Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 01

AGWSR in third consecutive bond attempt

Posted on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For the third year in a row, the Ackley-Geneva-Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock school district is trying to get a bond issue approved. Before 2023, the district could have tried multiple times in a year, but the Legislature put a stop to that. … Continue reading →

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Sep 29

Tama County newspaper archives get preservation grant

Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A press release in August from the Tama County Historical Society announced reception of a grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa for “microfilm preservation of historic newspapers” in Tama County and also the former Reinbeck Courier. As worded, … Continue reading →

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Sep 24

Covering Rob Sand in Marengo

Posted on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

As a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative, I had some assistance in getting to cover Rob Sand’s campaign stop in Marengo on Sept. 3. There was a press gaggle — me and video streamers for the Des Moines Register … Continue reading →

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Sep 22

Jeopardy season starts with Iowa-related near-whiff

Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The clue on the first Wednesday of “Jeopardy!” Season 43, $800: I’ve had fun in Correctionville, but it’s time to leave the Midwest; US-20 West starts us off to SUX, the airport serving this city Writers (for which there was … Continue reading →

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Sep 15

more school notes for 2026-27

Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

At the end of August I pulled a “break glass in case of no time to write” Substack piece — school timeline items. This time, it’s a lot about Mediapolis and Fremont-Mills, two schools four and a half hours apart.

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Sep 11

Traer Museum fundraiser Sunday

Posted on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Traer Historical Museum, in addition to owning the building the museum is in on Second Street, also owns the Star-Clipper/Canfield building down the block, home of the Winding Stairs. The Canfield building needs a lot of work. A story … Continue reading →

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Sep 09

New Lansing bridge to open early

Posted on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10:07 AM by Jeff

The Black Hawk Bridge’s replacement in Lansing is now expected to open in “early November,” rather than in 2027, according to a press release from the Iowa DOT. The press release uses the phrase “Mississippi River Crossing at Lansing” instead … Continue reading →

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Sep 05

Football? I guess?

Posted on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This is painfully, horribly accurate. I couldn’t name one if I tried. The Athletic expects ISU to go 0-fer in conference and lose to Iowa. [deep, exasperated sigh] (I’m a bit disappointed in SEC Shorts’ embrace of AI for its … Continue reading →

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Sep 02

An intra-Tama County forfeit

Posted on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Meskwaki Settlement has forfeited Friday’s game to Gladbrook-Reinbeck, KCCI reports. The school cites player numbers and injury concerns. Meskwaki lost its opener to HLV/Tri-County 64-16. Meswaki and GR are both in North Tama’s district now that the Redhawks have dropped … Continue reading →

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Aug 27

Clayton County Museum Crawl 3

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Dolls, tiny museums, and opera houses that no longer have operas but do have plays, are part of the third installment of the 2026 Clayton County Museum Crawl. I was not compensated at the time of the posts, but a … Continue reading →

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