Category Archives: Tama County

Mar 13

‘PIEOWA’ came to Gladbrook

Posted on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Beth Howard’s documentary “PIEOWA,” about the history and social  connections of pie in Iowa, was shown at the Gladbrook Theater last month. It was berry, berry good. It was in Gladbrook because Laura Bru, “The Pie Lady,” is one of … Continue reading →

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Jan 06

Toledo getting a McDonald’s

Posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Tama-Toledo News-Chronicle says the Toledo City Council approved a plat of land “contingent on Fareway’s signature” that “is planned to be used for a new McDonald’s.” That’s big news! The Toledo city website has a bad link to the … Continue reading →

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Dec 10

Veterans Day at North Tama

Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Obviously, this happened a month ago, but I’ve been busy.

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Dec 01

Traer losing its doctor’s office

Posted on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

November 11, 2025: MercyOne Traer Family Medicine opened as the North Tama Medical Clinic in 1976. A decade after losing the town’s longtime dentist, and a few years removed from losing the town’s once-a-week optometrist, the town of Traer is … Continue reading →

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Nov 06

Gladbrook-Reinbeck bond issue succeeds — barely

Posted on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 11:00 AM by Jeff

Well, how about that. It took Grundy County voting more than 90% in favor, but it happened. I cover the G-R bond vote and many more, with a map of every district in the state that had a bond referendum, … Continue reading →

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Oct 29

1A volleyball regional finals: public vs. private

Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Tonight 16 teams complete for eight places in the Class 1A state volleyball tournament. Like is so often the case as we reach this level, we have a bunch of public-private matchups. Most important for this blog is North Tama … Continue reading →

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Oct 23

A mini-war reenactment

Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I went to Clark’s Park a month ago to write about a Civil War reenactment event. The sides were lopsided. The story was reprinted in the North Tama Telegraph and Sun Courier, but their formatting missed out on my intention … Continue reading →

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Aug 20

RIP, Pizza Palace

Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 10:17 AM by Jeff

Let the record show that I had the last two deep dish/pan slices from pizzas bought at Traer Pizza Palace. (I was told the mediums we were able to get were “the last” non-thin crusts.)

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Aug 11

One-stoplight play

Posted on Monday, August 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Community members put on the play “One Stoplight Town” at the Wieting Theatre in Toledo on July 12. It was a good play. Perhaps the most emotional part for me, though, was learning that the lead was played by someone … Continue reading →

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Mar 05

Some people will drink to this

Posted on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Tama County now has a (one, singular) Starbucks. It’s not a standalone site, it’s inside the casino, but it still counts … right? (Funny enough, it’s about equal distance from Traer to the casino as it is from Traer to … Continue reading →

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