Author Archives: Jeff

Jun 01

A slight extension of this website’s coverage

Posted on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Blog post 2000! With all the Iowa highway information newly available online, there’s plenty of work I can do. I’ve been doing some of that by editing the pages with the most important changes (or obvious corrections). I announced a … Continue reading →

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May 31

Walnut McDonald’s closed for good

Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The McDonald’s at I-80 exit 46 in western Iowa closed permanently April 17. I found out first-hand, but it slipped my mind for about a month. It didn’t have great reviews on TripAdvisor, for whatever that’s worth. The closure is … Continue reading →

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May 30

WHAT Confederate monuments in Iowa?

Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 4, 2015: In this view of the Civil War soldier at top of the monument at Keokuk National Cemetery, it doesn’t look like he has a specific insignia. But that’s likely intentional, at least in part because he represents unknown soldiers … Continue reading →

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May 29

LeRoy Whannel, 1914-2017

Posted on Monday, May 29, 2017, at 2:00 PM by Jeff

In early April, around the time of his 103rd birthday, WHO-TV profiled LeRoy Whannel of Whannel’s Hardware in Traer. (His last name is mispronounced in the story.) He ran the store for decades and was still working there earlier this month. … Continue reading →

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May 28

Final graduation at Charter Oak-Ute

Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A week ago today, Charter Oak-Ute High School graduated its 55th and last class of students. Story: KTIV. One line in the story is practically boilerplate text in this era: Low enrollment numbers and lack of funding are responsible for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Final graduation at Charter Oak-Ute
May 26

Grand Junction losing its school

Posted on Friday, May 26, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 5, 2013: The school in Grand Junction most recently, and lastly, had fourth- through sixth-graders for the Greene County school district. The century-old school building in Grand Junction, which five years ago had the last class for East Greene … Continue reading →

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May 25

A look at Iowa school transportation cost disparities

Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

IowaWatch and Iowa Public Radio teamed up for a report on transportation costs in Iowa’s school districts and the disparity in funding that dates back decades but only got serious attention in the past couple of years. The IPR story … Continue reading →

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May 24

Goodbye, Gov. Branstad

Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

November 21, 2012: Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (second from left) helps cut the ribbon to open new US 20 between IA 4 and US 71. Also shown, center to right, are Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. Rep. Steve King and … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Goodbye, Gov. Branstad
May 23

Clutier’s Zip Code Day

Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The numbers for Monday’s date (5/22/17) matched the ZIP Code for Clutier (52217) and the town celebrated with, what else, kolaches and polka music. Unfortunately, I didn’t know this was happening (otherwise I would’ve blogged about it!). The only notification … Continue reading →

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May 22

Baxter, Collins-Maxwell separately joining Iowa Star Conference

Posted on Monday, May 22, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(Pulled out of the drafts folder from months ago. — Ed.) I don’t dip into all the “conference realignment” on the high school level, mostly because there’s so much of it going on right now. In this case, it relates … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sports | Comments Off on Baxter, Collins-Maxwell separately joining Iowa Star Conference