Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 24

Great Plains Trip Day 1

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

August 2, 2016: The Golden Spike Monument in Council Bluffs marks the east end of the Transcontinental Railroad, as designated by Abraham Lincoln himself. However, the first rail bridge to Omaha didn’t open until March 1872. Broken Bow, Nebraska — … Continue reading →

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Apr 21

Dispatches from the frontier

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

The Washington Post went to Kiron, Steve King’s hometown, and put its observations on the front page earlier this week. The article doesn’t set out for a particular point, more of a “day in the life” of pretty typical Iowans. … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Dispatches from the frontier
Apr 20

The 1981 map and the tail end of the Great Decommissioning

Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The disclaimer on the 1981 Iowa highway map. From the start, I have limited the reach of Iowa Highway Ends to those state highways on the 1981 map and later. (For the US routes, since there are far fewer, any … Continue reading →

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Apr 19

Why we don’t have a 2017 map yet

Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The first part of the year used to herald the annual arrival of two Map Days. One, in late winter, would be the release of the full RAGBRAI map in a Des Moines Sunday Register. That appears to have been discontinued … Continue reading →

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Apr 18

The new R&T lofts

Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 11, 2013: View down the staircase that runs the height of the 1918 Register & Tribune Building. The historic Register & Tribune Building in Des Moines, where I worked for a decade, is almost ready to open as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The new R&T lofts
Apr 17

I wrote a check for 67 cents

Posted on Monday, April 17, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Ever since the IRS stopped mailing income tax forms, I’ve been free-filing my taxes online with H&R Block. It’s been fine — or at least it was, until this year. For 2016, my withholding ended in “9.33” — but the … Continue reading →

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Apr 14

The thought process of a roadgeek

Posted on Friday, April 14, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.” — Walt Whitman My sister remembered I wanted to see her in Colorado! That’s good! But I have to do it by Memorial Day. That’s less good. Clinching US 34 is … Continue reading →

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Apr 13

GR dissolution hearing Monday

Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Two members of the public attended a March meeting regarding the second attempt to force dissolution of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school district, the Grundy Register reports. That’s a far, far cry from a year ago, at least the one I attended. … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on GR dissolution hearing Monday
Apr 12

E is for Eldora

Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 21, 2015: A lone RAGBRAI tent is pitched on the west side of the original Eldora school building. Every window on this side was blown out in a hailstorm Aug. 9, 2009. Open photo in new window/tab for larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sequences | Comments Off on E is for Eldora
Apr 11

KCCI shines a light on Dysart

Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Well, sort of. Look at where the burst of light for the “Around Iowa” graphic originates from.

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on KCCI shines a light on Dysart