Author Archives: Jeff

Nov 09

North Tama bond issue passes

August 14, 2010: Cornerstone of Traer School built after the 1917 fire. It took a second try and a satellite voting station, but nearly two-thirds of North Tama voters approved a $14.85 million bond issue “to provide funds to build, furnish, … Continue reading

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Nov 06

North Tama bond issue up for second try

In Tuesday’s combined city/school elections, North Tama voters will decide for a second time on a bond referendum. The referendum is for the same construction plan that failed by six votes in March. What has changed, due to inflation, is … Continue reading

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Nov 03

Final part of US 30 lane shift in Benton County

New lanes on US 30, the future eastbound lanes of the four-lane expressway, opened Oct. 24. The Benton County engineer told the supervisors the change was made that day, Jim Magdefrau reports. The segment in question is from 11th Avenue … Continue reading

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Nov 01

Earliest history of Iowa college football on TV

The first part of in-depth research into the real first time football teams from Iowa showed up on television — if not necessarily in Iowa — is live on my Substack.

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Oct 27

BCLUW bond issue would close Union school

The BCLUW school district is seeking approval of an $8.8 million bond Nov. 7 for additions to its elementary and high school sites in Conrad. The plan would result in closure of the building in Union, which currently serves grades … Continue reading

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Oct 25

Final ramp at I-29/480 interchange opens

The new ramp from southbound I-29 to westbound I-480 in Council Bluffs opened on Oct. 16, completing the redesigned interchange of the two freeways. KSOM-FM had a news brief before the opening and the Iowa DOT announced it in a … Continue reading

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Oct 23

Circumnavigation report Day 2

I began the writeup of my 2015 circumnavigation trip on Substack a little while ago. Finally, I can present the second day of that trip, which went through northeast Iowa.

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Oct 20

License Plate Letters — NTH

September 15, 2023: North Tama band director (and volleyball coach) Channing Halstead leads the band at Homecoming. North Tama beat BCLUW, 36-6. Who ya’ rootin’ for? N-T-H! Little louder now! N-T-H! Part of Iowa high school sporting tradition is passing … Continue reading

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Oct 18

US 30 bypasses Ames (not that one)

US 30 in eastern Nebraska is getting some changes. On June 15, a new alignment of the highway opened from the top of the Fremont bypass west to west of North Bend. This removed 30 from a long portion of … Continue reading

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Oct 16

Sharing stories of closed high schools

Author James Kenyon came to Traer to talk about his book full of stories about closed high schools. I wrote on my Substack about it Friday. I used the link without the background this time because the photo was cropped … Continue reading

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