Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Mar 03

Photos from the edges of Iowa

For those of you here for the first time… Hi. October 1, 2015: Murray Hill Scenic Overlook, northeast of Little Sioux, in the Loess Hills. No highways, just a scenic picture. In early fall 2015 I took an eight-day trip … Continue reading

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Feb 20

Iowa newspapers to be archived, digitized

YAY! Under the authority of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the State Historical Society has signed a 5-year contract to loan the newspapers to the Advantage Companies, a Cedar Rapids business with a division dedicated to the preservation and … Continue reading

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Feb 03

Effigy Mounds quarter to be unveiled next week

Iowa’s largest and most famous national monument* is going to be honored with a custom quarter that will be released Tuesday. The Gazette ran an article a few weeks ago about it. There are two events related to the quarter: … Continue reading

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Jan 23

RealClearPolitics analysis of Midwest presidential vote

Maps, stats, and charts abound in the RealClearPolitics study of how Donald Trump nearly swept the Midwest in 2016. Iowa is one of the states selected for extra study, and was picked out again in the conclusion to the RCP … Continue reading

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Jan 13

Pilot Knob is not Iowa’s second-highest point. Or the third.

October 4, 2016: The view from the Pilot Knob observation tower, which is 30 feet tall. Enjoy it before I drop some earth-leveling news. While working on the page for IA 237, the old spur to Ocheyedan, I had a … Continue reading

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Jan 10

A look back at the Avoca courthouse

The Daily Nonpareil has a feature on when Pottawattamie County had two courthouses — but, depending on how you interpret the wording of an 1886 law, maybe not two de jure county seats. Pottawattamie is the second-largest county in Iowa (954 … Continue reading

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Jan 09

Three Kmarts in Iowa closing

Calvin: Dad, how do people make babies? Calvin’s Dad: Most people just go to Sears, buy the kit, and follow the assembly instructions. Calvin: I came from Sears?? Calvin’s Dad: No, you were a blue light special at Kmart, almost … Continue reading

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Jan 06

Iowa’s westernmost Casey’s moving a tad south

(It’s a slow news week, folks.) September 30, 2015: The Akron Casey’s is behind the signs for the IA 3/12 intersection and relocated end of the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. The northwest Iowa town of Akron is getting a new … Continue reading

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Jan 05

Renwick rallies to save its bar

AP story via WCCO. Residents of some towns are scrambling to hold on to at least a few places where people can still get together. It’s not just bars but groceries, cafes and other stores. They don’t expect to turn … Continue reading

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Jan 04

Reset the retransmission dispute counter

DirectTV and Hearst are at an impasse on retransmission fees, and as a result, both KCCI and KETV went off the satellite system as the calendar moved to 2017. That means southwest Iowa DirectTV customers had to switch to antenna … Continue reading

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