Author Archives: Jeff

Sep 22

Annexation of entire towns: A history

In my latest Substack post, I write about some notable cases in Iowa history where one community was entirely subsumed by another. In one case, it was one community swallowing eight others. (I bet you can figure out what city … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Annexation of entire towns: A history
Sep 20

Kenyon Road bridges to be replaced

Excerpt from the Iowa State Highway Commission’s blueprints for “650′ continuous steel frame overhead crossing,” over what’s now South 7th Street, dated 1934. The Kenyon Road bridge(s) opened in 1936-37. Before that, US 20 crossed the Des Moines River on … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Kenyon Road bridges to be replaced
Sep 18

Council Bluffs interstate celebration today

An e-mail sent out last week to subscribers of the Council Bluffs Interstate System project is inviting the public to a celebration today (Sept. 18). The event is to mark the (almost) completion of the I-29/480 interchange, which had not … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Council Bluffs interstate celebration today
Sep 15

Manson-NW Webster began with football

Manson was one of the stops on WHO sports’ RVTV week before the Iowa-Iowa State game. The station did a feature on Manson-Northwest Webster. Although the districts began whole-grade sharing in 1990 and consolidated in 1993, the first appearance of … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Manson-NW Webster began with football
Sep 13

Town vs. township, school edition

If you’ve read my Substack post from Monday, don’t spoil the reveal for those who will only see it after seeing today’s post.

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Town vs. township, school edition
Sep 11

Part of San Marnan Drive renamed

The westernmost mile of San Marnan Drive in Waterloo has been renamed. As of Sept. 1, the segment from Ansborough Avenue west to West 4th Street is Van G. Miller Way. Miller founded VGM Group, a company located on the … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Part of San Marnan Drive renamed
Sep 08

Montour celebrates 150th year of being Montour

July 23, 2008: RAGBRAI riders stop outside Montour’s most famous institution, Rube’s Steakhouse. Rube’s turns 50 this year. RAGBRAI bounced off the corner of Montour in 2023 despite the locals’ best efforts to get riders to divert. The southern Tama … Continue reading

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Montour celebrates 150th year of being Montour
Sep 06

Fast drivers create problems on I-80 in Dallas County

Interstate 80 through Dallas County has always had a notable sound as you drive on the concrete, although it’s not quite as distinctive as the freeway west of Adair. But there’s been a different kind of sound there this year, … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Fast drivers create problems on I-80 in Dallas County
Sep 05

US 30 exit at IA 21 now open

Just in time for Labor Day weekend (hey, second post in a week starting like that), the DOT has completed a big part of a long-term project. The US 30 exit at IA 21 opened last Wednesday, the DOT said … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on US 30 exit at IA 21 now open
Sep 04

Circumnavigation report begins

I’m finally beginning my trip report about my 2015 circumnavigation of the state of Iowa. Day 1 is up on Substack now.

Posted in Trip Reports | Comments Off on Circumnavigation report begins