Author Archives: Jeff

Nov 29

Misspellings and errors since June 29

Just because I haven’t been a professional copy editor for five months doesn’t mean I stopped seeing typos and errors … everywhere. The most galling one, since I saw it every week for months, is that the IowaWORKS pop-up screen at … Continue reading

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Nov 27

Early Iowa college football on TV, part 2

I should’ve posted this Friday, since it was on my Substack the week before last. This is the second part of a look at college football on TV pertaining to Iowa, and a game that set the tone for a … Continue reading

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Nov 22

Belle Plaine, Reinbeck churches in second wave of UMC disaffiliations

On New Year’s Day 2023, Grundy County had four United Methodist Churches. On New Year’s Eve 2023, it will have one. Two of the churches, in Conrad and Grundy Center, disaffiliated from the UMC in May (officially June 30) in … Continue reading

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Nov 20

Floyd interchange fully opens today

Thanksgiving week traditionally means the end of Iowa’s construction season. This year, that’s being marked with the opening of the US 18/218 interchange in Floyd today and tomorrow. The DOT has a press release and the Charles City Press has … Continue reading

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Nov 17

Southeast Warren to close Lacona school

One of the few small districts in Iowa still maintaining buildings in three different communities is closing one of them. Southeast Warren’s intermediate school in Lacona, which holds grades 4-6, will close at the end of this school year. KCCI … Continue reading

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Nov 15

I-80 bridge meeting today

October 13, 2006: The present I-80 Mississippi River bridge at Le Claire has no shoulders. The preferred design for the new I-80 Mississippi River bridge is to be revealed this afternoon in an online presentation. Registration is via website. This … Continue reading

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Nov 13

Election Day and ballot silliness

My Substack post with a Tama County Election Day hook, that also took a look at the ballot structures for combined city/school elections, made Saturday’s display at the Iowa Capital Dispatch. If you like, please subscribe! (Better yet, chip in … Continue reading

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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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