maps in the early 1970s, it seems clear-cut. IA 333 runs from the Fremont/Page county line to 71, there’s a secret designation for the route to College Springs, and the absence of a 333 marker east of … Continue reading →

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Nov 05

IA 999: The untold story (4)

Posted on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Southern Page County did its damnedest to put itself on a paved path to prosperity. The Highway 333 Association formed in the summer of 1959 with the goal of getting the road from US 275 near Hamburg to US 71 … Continue reading →

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Nov 04

IA 999: The untold story (3)

Posted on Monday, November 4, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

On the official state transportation map, the highway on the corner of Iowa’s floor was stable for 20 years. There was only one change to IA 333 marked between 1943 and 1964: It was straightened to miss College Springs and … Continue reading →

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Oct 24

City Hall as bulletin board; or, Meats and Treats

Posted on Thursday, October 24, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Might as well pass on the plug. October 23, 2019: Taped on the entrance to Liscomb City Hall. (IDEA: Adult costume/trick or treat for prime rib! Thermal storage bag required.)

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