Author Archives: Jeff

May 17

Mallard school’s goose is cooked

Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2016 The inevitable finally happened: West Bend-Mallard announced in January that Mallard Elementary will be closed after the 2018-19 school year. Story: KICD. (I missed this when it happened because I was waiting for the Emmetsburg News to … Continue reading →

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May 16

Cedar Rapids annexes the rest of Business 151

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

May 31, 2017: Behind the camera is some land inside Cedar Rapids’ city limits. With a recently approved annexation, the city will pick up again in the middle of the Williams Boulevard bridges over US 30. For a few years … Continue reading →

Posted in Geography | Comments Off on Cedar Rapids annexes the rest of Business 151
May 15

Notes on 2019-23 DOT program

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The DOT released its newest five-year plan (large PDF) last week (stories: Gazette, Register) and the completion of two decade-long projects is in sight. Others have slight tweaks to their schedules or funding is being shifted around a bit in fiscal … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Notes on 2019-23 DOT program
May 14

Sabula overflow bridge closed longer

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Those 3 1/2 months the new US 52 Mississippi River bridge was open are going to have to last a while, because construction nearby is getting worse. KWQC reports that because of drilling issues on replacement of the overflow bridge, … Continue reading →

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May 11

Petitioners want school separate from Davenport

Posted on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Davenport was the only school district in Iowa to add a high school in a nearly 40-year span. But if some petitioners have their way, WQAD reports, a significant portion of the district would be severed entirely. Blue Grass, Buffalo, … Continue reading →

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May 10

But I don’t have anywhere to put one

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

Sioux City Journal: Woman makes tables shaped like states So far, Sturgis has made maps in the shape of the United States, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Which states she makes depends on which states customers order. Iowa’s state shape … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on But I don’t have anywhere to put one
May 09

Cultural appropriation of the worst kind

Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Jokes made at Huskers’ expense at I-Club event featuring Hawkeye coaches (Omaha World-Herald) Cornhusker jokes are supposed to be Cyclone fans’ turf, dangit. But on the other hand, if there is one thing Iowa and Iowa State fans can agree … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Cultural appropriation of the worst kind
May 08

Plainfield school will close

Posted on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A crude metric for your place in the school ecosystem is as follows: If your district has been losing about 10 students every year for a decade, is it a rounding error, something to monitor carefully and attempt to remedy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Plainfield school will close
May 07

#goals

Posted on Monday, May 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s nice work if you can get it. (I can dream, can’t I?)

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on #goals
May 04

Once again, never again

Posted on Friday, May 4, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 11, 2015: US 12/20/41 run under the Chicago Skyway right at the Indiana/Illinois state line; 12/20 split a short distance later. If you think I plan to try following all of US 41 through Chicagoland, there’s going to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Trip Reports | Comments Off on Once again, never again