Author Archives: Jeff

Feb 23

Photo 33,000

Posted on Friday, February 23, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In my Big South Trip, I visited three state capitols — in Jackson, Baton Rouge, and Montgomery. Louisiana’s state capitol building, a Depression-era Art Deco skyscraper, is deeply entwined with the history of one of its most colorful politicians, Huey … Continue reading →

Posted in Sequences | Comments Off on Photo 33,000
Feb 22

Maple Menace vanquished

Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Overnight (Iowa time), Team USA won the women’s hockey gold medal for the first time since the first time it was featured in the Olympics, in 1998. It took hockey’s overtime, a shootout, and then an extra shootout. NPR ran a … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Maple Menace vanquished
Feb 21

Last chance to see old Wyoming school building

Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Midland school district, based in Wyoming, is having a garage sale and tours of its 1914 school, which has been replaced after passage of a bond issue. According to the school’s website, the garage sale is Saturday from 9 AM … Continue reading →

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Feb 20

Traer City Council majority female

Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Also majority people I know. A short item in the Traer Star-Clipper online calls to attention a historic first: Four of the seven people on the city council are women. Sometimes all it takes is a willingness to run — … Continue reading →

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Traer City Council majority female
Feb 19

Monowi, Nebraska, population 1

Posted on Monday, February 19, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The BBC goes to the smallest town in America, a bit over 100 miles west of Sioux City. No town in Iowa has a population in the single digits, at least since Donnan, population 7, disincorporated in 1991.

Posted in Geography, Maps | Comments Off on Monowi, Nebraska, population 1
Feb 16

Love’s opens at Greyhound Park

Posted on Friday, February 16, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

December 14, 2004: The new truck stop is on the left side of this picture. The double-left-turn lane built on US 63 to Waterloo Greyhound Park (pictured above) became a minor tragicomic symbol of the expectations of the dog track … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Love’s opens at Greyhound Park
Feb 15

Yes, they’re really going to cram a SPUI in there

Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I’ve looked at the entire letting document for the IA 27/58 interchange at Viking Road in Cedar Falls and I continue to marvel at the idea. The document, nearly 400 pages long, was released ahead of the official letting on … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Yes, they’re really going to cram a SPUI in there
Feb 14

The chocolate ration has increased

Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

On sale, or perhaps “sale”, at the front of Hy-Vee recently was a new type of M&M’s bag. It was sealable at the top — which makes it harder to store small-side-down — and it was a different size than … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The chocolate ration has increased
Feb 13

Two consolidations passed last week

Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Two stateline school reorganizations that were essentially pro forma votes were approved last Tuesday. Both will take effect in fall 2019. North Winneshiek and Decorah approved consolidation (Radio Iowa), or more accurately, North Winneshiek finished the endgame it planned out when … Continue reading →

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Feb 12

Suggestion: Rebuild Northeast 14th — then reroute US 69

Posted on Monday, February 12, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Tuesday night there will be a meeting for a project years or decades overdue: Expanding US 69, aka Northeast 14th Street, between I-80 and Ankeny to four lanes (PDF). It’s in the part of Polk County that officially is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Suggestion: Rebuild Northeast 14th — then reroute US 69