Author Archives: Jeff

Feb 09

Enrollment data shows more of the same

The 2017-18 public school certified enrollment tables are on the Iowa Department of Education’s website, but currently only accessible via magic. Fortunately, in this case, I have a magician’s touch. There are no big surprises, but a few small ones, likely … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Enrollment data shows more of the same
Feb 08

Vengeance, justice, hockey

The Winter Olympics, with some actual events but a much-too-large complement of non-sports on both the rink and the slope, start today. There’s a good chance I won’t be able to see much if any of it, but there was … Continue reading

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Vengeance, justice, hockey
Feb 07

Animated annual report for Council Bluffs interstate project

The Iowa DOT has put out its review of the 2017 construction season for the Council Bluffs interstate project. A lot has been done, but there is so much more to go. The biggest development was the opening of the … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Animated annual report for Council Bluffs interstate project
Feb 06

The story of Albert the Bull

The world’s largest anatomically correct Hereford was featured in a Super Bowl ad and got a mini-documentary. Story, Sioux City Journal; video (below), Cenex (the ad’s sponsor).

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The story of Albert the Bull
Feb 05

Hampton-Dumont, CAL finalize sharing

Last month, CAL officially agreed to send grades 7-12 to Hampton-Dumont, the Hampton Chronicle reported in multiple articles. (One of the articles was by Greg Forbes, who was laid off from the Sioux City Journal a while back and was named … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Hampton-Dumont, CAL finalize sharing
Feb 04

Yet for some reason I STILL haven’t gotten the call

‘Jeopardy!’ Contestants Fumble Entire Football Category, To Coach Trebek’s Dismay (NPR)

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Feb 02

Old Cherokee, Lansing schools on ‘Endangered’ list

April 17, 2015: The Stone Schoolhouse in Lansing was in use from 1863 to 1973. Preservation Iowa’s list of “Most Endangered Properties” includes two old school buildings. First, as found in the tipoff for this blog post (Sioux City Journal), … Continue reading

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Feb 01

Mike Pargeon, 1966-2018

I mentioned I was at the Traer post office last Friday. That’s because I had jumped over to town to get an oil change on the car. It’s a little extra effort, but I support a local business that way. … Continue reading

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Jan 31

New galleries of old photos

I worry the “Road Trips” page is a neglected section of this website, in no small portion because I haven’t touched it since relocating everything to this address. (In fact, pages still had links to Angelfire and mac.com pages, and … Continue reading

Posted in Trip Reports | Comments Off on New galleries of old photos
Jan 30

‘Bluegrass Queen’ at Iowa’s doorstep

Who said Missouri wasn’t Southern? According to KTVO and Bluegrass Today, a Missouri state legislator has proposed giving the title “Bluegrass Queen Rhonda Vincent Highway” to a portion of US 63 running north from Greentop MO. Greentop, the honoree’s hometown, is … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on ‘Bluegrass Queen’ at Iowa’s doorstep