Author Archives: Jeff

Aug 10

Pargeon family grand marshals for Winding Stairs Festival

Posted on Friday, August 10, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

After the untimely and sudden death of Mike Pargeon earlier this year, his wife and daughters will be the grand marshals for this year’s Winding Stairs Festival parade in Traer. (The picture with the Traer Star-Clipper story is reversed for … Continue reading →

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Aug 09

McElroy Auditorium un-renamed

Posted on Thursday, August 9, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In 1920, the first paved road in rural Black Hawk County opened. It was Rainbow Road between Cedar Falls and Waterloo, and yes, it was a rural road at the time. The road went past the National Cattle Congress and … Continue reading →

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Aug 08

ISU athletics department implements a big-time thing

Posted on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

And not in a good way, either. AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Athletics Department will implement a “clear bag policy” for football games at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium and all events in Hilton Coliseum beginning this … Continue reading →

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Aug 07

It’s hard to get to Collins right now, too

Posted on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The companion piece to yesterday’s blog post was announced late last week: US 65 is closed at IA 330 for three weeks in order to build the connection to the new interchange bridge. That means that from Aug. 6-16, there … Continue reading →

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Aug 06

It’s hard to get to Baxter right now

Posted on Monday, August 6, 2018, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

Construction projects at either end of old IA 223 in Jasper County make any east-west excursion to Baxter somewhat difficult at the moment. Baxter is one of a handful of Iowa towns with a population above 1000 but without a … Continue reading →

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Aug 03

newbo de-evolve

Posted on Friday, August 3, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This is not a post irrationally ranting about “newbo evolve”, the Cedar Rapids “music, art and inspiration” festival this weekend that wants to be something like a South by Southwest, charges $375 $402.50 for the high-end pass, and insists on being … Continue reading →

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Aug 02

I-95, nearly complete at last

Posted on Thursday, August 2, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A big roadgeeking milestone will happen this year: Interstate 95, and the original layout of the interstate highway system, will become complete. I-95 has been discontinuous between Pennsylvania and New Jersey since the system began. It’s New Jersey’s fault (video). … Continue reading →

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Aug 01

Ames flyover potentially unfinished this year

Posted on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The maligned I-35 flyover ramp to US 30 at Ames is so messed up it may not open until next year. The Iowa State Daily has the story on the DOT acknowledging the delay. A couple weeks ago news came out that the … Continue reading →

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Jul 31

Sabula bridge delayed again

Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The shiny new Mississippi River bridge at Sabula will be lonely for a few more weeks as high waters have delayed construction at the overflow bridge again. The Iowa DOT says it won’t be done in time for Labor Day. … Continue reading →

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Jul 30

Electricity comes to Sioux City

Posted on Monday, July 30, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 9, 2018: This is not Sioux City. It is CAL’s baseball diamond in Alexander. I happened to pass by when the team was having its last practice, ever. The tie-in to this post is that a district so small … Continue reading →

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