Author Archives: Jeff

Jun 27

Largest one-high school areas in Iowa

Posted on Monday, June 27, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This is a list of the top 10 places in Iowa, by size, served by one high school, in five-year increments. In most cases, it involves whole-grade sharing followed some time later by consolidation, but in some cases there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on Largest one-high school areas in Iowa
Jun 25

A note for summer parade organizers

Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 10:08 AM by Jeff

PUT THE HORSES LAST.

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on A note for summer parade organizers
Jun 24

Updates to the index page on the blog’s fifth anniversary

Posted on Friday, June 24, 2016, at 10:04 AM by Jeff

May 10, 2005: IA 98 is expected to be turned over to Van Buren County July 1. There’s a front door to this place, although it has less action than the blog page. I haven’t done major work on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Updates to the index page on the blog’s fifth anniversary
Jun 23

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 4

Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2015: Harmony High School, a one-story building at the intersection of J46 and W46, will become the sole building for Harmony this fall, with all elementary students relocating here from Bonaparte. Junior high and high school students will go … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 4
Jun 22

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 3

Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 25, 2012: The cornerstone of the Boxholm school, last serving as Southeast Webster-Grand Junior High. The Boxholm school is not currently in use. By the summer of 2013, residents of the Corwith-Wesley district knew their high school was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 3
Jun 21

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 2

Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

December 28, 2008: Every window in the Russell school building was boarded up shortly after the district was forcibly dissolved. Students in Russell now go to Chariton, which encompasses about 85% of Lucas County. Lucas County was the home of … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 2
Jun 20

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 1

Posted on Monday, June 20, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

First in a series on the geography of, and changes to, rural Iowa school districts in the past 55 years, with emphasis on the last 15. For nearly 50 years the number of places in Iowa where one high school … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools | Comments Off on The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 1
Jun 18

Apple gets a little tronc’d

Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

*deep, exasperated sigh* After 15 years as OS X, Apple’s Mac operating system is getting a new name. In the future, it will only answer to macOS, or its latest California-inspired codename, Sierra. The format makes it more consistent with … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Apple gets a little tronc’d
Jun 17

The first step in six-laning I-35 to Ames

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

One of the heavily traveled rural Iowa interstate corridors that needs to be upgraded to six lanes takes a baby step in that direction on Monday. There will be a meeting then in Huxley about I-35 between Ankeny and Ames, … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on The first step in six-laning I-35 to Ames
Jun 16

Infestation of roundabouts advances in Cedar Falls

Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Ewwww.

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Infestation of roundabouts advances in Cedar Falls