Author Archives: Jeff

Jan 12

Southern Benton County lost its newspaper

Posted on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Publication of a newspaper dedicated to the interests of Belle Plaine and southern Benton County ceased at the end of 2023. The Belle Plaine Union had that name for the overwhelming majority of its life. The Blairstown Press and the Benton … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Southern Benton County lost its newspaper
Jan 10

Update on Preston’s Station restoration

Posted on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Last year, Preston’s Station in Belle Plaine marked its 100th year of existence and 95th year at its current location. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. In the past few years, a concentrated … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous, Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Update on Preston’s Station restoration
Jan 08

Cedar Rapids turns 175

Posted on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Cedar Rapids is officially the fourth-oldest incorporated community in Iowa, behind Farmington, Burlington, and Keokuk. (Note that incorporation is different from founding.) This week, the city is marking its 175th birthday with a ceremony and a time capsule. The city’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Cedar Rapids turns 175
Jan 05

IA 150 corridor gets intense review

Posted on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT has undertaken a comprehensive review of IA 150 between Urbana and Oelwein that would upgrade the highway to Super-2 status. This is similar to what it did for US 63 between US 6 and Hudson. Here’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on IA 150 corridor gets intense review
Jan 02

2023 year in review column

Posted on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The inspiration for my 2023 year-end column came from the very end of 2022, as I was making flight reservations. It’s a good thing, I suppose, given what happened June 29. I don’t expect to be able to take many, … Continue reading →

Posted in Trip Reports | Comments Off on 2023 year in review column
Dec 28

License Plate Letters — NZF; Minnesota copycats

Posted on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Let the record show that Iowa plates reached the end of the N’s before the end of 2023. What will the next leading letter be? That’s not necessarily an obvious answer, since the 1997 series jumped from N to P. … Continue reading →

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on License Plate Letters — NZF; Minnesota copycats
Dec 26

Old Rockford school burns down

Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The school building in Rockford that was built in 1899-1900 to replace one destroyed in a fire burned down itself on Dec. 22. This building in the center of town had been abandoned for some time. The “new addition” next … Continue reading →

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Dec 21

Circumnavigation report Day 3

Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Going across the top of the state was pretty easy on my 2015 trip. Here’s a recap of Day 3.

Posted in Trip Reports | Comments Off on Circumnavigation report Day 3
Dec 19

Correcting the AP on the ‘Titanic’ script

Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

An Associated Press article relating to the phrase “women and children first” that uses current events in the Middle East as a hook references the Titanic disaster. Of course I’m going to have to weigh in — and today happens to … Continue reading →

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Dec 15

Fort Madison railroad bridge toll going up — twice

Posted on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

December 18, 2006: The approach to the BNSF Fort Madison bridge as seen from the Illinois side. Iowa’s second-oldest existing bridge across the Mississippi River is going to cost more to cross. The bridge at Fort Madison, the only toll … Continue reading →

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