Author Archives: Jeff

Aug 03

Clear Creek Amana plans for a new high school. Again.

Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Less than a decade after opening a new high school facility and 3½ years after approving a bond issue for a fourth elementary school, Clear Creek Amana needs more room. On Sept. 12 — the same day Gladbrook-Reinbeck will vote … Continue reading →

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Aug 02

Gladbrook-Reinbeck dissolution vote set

Posted on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

On July 17 the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school board accepted the dissolution committee’s proposal on division of the district and set a vote for Sept. 12 concurrent with regular school board elections. A yes vote is to end the district; a no vote … Continue reading →

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Aug 01

Wide IA 9 shield in Waukon

Posted on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

KCRG had a story last week about Waukon’s preparations as a host town for RAGBRAI. At the 2:01 mark of the video above is a shot of downtown. There is a “Jct 9” assembly visible — and the 9 is … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Wide IA 9 shield in Waukon
Jul 31

Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days

Posted on Monday, July 31, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

While taking a short trip recently, I didn’t take the iPod and bounced around on the radio instead. I was delighted to come across a station playing REAL country music — the ’90s songs I have had on CDs and … Continue reading →

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Jul 28

Minnesota, ISU coaches share birth date a year apart

Posted on Friday, July 28, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Big 12 and Big Ten have both had their football media days now, and I have noticed a disturbing trend: There are coaches there who are approximately my age peers. This started with Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury (Aug. 9, 1979), … Continue reading →

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Jul 27

Three all-private semifinals in state baseball tournament

Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Three of the eight semifinal matchups in the 2017 Iowa high school state baseball tournament will be between private schools. Mason City Newman and Remsen St. Mary’s, Dyersville Beckman and Iowa City Regina, and Davenport Assumption and Dubuque Wahlert all … Continue reading →

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Jul 26

Anchors, away

Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 9, 2017: The Sears store in Peru, Illinois, will close before the end of the year. Peru, Illinois — I needed a pit stop, Wi-Fi, and food, in that approximate order. Peru Mall, the only major shopping center on … Continue reading →

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Jul 25

St. Ansgar school building preserved, for now

Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In contradiction of a Mitchell County Press-News story that I blogged about 11 months ago, the St. Ansgar school board reversed its decision to sell its 1928 school building to the city development council. A nonprofit group formed a counterproposal … Continue reading →

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Jul 24

A flash of time circuits

Posted on Monday, July 24, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I’m going to geek out for a moment about the Ready Player One trailer released last weekend. Specifically, I’m looking at the “Back to the Future” trilogy reference dropping in at the 1:42 mark. (Ready Player One is a book, … Continue reading →

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Jul 21

Lincoln Highway routes in Belle Plaine, Part 2

Posted on Friday, July 21, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 7, 2013: Preston’s Station in Belle Plaine as it appeared in the centennial year of the Lincoln Highway’s creation. In 1924, the Lincoln Highway through Belle Plaine had almost nothing in common with what we think of as the … Continue reading →

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