Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 20

Lincoln Highway routes in Belle Plaine, Part 1

July 7, 2013: Downtown Belle Plaine is a block south of today’s  signed Lincoln Highway route. Main Street, formerly 12th Street, is now one-way eastbound. It’s time to refine the history of the Lincoln Highway in Belle Plaine, and along … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Lincoln Highway routes in Belle Plaine, Part 1
Jul 18

The Peosta not-quite-freeway

The future Southwest Arterial and Swiss Valley Road interchanges planned on US 20 southwest of Dubuque will cut down, but not eliminate, at-grade intersections between the west side of Dubuque and Peosta. There was a public meeting last month on … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on The Peosta not-quite-freeway
Jul 17

The end of AEA 267, and the mystery of AEA 8

Thirteen months after I put Area Education Agency 267 on my “worst names in Iowa” list, something has been done about it. As of July 1, the agency — made up of the former AEAs based in Clear Lake (2), Marshalltown (6), … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on The end of AEA 267, and the mystery of AEA 8
Jul 14

Winless streak tables updated, now with more Rutgers

In my annual update for Iowa State’s record of football futility against Oklahoma, I realized Rutgers’ existence is a factor that can’t be ignored anymore. Specifically, Rutgers hasn’t beaten Penn State in New Jersey in a long time, dating back … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Winless streak tables updated, now with more Rutgers
Jul 13

Goodbye to Raider Country

Last week the Ames Tribune went to the Collins-Maxwell/Baxter area and wrote about the end of their sports sharing program. The story focuses on the athletics, which came to a surprise abrupt end when the top-ranked CMB softball team lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sports | Comments Off on Goodbye to Raider Country
Jul 11

Quietly, finally, 2017 Iowa state map released

During or shortly after the holiday weekend, the Iowa DOT put the 2017-18 highway map online. As I suspected, judging by the press release put out Monday, the ascension of Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds to the top job held the … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Quietly, finally, 2017 Iowa state map released
Jul 11

Staker Furniture going out of business

July 5, 2017: Staker Furniture and Interiors on Second Street in Traer. Traer’s furniture store is closing its doors. The building was built in 1974 for a relocating Overton Furniture. The current owner, Cindy Youel, said “opportunity knocked” and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Staker Furniture going out of business
Jul 10

Gladbrook-Reinbeck dissolution debate and the national mood

A week from tonight, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school board will have a final meeting regarding a petition to dissolve the school district. There will be an opportunity to share opinions, but I think everyone’s mind is pretty much made up. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Gladbrook-Reinbeck dissolution debate and the national mood
Jul 07

North Union, North Kossuth look at consolidation

At least, that’s what I get from the headline-only item from the area weeklies. The North Union School Board page hasn’t been updated with minutes/agendas for THREE YEARS. A radio station link whose headline says the same is already 404’d but … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on North Union, North Kossuth look at consolidation
Jul 06

Iowa’s going to have mismatched plates for a DECADE?

The DOT is finally going to look at a new license plate design. That’s…fine, I guess. Iowa ended up being on the front end of the light-blue-at-top-gradient-to-white style that spread across the country. IIRC, the design — the first not … Continue reading →

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on Iowa’s going to have mismatched plates for a DECADE?