Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Mar 27

Analysis of 2018 RAGBRAI map

Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 23, 2008: RAGBRAI passed through the center of Iowa (well, close enough) in 2008 and will again this year. The Register’s preview appears to be trying to tell me something. If you can locate Ute, Aspinwall, Dana, Peoria and … Continue reading →

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Mar 13

When the Navy landed in Ottumwa

Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In the middle of World War II, 75 years ago today, the U.S. Naval Air Station opened north of Ottumwa. It served as a training site for cadets. The most famous Navy personnel to pass through were future president Richard … Continue reading →

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Mar 07

The Tater Tot Trot

Posted on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 15, 2013: A tater tot casserole. Jewell held its first (of many?) Tater Tot Trots last weekend. Participants run a mile, eat a mini tater tot casserole, then run back. I am 1000% in favor of making this the … Continue reading →

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Feb 28

Iowa’s westernmost Casey’s moves across the street

Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 30, 2015: The Akron Casey’s seen in the background of this picture has closed, with a new store opening on this side of IA 3. The north intersection of IA 3 and IA 12 has the new-style sign marking … Continue reading →

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Feb 26

Remembering six-on-six

Posted on Monday, February 26, 2018, at 10:30 AM by Jeff

July 7, 2015: Denise Long Park, Whitten, Iowa. For the 50th anniversary of the 1968 state championship game and the 25th anniversary of the end of six-on-six in Iowa, I wrote something for the Gazette looking back and also looking … Continue reading →

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Feb 06

The story of Albert the Bull

Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The world’s largest anatomically correct Hereford was featured in a Super Bowl ad and got a mini-documentary. Story, Sioux City Journal; video (below), Cenex (the ad’s sponsor).

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Jan 26

Answering 538’s gerrymandering question

Posted on Friday, January 26, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Political/statistical analysis website 538 says fixing gerrymandering is hard. At one point it resorts to a computer algorithm that completely ignores all jurisdictional boundaries in a quest to make “competitive” districts. What if gerrymandering is a problem better solved by … Continue reading →

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Jan 17

Ankeny builds a county seat in a year

Posted on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s a three-paragraph, 30-second story from WHO, but it tells so much. According to the story, based on numbers from the city, Ankeny built 567 new single-family homes and 539 other residences in 2017. That makes for 1106 housing units … Continue reading →

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Jan 15

Crossroads Sears doomed

Posted on Monday, January 15, 2018, at 10:20 AM by Jeff

Another original anchor of Crossroads Mall in Waterloo is biting the dust. This time it’s Sears, reported earlier this month (Courier, KWWL, KCRG), following J.C. Penney in 2015. Crossroads has been able to replace the Penney’s with an At Home, … Continue reading →

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Jan 11

4-H Schoolhouse Museum moves

Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 11, 2014: “Birthplace of the 4-H Club Emblem” marker at the schoolhouse museum in Clarion. More than a century after the 4-H Emblem was born in Wright County, Iowa, the museum celebrating it has been moved — but not too … Continue reading →

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