Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Mar 11

Lime Springs loses school, newspaper at same time

Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at 10:06 AM by Jeff

May 19, 2004: The naked pole for the west end of former IA 157 west of Lime Springs. I shouldn’t need to use a metaphorical clue-bat here. The last posts at the Lime Springs Herald‘s online news site, dated Jan. … Continue reading →

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Mar 10

Historical analysis of 2015 RAGBRAI route

Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 10:01 AM by Jeff

July 28, 2004: RAGBRAI converges on Steamboat Rock. The route for RAGBRAI XLIII was released late Saturday, and a video touts visits to eight towns the ride has never been through. Comparing the 2015 route map — available day-by-day in … Continue reading →

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Mar 03

‘House of Cards’ goes to Iowa

Posted on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In the way that TV shows about politics go to Iowa, it’s caucusin’ time for Netflix’s “House of Cards”. Check the flags at the 16-18 second mark of the trailer embedded in this story. The show got Oelwein High School’s … Continue reading →

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Feb 24

944, for real this time

Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

Nearly two months after deciding against it, the city council of Center Junction reversed course and voted unanimously for disincorporation. The Jones County town of just over 100 people is by far the largest in Iowa to go this route; the … Continue reading →

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Feb 12

What did Iowa do to you, “Agent Carter”?

Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2015, at 10:14 AM by Jeff

Previously in Marvel’s “Agent Carter,” we had a 30-second scene where Peggy Carter met Dorothy Underwood from Iowa, who came to New York City to be a professional dancer. Now we know her name isn’t Dorothy Underwood, and she isn’t … Continue reading →

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Feb 06

A History of Concrete Paving in Iowa

Posted on Friday, February 6, 2015, at 11:25 AM by Jeff

June 4, 2014: This concrete on old US 20 east of Cushing is from 1932. Old 20 west of Cushing to Sioux City was paved by 1924. If that headline has you clicking for more, you’ve come to the right … Continue reading →

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Jan 15

Legislature maps symbolize Iowa’s rural-urban split

Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 10:07 AM by Jeff

With the 2015 Iowa Legislature now in session, it’s a good time to look into the maps and composition of district control. Republicans control the House 56-43 (pending one election in the west), and Democrats hold the slimmest edge in … Continue reading →

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Jan 09

JC Penney at Crossroads closing

Posted on Friday, January 9, 2015, at 7:03 PM by Jeff

“My” J.C. Penney — that is, the one that was closest to me — is now a victim of that retail company’s continued troubles. Crossroads Mall in Waterloo has lost an original anchor tenant. There won’t be a Penney’s in the … Continue reading →

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Jan 08

Wagon Wheel Bridge at dead end

Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2015, at 11:49 AM by Jeff

July 5, 2013: Wagon Wheel Bridge across the Des Moines River in Boone County, upstream from the Kate Shelley High Bridges. The Boone County supervisors returned $2 million in funding to replace a bridge that’s spanned the Des Moines River … Continue reading →

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Jan 07

944…or not

Posted on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at 10:47 AM by Jeff

When I wrote my resolution to visit every Iowa town, I noted (and then had to revise) the number of incorporated places “as of this writing” — and there was a reason for that. Center Junction in Jones County had … Continue reading →

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