Category Archives: Tama County

Jun 04

Four-lane US 30 in Tama County open

Posted on Friday, June 4, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Ten years and nine days after what I think is the first announcement about it, the new four-lane US 30 in Tama County from Tama to near IA 21 opened Thursday Wednesday*. (Story: Tama-Toledo News Chronicle) This is a complete shift … Continue reading →

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May 28

Names are hard

Posted on Friday, May 28, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Traer Star-Clipper, September 26, 1930, notes added: New service station to open about Nov. 1 Wieck Bros. plan largest and best-equipped structure of its kind in town — work now in progress Rapid progress is being made on the construction … Continue reading →

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Apr 16

There’s a creek there?

Posted on Friday, April 16, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

From the DOT’s website: The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for proposed improvements on Iowa 8 in Tama County. OK, pertinent to my interests. The proposed project includes the removal and replacement of an existing 12’ x … Continue reading →

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Feb 18

NT boys play tonight after last-second win

Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This post is mainly to link to the Newton Daily News article about North Tama beating Baxter on Monday night on a 3-pointer by a freshman. The Redhawk boys play a district basketball semifinal tonight at Meskwaki Settlement. (edit: mistimed … Continue reading →

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Jan 27

Grassley makes Traer early stop on 99-county tour

Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It hasn’t been a full year since Sen. Chuck Grassley last visited Tama County, but in four months he checked it off both his 2020 and 2021 lists. The senator visited Clearline Industries on Traer’s south side on Jan. 13 … Continue reading →

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Jan 26

115th anniversary of ‘Leander Clark College’

Posted on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In southern Linn County, just north of Shueyville, is a map dot called Western. The town came into existence in 1856 and was named because it had the westernmost college of the United Brethren Church. A Western College Road still … Continue reading →

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Dec 25

Traer UMC Christmas Eve Service

Posted on Friday, December 25, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I have missed Christmas Eve services for work but the service was always there. This year, due to rules set at the state level, Traer UMC did not have a Christmas Eve service, but it was recorded and placed online.

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Dec 14

Alice Zimple, 1934-2020

Posted on Monday, December 14, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Alice Zimple of Traer died Friday. She is the fourth person Traer United Methodist Church has lost this year, including one to COVID-19. Her obituary is here. Alice was the heart of Traer UMC’s kitchen, no matter what the event. … Continue reading →

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Dec 11

When ‘Tama Jim’ honored Ulysses S. Grant (2)

Posted on Friday, December 11, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Spring 1885 was approaching, and Iowa’s 5th Congressional District election of 1882 was still in dispute. Republican James Wilson had been declared the winner, but Democrat Benjamin Frederick was still fighting for it, and won the seat outright in November … Continue reading →

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Dec 09

‘Tama Jim’ and his second stint in Congress (1)

Posted on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This is what Iowa’s 11(!) congressional districts looked like for the elections of 1882 and 1884. The 5th District is in orange. A mid-decade redraw after a special census in 1885 created a new map that would be used through … Continue reading →

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