Author Archives: Jeff

Mar 05

Dateline Buckingham

Posted on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

!!! Politico: A native Californian learns that Iowa is as nice as it’s cracked up to be. BUCKINGHAM, Iowa — Janet and Mike Shock reclined in loungers while trying to write the first sentence of this story. Janet offered a … Continue reading →

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Mar 04

Private schools dominate 1A basketball field

Posted on Monday, March 4, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For the second time this century, more than half of the teams in a Class 1A state tournament will be private schools. The bracket for the boys’ basketball tournament starting today has Algona Garrigan, Grand View Christian, Council Bluffs St. … Continue reading →

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Mar 01

Daily Iowegian becomes slightly less daily

Posted on Friday, March 1, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Mondays are cancelled in Centerville. The oldest business in Appanoose County, the Daily Iowegian newspaper, will no longer print a Monday edition after next week’s. In a column/letter to readers, the editor and publisher write: The choice was necessary in … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Daily Iowegian becomes slightly less daily
Feb 28

IA 406 and Burlington’s ‘Seedling Mile’

Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

When you look at IA 406 before its death in the Second Great Decommissioning, it’s hard to make an argument for its existence. It was never a spur to West Burlington — in fact, it’s a bypass of the oldest part … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous, Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on IA 406 and Burlington’s ‘Seedling Mile’
Feb 27

Mount Pleasant gets a batch of medium green signs

Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2018: One of the new generation of signs near one of Iowa’s two quadplex routes, the Mount Pleasant bypass. Blessedly, the Series D font is appropriate for the wide shields, which is the case much less often than it … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Mount Pleasant gets a batch of medium green signs
Feb 26

Dual, divided freeway made real in Council Bluffs

Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Council Bluffs and Sioux City interstate projects continue to plod along, and a big sign of progress is coming soon in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports the Iowa DOT plans to open the westbound dual divided freeway for … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Dual, divided freeway made real in Council Bluffs
Feb 25

Old 34 to be widened in Montgomery County

Posted on Monday, February 25, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s been more than half a century since County Road H34 from Hastings to Corning was US 34, but it’s still “old Highway 34” to the locals, and this spring it’s going to lose part of its old-ness. The Red … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Old 34 to be widened in Montgomery County
Feb 22

A look into Marshall County school history

Posted on Friday, February 22, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This is just the kind of thing I like to see when I’m looking into the “genealogy” of school districts, so I better give the Marshalltown Times-Republican some props for this two-story series. Marshall County rural schools: A history (1) … Continue reading →

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Feb 21

Breaking a streak I didn’t know I had

Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 2, 2015: The Civil War sentry protects the Taylor County Courthouse from the Missourians lurking a mere seven miles away. Southwest Iowa’s Taylor County isn’t exactly on the beaten path. Bedford, the county seat, doesn’t have a stoplight and … Continue reading →

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Feb 20

A very pinpointed tax

Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 17, 2007: The then-Super 8 in Rock Valley has been the town’s only motel, but has since lost its franchise tag. Of the out-of-the-way places I’ve stayed in Iowa, this is one of them. Rock Valley is one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on A very pinpointed tax